put a name to the face.

Okay. so if you have yet to notice.. i suck at writing while in school. Hopefully while I’m in Aus, I’ll be a little bit better about getting on wordpress. See my big problem is getting the ideas out. not coming up with them.

But I wanted to tell you about an awareness thing K-State does. Almost every week, there are flags in the Quad. It’s become a regular thing. One week each flag represents an amount of people suffering from eating disorders. Another week each flag represents a certain number of kids with autism or maybe a number of people who died at the Nazis’ hands. Stuff like that.

Each week, I think. “Oh wow, how sad” – but that’s the wrong word. astonishing, maybe apalling.

This week was different.

It may have been a protest, I don’t know exactly. But I walked into the Quad area, and saw thousands of yellow flags with various red flags lining the walkways.

Each flag had a name, an age, and a city.

This week each flag represented a man or woman who died because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. There was something about the name on the flag that hit me.

I felt a few different things..

I was scared for my cousin – Christopher, who is in Iraq currently. I thought of Ryan – the dude from Real World (yes. i just watched that season.) and wondered how he was doing. If he was still alive. If they were scared.

I was proud of those men and women. They gave their life for the people I love, and for me.

I cried. For each flag didn’t just represent that man or woman who had fallen in duty to his or her duty to their country, but each flag had people who loved them.

A lot of times I don’t know where I stand on the war exactly. I think it was inevitable, but right? maybe, maybe not. My opinion changes day to day – and I’m not near informed to the degree necessary to make a decision like that. So I don’t know. But I put my trust in my government, like many of these men and women did.

I don’t really know what my point is other than this. Those are real people fighting for us – regardless of how right or wrong you think the government is for sending them. They are people like us. Those that are still out there fighting deserve our support and prayers more than ever.

victorian inferno.

Obviously the news is of interest to me because of my journalism major.. and obviously when i see the word “australia” in the news I zero in real quick.

This is just to ask you to pray for the people of Victoria that are being plagued by these massive forest fires. Their stories are so disturbing and heart wrenching. The numbers rise every time I check CNN.com, and with each number is a person who had a family and people who loved them.

Side note: The previously mentioned Australian boy is safe and doesn’t look like anything bad fire wise will be heading his way.

i’m going over the rainbow.

What do you think of when you think “Australia”?

Kangaroos, Koalas, Duckbilled Platypuses maybe. Or maybe the Sydney Opera House, or Uluru aka Ayers Rock.

I think something new as of this morning. I am going to be a study abroad student of Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria as in Australia. The Land of Oz as they refer to it. And I am so stoked, and terrified, and cannot wait all in one bag. I’d be studying for a semester to a year.. and I’d be in Australia!!! (I know I mentioned that before. It’s just fun to say).

So here’s to the little Kansas girl who’s jumping over the rainbow and into the land of Oz (AUS-tralia. I swear they call it this. I’m not making it up.)

so if you may. send up a few prayers to the big guy about this. money. being away from everyone I know for up to a whole year can be scary. but I know in my gut, it’s where I’m supposed to be.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

So I’m forewarning you that even though I have stewed over this issue before venting my reactions, and tried to put together a well thought out, non-rant. I apologize if I step on the soapbox. I will try to come back and edit if necessary.

I generally try to avoid speaking in public concerning my personal views on politics nowadays simply because I find they cause fights. And I hate fights. I only speak when asked, and with people who I really believe can carry on a civilized discussion about our two opinions, differing or alike.

I am apalled at the lack of respect our new president is recieving from so many. I see facebook flooded with comments of “when will he get shot” to “Obama is already screwing the country up” and even some mentioning and questionning Christians dedication to Christ if they support Obama. To be honest, to see these comments from my friends, and especially those who take such a stand for Christ, scares me.

We follow Christ who said, “Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) I really don’t think that Jesus was speaking only about taxes and monetary things. He was telling them to respect their government and Caeser by giving the government the taxes they owed according to law. Granted, the law doesn’t say you must respect and lift up the president in America. I’m very glad it says the opposite almost, that we are allowed to say the things we do by law. (duh, I’m a journalism major. i love the first amendment.) BUT I think that because he was elected by the public, that he should be respected regardless of what he does.

We prayed for God to choose the right man and put him through. Maybe he is not the right man, but I know God has a plan like he always does. He will make the best out of every circumstance. So many Christians coated this election with prayers. Now it is time for us to pray for our country. Pray for our President Barack Obama–I don’t care what your opinion of him is. He is still a human who needs our prayers.

I may not agree that he is the best choice for president. But I do know that he is my president. And I will respect him.

I challenge you to do the same. At least give him more than a week to form an opinion on the man!

trash baskets and trespasses

My mom forwarded me an email that she recieved today. It was originally from a preschool sunday school teacher at our church. During the prayer time for snack, the teacher asked a student to pray. Intending to say the Lord’s prayer, the child began to pray. Most of the prayer came out right..except for the part mentioning “trespasses.”

“Forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

I thought it sounded pretty theological.

one room. seven junior high girls and me.

This time last year, I was running like Jonah. I didn’t want to go to camp, because I knew God would meet me there with news I didn’t want to hear. Of course he caught up with me, like he always does. 

Here I am, one year later. I’m going back to camp. but so much is different. I’m preparing to go away to school next year. I’ve been to Israel and back. God and I are on speaking terms. To name just a few, and one big change this year that sets apart from all the others.

i will be a cabin leader for junior high girls.

That’s right. One more step in growing up. 

One request from my.. like four readers? pray for me. and for these girls. and that God do incredible things.

i am so excited!

israel. :]

they say time flies when you’re having fun. i’m pretty sure it flies when i’m not looking.

so far this new chapter of life hasn’t seemed much different.

in one week i will be standing on ground that Jesus likely walked on. WOW?

maybe that will impact this next chapter. i promise to tell all upon my return. but until then.. i kinda have to help finish the yearbook first. not a lot of time in there. 

one request for you readers. as few or as many of you as there are..

pray. pray for me and my dad as we go on this new adventure. pray for my mom and sister as they are at home while we’re away. pray for peace of mind. pray for unity of the team. pray for safety. and pray for the hearts and lives of those we will encounter. :]

worrywart

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”

    -Matthew 6:34

Its true. Trust me. I’m the queen of worrying. (see previous posts).

Just when money issues are hurled my way, i get 3 new opportunities to earn money. How awesome was this?

God can do all things. Why do I doubt that?

money.

“hey laura, don’t spend anything today”

“why?”

“well…there may be some tax problems.”

“what?”

“we’ll talk about it later”

great.

so. when i first got my job, originally, i thought “sweet i don’t get taxes taken out of my paycheck. and i don’t make enough, so this rocks.”

hah. funny.

apparently i’m “self-employed” and that means you pay 15%. nope. not just 7.5%. that’d be a whopping one-five. which adds up to 500 macaroos that laura doesn’t have in her pocket right now. lovely.

can mike huckabee and chuck norris get on that whole kicking the IRS to the curb deal? like…now?

impact.

“We can make a difference
We can make a change
We can make the world a better place
We can make a difference
We can make a change
We can make the sun shine through the rain”

-Jaci Velazquez

I remember singing that song in eighth grade with laura barbour. It didn’t mean a ton then, just a fun song to sing. But from the countless questions of “What are you doing with the rest of your life?” it means more now.

What do I want to do?

Honestly, I don’t know anymore. I guess I know what I want, but that’s beginning to fade. Which truly is a good thing, my desires are morphing into God’s, i think. I know one thing about my future. I want to have an impact on people’s lives. I want to change things that are in the wrong and set things right. I want to be a voice for people that can’t speak for themselves. I want justice. I want hope. I have a huge passion for them. I want to do anything, so that good can beat evil.

cheesy right?

Sadly, I don’t think I can make the impact I want to make with a photography studio. Don’t worry, my camera will be a part of me wherever I end up. But where do I go? I love journalism. I’d have a voice. And by doggies, I know my first amendment rights when it comes to that. :). Which leads into my other thought. I love government. I love rights, and civil liberties. My AP gov class invigorates me as much as it frusterates me. How do they go together? and incorporate my camera?

Not to mention that those two options are huge huge commitments. Heck, impacting lives takes quite a commitment!

But i know i want a family someday. I can’t imagine that not being a part of my future. Can the two go together?

I know. I think too much.

Trust. I just have to trust.