I believe, I believe, I believe

Day 12:
I believe in a young girl.
A girl who was engaged to be married to a decent carpenter.
This girl was just like any other girl, except that she was devoted to the God of Israel. The holy God, who had promised to redeem the world.

And I believe, that one night, an Angel visited this young girl. Told her to not be afraid, that she had found favor with her God. And he was going to use her to bring his holy, perfect son into the world. The son that would one day, redeem the world.

I believe that the man this girl was engaged too, almost broke things off, but being an upstanding sort of guy, stayed with her. And promised to be with her. To take care of her. And to protect this holy baby who was going to redeem the world.

I believe that this couple traveled miles to take part of a census, ended up in Bethlehem without a place to stay-- and a baby on the way. So this young, faithful couple landed in a stable and laid their newborn baby- the Savior of the world, in the manger. And there he was visited by shepherds and angels celebrating the coming King.

And I believe that the story did not end there. That 33 years later, this little baby grew up into the man who performed miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead and died on the cross blameless for all the accusations placed on him. Only to rise for the grave 3 days later.

I believe that Jesus is indeed the Savior of the World.
I believe that he redeemed me.

So little time, yet so much to watch

Day 11: TV Shows I dig.

Fact: I don't have a TV at school. One, Covenant has suck-o cable reception (aka virtually non-existent) and there is just no time for TV watching. School is hard, and takes up a ton of time, and I have better things to do. Well, sorta. There are still those few shows that I can't let go of or always go back to...

1. Dawson's Creek:
I am Joey. at least according to my mom. I just have a few better morals. But seriously. Dawson loves Joey. Pacey loves Joey. Jack loved Joey. I am not convinced Jen didn't possibly love Joey. Who can get enough of the continuous love triangles of high school... and then college. Oh it is quality. And, BONUS, Matty loves Dawson's.

2. Gilmore Girls:
my mom and I, are Lorelai and Rory. But with better morals.... hm. A trend I see is forming. And the drama of Paris, Dean and Jess. Whew. Slow down, I love it.

3. Criminal Minds:
this show is every reason I wanted to be a forensic scientist when I was in middle school, and why I sometimes consider working as a Sociologist for the BAU. There is something poetic about studying crimes, victims, the hurt, the pain, and seeking out the evil- so as to stop it. There is a taste of redemption in jobs like that. Justice is the backbone and compassion the heart for why those jobs exist. Watching this show proves to me that evil is real, but that I serve a God who is so good. (and Shemar Moore doesn't hurt either.)

4. How I Met Your Mother:
never seen this? shame on you. Go watch it RIGHT NOW. But don't start at season 6.. go to number 1 and watch it all the way through. It is well worth the 3 weeks you think you loose by watching it every spare moment.

5. House Hunters International:
I dream of being on this show one day. But really I just dream of house hunting internationally one day.

Those are at least my top 5 favorites or at least a few go-to shows when I don't know what else to watch. If you really wanna know TV, talk to my sister Nichole. She knows it and she loves it. And it is her birthday today. Therefore, I dedicate this sentimental piece, to her.
Happy 17th Birthday, Little One!

'Fraidy Cat

Day 10: Something I am afraid of.


This, is a true story.
I was about 4 years old.
We were in Texas, visiting my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and other various extended family.
My Grandparents took my sisters and I to the Dallas Zoo. We walked around, checked out the animals, you know typical zoo stuff.
We decided to stop in at the petting zoo, you know, pet some sheep, feed a goat, whatever.
In Dallas, the petting zoo has Llamas.
And when I was 4 I had hair as blond as straw.
Those dumb llamas tried to eat my hair, like it was some food.
Thus, I now have a "fear" of both Llamas and petting zoos.

my thousand word favorites.

Day 9: a picture(s) of my friends.
"A picture says a thousand words."
The best part about this day, is I can let the pictures do the talking.
Not just one picture, but a few. I have friends from High school, friends from Camp, friends from Covenant. I am thankful for ALL of these. And sometimes I wonder, how I got so blessed.

Erin, Keri, Sydney and I our senior year of High School.


Court, myself, Emily and Amy on the first day of classes 2010-2011.

Boyfrann.


Third South for the Homecoming Strut 2010

Summer 2010- the SC's up at Tate.


Third North, represent.


Julie, myself, Keri and Jennifer. Three of the best friends.


Sisters are friends too.

Kilter 2009. Love.

Passport collector

My Dad travels all the time. I am sometimes jealous of him because it seems so glorious to be in Chile one week and Singapore the next. He goes all over, for business of course, but always manages a little sightseeing or touring while he is in these places. He prefers public transportation when he has time to use it, and never uses a tour guide. He walks the streets himself, perhaps with a map just to point him in the right direction, and goes. The man is awesome and I whole-heartedly blame him for my love of travel.

Day 8 is about a place I've traveled too. In my sweet, short life time, I have had the privalege of going to a lot of different places. Romania, Belgium, England, France, Italy, Costa Rica... but my favorite, for a lot of reasons, is Budapest.

I can't say that I ever really wanted to go there before the Summer between my junior and senior years of high school. Not a lot of high school students think of Hungary as being a cool place to visit. Not when they could see Paris, or Rome or London. But after the summer of 2007, I desperately wanted to go to Budapest. Why? Because I met a boy. Duh. So for thanksgiving of that year, The World Traveler (my dad) and I boarded a plane headed for Budapest. We stopped in France, we ran about the Charles du Galle airport, hopped on that connecting flight and landed in Hungary 14 hours after we left the United States. I waved goodbye to my Dad as he headed to catch another flight to Romania and I was left, alone in the heart of Eastern Europe. That is, until I saw Matt. Then all was well in the world. (minus stupid Air France loosing my bag... idiots.)

Budapest is beautiful- filled with old buildings, old history, old hills and my personal favorite, bridges over the Danube. There is something to be said about walking through a city with someone you love, who loves that city. Part of what made me love Budapest so much was how much Matt loved that city. He showed me his favorite spots, took me to "touristy" places, but in an untouristy kind of way. (My dad would have appreciated it). He let me take pictures, let me buy souvieners and he let me see his world. [Like I've said before, I think I loved this boy from the beginning.]

The best part of the whole of the city (in my humble opinion) is a view you can see from atop Gellart Hill. (in Budapest there are 2 "hills" that are on one side of the Danube. Gellert and Castle Hill.) Matt and I walked up Gellart Hill- in the cold and the wet and the rain, classic Budapest November weather. We got to the top, sat on a bench and watched the lights come on in the city. As the sun goes down the lights come on. The buildings twinkle with lights in the windows, and the bridges- Oh the bridges- covered in lights across the expanse of the river. It's beautiful. And its better when holding a cute boy's hand.

Budapest is my favorite. It was the best collection of stamps I have ever received in "all" my travels. Give me a plane ticket and I'd go back in a heartbeat. Then again, I might be going back in May...