My day has been a good one. Pretty relaxing up until about 9:30, when we put in a movie to watch – but we’ll talk about that later. My day began with a cup of coffee and some fruit while in the kitchen talking with Mike and my family. I got my hurricane guide for the summer and a pretty neat calendar, at that. After quite a while, I decided to go get ready for the day with a shower and such. Mike and I left for a couple errands. We drove past the gym, went into Bi-lo for a couple groceries, and then lastly drove down Coit St. and Cherokee Rd. (the prettiest of all roads in Florence by far). The afternoon was filled with tons of baking, which I’m happy to report was a very successful adventure for me, lol. The cookies Mrs. Hanna taught me to bake didn’t turn out that bad when I made them myself. It’s actually quite a shock for me . . . maybe I’m not that bad of a cook after all. After some cooking, I battled my brother in a game of monopoly with Mike. Unfortunately Mike lost big time, but um, surprisingly I came in a pretty close second with my brother. It was a good game. After monopoly and finishing up some laundry, I watched some tv for a bit and then went out to grab some Zaxaby’s take-out for dinner. It was so good. It was my last Zaxaby’s for a while so I had to enjoy it.

Towards the end of the night, my dad, Mike, and I put in a movie to watch. Now to give you some back ground information, I picked this movie out at Blockbuster myself. I remember seeing the commercial for the movie way back thinking it’d be an interesting movie to see, a thriller at that – being about a man who disappears suddenly and his wife does everything she can to try and find him. Well, I didn’t realize at the movie place that the film was rated R for torture/violence . . . that right there should have told me to leave the movie on the shelf. Those that know me, know I can’t stand to see people in pain. It just does not make my day to say the least. Well, unfortunately the movie was already bought and paid for at my house before I realized this tad bit of information about the movie, but well I figured I better watch it anyway knowing the movie cost money to rent. So we watched it tonight and it was definitely a thriller. A thriller with a very big statement attached to it, and the thing is I don’t really even know if I can properly say what the movie’s statement really was, but it was a statement of thought for America at that. This man traveling back home in another country was suddenly taken from the airport and brought into custody by very important people working in the United States government (terrorist-seeking people). These agents had reasonable evidence to believe this man was involved in terrorist activity. Of course, the truth was he’s innocent. He was a man with a pregnant wife, a six year old son, and no reason to be involved in terrorist activity whatsoever. The men who were holding him prisoner didn’t know that though and they didn’t even think otherwise. No, in their minds they had the guy. Ugh! Just horrible to think how if we think someone is a terrorist, we do that sort of thing. It’s just not humane to me, let alone American. I can understand how important it is to be reasonable not to have another terrorist attack hit our country, but isn’t there another way. A way to make sure no innocent man is being put through something as terrible as what this movie portrayed. All I can say is I’m so relieved the movie ended well. One of the agents (the boy who played in October sky) saved the innocent’s guy life and got him out of there, recognizing late in the movie he was innocent and they had the wrong guy. It was an unbelievable story, but sadly could be very true. I have no doubt the movie was made for a political point, but what to make of it I have no idea. Overall I’m really glad I watched it, but for me personally I could have picked out a much happier movie to watch then that one.

I wish the world could be full of caring people. People who looked out for one another and didn’t care about the differences of those that surround them. It’s just unfortunate that the world isn’t like that. The fact that the world holds some horrible people on its earth, makes for a very nasty, nasty place in most parts of the world. All, I can say, though, is I’m going to continue trying to make the world a better place, by remaining faithful to God, by helping others when I can, and by just truly believing that there’s something better out there. Despite the evil in the world, I’ve seen tons of good in it. I’ve met incredible people who care just as much as I do if not more. I’ve experienced the most beautiful sights like the mountains and the beaches. I’m even going to say I’ve even experience the magic at Disney World because it is truly one of a kind. I love going to the movies, like watching a film such as the Chronicles of Narnia and experiencing that world of fantasy. It’s just so amazing to be taken away from the real troubles of the world and experience something else. I love that feeling. The imagination is such a beautiful thing.

So as I lay here tonight trying to go to sleep I can’t help but type away these thoughts. I have a picture of my boyfriend right beside me and I have every intention of drifting off into dreamland with him right next to me.

Good night all and sweet, sweet dreams!

Well, the “vacationing” part of my summer is about over.  One week left and I can feel the turning in my stomach as my trip to PA grows closer and closer.  I have mixed feelings about the next two and a half months.  I think I’ve realized that I am not a big person for change whatsoever.  I mean change is a good thing, but I . . . well, first off I didn’t like leaving high school, I didn’t want to leave college, I didn’t want to leave the beach, and now I’m having to go off some like five states away to work.  Now granted that I don’t like change, nonetheless the experiences of my new life styles have been nothing short of amazing.  After not wanting to leave high school, I’m so unbelievably happy that I did.   College was a beyond incredible experience and I made so many more friends that I became way more close to than any high school friend, and I’ve only known them less than a year, in which my high school friends I’ve known for almost four years!  When May of this year came, I didn’t want to leave college.  My resentment for change began all over again, and yet feeling that same resentment a year ago I should know better now – but it’s still hard.  I’m so scared of not seeing my boyfriend for that long, for not seeing my roommate, not seeing my family – oh, what am I getting myself into. 

The good news is that I’m not entirely nervous about the summer.  I’m also very excited and that could be perhaps the reason why my stomach is turning the way it is right now.  I get to see friends to whom I’ve not seen since last summer at this very same job.  I get to experience a whole world of gymnastics for two and a half months.  I get to watch children be kids for an entire week taking in all there is to take in at a summer camp.  I get to experience my absolute favorite night every week of camp : Friday with the exciting staff exhibition EIGHT times this summer!  How awesome is that!!  I get to meet tons more people and interact with kids for the entire summer.  I am so excited to experience all these things!

Overall, I think the summer is going to be a fantastic one but I know even more so I’m going to be sooooo happy to be returning to NC State and more importantly to the best friends a girl good ask for.  Welcome Summer of 2008 but I can’t wait for Fall!  J

A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed a wonderful visit from my dear friends in Raleigh.  One night we had the opportunity to rent a couple movies and one of them happened to be the Golden Compass.  I had heard from many people that the movie represented anti-christianism.  Truthfully, though, inside I wasn't against watching the movie.  All the talk just seemed to be hysteria, somewhat like the same hysteria over the Harry Potter series.  As I watched the movie, I felt it was very weird.  Having your soul disguised as an animal, always to follow you around was just very strange to me.  That was the first thing that caught my attention as quote "anti-christian".  The only other real obvious thing in the movie was the fact that the evil doers in the movie, happened to be dressed like priests in a way and seemed to represent the Chruch in the movie.  Other that that, the movie didn't seem that bad.  I was like, "that was what all the fuss was about?"  Afterwards, I read up a little bit on the author of the series.  I learned quite a few things that changed my opinion entirely.  First off, the author claims to hate religion and God therefore purposely wrote his novels to be "anti-christian".  I also found out that the movie itself was quote "watered down" of the anti-God stuff allowing parents to not get overwhelmed by the content and hoping that children would find the movie interesting enough to go by the books in which they would get the full extent of the atheisnism.  Ehh, that just downright disgusts me.  How can someone not believe?  A life would be so empty without faith. . . . without something to turn to when your life gets sucky. . . . without something to believe wholeheartedly in.

But can I just say the Chronicle of Narnia is the complete opposite.  Oh, there is so much faith in that movie . . so much!  Especially from Little Lucy.  She is my favorite character since seeing the latest film of the series, Prince Caspian.  Oh, Lucy was amazing to see and experience just how strong of a believer she was in Aslan (God). 

Good always, always triumphs over evil - any time, any day. 

I just watched August Rush for perhaps the fifteenth time in the last couple weeks, and yet the movie still gives me chills to see.  The movie is utterly amazing.  I mean the way everything comes together in the end is just incredible, and nonetheless the movie is filled with nothing but hope and inspiration with which you want nothing more but to believe in by the end of the movie.  August, the main character, takes in everything around him including the little things like the wind, the sound of car horns, the sway of wind chimes – anything to follow the music and he doesn’t miss a beat of it despite the fact other people tell him to do otherwise.  He even says, “Sometimes the world tries to knock it out of you, but I believe in music the way that some people believe in fairy tales.”   I’d like to think I’m somewhat of the same person August is, but not nearly to the level he is – maybe someday though, I’ll be at that great of a level too.  But I like to take in the small things around me like August, for instance a red cardinal flying by or a blue jay resting in a tree, a squirrel furring about, the clouds forming in the sky, the moon and stars brightening up the sky at night, the soft breezes flowing on a warm day, the sound of a train horn filling the air around me or the sight of a child playing, and just the smells that can fill one’s mind just as the aroma of freshly cut grass or of rain beginning to fall; anything in this life that is beautiful which surrounds us every day as we make our way through life’s journey.  When amidst difficult times in life these things can bring a smile to your face, or when in stressful times, like for me now, can bring you a moment of serenity.  I believe in life and its gifts of hope are something never to let go of, even if it does seem impossible.  It’s better to hold onto hope than to have nothing at all.

I can't believe I'm up this late for the second night in a row.  My body keeps telling me to go to bed earlier but like when that time comes I just don't want to go to bed.  That is one thing in life I really wish I could change, the fact that the body needs sleep at night.  Can you imagine how many more hours in a day you would get if you just didn't have to sleep?!  That would mean more time to get work done, more time to hang out with family and friends, and more time to truly relax or do something fun.  I mean it feels good to lie down at night and sleep, sometimes even have really cool dreams - but sometimes I just long for a life that didn't need sleep.

Things are going as well as could be hoped for right now.  School is coming to a close, temperatures are warming up, classes are getting hectic in preparation for finals, and the world and its time just keep on rolling.  At times it seems like so much is going on and other times there just isn't all that stress.

My thoughts nowadays on mainly focused on these next three weeks of school.  I also have nationals for club gymnastics coming up and a whole month of May off from school and work to look forward to, most especially a whole week at the beach with Chad!  Then in June I'll be off to PA, for the rest of the summer which is truly exciting in its own way, though some of my thoughts are filled with apprehension.  Overall, though, I am really excited.  It'll just be hard being so far away from people that I care so much about like Chad and Jennifer and also my family and friends for such a long period of time.  I don't really see how I'm going to make it without seeing all these important people in my life for nearly 10 whole weeks!  However some how I know I'll make it through.  Plus I made some really good friends working at this camp last summer and to think this is going to be the only time I get to see them the entire year, makes my nine week long summer with them seem so small.  Either way of looking at it,  I know my summer will be an adventure.  And to think its just around the corner!

I have a feeling 7:30 AM is going to come fast so I better head to bed.   I hope everything has a wonderful night and the most pleasant of dreams!