Bob "Bobbo!" Nickels 

Chris Brumfield and Kasey Weiss

Patty Flowers! 

Evan "E-Do" Donovan 

My boys from 1st Belz (from left): John Lamb, (the top of the head of) Ben Hubbard, John Gregor Macdougal, Dave Gambrell, John Krueger, Ben Mitchell, Tyson Turner 

Aaron Johnson and Megan DeMaster (soon to be Johnson) 

Eric "E-Large" Largent 

Beerman and Alan (hiding under the bed with the glowing comfort of the computer) 

Nathan Hall (scotsman of all scotsmen) 

Jujyfruit

Well, the title is just because that's the open box of nasties that lies before me (I had a few back when I got them last winter, but now they just sit and rot their rotty rot).

After glancing at the blogs of several others (namely, those in my linkeroos), I figured "Hey, why not post."

First, my weekend (and week) have been good. My 'sister' was home from school, as was my very good friend (with a bit of a pond seperating us). I must say, every time I see them back home, it reminds me just how much I actually did miss them. I suppose while they're gone, I just kind of focus on myself and those present. I do admit that I miss them, but I just don't really comprehend how much until they get back (you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone).

Second, I've grown in my faith lately.
True, this should be an ever on-going thing, but well, it's not (truth!? human!? what!?). Yes, I'm willing to admit it. 12 step program, you might say, and the first step is admitting I'm wrong (wha!?). Anyways, there have been so many little things in my life (both in the past and lately) that I never saw. But it seems just this weekend I finally realized it was God. Perhaps His way of always having my back. Perhaps His way of showing me he's watching.
Either way, I've grown. I would say I'm proud to say that, but I don't like saying I'm proud of anything being that pridefulness can be bad.

"Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall."
-Proverbs 16:18 NIV

Summary: I've grown in my faith, amen.

Next up is life in general. Well, I suppose this kind of contradicts my previous statements, but so be it (since when am I one to worry about congruence).
I've been struggling a lot lately in life. I feel so much like I have no direction, don't know where to go. I was once walking in darkness, but have found the light, and now walk with Him personally. So, it is not that I'm lost, but perhaps that I am being tried. At least, that's what I like to think it is.
I've felt so much temptation lately. Many times I am able to fight it, or at least most of it. My human nature tends to be the root of it, and so there are so many small things that I give in to say "what will it hurt?" But they do add up. I always see just how much I am giving in as I look back every now and again.
The best way I can try to describe how I feel (to use imagery, if you will): is like a plain, and I can see a plateau above, my destination. But between me lies a dark forest, or really a dark anything. Whatever it is, I can see where I need to get, but the trail there is a difficult, confusing, winding, I-don't-know-what-other-adjectives-I-can-use path.
But, nobody ever said that being Christian makes life a cake-walk (in fact, most believe quite the opposite).

Anyhow, I suppose that'll be my rant for today. Hope anyone enjoys this. Comments are always good.

I guess I should finish up that Photoshop for Brodie so he can have it tomorrow...
Duty calls!

Rantings of a Madman.

Life is just on loan, not ours to keep.

Four's a crowd. Three's company. Two's tango.

You've got to fight for your right to party.

Don't let the man bring you down.

Don't let the world decide how you should live your life.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Eat breakfast, it's the most important meal of the day.

Eat lunch, or you'll go hungry until dinner.

Eat dinner.

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the wise words of someone short:
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it in front of an adult."

In the wise words of someone tall:
"Everybody move!"

In the wise words of someone dead and risen:
"I am the way and the truth and the life."

Pray.

Myself and Christie on the way to the formal.
Why she's half dead? I know not.

After the night is over, Tash, Me, Sarah and Christie on the beautiful stairs.

Roomie Tash and myself.

Nicole, Me, Christie and Sarah before they let us in.

The Dreaded V-Day

Earlier this week I was told by a good male friend that this Valentine's Day I should curl up in a blanket on a couch, with some kleenex and chocolate and watch a sappy movie. He was saying this because I'm not the type to normally do that sort of thing. Kind of a change of pace sort of suggestion. I don't know if I could handle that. I suppose it would have to depend on the movie. To me, V-day has become waaay too commercialized. Someday, I shall propose to my husband that we change the date to somewhere in September or something. Maybe switch April Fools to February or something. I don't know. I love flowers and chocolate, but I hate the idea of receiving a forced gift. Call me a dreamer, but I hope my husband won't need a day where every other husband is reminded (as well) to get his wife flowers. Is that too much to ask? To be different? Or should I just expect that to come from having a different anniversary as everyone else?? I don't know, just a thought. Enough of this- Two blogs in one day?! No good. I must have Some homework I should be doing!
cheers!

Spring Formal at TWU

On Friday night, February 11, I encounted my first formal event ever. Shocked? Don't be. For this little home-schooler, formal events were scarce growing up. The first time I got to really dress up was for a waltzing party my friends and I held over Christmas Break back in December. Now, the natural progression in place, it was time to move up in the world and on to the school formal. Decked out in what I would say, elegant attire, my suite and another good friend piled (crinoline abounding) into a car and were on our way. We enjoyed a delicious buffet meal - definitely not what we've all become accustomed to in our own wonderful cafeteria. The band that played was akin to Maroon 5 (not too shabby). I'm hoping if I get a hold of some photos, I might be able to send them over to the BAM himself and post them. It is not that I'm technologically challenged (well, I'll always be more so than B...), I just don't want to download the program necessary to upload these things. My computer is, well, it's lacking to say the least. I fear if I put much more on it, it won't wake up in the morning -if you catch my drift. Anyway, that was a major tangent. About the pictures, I'll see what I can do...

RUF Scavenger Hunt. Here is our team (from left to right): Luke, myself and Dan. Clearly, we had the most awesomest team. Technically, we got fourth place overall (out of four teams), but we won best team name (Team One Stop) and funniest picture (a series of 10 photos of a Starbucks Barista). However, I will also add that we had the sweetest music to go with our slideshow, and I also feel people were laughing the longest and hardiest when our pictures were presented.
Game. Set. Match.

The Dan with his mentor, The Donald. 

We had to get a picture of all but one of our team members with the Fremont Troll. Long lost cousins? 

Rock on, Dan! 

Totem poles are A-OK! 

Another picture from Huckfest. It looks like Nate back there is throwing a pass and I'm knocking it down, but that's not how it is. That leg off on the left threw to this big guy here, and I'm severely thwarting their efforts (I'm pretty sure we beat that team). Long live the disc! 

This was our starting line up for Huckfest 2004. Our school's (Covenant College) team was the CCCP (Covenant College Club Phrisbee). From left to right are Nate Hall (the Scotsman of Scotsmen), um, what's his name, that's me behind him. Crouched there with the blue butt is Kristine Brangwin (very fun to play with, but she probably still can't throw a normal flick :), in front of her is Commissar Sean himself, and the Micheal Jackson wannabe in the back is my main man Damien. As D and I clearly demonstrate, soccer socks rule. We had wicked soccer tans by the end of the weekend (soccer tan is only tan from where your shorts end and your socks begin). Phrisbee dya naroda!

Woo! limp noodle (L- remind you of anyone else with scoliosis? :)! I just felt like putting a random pic from my computer online, so there you have it! Everyone who reads this: hope school is going well for you. 

Visual Assault!

After reading my shortest bestest friends post just below, I came to the conclusion that she was on to something. So, for all to revel and behold, I give you my life's work: Visual Assault! Ok, so it took five minutes. But here are pictures from the last (just less than a-) week. M- Enjoy, and feel free to email or whatever any other pictures you would like to see on here (or rather, would like other people to see on here). See you in five!
Chris taking Kasey captive after she stole two loaves of bread from the market and stepped on my foot.
Ok, not really, but she did try awfully hard to avoid being in pictures, so Sir Chris decided to take matter into his own hands (literally).
That's right little one, you're headed to the slammer now (err, I mean the digital memory card...)!

The one and only me, trying to read what's written on Kasey's camera whilst being shot in the face. Apparently this is a popular picture of a popular guy (or something).

The first of two from the car ride home. We have here (from left to right): Chris "I'm so good with directions" B, Kasey "Too forward for anyone's own good" W, and Melissa "The magic child-magnet" J.

Due to overwhelming complaints from ONE person, I have been so kind as to remove an incriminating picture of Kasey from this space. She insists that her pain from that picture is not worth the worlds happiness, so I've pulled it. However, it is still on my computer, so whatever happens, the memory will live on...

White Elephant at the Carlson's last night. True, an elephant isn't exactly spectacular when there are only eight people, and all of them know each other. But, there was some element of surprise since none of us knew what the other brought.
Lyd, in all her inifinite wisdom, ended up with -among other things- a door stop.
A big, wooden, triangular door stop... Woo.

It's been a while

Turkey day has long since passed and the season of yule draws near. I've just finished a paper and am looking forward? to my exams come Monday afternoon. I have the whole weekend to study which is not very helpful on the motivation front. As soon as I dive into it, there's no going back. A few borrowed cds here and some eggnog there will help us through I am certain. I still have a bag or two of goldfish to devour before the week is over, so that's handy.
Looks like Europe for me is a no-go. That's alright, God knows what he's doing.
Who reads these anyway? B- someone should really put some pictures or something. It's definitely lacking. I just don't know what exactly.
Welp. That's me. I'm out.