Thoughts From A Brunette Brain

Tuesday's Top 10

2008-11-04T17:34:00.004-05:00

So I've decided to start a Tuesday's Top 10. I'm sure if it even exists, but if not, I have created it! I guess it will be similar to Thursday Thirteen. So here goes!

Top 10 Reasons I Voted for McCain

1. He's been in a war before. He has a little insight on how to deal with them. He has enough sense to know that we can't simply leave and believe everything will be just fine and dandy.

2. He is against recognizing a homosexual couple as a marriage. Marriage is between one man and one woman.

3. He plans to give tax breaks to small busineses. My husband owns his own shop. We could really use a break.

4. He is not going to take more of my money just to give more to all of these sorry low-lifes that do not need to be on Welfare. Please understand, I am totally for helping out people who cannot work or provide for themselves. However, there are way too many scumbags who work very hard to not work. "I'll just work at McDonald's for the rest of my life so I'll be under the income limit. I'll just shack up and have a kid so I can get a bigger check. And to top it all off, not only can I get a check every month, but I also get a cell phone!" In the words of Dave Ramsey, "Are you kidding me?!?!" This really really REALLY makes me mad! I have worked too hard on getting my college degree to have my money taken away to help these sorry people.

5. He is against the mass genocide of babies, also known as abortion.

6. To my knowledge, McCain's friends aren't former terrorists, criminals, and racist preachers. I cannot trust anyone who has been involved with such a high number questionable characters.

7. John doesn't want to take my guns away.

8. Palin is supposedly going to make us an energy efficient country. No, it will not happen overnight, but if we start now, things will speed up. We have to start somewhere!

9. McCain has said that he will strictly enforce immigration laws. Obama says he will, but then turns around and suggests that they should be able to bypass the entire process and just be made citizens. Afterall, they're already here, why not? I don't think so. The laws are there for a reason.

10. He publicly claims to be a Christian. He doesn't change his religious affiliation depending on the audience he's speaking to. He is a Christian. Period.

Once upon a time...

2008-10-31T16:27:00.004-04:00

...I used to blog on this thing! So it has been quite a while, but this is yet another attempt to get back in the groove. First, let me give an update on me:

I am now married to Josh. We were married August 4, 2007. We FINALLY finished our house and moved in April of this year. I'm still attending UNCG and will be graduating next summer (WOOHOO!) with a degree in accounting. Josh and I still do not have any children. I could not imagine having children right now with everything that's going on! We do, however, have a great big dog that is my baby. His name is Otis. He is a Cane Corso (Italian) Mastiff. He's only 10 months old and weighs about 130 lbs! I'm not sure if I had mentioned previously that Josh is a mechanic, but if I have, it won't hurt to read it again. Well, he has now opened his own shop in Eden, Josh Smith Auto Repair, LLC. I'm now attending Dan River Wesleyan Church with Josh, and I love it. Everyone there just took me in when I came.

So that's my life for the past year in a paragraph.

I would like to say that I will be glad when this election is over. Back in December when there were still multiple people running for each party's nomination, I really got into politics. For the first time, I followed what was happening and halfway understood. My interest in politics has grown so much since then. However, I'm now burned out. I am tired of the ads, the new stories of corruption and lies, and trying to figure out why people think the way that they do. It is beyond me how anyone could think that murdering a child is okay. Shocked to hear that some think it's okay?? Abortions are happening everyday all over this country. I don't understand how someone can take a passage out of the Bible, that specifically says that homosexuality is an abomination of God, and decide that it's really not that bad. That it's okay. It's beyond me that anyone could believe that if we pull out all of our troops from Iraq, that everything will be fine and the war over. Well I've got some news for you: it may be over for a while, but not a long while. It won't be long before they're knocking on our door again. But then again, I guess the world would be boring if we all thought the same way. I will just be glad when we know when our next president is and we can all deal with it and go on. Either way the country votes, things are going to get worse. All we can do is pray that the people that are put into office are intelligent enough to make it a little bit more bearable.

I'll try to put up some more current pictures of our family soon!

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-22T21:23:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Reasons I'm Happy Spring Is Here!

1. People start mowing their lawns. I like the smell of fresh-cut grass.

2. The days are longer. You can stay outside longer.

3. I can drive with my windows down. This is one of my favorite things to do. It's alot better when it's warm, I won't have to freeze Josh haha.

4. I can open the windows in my house while cleaning. This gives a nice breeze and a refreshing feeling.

5. This semester is nearing an end. I'm to the point that I'm bored with most of my classes (though not all).

6. Flowers begin to bloom. I like flowers. They are pretty.

7. Vacationing season is near! Woo hoo!

8. We're getting ready to plant a garden. Fresh veggies and fruits are on their way!

9. Spring means summer isn't far away. This means soon I will be working full-time. This means I will have money. This is a very good thing.

10. I can wear flip flops. They're my favorite. Actually, anything where my toes are exposed and free are great.

11. Cook-outs will be plentiful pretty soon. Yummy yummy yummy, and cheap cheap cheap!

12. Now that there's nice weather, there should be significant progress on mine and Josh's house.

13. SPRING CLEANING!!! Love it, love it, love it!

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-15T21:52:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Things To Get Before Josh and I Can Move In To Our House!

1. Get floors.

2. Get walls.

3. Get a roof.

4. Get toilets, showers and other bathroom necessities.

5. Get plumbing for the aforementioned toilets, showers and other bathroom necessities.

6. Get electricity.

7. Get windows and doors.

8. Get paint for the aforementioned walls.

9. Get furniture.

10. Get a mailbox.

11. Get grass in the front yard.

12. Get home decor.

And last, but certainly not least,

13. GET MARRIED!

Books, Books, Books!

2007-03-05T18:16:00.000-05:00

So today I was going back through Heather's blogs and catching up on any I've missed in the past year, and I came across this MeMe that she tagged me on last August. I know, I'm bad. I'm not feeling that well today (pray for me please!) so I figured this would be a short, but fun, post. Plus, I LOVE LOVE LOVE books!!!

1. One book that changed your life: A Moment Of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury. This was the first Kingsbury book I ever read and since then I've been addicted haha. Seriously though, they have really helped guide me to be a better Christian and to depend on God completely, and this book was the one that got me started.

2. One book that you've read more than once: I'm not really a "read books more than once" kind of girl. The only one that comes to mind is the Bible.

3. One book I'd want on a dessert island: "How to Survive on a Dessert Island", if there is such a book.

4. One book that made you laugh: The "B" Book by the Berenstein Bears. That book was an all-time masterpiece, and yes, I still have a copy in my bookcase!

5. One book that made you cry: Ever After by Karen Kingsbury. More tears flowed while I read that book than all my other crying done because of books put together. I had to take a week-long break from reading to regain the emotional strength to finish reading!

6. One book you wish you had written: Anything by Karen Kingsbury. Her books touch so many people. It would be awesome knowing that God had given you that gift.

7. One book you wish had never been written: The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown.

8. One book you are currently reading: Nothing at the moment, I'm betwixt books. Just the Bible.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

Thirteen Things that Make Me Laugh!

1. Stubborn elderly folk.

2. When the guy on Rigoletto sings "I love these pigs..."

3. When my dalmatian Tosha trys to walk on our slick kitchen floor but doesn't get anywhere, she just stays in the same spot with her feet sliding frantically haha.

4. My Microeconomics professor. He's a character.

5. When Josh makes his weird noises.

6. Midgets.

7. The movie Barnyard.

8. Most any childrens' animated movie. (Finding Nemo, Open Season, etc.)

9. Eric on Boy Meets World. Especially when he's messing with Mr. Feeny!

10. Raegan and Mikayla's love-hate friendship. They're so funny to watch!

11. When dad and I gang up and pick on mom.

12. Knickers. (I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly. I'm speaking about the capri-length pants for men that are fitted at the bottom, like the old-timey golf pants)

13. When I find the smallest things in life amusing, then realize what a dork I am!

Patience Is a Virtue...

2007-02-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

...that I don't have. It's a great quality to posses. I thought I was a pretty patient person, but I've never really been tested in this area.

I was told that on Monday morning, this past Monday, builders were going to begin marking and maybe even digging to begin the process of building our house. This did not happen. The "digger" will not be able to "dig" until NEXT Monday. This is understandable, so I'm not upset about it. I was just made to realize that I need a little more patience.

There could be many reasons God allowed this delay. There could have been an enormous disaster occur had they began Monday. God could have been saving us from a huge headache. Or, He could have decided that I needed to learn more about patience. Maybe He wants me to rely on Him and have faith that everything will turn out good in His time.

So for now, I'm praying for LOTS of patience. Pray for me!

You wait just a minute...

2007-02-26T19:46:00.000-05:00

Okay, before I begin, let me say that I have nothing at all against the elderly. With that being said, it is my experience that older folks can get a little touchy when you have to change their plans.

I am currently working in an eye doctors office. It is part of my job to call patients to remind them of their appointments, outstanding balances and the like. So when a doctor has to be out for some reason, I get to help call and break the news, ever so gently of course, that their plans have changed, whether they wanted them to or not. This is where the title of my blog comes in.

Of course there are many patients who are understanding, or who maybe aren't very happy about having to rearrange their schedules, but cooperate nicely and efficiently. Others, most of whom tend to be older, not so much understanding. Words like "Now you wait just a minute!" or "Well I have an appointment card that says..." and so on and so forth. Never mind the fact that the doctor is in the hospital having a baby or not even in town, they have made it their mission to get that doctor back in the office at the time specified on their appointment card.

There is one other scenario, however, that causes an opposite effect on the elderly. It is extremely entertaining to make reminder calls when snow or ice is in the forecast. Once again, let me stop to explain one thing. I completely understand the idea of safety first. I would never want anyone, regardless of their age, to have to drive in weather that they weren't comfortable driving. I won't even drive in bad weather if there's any way to avoid doing so. So when people simply say that they may or may not arrive for their appointment, this is absolutely understandable.

What gets me is when I hear that same line, "Now you wait just a minute!, as if they are the first to make our office aware that there's a 3% chance of a flurry. See, in this situation, our office stays open to accommodate our patients as much as possible. But when there's a sliver of a chance of winter weather, there is NO waiting to see if anything happens. CANCELLED!

This whole phenomenon of the elderly and their scheduling issues entertains me. They make me laugh!

It's A Bright New Day

2007-02-24T14:38:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody!!! So it's been about 7 1/2 months since my last post, so I figured, maybe I should write a little something. Since it's been such a long time there's probably been alot that has changed, so here's what's going on in my life at the moment.

I'm still in college, and I finally made my major Accounting. This means I'm actually starting to get into more business-oriented classes, not just the general stuff that I find excrutiatingly boring. If all goes as planned, I should be done in 2 more years.

I also got a job working in an eye doctor's office. So I'm making a little bit of money. And I do mean a LITTLE bit. But hey, it's a good job, I enjoy it, and they treat me great, so I'm very thankful!

My boyfriend Josh (you should remember him, he's the same one I was dating back when I blogged last year) and I are in the process of building a house! It's very exciting! I'll go ahead and answer the next question on your mind: No, we are not engaged. Not officially, anyways. We are going to get married someday, but we're just waiting and taking things one step at a time. No, this does not mean that we plan to live together in our house before marriage. This is not an option. We will move in our house together AFTER we are married. And by the way, he's absolutely amazing! God has truely blessed me with a great man!

So that's pretty much my life right now. Stressful at times with school and work, but Josh can always bring things into perspective and make my day brighter. I can't wait to see where everything goes from here!

Thursday Thirteen

2006-07-13T21:41:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Jobs I Would Not Like To Have

1. SWAT Team Member

2. Taxi Driver

3. Customer Service in an airport

4. Teacher

5. Waitress

6. Telemarketer

7. Maid/Hotel Room Cleaner

8. Plumber

9. Construction Worker

10. Toll Collecter

11. Animal Control Officer

12. Exterminator

13. Pediatrist

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Four Things: A MeMe

2006-06-25T14:55:00.000-04:00

Okay, Heather tagged me to do this meme so here goes!

A)Four things you may not know about me:
1. I relate almost anything someone says to either a song or a movie.
2. I used to not like other peoples' feet touching me. I'm not so bad anymore, unless the person has funk feet.
3. My favorite color is red.
4. Tanning in the tanning bed makes me happy.

B) Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. O Brother Where Art Thou
2. Son-In-Law
3. National Treasure
4. The Chronicles of Narnia

C) Four places you have lived:
1. Brown Summit. That's it. Nowhere else.

D) Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. House
2. Boy Meets World
3. Falcon Beach (it's actually pretty good!)
4. Friends

E ) Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Orlando, FL
2. New York, NY
3. Atlanta, GA
4. Boone, NC

F) Websites you visit daily:
1. Yahoo
2. Myspace
3. Facebook
4. Blogger

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Key Lime Pie
2. Homemade chocolate pudding (not the jello mess you buy in the store!)
3. Anything mexican
4. Bread, any kind

H ) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Australia
2. Ireland
3. Cozumel
4. Boone

Thursday Thirteen

2006-06-22T21:55:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Things I Am Thankful For!

I know you usually do these types of lists around Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I think you should take time to think about all you're thankful for all year!

I'm thankful for:

1. For God's love. Even though I don't deserve anything, He's always there for me.

2. For my parents. They were the ones who taught me about God's love. They're awesome.

3. For my boyfriend Josh. I truely believe he was sent to me by God!

4. For my church family. I have a pastor that loves the Lord and teaches His word and a church family who is always there to encourage, pray with me, or just have fun with.

5. For my health. I have no major problems to my knowledge, and have had no previous incedents. These days, that's rare.

6. For my dog, Tosha. Okay, I know she's just a dog, but she's my baby!

7. For the opportunity to go to UNCG. There are alot of people who would love to go to college but just can't afford it. I'm fortunate.

8. For my house. I dream about alot of houses that are bigger, fancier, etc., but mine is perfectly fine and keeps me safe and warm.

9. For my car. This is a luxury item, but it would be hard for me to imagine life without it.

10. For my job. I keep my cousins children. I get to have the hours I want to work and get to spend alot of time with them, they're adorable!

11. For my freedom. I get to live in a country where I can worship God freely, without fear.

12. For my laptop. Another luxury item, I know, but it gives me a chance to keep in touch with high school friends.

13. For being an only child. Some people don't like it, but I'm glad I'm an only child. I may not be as close to my parents as I am if I had siblings.

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Thursday Thirteen

2006-06-15T22:26:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Of My Favorite Fiction Books!

I will say that you will probably know my favorite authors after reading this!

1. Halfway to Forever by Karen Kingsbury

2. The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

3. Ocean's Apart by Karen Kingsbury

4. The entire Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury

5. The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers

6. The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers

7. Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

8. A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury

9. A Time to Dance and A Time to Embrace by Karen Kingsbury

10. Sam's Letters for Jennifer by James Patterson

11. Suzanne's Diary for Nicolas by James Patterson

12. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

13. A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury

When I Grow Up, I Wanna Be...

2006-06-13T18:37:00.000-04:00

You always hear little kids say this when they're in elementary school, and no matter what they say, they know it's going to happen. They're going to be an airplane pilot or country singer or space ranger. If only we could be that sure when it comes time to choose a career for real.

I have been struggling in deciding on a major in college. I don't want to go into something and waste my time and money if I'm just going to change my mind. I've already gone through architecture and psychology. Neither of the two are for me I've discovered. You know, it's very easy to figure out what you don't want to do. I wish there was some way that was just as easy to decide what you DO want to do.

However, I may be narrowing the field, finally. This is actually something that has always been in the back of my mind: accounting. I've always liked math. I'm good at it and I understand it easily, or at least more so than any other subject. I have recently talked to a few resources and the more I look into it, the better I feel about the idea. There's a demand for accountants, so I know I could get a job, and they make pretty good money. I also found out that in order to get your accounting degree you must take a lot of business management and administration classes. So with an accounting degree I could actually go into several directions.

I have at least two more semesters of general classes but after that a decision MUST be made. I'd like to ask all of you to pray for me as I go through these next semesters that I will know for sure what God's will is for my life.

Thursday Thirteen!

2006-05-25T16:17:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Reasons Why I Think Taylor Hicks Deserved To Win American Idol!

1. He looks different from the typical pop star.

2. He has a good personality.

3. He has original dance moves. Okay, very original!

4. He's from the south.

5. He has a unique, rough voice.

6. He can sing alot of different styles of music and still make it his own and sound good.

7. He'll wear just about anything he is asked to wear. (i.e. the purple jacket)

8. He is always smiling, even when criticized.

9. He's the first caucasion male to win American Idol.

10. He can do serious and funny and do them outstandingly.

11. He's a good entertainer.

12. He is humble even in Hollywood.

13. I voted for him 60 times and I'm glad I wasn't just wasting my time!

Now You Know My ABC's...

2006-05-18T22:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, I'm trying to catch up some since it's been a good while since I've blogged. Heather tagged me to do this random MeMe, so I'll use this to get started!

Accent: Southern. Country and southern.

Bible Book that I like: Ecclesiastes, 1 John, Ephesians

Chore I don't care for: Folding laundry, I definately agree with Heather on this one!

Dog or Cat: Dog

Essential Electronics: Cell phone, laptop, some type of music player

Favorite Cologne: Not sure, I know I like the smell of Candie's for men though

Gold or Silver: I like both, but I usually wait until summer when I have a tan for gold

Handbag I Carry Most Often: My burgundy Vera Bradley, I paid enough for it, I'm gonna carry it until it falls apart!

Insomnia: Every now and then, I usually don't have a problem sleeping though. I like sleep.

Job Title: Babysitter? Nanny? Something of that nature

Kids: Definately someday, but not soon. Got to get married first, and I'm not in any rush

Living Arrangements: With my parents and my dog

Most Admirable Trait: I have been told recently that I take a strong stand in my beliefs. I admire people with that trait, so I guess that is one of mine.

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Talking back to my parents. I always had to have the last word. I actually cursed at my dad when I was four. I didn't know I was saying a curse word, it was before I had be taught the words to say and the words not to say. I got a good beating. I've never cursed since haha.

Overnight Hospital Stays: I've never had to be in the hospital (knock on wood!)

Quote: "Love is a decision." It's from a series of books by Karen Kingsbury, The Redemption Series

Religion: I'm not religious, really. I'm a Christian. (I agree wholeheartedly with this, Susan and Heather, so I'm keeping it here!)

Siblings: My parents had but one child, ME!

Time I Wake Up: When I keep Raegan and Trace, 6:15. If I'm sleeping in, usually 9 or 9:30

Unusual Talent or Skill: I can't think of any, I guess I'm not unsual haha

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: Squash, but I love zuccinni. Okay, maybe I am unusual...

Worst Habit: Cracking my knuckles

X-rays: Does the dentist count?

Yummy Stuff I Cook: Key Lime Pie, homemade chocolate pudding, sweet potato casserole

Zoo Animal I Like Most: The polar bears

Thursday Thirteen

2006-05-18T21:58:00.000-04:00

Just an update: my finals are over and I ended up with very good grades! Woohoo! Also, we had a safe trip to and from Florida and had a great time! Thanks for all the prayers. Now here's my Thirteen!

Thirteen Of My Favorite Songs!

These are not in any specific order!

1. Only Grace by Matthew West

2. Stay by Jeremy Camp

3. Jesus Bring The Rain by MercyMe

4. Consuming Fire by Third Day

5. Long As I Got King Jesus by Brian Free & Assurance with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

6. Sing Me To Heaven by Daniel Gawthorp

7. My Jesus by Todd Agnew

8. Midnight Cry by Ivan Parker (preferably performed by my uncle Benny)

9. Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns

10. Magnificent Obsession by Steven Curtis Chapman

11. I Know My Redeemer Lives by Nicole C. Mullins

12. Alabaster Box by Hope's Call

13. Praise Anthem by Richard Smallwood and Vision

Thursday Thirteen

2006-05-04T20:54:00.000-04:00

Okay guys, I've been a bit busy with final exams (pray for me!!!) and getting ready for vacation, but here's my Thursday Thirteen!

Thirteen Things I Need To Do Before Leaving For FLORIDA!!!

1. Take my Spanish exam tomorrow

2. Take my Biology exam next Tuesday

3. Finish a paper

4. Get a pedicure (I'm serious)

5. Pack

6. Buy travel sized shampoo, soap, etc.

7. Buy new flip flops

8. Get more batteries for my camera

9. Sell back my Biology book

10. Return my library books

11. Buy new razor blades

12. Go visit a few houses in the Parade Of Homes

13. TAN!

Thursday Thirteen

2006-04-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Of My Favorite Places To Eat In Disney World!

1. Rainforest Cafe

2. Planet Hollywood

3. The Mayan Grill

4. Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano

5. 50's Prime Time Cafe

6. Le Cellier Steakhouse

7. The Crystal Palace

8. Tony's Town Square

9. Ghirardelli Soda Fountain

10. Hollywood & Vine

11. L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante

12. Boulangerie Patisserie

13. Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe

Ah, The Randomness!

2006-04-26T10:16:00.000-04:00

Okay, I was tagged by Heather to do this random MeMe. I have to tell you 6 random things about me that you may or may not know, so here goes!

1. I sometimes turn on my turn signal when going around a curve. I only do this when my mind is elsewhere. I guess God makes me do this to snap me out of my thoughtlessness.

2. I cannot type without looking at the keyboard. I can still type pretty fast, I just have to look down. Most people learn how to type without looking in school, but I never did. Oh well.

3. I never buy the same kind of shampoo that I just finished. When a bottle runs out, I go out and buy a different kind. I heard that different kinds have different nutrients for your hair in them, so if I use the same kind every time, my hair may not be getting something that it needs.

4. I am afraid of fire. I like fireplaces and bon fires, but I don't like lighters or sparklers and I'm terrified of matches. I have never lit a match in my life.

5. I think my ideal job would be an editor for a Christian publishing company. Think about it, I'd get to read books all day long and give my opinion! Either an editor or a food critic. That'd be cool too.

6. I am a very picky eater. VERY picky. My mom picks on me sometimes, but it's really her fault. I get it from my grandpa, who passed it to me through her. I used to think I was the only one in my family that was this picky, but then I learned that a lot of the things I don't like, my grandpa doesn't like them either. I'm not the only one!

Hope you enjoyed!

Tu Hablas Espanol?

2006-04-25T22:50:00.000-04:00

Well once again I have gotten behind on blogging. I hope you all forgive me and continue reading! I also have a random MeMe that Heather tagged me on, so that will be up tomorrow.

Today, though, I want to tell you all a story. This is a true story that happened moments before I began typing this. I have an oral exam tomorrow in Spanish, in which my professor will ask me 5 questions out of about 15 that she gave us to study for. To study, I wrote the questions on notecards with the corresponding responses on the opposite side. I asked my mother to read the questions randomly to me. I did not realize what I was asking.

My mother knows english. My mother does not know any languages other than english. This means that she's not experienced when it comes to reading another language, even spanish. However, this was a very funny experience. What made it funny wasn't necessarily how she said the words (although this was pretty funny), but it was the look on her face when saying them.

She got tired of studying pretty quickly, and I can understand why. I'm just glad that I have a mom that will take the time to help me with my studying, even if she has no clue what she is saying to me!

Thursday Thirteen

2006-04-20T10:22:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Of My Favorite Quotes!

1. "Gosh..." -Napolean Dynamite

2. "I don't know!" -Lucy Pevancy from Chronicles of Narnia

3. "You guys got chickens? I love chickens! Are they extra crispy or original recipe?" -Crawl from Son-In-Law

4. "Love is a decision." -from the book Redemption by Karen Kingsbury

5. "If it wasn't this, it's be something else!" -from Elizabethtown

6. "Walking in the grass feels so fine, don't need shoes in the summertime!" -SpongeBob

7. "I love them pigs, I love them pigs so much! We love them swine (snort snort snort), they is devine (snort snort snort)!" -from Rigoletto

8. "Cows, I hate cows more than I hate coppers!" -from O Brother Where Art Thou

9. "Oh my gosh, Nemo's swimming out to sea!!!" -the buck-toothed fish from Finding Nemo

10. "Look, it's a tall green man with a weird gotee. I'm guessing that's significant. (Begins crying and hugs statue)" -Riley from National Treasure

11. "New York City has no power, and the milk is getting sour, but I do not think it's scary because I stay away from dairy. La la la la la la la..." -Phoebe from Friends, and yes it is a song, but I like it!

12. "I sometimes eat on Saturdays." -from Failure to Launch

13. "Schmidtty!!!" -all of us Balkus people, we said it long before that stupid commercial came out!

Healthy Competition

2006-04-19T11:54:00.000-04:00

Okay, I have always heard that competition is good for you. It supposedly helps you build character. Well, it seems as if I have some healthy competition coming my way!

Sunday night, Josh came to church with me and afterwards a group of us all went to eat at Pizza Hut. Josh was at the end of the table, and my cousin's 2 year old daughter Raegan was at the head. Raegan had never been around Josh that much, so at church she spent a lot of time staring and trying to figure him out. I guess by the time we got to Pizza Hut, she had decided that she liked him.

The whole time we were there eating, she was making eyes at Josh and flirting with him. It was so cute! Then, when we went outside, Raegan started to run out into the parking lot and Josh grabbed her and picked her up. He went ahead and put her in her car seat, and boy did she like this! I didn't get to see her face, but my mom did and said she was in a trance. But this isn't the best part.

About 5 minutes after we left, Crystal called me. Raegan had been praying, thanking God for everyone that had been there. After she finished going through saying "God bless..." for everyone, she stopped and said, "Mommy, I want to kiss Josh!" Now you can imagine what a surprise this was to hear from a 2 year old.

After Crystal told me, she ended the phone conversation with, "Love you, bye." As she hung up, she heard Raegan say in her sweetest voice, "He he he, love you, bye! I was talking to Josh mommy. He's my boyfriend!" It was tthe cutest thing! I'm going to have to watch out when Raegan is around Josh. She may try to steal him from me!

Disney World, Here We Come!

2006-04-18T09:44:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Well, I am getting very very excited. Why you may ask, because in 3 weeks, I'm going to Disney World!!! It's one of my favorite places in the entire world. This will be my 8th time going. This may sound like a lot, but you don't know my dad.

The first time we went, I was in the 7th grade. My mom had to go to a conference for work that was being held inside the Disney resort. I wanted to go so bad, and mom had already been the year before, so after a little convincing, daddy agreed to go. When we got down there, he was like a little kid, running around everywhere, wanting to see absolutely everything. Needless to say, he loved it!

Ever since then, daddy starts saving and planning in July to go back in the spring. He has a small obsession. But it actually works out pretty great for me because I get to go to Florida every year. I get really excited bout it every year, but this year is going to be even better. Josh, my boyfriend, is going with us.

Now before I go any further, let me make it clear that he will be staying in a different room from me. Any other arrangement would not be right, and extremely uncomfortable for me! Continuing on, I cannot wait until we go. This will not only be Josh's first time to Disney and his first time on a plane, but this will also be the first time he has spent a substantial amount of time with my dad. This is going to be interesting! I'll have to let everyone know how it goes!

Thursday Thirteen

2006-04-13T18:26:00.000-04:00

Okay everyone, I have gotten behind on my blogging. I am ashamed. But I am going to try to do a lot more writing on here! Do not fear! So here's my Thursday Thirteen, enjoy!

Thirteen Things I Like To Do To Relax!

1. Get a pedicure

2. Read a book

3. Get a message

4. Cook

5. Listen to music

6. Sit in a rocker on the front porch

7. Go for a walk

8. Read the Bible

9. Take a drive, not a hurried one

10. Play Spider Solitare

11. Watch a good movie

12. Go shopping

13. Talk to Josh

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Thursday Thirteen

2006-04-06T23:10:00.000-04:00

Thirteen of my Pet Peaves

1. When people pull out in front of you and then go below the speed limit

2. When a dryer sheet is left on the kitchen floor (I have slipped on one before...not fun!)

3. When someone starts to tell you something and then stops and says they can't tell you

4. Cigarette smoke

5. People who won't let you get on the highway, Wendover, or any of the like

6. People that don't parent their children

7. "Christians" who do not live the Word

8. E-mails that promise granted wishes, gift certificates and "luck"

9. Cigarette smoke

10. Drug abuse of any kind, including prescriptions and/or alcohol

11. Fake people

12. Obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, profane people

13. Did I mention cigarette smoke?? I mean really, if you choose to slowly kill yourself through the use of tobacco, at least have the courtesy to not smoke and kill others!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Yay for Narnia!

2006-04-04T15:14:00.000-04:00

Sorry for not posting in a few days. Unfortunately I have been blessed with a touch of the stomach virus. Not fun. I'm feeling better today though so maybe I'm almost done with it.

Today after school I went to Target to buy The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. It just came out today and I am so super excited!!! See, that is now one of my favorite movies ever. It is awesome. Everyone should see it at least 5 times. I have only seen it thrice, and for this I am sad, but since I just bought it, I will live up to my own standards haha.
I am also reading the original books by C.S. Lewis. They are really good. It's kind of weird because technically they are children's books, but they are so wonderful that I don't care.
I also heard on the radio that they are putting out the next book in a movie around Christmas 2006. I hope they are right and it's not just a rumor. This also makes me happy!

It's A Virus! Well, Not Really...

2006-03-30T18:57:00.000-05:00

So here's the deal...Pearsonified has started a small, casual social experiment, it’s called “The Indie Virus.” Here’s how Pearsonified describes this experiment:The experiment, henceforth referred to as “The Indie Virus,” has two goals:* To bring exposure to lesser known blogs (especially those outside of Technorati’s top 100)* To explore the metrics behind a viral linking campaign launched by the “little guys” (less popular blogs)
I will now be so kind as to pass this virus on to Tracy
http://rumblepants.blogspot.com/>
because she is the only other person I know that blogs on here haha!

Thursday Thirteen!

2006-03-30T10:28:00.000-05:00

Thirteen Places That I Would Like To Go To Before I Die!

1. Ireland

2. Alaska - To see the Northern lights

3. Australia - New Zealand is included in this. I want to see the back country.

4. Italy

5. England

6. Montana - I want to drive a hundred miles an hour and it be legal!

7. Yucatan Peninsula - I want to ride horseback to see the Mayan Ruins

8. Canada - I want to go bowling in Canada with Heather, so when we're old, we can say, "Hey, remember the time we went bowling in Canada?" Haha

9. Bora Bora

10. Japan - To see Will's kin-folk

11. California - Not necessarily to see "where the celebrities live," but to see the Pacific Ocean

12. Africa

13. Graceland - Everyone's got to go to Graceland! Haha!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

"Christian Liberty"

2006-03-29T18:18:00.000-05:00

Every Wednesday afternoon I meet with a friend at school and we have a Bible study. Today, my friend told me a statement someone had said and it amazed me. The statement she heard was this: "I have the 'Christian Liberty' to sin." This person, whom she chose to keep anonymous, believed that as long as they were saved, they basically could do whatever they wanted, even sin, and it was okay because they knew God would forgive them. Romans 6 contradicts this statement.
Today while looking at Romans 6 in our study, we discussed how Paul says over and over and over again that when you are saved, you are dead to your sins. Verse 15 says, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." It goes on to say that when we are saved, we are free from our past, free from death and sin. Now this does not mean that we will NOT sin. We sin daily because of our human nature. The difference is that we should not WANT to sin anymore.
Verses 21-23 says, "21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." So what is all of this saying? When we were living in sin, the only thing we were working towards was death. But now, because of grace, we are FREE from sin and have the promise now of eternal life. That is our "Christian Liberty." What reason do we have to go back to sin? There is none.
There is a song that comes to mind while I'm writing this. It's called "My Wants Been Changed" by the Ruppes. Here's the chorus:

"It's true I can do whatever I want, but my wants've been rearranged.
Jesus came in, saved me from sin, now there's been an awesome change.
I used to want all this world could give, but I've chosen not to die, no, I'm gonna live.
It's true I can do whatever I want but my wants've been changed."

If you're struggling with going back to past sins, pray that God will help you to return to His will. He'll give you the strength you need, all you have to do is ask!

My Clothing Rant

2006-03-28T18:40:00.000-05:00

Today I went shopping with my mother at lunch. We went to the employee store for the company she works for. Both my mother and I got a pretty substantial amount of clothing, so much that we're almost done with shopping for summer clothes, and it was only about $115.00. Back in the day, when clothes were alot cheaper, this would seem like alot, but now, it's a great great bargain!
This thought then brought a question to my mind: Why do clothes cost so much now days? I remember when I was little, my mom wouldn't pay more that $15 for a pair of jeans, and definately not more than $10 for a shirt. Now, even at non-name brand stores that have good sales, I hardly ever pay less than $30 for jeans. And tennis shoes, usually around $60, if you find a really good deal. And these are staples in the average person's wardrobe. I guess they figure we need them so they can charge what they want.
But there is one thing that bothers me about these rising prices. I went to a store recently, one that has reasonably priced clothes, looking for a bathing suit (I did not find any mainly for the fact that I choose not to expose myself like most of the bathing suits sold do, but that's another subject entirely). Most bathing suits were around $25, for each piece. So, if you are planning to be covered, you're looking at a $50 bathing suit. After I left to this store, I went to the mall to look for one. Big mistake. The prices I found there were almost twice as much. In one store, each piece was $48. That is insane!!! It's not alot of cloth, why the high price??
This is also true of shirts, shorts and skirts. Each year there seems to be less and less fabric that makes up the article of clothing, but still the companies feel the need to send the prices through the roof. I do not understand!!! I am just thankful for stores like my mom's employee store, a place where you can still buy a pair of jeans for $15 or a shirt for $8. Other stores should go back to this!

Could I Be A Poet?

2006-03-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

Today I am writing about writing. I've always thought it would be really cool to write poetry. See, I'm currently taking a poetry class and am required to read and discuss all kinds of poems, structured, free verse, anything and everything. In reading some of these poems, especially those that are free verse, I have found that I really like reading it. I mean, just the way that the speaker's feelings are laid out on the table for the world to see, it's very captivating.
Like I said earlier, I think it would be cool to write poetry. However, I have learned that it is not so so simple. When I used to think about poetry (real poetry, not the stuff they make you write in middle school that fits a certain formula), I thought that the poet did only one thing: put their inner-most thoughts down on paper. I thought that if you were good enough of a poet it would sound like a masterpiece. I was wrong.
In my poetry class we recently read a collection of poems called "The Owning Stone" by Jim Peterson. Today, Jim came to our class and talked about the book, writing poetry in general and answered any questions we had. While he was talking and telling us about his thought process (keep in mind that he is not the stereotypical 'crazy poet', he's just a guy who likes to write), I was really amazed at how much detail you have to pay attention to. Using or not using punctuation, word choice, line breaks, how it appears on the page, etc. Knowing now how challenging it is to write poetry, it actually makes me want to write it more. Who knows, you may see some poetry show up on here!

Wandering Aimlessly...Kind Of

2006-03-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Hope you're having a fabulous day so far. So I just got back from a second trip to the dermatologist. I went last week and had a mole taken off, and the pathology report came back saying it was but a tiny bit away from being melanoma. Today the doctor took some more skin so it can be tested. It's kind of a scary thing, being that I'm only 19 years old and I'm dealing with the posibility of skin cancer in my near future. However, I do know that God is in control and will bring me through anything. I just ask that you pray that everything comes back okay and that no further action will be needed.

On to a lighter subject: my future. Okay, so maybe it's not really all that light of a subject, but I feel like talking about it. See, I thought I had figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I would study and get a degree in Psychology and then use that to try to help others. Now, I'm not so sure. Psychology interests me and all, but I don't want to make a career out of it. Actually, the only way you can make a career out of it is if you spend half of your life in school. Please understand that I am not saying that this is a bad thing, but it's not for me. One thing that I want one day is a family. I want to be married and have children, and more than that, be able to spend time with them. So for now, I'm basically floating along, just waiting to see what God has in store for me. It will probably be something much more exciting to me than psychology!

My First Post!!!

2006-03-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Well this is my first blog post on blogspot. It's so exciting! You'll have to bear with me while I try to figure all of it out. I'll get it, eventually.

So I thought for my first post I would explain my blog title: "Thoughts From a Brunette Brain." This may sound as a pretty straight-forward title, and it would be, if I had brunette hair naturally. See, I am really a natural blonde. Many blondes, though not all, fall under the classic stereotype of the "dumb blonde." It's sad, I know. But thanks to my cousin Tracy, God decided to bless me with a smart brunette brain. This does not mean that I do not have blonde moments. I don't think there is any one person who has never had a "blonde" moment. However, for the most part I use good common sense.

In the future I will probably be posting a variety of things: Quotes, stories, random thoughts, whatever comes to mind at the time! Hope you enjoy!