What a Day.... What a Year!

Today was quite a productive day, I must say. I cranked out 2 college applications and mailed them along with their checks! Yay! I still have 1, possibly 2 more I might apply to, but that's to consider at a later date. I met my deadline and now I can rest for a bit! And just in time for Thanksgiving, too....

After I finished mailing my applications, I completed my LAST TEST for my American Lit class, so big whoop for that. Things are sort of calming down, which is always a good thing after rip-roaring for too long. :-)

Senior year is going fantastically well. I think I should change my answer because people ask me that a lot and my initial thought is "STRESS!" But honestly, when I think about it, these past few months have been great. I've been spending so much time with my friends which is so hard because we're all so busy! But when we do get the chance, it's always a joy.... what can I say :-)

Tonight (or last night) we got to bond while watching the GREATEST MOVIE EVER: AUSTRALIA (read post below). Watching that movie is the best way to end a night! Seriously! I came home and my mom was watching The Aviator, and I couldn't even watch it. After watching Jackman and Kidman's intense chemistry in Australia, everything else pales in comparison!

I feel like I've been making leaps and bounds as a person.... I know I always talk about being released from a cage, but I truly feel like I'm blossoming, for lack of a better term.... It's as if I've sort of been in hiding or seclusion for all these years, and I've finally been released into the world with confidence and wisdom.... It's a great feeling.

For instance, today, I found that I was nominated to participate in some blind date thing Young Life is putting together. I don't even go to Young Life! How could they nominate me??? I haven't decided if I'm going to go through with it, but we'll see. It's nice to be nominated by people you didn't think even knew you. :-)

And then last Friday I found out that I'll be playing Sandy in my high school's musical this year, which is GREASE! I'm still SO stoked for this! Haha, I was so excited that I watched the movie twice last weekend.... Apparently the play's a lot different from the movie, but still, it was fun watching it. :-) I haven't done any acting in a long time and I'm so looking forward to getting back into it! Our first practice is Monday and I think I'm more excited for that than I am for Thanksgiving!

I also sang in a talent show at my school a couple weekends ago, and that was really fun. I sang "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles, which you can find on YouTube, thanks to my proud father. LOL My best friend accompanied me the first night, but the YouTube version has a different lady playing. She's like our resident accompanist because she plays for all of our performances. She's amazing and a total sweetheart!

Every year, for the yearbook, the graduating class nominates people for a buttload of different categories. My personal goal was to win "Most Musical Girl" and well what do you know.... I WON! I was so stoked.... But I just hope my picture turns out good....

My friends have started calling me "Sandy" in honor of my part.... But I hope that doesn't stick around for too long. Everyone at school has been so kind and supportive of me, it's great! People I don't even know are like, "Hey! Congratulations on being Sandy! You're going to be great!" And I just beam and say "Thank you." Haha.

I've also gotten to sing at 3 churches, at least, since August, so that's really exciting as well. I love getting out and meeting other members of the Body of Christ. It's so encouraging and it's a pleasure to sing for them! More than anything, I always pray they see my heart, and even more than that, Jesus through me. I'm not up there to bring fame to my name by any means.

These past few months have been filled with so many opportunities.... It's awesome! I'm loving every minute of it. At times it gets completely overwhelming, but somehow I just grin and bear it....and always at the last possible minute, of course. :-)

If you're out there, and you're reading this, I ask that you'd keep me in your prayers. Pray that as I get more and more opportunities to get out into the community, that I wouldn't tarnish the Name of my precious Savior. That I would be a light on a hill and be filled with His love and joy. That I would make genuine connections with people and slow down enough to invest in them and learn from them! :-) Thanks so much, we're all in this together....

I Have Fallen In Love....

I just came back from watching the BEST MOVIE EVER...............

Seriously, peeps, go watch it. It's long (close to 3 hours) but OH SO VERY WORTH IT!!! It's got everything: romance, comedy (that's actually laugh-out-loud funny), and action. SO GO WATCH IT, PEOPLE!!!! It's amazing!!!! .....And shout-out to Hugh Jackman who is gorgeous in this movie! :-)

Picture Perfect

I really enjoy taking pictures whenever I get the chance to travel. This past Spring Break (2008) my family and I went to Phoenix and LA. The pictures below are of the LA part of the trip.

Hollywood Boulevard

Venice Beach

Me Gusta....

I'm liking this chapter of my life.... I just turned a new page, and wow....tonight was awesome.

I know this is where I'm supposed to be, and it's a great feeling.

>>>> insert huge *SIGH* here <<<<

:-)

It's Official.

Yes, that's right: It's official. Today. Finally. It's been a long time coming. Maybe a year? A bit less, but oh hasn't it been coming... full-on, full speed ahead coming. I was always debating "When?" And I thought the grieving process would be intense, but it's quite the contrary, really.

The time is now. Perhaps a few hours ago. It's over, it's done. I'm no longer going to beat the dead dog. (Or however that saying goes! LOL) I'm going to let it rest....forever. There were good times, yes, but there's no point now.... Stale bread is gross.

I thought it would be sad.... It would be so hard to just let it go and finally end it. But I'm finding more peace and confidence with each step....

So "Goodbye" to what I thought would last much longer.... "Goodbye" to what has ended so bitterly.... "Goodbye" to the heartache, confusion, and dismissal.... "Goodbye" to unfulfilled expectations.... "Goodbye" to the cage you put me in....

And "Hello" to freedom.... "Hello" to destiny.... "Hello" to the new and frustrating.... "Hello" to the willing and trusting.... "Hello" to acceptance.... "Hello" to the real me!