Faithful Citizen!

Hey friends! It has been waaaaaaaaay too long! Here's what's been going on with me:

First and foremost, I voted today! Early voting is definitely worth it. We only had to wait somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes. Although, Dad and I had to wait for Mom to finish bubbling. Apparently she is a bubble perfectionist when it comes to voting. I can only imagine what it would be like if she were one of my students taking the TAKS! haha As a second-time voter I had much less confusion. I am just ready for the election to be over and find out who the next man in charge will be.

I've seen 2 AMAZINGLY GOOD movies recently. The Secret Life of Bees and The Duchess. Both tear-jerkers so take your tissues!!! You have to see them though. I promise your life will be changes (well, that may not be entirely true, but it's a good thing to say to sway people to do what you want them to).

Wade was here a few weekends ago. We drove to Lubbock for the Tech vs. Nebraska game. He understands what I mean now when I say there is nothing to do in Lubbock. He also understand the smell of cows blowing in the wind...

I don't know if I even posted about when I went to visit Wade in Annapolis! That was a month or so ago. It was so much fun! I am so glad that I can visualize it now when he's telling me where he is/went/is going to.

My laptop is slowly dying so I am using my dad's until my new one comes. Supposedly it was shipped out today so maybe I'll get it by the end of the week?! Then I will post a picture of the beautiful flowers that my (not so) secret admirer sent me by surprise! What a great guy...

My house=Lizard Lounge

A few weeks ago I was getting ready to take out some trash as I was on the phone with my amazing boyfriend. As I picked up a bag that had been sitting in the kitchen floor, a lizard (gecko to be precise) JUMPED out at me, causing me to scream in poor Wade's ear. I looked and looked for the lizard and could never find him. Of course, for awhile there I was paranoid that it might be on me! But I don't think it ever was. I was hoping it had crawled back under the bag and was going to end up outside on the curb with the trash.

No such luck. The lizard apparently still lives in my apartment. That's right...he is still shackin' up in my kitchen!

What do you do to get rid of a lizard? You can't squish lizards with a shoe or a fly swatter like you can a bug. I'm not brave enough to catch it in a cup because they are too fast and will run out of the cup before I can throw it out a window!

You see- these are times when I need Wade here. A man. A man who is not afraid. A man who is definitely not afraid of a 1 inch lizard...

The imposter...

Moses, ready to kill...

A lil love, a lil hate.

HATES: when Moses knocks over things, burning food smells, spiders, roaches, tornadoes, waking up early, wanting things and not having them, not being able to talk to/see Wade as much as I want, migranes, colds that last for more than one week, being cold!, when things don't go as I plan...

LOVES: Colorado, any beach, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, books by Francine Rivers (currently reading The Scarlet Thread), taking pictures, the stars on a clear night, pretty music with or without words, going on walks which may one day turn into runs(!), my family, Wade, thunderstorms without tornadoes, game nights...

Faithful

I survived week one in my third year of teaching 3rd graders! Having a 3 day weekend was very refreshing.

Saturday my Mom, Dad, sister (Kelly) and I went to Greenville to visit my Grandad. Every time I visit him it gets harder and harder to see him in his condition. He is in his 9th year having Parkinson's Disease. It is a very complicated disease. Luckily, the progression of his disease has been rather slow. He started off having tremors in his legs and hands. Now it is much more disabling. He can hardly do anything for himself. But when I see his situation, even though it is painful to see him, I see how big, detailed, and faithful the Lord is.

This man, my Gradad (Rev. Harry O. Ball), married a woman at a young age. Her name was Patricia. A few years later she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclorosis (or M.S.). This was at a time when doctors didn't know much about M.S. They didn't know whether or not it was contagious. People looked down upon my Grandmother because of her disease. Even so, my Grandad stayed with her. Soon, she became paralyzed in the legs, and eventually her entire body was paralyzed from the collar bone down. She could do nothing for herself. My Grandad had to turn her in the middle of the night (to avoid bed sores), had to cook for her, had to feed her, bather her, fix her hair, put on her clothes, the list goes on and on...What an amazing man of God to stay with the woman he loved and take care of every detail of her life. Even the things we cannot think of at the moment.

When my grandmother died at a firly young age, my grandad was suddenly diagnosed with Parkinsons. I think it was about 3 years later he re-married. His wife now is very active and strong. As his health continues to fail, she is there for him and helps him with every detail of his life. She has to do all the same things he had to do for my grandmother.

Isn't it amazing how God took my grandmother from this world to be with Him, which yes, was sad? But it was necessary. My grandad would not have been able to provide for her the way he had always done as his Parkinsons progressed. Then the Lord provided my grandad with a wife who is there to help him. His timing is perfect. When I see what He has done in my grandad's life, I think:

What a good God we have- one who provides for every detail of our life!

Anyway, that's what I have been thinking about since we saw him this weekend...Sorry this one was so long. For those of you who made it all the way through- I hope it blessed you- even just a little bit. :)

Back in Business!

I finally have time to do a blog! I had an amazing time in Pennsylvania with Wade and his sweet family. It was great to meet half of his family, and they were very nice. Then he came to Texas for a week. It was so much fun! I taught him all about the importance of the Alamo, and considering his previous stance on the battle I'd say he's come a long way...

Summer went by way too fast. This past week was my first week of work. I stayed at the school late every night. I don't remember having to stay so late last year. I am pretty excited about this coming year, but I kind of have mixed emotions about it. I love being an influence on kid's lives- especially with the kids who need a good influence the most. It is tiring though. No one ever said work was supposed to be easy, I just hate how it can be emotionally draining at times- and very stressful. Rumors have already been spreading about some of my future students. I keep hearing about how bad some of them are, which isn't too exciting for me. Even so, I kind of feel privilaged to have them because I know I can try to be a good role model.

Everyone (as in their previous teachers) says I need to get one of them moved out of my class. I can't decide. I guess I kind of feel like they are the ones I have been given. Perhaps the Lord has placed them with me for a reason. I know it will be extremely stressful if they turn out to be misbehaving all the time. Plus, the Lord never gives us more than we can handle- and maybe he wants to teach me patience or something! I have been asking for that, and I heard somewhere once (I think from Beth Moore) that when we ask for patience God doesn't make us carefree, instead He gives us learning opportunites to grow patience. I believe there is a lot of truth to that for sure! OR maybe they will just be moved to straighten out their behavior! You just never know! (I'll keep you posted as to their behavior!)

I am now a HUGE fan of Brooke Fraser. I'm pretty sure she was part of Hillsong and now she has an independent album out. It's fantastic. AND you can download it from itunes for only $5.99!!! Woo-hoo! It's called "Albertine". Check it out!

Today...

Here are twenty four things that have happened in the last 24 hours:

1. I finished packing for my flight to Knoxville, TN (around 9:30 PM).
2. Went to bed earlier than any other night this summer- 10:30.
3. Didn't sleep a wink because I was anticipating/excited about seeing Wade today for the first time in 10 weeks!
4. Woke up at 5:00 AM to go to the airport for my flight. That is WAY too early to be getting up!
5. Boarded the smallest plane I have ever been on. I think it holds only 30 people!
6. The plane's air conditioner broke as we were waiting in line for the runway.
7. We had to go back to the gate and get off the plane.
8. We waited. For some reason my toe started to bleed (from a previous shaving mishap)and I had to go buy a band aid at the airport store.
9. I offended the cashier because I said her accent sounded kind of like a Kenyan's...she was from Liberia...
10. Found out the flight had been completely canceled. WHAT the mother?!
11. Had to wait in line to see about catching a later flight.
12. Was told I had to wait until tomorrow, or catch a flight into Knoxville later tonight during a possible storm...
13. Decided (with the help of Wade, his family, and my mom) that it would be better just not to go to Tennessee after all.
14. Instead, chose to apply my ticket to go to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania next Monday to visit Wade and his family in their home state- yay for still getting to meet everybody and also being able to stay longer!
15. Had to quickly request my baggage to be sent back to me, becaue it was about to leave for Knoxville without me! And a girl just can't go without her make-up!
16. Worked with Mr. Lucas at the ticketing counter and got my ticket to Pennsylvania with no extra cost! Thank you, Lord!
17. Was picked up by my dad at the airport approximately 4 1/2 hours after I was first dropped off by my mom.
18. Ate lunch with my parents and my pastor and his wife at Busy Bee.
19. Teared up with laughter at lunch, due to both a hilarious (and random!) conversation about PASSING GAS and being delerious from sleep deprivation.
20. Took a 2 hour and fifteen minute nap to try and get some zzzz's.
21. Cuddled with Moses. Awe...sweet kitty.
22. Picked up Chicken Express for dinner. YUM-E!
23. Watched a show on Animal Planet about animal attacks and became even more concerned about the mountain lion population that supposedly lives in my neighborhood.
24. Talked to Wade, and we decided it was good I didn't end up coming tonight because it's storming pretty heavily there right now!

ALL that to say- everything happens for a reason. I am no longer going to Tennessee, but I will be able to see Wade in a couple of days and for a longer amount of time. So, I am really excited and can't wait to be in Pennsylvania! I think it all worked out for the best in the end. Soon I will post pictures of PA, not TN!

1%

Brandi came in town and we had a blast. That is the only picture we took together (sadly).

So I took this personality test (thank you, Brooke). Apparently I am an INFJ. When I read the description about this personality, it seemed really accurate! It should also be noted that only 1% of the population is INFJ- which makes me special (and no, not "special" in a bad way)!! You should take the test and see what personality you have!

(http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp)

Then read up on your personality type by going here:

http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html

Here's a little bit about me (an INFJ):

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals.

**They are usually right, and they usually know it.**

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them.

They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

They have strong value systems.

Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone.

** indicates something important for you to remember!! :)