I made the top ten finalists for Homecoming King yesterday. So if you attend Marcus High School, please vote for me. The bad news is, a good friend also made the top ten and it puts us in an akward situation. For more thought provoking blogging, tune in tomorrow.

Two small thoughts going through my head are...

Yesterday was my only day off from after school marching band rehearsal this week. You know that I have been brainwashed when they tell us that we don't have to rehearse that day and all I can think is, "but we really need the work." However, the day off was greatly needed by everyone in the band and I shouldn't worry because we will be getting our eight hours of rehearsal in this week regardless of when it happens.

I started the book Classic Christianity and in the first chapter I can already tell that this is a book that I have needed to read for a long time. I am positive that God will continue to help me grow greatly through this book and I'm sure that He will use it as a tool in my life. I am very thankful for TEAM Training and the work that God is doing in my life through that as well.

HAVE A GREAT DAY

Procrastination is an artform that I am near to perfecting. My SAT prep teacher assigned us vocabulary notecards to do two weeks ago and are due today. If I had done two or three each night I would have been golden, however it did not work that way. I put everything off until last night. Then, after taking longer than I thought homework should ever take, I went to bed. Only to wake up tired again this morning. Sometimes it feels like sleep doesn't do anything except pass the time.

On to a more happy(non-school related) note, I have breakfast with Brent tomorrow so I am excited about that. But right now I have a case of the mondays.

So friday was my birthday and I don't normally tell a lot of people about it. However, one of the people that did now told the entire Marcus High School band. If you haven't ever had 200 people sing you happy birthday at a football game, when you don't even want people to know, it is quite an experience. But it was cool....so thanks to whoever it was that told, it made my birthday twice as good.

The dutch kids left this morning to go back to Holland after spending more than a month in America. There was a small going away party that was held for them last night and it was a bitter-sweet occasion. They didn't want to leave here after seeing their old friends and making many new ones, but I have a feeling that they are ready to get home. I will miss all four of them and I am grateful for the work that their family is doing for God's Kingdom over in Holland.

I was talking to a friend last night about Christian Fellowship and how important it is in a growing relationship with Christ. We were discussing how some people who have always had such awesome Christian friends can take it for granted. All that I can say is whether you are just now making friendships with your brothers or sisters in Christ, or if you have had them for many years, continue to build upon that relationship and help eachother in all areas. Because I don't know if you have noticed or not, walking with Christ is not always the easiest thing to do.

Birthday

Today just so happens to be my birthday, but I'm not too excited. I've never really been too thrilled about birthdays in the past because it seems like all of these people who haven't talked to you in a year come up and tell you to have a good birthday. And i'm kinda like, "Ok, I will, but the rest of my days are just as good and you don't talk to me then." I never say that in words but sometimes I think it. I know it is stupid, because I am supposed to like all of the extra attention. I also don't like the idea of people spending tons of money to get me presents. Small inexpensive, thoughtful presents are cool, but if someone spends more than like 6 or 8 dollars I feel like they are wasting their money because I would be just as happy without gifts. So my goal for the day is to enjoy my birthday. I am going to put all those past birthdays behind me and have a good time. Time to go to school...haha...HAPPY BIRTHDAY

exhausted

I'm not complaining about my schedule, because I chose it to be this way and I wouldn't have it any other way. BUT, wrestling fourth period is a great workout. Almost so great that all that I want to do afterward is to go home and lay down like the rest of my team gets to do. However, I have two hours of sweating in the blistering heat in marching band before leaving school. I have many nightly activities directly after band too, but most of them are refreshing except for an occasional thursday night scout meeting that drags me down. I guess that all I am saying is that rest is very important. Not just sleeping, but spiritual rest and refreshment as well. Getting in God's word everyday is the only way that I can get through so much. I don't know what it would be like to never have that time alone with God and frankly, I really don't want to know. Like I said......I wouldn't have my schedule any other way.

Last night at Mid-school small groups went really well. I met the parents and the 7th graders that i will be teaching this year. So props to that. Tonight is going to rock too. I have senior guy Bible study at Miles' house(M-Town). The only downfall to that is that I have to drive way the heck out to the middle of no where just to get to his castle, but it will be worth it. Short blog today....tune in tomorrow.
Words of Wisdom-Don't swallow mouth wash, especially the blue kind.

Good Ole Days

I always here older people talk about the days when they were younger and the things that they used to do. They kind of idolize those days as if they were really so much better than today, when in all reality they just remember the positives and let their minds do the rest. Well, I got to thinking too. I am only about to turn seventeen and i have those good ole days too. For example, remember when we all had those huge basketball pumps on the tongues of our shoes, or when Super Nintendo was the hottest thing around. The Tamagotchi digital pets were cool too. We used to sneak into the bathrooms at school just to feed our digital pets so they wouldn't die. Or when we used to run home just to see the new episode of Power Rangers(the original series, not the junk that they have now). Thinking about all of this I realized that all I wanted back then(a whole whopping 8 years ago) was to be in high school. I couldn't wait until i could drive, or stay out late. And now, at times, my friends and I talk about how cool things were in elementary school, where there were no problems with girls, homework, parents etc...Weird
Words of Wisdom-"Enjoy NOW, it's cool too"

Back into the swing of things

Last night at about 12, i had a small panic attack when I remembered about three or four hours of homework that was assigned early last week. As I was frantically throwing together what I could in such a short amount of time I glanced over at my assignment sheet and saw that the due date was for next monday. I kinda just sat and stared at it for about five minutes before laughing and going to bed. It's funny how bent out of shape one can get on such a small thing that in the grand scheme of things is really not that important at all.

I find Sundays to be a very busy day schedule wise, but at the end of the day I always feel very relaxed and rested. I also want to thank my unbelievable youth pastor who has such a passion for teenagers. He knows what is going on. I think the world would be much better if we had more people like Brent. People that understand, and genuinely care about teenagers today. I'll stop ragging on him because I know that he wouldn't want me to. But every monday I just feel so blessed to have a friend like him.

Words of Wisdom-"Don't put off you homework"

New Opportunities

Today I will begin a couple of things that i have been offered to help me grow in my walk with Christ. The first is a class called TEAM Training that my church offers. It stands for, To Equip And Mobilize. I am extremely excited about begining that class today because I've heard so many good things about it. The second is being a small group Bible study leader for a group of middle school guys. We have our first meeting today where we find out exactly what age we will be leading (where really I will found out what age group of guys will be teaching and stretching me). This will be such a great experience because no one ever learns as much being a student as they do being a leader or a teacher.
Last night, I watched the infamous movie Raising Arizona. It was a pretty funny movie, but it does not rank amongst my top 5 or 10. However, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE IS THE BEST MOVIE IN THE HISTORY OF MOVIES. I highly recommend seeing it.
Words of Wisdom- "Don't fidget at attention!!!!!!"

This Blog thing

I've decided to start this blog thing that people have found a new interest in. I have many friends that blog or do their xanga thing and what not, so I've decided to give it a whirl. However, I cannot promise that I will post every day because I don't normally tend to be the type of person that wakes up early in the mornings before school unless I have band, wrestling, make-up tests, etc. And in those cases I wake up, put my clothes on and leave. But this seems like a good way that I can start waking up a little earlier and thinking about my day rather than just jumping into it.
School has been going on for about a week and a half so far and it is going oddly well. I am senior so I don't really have work to do considering my classes consist of band, SAT prep, Pre-cal, and wrestling. Some may believe that Pre-cal would be a difficult class, but I dropped Pre-AP and I am taking regular so there isn't too much work to do. SENIORITIS....TOO SOON.
Words of Wisdom-
"Keep it real"