Words Women Use

So in one of my classes we were talking about the differences between men and women. My teacher read a statement out loud and then chose one female and one male in the class to explain what they heard. It was hilarious! Both said something completely different. This, of course, proved my teacher's theory.

Later that day I got these phrases and definitions from a friend titled "Words Women Use". It fit perfectly with what we were talking about in class. I thought they were funny mainly because I agreed with most of them. This prompted me to make some of my own.

For the girls: enjoy.
For the guys: pay attention, you might learn something.


"FINE"
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.(sounds accurate)

"FIVE MINUTES"
If she is getting dressed this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.(TRUE... or be there in a minute)


"NOTHING"
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something" and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with "Nothing" usually end in "Fine".(True)

"GO AHEAD"
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.(YES.....)

"LOUD SIGH"
This is not actually a word, but it is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing".(most of the time)


"THAT'S OKAY"
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.(sounds right, depends on the circumstance... so think first boys)


"THANKS"
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.(the truth)


"WHATEVER"
It's a woman's way of saying *!#@ YOU!(not really, my way of excusing an argument... just like "FINE")


"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" or "EXCUSE ME?" or "WHAT?"
No, she's not hard of hearing. She's just giving you a chance to recant the stupid thing that just came out of your mouth and to either escalate the conflict by saying it louder (remember, you'll lose) or to come up with a clever substitute that sounds pretty close to it (like instead of saying, "That's why I hate you," you would say, "That's why I dated you"). WARNING: If you try to use "Nothing" as a response, she won't accept it.(LOL- I agree)



Here are a few I tend to use.............................................


"DO WHATEVER YOU WANT"
If it's not your birthday or a special occasion, this usually means that I'm tired of arguing about it. However, if you decide to do what you want knowing that it will upset me, then you will have to deal with the consequences later. So it better be worth it!

"I DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT"
There is no hidden message here...when I say this I REALLY dont want to talk about it. Especially if we are out in public or a large goup around. Maybe I will talk about it later but right now is not the time.


"BE BACK IN A SECOND"
I fully entend on getting back in a second, but in all actuality, I really have no idea when I will be back. There is a good chance that I will stop and talk to anyone I might pass on the way to my destination or get destracted by something along the way.


"I DON'T CARE"
This is a tricky one because it all depends on the circumstances. Sometimes I really don't care...but other times I really do care I just don't want to start a fight or upset you. With this one, you should really focus on what comes next...if you get a "Do whatever you want" and or a "Fine/Whatever" then that means I really do care and you're in trouble. Otherwise, I honestly don't.


"SURE"
Okay, I don't really want to, but I would rather see you happy.


"BITING MY THUMB NAIL"
(not words, but most mistaken thing I do) I'm either thinking and trying to work out something that is bothering me, upset, or nervous. (its usually nervous or thinking) This does not mean I'm mad at you, 99% of the time it has nothing to do with you. If I'm upset its usually not the time or place to talk about it so I use this as a filler so I will keep my mouth shut.


"THE SMILE" (not words, but speaks volumes)
This could mean one of three things...
1.)The "friend smile" is used between me and my close girl friends. This is usually used as a confirmation that we both just heard/saw something that we will talk about later (usually had to do with a previous conversation)2.)The "akward smile" is used in akward situations, with passing strangers, or in times where there is really nothing else to do.
3.)The rest of the time there is the "happy smile"(this one is used most often) where I am thinking of what a great person you are and how blessed I am to have you in my life. No response is needed, just know I appreciate you.

Predictions for the Next 2 years...

So much is going on with the House and Senate and for the most part I have kept my opinions to myself. Now that we are coming to the end of this battle, (and the constant prodding for my opinion on this issue from a certain “political animal”) I will tell you my predictions for the next two years.

Honestly, I don’t think it is the Republican Party or the Democratic Party that are truly going to suffer over the next few years. More than anyone, I think it will be the American people. With the Democrats in the House and Senate with a Conservative Republican President, I believe we will see 2 years of constant fighting back and forth.

Let me break it down how I see this playing out…

The way it works is the Congress and sends a Bill to the president, who can either pass it or veto it. If the president doesn’t agree with the Bill and decides to veto it, then it will take a 2/3 vote of Congress to override that veto. Over all in history, this has only been done 3 times so the chances of this being able to happen are slim to none.

How does this fit into my prediction you ask?

Well, President Bush hasn’t been much for vetoing in the past. He has only vetoed one Bill during his presidency. But then again, why would he need to with his party in the House and Congress? It has been made very clear that the Democratic Party and President Bush do not agree on most things…so how is this supposed to work?

What I see happening is 2 years of them canceling each other out and a lot of Trump Cards being played. My fear is that they will be focusing more on who wins and less on what is best for the American people…hints why we are the true losers in this battle and the ones that will suffer the most. I see the next few years as a “purgatory” or a stand still in our country. I mean, honestly, how is anything going to get done if we can’t agree on anything??

The thing is, even if it is the American People that will suffer, we can hardly point fingers. I think it is partly our fault for putting so much emphasis on the presidential election and not enough on the House, Senate, and smaller elections. Honestly, how many of you even know who is representing us in the Congress or House? Anyone know the name of the current Speaker of the House? What about who is representing you in your state or city? Many don’t care and therefore, allowing the minority to elect those in office without really knowing what they stand for. So basically I guess we can say we did it to ourselves. Anyone want to take responsibility for that?? No I didn’t think so…we will probably blame someone else…that seems to be the pattern.

Like I said, this is just my opinion/prediction and a cynical one at that. I’m not normally a cynical person but at this point I just don’t see it any other way.

Well done America, it’s going to be a very interesting next 2 years.

Be Silent, Be Still

Have you ever started talking to someone and the more you talk the worse you dig yourself into a hole…but instead of just stopping you continue to talk, all the while thinking to yourself “WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU JUST STOP TALKING”?

I recently found myself in this exact situation…it was not my favorite position to be in. And now I am left with decisions to make that I really don’t want to make. How can you choose between 2 people that mean so much to you?? I don’t think it’s possible, especially for the phlegmatic me. It’s hard enough for me to decide what I want to wear in the mornings~ how am I going to conquer this feat?

Thanks to my uncontrollable urge to speak I have placed myself in an extremely awkward and difficult situation…


Verse of the day??


“If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.”

~Job 13:5

The Cost of being a Disciple

Let me first preface this by saying its pretty deep and digs down to the core of who you are as a Christian so if you arent ready for a little poking at the soul then you might want to skip it but I hope you dont this is good stuff.

We were reading in Sunday School the other day and came across a scripture that I havent given much thought in a long time

LUKE 14:25-35

The Cost of Being a Disciple
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
34"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

This is kind of heavy. So many times we are focused so much on saving souls and being the good Christian but do we fully understand what that means. Did you sit down and estimate the cost of what it is to be a follower of Christ before you jumped aboard?

I think that is why the church today has so little influence and respect with non-believers. We are known as hypocrites and for the most part, you cant tell us apart from the rest of the world. If we were fully aware of the cost that is involved and the importance placed upon it, there would be stronger believers and a stronger body of Christ.

What Jesus was saying to these people was you have to make Him your one and only priority holding nothing, not your family or even your own life, above Him. If you have anything else you hold more valuable, you will never make it.

Carrying your cross was a mark of shame back in the day. So not only is he asking you to disregard your family and life (as far as priorities go) but also to bear the mark of shame.
Its important to reach people and to save souls for Jesus but I think its equally important to make them aware of what they are getting themselves into before taking that leap.

Its not just a simple prayer.
Its a full commitment of reckless abandonment of self.

It's tough but so worth it!

Are you ready?

Have you estimated the cost?

I believe Paul said it the best:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
~Philippians 3:7-11


I am not saying that I have this figured out or that I'm even close to it. I will admit there are things that I have held back from God as most of us have. But I am willing to try. I understand God's grace...but I also understand his expectations.


Food for thought.

Life's in full swing again...

Today was my first day of school.
My mom got all excited like it was my first day of kindergarten or something.
I thought she was going to cry...Parentals are funny.
I had American Federal Government at 8:30 this morning.

I don’t recommend it.

The class seems easy enough but my teacher is an old guy that’s monotone and talks with his eyes shut. That was entertaining for the first 2 minutes but then just watching him made me want to go to sleep.

I found this picture on Veer.com...he looks JUST LIKE my Fed Gov teacher (except his eyes are open)..weird!

For the next 16 weeks I will be starting my day at around 6:45am (I have 8:30am classes everyday) and getting home from work around 11pm where I will then start any homework I may have.

Lets just say its going to be interesting.




In other news, well still pertaining to school, all of my little cousins are back in school today. I love them so much. Today is Maddelyn and Anna's first day of kindergarden...they are so cute!

Anna wears little uniforms that are blue, gray and white plaid...probably the cutest thing I have ever seen!

Maddelyn is so excited to ride the "Big wellow bus like the big kids and get homewawk". All of her brothers and sisters go to school so she is excited to finally be apart of that.

I will be crossing my fingers for Lydia who is starting college at OU in Norman today...she is really nervous...I'm sure I will hear all about it tonight.

Autumn is at TCC with me...too bad we don't have any classes together.

Cassie 8th, Rachel 2nd, Preston11th, Travers11th, Lauren 2nd...I hope you all have a great first day of school. Landon, Emma, and Halla still got a few years Thank GOd!

God lives at Teen Mania...

So I'm back in OK.
It was a long ride home...lots of Jack Johnson and Worship music to keep it interesting...and friends to keep me awake for the last stretch...thanks for that.

My trip to TX was amazing and crazy!

A few of the highlights: Car blew up...(they fixed it for free THANK GOD!) Sierra's car ran out of gas...2 hrs waiting to be rescued..then the battery died...snow cone shop...IHOP @ 2am...Bliss...real worship...new friendships...old friendships...WOG....Dinner Bell with the people I love most! lots of love, laughs, and memories for sure.

Being back in that atmosphere was truly a refresher for me. Not that I have "strayed into the wilderness" or anything, but being able to have deep conversations about the Lord with people that you love and trust...there's just something about it I just can't explain. There I felt safe. I felt loved. There I know that most everything people do is out of love for another. I miss being able to be challenged and challenge others. I miss growing in the Lord along side others just as eager as I am to know Him. I miss the incredible worship that alters in the presence of God. I miss being able to talk about the mystories of God without getting weird looks and people telling me to "calm down". I miss people being on the same level as me.

The experiences I have at Teen Mania are like no where else. I know I have joked a lot about it in the past but the presence of God is so strong at Teen Mania I'm starting to believe He lives there.

Probably most of all I miss the love and laughter I get from my friends. They are my family...my heart. A true friend to me is one that you can be away from for months and when you are united it's like you never left. So many of them I could just pick up where we left off. Of course, there were some long conversations about things that needed to be talked about face to face, but those I cherish as well.

I also didnt realize how much I have missed the Texas skies. They are truly amazing. I was able to see the sunrise on a few occasions and also the clear nights with thousands of shooting stars. Even in Oklahoma it's just not quite the same.

I went to a few of the sessions, and even though I had heard all of them before it was good to remember what it means to be apart of the LINE. I had a few character checks I need to take care of :) I miss listening to Dave Hasz talk about the Word and the importance of upholding the LINE. He is truly an amazing man. I'm reminded often.

Thank you Lord for continuing to show me how much you love me through the people in my life. I forgot how good it feels to make memories with such beautiful people.

Congrats to all the Teen Mania graduates...welcome to the LINE.

I have lots of pictures on my xanga...its the link on the side titled MISSIMAE.
You should check them out if you get a chance.

Time

Life seems to be moving in such a rapid pace its almost impossible to keep up. People would always tell me that growing up is hard but fast. "One minute you're a kid with no cares in the world and the next you're an adult and you never even see it coming".

When people would say this I would usually just smile and nod. I never really believed them. But over the past year it seems like my whole life and everything I have known for the past 20 years is changing. People are growing up, getting married, having babies, moving away...I'm having to make decisions that will affect my entire life (probably the most stressful thing ever!).

I don't know, sometimes I just feel like I'm trying to hold on to the way things are and the people I love and the tighter I hold on the farther and faster they slip away. I want to move on in my life, get older, grow up...but at the same time I know that when I move on, so do they. I want them to come with me. I hate that most of my closest friends in the world are only connected to me by phone calls. I want them to be here.

All you that are so much wiser than I, you are right. Time flies by so fast. I just want to make sure I don't miss it.

"Time is a monster that cannot be reasoned with" ~Joe Wentworth

I leave for Garden Valley, Texas in 3 days. I am soo excited to see all of the people that I have missed so much over the past 7 months. But at the same time I know it's going to be bitter sweet. This weekend could very well be the last time I see all these people, together all in one place at the same time again. My heart breaks when I think of that.

So I won't.

I'm starting to understand...

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting…for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want---But, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save…(for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for Thee.'
Yes, your dreams for you loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, 'WAIT."'

Physical Representations

I was watching this psychology show the other day dealing with communication. There was this couple that was on the brink of divorce because all they did was yell at each other. One of the things the psychologist did was make them write down issues they needed to discuss on a piece of paper and discuss each of them calmly until they came up with a solution. Then once it was resolved, they had to rip up the paper and never talk about it again.

I was thinking about how people so often need a physical representation to fully accept change. Like being baptized. That is a physical representation of your new life with Christ. Or the couple with the ripped up paper representing the end of that discussion. I, myself have needed a physical representation to let go of something or to accept a change in my life.

My question…

Why is it that people need a physical representation to get past their struggles or fully accept the change in their lives or situations??



I’m cutting my hair off…
I need a change.

Missing you

Things are going well here.
I have been missing a lot of people lately.
It's so hard not being able to see them everyday.

I didn't realize just how much I miss certain people until I started seeing them everywhere. I thought I heard Catie laugh in Starbucks a few days ago. I turned around and it definitly wasn't her. I thought I saw Lynnie in a car next to me at a red light until the lady turned around...not her again. And the weirdest one was there was a guy riding a bike down the sidewalk with a windmill hat on and I could have sworn it was Dave Hasz. Ridiculious huh? Could you even imagine him wearing a windmill hat?? haha

I thought I was going crazy (honestly maybe I am) but I think it's just me missing these people so much. It's weird, some (Mr. Hasz) I didn't even realize I missed that much. But it's pretty obvious I do. Even though it's been 7 months, I'm still having a hard time getting readjusted to life at home. Things aren't even close to being the same as when I left. It's like starting over completely but not really having anywhere to start.

I have things to do to fill my time... 2 jobs, Young Life, school...but its hard to find those kind of people to share it with. I have yet to find anyone at home that is remotely like my friends at the Honor Academy. I hate to put them in that category but its hard not to when everyone I meet is so different. I spend more time defending what I did at the Honor Academy, what I believe, how I act, etc. than anything else. I guess I'm just tired spiritually. And with no one here for me to talk to (really talk to), laugh with and just let my guards down and be myself with...it tends to drain me.

I need a friend that understands me completely. That I can hang out with and not feel uncomfortable. Someone that will keep me accountable and I can keep accountable. Just someone to laugh with. I want to be happy. I try really hard to be happy but it's so hard trying to do it alone. I will keep my trust in God and believe that He is leading me in the direction He wants me to go. At this point, that's all I can do.

I believe!

A few weeks ago I went to New York City with my friend Rachel. Being that I am from a small, po-dunk town in Oklahoma, this was quite an exciting adventure. I love city life! I would love to be right in the middle of the fast-pace lifestyle where there is constantly something going on at every corner, where people take taxies or walk everywhere they go. So fun!

Believe it or not, out of everything we saw and experienced, I would have to say one of my favorite things was the Rockefeller Center. I know, it sounds strange. Honestly, the only reason we went was because my mom said it would be a good experience. I wasn't convinced. The only thing I knew about John D. Rockefeller was that he was some Oil Tycoon that made lots and lots of money and eventually owned like, most of NYC.

But when we got there, to my suprise, I ended up being more impressed with the man thanI had origionally expected. Right in front of the huge building was a plaque inscripted with his beliefs:

I believe in the supreme with of the individual and in his right tolife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe that every rightimplies a responsibility, every opportunity, an obligation; everypossession a duty.I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; thatgovernment is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that heworld owes no man a living but it owes every man an opportunity tomake a living.

I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and thateconomy is a prime request of a sound financial structure, whether ingovernment, business or personal affairs.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should beas good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty ofmankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross(waste matter) of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the humansoul set free.

I believe in all-wise-and all-loving God, named by whatever name, andthat the individuals highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, andwidest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.”

After reading this, I thought to myself "self, this man is deeper than some cut throat business tycoon, he is obviously a christian." It was obvious to me. Nothing on this plaque is origional and anyone that has read the Bible knows that, but as I looked around at the other people reading the plaque I realized that not one person around me was of the christian faith. I struck up a conversation with the muslim man next to me. I asked him what he thought of the plaque and he said that they are very bold statements and someone in his country would be arrested for such statements. I asked him what he thought if his beliefs (particularly the "all-wise-and-loving-God" part) and he said that he believes he is a strong man and he believes in God, just not like Christians do. "Poor Chirsitans are decieved" he said. We talked a little and bounced off our beliefs and ideas and the reasoning behind them. In the end, nothing really happened (meaning I didn't pray with him and baptize him in the fountain or anything..haha) but I hope if anything I planted a seed. And without this plaque, I would have never had the opportunity. Like I said, I don't know much about John D. Rockefeller and his life, but I respect him because if anything, he left something behind that will plant seeds in the hearts of people around the world that come to see his amazing accomplishments. Reading that plaque inspired me to want to live like that and it gave me an awesome opportunity.

It's so hard to see what's right before my eyes

I have this problem...people tell me its pretty common but that isn't good enough for me. I don't want to be common. For about 7 months now, I have had the hardest time trusting God. I can't seem to trust him with anything! It's extrememly frustrating. I want to trust him but I catch myself pulling back like he can't be trusted or if I do then I will get hurt. Still time and time again, he continues to be faithful...even when I'm not.

I just recently visited a friend in North Carolina and we traveled up the East Coast. It was quite an adventure and something I will never forget. We didn't do a whole lot of planning, we just kind of left. So many times during our trip God showed up and provided for us in ways only he could do. The things that happened were at the most random times coming from the most random people but I found that by the end of the trip I had no problem trusting that no matter what happened, God would have our backs. It was exciting to have conversations like:
"where are we going to stay tonight?"
"I dont know"
(2 hours later)
"Hey this lady gave me a free hotel room for us to stay tonight"
"What?!?!"
It was so amazing I almost couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next! My whole point to this is that trusting God and seeing it happen right before my eyes was the most amazing and comforting thing I have ever experienced. So you would think that after something like that I would have no problem trusting him with the rest of my life. But I am learning that for some reason it comes and goes. I want to...but I can't let go.
That frustrates me beyond belief! He is right in front of me saying "I have what you are looking for, just trust me" and I run away scared everytime. I used to not be like this...and I don't really know how to get out of it. I want to be able to jump and not think about it. All I know is that somethings got to change.

Alone with my thoughts...not a bad place to be.

So I'm just learning about this whole blogging thing ( I know its sad) and I decided I needed something else to be used as a release of the inner workings of my being...besides, its a good time filler when I'm trying to kill time. I know that is terrible to actually try to kill time instead of using it to the fullest...but unfortunately with my current job, that is all I am left to do. I'm sure this one will be read by strangers if anyone. I don't mind so much about that. Besides, it will probably just end up being something I write on that no one looks at. I wouldnt mind so much about that either. So here we go...here's my first blog.

anyone reading...have fun.

Michelle