Monday, December 18, 2006
Tough moments
I haven't had to struggle with this thought before, but I struggle with it today. I began to struggle with it at 3:26 am when a friend was hurting and sharing certain feelings. Then anger began to build up inside of me because my friend should not be hurting. And I can't get out of my mind a conversation that Erin and I once had.
We once talked about church programs, what they "do for us" and what they "don't do" for us. This seems to be what I've been hearing so much of lately, "Well this isn't filling my need here" or "Their needs aren't being met". Why? Because ministry is being defined by actions, by fun, by games, by a non-realistic view. And instead they say, "Well I'm not being ministered to (which is a lie), so I'll go somewhere else." Perhaps I'm being close-minded, but since when has the church been all about me? If I remember Jesus' ministry correctly, it was all about God and his glory and his grace and his righteousness and what he did on the cross, and ALL HIM.
Why are people so scared to put themselves out there? Why don't they give it a shot at ministering to others, instead of focusing on being ministered to? A friend once told me, "You can't minister unless you're being ministered to." That thought was great help when I realized my relationship with Christ wasn't where it should be. But now as I look at it through a different window, I realize that we've all been given a God-given gift, and we are to put that gift to use in one way or another to lift up the Body, to serve the Body, not to be served to. God takes care of our needs, not people. What would be the point of God making each and every one of us unique if we aren't going to put his gifts to use? They would be a waist, and that is not God!
I don't have a singles group around, but am I being ministered to? Yes! Through the Word every Sunday morning, through my friend(s) which share spiritual thoughts or insight into God's Word, through my reading of the Word. Is there a college group around? No! But does that stop me from studying the Word? No! If the Word is being fed to me, what else do I need? Fellowship? Everyone has that opportunity on Sunday mornings after church, it's just up to everyone if they choose to run out as soon as church is over, or stay and talk with everyone. Or through other opportunities.
Should I focus on what I need? Or should I focus on what I can be doing for other's needs through what God has empowered me to do? Have I been burnt out? Yes! But would I continue to do as much as I have been? Yes! Why? Because it is ministering to others. Do I need a break? Yes! But am I going to be selfish and say, "Well I'm not being ministered to, so I'm going to find another place?" Has the thought crossed my mind? I'll be honest, it came to mind two weeks ago as Charlie told me, "Come to church with me. We can go to the college group on Wednesdays. And the worship is amazing on Sundays." But as I heard my friend last night, I had to see another side of the ministering. Will I give up just like everyone else and "amputate the Body" as someone put it? Or will I "press on toward the goal" and put those gifts to use?
I will not be led by those that say, "Well who is ministering to you?" Because I know that no program can minister to me the way God and His Word can minister to me. I just wish right now that everyone could see that! I wish they could see that they don't need some program...Erin, when shall we start that Christian cruise? That might be the solution everyone is looking for these days!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Too much!
So as I've pondered what I'm supposed to do with all the extra time on my hands, I've decided that I'm going to simplify. I'm going to go through ALL of my stuff, and everthing that I find crammed in drawers, closet, under the bed, etc. is going! I obviously don't need it. I mean, I've been without it for 4 months in school, I must not need it. Not to mention that I have no space for my clothes that I've brought home. Not that I have much, I just don't have anywhere to put them!
I will say that going through all of it isn't going to be easy, considering how easily distracted I am. I found a scrapbook that I started a year ago. The first picture is a picture of me on my first day at home. And it appears that I stopped at the point where I was sort of honoring my grandmother with all the pictures I have of her. That's something else to do!
In the mean time, simplifying it is!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
What to do, what to do...
I was definitely glad to have my friends around. Sweet Alyssa drove me to the doctor and to get my meds. It was only during the early morning hours, before the sun was up, that I was really wishing I had mom around! But Alyssa came to the rescue as soon as she could! And then there were the friends that recommended the Vitamin C and OJ, oh and sleep of course. Not mentioning any names, cause these people know who they are! You pushy sisters! ;)
But back to the big picture...IT'S OVER! I didn't see an end in sight for the longest time, but it's finally here. And now I lay here on my bed, at 11 something at night, wondering what the next few days will be like. I'm not used to just thinking of nothing! Granted I'm still working on our church's mission trip and getting that organized as best as possible. And I do have a deadline for that, but to think that people can help me out there, while no one could help me out with school stuff, well it makes a big difference.
So what do I do? Do I pick up one of the many books I plan on reading during the break, and start reading? Do I consider doing some deep cleaning in this house which our new, permanent visitor, Pedro, has opted to take over with it's dog hair? Do I plan on packing for a trip? Who do I go see? I haven't seen my nieces since last week, and that is pretty good, considering I hadn't seen them in three months even though I came home every weekend.
This is just so weird. I won't have my routine anymore of going to class, eating lunch with the girls, being in my room reading, im'ing, emailing, or watching tv, eating dinner, and back to the room again for sleep. You might think "Well hello, do the same at home!" But it isn't the same! My buddies aren't around to make my routine the same. The food from the caf won't be cooked, I'll have to cook my own lunch. We don't have cable here...I think I might go crazy. I mean, one can watch Elizabethtown so many times before losing their mind! (Pretty good movie, by the way.)
It shall all be okay. I mean, at least until Saturday, I'll have some fun. My babies will be around...fine Kelley, your babies will be around. But after Saturday, my days will be as boring as can be! I guess I should take it a day at a time. I guess I could start by unloading my car. :)
On a lighter note, I found out that one of my best friends from high school will be at Commerce next semester! I am so excited! Man, she and I used to have some good times in class. If I could only say now the things we used to call each other for fun, ha! If you heard it now, you'd think "Why in the world would you call each other ____?" But even as she and I were talking on the phone about how she'd walk in the room and give her usual comment when she'd see me or I see her, we couldn't help but laugh. I definitely can't wait to have her around again!
Oh, and to end things even better, I found out I might be able to graduate in December of 2007, at the latest May of 2008, NOT 2009 like I had thought. But I am aiming for December of 2007! That means I'll stay in Commerce for the summer. I am actually looking forward to that thought. Why? Not certain. I mean, our mall is Wal-Mart. LOL. But I still like the idea of staying there. I wouldn't be alone, Charlie boy would be there. Poor thing, he was in Commerce during this past summer all alone. Felt so bad for him. We could keep each other company next summer. But yeah, when I heard my advisor say "You could graduate in December of next year", I was definitely smiling! We'll just have to see what God has got in mind!
In the meantime, off I go to figure out what book it was J told me to read. Perhaps the library can be something I do tomorrow. Who knows...what do you suggest that I do?
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Locked in the room
She asked me if I'd go into the bedroom and stay in there 'til she was finished. That was fine with me, considering that's where I'm always at. After about an hour, I was ready to eat something. I opened up the door, and I see this body running and screaming at me, "NOOOOO!!!" I immediately shut the door out of fear that Erin was going to do something to me. I could not help but laugh. She finally got done hiding everthing so I could go and heat me up some noodles.
Throughout the entire day, that's all I heard. "No!" "Wait!" "Hold on!" By the late afternoon, I got sick of being in the room and staring at my computer. So I left and headed to the library to do some research for a paper. I got back around 5 to discover that Erin was done with what she had been doing.

All day long, she worked on making me a pillowcase. She was too sweet! She remembered that our first week back, I missed out on all the fun back-to-school stuff because of work, and I was the only one that did not get a pillowcase made. So she decided to make me a pillowcase as my gift. I was sooooo excited. Who knew someone could get so excited over a pillowcase? :-)
So there you have it...I was locked in my room because of a pillowcase!
Oh, and I should mention that not only was I Erin's secret santa, but Erin was my secret santa too...HA!HA! As Erin put it, "We were meant to be..."
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
From windows to SURPRISE!

The card says "Happy Early 24th Birthday!"

I got some kettle popcorn, a mug with hot chococlate, caramel filled chocolates, and crayons (Alyssa's idea with the crayons).
Tons of balloons! They make my car look so pretty!!!
And streamers all over the inside of my car, tied on the steering wheel, and of course, on my antenna.
I was definitely surprised! I was actually in tears after I figured out how to drive my car with all the balloons and stuff inside. It wasn't until I got to the journalism building that I figured out what all had happened last night, when they did all of this, and MY KEYS!
So last nights conversation was all about finding out if I'd be here, because they were planning a surprise for my birthday. My birthday isn't until Dec. 31st, but we won't be together, everyone will be at home and I won't even be in the country. So this was Plan B.
My friends are truly amazing! We've all had a rough semester, but we've made it! And to see the love that they have shown me with this surprise...man! They have stuck with me during good times and bad, when I've been at my best and most importantly, when I've been at my worst. God has truly blessed me by placing Erin, Alyssa, Loma, and Sophie in my life. So I can't always have the seriousness I long for like I get from my other friends...but I wouldn't trade these girls in for anything in the world. 10 months ago, I struggled with not knowing how I'd make friends in this tiny little town...today, I am blessed with 4 amazing friends that spent the little they had to make my day. This will be the best present (next to Chili's with my friends) that I've had so far!!! THANKS GIRLIES!!!!
Such rebels!
The heat has gotten so bad, and all from the humidity, that my roommate and I decided to break the rules and run the risk of getting fined. We wanted to open up our windows, but knew that we couldn't because they are screwed shut. We decided to pull out her socket wrench and unscrew all the windows. As she was unscrewing the first window, we laughed at the thought that they would have a silent alarm that would tell them the window was opened. We were planning what to do if someone came knocking at the door. So we ended up opening just one window.
Then late at night, she walked into the room and called me into the living. "What do you think..." as we looked at the windows, "do we open them all up?" At this point, I didn't care, "PLEASE DO!" So she pulled out her socket wrench and began unscrewing the windows. She opened up her three in the livingroom, I opened up the ones in the bedroom.
We were doing fine until we heard a knock. I immediately jumped out of my chair, went into the living room and looked at Erin. She was already half-way to the door. "What are you doing!?! The windows!" But she opened up the door before I could finish. Sure enough, it was Mark, our RA. I freaked out, tried to hide it, didn't work. Erin thought he was looking at me, since she was standing in front of him, and I was about 5 feet behind her. He was staring at the three windows that were open in the livingroom. I was waiting for him to say something, but he didn't. As soon as Erin closed the door, I felt myself breathing again.
It was so funny! And now, here I sit, cooled down by the neutral air that is circulating thanks to the windows that we opened. And here's the best part...we opened up the windows cause it was so stinkin' hot, yet I found out earlier than in a couple of days, we could get below freezing weather. Will we ever know what the weather is going to be like in Texas? Probably not! But in the meantime, we'll stay cool for the night. We'll worry about how we'll hide the space heaters we aren't allowed to have when it gets cold! Ha-ha!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Last night
When I realized what I had written, and the fight creeping up, I knew I had to win! This battle is coming from the one trying to keep me away from God, I know it. So I said, "You aren't winning this one!" I grabbed my keys, id, and mp3 player my dad so kindly bought me while in Arkansas. I hopped on my bike, put my music on, and just rode in the darkness. It was cloudy, and looked like it was going to rain. But that was okay, I knew why I wanted to be outside.
As I listened to Chris Tomlin and Big Daddy Weave (no, it isn't rap music :) ) and Nichole Nordeman, I sought the one I had not felt standing next to me earlier that night. I looked at His creation around me, and just admired Him for who He is. And through out the 30 minutes I was out riding on campus late at night, I didn't exactly feel His presence, but I knew that he was a lot closer to me than when I was fighting that battle earlier in my room.
I still don't understand many times why God will let us feel that He isn't with us. I feel it many times, lately I've come to see more some reasons why I might feel this way. I guess it's His way of reminding us that it's Him we need to keep before anyone and anything. But it's an awful feeling when I don't feel His presence. But He's there, waiting perhaps for me to make the first move to call out His name.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Nothing
I do everything, yet all I do is nothing.
I feel everything, yet all I feel nothing.
I see everything, yet all I see is nothing.
I hear that friend that tells me what I need to do, yet her words carry no meaning.
I pick up the book where I've been told for the past three years carries all answers, yet no answers come out from within its pages.
I feel the touch of everything that surrounds me, yet the one touch I'm longing for, it is not near me.
I look out my window and see what is known to everyone as the world, yet to me everything looks unreal, the trees, the sky, the clouds, people, buildings...it's all unreal.
This is where I stand today. In the middle of nothing. I have searched, and searched, and talked to one I'm told to talk to, yet I get nothing. I do not hear His voice, I do not feel Him beside me.... Yet I know that He hasn't left me. Perhaps I've just made myself believe this for the sake of comforting those around me. But no, it is true, He hasn't left me! But then why do I feel abandoned. This feeling had disappeared not long ago, yet it is taking hold of me once again! Is this some kind of test? If it is, I'm ready for it to be over!
I hate this nothingness!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
62 Fun Things To Do at Wal-Mart
It was quite funny when she asked me to give her the name of the blog. Haha! Well, she'll get a trip out of this one! We have two choices for fun in Commerce: Parties or Wal-Mart. As pathetic as this may sound, my friends and I fall under the "Wal-Mart" category. Erin thought that we should look into "Cafeteria Service" after the caf conversation. Can't imagine what she'll say after reading this.
I found this on our table when I walked into the room tonight...Here's a list of 62 Fun Things To Do at Wal-Mart (I'm sure the time was used efficiently by those who wrote this list out!):
1. Take shopping carts for the express purpose of filling them and stranding them at strategic locations.
2. Look right into the security camer, and use it as a mirror while you pick your nose.
3. Ride those little electronic car at the front of the store.
4. Leave small sacrifices or gifts in the hands of the mannequins.
5. Get a stuffed animal and go to the front of the store and begin stroking it lovingly, saying "Good girl, good Bessie."
6. Go over to the shoe department and try on every pair of shoes, not putting one pair back. Take the paper from the boxes and throw it in various aisles.
7. Set all the alarm clocks to go off at then minute intervals throughout the day.
8. Start playing Calvinball (or footbal, soccer, etc); see how many people you can get to join in.
9. Contaminate the entire auto department by sampling all the air freshners.
10. Challenge all the other customers to duels with tubes of giftwrap.
11. Leave cryptic messages on the typewriters.
12. Re-dress the mannequins as you see fit.
13. When there are people behind you, walk REALLY SLOW, especially down thin, narrow isles.
14. Walk up to an employee and tell him in an official tone, "I think we've got a Code 3 in Housewares," and see what happens.
15. Tune all the radios to a polka station, then turn them all off and turn the volumes up to "10".
16. Play with the automatic doors.
17. Walk up to complete strangers and say, "Hi! I haven't seen you in so long!..." etc. See if they play along to avoid embarrassment.
18. While walking through the clothing department, ask yourlself loud enough for all to hear, "Who BUYS this junk anyway!?!"
19. Repeat number 14 in the jewelry department.
20. Ride a display bicycle through the store; claim you're taking it for a "test drive".
21. Follow people through the aisles, always staying about five feet away. Continue to do this until they leave the department.
22. Play soccer with a group of friends, using the entire store as your playing field.
23. As the cashier runs your purchases over the scanner, look mesmerized and say, "Wow! Magic!"
24. Put M&M's on layaway.
25. Move "Caution: Wet Floor" signs to carpeted areas.
26. Set up a tent in the camping department, tell others you'll only invite them if they bring pillows from Bed and Bath.
27. Test the fishing rods and see what you can "catch" from the other isles.
28. Ask other customers if they have any Grey Poupon.
29. Drape a blanket around your shoulders and run around saying, "I'm Batman. Come, Robin - to the Batcave!"
30. TP as much of the store as possible.
31. In the makeup department, spray yourself with every perfume there is. Then walk up to a boy who is with another girl and start flirting with him in that annoying, ditsy way. "Hi!!! (giggle) What's your sign?(giggle)" When the boy shows no interest, start hitting on the girl in the exact same way. "Hi!!!(giggle) What's your sign? (giggle)
32. Randomly throw things over into neighboring aisles.
33. Play with the calculators so that they spell "hello" upside down.
34. When someone asks if you need help, begin to cry and ask, "Why won't you people just leave me alone."
35. When two or three people are walking ahead of you, run between tem yelling, "Red Rover!"
36. Make up a nonsense product and ask newly hired employees if there are any in stock. i.e. "Do you have any Shnerples here?"
37. Take up an entire aisle in Toys by setting up a full scale battlefield with G.I. Joe vs the X-Men.
38. Take bets on the battle described above.
39. Nonchalantly "test" the brushes and combs in Cosmetics.
40. While handling guns in the hunting department, suddenly ask the clerk if he knows where the antidepressants are. Act as spastic as possible.
41. Hold indoor shopping cart races.
42. Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from "Mission Impossible".
43. Attempt to fit into very large gym bags.
44. Attempt to fit others into very large gym bags.
45. Say things like, "Would you be so kind as to direct me to your Twinkies?"
46. Set up a "Valet Parking" sign in front of the store.
47. Two words: Marco Polo
48. Leave Cheerios in the Lawn and Garden, pillows in the pet food aisle, etc.
49. "Re-alphebatize" the CD's in Electronics
50. In the auto department, practice your "Madonna" look with various funnels.
51. When someone steps awa from their cart to look at something, quickly make off with it without saying a word.
52. Relax in the patio furniture until you get kicked out.
53. When an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "No, no! It's those voices again!"
54. Pay off layaways fifty cents at a time.
55. Go to an empty checkout stand and try to check people out.
56. While walking around alone, pretend someone is with you and get into a very serious conversation: EXP: The person is breaking up with you and you begin crying, "How could you do this to me? I thought you loved me! I knew there was another girl, but I thought I had won. You kissed ME darling." Then act as though you are being beaten and fall onto the ground screaming and having convulsions.
57. Hide in the clothing racks and when people browse through, say things like, "the fat man walks alone" and scare them into believing that the clothes are talking to them.
58. ***I should probably leave this one out! But man was I laughing hysterically!***
59. While no one's watching, quickly switch the men's and women's signs on the doors of the rest rooms.
60. Make a trail of orange juice on the ground, leading to the restrooms.
61. Stuff pairs of underwear and socks into pant pockets, mens sport coats, etc.
62. Drag a lounge chair on display over to the magazines and relax. If the store has a food court, buy a soft drink; explain that you don't get out much, and ask if they can put a little umbrella in it.
*Bonus* Attempt all of the above during the same visit.