My first 5 question Friday

This is my first time doing Five Question Friday, which I got from My Little Life as I was strolling through blogs. So, here is what happens. She posts five questions, and I answer them! Easy enough! I'm excited because I love when I get to answer questions. Makes me feel special and important - for the most part. Anyway, here it is!

1. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

At my parents house we would stay up on Christmas Eve until midnight Christmas day then open one gift. Then we'd go to bed, get up early, and tear into the rest of them! Now it's mostly Christmas day still. The only person I exchange with is my boyfriend for the most part. Then it's Christmas day depending on the parents that we are with.

2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie (or candy)?

I'm not sure about this one. I love Christmas flavored or themed treats! One year I made candy cane shaped sugar cookies topped with crushed peppermint. I was proud of those, so they are probably my favorite. They were also delicious! Anything with apple, cinnamon, or peppermint flavoring is a winner for me.

3. What is the worst Christmas gift you've ever received?

My grandmother had a friend who brought us gifts every year, but it was always the most random stuff that no kid wanted. It was stuff like roll-on deodorant, candy that didn't taste like candy, and necklaces that looked like yarn. It wasn't always horrible, but it was awkward stuff that no one used! Then I'd have to be polite and smile and say thank you, but it always ended up just collecting dust until i finally threw it out.

4. Christmas song that you love?

I love *NSync Christmas. It sounds dorky, but since it came out I have listened to it every year as I put up the tree or do anything else. O Holy Night is my favorite song. There is something about five part harmony acappella that makes me smile - especially at Christmas.

5. How many trees do you put up?

One. It's 6 feet tall, fake, and I've had it for a few years. It works for me though. It's cute and it makes me smile every year.

There it is folks! My first five question Friday! I believe that it was a success! Come back next Friday...maybe I'll do it again. Also, check out some others who have done the same thing!

#314

In the beginning, it would have been unlikely that we were seen together. Everything changed when I needed a ride one day, and this pseudo random person (the only one left to ask) said yes - even though I did not deserve her help in any way. Thus began a beautiful, strange, but fun relationship.

This is us in the beginning. We worked together and ate there a lot, because it was delicious (and we got an awesome 50% discount). I miss that discount. I'm glad we still eat together. It's probably one of our favorite pastimes. That may be one of the only things we agree on completely. The others are simple: Rent and Wicked.

This was our first Halloween dressing up together. It is a pretty accurate depiction of our differences (although she was wearing an old costume of mine). I was Elphaba. She was a French maid. It was quite a hit! We did not dress up when we actually saw Wicked a couple years later.

We have had our share of ups and downs and all arounds. We haven't really fought, but we have disagreed strongly. We do not always see eye to eye and we are not carbon copies of each other by any means. We are, however, friends. There's never a doubt in my mind that she will be there for me if I need her - whether that means taking me to work or playing hopscotch in the parking lot.

This is us at my honor society initiation. She wants to be at every major moment in my life because she loves me. I thank God for her. Sometimes I think that she's crazy and clingy, but I know that's her way of letting me know that she cares. And this is my way of letting her know that I do.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

Thanksgiving Surprise

November was the best month of this year! I was initiated into an honor society, I fed missionaries, and I saw Lecrae and the whole 116 Clique in concert. The final thing on my list was Thanksgiving, then it all changed.

My boyfriend told me that I had to clean and finish all my school work because his family was coming into town for Thanksgiving and I needed to be free. I was up two nights in a row and got my work done. Sunday morning I was in the bathroom getting ready for church when Darius says, "Come out here, I have someone I want you to meet." I told him just a moment so that I could finish up my mascara and my mother sticks her head in my bathroom! I was shocked and surprised!!

My parents drove from Waterloo, IA to Greensboro, NC just to see me for the week. They schemed with Darius to surprise me. It was their first time here since they dropped me off in August 2006.

It was an amazing time! We danced, played games, sang, went out to eat, went to the movies, and just had a great time with family!

This was also my first holiday with my family and Darius' family together! It was awesome! We played spades (my mom and I spanked his aunt and uncle) and watched the Saints beat the Cowboys! That night my little sister, Darius, and I stayed up all night and had a middle of the night CVS run. It was sad to see them go early in the morning, but I was so excited that they were here! I love my family!

Used To Do It Too

I have more in common with certain people than they seem to realize. I've made a lot of wrong decisions. Used to do it too - by Lecrae, featuring KB - is my new theme song. The Rehab album has a lot of great songs that anyone can relate to, not just Christians. It also challenges listeners. Used to do it too talks about the things that we did before we dedicated our lives to Christ.

Here's where it really struck me:

"I know I ain't the person that I used to be.
I look the same but I promise this a newer me.
See what I used to be was selfish and conceited,
I was living for myself and telling Jesus he could beat it.
At the time I couldn’t see it, all I saw was havin' fun."

He goes on to talk about how he didn't change himself, but how he invited God to change him. It's crazy because this kind of behavior is often supported in our society. "Do what makes you happy" and "follow your heart" are heard very often. I've done that: it causes more heartbreak than its worth.

Used to do it too is a way to relate to people who do things that we used to do but no longer do because we have found our place in Christ's family. People see me and probably don't notice any difference because I look the same. I'm about the same height, weight, hair color, etc. However, Christ has changed me on the inside in ways that I can't explain.

To all the people who I hurt when I was not following Christ - I apologize. This is not meant to be taken lightly. A true apology realizes that there was a bad decision made and that forgiveness is necessary. That's what it is to be in Christ - realizing that we are imperfect, faulty, unworthy, and need forgiveness. We need God's forgiveness. I know that I have that now I can work on my relationships with other people. In my "about me" I mention that relationships are the most important thing to me. It's true! This means asking God to heal the relationships here on the earth that I have ruined with my selfishness.

This did not just happen yesterday, but I still have plenty of growing and learning to do. I praise God every day that I have to live for Him and keep moving in the right direction.

Grass is Greener Syndrome

I was inspired today by looking at someone's blog whose life has always seemed so easy to me. Everything has worked out exactly how it's "supposed" to. She met the love of her life in high school, they got married, got degrees, started their dream careers, bought a house, and now they are having a baby. My life has not been that smooth. There have been twists and turns, fights and lost friends, bad decisions and their consequences.

Looking back, I realize that while all those things weren't necessary, I have grown and learned from them. I am the person that I am because I have allowed God to use those situations to make things better in my life. I have a perfect Heavenly Father, great friends, and a wonderful family. Even the less important things in my life have worked out surprisingly well.

Comparing and looking at the other side does not make things better. It just causes unnecessary stress and worry. As I sit here and write, I realize how great life is. Not only my life, but life in general. We are so blessed! We need to learn to stop wanting more, or what the other person has, and realize our blessings every day. We need to ask God to cure us of our chronic grass is greener syndrome.

Hey! How are you doing?

Our social norms! Sometimes they are great. It's polite to tell someone "God Bless You" when they sneeze or smile and nod as you pass a stranger on the street. But why do we always greet each other with, "Hey! How are you doing?" My question is: are you prepared for a genuine answer?

Most of the time: no. No one wants to know how people are doing really, deep down, in their lives. They probably don't care what is on your mind or what your stresses are. They are just being "polite." At least what they think of as polite. My thought is that it's not so polite to ask someone a question that could potentially have a serious answer when in fact one is ready for a serious answer. On the other hand, does anyone ever want to answer that question? Really answer it? We all say, "good" or "fine" because those are the answers that are easiest and most expected. When someone says "bad" or "so-so," they are generally frowned at then dismissed. I'm sure that's not how we should be treating each other.

We set ourselves up to lie to each other instead of just not asking, which would be more sincere. Today I had quite a few things on my mind. When I was asked "how are you doing?" by someone who I knew didn't care...part of me wanted to tell her the truth. Instead, I saved us both the hassle of real interaction and said, "fine." Wow. What a sad social "norm."

I pray that we actually start caring about one another in a way that if we ask someone how he is doing, we are obviously sincere and caring. This way, the person can look us in the eye, smile with all the sincerity that we asked with, and answer with an honest "fine."

Almost Simply Me

It seems simple enough to start my first blog by telling you about myself. I try, and generally fail, to keep things simple. This is a trait about myself that I am still learning to love. Loving myself can be difficult at times, but it is necessary when loving others - which is significantly more important. Showing love to other's is one of my biggest goals in life. Jesus Christ understood it the best, so I will try to follow his example. With God first, loving everyone else should be fairly simple...theoretically. I believe that everything is theoretical until it happens. Anyone can say anything, but actions speak louder than words. I know, I know, it's a cliche. But sometimes a cliche is exactly what we need.

What I need isn't always the first thing on my mind. More often my boyfriend, friends, and family are at the forefront of my thoughts. Most of the time I will be blogging about my relationships. Relationships are the most important things in life. Life is made up of them. Think about the best memories of your life, were you alone? Probably not. My relationships with God, Darius, my family, and friends are what keep me going and my life interesting. I don't know how good of an introduction that was, but I'm not much of a writer. I just want a chance to share a little bit of myself and my thoughts with whoever is out there to read it.