Catch-up

Hey everyone,
I put pictures of philadelphia trip up at www.photos.google.com/dreamingdaisy. Check em out. Right now I am in Boston with the family for the weekend. We got a really nice hotel here. Today we walked around downtown, took a trolley tour of the area, and did a self-guided walking tour of Harvard University. Man that campus is nice. Made me want to go there. Tomorrow we are taking a bus tour through New Hampshire and Maine. I'm so excited!!!
Now I want to digress to an experience that I had about a week ago. I had to go to the doctor to discuss my iron levels with my doctor. As I was sitting in the pharmacy waiting room, I noticed a little boy sitting in an aisle in front of me. He had about 5 strings of Twizzlers in his hand. He was so cute that I couldn't help but watch him. He had a mischievous smile that lit up his face. You could tell that he was enjoying life. Anyways, I watched him for a little while. His mom noticed me watching him, and she soon got into a conversation with my mom. That alone is rare in this area, as it seems like strangers don't talk to each other. But we were on a military base so that's an explanation for that. But when I went up to the window to get my medicine, the little boy came up to my mom and gave her a Twizzler to give to me. It was so sweet of him. Anyways, it made me wish that I found life as simple as that little boy seemed to view life. All that was on his mind right then was his Twizzlers. He seemed to find the beauty of life and lived life in the moment instead of worrying about the future or the past. Anyways, the little boy made a profound impression on me and I thought I would share it with you.

HAPPY JULY 4th TOMORROW!!!

New Poetry

Sleepless

I know I need to sleep tonight,
But thoughts of you keep me awake.
I saw a picture of you today.
Saw the smile that lit your face.
Saw your eyes that shone with joy.
And I wonder what made you smile?
Wishing I might know the reason.
That I too might smile,
Forced to be content with your memory
To light the smile on my face instead
As I surrender to sleep tonight.

Life Right Now.

Hey everyone.
So my family just got back from a mini vacation to Philadelphia and I will try to post a synopsis of that and some pictures later today or tomorrow.
Right now I want to talk about something I'm battling right now. It's called depression.
Yeah unfortunately for much of last week I was either battling or experiencing severe depression. Well severe for me anyways. I've been dealing with it pretty much all semester, but I guess I was so busy that I didn't notice or that I didn't have the time to let it get me down. Well, it pretty much has.
There's been a couple of reasons for this.
I've kinda lately been feeling like it is time to go back to college. Like back to an actual college. I miss the dorm life and being surrounded by college students. Also, I'm ready to be back in Texas in general. Maryland has been great, and I enjoy my friends here and activities, but Texas just feels like home.
Air Force Stuff-Good news! I took my AFOQT (Air Force Officer's Qualifying Test) and passed with a 77. I needed a 15 to pass. Unfortunately I have a difficult decision to make about the Air Force program. Do I want to say in? Not really, but the potential benefits are so overwhelming that it pretty much defies all logic to leave the program. The Question? Do I follow logic or follow my desire to be out in the civillian world?
I'm spiritually dry. I went from being very spiritually active last semester while I was at DBU to be very inactive this semester. Yes, a lot of it prolly had to do with the fact that I was no longer required to attend chapel three days a week, have a New Testament class three days a week, and a Developing a Christian mind class one day a week on top of church every week, but it still has been hard this semester. Everything started off great, but as the semester got busier, and homeowrk assignments became due, I started leaving off the stuff that I should have held onto tighter. And I can pretty much feel the impact of this in every other area of my life. Yeah not good. Plus I really miss my church in Dallas.
Then there's the age old relationship stuff. It's nothing new. I'm just trying to work out heart issues cuz right now I'm pretty lonely. Hopefully this time around I will learn to focus on God and school and work and let God bring the perfect guy into the picture instead of hoping for the guy to come into my life each day. It's like the quote that is becoming cliche thanks to facebook-
"Dance with God and He will let the perfect man cut in." Hopefully I can learn that. Probably not, but maybe. Meanwhile I'll have material for new poetry.
I may have some mild health problems as well. For one thing, the migraines that I thought I was pretty much done with have started coming back. Not really sure why. As well as some stomach/nausea problems.
So anyways. This week is going to be busy since my first summer class starts so hopefully that will help keep my mind off the problems that plagued me last week. Algebra. Ugh. But pictures and stories from Philly coming soon.

True Beauty

So I was trying to write a scholarship essay. I thought the topic was defining real beauty, but once I got writing I kinda got off the real topic of who is the most beautiful woman to me. So it didn't turn out so good for the essay contest, but it makes for a good blog entry. Unfortunately there's not cash with blogging.

TRUE BEAUTY

Today there is a great deal of focus on the outside characteristics of a woman. We elevate our pop stars and celebrity models in our culture. Young girls, teenagers, and young women look at magazines often times and wish they looked as pretty as the girls on the covers. I think our society also pushes women to look like the girls in the commercials and magazines. Society want women’s faces to be flawless, be thin , have the perfect tan, and own the perfect wardrobe. True beauty is not, however, what can be seen on the outside.
True beauty is more than just appearance. It involves several aspects that will set you apart from other people. It includes a devotion to truth and what you believe. A woman with true beauty does not compromise to be like everyone else. She will have compassion for those less fortunate. She will always desire to be kind, but also have a strong drive to succeed in life. A woman with true beauty values the family and friendships that surround her. She does not base her self-worth on the opinions of others, but instead carries confidence within herself, which is evident by the smile of confidence that can be seen on her face in most situations. A woman with true beauty does try to look nice and will try to stay up-to-date in the fashion trends, but she will do so with a style that expresses her personality instead of only what is trendy at the moment. Furthermore, she does so to improve herself and to look her best at all times, not to impress the world.
Solomon is thought by many to be the wisest man that ever lived. In his collection of proverbs, he includes a description of a virtuous woman. Many of the characteristics that are included in this description apply to my description of a virtuous woman as well. One thing that is emphasized here is her desire to work both in the home for her family and also to earn money. She puts in long hours to ensure that her family’s needs are met and that there is enough cash flowing into the household. Another thing that is included is the fact that she plans ahead. A woman with true beauty is not often caught unaware because she pays attention to her surroundings and plans for the future. Solomon says that a virtuous woman is adorned with honor and is respected and praised by those who know her well. This ties in very well with a woman of true beauty.
Appreciating true beauty comes when someone appreciates the beauty that is found on the outside, but in the end is concerned with the person’s inner characteristics. Too many times, I believe society pushes away people that may not be that glamorous on the outside and never really get to know the amazing person that lies underneath the person’s shell. If, as a society, we paid more attention to the inside characteristics of women and people in general, we would most likely elevate the less corrupt people to high positions. This could revolutionize our business, our politics, our family lives, our nation, and indirectly the world.
True beauty is not sought after by women nearly enough these days. Instead, women seek after the shallow characteristics that can only be seen on the outside. The real beauty, however, comes after finding the gem that is rarely found underneath a woman’s exterior.

Update Soon

I'm working on an update. I am in the middle of finals week right now and I will get one out the end of this week. Promise. It's been way too long since I blogged.

I'm Sorry....What is the Name of This Game We Are Playing?

So time for a slightly thoughtful post...

I've been thinking about this game that for many is a constant emotional rollercoaster. Now I can't say how this goes for adults cuz I do not have that experience. But it seems to me that for young people we are losing sight of what is really important in a relationship. I hear constantly from people around me what attracts them to member of the opposite gender. I think we have distorted what love is and have commercialized it.
Girls now feel the need to go tanning, wear the latest fashions, be super slim, have plastic surgery, and countless other things all so they can look better for whoever it is that they are trying to impress. From lack of experience I don't know as many things on the guy's part. But guys pay for a gym membership (okay so that's probably not the only reason) and worry about how nice their cars are (again probably not the only reason). But still we have taken love and made it fit the the commercialized beat of America. Is there nothing that can be done without the commercialization? Love isn't about whether your body is the perfect hue of golden brown, or whether you paid $100 for your outfit or $30000 dollars for your car. We do this all so that maybe one person will glance over at you and then stop to take a second look. We have changed our view of love to where it relates to the outside of a person instead of looking at the inside of a person. Many times now we say love when we mean infatuated or attracted. They mean completely different things. Don't "fall in love" just because the guy across the room locked eyes with you, and then came over and started flirting with you. Fall in love with someone because of their character. Until that happens, your relationships will be empty and eventually will become meaningless.
Maybe I'm wrong. But that's my opinion. Too many relationships now are just a game. A game of trying to keep up an image instead of letting the other person get to know the real you.

First Day of Spring

At 7:44 this morning, the world officially started the spring season of 2009. Winter has dragged on enough according to the calendar. If only we could get rid of the winter weather. Although the temperatures have been fairly warm the past few days, and we are looking at warm temperatures the next few days, they are still slightly cooler than what I feel is normal for spring. But then again...where have I lived most of my life? Yeah it kinda makes sense.

Round here, the first day of spring is viewed almost as a major holiday. No they do not get a day off school or work, but it is filled with local flavor. For example, Rita's Ice Cream shops all served free ice cream today with no strings attached to start the season off in style. Radio stations announced spring the moment the season changed. Marylanders have had enough of the cold, dreary, rainy, snowy, and gray days. I believe I speak for the majority of us when I say we are ready for blue skies, warm sunshine, and white clouds. Here are some pictures from last spring to help with the celebration.