When In Rome...

(I apologize folks, this is my first post on my ORIGINAL blog that I began yesterday and now cannot get into to update or make changes- i love computers. So here will be the REAL deal!) Friends...Topekans... Lend me your ears... Okay that was bad. Really bad. No more Caesar or other Shakespeare puns... ever... at least for today. A month from now, I can't promise I'll remember that vow. I know- I am a dork (and to quote doug, "I'm okay with that"). So here it is ladies and gentlemen: my blog. Yes, I have joined your insane journaling cult; I have joined the revolution. As a writer, I was, at first glance, dead against this "web logging" thing. There is nothing, in my mind, that can ever take the place of a good old fashioned journal and pencil. However... after pondering my view on this subject, I have decided that just because one joins the electronic world of journaling, doesn't mean that they must immediately, with reckless abandon, drop all integrity that they possess as a writer. Yes, I confess, I am a traditionalist. There are very few opinions I possess that I will back down on- I'm opinionated, and no one convinces me otherwise. But maybe, being able to type 60 words a minute on my computer (thank you keyboarding and comp. tech!) will allow this to be something more than my average journal entries.. which tend to become lazy as my tired hand begins to cramp. So here I sit, with about 25 other tasks I should be completing, procrastinating at my computer. My hands are ready. Sorry about all that- I just had to have a sort of melodramatic beginning (if you could call it that). Believe it or not, I am, on occaision, a drama queen. And not in the high maintenance complaining little sissy way either. I detest watching people act like that- try attending my high school if you need an example or fifty. What a weird world we live in. I thank God that it is only temporary. Some days I wonder if I can truly handle one more thing before I break, shattering into millions of tiny pieces. I have a lot on my plate in life, and is by His grace alone that I have survived. Pray for me, if you would please. Pray that my family survives this storm. Don't misunderstand me: I am, for the most part, a contented and generally happy person. I love a lot of things about my world; mainly the people I have the privelege of spending my days with- friends, brothers, sisters, acquaintances- all the people that make this earth a better place. I love to be involved- things just don't feel right if I'm not putting 100 percent into the busiest schedule possible. It's not superficial, it's what fulfills me. I'm sure I tend to come on a little strong to many folks, but over the years I quit caring so much about what people think- although I still get attacked with that issue on a weekly, if not daily basis. I refuse to be anyone but me. You don't like it- deal with it. It's only the Lord's opinion that matters after all. We are a moment, as the song says. This summer was (I regretfully use the past tense, because in every way but season, it has finally ended) the most AMAZING three months that I have ever spent in my entire life. I do not use that word lightly. I never knew, looking back at May, that I could cram so much into such a short time. I have learned a thing or two, believe it or not- I feel like I could write a book, or some sort of saga. But there are very few others, besides my brothers and sisters that I lived with most of the summer, that would EVER comprehend what we have been through. Everything began ordinarily enough: my plans were set- hanging out with the girls, Summer Sizzle, Blast, Mexico (mission trip, not vacation), maybe a part time job, bible study, and maybe getting to know the kids at youth group a little better. Little did I realize what God had in store for me. Maybe everyone that experienced these events with me does not feel the same way- but I know that there is more than one who do feel passionately about all that we did, as a youth group, as friends, as a team, and as a family. Shattered Expectation #1: I'll probably get bored a lot Who has the time to be bored when, not even five days into break, I recieve several calls that land me with, count 'em, THREE part time jobs. A word to the wise: do not do this if you want to sleep in relax and chill all summer. That is an obvious statement! These pieces of the insanity were NOT opportunities that I sought out.In a nutshell, a volunteer job and two child care jobs fell into my lap. All it takes is three phone calls from three desperate women. Thankfully, these wonderful ladies were all willing to work with my schedule, and I was allowed to take most of the month of July, along with several other days off, so that I could still maintain the rest of my insane activities schedule. (Since when did summer have a SCHEDULE??!) Unfortunately for me and my many riveted readers (ha!), the civilized world, and inevitable duty call. I have decided that I want more than three hours of sleep tonight. Much love ~Jade