Many things to report

There are many things that have happened that I didn't want to devote a whole entry to, but I at least wanted to record them if for no one else, but myself. :)

• The last two days I have been sitting in a meeting about standards and benchmarks. Our school was the only one there that does not already have standards and benchmarks. Our team talked about what I have been thinking all along: we need standards and benchmarks. Of course, I would really like it if someone else would do it.
• We've been away from camp for the last two days, probably missing out on the great stake outs. We have intruders--I want to be the one that tells Luke to go put them in a sleeper hold. Intruders excite me...it probably shouldn't, but it does. I know we have to think about the campers' safety. I guess if I thought that was really threatened, I would be upset, but for now, I just think it's fun. It's like hide and seek. I want to be the one that shines the flashlight so Brad can hit them with his bat. The other night the intruders set off a ton of firecrackers. It was crazy loud. I wanted to be the one that laughed all the way to the dining hall as Brian and Luke chased them down. I was too tired to go out of the staff house.
• It has been so good to spend the last two days with just Luke. I love my husband.
• My brother-in-law Gabe is engaged to be married to an amazing girl. Her name is Terri. Their wedding will be on July 7, 2007. Luke will the best man and I get to be a bridesmaid. I feel so honored. Sizing day is next week.
• Yesterday I was in Walmart and I went to use the restroom. I was at the sink washing my hands and a lady came out after me. I was setting a good example with my handwashing. She looked in the mirror, fixed her hair, looked at me out of the corner of her eye, and then did the unthinkable. She walked right out of the bathroom. Why are there still people in the world that do not wash their hands after the go to the bathroom? That's like saying you're ok with doing something not very clean, and then walking around with that sensation all day. I did everything I could to not touch the door handle as I left. I saw her later and told Luke what she did. It didn't seem to matter as much to him.
• Luke is mowing the lawn right now before we go back to camp. He's mowing, I'm blogging. After this we'll eat at Subway. I love summer.

I feel like when I watch a movie I can really like it, but the part that sticks with me is what they say at the very end. That's what really hits home for me because it wraps it all up. It usually is a lesson that the character has learned. Many times I can go the whole movie without crying, or feeling very deeply about this situation, until they tell me what they've learned, then it just strikes a chord with me. I think it's because I really appreciate it when God allows me to see the lesson that comes from any hard or joyful experience in life, so to watch other people learning is so cool.

There are two movies I can think of right away where my favorite part just might be the ending--when they wrap it all up. They are Hope Floats and Nicholas Nichleby. Last night I watched Nicholas Nichleby. Allow me to share with you what was recited by Nathan Lane's character:

What happens if too early we lose a parent; that party on whom we rely for only...everything? What did these people do when their families shrank? They cried their tears, but then they did the vital thing. They built a new family...person by person. They came to see that family need not be defined merely as those with whom they share blood, but as those for whom they would give their blood.

I thought this was amazing. If you know me at all you'd know that I lost a parent early in life. This totally recinated with me because I can see how we did these very same things. We cried...a lot, but then we started again. My mom got remarried to a wonderful man. Besides that, our family has tripled since my father died. Praise God that families keep growing. And according to this, family is not only blood relatives, which I can absolutely see in my life too. There are people who we relied on during "the accident" that became part of our family. This helps me also to feel that much closer to my inlaws.God is so good to give us family. My prayer is that mine keeps growing. I know that it will. After college it was easy to think that I would never ever even want to have more family--all I wanted was to be with the new family God had blessed me with for four years. Even though it may take a while, and our hearts may be a little hard, the Lord still brings to us tender hearts and joyful hearts that are perfect for being in our family.

When I watch Hope Floats again, I will remember to post what it says at the very end...I can think of tidbits now, but it would be so much better whole.

Jack Black

One class I took in college was amazing to me because there was a girl in it who was actually the cousin of Jack Black. We did one of those get-to-know you games (which I absolutely hate most of the time) at the beginning of the semester where you had to say something unique about yourself. (My copout answer is usually that I'm a twin.) The girl down the line said her cousin was Jack Black. I have every reason to believe she was telling the truth. Why would you lie about something like that to a group of people you met 5 minutes ago? Until tonight I had never seen a Jack Black movie, so I couldn't even appreciate the amazingness that is her family.

Tonight I went to Nacho Libre with my family. I was expecting comic genius because the director is the same one that directed Napoleon Dynomite. My expectations were not met...except for one scene. Jack Black really made a name for himself in my book when he sang a love song to the unattainable woman in his life. After I saw that scene, the $7.50 was worth it. After the movie I was told I would really like School of Rock because Mr. Black does a lot of singing in it. We shall see...

My First Attempt

So this is the first entry I will create. The entry with the picture was affectionately done for me by the girl in the picture. Her name is Holli Gregg. Thank you, Holli, for helping me get set up with my own blog! In the last year I've been enjoying the writings of two of my dear friends on their own blogs, and I came to love the concept of being able to write and vent and share with college and camp friends all at once from the comfort of my own home. Also, considering that I have a mild case of phone-a-phobia, this was an excellent alternative for me. There have been many times I have thought to myself: Man, if I had a blog I would write this today....

So, I'll be updating and you'll read if it is important to you to do so. I mean, let's be honest, I feel like this is an outlet for me and I really don't know how often it will get read by the outside world, and I'm ok with that.

Coming up next time...why this summer is a no slacker summer...and the ins and outs of writing standards and benchmarks for a junior high math class......gross.

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