Napoleon Dyna-pants

For those of you who haven't ever accompanied the Faith youth group on a road trip this entry might need some explanation...

We often spend a fair amount of time making up dumb jokes by inserting the word "pants" into any movie quote, song lyric, or etc. Over the years we have made so many that we have almost exhausted our resourses....until we saw Napoleon Dynamite, and now suddenly there is a whole new world of pants jokes!! I've been collecting them, and tonight during bible study I got enough for an initial post at least...this post will be perfect for comments...please add as you see fit!!

(at the dance) "I like your pants...they're really...big"
"what's that??" "It's a Liger...it's probably my favorite pants. "
"Can you at least bring me my chapstick then?? ...But my pants hurt real bad!!"
"Tina, you fat tub of lard...come get your pants"
"Practicing what??" "My pant's moves..." (chug gatorade here...)
"No one would ever vote for me for president...I don't even have any good pants"
"Girls only like guys with pants!"
(while surveying the wigs) "...there are just so many pants"
"I have absolutely no doubt that lafonda is my soul-pants"
"Stupid pants!! GOSH!!"
"umm...you should come and get your equipment out of my locker....I can' t even get my pants in there anymore"


:) ok....enough...

a thought

Exodus 10:20 is a verse that gets skipped a lot...unless you start thinking about it, then you will probably end up taking up a fair amount of time. It talks about God "hardening" the heart of Pharoah. Does God really make someone dislike him?? Pastor Steve enlightened us today...and instead of giving you the whole speech, I'll just leave you with a quote. Perhaps it will interest you as much as it did me.

The same sun that softens the butter hardens the clay...

let your brain chew on that for a while...it did me good. Peace out...

pathetic but true

sometimes I think the best things in life I don't notice often enough. I came home to a house full of worn out people, but as I sat down in a chair my puppy came up and nuzzled my elbow, and when I pet him he proceeded to lick me repetitively wherever he could reach. Tucker, I know you'll never read this, but you made my day.

No Amnesia Please!

So much to say, so little space on my blog! Yet another awesome time at snow trip...had a great time hanging out with people...some of whom it feels like I only see about once a year. I played more games of spades games than I think I've ever played...although without Tina I had a hard time playing telepathically...no one else is that good dearest...way to be! Matt and I put away Mike and Alan...that definitely made my life worth living!

Skiing was great...COLD but great. I wore my penguin hat the whole time and got some of the best looks ever. Surprised snowboarders have some classic facial expressions. We also enjoyed tubing...6 tube trains with two people per tube are a blast. We tubed down a huge hill, over a road, and onto a lake which was solid ice. SO FUN!! We also wrestled on the ice as usual, which was good. The injured list is as follows:

-2 ice dives from tubing...cuts across the bridge of the noses and chins...very brave looking ladies!
- 1 spread-eagle back flop off of the ramp on the trick course during skiing...brilliant Cos! Sore back but walking :)
-1 neck/back clothes-lined by snow fence at full speed at the bottom of a hill...Beth, sorry to laugh, but once we knew you were going to live that really was funny!! :)
-1 sprained ankle for yours truely...it is so pretty(purple and green)...and so worth it!!
-more bumps, bruises, and frostbitten fingers than we can count, but what else is new??
-0 concussions!! Thanks Lord!

We froze to the floor in the morning, drank coffee lots, and enjoyed the sweet fellowship. The lip sync contest was hysterical...Casey and I sang the "Sisters" song from White Christmas and the Costerisan boys acted it out and pretended to sing. Loosening up those Cos hips to look like show business girls was a challenge, but SO fun in the end! :) I also finally saw Napoleon Dynamite, which has been quoted non-stop at my school for the past 6 weeks. Good to know what is finally going on. General consensis: "Stupid Idiot!! ....GOSH!"

Good sessions, and great devotions about living in an alternate reality...the same one our savior lived in, and the one that probably made him look like he was insane. Time to bust out of the norm y'all...we've got some people to help and a whole lot of the devil's lies to uncover! Painful but sweet time with the gang as well when they played "Come to Jesus" ("untitled hymn" by Chris Rice) for an invitation. It had been a long time since we'd been together in a service like that to hear that song...almost a year and a half. Hearing the precious words and people around us crying brought back a rush of memories, pain, and resolutions that we all made when our Father called Jared home. God knew what he was doing...I wanted so badly for a fire to be lit in me again, and this did it. Lord, don't let me forget!!

That's the prayer we all have during re-entry...Lord, stay with me and keep me aware of how you are working in me...no amnesia for me please!

Snow Trip, here I come!

I'll be out for a few days...headed for Wisconsin for the best 3 days all winter...and easily the coldest! JJ informed me tonight that we are expecting -17 degree weather when we arrive...yes, that's BELOW zero!! The high for saturday is 1 degree...count it (sheesh, I can't even say "them"!) :) WOW!! Yet, I can' t help but anticipate my feet freezing to the floor every morning, my hair freezing on the way back from the showers, my nose hairs freezing over my nostrils making it hard to breathe (if you've never experienced this, do it before you die...it is really fun!). Oh yeah, I also can't wait for praise and worship with the MUH, all you can drink Cappuccino at all times, a huge bonfire going in the lodge, card games, ping-pong, awesome sessions and devos, playing in the snow and on the frozen lakes, skiing, and chilling with all my buddies. Crazy good times!! Hopefully I can post some crazy pics when I return.

Stay warm and cozy...

They're Back!

Here in little 'ole Decatur we're at it again...trying not to be stressed out by all the homework that suddenly seems to be PILED on! At the times when the days seem longest and toughest, it seems that God sends songs and verses my way to get me through...this one by Mercy me hit home yesterday...

I close my eyes and I see your face,
If home is where my heart is, then I am out of place,
Lord won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now.

Even so, Lord Jesus come quickly!! Ever wondered why we're here?? It's a comfort to me to know that if I'm walking with Him I should feel like an alien a good part of the time... and even at the times that it's tough...we can be assured that we are here on a mission, though it's only short term. Let these words allow you're heart to recognize your true home, but don't forget to live what's given to you here. What a challenge for me! I covet your prayers. Sweet dreams to all...

snow...Snow...Snow...SNow...SNOW!!

It's finally here!! Last night a BEAUTIFUL snow fell...so light an fluffy, it covered individual twigs perfectly and covered all the gross sights of a city in the winter. Leaving Jackie's late nad driving home in it was like being in a dream. Hooray! What is it that facinates me so much about such a simple phenomenon?? It's enough to make me turn 5 all over again.

Tonight I'm off to Beth's to throw a surprize party. We will decorate, then she'll come home to much food and game playing...I'm so excited!! 18 always seemed like that age where you had to start growing up. I really hope that's not the case. It just doesn't seem possible that we are not going to be legal "kids" much longer! Change is good I suppose, but it is certainly different. Hopefully it will come slowly enough for us to handle.

Sorry I don't have anything interesting or profound to say...welcome to my world. See y'all later...

Enough Already!

rain....Rain....RAIN....RAIN!!!!
I've had it!! It seems like a millenium since I got in the car and didn't automatically flip on my windshield wipers. The creek in my backyard is swolen to 5 times it's normal width...now it kind of looks like we live on a really muddy, fast moving lake. My mom always wanted to live on the water....go figure. I wish it would just go ahead and snow. Actually, ice is in the forcast for tonight, so maybe tomorrow we'll all be bumper skating. Cool, pretty cool... :)

January term got interesting today...we had a trauma flight nurse, like a super cool medi-vac-er. ...Sorry, those of you who don't know me too well...making up words is a specialty of mine. That's a pretty good one, you've got to admit. ...anyway, she was amazing, flys in helicopters, is certified in like 16 different areas, works 24 hour shifts and wears a magenta jumpsuit full of scissors and other cool gadgets. Maybe that's my calling...who knows! In my next class I was assigned the part of the "old crone" aka really old ugly lady. I had FUN with that one baby!

Other than that college applications, essays, interviews, and deadlines are ruling my life and doing better than just about anything ever has to make me worry...which I hate. Ahh well...life goes on, I hope.

Well, toodles...oh, and for those of you who have been dying for the answer: two zebras fighting over an avacado.

sleihirohvnep...dkoe..jr

whew...sorry about that. I like to call that, 'post essay syndrome', when the exhaust fumes from my brain stop coming out my ears and start coming out my mouth in nonsense syllables. I think if I have to write another intelligent paragraph in the next 4 hours or so I might just...Not :)
J-term started today...we had some fun times, although 2 and 1/2 hour classes aren't exactly my cup of tea (to borrow a Dave Barry-ism, " more like my cup of tea smashed into my teeth."), but that's alright I guess. I'm taking Health Tech/Medical Labs out at Richland in the morning, then Theater Arts in the afternoon with Mrs. Pangrac...an old friend and a great teacher. Today my friends and I had a lot of fun imitating chickens, damsels in distress, and old ladies as we tried out for parts in a reader's theater. Ahh...Needless to say Joni makes one heck of a fox with a dracula accent!
I'm sorry to be loosing sleep over this thing, but it's good to get back to routine I guess...and fun to see all my buddies.

Jokes of the Day!!!

1) What's black and white and green and Black and White?

2) A paratrooper jumped out of a plane and pulled the cord on his parachute only to find that it did not release. Frantically, he pulled at it again and again, but to no avail. Suddenly, he looked down to see a woman being propelled towards him. "Hey!" he called out, "Do you know anything about parachutes??" "No, sorry," she replied as she shot past. "Do you know anything about gas grills??"

For the answer to the first one, check in later...but please keep in mind that my jokes are never anything but groaners. Well, keep plugging away y'all...and let me know what's up, OK??

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

New Year Anyone?

So, New Years officially rocks thanks to some awesome friends...You guys are the best! My family joined 5 others for the LONGEST party I've ever been too. It all started around 6:30 on New Year's Eve...we headed to Kneezels for some kickin' food...and I mean a ton of it!! We are still recovering from all the salads, bread, sandwiches, sweets, shrimp, and so much more! After recovering from dinner we spent some time just chillin' and then took over the basement...much air hockey, pool, and watching 'Mr. Bean'...a new favorite. We also had a rousing time watching the Illini game...I don't think the stadium could have been louder...or more obnoxious. Next the whole crew headed to the garage for some swing dancing and we also learned the cha-cha, the charelston, and some mexican dances ( I got those pretty confused but Alyssa and Aaron can sure make them good!). Beth and I and Jacks and LC had a great chat on the porch and ended up playing BIG BOOTIE. We were shortly joined by several other girls, then Aaron, then some of the dads...at the end of it all we had 16 people in the cold without shoes on bouncing around in circles as we clapped and attempted to keep rhythm...oh for a video camera!! :)

Next, everyone gathered on the deck for the countdown(this time armed with shoes and sweatshirts...). We made a lot of noise, burned a lot of sparklers, and drank a lot of sparkling grapejuice. We then circled up for prayer...which was really neat. These families are so supportive of one another and to pray with a group of about 35 for the coming year was a blessed time. We also had to endure some big group picture taking...only about 15 shots...then finally sought refuge in the warm house!!

But were we done?? Heck no....we got PJ's on, then played a group game of Catch Phrase and then Mofia( have you ever played with 6 mofia, 3 policeman, and 2 nurses??? CRAZINESS!). By the time this was done (approx. 2 am) the adults began to poop out. The kids tried to keep going...and we succeeded too. Talking, rolling out sleeping bags, playing games, deciding that we didn't have enough room upstairs and trying to boot the boys out of the basement, and some more talking took up about 3 more hours somehow...and by the time 5:30 rolled around I was laying on the other end of the basement from the boys trying to sleep amidst corny music from Elf and high pitched boy giggles furnished by the Costerisans and TJ. :)

By about 10 we were up and at it again....TONS OF FOOD!! Three kinds of eggs, sausage, the biggest fruit tray I've ever seen, bagels, and who knows what else...it was fun. The kids played a great game of beyond balderdash as we got the scoop on the baby Dennis C delivered at about 9 am....poor thing!! When our food had settled we headed out for a 3 mile run to Forsyth and back...and I so didn't DIE!! :) No, actually, it was really fun. Once back from my near death experience and showered I helped Jackie get ready for a wedding. We then watched several hours of Mr. Bean (well, they did...it tires me after about the 1st hour...I watched Texax vs. Michigan instead). We got in a game or two of rat burb before our brains started to ooze out our ears and then started My Best Friend's Wedding. But, alas, all good things must come to an end...and our parents started packing up around 10:30. By the time we finally left ( after much hugging and kissing, especially for Alyssa who goes to France on Thursday) we had been together in one house for over 28 hours!!

...and the amazing thing?? WE ALL SURVIVED!

I can't possibly make this longer...so I think I'll quit. Hope you and yours had a great one too. As you attempt to spread out your holiday as long as possible(like I am now) remember that the semester too will end before you know it. Enjoy every day, especially you seniors!! Blessings on you all...