Today, I am Eighteen years old.
I have a custom of writing letters to myself on my birthday to myself in a year (I know, I know, it's weird.) So, today I read a letter from a year ago and I thought it would be fun to share bits of it with you. Here goes!
Dear Eighteen,
Wow. Right about now you'll be graduating high school. Are you scared? Because I am. I don't feel ready to face college and leave an environment that I only just feel comfortable with. I don't want to face the crisis that I expect will come soon. I'm scared, and you probably are too.
That explains pretty well how I STARTED this year, but fortunately, I don't feel that way anymore! I'm more self confident, and although I'm sad to be leaving high school, but I'm looking around the bend with excitement and not fear.
Give my love to Julie, She's been such an encouragement, an inspiration and reminder to pursue holiness. I hope you have had a wonderful year with her. Also, to Lindsey, who counts you as one of her best friends. Remember that, because I know sometimes you doubt it.
Despite the gagging at my overly sappiness, that is still true - Julie, you're still, if not more, awesome, and Lindsey, you are just as energetic, and I no longer doubt how much you love me (even though I still make you mad - now I just know you love me in spite of the mad-ness).
I've got to know, did you finish the Bible reading program? If not, try again, please.
Umm...I'm in the process of finishing. I'm about halfway through and hope to be finished at nineteen.
Eighteen, I don't know what the world has in store for you, but I promise you, God loves you and you are a confident, talented young lady. Go tell Ms. M I love her, and have a marvelous year, discovering the person we're about to become. Love, Seventeen
The sappiness of this letter aside, I did really enjoy considering how I've grown in the past year based on this letter and the thoughts it evoked. If I could go back it time, this is what I'd write in response.
Dear Seventeen,
Your senior year was a blast, as is should be, but not without it's pitfalls. I can't tell you how much you changed, but our confidence level from you to me is, like, tenfold. This past year, you learned a lot about studying the Bible - which really helped. This past year, you continued to strengthen your relationships with all of your friends.
Seventeen, I am so different from what you thought I'd be. Neither of us can imagine who Nineteen will be, but I'll bet she's taking the best of both of us forward with her into college and the rest of her life, and I'll bet she's thankful for the people who helped her along the way, just like I'm thankful for the people who transformed you into me. Love, Eighteen.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monopoly, etc.
"never make a promise you can't keep". Guess I shouldn't have promised to blog when I wasn't going to. Oh well.
Today we finished playing Monopoly in my AP economics class. I learned that not everyone plays the same way - kind of like Settlers of Catan or Ninja or other popular games that evolve different rules over time.
Some of the rules I learned this week:
1. when you land exactly on GO, you get 400 instead of 200.
2. When you run out of hotels at the end of a game, five houses can be used as an equivalent (I've never played this way because I was told the scarcity of buildings was a planned strategic part of the game)
3. If you don't collect your cash for passing GO before the end of your turn, you lose it.
4. You may not buy two monopolies that come in a row (AKA you may not own an entire side of the board)
5. Get out a jail free cards are worth $50 when returned to the bank unused.
6. Free parking money has a 200 dollar minimum - the bank refills it every time.
7. properties that are not bought when landed on are put up for auction.
8. It is a legal trade to agree to "not pay rent" on certian locations
9. There is a speed version of monopoly - divy up properties right away and roll 3 die(not sure how it really works, cause it changes the chance of landing on squares)
I wonder if the game inventors intended for all these "house rules". Do they make the game better or worse? Do they change chance of winning? Are they "fair"? What do you think?
(side note - if you read my blog posts on Facebook, please go to my actual blog and sign yourself up as a "follower", it ups my standings and gives me more layout options - www.inmyfathershands.blogspot.com)
Today we finished playing Monopoly in my AP economics class. I learned that not everyone plays the same way - kind of like Settlers of Catan or Ninja or other popular games that evolve different rules over time.
Some of the rules I learned this week:
1. when you land exactly on GO, you get 400 instead of 200.
2. When you run out of hotels at the end of a game, five houses can be used as an equivalent (I've never played this way because I was told the scarcity of buildings was a planned strategic part of the game)
3. If you don't collect your cash for passing GO before the end of your turn, you lose it.
4. You may not buy two monopolies that come in a row (AKA you may not own an entire side of the board)
5. Get out a jail free cards are worth $50 when returned to the bank unused.
6. Free parking money has a 200 dollar minimum - the bank refills it every time.
7. properties that are not bought when landed on are put up for auction.
8. It is a legal trade to agree to "not pay rent" on certian locations
9. There is a speed version of monopoly - divy up properties right away and roll 3 die(not sure how it really works, cause it changes the chance of landing on squares)
I wonder if the game inventors intended for all these "house rules". Do they make the game better or worse? Do they change chance of winning? Are they "fair"? What do you think?
(side note - if you read my blog posts on Facebook, please go to my actual blog and sign yourself up as a "follower", it ups my standings and gives me more layout options - www.inmyfathershands.blogspot.com)
Monday, May 17, 2010
borrowing a song...
So, I'm sorry for my long absense - two weeks of AP tests swept me away from all kinds of life and into a whirlwind of testing.
Today I was thinking about writing something about how useless school has become for me, akin to SparkNotes SparkLife posts, but I went on Facebook before blogging and saw Josh's video link to this song and thought it was awesome and so I "borrowed" it from him to let you all experience it too, cause it's a cool song! (and I promise I will write the funny one tomorrow.)
Safe Lyrics
Verse:
To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone
Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone
Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone
Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me
These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free
http://www.elyricsworld.com/safe_lyrics_phil_wickham.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDk7zoCJfFk
Today I was thinking about writing something about how useless school has become for me, akin to SparkNotes SparkLife posts, but I went on Facebook before blogging and saw Josh's video link to this song and thought it was awesome and so I "borrowed" it from him to let you all experience it too, cause it's a cool song! (and I promise I will write the funny one tomorrow.)
Safe Lyrics
Verse:
To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone
Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone
Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone
Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me
These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free
http://www.elyricsworld.com/safe_lyrics_phil_wickham.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDk7zoCJfFk
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