I'm on your side, oh when times get rough

First, let me say I ADORE mix CDs from friends! I'm currently listening to the one Eagle made me, which is almost finished, so I will move on to the one from Dan.

I just finished up my honors project proposal and emailed it to my adviser. It's really a relief for just to have finished it, but I'm not sure if he'll go for it. It's kind of a crazy idea, but I'm all for it and all the work it takes to finish it. Anyone who has talked to me for at least 30 seconds knows that I am absolutely passionate about summer camp, teaching, and really just about the well being of children in general. So for my project, I want to combine summer camp and teaching, and go off of the idea that if a book worms program could happen, and Harry Potter and Little House on the Prairie programs could be CRAZY popular, why can't there be a summer camp program that's a little more academically based, but just as fun? I'm going to research reading and writing workshops, common problems girls face in schools, camp and school standards, etc and use all that to come up with a program (with lessons for each activity) based on the book Speak. So cross your fingers my adviser goes for this!

Now that the holiday is over, I am socially acceptably in the Christmas spirit! I will be buying my Christmas cards this week, and mailing presents soon after that! I just can't wait. I am more into Christmas this year than ever before, and I think that has a lot to do with my lack of church lately. I know that sounds crazy, but I honestly haven't been able to make it to church in a while for a variety of reasons, mostly lack of rides and abundance of work. Because I can't make it to church each week, I have to take it upon myself to find God in other places. I'm closer to God now than I was when I could go every week. Maybe the holiday shopping season is a blessing in disguise for me. I thank Him for every little thing in my life. All of my friends, my family, my health, my education, and absolutely everything I have. Everyone always says that Christmas is too commercialized and stuff, and to some extent I agree. But the way I look at it, I love how much Christmas is blown out of proportion. The next sentence is going to be a ridiculous thing only I would say. How SWEET is it that you can buy princess, Muppets, Mickey Mouse, Looney Toones, etc. decorations; how AWESOME is it that even Cinderella, Donald Duck, and Big Bird celebrate Jesus's birthday????? The answer is that it's AMAZING. I'm not trying to be all in your face religious-y lately. I totally respect the differing religious views of my friends. I just love Christmas! Let me know if I should calm it down.

Punctuation question: How do you punctuation singular possessive words ending with an S? Jesus' or Jesus's? hmmmm. I'm an English major and I never know what to do in that situation.

Currently, I am in the union, and there are a group of students in some sort of prayer ritual. I don't understand it, and I'm not even entirely sure of what religion it is. However, I love the fact that no one is staring at them in the least bit. They are just doing their thing, and everyone else is going on with their homework or lunch and stuff. There's even an event going on in the ballroom (across from where I am sitting) and no one is even blinking an eye. Yay diversity! I want to call every Ed professor I have ever had right now and scream "this is what diversity really is!" Nothing like their stupid lesson plans.

hmm what else. Well, yesterday I went outlet mall shopping with my brother and mom. It was fun! I found a dress to wear on New Years. Not quite like the American Eagle one I originally wanted, but just as cute and like, 35 dollars cheaper (YAY OUTLET MALLS-- the dress was 5 dollars!) I also got gifts for my grandma, Andrew, and Eagle. I've ordered Bart's and Blondie's, and I bought Star's and her kids gifts months ago (I'm a little eager about Christmas, I know). My mom's gift just needs to be assembled and she's done too. I love gifts!

If ANYONE is up for a buffet this weekend, call me. After last night, I have a serious Golden Corral craving. lol.

Tomorrow theres a bake sale in the polsky building for the writing lab. I'll be baking cookies tonight...should be interesting.

Well, that's it for now. I better start on my Black Literature paper! I'm copying and pasting the lyrics to my favorite song on the mix CD from Eags for you all to read and enjoy. Love it!!!

Hungry, I come to You
For I know You satisfy
I am empty but I know
Your love does not run dry
So I wait for You
So I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, You're all this heart
Is living for
Broken, I run to You
For Your arms are open wide
I am weary but I know
Your touch restores my life
I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, you're all this heart is living for.

Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?

I have to say, my friends are a bunch of cotton-headed-ninny-muggins who don't enjoy celebrating Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving. I disagree. For one, since I work at the mall, I've been celebrating Christmas since like, September. People laughed at us for putting holiday dresses out so early, (but guess what, now all those people who waited for an "appropriate" time to buy a holiday dress are now having trouble finding the right sizes!) It seems like I haven't been to church in ages (thanks to the fact I work in retail and taking on some extra holiday hours), but I remember once last year, about this time, we walked into church and there were Christmas decorations up already. A lot of people were like "oh no, this is just too wrong! it's too early for this!" The pastor counteracted that by saying that in all of the holiday ridiculousness, everyone kind of forgets what Christmas is actually for. Why should we not celebrate Christmas as early as we can? I mean, Jesus is a kind of important guy :) so we ought to give Him as much celebration as possible. I'm all for that. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable that I started listening to Nsync Christmas two weeks ago.

I told this to Becky, and she replied with "Jesus thinks you're tacky," which made me love her even more. I can't wait until December 28 when her and Tia come to see me! I'm so proud of Blondie for actually trying to make plans ahead of time to come see me!

Speaking of which, anyone who wants to have a mini-roadtrip to the Akron Canton airport on the 28 around 5ish pm let me know. I need a ride to go get Eagleeeee!

With all of the happy Christmasy things in my life, it's so hard to concentrate on school. Thanksgiving hasn't ever been a favorite of mine, but the socially acceptable Christmas celebrating is something I like. I'm excited to get to go to my Grandparents house for Thanksgiving dinner, and actually get to meet my little baby second cousins I've seen a million pictures of. I'm so excited that there are babies in the family! On Friday, I got lucky enough not to have to go into work until 8, and I'm pretty excited for the hours between Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Bart, mom, and I are going to Sharon PA to go outlet mall shopping and explore Kraynaks. I'm excited for this weekend, it will be a nice break from school before finals (a nice break given that I get all my work done before Wednesday).

Anyway, this weekend was awesome. I am so proud of Circle K because of the turn-out at the panty party. There were 3 other clubs there (BW, Walsh, and Kent, and well we can say Marietta too if we just count Chad) and tons of people. We ended up going an hour over the time, and we collected over 100 dollars for the rape crisis center, and a whole lot of panties (I'm not sure quite how many). Crafts were fun too, we ended up decorating all of the tote bags. I also learned an important lesson, which is Chili's is not a good restaurant to take my Akron friends.

Well, right now I am at work without an appointment for almost the entire time I am here. Another tutor just asked what the paper I was writing is about, so now I'm feeling guilty and I'm actually going to do my homework.

You're essential to survive

I've been a liar and I'll never amount to
the kind of person who deserves to worship You.
You say I will not dwell on what I did but rather what I do.
You say I love you and that's what you are getting yourself into.