1.30.10

Dear Blogger,

So today! It was amazing, a very blessed devos this morning and then I worshiped our Creator on the piano...I love the piano. My favorite instrument by far.

Breakfast was interesting, I sat with a table I hadn't sat with before, of course. And all the guys were a bit...let's just say...boys. One of them was explaining the nights antics with jumping into showers with other boys...and us girls knew something had gone on with some of them because at 3am that morning apparently a girl was in the bathroom and there was a shower running. She waited to see who would come out of it, it was a guy...clothed in a hoodie and jeans I might add. There was also a pair of boxers in our yard this morning...yeah, I don't

think I want to know.

Something I've noticed, adults seem to be like...magnetized toward me...I don't get it. I'll be talking to a group of teens and then out of the blue I find myself talking for the adult most of the time. Why? One of the many unanswered questions of life I suppose.

We had some fun competitions at the activity center where I totally owned in rockwall climbing...just saying...

And yeah.

That's about it, because I don't feel like going into super detail.

Oh, and I have a facebook again, thanks to a Mr. Adam Preim...ium. gasoline. (Sorry, I know I know, I had to do it.)

Departure was such sweet sorrow, and this guy Mikey

who I had hung out with all weekend ever so nervously asked for my number, it was kind of funny...he hasn't texted or called yet...haha.

Oh and by the way. I learned that I am extremely prideful, and for that I most certainly apologize. I never really realized the way I am until I actually LOOK at myself and what I say. You see there were a few incidences that really helped me out with this. One time was with this girl in our cabin, she wasn't exactly considered the "coolest" girl or the "prettiest" girl but she was sweet...and a little on the quiet side. She had forgotten her pajama pants and was sleeping and wearing the same pair of jeans for the whole week without uttering a complaint even once. I had brought an extra pair of sweat pants. I debated on letting her borrow them for a whole 5 minutes, it pains me to know I took that long considering it! I let her borrow them of course, but just the fact that I was reluctant in the first place? Guilt just consumed

me.

Another time was with this guy from the church I went with. He had never really talked to me, and I never understood why, actually he was kind of a jerk to me the last time I had saw him. I was willing to give him another chance of course, and tried talking to him. He just did one of those numbers where he looked at me...mumbled something and walked away without a smile. This really intrigued me about him for some reason and I kind of creeped on him, well not really...I just observed him to see if he did that to anyone else. The fact was he only did it to certain peo

ple. I talked to Carlos about it a little bit because he was in the same cabin as him and they were friends. Carlos just said that this guy just assumed that every girl liked him and was a ladies man. I was confused by this because usually if a guy is a ladies man (and DOESN'T have a girlfriend...HE DOES.) that he would be flirting or something of that nature, or at least smile when someone talks to him! That's when he said "Hey Amanda, you see...*insert name of guy here* thinks he's better than most people, so much better that he wouldn't give you the time of day because you're not pretty enough, he goes for hott girls, not average girls, even as just friends." I was a little taken aback by this at first, Carlos just called me average...thanks a lot. However, English is his second language...but....I'm glad he did. This really helped me realize what I do to other people all the time. I take one look at them, and decide if they're worth my time or not. It's wrong, and I don't want to be like that guy.

Actually an example of this was when I sat at that guy, Mike,'s table. It was the table in the far back and all the guys kind of looked....a little socially awkward. My first assumption was that there was no reason to go there because they will all just stare at me weirdly and I'll be creeped out. What Would Jesus Do. Thinking of that phrase, I sat down and made conversation. They turned out to be some of the coolest kids there, and I'm glad I did what I did.

Well, I'm done droning on so I hope you enjoyed this little rant.

Exhaustingly, Mandy

1.29.10

Dear Blogger,

As you know, I'm writing this on the 30th not the 29th as I am deceitfully labeling it because I wasn't here! Now I must recolect everything...wow so much happened. Here goes...

Well on the 28th in the evening time we arrived and threw everything into our cabins, I got the bunk I always get, whatevers closest to the door so I can get out in the morning fast to take a shower...and stay far enough anyway from just a few very LOUD girls.

We had some fun mixers...like where we all had to hold hands and maneuver a hula hoop around a chain of people I was holding hands with this guy named Carlos...

"This is the first time I've ever held a girls hand." Carlos looked past me, nervously twiddling his fingers. "Besides my sisters."

I just kind of stared at him...and laughed in the inside. "Well there's a first for everything!" I said, pulling my hand away.

So yeah we had some interesting times.

That night the activity was Sardines. However, it was about 10 degrees out with a huge wind chill and there were over 200 kids. It was horrible. I tried to make the best of it, but just ended up sitting inside the rest of the time playing the piano.

That night we went to our cabins, had a devotion, and I tried my best not to snap at the girls that talked continually about everything on this danged earth while others tried to sleep...I really need to work on my patience.

1.29.10

Day two...ish.

So I woke up and did my devo's in chapel, and I found a quarter. (I gained 91 cents this week actually from things of this nature...) Devos were amazing (: I love camp. I LOVE JESUS! So we had breakfast and I tried to sit with a different table almost every meal. Funny thing was though, only two tables the whole time had one other girl at it. So evoking the "Ladies First" rule always went over well and I got food first :D

That's when he had some wonderful cabin devotion time and the headed off to the activity center. This is where we turned off all the lights and the strobe and black lights kicked on. I was a chaser and pretty much was supposed to steal peoples flags in the dark whilst they collected magnets. However, I had more fun just using the strobe light to sneak up on people and then freak them out when it flashed...ahh so fun. WE played a few other games, had chapel, and then there was a talent show! Everyone auditioned from a guy who would kick himself in the head, to a boys band that used kitchen utensils to make music. It was all pretty incredible. I made up a song about the camp and put it to the tune How To Save a Life - The Fray...it was pretty fun.

We had some free time where I pulled out some card tricks...hahaha SO MUCH FUN. I love doing card tricks on people that have no idea how card tricks are done, the effect is so much cooler.

We played some outdoor games and some indoor games that involved eating weird things...all in all it was a fun time. That night was so hard to get to sleep because one of the girls in my cabin has quite the imagination, I love her, but I was TIRED.

Wanting to go to bed but can't because she has to finish these blogs...Mandy

P.S. Yes, I'm aware of the grossness of the picture, we were all getting ready for bed...

1.28.10

Dear Blogger,

Today I'm going to winter camp! I usually have a blast going, and I usually have either a friend or an outgoing brother to go with me. But this weekend...I'm going alone. By myself. No one there to help me socially ha.

My friend asked me today why I was going then, if I don't know anyone and this whole camp is SO clique oriented, how will I ever make friends? Well...

1. The most prominent part of me going to this camp is to grow spiritually. The past three years I have gone I have dealt with things in my heart that had been hindering me from walking with my Saviour. Everything just melts away and I'm able to just communicate intimately with HIM. It's the most amazing experience, and honestly, going without a friend encourages this.
2. I can be whoever I want to be. Well, of course I'm going to be myself. But why can't I be a little more outgoing? Those of you who know me pretty much all assume that I'm outgoing quite enough, but I'm not exactly the bravest when it comes to talking to people. As I said Tuesday, I tend to lift other people higher than myself and compare myself to them, instead of Jesus. This needs to be fixed, everyone is on the same level.
3. It's fun. Simple as that. Once you get over the fear of making new friends you have an amazing time. Seriously, it's so much fun.
4. I'm kind of holding this to an experiment. I'm going to try writing down the names of the people I meet and how they interact and socialize with me when they hardly know me. I kind of feel like a scientist...d:

Alright so since I'm not going to be here all day tomorrow, I can't post a chapter!! AHHH!

Ha. I'm sure you guys will survive. I'll write down all the days happenings in a notebook and rewrite it here when I get home Saturday.

Well, I'm off. No cell phone, no internet. Just me, God, His people, and blessings (:

Very nervously, Mandy

1.27.10

Dear Blogger,

IF YOUR NAME IS BRIDGET CLICK THIS IT SHALL TAKE YOU TO A VIDEO FOR YOU :D

Okay, I'm done yelling now.

So HI! How are you? Oh my word I'm wonderful! Thanks for asking...so today was jolly fun. I went to violin and had a GOOD LESSON. Believe that or not. It was good! Then we drove to the restaurant I had picked up an application for and dropped it off...the lady remembered me :D Good sign! (I parked pretty darn good too...I'm gettin good...haha)

Then I headed back home where I was kind of bored...so I made that video^ up there. And then headed to church! Quite...not so exciting? Well church is always enjoyable (: So we went door-to-door which pretty much froze my fingers and toes off but we spread the word! Woohoo. Then we headed to Subway where I said hi to Rob. Rob is pretty much the guy who is always working there when we go every week, and for the longest time he was on tour. We missed him. Haha I just find it fun to talk to him!

We headed back to church where we consumed food and hung out playing the piano then church started and we watched teenagers stuff their faces into bowls of chocolate syrup trying to retrieve gummy worms. Good times...

This is really hard to write when you're skyping. Apparently it sounds like hail coming from the other end ha! HAIL HAIL HAIL. dush dush. (sounds of hail)

So farewell until another day!

Hugs

Love

Praising Jesus, Mandy

1.26.10

Dear Blogger,

Why hello. Greetings and salutations! Howdy.

Today I slept in again...I really cannot wake up on time anymore :/ I think it's because of the sun, it doesn't like to greet me in the morning...which makes me sad. See the sadness? Yup. Sad.

Oh by the way, like the bangs? Yeah I haven't had my hair like this in a while...and they don't seem to cooperate. Oh Landon. Yes...I named my hair Landon, I know....strange. But it's the only way I can yell at it.

So after school today I cleaned! And cleaned a lot, and then I went to work. Which was really quick, I was only there for 2.5 hours, it didn't take me too long to do all the chores. Which made me happy. See the happiness? Yup. Happy. Then I scurried home with just enough time to eat, get cleaned up and head out to the Golden's church again! It was amazing, we worshipped and then watched a video and it really made me realize that I compare myself to other people too often, whether I think I'm better than them, or less than them...I should be comparing myself to Jesus. ONLY Jesus. I am His masterpiece...I want Him to mold me.

After quite the lovely chat with my good friend Brianna and some prayer with our Most High, we played some ninja! Quite fun.

Now tonight I talked to a couple Andrew's and I'm headed to bed.

Talk to you tomorrow (:

Humbled before the Uncreated One, Mandy

P.S. So I forgot to add this...when we were leaving the Golden's church I started the car and noticed that a friend from bible study, Johnny, was getting into his car beside me. He's quite the vertically challenged 19 year old and he was teasing me about my driving as he slowly got in his car. I pulled away before he was fully in the door and I felt a THUMP-UMP. My eyes got all wide and I yelled, "I RAN OVER JOHNNY!!!" Luckily Johnny was safely in his car and driving away, we circled back to the spot and noticed my mom's bible laying on the ground (she was complaining earlier that she was disappointed she had left it at home). We picked up the good Word and she ended up thanking me, for without running it over, she would have never knew she dropped it.

1.25.10

Dear Blogger,
So um...pretty much I'm writing this at noon and not at the end of the day because my house is out of power! *cheers* -_- So that's why this picture is in Giant.
Well I'll write what's gone on today and I might edit this post later with more information of the festivities tonight!
So this morning was weird...see I woke up to the sound of my phone going off. I had turned my phone off the night before....why did it turn on!? It was freaking me out. Then some strange beep kept going off every minute and I had no idea where it was...or what it was. I recorded the sound on my phone just in case it was aliens...I would be famous. Well I finally got some more sleep and wondered why my alarm clock didn't go off. Mom finally came in and told me that the power was gone. Joy.
So we headed out to breakfast, looking gross as you can see. Then we stopped by a restaurant where I could pick up an application. And now I'm here. Waiting...oh yeah, I went to the doctors too. Apparently I have a lot of chest muscle spasms, looks like I can't laugh too hard or it starts to hurt haha...strange...I guess I am destined to be sad.
Alright well I'm signing off for now, but I still want to write about tonight at the Golden's church!

Un-showered and smelly, Mandy

Continuing...9:52PM

Why hello! Well to finish out my day, I got my hair cut! I have bangs now...that are like...1960s bangs...heh. And then I biked to Brannigan's house! Where we played rockband and I was accused of being Dillon over Xbox. Heh. (by the way our power did come back on...)

Then I went to the Golden's church! Bunches of fun with Andy and Matt d:

P.S. I replied to that certain boy...with the certain letter...with a certain answer...that will remain a mystery...to you....unless you know...the answer....haha (;

1.24.10

Dear Blogger,

(My eye is doing that thing again...and I'm not even smiling!!!)

Well hello! So I woke up this morning feeling HORRIBLE because of what i did yesterday. Which I can now go into detail with because I felt so guilty I called my mom and fessed up (who was in another state at the time) and she's deciding my punishment. *Sigh* Oh well, at least I'm guilt free! (:

Pretty much yesterday I drove around with Julio, his chihuahua tried to eat me, he claims I sacrifice lambs, and he has a sick awesome recording station in his house. Also, I brought him to my house and made him lunch and let my doggies out of their room. Then we headed back to KelLee's where we got ready and went to the coffee house where I PLAYED. AH. I KNOW. I was shaking, but then again....I already told you that part. so THE END! That was yesterday. :D

Today!

I went to church this morning and played music for the kids club which was a lot of fun! I was adding a lot of background music for the things going on, it was really cool. The message was Hoping in God: RESULTS = JOY! PEACE! PRAISE! Pretty much all awesome things. So I'm pretty much hoping and trusting in Jesus all the time (: Or trying too at least.

Then we went home where I felt like a little housewife and cooked up a meal for Kristen, Jake and Sung. We all sat down like a little family and ate (ha..) and then I cleaned up the kitchen and then dealt with photos for the rest of the day.

We all went back to church where I sang in a trio and then was in the nursery all evening with Courtney! Which was pretty much a lot of fun, she's cool and I don't know why I haven't talked to her before. We made a list of pros/cons for the two guys she likes so she could pick one. It was fun!

Then I made the children cry with a ghost story...I'm such a great babysitter...

Oh, and then we had tacos.

I got some "cinnamon air" for 10 cents :D <---highlight!

It kind of made my day.

(:

Taco-d out, Mandy

P.S. I tried the life of shenanigans and hooliganism out...and failed. I'm destined to forever be...a goody-two-shoes.