Not gonna lie...complete and total shock...

So, last Friday I took an Econ exam. I had econ the first semester of my junior year of high school...which was umm about seven year ago. Which means my brain hasn't retained too much info from that class that long ago. Everyone in my college Econ class was freaking out because the professor we have bases the entire class on a few exams. No homework, no quizzes, no papers...just exams. You do poor on exams = you you do poor in class, not much room to mess up. Friday was the first exam and I was a bit scared of not doing well but I ended up being the first one done in about a class of 35. I found it fairly easy but knew there were some questions I was not confident about.

Today the exams were passed back. The professor explained that the class average was 76.4 which is not horrible but not the best. He went onto say two students got a perfect score. I laughed and thought I will be lucky if I even got an A at all. The professor walked around to pass back the tests. I was one of the last to receive mine back and I looked in disbelief as I read the red ink of the number "100". How in the world was I one of the perfect scores? I do enjoy business but not that much, haha. Maybe this is a sign I should become an economist...NOT.

The scary part is tomorrow I have a statistics exam and I hate math. Yes, I know I worked in finance, how can I hate math? Finance is basically using a computer that does everything for you. Statistics is a bunch of formulas that no one is ever going to use...well wait maybe a slim 1% of society like my BFF, Brad, who plans to make a killing off of stats. Hehe. Back to studying.

Bye Bye Oscar the Fish

So, many of you have known my huge fish the Oscar's. I have had them for a good three years or so. They truly were larger than fish life. About a year and a half ago I moved the fish habitat down to the YFC office. One of the three kicked the bucket shortly after the move...some months later another one left. So, now I was left with one. The lil scrawny white fish that always got picked on by the other two.

Well, the neighborhood kids had a good year and a half of visiting the fish. During that time the remaining Oscar came to know Jesus...says Kelley, my hilarious co-worker. She said it was all the praise and worship music she played him. She states this because he went from eating little feeder fish to now co-habitating with them and treating them like friends. The little gold fish now swim freely with their big mate. Well, due to the remodeling of the YFC office the boss man said the fish had to go. So, tonight we packed up and hit the road and the Oscar and all his little pals are living with Auntie Kelley at her house. Bye bye fish and fish tank. PTL I don't have to move or take care of that thing any more.

D$ to D-Chubby Tubby

Over the years I have not been one to be concerned with my weight. I was always a skinny lil fellow. But my father always told me he was the same way and then he entered his 20's and it was downhill from there. Well folks, I am soon to be 24 and officially concerned with my weight. My weight has fluctuated within 5 pounds for the last year or two. Well, I recently paid a visit to the doctor after feeling under the weather and I appeared to be ten pounds over the high end of my previous weight. Now I admit I haven't weighed in, in a while but I must admit this was a shock to me. I looked down at the weight and could not believe my eyes. But as I look in the mirror and as I look at pics (thank you very much BK) I do appear larger than in the past. I have also recently experience the inner thigh rubbing irritation problem. (Probably TMI) So, ya I guess I gotta exercise more regularly and actually do the "d" word that I never thought I would have to do...diet. Here's to a hopefully healthier, leaner, me.

One Church...

Last nights Power Rally was pretty awesome. How cool is it to see youth from all different schools, all different churches, all different economic backgrounds come together and worship and pray together? Pretty cool. The speaker was pretty much right on when he said we are United...One School, One City, One Country, One World, One Church. It doesn't matter where you come from, we are called to be united in Jesus Christ and in sharing that bond we are one in Him.

It the Week of Prayer for Youth...will you join me in praying for our students???

Post Secrets...Oh So True

Rainbow at the end of the storm near???

So, I was really hoping that today would be the start of a new and much more fantastic week. Little did I know this past week was only the rain and the storm was yet to come. I hardly slept last night and came down with something. My ears, head, and throat hurt and I had the burning up and then freezing cold issues. Yes, I am sick.

With the sickness came me having to call a church (at 6am mind you) that I was supposed to lead the youth services and tell them I could not come. They had to cancel youth services because they had no one to lead them as I was to fill in for their Youth Pastor. I also had to miss my student leadership meeting and even more saddening I had to miss my little sister's birthday party and I could tell she was pretty bummed. Instead I traded my day for the urgent care, some drugs, and an afternoon of sleep.

I am hoping to have a speedy recovery because this is quite a busy week with work and I had lots to do. But maybe this is a sign that I need to slow my butt down. Hopefully the rainbow is coming up soon at the end of this storm!

One Day I Am Gonna Learn This Dance!

The week from h...e...double hockey sticks!

The week was the longest, most discouraging, most unpleasant week I think I have experienced in a long while. The list of problems, issues, hurt/pain, devastation, and frustrations I have experienced in a long time. From frustrations at school, to friends who have had a family member in critical condition, to friends with relationship issues, to co-workers leaving, to personal let downs, to problems with car, internet, phone, and toilet, to horrible shopping experiences, to an issue with a complaining parent, and pain in my jaw/ear/head...this week had it all. I am ready for the week to be over. The level of emotional and physical drain has reached it capacity for a good 6 months. Bye bye crappy week...hello new one.

Walmart...The Anti-Christ?

I officially can say I hate Walmart. At least Walmart in Fresno. I visited one in Indiana and it was quite different than here. It was actually clean and had friendly people...go figure!

Last Sunday I took a trip to the Walmart as I had a list of items I needed to get. Big mistake! Never go to Walmart on a Sunday afternoon! So the shopping experience itself was not very pleasant but after I checked out I realized an item I bought scanned for double the price it was tagged for. You see the item was on the clearance isle and was half off. So, I ended up getting charged $17 over, including tax. It is were a dollar or two I would have said no big deal but this was a bit larger than that.

Well, it took 40 minutes of me fighting with the rude customer service lady to get my money back. It wasn't pleasant. She said there was nothing she could do since it rang up wrong. She said she had to go off of the computer. I thought that was ludicrous seeing as it had a price sticker on it for another price and there were others on the shelf just like it with that price. No way was I going to back down. That is false advertising. I demanded a manager...well I waited, and waited, and no manager. So she asked me to step aside at about the 30 minute marker so she could help other customers. I refused. I said I was not moving until the manager arrived. She said "Oh you are going to be stubborn", I replied "Well you are providing the worst possible customer service, so yes I am not moving, maybe it will get you to get the manager quicker". After about another five minutes or so another cashier said "Sir, I am sorry about this, I don't know where the manager is, I am just going to give you your money so you will be on your way." Funny since she was in the same position as the other lady who was helping me who flat out lied and said she couldn't do it without the manager.

Needless to say I left that store feeling as if it indeed was the Anti-Christ. Walmart is taking over the world. Seriously, I think I am going to pay the extra money and go to Target from now on.

TMJ

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome or TMJ joint disorders are medical problems related to the jaw joint. The TMJ connects the lower jaw to the skull (temporal bone) under your ear.

I have joined a dear friend of mine with a disordered called TMJ. You see the fantastic oral surgeon jacked up my jaw when I had my wisdom teeth out. Now daily I have a wonderful pain in my jaw that goes up into my ear. It is quite painful. I have gotten my jaw adjusted two days in a row and it is one of the most horrendous pains I have felt. It literally feels as if I am going to jump out of my own skin. Not a fun experience. My hopes is that in the coming days and weeks the pain will lesson, my jaw will realign, and I will feel better. Until then, down with the dentists!

A time of joy and a time of pain...

It is hard to believe that today my baby sister turned 18. She is a legal adult. That is hard for me to grasp. It seems like just yesterday there were dirty diapers and cribs. I am proud of my little sis and yes she will always be little to me. She is a beautiful young woman who I adore.

As she turns 18 it makes me feel old. Quite old. I am approaching my Mid-20's. Before you know it I will be 30. Scary to think that time can pass us by so quickly.

This all makes me think of life and of the future. Right now one of my closest friends is experiencing the most pain possible. She is sitting at a hospital along side a bed where her mother is in a coma. She has been there since Monday. I could not imagine seeing my mom on life support because she can't breathe on her own and to know that in less than three days they have had to restart her heart a dozen times. It is hard to fathom the pain that my friend and her family are feeling.

My friends mom makes me rethink the fact of being old. I am in my mid-20's. I could possibly have 70 years of life remaining. (Only God knows when I will leave this earth) I guess I need to take each day one at a time and be grateful for the treasure that each new day is, as we are not promised tomorrow. Are you living each one as if it could be your last?

Such Is Life

Today's Fortune Cookie: "When one door closes, another door opens"

Didn't think much of the fortune at lunch at first...just kind of chuckled since I have heard that one before. Then tonight I experienced the closed door. A closed door that for a moment made me feel sad, but then I remembered the fortune cookie. This door may have closed but I trust God will open another. If not another door maybe a window to crawl through. =)

The storms will come but God will provide

Today was a very sad day at YFC. Two of our beloved staff resigned. Both were what we call Team Leaders...which means they were in charge of a ministry department. One of the two has been with YFC for over 30 years. I almost started crying when I heard the news. These are two men who have had a huge impact on the lives of our youth and who have both impacted my life over the past two years. It is sad to say good bye but we must remember that though this may seem like a storm now, God is good and He will guide us through and ultimately provide for our ministries.

Quote of the day...

"Character comes from who we are. Credentials can never accomplish what character can."

Good quote to really take to heart. Doesn't matter how great our resume may look or what we accomplish...what matters is who we are.

Passage from "To Know as We are Known"

"To sit in a class where the teacher stuffs our minds with information, organizes it with finality, insists on having the answers while being utterly uninterested with our views, and forces us into a grim competition for grades - to sit in such a class is to experience a lack of space for learning."

"But to study with a teacher who not only speaks but listens, who not only gives answers but asks questions, and welcomes our insights, who provides information and theories that do not close doors but open new ones, who encourages students to help each other learn - to study with such a teacher is to know the power of learning space"

Parker Palmer (pg. 71)

I appreciate professors who teach like the second paragraph, not the first. Learning is interaction, not just lecturing. PTL for instructors who actually value the students.

Powerful Video

I survived...

So, many of you know I spent all last week planning a two night weekend retreat for my student leadership team. I am happy to report we are home safe and had an awesome weekend. There were challenges indeed however I know God met us there. I love my kids and my volunteers too. I seriously wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for them.

Last week was a whirl wind of busyness with planning for the retreat plus other work ans school related stuff, thus no bloggin action however I hope to post some new stuff this week.

Have a great start to your week! And remember hugs equal happiness! =)

The Wisdom Is Gone

So, yesterday marked the two week anniversary of me having my wisdom teeth out. All I can say is this hasn't been a walk in the park. I developed two dry sockets which meant they had to be packed which meant I had to go to the oral surgeon every other day. A little bit of a drive and time out of my day. Well, today he took them out for the final time. But my jaw seems to be hurting...Jen seems to think maybe I developed TMJ...the little consent form I signed did say it was possible. I just hope the pain goes away and doesn't stick around. They also have me this sick lil syringe and told me that it will take 1-2 weeks for the holes to heal so I need to shoot water in the holes after every meal...sexy huh? What a freakin process! Glad it's a once in a lifetime sitch.

150+ Miles Later

Coalinga...there's a first time for everything right? A two hour drive round trip turned into almost four hours. Let's just say I need to learn how to read maps. Just because it says "towards" it doesn't mean "merge on"...oops my bad! At least along the way I got to see things like Chevron's oil dwellings, Harris Ranch, the Naval Air Base, and the city of Heron. Haha. At least I was able to get my jam on...ghetto superstar Tyrone came out in the car! Fun times.

PTL for...

...this girl! She is freakin amazing! All I can say is I am happy that the past is the past and we can let the good times roll! I love ya j.Lo!