Littler Me To Bigger

I seem to have become the person I wanted to talk to years ago. I've learned what I wanted to. Kudos to littler me for becoming bigger me.

What Went Down

Since my last post, I pulled a senior prank, graduated, spent loads of time at the lakehouse, and helped make a music video.


Well, we'd been doing annoy-a-trons (electronic thing that lets out a high-pitched noise every 2-8 minutes randomly) for a few weeks, but people were already making fun of us for having such a wuss senior prank. So our valedictorian, my One, and I (great team, right?) got the security code and broke into the school an hour before it started. We set a chicken loose in one of the bathrooms, and it freaked out one area of the building before being chased out. We also filled up one bathroom to the brim with some plastic junk from Tyler's work at Brookshire's. We also put sardines in the ceiling... On our way out, the clever valedictorian, instead of pushing the "Empty House" button on the security code thing, he pushed the "Ambulance" button. This is how we ended up with all-day detentions (although they were caught first period, and I wasn't caught till third) and a $25 fine. Now our lil' prank will be remembered.

I also graduated on friday, which was handy, 'cause I'm a huge fan of graduating from high school. I stood out a lil' bit as the only one who decorated their graduation cap, and rather extravagantly at that. I read "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" at the event, and although I was spewing stage fright left and right, everyone else seemed to think I did fine.

Saturday was the lakehouse. Many times, everything just seems to come together, but it just wasn't the right combination of people, so it stunk loads.

Sunday had a Kenya meeting with some of our core people (Danae, Angela, Spring, and I) where we all planned our messages and things, and we came to grips with what exactly we were dealing with. I worked with kids almost exclusively last time, so I didn't get an idea of what the youth there deal with. That meeting was followed by small groups, and we finished up our Holy Spirit series with Tongues. There are a LOT of different takes on that, by the way. Lauren KP, Katie, Michelle, and Renee all came over to the lakehouse that night, along with a few stragglers (the Morrises and Megan Wood), and that was a good combination of company. But it only lasted till noon the next day, which kinda dampened it.

Today, monday, after I left the lakehouse, I joined the graduation party for Jordan and Josh Newman. It was pretty hap'nin, and was followed by a music video for Nate James filmed at my house. I must admit, I'm a camera hog.

The future is too far to think of. I've got a summer to think about, and all the loads of stuff God has for me. And believe me, He has PLENTY of junk for me to do.

Senioridis?

Sorry I didn't blog this past week. It's 'cause my dad bought some sort of ab-mo-tron, and, rather than blog, I pump my guns (careful, they go off without warning).

My graduation party went well. If you weren't invited, it's 'cause I forgot to invite you. But you're totally welcome to come to my birthday this saturday at the lakehouse. At the graduation party, a bunch of people said nice things to bless me before I skidaddle of to college. Just about all of it rang true with me, and for what I've been feeling for the future.

A few more finals tomorrow and I'll be done. I kinda wanna skip school on thursday, since I have no finals. The only incentive to go is the senior prank, which we still haven't really planned out at all. But I'm letting senioridis kick in, so I don't particularly care.

Oh, it's an open invite for anyone to come to school during lunch or before graduation on friday and put something on my senior table. I put the picture of D. Andrew and Bolt (Juddson) on the table already, so load it up! I've got my own stuff too, so it's worth checkin' it out.

Older Brother

I have time on my hands. That's new. I love feeling sore, as I was reminded today.

My brother, Chas, was on the phone with my mom forever about some relationship junk. So I texted him later to ask him if he wanted to support me with my missions trip to Kenya, and he said he'd love to, and that I should call him if I ever wanted to talk about anything. This, to me, is an opening to get to know my oldest brother. He's coming home this weekend, so maybe we'll get to talk.

I just realized that I submitted a lesson for my online class completely empty of answers. How annoying.

Heart Dos Heart

Yesterday, I had my heart-to-heart with Chad Rush, during which time I learned vaguely what had kept him from being what he needed to be all this time, and his resolve to do things right. We discussed Alex Perez and Josh Rackley, and how no matter how much I wanted to help, those two would see me in the wrong light, and Chad was the one that could make a difference with them.

Directly after this, the student leaders went for an SL Fun Night at the drive-in movies. This was the first time I had ever been to a drive-in movie, so it deserves props for that. The company, mostly Megan Ferguson and Wood, was fun too. However, although we could see Wolverine and Star Trek (both of which I've heard good things about) playing nearby, we were seeing Monsters Vs. Aliens. I haven't seen a good action movie in awhile, so it stunk that I didn't get to.

If anyone wants to go see a good movie in like two weeks, I'm game. Or maybe a midnight showing the night before graduation?

Dreampt

I presented my thesis to the Board yesterday. I had quite a bit to share, so they might have gotten bored. Then again, Mrs. Horan is the only one who looked bored at all, and she always exaggerates.

Last night, I had weird dreams. One that I can remember is of me being attacked by a demon, with it covering my mouth so I couldn't make a sound, no matter how I struggled. Then I dreamed of telling Sydney Sapp this experience, and she sounded like she was used to it, and I reminded her that it's why we need Jesus.


Priscilla and I went to the Dollar Tree to get supplies for Jordan's birthday and to decorate my graduation cap (I got permission from the school). I've got doubloons and dollar signs to glue to the top. I also have some lil' green dangly things to tie onto my honors tassles, but I dunno if they'll allow that. We'll find out in two weeks, won't we?

8-Month Paper In 8 Hours

Sorry about the lack of update. I was asleep for all of yesterday after school.

Sunday was great. I told my small group the prophecy, and we talked about why we worship and how, and they (being the sincere junior highers they are) made loud apologies for not dancing. We went overtime and didn't have time to go through every prayer request, but it was good.

That night, my internet (which had turned off just as I was about to start writing) turned on again at around ten, and I began work on my 10-12 page research paper. And yes, I completed my 8-month research paper in 8 hours. I can't promise good grades, but, in my opinion, it should make a passing grade (although I normally aim for A's, not just passing).

Today, I talked to Chad Rush on Facebook, about how God wants him to reach Alex. We got to talkin' and realized that we'd never had a heart-to-heart, so we scheduled one for this saturday afternoon. I can't wait.

Six Flags Fun!

Hiro, Jordan, Yu Jin, and I all went to Six Flags yesterday. There were no lines, so we got to go on every ride we wanted over and over. By the end, we all had horrible headaches. I also blacked out a lil' on the Titan. Also on the Titan, Jordan and I kept making different poses and faces when it took pictures. One pose we struck was liftin' our shirts up. However, Six Flags is a lil' more critical on public indecency than we had thought, as we found when a security guard pulled us aside and escorted us to the security building, and into a sauna-like room (small and wooden, but lacking in the hot rocks).

He asked us why we "did it", and I replied that we thought it'd be funny. He followed up with, "Wasn't so funny, was it?" ... I wonder if I could've kept a straight face without the long silent walk to their office. Jordan thought it was hilarious how they used the good-cop bad-cop approach on us. The picture did look really funny, and I would've been tempted to buy it on another occasion.

The Power of the Dance

The mountain is getting smaller.

On Wednesday, God spoke to me in the clearest, most forceful way He's spoken in a long time. It was in the middle of worship, and he told me to go and make rapid motions for the junior highers to jump, or move, or do something, 'cause they were all just standing there, like three rows of them. God wanted to release a freedom into the place, and since they weren't acting free in their movements, it was challenging for the freedom to manifest in the rest of them. The song ended, and I still hadn't done what God told me, but then they brought it back one more time, so I obeyed, and they still didn't move. A few laughed 'cause I looked a lil' silly running to them in the middle of worship, waving my arms around, and then running back to where I was.

I texted Shayna about it later, and we agreed that the lesson this Sunday would have to be on the power of the Dance. Since our last discussion was on prophecy, and this was a prophetic word, we figured it went with the theme enough.