July 9th

So, today is officially the day. Ok, I realize it's 12 a.m. and my flight is an evening flight, but ya know. It's still July 9th. One thing I know is that goodbye's are outrageous. I'm not sure why they are so outrageous, especially when I'll only be gone three weeks. Maybe it's the circumstance and maybe it's because of where I am going, but honestly there is one thing I must remember that my friend Sarah shared with me: Wherever God is calling me will be the safest place for me to be.
So much truth. "It's so dangerous!" "It's so far!" "What can you even do, you're too young!" "You're a girl; you're too vulnerable!"

If God is calling me there, I'm going. If God is bringing me there, I trust Him.

When God told Moses to go to Pharaoh to fight for his people's cause and Moses was afraid, The LORD reminds Moses that I AM is the One who is sending him. He is the ultimate. There's no messing with Him. If I AM is calling me to do something, you had better believe I'm doing it. Now, I'm not saying I'm the next one to lead God's people into the promised land. Don't go assuming these things. However, I am saying that God can use the most insignificant people in the most odd circumstances through the most original methods. So whatever God chooses to do, whether seemingly miniscule or extremely dramatic, I'm willing. Lord, here am I. Send me.

So apparently, He's sending me.. and I'm going, God willing. Am I ready for the ridiculously long plane ride? I have never been more ready. Yet, I'm restless just thinking about it. 20 hour trip (approximately), here I come!

The little things are really the big things.

You know those moments that hit you when you realize how truly blessed you are? I've recently had one of those moments. It's easy to take people and opportunities for granted, but I am trying my hardest to thank God for the little things daily, because the little things really are the big things.

As I prepare for my trip, I realize how blessed I am to be able to go on this trip. I am truly thankful for those who God led to assist me with the funds for the trip without my even asking. I am so proud to say that God provided every single penny for the trip (as He always does)- whether through other people's assistance or through money He allowed me to save up (based on jobs He has provided for me). Nothing really ever is done in my own strength or by my own abilities, if I really break it down. It always points back to Jesus Christ. Jesus is always the protagonist of the story, and my life is just a subplot. Guess we'll see where this story goes throughout the rest of this month, huh?

I am so thankful for the parents who God has provided me with- ones who encourage me to serve Christ, whether the world tilts their head in confusion at my actions or not. They're always such godly supports and never discourage me from doing what God is calling me to do (even when the situations may seem dangerous or odd). They also tell me when certain decisions are necessarily not godly ones and when I need to pray more about a situation. I don't think I could successfully doing anything without their godly advice and encouragement. I'm thankful for parents who listen, who care and who love me for who I am. They may not always agree with me or think I am right, but they love me just the same and do what they can to help me grow. I'm thankful for parents who miss me. I know that sounds selfish, but it's nice to be missed. It's nice to be appreciated for who you are and what you bring to their lives.

I'm thankful for my friends. My sister, my cousins, my church friends and my college friends. 
My sister is the friend who will always be in my life, and for that I am thankful. We're very different in many ways, but we understand each other, too. Most of the time we think exactly the same way, which may be attributed to how we were raised, but I think in general we're just kindred spirits ;]. I am thankful for her and who she is, and I'm thankful for her generosity of love to me. She's a great example of a godly woman.
My cousins will also always be involved in my life, whether we stay active in each other lives in every stage of life or not. As many of the cousins get married, have babies, move away or go to college, it's often difficult to stay in touch constantly, but near or far, we are always friends. We know each other inside and out, which growing up together affects, and it's a great feeling to have people like that in your life as well.
My church friends are sort of like my cousins in that we grew up with each other. Many of us differ from each other, but we always find things in common, especially our common bond of being brothers and sisters in Christ. These are some of the most hilarious people I have ever met, and I enjoy their company so much! Thankful for some godly friends at home to keep me accountable and have some awesome laughs with.
My college friends hold a very special place in my heart. You know, I've never experienced such a wide variety of personalities till I went away to school, and I've really enjoyed it! Who knew I could find other people with similar interests in me, are my age, same sense of humor and who LOVE Jesus?! Didn't even see it coming, I can tell you that. My freshman year roommates, Carla and Kaytee, have become my sisters when I'm over at school and two of my closest friends. Two of my freshman year friends, Sarah and Ariel, have stayed close with me until now and have become two of my best friends as well. I've also made a variety of other awesome friends within my major, on my halls or at the church I attend while I am at school, and I love them all so much! I look forward to the new friends I will make junior year and the old friends I will grow closer to as well.

I am thankful to be able to go to a university, and a godly one at that. I know we always find things to disagree with at places like my school, but we often forget how incredible a place like that university is. Incredible. That's really the only way to describe it.

How blessed I am, and how thankful I should be.

Let's Remember

The 4th of July.

A time when our country is actually unified about something: our common love for this land. All politics aside, we are Americans, and I am thankful for days like Independence Day that remind us of that. It's how our founding fathers wanted it.. and they warned us of political parties, didn't they? Good ol' George Washington. He knew what he was talking about.

Once upon a time, our country just wanted freedom. Freedom to believe openly, freedom to speak, freedom to live under God. God was not a name that was prohibited in formal education, but rather was common, because it was understood that it was God who had given them these freedoms.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,---That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
- The Declaration of Independence

"Freedom is not the right to do as you please, but the liberty to do as you ought."
- Author Unknown

America, let us not forget. Those who fought for our freedoms since the birth of our country did not fight for us to be able to sin as we please. They fought to give us the right to be the better men and women in the world. We have the ability to live. If only we remembered the meaning of living.

Living is not gaining the most money.
Living is not building the biggest house.
Living is not about our toys.
Living is not about any of that.
Living involves God's presence. Living involves the people God has placed in our lives. Living involves LIFE- not stationery, immovable objects that will cease to live on in eternity.
When we're gone, what will last?

Let's remember who we are.
Let's remember why we're here and how we got here.
Let's remember Who ultimately gave us this liberty.
Let's remember what our founding fathers so ardently fought for.

This New Mysterious Healthcare Bill

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but I honestly don't understand how this whole healthcare bill even went through, if it is what I'm understanding it to be.
So let me get this straight- we're going to be taxed an extra $1,500 a year to pay for other people's healthcare that isn't good and that they didn't even earn? I'm not really even sure I understand this. Does congress even understand it? I feel like I'm being conned by the crazy knife salesman again, except in this case, our country is standing in as me and President Obama is standing in as the crazy knife salesman. No disrespect meant to our president... all for the purpose of analogy, you know. I'm not really a fan of being scammed.

Mostly, here are my questions:

1. How is this going to affect small business owners who simply cannot provide the required healthcare for all of their employees?
2. Won't this destroy jobs since employers will have to let go of employees since they cannot afford to provide this type of healthcare?
3. How are they allowed to force us to buy this health care? What if I don't want this healthcare?
4. Since when is America about forcing anyone to do anything?
5. How come people who are feeding off of the welfare system are getting to steal my money so that they can have healthcare that they didn't earn? 
6. Why does anyone even want this healthcare? It's horrible. 
7. Benefits? What benefits? Enlighten me.
8. Since when is it considered freedom to have a set, required system of any sort (especially if it's not a right. I'm sorry, but free health care is just not a right). 
9. How are we paying for this? Or the rest of our debt for that matter?
10. Does President Obama care about his children's future? Just wondering. Poor kids.
11. Do we really want to imitate Canada's health care which is utterly suffering?
12. How will this affect the medical staff? Will this help or hinder their jobs?
13. What's next? Forcing us to invest in stocks? Or forcing us to pay taxes for frivolous things like expensive government dinners and crazy government vacations? Oh wait, we already do the second one.
14. Why is this that confusing? Is it supposed to be? Is that all part of the scamming process?
15. Why do some of my question have five sub-questions??

 So, at the moment, those are my questions. I'm sure more will come up. If you'd like to help me out, I'd much appreciate it.