How do I show love to those who are mean to me?  That is the ultimate question. I think it requires a lot of humbling of myself to accomplish this.  Today, I am sitting here in Kaffe Bona doing homework, getting ready to meet my friend Angela at the park, and trying to get some homework done.  It was really good to come home this weekend.  Tonight we will celebrate my dad's 59th birthday! I think that I'm most excited about 1) CAKE! and 2) I'm definitely excited about spending time with my dad.  My sis and her family will come for the cake, but I think I'm gonna rent a movie and watch it with him. Yep, that's what I'll do.

I leave for India in 34 days!

Rainy Day

So, It's been a while... Since my last post I've discovered: (1)I love teaching English because I get to be creative and problem solve.  (2) For the first time in my life I might actually be the disruptive student in one of my classes. (3) God is my passion and I love talking about him. (4) I first started playing my guitar as a way to just pour out my heart and express my emotions to God, not to impress anyone else.  (5) Jesus is actually coming back one day, and it's an exciting thing! How can we not be excited about it!  Try reading Zechariah 13 & 14 and see what you find.

Again! Again!

It's so awesome how God can just renew joy and passion in my life.  I spent most of my christmas break feeling like I was running away from God.  Just the fact that no matter what I do, he still will accept me and allow me to come back is more incredible than I could ever imagine.

Today, I saw some friends that I made in India when I was there this summer.  One is kind of like a mentor to me.  He took care of me when I was sick, and encouraged me to share my testimony when I was scared.  God really used this couple as an encouragement to me today.  I am so incredibly exited about going back to India this summer!  Just the stories that they shared... I felt like I was already there again...  I can't wait to see what will happen next time!

The song that I want to sing right now is:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

God is good. All the time. and All the time. God is good.
How could I ever forget that?

I found this list in a group on facebook, and I have to say that it's the first list for guys that I actually agree with every point on it. So here it is for your reference.  I hope you enjoy it, and if not, then scroll down the page to your other subscriptions. Nothing's stopping you.

The following is not a list of rules. They're suggestions to encourage guys to be gentlemen. Take 'em or leave 'em. 0. There are always exceptions to this list. The foundational exception is when you actually talk to the her and she says something different than what is included within this list. These suggestions don't provide you with the holy grail of dating or offer you the Ten Commandments for the Ladies Man, they're simply a push in the right direction for being a gentleman. 1. Open doors when possible - whether it be to a building or the passenger car door. the classic example that's stood the test of time. 2. When in a place of worship (or other places that have aisles and pews), if a man is at the end of the pew, when exiting he should stand in the aisle and let all the females go before him. (This seems odd to some people, yet normal for others. If you don't get it, don't worry about it, okay?) 3. A man should tolerate the occasional chick flick, musical, opera, or ballet - whatever her preference is - *without* complaining about it! (Because the guy may just like it.) 4. Play one of the songs that would make any woman weep like the little girl she once was (but in a good way). A brief list includes, but certainly isn't limited, to: "You & Me" by Lifehouse Anything by Frank Sinatra Any rendition of "Everything I Do, I Do it for You" "Collide" by Howie Day "Out Of My League" by Steven Speaks And MOST IMPORTANTLY "Question" by the Old 97's (if you propose to a girl with this song, she is putty in your hands). ("Putty in your hands" is not meant to promote "using women" in any way. This group does not encourage guys to be polite in order to get her into bed.) 5. Talk! The strong & silent bit goes from intriguing to boring quite fast. 6. Find out what her favorite flower is and buy them for her randomly (regardless of the situation you might be in). A simple yet profound truth: a single rose says more than dozens of anything else. (I encourage the women to not allow a guy to "prove himself worthy" through gifts and flowers and such. Trust is a precious thing and it should take a good chunk of time before he gains it back in your heart.) 7. If you miss her, or love her, TELL HER! Even your friends like to hear it every now & again. 8. Re-enact Zales commercials (the ice is nice but certainly not mandatory). 9. Remember: the best gifts you can give are usually free of cost. 10. Leave a note (or send a message) just to say "hi". 11. Ask her questions about herself. 12. Dress nice every once & a while. Any girl likes to see her brother/friend/boyfriend/e tc. in a well-ironed button-up with some nice slacks. 13. PRIDE & PREJUDICE ...that's all I have to say about that (I mean, that should speak for itself). (It's even more impressive if he has read the book.) 14. Tolerate small children as best you can. Meaning, put up with the things that can get annoying. They're children, after all. Show them love and care, teach them how to become a better man than you. (You were once extremely irritating. Get over the obnoxious kids and enjoy getting down to their level - not "for her", but for the good of yourself and others.) 15. Learn to dance! There is nothing sexier than a man who can dance really well. If God did not bless you with the grace of Fred Astaire, at least put forth the effort, it will be greatly appreciated. Always slow dance (even if it's just like you danced in middle school). Also, men, sing to a lady. Even if you're terrible, suck it up! They love to listen to it and will not care what you sound like. It's the thought that counts on this one. Unless you're just downright terrible, nothing sexy about that. Haha, thanks, Jade! 16. Kiss her on the forehead. 17. When she's sick, stay up with her. If you can cook (which is *always* a plus), make her some soup. If you can't cook, there's Campbell's soup at hand for you. 18. Pretend to throw her in the pool (or fountain/pond). If you really do throw her in, you'd better jump in yourself. **NOTE** There are some women who just hate this apparently, so you had better do two things: 1) Never allow your buddies be a part of it if you're unsure of how she feels about getting thrown in and 2) You had better know how she feels about it! 19. Hold her hand while you talk, drive, or just for the heck of it (it's the small things that win you big points). 20. LOOK IN HER EYES, NOT AT HER CHEST!!!!! 21. Stupid jokes = awkwardly adorable moments. 22. Tickle her, tease her, let her tease you back without getting all bent out of shape about it. 23. Don't call her hot, or pretty, or cute; call her beautiful, because that's what she is. (I don't think cute is that bad, but definitely stay away from "hot" [it's so overused and superficial] and step "pretty" up to beautiful or gorgeous or stunning or captivating or...) 24. Offer her your jacket/sweatshirt. (Note: you may not see that particular item of clothing for a while, if ever again). 25. Don't be too proud to apologize. 26. It's not stalking to watch her sleep if you fall asleep watching a movie. It is stalking to watch her sleep if you're standing outside her window with night vision goggles. 27. When she feels at her worst, tell her she looks her best. 28. If you're trying to get more than friendship out of the relationship, take it slow and never rush her. 29. Just because you're a guy doesn't mean you are completely incapable of calling when you say you will, it just means you are highly incapable of it. There are few acceptable answers to, "Why didn't you call?", & being male is not one of them. 30. Don't check out other girls in front of your female friends/sisters/mother, unless you are sincere when you later ask them if you think she could introduce the two of you for more reasons than you "want to get some". Pull this in front of your girlfriend/fiancee/wife, she has every right to clock you in the jaw. 31. Guys - always offer to pay for the date. No matter how expensive it gets, especially if YOU asked HER on the date. [if she is willing to pay now and again, don't let your "man pride" get in the way of her wanting to give back to you. she should understand money can be tight - especially when you're always buying] 32. Always do everything in your power to keep her as happy as you can. And cheer her up in any way possible. [if she isn't always happy - and i've never met a girl who is - don't be afraid of her and don't be stupid and always, unquestioningly, blame it on PMS. be there WITH her when times are tough and she wants you there.] 33. When walking on the sidewalk, always walk on the outside near traffic. (So everyone has a different opinion for how this started. For some, it's because of the human waste that was getting thrown out the windows when this was happening a century ago. The woman walked under the overhangings extending from the buildings with the guy in the open to take the mess if need be. Others say it's from the guy's scabbard/sword being on his left with the woman walking on the right. As for today, it's the traffic and puddles and what-not. Whatever it is. It's just a courtesy thing, if it seems necessary.) 34. At least do everything in your power to keep cursing to a minimum while around her. If you can, cut it out period while around her, or cut it out of your vocabulary. Women don't want to hear it, guys don't care about it, adults don't want to hear it, it doesn't impress employers, and you sure won't want your children or someone else's to hear it! 35. Sometimes you have to take the initiative. Don't always wait for her to come to you, because if that's how it always is, you're going to lose her. 36. If any lady is walking alone to her car in a dark parking lot/garage, or is carrying a heavy load, always offer to help walk her to her destination and carry things, if not the entire load. **This may work a lot better and come off non-stalkerish if you at least know the girl you're trying to help. Haha thanks to a LOT of people on this revision.** 37. If a woman says no, let that be her final answer with maybe one question of confirmation after her first answer. Do not pressure or force her in any way after that. Don't make her give in to something she doesn't want to do. 38. Always be honest with her. No woman wants or likes a dishonest man. If you can't be honest with her, she can't trust you, and shows you don't trust her enough to be honest. Trust, honesty and integrity are just as an integral part of a relationship and just as important as love. 39. A man should always genuinely listen to women; no matter how bored or busy the man is. Actively listening to the woman will keep him from pain (and bring the man and woman closer together). This works best, of course, when both the man and the woman actively and equally engage in conversation (this includes listening). For the ladies reading this, please talk - always talk - especially if you are having problems with the relationship and to also avoid making bigger problems. If you instinctively do all of these... why haven't I met you yet? Your comments are welcome.

Currently Watching 13 Going On 30 (Special Edition) By Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Kathy Baker, Phil Reeves, Samuel Ball, Marcia DeBonis, Christa B. Allen, Sean Marquette, Kiersten Warren, Joe Grifasi, Mary Pat Gleason, Susan Egan, Lynn Collins, Renee Olstead, Alexandra Kyle, Alex Black, Ashley Benson, Brittany Curran see related

Full Day

So last night in the middle of the night, I decided that I am allergic to my house... my room in particular.  Every time I come home I get sick.  I actually decided that I might be allergic to it some time ago, but last night I decided that I couldn't take it anymore.  Today I went on a cleaning/rearranging rampage.  I decided that since I had to move everything in order to vacuum behind it, I might as well rearrange it so it looks nice.  It was kinda fun actually... until they called me in to work tonight.  What can I say, I can't turn people down... and a few extra bucks definitely come in handy this time of year.  Unfortunately, now my room is still a jumble, and since I decided to watch a movie with Ashley and Micah after I got off work, I'm too tired to do anything about it... only question left... Where am I supposed to sleep???