"no, people are especially stupid today, i don't want to talk to them."

i have been spending a lot of time at starbucks lately. studying by myself, meeting friends...i usually don't even get coffee but i still seem to end up at starbucks a lot more than i used to. i feel bad, sometimes, when i don't buy a drink, so sometimes i'll buy a bottled water. i like coffee, just usually not starbucks coffee. i have to admit though, i really like their "comfy chairs." they're just...comfy! and honestly, i think starbucks has done a good job of being the place people can come and hang out, or have good philosophical talks, or bible studies, or whatever it is people do...i don't know. but they've done well.

anywho...i don't really know what all that commentary was for. i guess it was because i met a friend at starbucks today and got to talk with her there for a couple of hours. and that made me think of how much time i've spent with friends at starbucks recently.

and...since it's late...that's kind of all i've got. i really need to start writing here more often. i think. i don't know...i'm tired... goodnight. :)

"we're distracted by the hard times, and the troubles that we make. let us throw them in the ocean, let it wash our cares away."

six years ago today...

i was in eighth grade. i woke up and, like every other morning, didn't really want to. school always seemed too early in the day. but i loved my first period class, so there was a certain motivation to get to school on time. i was the first student into my LEAP room that day...which was normal. i looked over at "Doc" Houchins to see her face in complete shock. then i heard the tv...i sat at my desk and watched...

as the second tower was hit.

then whatever news program it was flashed to a view of the pentagon with smoke billowing from it. even Doc didn't maintain calm...she couldn't figure out what was happening any more than we could.

seconds later, all televisions in the school were turned off and Doc was called out into the hallway by an AP. i imagine they told her something to the effect of, "maintain order...and don't tell the kids what's going on." i imagine that's what they told her, anyway. what i remember is that she said she couldn't tell us anything.

other kids' parents started picking them up from school. the rest of us wanted to know why we had to 'learn stuff' on a day like this. we were all worried, but we weren't even sure what about. no one could sit still...and not much real learning happened in the classrooms that day.

when i got home i still didn't know how bad things were. i wanted to do my homework and watch cartoons. what i ended up doing was sitting next to my dad watching the news for hours. endless replays of the videos...updates every once in a while when the network found out something new...and complete silence in the rest of the house. we were all stunned.

i remember it was a tuesday, because i was frustrated that middle school bible study was cancelled. i think there was a prayer meeting at the church instead.

i remember how that day changed everything. and i don't suppose i will be forgetting it anytime soon.

"these words are my own, from my heartflow: i love you, i love you, i love you, i love you!"

okay, i know i've been writing about this a lot. but i'm really, REALLY excited about helping out with mid-school bible study on wednesdays. this wednesday, even though things did not necessarily run the most smoothly, was completely amazing. i got to meet twelve wonderful (and rather loud) sixth grade girls and i can't wait to get to know them better. something that kept running through my mind the whole night as i met and learned about each girl was, "she's the one kid." each of them, they're all the 'one kid.' it's something i've heard brent talk about before, and he's written about it on his blog. about how each kid is completely unique, and you have to see extraordinary possibilities in each one of them, because God does that with us every day. that's kind of stuck with me ever since i first heard it. and it's true, and i'm glad that God's reminding me of it.

so basically i'm uber thankful for each of those girls, and for all the other adults (haha...do i count as an 'adult'? i'm thinking no...) who are helping out with mid-school...they're totally awesome. and shouts out to trevor, chuck, and john...i really enjoyed helping out with worship team, and look forward to the rest of the year making music with you guys!

hmmm. God rocks. :)