Jul. 1, 2008 - I'm BAAACK!!!!
Woot woot! It was AWESOME!!!
Okay so I don't have much time to type it all out, but I'll paste the emails that were sent out from our team for you guys to read!
Sent June 16th, 2008
Hi!! (or Oi! as they say here)
I'm in Carnuba Dos Dantas, Brazil! I’m so excited. We have been working really, really hard on the church- and it is almost finished! At first people were watching us with really suspicious looks. But soon some children started coming out. By the time the sun went down yesterday, we were flooded with little people and their parents. A little boy, whom we call David, gave me a flower and told me I was "mui Bonita" which means really beautiful. at the time I was extremely hot and sweaty, with no makeup on, so it was such a confidence booster.
Last night, after supper (the food here is AMAZING!!) we went into the village square and sang with the church's congregation. Marconi and his sons are really good singers, and when they found out that I could sing, they gave me a microphone and asked me to sing something in English! It was so much fun.
We got here right in the middle of the month of celebration for the Catholics. They've been blasting music and dressing up and dancing- but we can't because its associated with sensual Latin culture. :(
The showers had a wasps nest in them, and we've had to apply mucho amounts of bug spray. But other than the bugs, It's been awesome!
Wow, there's so much left to tell! Like we've been talking about purity because one of the local teenagers noticed our girls rings... We have little children following us everywhere... I'm learning so much Portuguese!... The kids have been singing high school musical songs... And last night a Portuguese boy asked me out! I said no of course. :)
I miss you guys so much, but I am having the time of my LIFE. I wouldn't pass this up for the world.
~Alyssa~
Sent June 19th, 2008
I just wanted to let all the parents know that their kids are safe and have been a pleasure to work with. All the adult leaders have commented on how well behaved they are and how hard the have worked. A typical day is up at 8 am, eat breakfast, at the jobsite by 9am. We work on the church until 12pm, walk to a local restaurant for lunch and then rest until 2:30 and then back to the church to do more work. We usually work until 5:30 and then head back to the `compound´ for showers. After we shower we head to dinner locally and then walk to the town square to worship and hang out with the members of the church that we are building.
Our time in the square usually draws quite a crowd. About 9:30 we head back to the compound for nightly devotions, small group discussions and then quiet time, usually used for journaling our day before we go to bed. Today, Thursday, is our last day at the church before we do the dedication on Saturday night. Tomorrow, we begin a three day sports camp, that will be held at the compound on a covered, indoor soccer court. I am sure the turn out will be huge. We are expecting over 100 kids from the local community.
Keep us in your prayers and know that your kids are representing the Lord, their church and their families very well. Besides lots of mosquito bites, everyone is healthy and looking forward to each new event. They have worked as a team and shown a lot of love to all the kids in the community as well. It has truly been my pleasure to be apart of this team, and to watch your kids and my son demonstrate Christ to another culture.
We will be back in touch soon. God bless and thanks for sharing them with us.
Tom Parr
Sent June 21st, 2008
Hello parents and friends,
We have been in the town of Carnuba Dos Dantas now for six days and have seen and done so much. The construction on the church is now complete and we will be dedicating it tonight with the town mayor. Please pray for this dedication as we have invited over a thousand town members and will be serving cake and soda to the town members who come (which may not sound like much but is sure to draw a crowd). The team is doing wonderfully and are all so excited to be here. We are now engaging in our sports outreach to the community and have young children waiting each morning chanting for us to begin. Yesterday we ministered to 120 young people and after a gospel presentation witnessed 25 of them give their lives to Jesus. I don't think many of our team had ever seen anything like it before as they watched in amazement as the power of such a simple message captured the hearts of the children. Each night we have been worshiping in the town squares and drawing large crowds of close to 100 people. We worship in English and also in Portuguese and our team gives their testimonies. We are continually blessed with good health and are especially thankful that Sara Cruz made a quick recovery of her sickness she left Woodland Park with. Marconi and the locals who cook for us are treating us with such kindness and are feeding us more than any of us would normally eat. It is also quite fun to have fresh juice every morning (guava, mango, pineapple). Those of you who are coffee lovers would be jealous also. Cafe con leche is some of the best local coffee Starbucks has obviously missed out on. The adults on our team are also doing very well and enjoying leading such a great team of teens. We have all been richly blessed and are looking forward to our next week of ministry. We will continue to try and update you through email. This is such a remote town and am surprised that they have an internet cafe. So we will try and get our team to leave updates as we are able. Keep praying for us as we press on to minister to this town. God is able!
Trusting Him,
Matt
Sent June 22nd, 2008
Hey, this is Alyssa!
I don’t have much time, but I just wanted to say how amazing this past week has been. Yesterday when Matt told us it was our seventh day in Brazil, I was shocked. I had lost all track of time!
Last night was the church dedication. We had tons and tons of people come to eat cake, drink Coca Cola, and see the crazy Americanos. :)
A lot of us broke down. Did you guys know that three- THREE- other churches had told this congregation they would come and build a church here, and they didn’t? The pastor and the town mayor thanked us profusely for what we had done, and it brought tears to so many eyes.
I was given a ring from a little girl named Barbara. We call her my little parasite- she hangs on me all the time, holding my hand, hugging me, sitting next to me, and the like. Well, guess what? She, as well as FIFTY OTHER PEOPLE accepted Christ into their lives!!! And guess what else? around the same number of DIFFERENT people gave their lives to Christ the day before, too! Nothing can top the knowledge that I will see these amigas and amigos of mine in heaven!
I was also given High School Musical 2 in Portuguese, a CD of the Carnaubas dos Dantas band, and some freaking awesome aviator sunglasses. I can’t wait to show you them all!
Something else really cool- God has shown me that I was made for this. Missions, I mean. This is what I need to do with the rest of my life! Maybe not in Brazil, but somewhere. :)
Portuguese food is AMAZING. Know any good Portuguese restaurants? Haha.
And we teens will probably all be taking cold showers when we get back- that’s all we have here!
I miss you all and love you!
ALYSSA
This was written yesterday by mwa. I got back Sunday, June 29th, btw. Here's my synopsis of what happened to me.....
I want to quickly share with you how this trip changed my heart, my mind, and my soul.
Before I left, I was a complete mess. My family life was way screwed up- two weeks before the trip, my Mom had a stroke. Dad works in Denver still, so he couldn’t take care of my little sister and I during the day. I had to be the mom, and ’parenting’ a hurting and confused eight year old when you’re only fifteen was hard.
My spiritual life was downhill. I was struggling with depression and not knowing who I am, and I had such resentment built up inside. I didn’t belong anywhere. No one understood. I was a different person at church than during the week. I never read my bible or prayed anymore. I knew about God in my mind, but rejected him in my heart. Often I talked to my best friend, Emily, about how it felt like I was pretending all the time. I never knew who I really was.
Leaving for two weeks was the hardest thing to do, ever. I had to leave behind my little sister and my dad to fend for themselves, and as a perfectionist and a control freak I wanted to be there to do everything for them.
But finally I had to get on that bus, and step onto that air plane, and get off in Natal, Brazil.
That first week in Brazil was the scariest, most amazing thing that has happened to me in fifteen years. I never expected to be loved so completely and openly, and be able to love back without any thought to the fact that I would, eventually, have to say goodbye.
It didn’t hit me until that Saturday - the end of the first week- that I would have to leave these people. Leave behind their smiles. Leave behind their relationships. Leave behind their kindness, and generosity, and their hugs. It felt like the roof of the church had caved down on my head.
I was depressed the whole day, and lashed out because of it. I think that day was the worst I had behaved on the trip. I did some things very blatantly, and when I got talked to I just got angry. It felt as if I was starting the cycle all over again- hurt, then fear, then getting really angry.
Earlier in the week, God had shown me that I was using him as a vending machine. I would go to get something from him, then forget about him until I needed something else. I was living as though I had all the time in the world, and when I was finished with living the way I wanted to, I could live God‘s way.
That Saturday night I realized how wrong treating God like that was, and I should stop it. Basically there were two options- Reject God completely, or Accept Him fully.
I decided to reject him. I was hurting so bad and didn’t feel as if I could love anyone anymore, it felt so awful.
I came to this decision in the middle of the Church Dedication Service, and tried to slip away three times without success. Finally I couldn’t hold it in any longer, and I just started to cry. Tears were pouring out of me, and I couldn’t stop them.
That’s when Marconi found me. He hugged me tightly and prayed for me, then told me he would always love me and called me his daughter. Which made me cry even harder, considering I had just told God ‘hell no’.
I went to bed that night empty and confused, and woke up not much better. I silently cried myself to sleep for the next two nights.
I think it was our last official day in Carnuba. Tomorrow we were leaving to go back to Natal for a few days, then hop a plane to America. We climbed the mountain right outside of town with some of our Brazilian friends to look out over the city for the last time.
As I stood there, watching the sunset, my family away from home surrounding me, my hand being gripped by David and another little boy, and thinking over my past week, I just felt something happen to me.
It was as if a force was filling me, pushing out all the bitterness and resentfulness and depression with peace. I started to realize how big God was, and how beautiful his creation was. I started to understand how much time and effort he had put into making the world amazing. And as we walked back down, I had a thought- God did all this for ME. Not just for his enjoyment and pleasure. The plants and animals didn’t sin. And God could have just loved them, the perfect ones.
But he loves ME, messed up, unbelieving little me.
I felt so small. And so okay with that feeling.
Slowly, ever so slowly, God worked in me during the next week. And finally, when I prayed, it meant something. I could actually give all my crap to God and feel peace about it. And I could love even more for it all.
I’m different now. I’m not alone anymore. As I was looking back over the trip, I realized that God had placed some verses in front of me that describe my trip completely.
MARK 9:24 B “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!”
JOHN 16:23-24 “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will become complete.”
PSALM 100:1-3 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his- we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
HOSEA 14:9 “Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble.”
ROMANS 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
ACTS 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
AMEN!
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Jun. 12, 2008 - Well this is Goodbye!!!!!!!!!
Ciao! Adios! Toodles! Advetistein! So Long! Adeiu! Laters! Aloha! Farewell!
I know it's only Thursday night, but also I know for a fact that I will have no chance to say bye between now and when I leave Saturday.
Well, I just found out that we're catching the Red Eye flight out from Pheonix to JFK. And sunday, guess what I watched? "Red Eye". Which is basically a horror movie. UGH. I knew that wasn't too smart lol.
Speaking of horror movies. You guys know the newly released movie The Strangers? All of the Brazil team and everyone that I know who has seen this movie says DO NOT WATCH IT. it is so realistic that you will be sleeping with the lights on for days. It's not all hollywood-ish, apparently. It's just about this couple who go on a getaway and are terrorized by a family wearing masks- a dad, a mom, and a girl. The "strangers" make mistakes, and when asked why they're doing this, they say "you guys were home." There's no ulterior motive. It's just about terror and murder. And you see the stabbing in graphic detail at the end. No looking away as the blood spatters on the wall. you see the blade insert and come out of their bodies many times.
basically it's stupid and you shouldn't watch it.
Today was awesome. This morning Anna crawled into my bed and asked if she could stay with me today instead of going off to another random person's house. I agreed after she started crying and made arrangements for us to be together today. So she came down with me to the Library (where I work) and we walked to Blue Bell Ice cream afterwards cuz she behaved so well. Instead of eating in the store, she begged to go to the park and eat, so we went to the park by the Skate Park and ate our ice cream (hers was cotton candy, mine chocolate chip cookie dough) on the merry-go-round. We slid down the slide and did the teeter totter thing for a while as well. :)
Then we walked home and watched a movie together while we ate a late lunch. Hey, when you're with your sister, eating ice cream before lunch is TOTALLY okay. ;) haha.
Now she's packing for her trip to our Grandparents (The first week I'm in Brazil she'll be at their house) and I'm typing (no duh, haha) and we've been picking up around the house between everything.
Im completely packed now, and have everything I need except for sunglasses and a travel pillow. The sunglasses I got at Target the other day snapped as soon as I put them on my face! Isn't that just crappy? Anyway.
I shall miss you all! Keep me and my fam. in mind for the next two weeks- and expect a post in July telling you all EVERYTHING that happened!!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
~Allie~
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Jun. 10, 2008 - ~411~
Q: How is my Mom?
A: She's doing better! Her vision is being really stupid still, so she's been dizzy a lot recently. She can't even move her toes without her vision going wacky. She's been in a lot of Physical Therapy lately, and the insurance company has cleared her for another week. Which is really good.
Q: How are you/your family doing?
A: We have so much support from everyone! We have meals coming out the WAZOO (literally if you think about it) and yesterday one of my fellow Alpha Team members and her mom took me shopping for the rest of the things I needed while in Brazil. Leo (Em's) Mom, Debbie, has taken us under her wing. I love her so much. It makes everything a bit easier to have her around.
One big prayer request is for this next month or so. I'll be gone for the next two weeks while in Brazil, and I can't take care of my sister while my dad's at work. Because he works so far away, he leaves the house around 6:00 in the morning. So if my mom doesn't come home this next monday (Which she most likely wont) my little sister will spend the next week or so while I'm gone sleeping over at other people's houses. She'll only be able to sleep in her own bed during friday and saturday night.
And seriously, how hard is that?
But my parents are adamant that I go... so I'm going!
Q: How's Sammi?
A: Okay. Her mom submitted in writing that Sam could stay at her dad's house. So now they have evidence and she can't change her mind about it no matter what, like her mom's done before. I miss her so much. I loved seeing ehr over the weekend, and I can't wait until I spend time with her in Brazil. She's on the Alpha team as well!!
Q: What are the details on your Brazil trip?
A: The team is split up into two parts on the flight there for cost reasons. the first team, Team Alpha, leaves on Saturday night. Team two, Team Bravo, leaves Sunday afternoon. So Alpha will have a whole day to themselves- to catch up from jet lag, etc.
We all go from Denver International Airport to Phoenix, AZ, then from Phoenix to JFK Airport in New York. Then we'll go from JFK to Sao Paolo International Airport, Brazil, and then into Natal, Brazil. It's almost twenty seven hours total that we'll be flying!! Yikes!
We will drive down to Currais Novos on Monday evening-Tuesday morning, then stay there for three days while we help finish building a church. Then we'll drive down to Carnubas Dos Dantas and hold Sport Reach camps in this village and the villages surrounding it. On our way back to Natal, we will stop and share the gospel with a village of black 'gypsy' Brazilians ostrazised for their color. They've never heard the word of Jesus spoken!
When we get back to Natal, we'll spend a day on the beach, then play with some orphans at a local orphanage. All of this will take two weeks. We leave on the 14th and 15th and will return as a team on the 28th.
Q: Who the heck are you and why am I reading this?
A: I am your stalker, and you are reading this because I have brainwashed you into thinking you were interested. You may now go on your (hopefully) less confuzed way :).
Haha any more questions for me? I'll answer them as best I can before I leave!
~Allie~
4 DAYS UNTIL BRAZIL
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Jun. 9, 2008 - ZOMG
I think I just realized- I'M GOING TO BRAZIL IN LESS THAN FIVE DAYS!! AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Runs around the room screaming* *falls on butt and laughs histerically* o my gosh! !!!!YAY!!!
     
Wow. major weird rush of emotions there, haha.
This past week has been the most horrible, awful, WONDERFUL week EVER. Today i just feel so good!
Yesterday I deyed my hair purple again- because I just wanted to- watched the movie Red Eye, got three new books at Barnes and Noble, and joked around with my Mom and her roomate, Beth. I was on the worship team that morning, too. Our church also prayed for the Brazil team (seeing as half of us are leaving next Saturday. Go Alpha team! Woot!) and i got SO energized by the congregation and their support.
Plus. I sang really really well. I felt like I just poured my heart and soul into the words. And I know I sounded good :). I love that feeling. You know, when you realize that you've done a good work, and hit the bullseye exactly, and then have that amazing rush of happiness and gratitude and pride in yourself? Mm. It makes me feel good inside.
I'm also smiling because SAMMI (smileigh) CAME BACK FOR THE WEEKEND!!! I got to spend three days with her!
She came back cuz of the Brazil Lock In Friday night, and stayed at Em's house all day Saturday and Sunday. Jesse, Em, Katie and I all got to hang out with her Saturday (we went park hopping, lol) and Jesse even came to church Sunday! Something he NEVER does and will probably never do again..
Today I get to send Anna off to her friend Hannah's house until supper time. So I get the whole day to myself. I'm gonna be packing like crazy, washing clothes and underwear and jeans just for Brazil (we get to leave half our stuff we bring in Brazil! Not the underwear, don't worry, haha). I'll be listening to my new music mix that Em made for me, maybe reading a little bit, making my house pretty, gardening, writing... I love being home alone!
Something else that happened.. Jadon prayed over me yesterday morning. And he actually touched me, haha. It was just putting his arm around me and one hand on my knee, then our heads were touching cuz we were leaning towards each other. :)
OH GOSH! I just realized I never posted about what's up with me and him!
Well about three weeks ago Jadon asked permission from my Dad to date me. My Daddy said yes- so he and I are now officially together! I know, scary right? But this time both of our parents endorse it and love that its happening. (Which is really new for me, here! haha).
:) :) :) :) :) :) :)
I'm smiling like crazy now. Life is horribly good. AAHHH I"M GOING TO BRAZIL!!!!
~Allie~
P.S- the song that's been going through my head recently- one of the only good Hillary Duff songs, in my opinon... It kinda matches what I'm feeling right now..
SOMEONE’S WATCHING OVER ME
Hillary Duff
I found myself today
Oh I found myself and ran away
But something pulled me back
Voice of reason I forgot
I had
All I know is you’re not here to say
What you always used to say
But it’s written in the sky
Tonight
So I won’t give up
No I won’t break down
Sooner than it seems
Life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I’m standing in the dark
I’ll still believe
Someone’s watching over me
I’ve seen that bright light
And its shining on my destiny
Shining all the time
And I won’t be afraid
To follow everywhere it’s taking me
All I know is yesterday is gone
And right now I belong
To this moment
To my dreams
So I won’t give up
No I won’t break down
Sooner than it seems
Life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I’m standing in the dark
I’ll still believe
Someone’s watching over me
It doesn’t matter what people say
And it doesn’t matter how long it takes
Believe in yourself
And you’ll fly high
And it only matters how true you are
Be true to yourself and follow your heart
So I won’t give up
No I won’t break down
Sooner than it seems
Life turns around
And I will be strong
Even if it all goes wrong
When I’m standing in the dark
I’ll still believe
That I won’t give up
No I won’t break down
Sooner than it seems
Life turns around
And I will be strong
Even when it all goes wrong
When I’m standing in the dark
I’ll still believe
Someone’s watching over
Someone’s watching over
Someone’s watching over me
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh
Someone’s watching over me
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Jun. 6, 2008 - More News
Hey, sorry I haven't been on. This time there's a good reason, though.
My mom had a stroke last Thursday. It's been a week now that she's been in the hospital, and she'll be there for at least two more.
I was going to tell you sooner, it's just that I've been so busy. My little sister and I are house hopping like crazy! I finally got to stay home today so I could clean, do laundry, etc. So I decided to update you.
Um, she's doing okay. She can talk well, but she has remaining numbness in her right side and is having trouble swallowing. Her sense of balance is way off- when she thinks she's leaning to the left, she's really upright. She also can't see that well. It's like she's been spinning for a long time and then stopped suddenly, she told me.
The good news is that she's now on the rehab floor, learning how to walk, run, and climb stairs on her own again and taking vision excersizes. She's making progress, but still, pray for all of us in this hard time. Oh- her name's Cindy.
My dad's holding up well. At least around my sister and I. Anna is taking it HARD. When you're eight years old, you really don't understand what's going on and why you can't have your mommy come home at night.
I'm okay. basically I'm the mom right now. All you Mommas out there- I have a great appreciation for you! It's SO hard to do everything! I really don't know how you do it day after day. I'm glad I'm not a mom yet, haha.
Well, thanks you guys. I gotta go, I have something happening after lunch so I have to get a move on. Love you all.
~Allie~
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May. 21, 2008 - Prayer Request Update
Hey you guys. I'm sorry it took so long for me to update.
Basically, Smileigh's running away was the catalyst- her mom finally let her live at her dad's. They met yesterday at a local deli to talk it over. Within an hour Smiliegh was packing, and now she's in Denver.
It's only temporary for now. But it will soon become permanent when she figures out where she wants to be. I just wish I could have said goodbye. At the end of the summer, if she decides to stay at her dad's, she's gonna move to California. It's pretty big, you know?
I don't think I know how to handle it quite yet. I mean, she's just gone. I can't call her to hang out. There'll be no more sleepovers, no more tagging along with her to dance class, no more walking in the woods together. She's now 100+ miles away, down there with all my other friends that I had to say goodbye to two years ago.
I guess I didn't think it would happen- at least, not so soon. I'm kinda having a bit of trouble with it, if you couldn't tell already. She was one of my soul sisters. I was the real me when I was around her. She was, literally, the "Sam" in my "Samemalykate".
Anyway.
Just keep on praying for her and her family. Leaving wasn't that easy for her, either. She had to leave behind her two little brothers, Jack and Jonathan, and they were NOT happy.
i guess maybe pray for me too. Life without my girl's gonna be hard to get used to. I wonder if Denae knows yet. And Scott. And Jordan. Whoo boy. I miss her soo much already.
~Allie~
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May. 20, 2008 - Prayer Request
Hey you guys- I know basically no one really reads my blog, but this is really important and we need to get as many people as we can on this!!
Most of you have heard me talk about Smiliegh, right? Well, she's in trouble and we gotta pray. She and her mom (Seaton5) have had another argument that ended with her Mom threatening to make her quit the Brazil team and Smileigh walking into the woods near her house.
The arguments have been getting worse and worse, and now that Smiliegh wants to leave her mom and step-dad's house to have her real dad get full custody over her, her mother won't let her leave.
I don't trust her step-father AT ALL and recently, whenever he touches Smiliegh, she has this weird reaction. She loses all control over her body and feels nothing but terror. Her mom told her that she was screaming "get away, don't touch me, leave me alone!" But her mom also said that "It's the most normal reaction you've had in a while!"
Even Smiliegh knows that its not okay that this is happening! But her mom has closed her eyes to the fact.
It's so long and complicated.. I wish I could tell you more!
Long story short, Smileigh is running away. Someone's gonna drive her down to the Springs, where her real dad's gonna pick her up, but until then she's hiding from her Mom and the police. She's not coming back.
Please pray for her. Please. If you don't read anything else on this blog, read this and just PRAY. She isn't okay right now. She's lost and alone and doesn't have anything but her purse and the clothes on her back. I can't do anything for her, because she won't tell me where she is. I'm so scared for her!
Wait she's calling my cell phone.. I'll post this then post another update as it goes on.
PRAY!!!!
~Allie~
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May. 19, 2008 - Haha keep this one going!
True Friendship
None of that Sissy Cr @ p
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good,
But never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-
Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad
like a spider monkey jacked up on mountain dew.
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.
4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well
Again. I don't want whatever you have.
8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy butt.
9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask;
'because you are my friend'.
Friendship is like peeing your pants,
everyone can see it,
But only you can feel the true warmth..
Copy and Send this to 10 of your closest friends,
Then get depressed because you can only think
of 4
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May. 18, 2008 - Confusion- Life, basically, haha
*sighs* well I have the feeling that this post is going to be another long, rambling one. My dad is bugging the H-E double hockey sticks outta me, so I'm kinda *getting really really FREAKING* mad right now and need to get it out. So if it's a bit intense, that's why.
I think all this starts on friday. I was having a pretty good day. I mean, it was my last day of school (hallelujiah!) AND I got the added bonus of being able to see Prince Caspian!!!
Because my mom doesn't have a car, I walked to the movie theater. I made pretty good time, considering my house is a mile and a half away from it, haha. Although I did get a pretty bad charley horse in my calf....
ANYWHO.
So I get to the movie theater, and i see Tyler right there. Trouble right off the bat. He says, "Hey, it's Allie! What're you doing here?"
I smile at him as I buy my ticket and say "I'm going to see Prince Caspian. How about you?"
"Me too! We should sit together or something."
"Yeah, we should!"
Bada Bing, Bada Boom- Tyler and Dylan are sitting in front of Katie, Leo and I, and we're all talking. Of course, I'm trying not to flirt with Ty and failing misreably, because there's just something enticing about a guy you cannot have. Thing is- he's flirting right back. We're laughing, and having popcorn battles ("I may have lost the battle, but i shall win the war!"), and having a grand ol time.
The movie starts, and we settle into our seats, but Ty keeps on looking back at me and smiling. And for some reason, I occasionally get wafts of Tyler-scent from his direction. (He smells better than most guys- a mixture of Axe, shampoo, and clothing detergent, with a bit of little boy smell mixed in. Those of you with little brothers or cousins, or have friends with little brothers or cousins know what I'm talking about.)
It went like that the whole movie. Which made me really confused, because I thought that Tyler was an older version of Skandar (Edmund from Narnia)... He doesn't like girls that way and never really did.
After the movie finishes, we all step outside (it's a really tiny movie theater -I'm talking only two half-sized screens with a itty-bitty consessions stand/ticket counter in between them, here- so we couldn't all stand inside and talk) and voila! There's the Stolls and their youth group of eight, most of whom we go to Enrichment with. I give Emily Stoll a hug and we all talk, her older brothers Matt (I think that's his name) and Ben and their friend Justin all kinda joining in.
Ben's awesome. he's the strong silent type, haha. But really, he's like a big brother, and pretty darn cool to hang out with. Matt- well, he's older than Ben and Emily, I think he's like eighteen, so I haven't seen him that often and don't know him that well. Justin has BRIGHT red hair and a personality to match, LOL.
Just so ya knew who they were. :)
Anyway, I say goodbye to them and start walking back home, when Ty catches me. We talked for a little while, but I noticed his eyes darting to Emily, Ben, Matt and Justin during the whole thing. And he looked kinda pleased with himself after I left....
Which confused me. i do not get boys at all apparently, haha.
I walked home, and called Jadon for lack of anything else to do. He was unavailable to come to the phone because-get this!-he was MILKING. Yeah! Milking! Haha that made me laugh..
But I mean, i just felt kinda weird the rest of the day. Like I didn't belong anywhere. It was depressing. I talked to Smileigh and she asked me about the dreams I had been having, and how many books and movies I had really gotten into recently. I asked her why and she said something that really surprised me- it makes sense, though.
She said that when you dream, or lose yourself in books or movies or music, It's basically an escape from reality. Wether you need to or not, you're shutting out 'real life'. And if you've been doing that more and more often, when you come back to reality, so to speak, you feel displaced. It's kinda weird how much control we have over our own brains, and how much control our brians have over our bodies. You know?
I still feel kinda odd, but I think i understand better. At least, I understand more than I did.
That night I went shopping with my Mom at the local Wal*Mart, and she kinda made me feel even worse. I love my mom but she's kinda blunt when she wants to be.
Basically right now she's obsessed with dogs. We can't get one because of the pricey pet deposit the person who's renting the house to us has placed in the contract. She goes onto the Humane Society's website every day, and on Saturdays when we can have the car my dad takes to work, she goes down there to look at the dogs in person. Every week she has a "Dog of the Week".
So we were at Wal*Mart, talking about her new 'Dog of the Week'. She asked me, out of the blue, about Tyler and how all that was going, and I told her that I thought I might like him more than I realized. My mom burst out laughing and said, "Allie, you say that about every boy you like. I have a dog of the week, and you have a guy of the week!"
It's the truth. But it still kinda hurt. I hate it when moms are perceptive, dont you?
The next morning, Saturday, I woke up feeling a bit better. Of course, I also woke up to my cell phone ringing. It was Jadon, just returning my call from yesterday. He laughed at me because I had slept in so late, but he did get me up. We talked for almost an hour, then he had to go. So my day started out pretty well.
My dad was making a big breakfast upstairs, so the whole house smelled like pancakes and bacon. Mm, bacon. haha.
We all ate breakfast, then I got dressed and my Mom and I went all the way down to Castle Rock for a big shopping day. *sighs* I LOVE having the car... i can't wait till i can leagally drive!
When we came home around three, I called Leo and we talked for a while. She had spent her Saturday polishing furniture and washing windows and hanging clothes on the line. It was a GORGEOUS day outside. I think it actually got up into the high sixties!
It was too nice a day to pass up. i went over to her house to hang out, and we both went over to the park with a basketball. Haha there were some boys shooting baskets through the other hoop. All three of them kept on looking over at us, and one boy even took his shirt off. We were trying not to laugh but really kinda failed.. *looks slightly chargrined*
I went home fopr supper, then convinced the Parental Units to let me have a sleepover at Leo's house. We had a big talk last night. It was awesome. My best friend knows me so well....
We were going to watch Bella, but the DVD didn't work, so we ended up watching Hitch instead. Katie's friend Larissa was there too. She and I really don't like each other, and Larissa HATES jadon with a passion, so we weren't getting along that well.
Guess what? Haha it was hilarious. Larissa and I were arguing softly about something when my cell phone buzzes. And guess who it is?
Yep. it was Jadon.
I made my escape upstairs, and he and I talked for abotu a half an hour about everything and nothing. he has a really deep voice, I was noticing that. Well- except for the times his voice breaks. He's getting over it (I mean, he's seventeen now!) but it still happens.... ;)
When i came back downstairs, Hitch was over, and everyone was in the kitchen getting ice cream. Larissa looks at me and kinda sneers, so I decide to ask her why she hates Jadon. She got pretty freaking emotional about it. She scares me....
Anyway. After she finished ranting about the "mean hearted ******* with no real concept of love or life" she asked me why i liked Jadon so much.
I dodged the bullet with a very vague answer, and she says (Really LOUDLY) "so have you kissed him yet?"
I mean, what was that all about? No, I haven't kissed Jadon. and I probably NEVER WILL. Where does she come off?
Sorry. Just a bit mad here.
Leo and Katie had the wisdom to get us out of each other's eyesight before any punches were thrown.
I really don't like that girl...
Today, Sunday, was basically unremarkable. I went to church, babysat two little monsters and their cutie-pie little sister afterwards, and cleaned my room after that.
oh, no- wait! Ther is something!
MY FATHER. He listens to this guy, Hank Hanegraph, on the radio coming home from work. and HANK doesn't believe that Jesus went to Hell to preach to the spirits when he died, so my DAD doesn't believe it either. (I swear he worships the ground HANK walks on.)
I DO belive that Jesus desended into hell, and I have a couple verses that I think prove it. But as soon as my dad finds this out, he sets out to prove that I am wrong and he and HANK are right. So he and I get into this huge fight over it. He's trying to force his beliefs on me, and I really don't appreciate it.
I eventually shut down and got out of more fighting. But I'm really resentful right now. I don't care abotu what HANK thinks. My dad was insinuating that I don't know what I'm talking about and because he's the head of the household, I have to belive in what he believes. I don't want to. It's making me livid. I don't even trust this Hank Hanegraph. He has a lot of weird beliefs and not that much proof to back himself up- but the word of HANK is flawless to mi Papi. *Rolls eyes* I hate this. My dad and I ahven't gotten a long for a while now. But he thinks he won the argument. He didn't, but I won't let him know that. I'm gonna go on believing what I believe in secret until I can move out and practice it openly.
Stupid HANK.
That's my weekend for ya. hope yours was better. thanks for letting me get that out.
~Allie~
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May. 16, 2008 - Prince Caspian!!
Finally, for once in my life, I get the message on my cell's voice mail BEFORE it happens, instead of after. and this time, the happening was- PRINCE CASPIAN!!! YAY!!!!
Leopardlover, Girlinapinkbathrobe, and their two little brothers went to see it, and invited me to come along. SO i walked up to the movie theater, and made it just in time!!!
Tyler and his whole family were there, too, and so was Dylan and his family. So we all sat together, Ty, Dylan, Leo, and GIAPB.
OH IT IS THE BEST EVER!!! Even better than Narnia- and Prince Caspian is C-U-T-E! hehe. So's Sander (the guy who plays Edmund). But he's still the same old Edmund! lol
Oh gosh, it's amazing. I'm going to go see it again soon. And I'm SO there when it comes out on DVD. So go see it!!!
Haha that's all I really have to say!
;)
~Allie~
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May. 2, 2008 - Tagged by Luvdogs06
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1.What do you like best about of Spring?
The bright, sunny days that are just the right temperature to go outside with a blanket and an apple and read...
2.What is your favorite season?
Summer
3. What is a random thing about your house?
It's techinally three stories but still a teeny-tiny little patio home... so teeny, in fact, that we couldn't get half our stuff to fit when we first moved in!
4. What do you like best about blogging?
Writing.
5. How old are you?
15
6. How many rooms are in your house?
six- seven if you count the closet in the hallway where we have the washer and dryer.
7. How many people are in your family (including you)?
four. My mom, my dad, and my sister...
8. Do you play any instruments? If you do name them.
Yes, Piano, guitar, and banjo
9. What is your favorite subject in school?
Literature and biology
10. What is your favorite book of the Bible?
James.
People I'm Tagging!
Leopardlover
Smileigh
Girlinapinkbathrobe
Anonymous693
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Apr. 18, 2008 -
| DO YOU SNORE? |
sometimes... |
| ARE YOU CRAZY? |
HAHA |
| WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR? |
clowns. and needles. and my little sister dying. and my best friend possibly moving abroad.. |
| AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO BUILDER? |
YEAH LEGOS!! |
| WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY TV"? |
A lot of it is just stupid... but it's reality! haha |
| DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS? |
I used to be an avid straw-chewer... but I broke the habit. |
| WERE YOU A CUTE BABY? |
depends on your definition of Cute.... |
| HOW IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU? |
do you want the truth here? okay, then, it SUCKS. But that's life. |
| WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD? |
white. |
| DO YOU SING? |
very well, thank you |
| HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED? |
someday... |
| ANY SECRET TALENTS? |
I am actually a purty good public speaker |
| WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT? |
anywhere warm and beautiful |
| HAVE YOU EATEN SUSHI? |
yuck! |
| HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "DONNIE DARKO"? |
*shakes head* oh, gosh... |
| ARE YOU A TREE HUGGER? |
not to the extreme |
| HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP? |
a one... a two hoo!, a three... CRUNCH!! I guess the world may never know |
| CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS? |
zyxw..... |
| HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON AN AIRPLANE? |
once. but that will change this summer... can you say 25 hours? Hehe that's what I get for going to Brazil... |
| DO YOU LIKE THE COLOR YELLOW? |
Yay for Yellow! it's so sunny!
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| WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING? |
When it's a nesessity then it's okay. but just for fun? Yuck. |
| IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE? |
Eventually. Possibly. |
| DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? |
When I'm trying :) |
| WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO? |
pollen, grass... |
| WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU" |
a few minutes ago when I said goodbye to my parents. |
| IS ELVIS STILL ALIVE? |
didn't you hear? the aliens transported him into space.... |
| DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS? |
never ever |
| HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS? |
omelette. |
| ARE BLONDES DUMB? |
Sometimes. but then, so are brunettes. |
| WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP? |
Under my bed, in the closet, behind the hamper... or in some weird corner where I have no idea how it got there |
| WHAT TIME IS IT? |
7:46 pm exactly. |
| DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME? |
Lyssa, Allie, Lissie... |
| IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING? |
a lot of it is. but those fries??? MMM to DIE for |
| WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR? |
Last night, when Dad came home from work and we could have the car |
| ARE YOU A PIRATE? |
A Pirates of the Carribean Pirate, thankyouverymuch |
| IS SANTA CLAUSE REAL? |
Nope. |
| ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? |
*cough, cough* Sometimes. *cough, cough* |
| WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO? |
Jesus. and Dr. Pepper. |
| CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER? |
creamy |
| HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE? |
no, but my Mom has exactly four times. |
| HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY? |
none. oops, need to get on that. |
| IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE? |
Like 'Crack' drugs? Yeah!!
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| ARE YOU WEARING SOCKS? |
nope. BAREFOOT! YEA! |
| HAVE YOU EVER HITCH HIKED? |
its possible *shifty eyes* haha jkjk |
| WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? |
brown and black |
| WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? |
Last night... in the duration of the fifth Harry Potter... |
| DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE? |
At times |
| WHOSE LIFE IS BETTER? |
Chuck Norris! |
| ARE YOU WEIRD? |
Not at ALL |
| HAVE YOU READ "CATCHER IN THE RYE"? |
AMAZING book. |
| DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS? |
Piano, guitar... |
| CAN YOU SKATEBOARD? |
I'm pretty good for a ballerina |
| DO YOU LIKE CAMPING? |
Eugh! |
| DO U SNORT WHEN U LAUGH? |
If i laugh really really hard then yep |
| DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? |
"I do believe in fairies!" |
| IS A DOG A MAN'S BEST FRIEND? |
it can be. when it isn't foaming at the mouth. |
| YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE? |
Not unless he's abusing you or you catch him in the act of adultrey. |
| CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK? |
hehe oh yea |
| DO YOU LIKE THE WORD "QUIRKY"? |
Quirky. What an awesome word! Qurky. I love it!!! |
| WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? |
A peanut butter cracker. |
| DO YOU WEAR NAILPOLISH? |
On my tosies |
| DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE RIGHT NOW? |
Zach... and possibly his best friend Tyler.. >.< |
| WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL? |
The Head-On Commercial |
| DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE? |
nope. Snobs, one and all... LOL jk |
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Apr. 17, 2008 - Deedum, deedee, deedudlie dee dee dum...
I am in a very random mood.
Example: About twenty minutes ago I had the strangest urge to clean. Yeah. CLEAN! So I did. The kitchen, living room, and my bed room are now sparkling.
But then, about ten minutes ago, I got a case of lethargy. I was suddenly too lazy to do anything but sit. SO i read Harry Potter.
After three pages, i found I was too restless to read. So I got online.
Now I'm listening to Phantom of the Opera and want to just kick off my shoes and dance.
Wow. That sounds so WEIRD. Even to me.
The day before yesterday I was strangely depressed. Okay, so not strangely- I mean, I have clinical depression. (maybe that's why I'm being so weird. I swear I need some drugs or something cuz this is crazy!!)
Anyway, after school, I went to hang out with Smileigh. We looked up this thing, AMTC, that's coming to the Springs tomorrow. It's a christian talent company, and they're having an audition for models, dancers, singers, and actors ages 4 and up. We were going to register, but then we saw the videos of other auditioners- and they're freaking GOOD. Like the singers had to've had a life-long voice training coach. The dancers? INTENSE classical ballet training, among other things.
So we backed out. They said in the advertisements that they're open to anyone and everyone- but there's no way I'm going to stand up there and make a fool outta myself. You know?
Slightly depressed, Sam and I went our seperate ways- I went to the library for the first time in at least a month and a half (her mom gave me a ride. Not having a car does put a cramp in your library trips) and Sammi went to her Hip Hop class.
Later that afternoon we hung out again, but at my house this time. For a little bit we watched the movie my sister was watching for the third time, but then we got bored and decided to walk up to Loaf 'n Jug.
Once there we got a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and a fountain drink with two straws. I would have forgotten completely about choir practice if my mom hadn't called my cell phone all in a flutter cuz I was late.
So we jogged back to my house to grab my music and then walked down the street to the church. I was exactly a half an hour late, so everyone else was up on stage and I felt so AWKWARD squeezing past everyone to get to my seat in the soprano's section.
After it was over, Sam and I started coreographing the dance we've both had in our heads for the past couple of weeks. It's to Never Too Late by Three Days Grace. Just listening to that song made me feel like I'm about to cry, and I don't know why. I mean, out of all their songs, it's probably one of the least depressing ones. Okay, so not really but it's better than Pain, or Home.
Wednesday (yesterday) I was alternately pensive and hyper. It snowed, by the way. On Tuesday the temperature reached almost 70. But yesterday a cold wind started blowing some clouds in, and before you know it, snow was a'comin' down. Ugh. I hate cold and wet.
Anywho. Leopardlover came over for a little bit so we could do our Enrichment homework. We're doing "the Cost of Living" :(. It's where we have to figure out how much it costs to live in the adult world- we have to figure the prices of food, clothing, rent/house payment, gas, utilities, and telephones, just to name a few. I swear, I'm gonna live at home!! haha.
Since it was snowing so hard, we called Lionsglory to see if he could pick us up, and so went with him to youth group. basically we stayed there for a half an hour, then walked over to the main church building for childcare. Our church does this thing called "The House of Prayer" every Wednesday night, and Em and I watch the kiddies. We only had five, which was pretty good, considering the nine we had last time. :P Emily and I had a slight row over who would hold baby Ava, though.. LOL
I went back over to the Youth Home around 7 to do worship with our newbie, Dakota. He has a really deep voice for an eighth grader, and can play the guitar really well. :)
Because our worship leader, Christian, is graduating at the end of this semester, we're trying to integrate more people in. Dakota and I will be taking Christian's place this summer, so we've been singing together as much as we can. He actually sang one of his own songs for the closing song- it's WOW good! haha.
It was still snowing heavily that night, so Em's momma cancelled Enrichment for today. I wasn't too disappointed. Jadon wasn't gonna be there anyway, and without him it just isn't interesting :).
Well, that's it for now. I'm so restless. Ugh. I need to move..
See ya!
~Allie~
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Apr. 15, 2008 - All my peeps, haha
All the following pictures were taken at the Christmas Formal Dinner we had this past December. i found them again this morning and just wanted to share 'em!
Say hello to LionsGlory (on your left) and Tyler (on your right). Lol I love these guys.
This is Amanda, her boyfriend David, and Megan playing the piano. (The week before Meg deyed her hair black! :0 haha)
Kinsey... Hehe isn't she cute?? She converted from the Bahai faith to Christianity some time in late November of last year. Since then she's become an invaluable friend and prayer partner! :)
(Yes, polkadots were the style of the evening. haha.)
Ah, the infamous Zach >.< and one of my best guy freinds, Drew.
"Oh yes, I know I'm hott."
LOL classic Christian- aka Confused Skunk.
Mwa and Smileigh, looking gorgeous as always! haha. My hair was shorter then...
Grayson, being smouldering as usual *rolls eyes* and all his gal friends- from left to right, there's Laura, Keira, Tess, an unkown friend, Sasha, and Michelle.
Now here's some randomised pictures that I just happen to love- all of my family and freinds. :)
Don't worry, I won't put anything TOO embarrasing for you in here.... As long as you're not Grayson or Shane! XD
Speaking of which. Here's Shane (trying) to climb the rock wall at one of the youth groups we both go to.
From left to right- Tyler, Doug, and Michael. We were at Starbucks between service projects during the 30 Hr. Famine, having a good ol' talk and trying not to look at all the delicious food... :)
Katie and Denae at church one Sunday. They're on the Brazil team, too! Yay! lol
Heres my little sister, Anna, on Easter Sunday. I love that girl.
Grayson (the squirrel hehe) & Shane (duude) ;D
Zach at "The Feast for Famine". We found some old glasses in a drawer while looking for a lighter. XD
This is Beth and her new glasses. She's Grayson's girlfriend and LionsGlory's older sista..
Caitlin and Luke (Zach's older broha) holding hands while talking to entirely seperate groups.. Shh, don't tell, but Luke's gonna propose soon!
TWO MORE:
The AMAZINGLY beautiful Leopardlover!
aannndd.....
Smileigh! Yay! :)
Hehe
~Allie~
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Apr. 14, 2008 - LeopardLover's Tag
1.fave color- purple!
2.least fave color- gray...
3.color of pants- blue jeans
4.color of shirt- white with a desgin on the front
5.color of fave CD- black; yellow; silver
6.color of dream car- either metallic blue or cream with a black vinal top...
7.color that you want your mom to dye her hair- none! i love my mom's hair
8.color of computer- black and silver
9.color of best friends brother's/sister's eyes- all blue!
10.color of dream pet - a blue Lintolead Parokeet or a Siamese cat
11.color of phone/ipod- pink and black cell phone..
12.color of the last thing you ate- black and white. and gray. and brown. What color are sunflower seeds anyway?
13.find what color you answered with the most- black
14. Tag as many people as there are letters in the color. black
1. B- Anyone
2. L- Who
3. A- Wants To
4. C- Do This
5. K- Can~!
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Apr. 14, 2008 - God MUST have a plan!
I have the best news!
Yesterday was a horrible day for me. After church, the Brazil Team got together for our monthly meeting. We grow closer together as a team every time- and this time there was a lot of prayer.
Matt Parker, our youth pastor, had found some great priced airline tickets a couple of months ago. The church agreed to pay for them as long as everyone paid them back with part of their support. You know, typical youth missions trip stuff.
But they found out about three weeks ago that the travel agency Matt had bought the tickets from was a forgery. There were no such tickets, no such travel agent- and all that money had disappeared.
After looking frantically for other tickets that would cost the same price and leave at the same time on the same flight, Matt found them- on this past Saturday night!
While that was an awesome miracle that the Brazil Team was totally excited about, we were in major crunch time. All of us had to have a thousand dollars by today at ten a.m., or we couldn't go. Basically we had to buy our own tickets, instead of the church doing it and us paying them back eventually.
I didn't have one thousand dollars. As a matter of fact, I was short $900.0. There was just no way I could raise that much money in eight hours!
Well, God proved me wrong.
Matt and I prayed at youth group last night, praying that God’s will be done and asking that he would perform a miracle so I could go. After we finished praying, his cell phone rang and he left to talk to the person on the other line. I thought nothing of it. He always talks on his phone, haha.
I went home pretty depressed. I prayed again with Mom and Dad, then went to bed and slept fitfully. I really, really, REALLY felt like I was being called to go- why was God shutting the door?
This morning, Mom and I decided to call my Gran and Granddad to let them know that I wasn't going. I didn't want them to send a check and have it not go towards me, but into the “pot“ so to speak. We were going to call the others as well when Gran called back.
They were willing to give me $750.00 if I could come up with the rest.
I called Matt all in a frenzy, and found out that someone had given me $100.00 more. With the $100.00 I already had, and the $750.00, I only had to come up with $50.00. We looked up my bank account- and I have exactly enough!! My grandparents agreed to send the check overnight. I almost cried. I was going to Brazil!
There was one problem though- Matt had to have the money today!
Here’s another total God thing. The person who had called him last night after we finished praying? Yeah. He donated a thousand dollars to the cause- exactly enough to cover my ticket until the $750.00 got there! Isn't that AWESOME!?
It's so true- God pulls through at the very last second. All I had to do was trust. :)
So I just wanted to share that with you. :D
JESUS FREAKING ROCKS!!! haha
~Allie~
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Apr. 11, 2008 - A little history lesson
Life in the 1500's
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water
temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.
Here are some facts about the 1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection.
That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor.
The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way to stop it. Hence the saying a threshhold.
(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next
day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes,
so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up | |
