Monday, November 20, 2006

Magic in the air!

It's snowing!!!

This is a magical, happy day. :-) Happy first snow everybody!!!!

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

So, uh, speaking of justice...

First, I'll share a bit of a prayer that I wrote this morning. "God, you love justice. I ask that you give Jason justice today. Do not let him pay dearly for a crime he did not commit. Let him be at peace in his heart and know that you are in control. Give him joy in all circumstances because he knows that he is loved by you."

I've been praying for justice for Jason ever since I heard about these false charges. There is such tremendous freedom in having the truth on your side, like he did. And today, God gave him justice! The charges were dismissed because the person who was pressing the charges backed down. There are a lot more details that I cannot share, but I wanted to share this much! I know so many of you have been praying for Jason, and I wanted to say thank you. I haven't talked to him in quite awhile, but I know he appreciates your prayers.

God is amazing!!!

Monday, November 6, 2006

Maybe I'm not crazy after all.

I was reading in Amos this morning. I've been reading through whole books of the Bible at a time in big chunks. It's been really different than my average quiet time of years past, because I usually read really short passages and dissected them. I like reading chapters at a time. It gives me more context and allows me to see passages in ways I never have before. Plus, being the nerd that I am, I love the feeling of finishing a book.

Anyway, I came across this passage this morning that I really liked. When I got to work, I looked it up in several different translations, and I found two that I really liked.

Basically, in the book of Amos, God is speaking through his prophet Amos to tell his people that he is fed up with the way they are acting. Israel has done nothing but rebel against God, despite the way he has protected them and cared for them. So Amos is giving them the message that God's discipline is coming.

(Side note - I read a really interesting passage in this book about the difference between discipline and punishment. It made the distinction that discipline is allowing someone to feel the natural consequences of their actions so that they will learn responsibility. It is for their benefit. Punishment imposes chastisement for an action, and is usually for the sake of punishment itself, rather than to correct the inappropriate behavior out of love and a desire to see better, more responsible actions in the future. It finally helped me to reconcile the idea of God's correction with knowing that God doesn't delight in punishment.)

Back to the point. This passage reaffirmed to me God's heart and my passion for justice. I love the parts of the Bible where you see how deeply God cares about the people that no one else cares about. This has long been my driving force in the direction of my life, and I get excited when I find passages that show me that I am in line with God's heart. So few Christians seem to care about these things, that I often wonder if I am crazy for believing what I do.

Here is the passage for your perusal. I have both a translation and a paraphrase. I would love to know what thoughts you guys have when you read these powerful verses, so full of God's righteous indignation at his people while at the same time conveying his heart for righteousness and justice.

Amos 5:21-24 (New Living Translation)
21 "I hate all your show and pretense—
the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings.
23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
an endless river of righteous living."

Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)
"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want."

Thursday, November 2, 2006

I think I know why Sylvia Plath stuck her head in the oven...

It is cold in my apartment, and getting colder by the minute. The beautiful, brisk fall day outside my apartment makes me happy. But no one likes to have to go open the fridge to feel warm. Speaking of which, there might be a problem with my refridgerator. But oh well. It's cold enough in my apartment that I don't have to worry about it!

I have to make it until the end of November before I turn my heat on!!! Otherwise, no one gets Christmas presents. :-(

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

The best news EVER.

I know, I know... two days in a row for blogging is a bit much. But I have some INCREDIBLY exciting news.

Not only have I never seen a live NFL game, but I don't even get to watch the Giants on TV because they never show their games on the stations here. I don't get cable, so I even missed the MNF game last night.

But, I just wanted to share the most amazing thing that happened today in staff meeting.

I was going over the calendar (which I keep up with for the whole church), and I see that on November 26th, someone has written me as "out." Very odd, since I am the only person who keeps up with the calendar.

I said, "Who wrote this? I'm not going to be out that day."

Mike says, "Yes, you are. It's on the online calendar, too."

I look, and there it is. Plain as day. It says, "Rachel out for the Giants/Titans game in Nashville!!!!!!"

The staff chipped in and bought me two tickets to watch the Giants play when they come to Nashville! I get to see them in real life!!!! They even gave me money for gas to get there and back. I cannot believe it. I am so elated. I work with the world's greatest, nicest, most amazing people! There is absolutely no reason for them to have done something so huge and so kind for me, and yet, they did!!!

The Giants won last night, the performances of Eli, Amani, and Gibril (my team captain) got the win for me in my fantasy league, and now I get to see them play LIVE!!!!

And, I have two tickets...

Monday, October 23, 2006

I need a boyfriend... or a pit bull.

I was looking online for the phone number of my apartment complex, and up popped all these articles on Johnia Berry, the girl who was brutally murdered there almost two years ago (things they don't tell you before you sign your lease).
I knew that it had happened, but didn't know any details. Reading this article was very scary! The most disturbing things about it are the following:
~ The people in the other apartments in the building (there are six apartments in each building) all reported hearing her screaming and knocking on their doors, pleading for help as she was literally dying in the hallway. They could see the blood, hear her screams. No one opened their doors or called the police. No one.
~ She was a girl that reportedly "had no enemies" and was the type of person that could make a bad day good. I always assumed that it was some sort of shady situation with a drug deal gone bad or something like that. Apparently, she was as innocent as they come.
~ The apartment complex distributed flyers saying that it was all a result of domestic violence, and refused to retract the statement even once they knew otherwise.

I suddenly feel very unsafe. I really want to meet my new neighbors and become friends with them, so that if I get stabbed (which is always the way that I die in nightmares, by the way, and thus one of my biggest fears), they will call the police. I miss the boys that used to live downstairs!!! They were so sweet, and I felt so safe with them down there. They would definitely have called the police if I was dying. I'm sure of it.

Monday, October 16, 2006

My messy, messy house.

Have you ever heard someone say that the inside of your house (or room, or car... any space you occupy as your own would probably do) directly reflects the inside of your mind? If not, some people say that the inside of your house directly reflects the inside of your mind. Now you have heard it. And I have been realizing lately just how true this is in my life.
My apartment was immaculate when I first moved in, and remained that way from the time I got unpacked until Jason and I broke up. Then things started going downhill. At first, it was just a jacket and a few extra pairs of shoes by the door. A plate, cup, and fork would rest rinsed in the sink, but not make it to the dishwasher.
As my stress level became higher and higher, my apartment reflected the mess in my head. A jacket turned into a week's worth of clothes on the bathroom floor. An extra pair of shoes evolved into every pair of shoes. A plate, cup, and fork morphed into a pile of dishes that surpassed the walls of the sink and slid crashing to the floor anytime you added another one (or a clumsy cat jumped on the counter).
While I was trying desperately to hold onto control of the situations I was in, my house reflected that barely contained chaos. When I lost control, the whirlwind in my head tore through every room. When I relenquished control to God, the mess began to slowly contain itself in strategically placed corners and closets. Tonight, I clean. And I am excited about the peace of mind that awaits.

Thursday, October 5, 2006

Grocery Shopping.

Have you ever had a moment when, all of a sudden, you realize that something you've been doing your entire life is really, truly strange? I had one of these moments yesterday, when I realized that I talk to myself out loud in the grocery store.
It's true! I realized yesterday as I was buying taco supplies for my small group that I was speaking at an audible volume, looking for tomatoes. Not loud enough to disturb the other shoppers, mind you, but loud enough that if someone didn't want to go through the mental process of finding the best value on any given product, they could just stand next to me and copy my answer after I've figured it out. It went something like this. "Okay, now I need tomatoes. Lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, squash... there they are. Tomatoes. Oh. These are organic. Probably better, but more expensive. Hm... where are the other tomatoes? These look good. Is this the best price? Yep. Okay, one tomato. Is that it? No, I still need cheese."
The horrible thing is that I think I have always done this, and I'm not sure that I can stop. Will you still be my friend if I talk to myself in the grocery store?

Friday, September 29, 2006

I went somewhere on a Friday night! Aren't you proud of me?

Tonight I went to see Jeremy Camp. I have to say that I was a little daunted at first by the hoards of high-school kids clad from head to toe in Jesus paraphenalia. Places that seem so counter cultural make me a little uneasy, but anyway, that is another topic for another time.
I wasn't really sure if I liked Jeremy before tonight. I had only heard his first album, which definitely had a bit of a rock edge to it. But it seemed he had gone a little more CCM since then. Don't get mad. I'm not saying CCM is bad. Just refer to the earlier statement about counter cultural situations.
I have to say that first of all, he has a beautiful voice. And he can do the head flippy voice thing. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm really sorry because it is (cover the eyes of your small children here) the sexiest thing in the world. But second of all, he has a beautiful heart. I feel convicted now for writing the sexy comment.
For those of you who do not know, he lost his very young wife to cancer several years ago. Talk about a man who knows what it means to be broken. He spoke a lot tonight about brokenness, and how that state of complete helplessness and dependence opens us up to be used by God. It was really beautiful to hear him say that. As painful as life can be, it is the pain that brings us to a place where we can be honest with God and say, "I have nothing. It's all you." As John Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
Jeremy played a new song tonight that he wasn't even supposed to play. The lyrics are simple, but I found a depth in them that spoke to my spirit in a way that I cannot put into words. I pulled out my journal and scribbled down the chorus.

I know that I've been given more than beyond measure
I come alive when I see beyond my fears
I know that I've been given more than earthly pleasures
I come alive when I'm broken down and giving you control

Here's to hoping that God breaks us all down, empties us of ourselves, and fills us with a yearning to see beyond the fears and things of this world into the beauty that awaits a life given away.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The rich and famous and miserable.

It's so easy to forget that people who are rich and famous are very rarely happy. I'm sure most of you have heard at this point that Terrell Owens (wide receiver for Dallas Cowboys) was hospitalized last night after taking 35 prescription pain killers in a suicide attempt. What misery must consume his mind and his heart. Say a prayer for him. They haven't even released information yet about whether or not he will be okay.

I hope that this will serve as a reminder to me that I should never judge people. I was one of the biggest proponents of kicking T.O. out of Philly because he was a jerk. I just forgot that jerks are jerks for a reason - they're miserable. God save him. And help me not to be so judgmental. Who am I to speak into the lives of people that I know nothing about? I am no better than anyone else (1 Peter 5:5-6, Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 6:14). I never thought that I would have something in common with Terrell Owens, but I understand how he feels right now. I wish I could tell him "the reason for the hope that [I] have" (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

The death of one of my all time best friends.

Well, everyone, I have some very sad news. Many of you know and love Cookie, our little miniature schnauzer. This morning, she passed away after about a week and a half of severe, sudden illness. This dog was truly special. She would play hide and seek with children for hours when we got tired of entertaining them. She did about 40 tricks including things like sneeze, smile, pray, dance, wave goodbye, and whisper. She played Duck Duck Goose (although she did tend to cheat a bit). I would do anything to see her do all of those one last time. Cookie could always tell when a person was sad and would work relentlessly to comfort them, bringing toys and cuddling close. Even people who thought they didn't like dogs were eventually won over by her gentleness and charm. She was the world's perfect dog, and she will be desperately missed.

Monday, July 24, 2006

You are my hiding place...

This book is amazing. If you want to be inspired, read it. Corrie Ten Boom had faith that was unshakable and truly knew the meaning of having joy in all situations. Oh to live a life as dedicated to God and as close to him as she did... how blessed would that existence be?

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and
surround me with songs of deliverance. ~ Psalm 32:7

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Inspiration.

I went to a wedding yesterday, which is no longer an unusual occurrence in my life. But this one was particularly beautiful. The ceremony was nice, the church was pretty. But that's not what I'm talking about.

Dave and Laura are to me the epitome of what God wants from Christians in relationships. Not just with each other (although they have one of the most Godly relationships I've ever seen, and it inspires me to remain happily single - now that's a cool trick that most couples cannot even begin to accomplish). But they also have what the pastor described as the unique gift to bring quality into every relationship that they have, whether with a waitress or with a dear friend. The ceremony was beautiful because the souls of all involved were beautiful. The pastors spoke such beautiful words over the couple, talking about their unique spiritual gifts and the journey that God led them down both separately and then together. I only hope that if God leads me into marriage one day, that my and my husband's relationship will inspire others to seek God more deeply and intimately, as Dave and Laura inspire everyone around them. God truly has glorified himself through their union, and that is what marriage is about.

Congratulations, Dave and Laura. I wish you all the best in life. I know that God will do amazing things through you.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

I'm moving!

I am moving tomorrow!!! I've spent all week painting furniture in my boss's basement. I'm wearing long sleeves at work today because I got black paint all over my arms last night and it will not come off! I have still not packed even remotely close to everything I need to take with me tomorrow.

But as of tomorrow night, I will officially not be bumming off my parents anymore, and I will have my own space less than 10 minutes from work! Goodbye hour long commute of death. Goodbye 14 hour work days because I can't go home in between office work and whatever I have to do that night. Goodbye leaving my house before 7:30 just to make it to work on time. Goodbye extra money and the luxury of buying food whenever I'm hungry. Oh, wait... this is the happy part. Scratch that last. :-)

Everyone come visit me! My new address is:
400 Rhodora Court
Apt. E
Knoxville, TN 37923

Also, everyone should go comment on Amy's site and get her to tell you about our dog Cookie's run in with the bee. It's truly comedy at its best.

Friday, June 9, 2006

Final Support Update.

Dearest Friends and Family,



I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support these past 10 months. Coming on staff at Providence Church has changed me and taught me more than I ever thought possible, and I am so thankful to all of you who have given gifts towards my salary, enabling me to be a part of this ministry.



I have not written in quite some time, partly because of the incredible business of my schedule, and partly because my role here at Providence has been in transition for quite some time now, and I didnt want to reveal any information until everything was finalized.



I am so excited to be able to tell all of you that I have been promoted to the Administrative Assistant position here at Providence, working with all the pastors and staff to help the office run smoothly and with excellence so that we can make, be, and unleash fully devoted followers of Christ.



This means that I now have a salary, and no longer require your financial assistance. Again, I cannot thank all of you enough for your prayers and financial support these past 10 months. I could not have had this amazing opportunity without each of you. Please continue to pray for me as I move into this new role and follow God in the path that I believe he has set before me.



If any of you wish to continue supporting the church and our efforts, or ministry associates who are raising their salaries, please contact me for more information on how to do so.



Also, I wanted to share a praise report with all of you who have been praying diligently for the inmate friend that I mentioned in my last update. He was released from prison in February, and immediately started attending church here at Providence. On March 22nd, he prayed for Christ to come into his life and take control, and he has not looked back since. Please continue to pray for him as he struggles to become the man that God desires him to be.



Thank you for your prayers! Please feel free to contact me anytime. I would love nothing more than to talk with each one of you more about what is going on in your lives.





Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6





Love in Christ,



Rachel Elizabeth Smith

Romans 8:28

Friday, May 26, 2006

Yea!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen...
I am officially out of debt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, credit card debt anyway. Woo-hoo!

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Why you haven't seen me or heard from me and may possibly be wondering if I am still alive...

Hello my friends! Since I have received many "Are you alive?" e-mails, texts, and comments, I thought I would explain my absence as of late. First of all, I was in Charleston last weekend visiting one of my best friends on the whole planet! It was so wonderful to get to visit Brittany (the hyperlink thing isn't working, but she's in my top 8 so check her out there) and spend a bit of time with her. I wish it could have been more!

But anyway, the main reason that you haven't seen me and/or heard from me is because I am currently working 2 part time jobs and a full time job at the church, plus all my normal extra-curricular volunteer stuff. So yeah. I leave my house at 7am and return around 11pm, just in time to wash my face, read for a bit, and fall asleep. I didn't even watch the new Gilmore Girls last night, so you people know that I must be busy and exhausted! By the way, don't spoil it for me because I probably won't have time to watch it until this weekend. So yeah. This is day 3 of 13+ hours at work. Fun times. But yea for my first sizeable paycheck ever!!! :-)

In other news, I go to court tomorrow. Not looking forward to talking in front of a jury about a wreck that ruined my life (at that time) almost 4 years ago. Please pray that it will be over and done with quickly, and that they won't be mean to me when they cross examine me. Jason is taking off work to go with me, so he definitely wins the prize for most supportive person.

Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well! Please e-mail me or message me, so that I can keep in touch with you that way... I can return e-mails on my lunch break! If I normally talk to you on a regular basis and haven't been lately, rest assured that I miss you dearly and can't wait until my schedule slows enough to allow conversations once more. See you then! :-)

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

April 11, 2006.

Okay, I realize that I have not been great about posting blogs lately, but you should all be happy for me, because that means that I've been hanging out with real live people instead of spending my life alone in my room on myspace. Wow. I am such a loser.

So, life is good. I spent all afternoon yesterday at the World's Fair Park, my favorite place in all of Knoxville, and got stripes of sunburn along each arm and leg. Those of you who do not know me well do not fully understand the joys of the way that my body accepts sunshine. But I spent about 4 solid hours reading while feeling the sun on my face and the perfect cool-but-not-too-cold breeze in my hair, so nothing can be better than that. I also met this amazing man named Hillbilly. He's a 45 year old homeless man that refers to himself as a "cardboard technician" and isn't ashamed of the fact that he's spent well over half of his life drunk. It was good to be able to sit and talk with him and hear about his life, and Jason talked to him a lot about God and even asked if we could pray with him at the end. It was a very sweet, beautiful moment to hear that broken, drunk, homeless man thank God for keeping him safe, fed, and clothed. I pray that Hillbilly will wake up before it is too late and realize that God still has a plan for his life.

I finally finished Long Walk to Freedom, which is a major personal accomplishment. I am 99% positive that it has never taken me longer than one week to read a book, and it took me almost one year to read this one. Granted, I read other books along the way, but it feels so wonderful to be done with it! Great book by the way. I totally recommend it. And if you don't have the time, read the last three pages. It won't spoil the story for you because we already know how it ends, and it is my favorite part of the whole book. Nelson Mandela was a man like no other.

In other news, I received the world's largest Easter Bunny as a gift yesterday. His name is Harvey James Stewart. I am entertaining guesses as to the origin of that name.

Well, I have a lot of random thoughts and not much substance, but I wanted to get a post out for the 2.5 of you that actually read my blogs. Please comment so that I feel loved and encouraged to repeat this occurrence. :-)

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Survey (Yeah, I know I'm a dork.)

Somewhere along the way, I decided it was okay to start filling out these stupid survey things... I'm such a huge dork! Really, I just wanted everyone to see #3. :-)

1. EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING? No.

2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP? 3 1/2 months or so.

3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? A dozen red roses delivered to my office yesterday and a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks last night. :-) It was definitely the perfect day.

4. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU DROPPED YOUR CELL? About a million. I should really put his little outfit on to protect him.

5. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKED OUT? Ooh, it's been awhile... I guess since before I hurt my knee! I bench pressed a bar on Sunday, though. :-)

6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON? My car payment and car insurance take over 70f my income.

7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE? A biscuit (not a cookie for you British folk... an actual biscuit like people in America eat for breakfast).

8. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX? Hm... probably smile.

9. ONE FAVORITE SONG? "Hold Me Now" or lots of other songs by Jennifer Knapp... she has made a strong reappearance in my CD player lately.

10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? With my parents. I'm a loser.

11. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED: King's Academy.

12. EVER DATE YOUR BEST FRIEND?: Not yet.

13. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD: Hopefully the one I have now! I think I tutored Biology at UT longer than I've done anything else so far.

14. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?: I'm sure I do inside a board game somewhere.

15. LAST WEDDING ATTENDED?: Hm... I've been to so many! I think the last one was my cousin Katie's.

16. FIRST PERSON YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY: My sister, because she will be home from England on Friday and I more than likely will not win between now and then, seeing as how I'm not going to buy a ticket.

17. LAST TIME YOU ATTENDED CHURCH: I work there, so yesterday.

18. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT: Chick-fil-A

19. BIGGEST LIE YOU HAVE HEARD? Probably something like, "No, I really do care about you." Stupid boys.

20. CAN YOU COOK?: I am very adept at following recipes. :-) I just made a pecan pie the other night, actually!

21. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE?: A pretty blue Honda Accord.

22. BEST KISSER?: I plead the fifth to avoid incriminating myself. But it is definitely the last person that I kissed.

23. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: I teared up last night watching a little boy hug his daddy good night. Gets me everytime!

24. MOST DISLIKED FOOD: Squash.

25. THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF: My heart.

26. THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF: My constant failure to follow God and do what he asks me to do.

27. FAVORITE MOVIE? Hotel Rwanda

28. CAN YOU SING?: People say that I can.

29. LAST CONCERT ATTENDED?: Slow Runner and Scratch Track at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville. Amazing.

30. LAST MOVIE RENTED: Rent, I think.

31. FAVORITE VACATION SPOT?: Anywhere exciting, cultural, and new!

32. DO YOU LIKE CHINESE FOOD?: Love it... both American Chinese food and authentic!

33. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER?: I have a laptop, but I use my parents' desktop quite frequently.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

My Top 8 Survey.

Okay, I never do these surveys, but I was bored and liked this one, so here you go! :-)

My Top 8 Survey:
[PERSON ONE]: Amy

1) How long have you known this person?: My whole life! She is my sister.
2) Where does this person live? Currently out of a backpack all over stinkin' Europe. So not fair.
3) What is this person's initials?: ADS
4) Why is this person in spot 1?: Because she's my favorite person on the whole planet, and my favorite thing in the whole world!
5) Where did you meet?: Probably the hospital in Florida where she was born.
6) How old is this person?: 21
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[PERSON TWO]: Amber
1) Is this person older than 18? Yes.
2) Have you done anything illegal with this person? I seriously doubt it. Maybe speeding. Is Alien Head Gear illegal?
3) What is this person's stereotype: Blonde cheerleader? Even though she claims to be brunette.
4) What song(s) remind you of this person? Anything prior to 1999 or some sappy love song that we used to listen to while crying about Ryan. :-)
5) Do you trust him/her?: Most definitely.
6) How did you meet?: Environmental Science class with Mrs. Fiddler and the leaf project of death. Fun times.
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[PERSON THREE]: Bekah
1) When did you meet this person?: We were roommates together starting our sophomore year at Union. I'm sure we had met before then, but that's when we became friends!
2) Does he/she have any tattoos?: No, which really surprises me as much as she's hung around crazies like me. :-)
3) What school does this person go to?: She graduated from Union.
4) Is this person athletic?: ha ha She bought a baseball cap to wear when she plays sports, so I guess so! :-)
5) What do you like most about this person?: Although she is often slowed down by her commitment to practicality, she is one of the best friends I have ever had in my entire life, and desires to know God and do His will in a way that constantly inspires me.
6) How often do you hang out?: Never. Sad.
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[PERSON FOUR]: Brittany
1) Who is this person's best friend?: Me! And her sister. :-)
2) Why is this person on your Top 8?: Because she is one of my best friends and seeing her smiling face everyday makes me smile, too!
3) When's the last time you saw this person?: Way too long ago. The day after I got off my crutches, whenever that was.
4) Does this person have a crush on anyone?: Why yes, yes she does. :-)
5) If you were to go to Six flags would you take this person?: Forget Six Flags. How about China?
6) How did you meet?: Through her punk boyfriend, Dave, I'm pretty sure.
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[PERSON FIVE:] Jocelyn
1) What is your favorite thing about this person?: She isn't afraid of life and pursues happiness wholeheartedly.
2) What are this person's hobbies?: Dancing!!!
3) Does this person have a 4.0 GPA?: ha ha She's very smart, though!!!
4) What car does this person drive? One that is always broken.
5) How long do you want to stay in touch with this person? ALWAYS!!!
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[PERSON SIX]: DJ

1) Have you seen this person's baby pictures?: No, actually.
2) What is one thing this person taught you?: That I am cool enough to be friends with the popular kids. :-)
3) What is one thing you taught them? I have no idea.
4) How old is this person?: Oooh... 26? 25?
5) Where did you meet?: We went to school together and our bands often played together!!!
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[PERSON SEVEN]: Jason
1) Do you know this person's parents?: I know his mom.
2) What type of clothes does this person wear? Ones that are approximately 4 times too big for him. But he still manages to look cute. :-)
3) Have you been to his/her house? I feel like I practically live there.
4) What's your favorite memory with them?: He's my newest friend out of everyone in my top 8! But we've already made memories that will stay with me forever, and hopefully will continue to make many more. :-)
5) How did you Meet?: ha ha Funny story. In prison.
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[PERSON EIGHT]: Greenwood
1)What is their favorite band? That's a funny question since they are a band!
2)Where does this person work? They are full time musicians, supported by their lovely, hard working wives. :-)
3) What do you like most about this person? They are some of my favorite people in the whole world! Talk about memories. I learned so much about myself and who I am from being with them. They will always hold a priceless place in my heart.
4) When did you meet this person?: My sophomore year at Union.
5 Where is this person right now? Just outside of Baltimore, MD.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Mini Road Trip.

Well, it has been quite awhile since I have posted. It is not because I've had nothing to say. It is because I have had too much to say. I'm basically sick of my emotions and ready to have them surgically removed. That's right. I, the most emotional person in the world, am finally sick of my emotions for possibly the first time in my life. So, that's fun.

Good things have been happening, though. For example, last night I went on a mini road trip to Nashville. It was really nice to be alone for the six hours of driving. I miss being alone. It is one of my favorite things in the world, but I never remember that until I have the chance to be by myself. Praise God for really good CDs, great driving weather, and a gift certificate for gas that enabled me to make the trip in the first place.

First, I went to the outlet malls in Lebanon because I left Knoxville about an hour and a half too early. Yea for springtime clothes! Pretty sure everything I got was either pink or blue. Then, I got lost on the way to Murphy's Loft, where I saw my exciting new friend Jason Cox play with some friends. The music was not something that I typically listen to (a little country for my taste), but they were so talented that I loved it!

Then I proceeded to one of the greatest shows I've been to in a long time! I got to see some of my good friends Scratch Track play, and they did such a phenomenal job! It was really wonderful to see them, and even though I've seen them play a million times, I was incredibly impressed. The band that opened up for them was really good, too. It was like The Postal Service meets Cold Play. Freakin' amazing. Slow Runner.

Well, I've written entirely too much and not said anything. Maybe I'll write again soon. :-) I love you guys!

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Sigh.

Okay, so I'm a heart person, right? For the Myers-Briggs fans in the house, I'm INFP. 100% N, 100% F. Anyone who has known me more than 5 minutes knows that I am completely emotional. So one of the most stressful things in the world for me is when I feel like I can't act on my emotions. I hate trying to force myself to make decisions with my head, because I'm not used to it. I just want to give in sometimes and stop trying so hard. Wow, I feel like I shouldn't even write that. After all, perseverance builds character, and character leads to hope (Romans 5:3-4). Usually, my emotionalism is one of my favorite things about myself. Today I wish I were my sister, a.k.a. crazy-non-emotion-always-use-your-head-over-your-heart-and-I-just-went-to-a-Kanye-West-concert-in-England lady.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

February 16, 2006.

Wow, so today was eventful.

First, Providence was having a blood drive for a lady in our church who is fighting cancer. I went to give blood, and found out that I couldn't because apparently the part of China that I visited last summer has malaria in epidemic proportions, so I can't give until I've been back in the country for at least a year. I hate not being able to help. It made me sad, but I was glad that I at least tried, even though donating blood makes me really sick.

Okay, the second thing that happened is really a lot more exciting. I had dinner with Jason and his family tonight! Yes, the very same Jason that so many of you have kept in your prayers as he has been going through the process of trying to get paroled. He was released today! It was a really neat experience to be a part of such a special night. I was so honored to be included. He has so much potential. I really hope and pray that he succeeds in becoming the man that I believe he can be. Those of you who are praying for him, please continue! :-)

Along those same lines, I haven't heard from Stacy since he has been out. Please pray for him and his wife, too.

Last but not least, shout out to Katie Randall who - as of next Friday - will be Dr. Katie Randall!!! Woo-hoo! I'm so proud of you chica. You kicked pharmacy school's butt. :-) I love you and miss you!

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Valentine's Poll.

Okay, I'm bored and it's snowing and Valentine's Day is coming up soon, so I'm in this serene, romantic, cozy, contented sort of mood. So, I've resorted to redecorating my myspace and living vicariously through the romantic experiences of others. Therefore, I want to know everyone's plans for Valentine's Day! Come on, don't be shy. If you don't have plans for this one, tell me your best past Valentine's story.

By the way, for anyone who cares, I got a Valentine in the mail yesterday! Could be my first one ever from a boy... I can't remember ever getting any others. It made me smile. :-)

Thursday, February 9, 2006

Snow!

The world is a beautiful, wonderful place because I woke up this morning to see a blanket of pure, white, sparkling snow. Thanks to all of you people up North that used your powers of imagination to send it all the way down here, just for me! :-)

Friday, January 27, 2006

Yea! (Again.)

Stacy was granted parole as well! Thank you guys for praying. As I said before, please keep praying for these guys (Stacy and Jason) as they try to get out, get jobs, make good decisions, and succeed in life.

Does anyone read this? I feel like I'm posting to myself. It's cool if I am... just wondering. :-)

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Insights.

Okay, I just finished reading "The Silver Chair" from the Chronicles of Narnia. For those of you who don't know, C.S. Lewis based the stories around a character named Aslan, a lion who represents Jesus. (By the way, my sister is totally meeting C.S. Lewis's niece today. Doesn't that just make you sick with jealousy?) The symbolism throughout the stories is amazing. One part of this book in particular really struck me, and I wanted to share it.

A little girl has gotten into Aslan's country, and is about to make the journey to Narnia. Aslan has given her four signs, rules she is to memorize and follow in order to complete the quest he has given her. This is part of what he says to her:

"...remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them down there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters."

I think the parallel he's drawing here is amazing, but maybe it's only because I've read all but one of the books and by now am thorougly enthralled in Lewis's world. I would be interested to know how you guys take this.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Full Day.

Wow, enough happened today to last me three weeks. I used an entire pack of sticky notes in my planner to make notes of all the things I need to do this week. By the end of the day, I could see a little corner of my calendar. Sweet. I was very productive. Especially considering I'm sick.

Then I had my first official small group Bible study. These girls are amazing. Shout out to Whitney, who is the only one of them in the blog world. We're studying James, and I'm really psyched about that. Oh and a guy came over, asked if we were English teachers, and gave me a copy of his book. Random.

I got the new P.O.D. album. It's great so far.

I got a phone call that pretty much changed my life. In a crappy way.

I watched a documentary distributed by World Vision called "Invisible Children." Please watch it. If you know anything about what has been going on in Sudan over the past couple of decades, you know the pain and devastation that is there. Watch the video, and look at the faces of the heartbreak. You will understand my heart for Africa.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Yes!

Jason was granted parole! Thanks to everyone who has been praying for him... I knew a lot of you would want to be updated as soon as I found out! Please keep praying as he will be released soon and has huge decisions to make about the course of his life. He isn't even 23 yet and has already spent so much of his life locked up. I hope that he will fall in love with God and learn the true meaning of what it is to be free. Pray!

Also, please keep praying for Stacy. We haven't heard the result of his hearing, yet. I know that he and his wife are waiting eagerly and nervously to hear whether or not he gets a second chance. Thanks guys!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Parole Hearing.

Wow, I just typed a whole page and then lost it because my computer is being difficult today. Stupid computer. So here's the gist of things.

I went to a parole hearing last week for a guy named Stacy. While I was there, I saw another guy that I know named Jason. They both were recommended for parole, but here's the deal with that. A recommendation is just a starting point. It takes two weeks for the parole board to vote and make their decision about releasing the inmate in question. So we're in that two week period now, and it's driving me crazy! I can't imagine what these guys must be going through as complete strangers are deciding their immediate futures (and by extension the futures of their families as well!). I sign onto the website at least three times a day to check and see if a decision has been posted, even though we still have at least a week to wait.

I wish you guys could all see the lives of these men. I barely know them, yet I care for them so much that sometimes all I can do is cry for the heartbreak of it all. I long for them to know the joy and peace that come from knowing Jesus and accepting His pure and unfaltering love for us.

Getting to know inmates is probably the best, most useful thing I've ever done in my life. I understand why Christ hung out with the losers: He chose to hang out with society's rejects even when everyone else tried to deny their very existence. Get to know someone different than you. Learn to respect them. It will change your life, your love, and your outlook.

Also, tonight a group from our church is going to check out Celebrate Recovery, an addiction recovery program that has had huge success. I am so excited about it, and I can't wait to see how we can be a part of what God is doing through that.

Monday, January 16, 2006

Down Once More.

You just thought you had heard the last of my comedic "Rachel's on crutches" anecdotes. But never fear! More comedy awaits you.

So I'm at work on Friday by myself (I had to staple 400 copies of the budget to 400 pledge cards that I'd helped make the day before... fun times... no really). I finally finished, so I was walking around locking up and turning out all the lights. Because I was turning out the lights, I didn't see the slight puddle on the floor. My cane hits the puddle and slips directly out from underneath me, causing my bad knee to give out. I landed directly on my knee with full force, and heard something crack. Yuck. Because no one else was in the office, I took full advantage of the opportunity and laid in the floor and cried for about 10 minutes, thereby extending the puddle. So, now I am back on crutches until I can get in to see the doctor again. Yea!

I was sick of the cane before (it's not nearly as fun when you can't decorate it as a candy cane for Christmas), and after two days back on crutches I'm begging for the cane again.

Here's something else: when people see the crutches again, they want to know what happened. When I say that I fell, they all roll their eyes like I did it on purpose or like I'm clumsy and do things like this all the time. The more I deny a predisposition to clumsiness, the more they think I'm lying! :-) Now, those of you who have known me healthy know that I am not clumsy. The last time I fell prior to this was (I think) in front of my entire high-school. ha ha Shout out to Jeremy Phillips who is probably the only person on here who remembers our "In the Jungle" airband. Video tapes were invented to keep people humble if they ever start thinking they aren't losers. :-)

Anyway, as much as I try to amuse myself with the irony of it all, it's getting a little old. I've been on a cane or crutches for over 3 months now. Please pray that I'll start getting better.