Happy Birthday, Seester!

Happy 26th Birthday, B!

I love you so much

and miss you like crazy.

Wish you were here already.

Tell Mat to treat you like the princess you are! :)

If you would like to know the E! True Hollywood Story on Brandy, refer to last year's birthday post! :P


P.S. Only 48 days until you, Cody, Ash, and I are under the same roof! ;)

Dinner with a Movie Star!

Guys, I actually got to sit down to dinner with a rising star of the film industry last night! She is only here for about a week, and then she is off to New York City to do a little training before heading to LA to work for Universal Studios. Kelsi has been doing some work out of Atlanta (one job in which she appears in a Tyler Perry movie!) and is off to do some great things. Not only is she living out her dream, but she using her talents as her ministry for the Lord! As she told me last night, it is rare that anyone gets to take such a giant leap into this industry. She knows God planned it this way so that she and others couldn't look back at the beginning and say, "Look what Kelsi did all by herself." It is by God's hand that she is having such great opportunities come her way.

I believe, once she gets settled in NYC, that she is going to blog when she can about what is happening around her and what all God is doing through her. I am so excited that I will get to read the first hand account of a friend's rise into my favorite industry! I am also incredibly excited for Kelsi! This is the life she has dreamed of since she was three years old. She never thought something like this could come true for her, but as she is putting everything into God, He is giving her what her heart has always desired. Her story alone will be an inspiration to many I am sure, but it is what she will do with what God lays in front of her that will make the greater impact. She will have amazing opportunities to share her faith and the grace of God with others. I pray that she will take LA by storm and minister to every lost soul she befriends.

Good luck with everything, Kelsi! I will be praying for you every step of the way.

Asterisk.

For the past (almost) two weeks, I have had the sense of forgotten homework looming over me like a cloud. I attribute this feeling to my lack of blog posting. So, here I am righting the wrong and contributing what little I can to the blogosphere.

It seems I have also forgotten the correct way in which to compose myself on here. Would you mind terribly if I just jot down a few ramblings that are bouncing around in my head?* Hey, thanks! You guys are super cool.

1. Today is Day 10 of no soft drinks, meaning Day 10 of headaches. I could have ended the strand of headaches if I had given up caffeine completely, but I did have a Starbucks drink or two.** Besides the headaches, there is no change in how I feel (energy wise or other).*** ...maybe as time progresses.

2. Speaking of things that are no more, Newbie - who was hired sometime in January - has left us. Last Thursday, she spoke with Dr. M just as she arrived to work and Newbie explained to her that she took another job and was starting Monday. She then asked Dr. M if she could go ahead and leave (we had a waiting room full of patients and a full schedule). Dr. M asked her if she could at least work through the end of the following day, seeing as we were going to be pretty busy. Reluctantly, Newbie agreed. Who does that?! Newbie claims her new place of employment would not let her give a two weeks notice, but I highly doubt that. So now, there are two techs working here, covering a three-tech job. We're in the process of looking for a new hire, but no one has applied yet.

This whole situation is just plain wrong. It's infuriating.

3. On the bright side of my current job situation, on May 1st I was given a raise and another week of vacation days to add to what I already had. That day marked 3 full years that I have been employed by Dr. M.

4. I have completed Midnight Sun for what I would say is the 11th time. It is the book of Twilight through Edward's eyes and thoughts. It is by far, my favorite of the series, even though it has not been finished. Every time I read it, I wish desperately that Stephenie Meyer has finished it as a surprise to her readers. Sadly, it always ends the same: abrupt and incomplete. I am still crossing my fingers that it will one day be finished.

5. Oh, goodness! I should have mentioned this first. I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! (Don't worry, there aren't any spoilers in this.) Up until about a month ago, I was decided that I wanted to see the movie before I read it, as I have done with all of the others, but I have already had several key points in the final book spoiled for me and I wasn't going to let that happen anymore. I wanted to find out everything for myself. Guys, seriously. Shock and awe overwhelmed me as I read. You won't believe it until you see/read it! I am so glad I decided to read it before the last installment of the movie series came out! I wish I could say more, but I shall wait until the final movie is released. To be continued...

6. Speaking of the July release of HP7 Part 2, my siblings and I have planned our vacation around this important and historical event!**** I am so ready for July 13th so I can have all of my siblings under one roof for a whole week. I miss them so.

7. I'm sorry, but I have yet another book to talk about: Heaven is for Real. There is no way to convey in written word how much I loved this book. Colton has an amazing story to share. His description of Jesus gave me chills and brought forth tears. I am so excited to have this kind of Heaven, this kind of God, waiting on me. I recommend this book to any breathing person.

8. Before I started this post, I made a rather short list of things to write about and have been striking out each topic as I have finished its rather short paragraph. When I finished the list, another topic popped into my head; I wrote it on the list just so I could mark it off, and have since done it three more times. #obsessivelistmaker

9. I've been pondering on people's reaction to the weather. Every time it rains, patients, coworkers, etc. will makes comments about how "nasty" it is outside. I just don't understand that opinion. I can't help but see the beauty in it when it rains. It really is one of God's prettiest creations to me. I mean, look at the clouds: a deep charcoal mass replenishing the dry earth; water falling from the sky with a purpose; the cooling effect of precipitation; the life sustaining effect on plants; the beauty of lightening that accompanies it; the glorious roar of thunder that follows; the wonderful smell it leaves behind. What is so "nasty" about that?

10. My dreams have recently taken a drastic change. It's not always that there is a love interest in them, but if there is, it is usually the same person, for whatever reason. Lately, though, the love interest in my dreams has changed to a completely (and surprisingly) different person. The only thing I can deduce from this is that "times are-a-changin'"...

---

Inspirational Text #6:
Psalm 144:5-6 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

It's not just our heritage and the oxgoad on our side, we have the almighty God with us. We are his lightning and we are his arrows. We will leave a path of destruction for our Lord.

---

Inspirationl Text #7:
Tonight men, we face our greatest obstacle yet, those who have disgraced us and our father, but they have made a costly mistake, they stepped on our field. So tonight we make them pay, just like the "Judges" we have descended from.

---

This is my favorite from this season so far! Cody's team was going up against the other team from their church. Brilliant text.

Inspiration Text #8:
They may share our name but never have we faced an enemy bigger than this. Tonight, sons, we are without a weakness. They were our brothers but when they chose to oppose us, they chose destruction. Show them no mercy, for you shall recive none.

---

Movies seen in theaters: 26
DvDs bought: 60*****

*Clearly, this is the assumed response: "Of course not, Cassie, jot away."
**Sir Jacqués Paúl explained that weaning myself off of caffeine is far worse than quitting cold turkey, hence the headaches.
***I really want a Mountain Dew.
****Have I already told you all this?
*****I am trying to be more prudent with my money, hence the unchanging number.

The Wonder Years: Third Grade.

I was 8 years old in 1997 when I became a third grader*. Mrs. Scicchitano was the teacher of my class. She always reminded me a little of Mrs. Frizzle, even down to the redness of the hair. I really liked that about her.

For our very first spelling test, our bonus words list included our teacher's last name... that is how I can still remember it today. So yes, Scicchitano** is really her last name.

This is the year Taylor Staten, Ashley Hebert, and I became close friends. We worked on projects together when we could. One in particular was the solar system project. We had decided to make the solar system from styrofoam balls, complete with glitter, of course. I remember when we were in class working on it, we stayed towards the front left corner of the class, separating ourself from the others so they could not see our masterpiece. Also, we sort of used the table that was up there and a couple other objects as a shield. We didn't want our project leaked. We ended up having to work on it outside of the classroom as well. Tay and I went to Ashley's house after school with her one day. Ashley's family had a very long truck... I'm talking three doors on each side and a truck bed. It was exciting to ride in. Anyway, we worked on the project in her bedroom, more specifically, on this rug she had in the floor. When we were finished with the project, there was so much glitter on that rug that there would still be glitter stuck to it today if she still had it. It was nuts.


Third grade is the year you are able to start the SOAR class if you test into it. (I think it was a test that was the deciding factor.) Anyway, it was a "gifted" class we went to once a week. I have been trying to remember the subjects we studied and the things we did in each grade specifically, but I have them jumbled. I will devote a post later on to the things we did in SOAR as a whole. 

I remember one time, Tay and I had some work to make up that we missed while we were in SOAR so we decided to stay in at recess to do it. Mrs. Scicchitano allowed us to stay in without supervision. For some reason, we chose to keep the lights turned off, leaving only the sun to light the room. We sat side by side at a pair of desks that faced the vastness of the room, our backs to the filing cabinets. It was about ten minutes after we started working that we suddenly felt something... a kind of presence behind us, in that small opening between us and the cabinets. Needless to say, we left our work for later and high tailed it out of there.

Once, we were to do a report choosing whichever animal we wanted and stemming from the year before, I chose polar bears. Again. I'm telling you, they were my favorite! (That, along with whales.)

A project that my class partook in was the building of our very own homemade cooler. Dad, of course helped*** me with mine. We had a competition in class to see whose cooler would work best. We were each given a large piece of ice, put it in our cooler, and waited. Mine was one of the last ones to melt, though I think one or two kids had me beat. But still, I was proud of the cooler my dad made. He is a genius.****

The rest of my memories are turning fuzzy.


Movies seen in theaters: 22
DvDs bought: 60

*This is the year we learned that "-er" means "one who" ... "one who third grades"?
**Pronounced shick-uh-tan-o.
***And by "helped" I mean designed and built himself... with MY help. :)
****Um, this whole thing may have taken place in 2nd grade. Either way, it happened.

J. Cody Smartt, Sons of Shamgar

I have been slacking with my brudder's texts. Here are two that I have yet to post.

I am so proud of my brother, and not just because of the spectacular way he uses the English language to psyche up his cleat-cladded brethren for another victory. He is just an amazing man (HA. "man") with a huge heart. You should be his friend.


Inspirational Text #4:

Judges 3:28-29 “for the LORD has given your enemy, into your hands.” So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. At that time they struck down ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one man escaped.

No matter the number or the strength The LORD has called the Sons and we will answer. We shall flow a river forth to thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be.
-jcs, Sons of Shamgar

(a Boondock Saints reference? YES, PLEASE.)


Inspirational Text #5:
Psalm 144:1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.

Through Shamgar we have been forged by the Lord. Sharpened for battle and hardened for war, tonight the enemy must fall and we will take back what is ours.
-jcs, Sons of Shamgar

(such poetry.)


Movies seen in theaters: 20
DvDs bought: 60

Second-deadliest twister day in U.S. history.

My overview of that night.

After work Wednesday, the weather was starting to look pretty grim again and I wasn't up for being home alone in Ringgold, so I went to my sister's house in East Ridge. Luckily, her boyfriend came over as well... I imagine Ash would have been much more frantic than she already was if he wasn't there. We were able to watch the news for about 20 minutes before the power shut off. We hunted down candles, lighters, and two tiny flashlights.

We were on our phones trying to stay updated with the forecast (and also reassuring my mom and others again and again that we were okay). At one point, the rain was pouring, hail was falling, and the wind was whistling. We huddled in Ashley's closet for around 15 minutes, until it calmed down outside. When we emerged from the cramped space, it was barely sprinkling outside. We heard a bunch of commotion down the street so we went out to rubberneck. A tree had fallen on one of the houses but as far as we could tell, no one had been hurt. A different neighbor had a tree partially fallen over, but it didn't cause too much damage. Another house had shingles that were pulled off. Ash's next door neighbor had a tree in their backyard that fell into the yard of the neighbor on their other side. It was uprooted!

You can't really tell from the picture, but there was a huge, gaping hole underneath. It was crazy.

We stayed outside in our front yard for a while. We let our phones charge in our cars while we waited until the next spurt of bad weather. It was the way we knew what was going on elsewhere.

At about 8:45, I believe, is when we got more of the unforgiving weather. There was constant lightening and we didn't know it at the time, but this was around the time of the Ringgold tornado. We spent a while in the bathtub for good measure. It was uncomfortable, but better safe than sorry.

The rest of the night was spent without power and in the dim lighting of candle light. The weather didn't get any more out of control than a constant rain and significantly less wind pressure than before. We were able to fall asleep around midnight.

Ringgold Tornado.

My house is in Ringgold, closer to Fort Oglethorpe than the heart of Ringgold, so we were blessed and didn't have any damage; our power never even turned off. It is so sad and heart breaking to have something like this happen so close to my home.

The monstrous EF4 tornado, with winds estimated between 175-190 mph, destroyed many homes and businesses. There were many deaths and many who were injured, not only in Ringgold, but all over the south. According the the Chattanooga Times Free Press, "a total of 342 have died in seven states. Alabama was the hardest hit with 250 deaths... making it the second-deadliest twister day in U.S. history." Luckily, parts of Tennessee will be getting government funding to help with repair, losses, and such.

If you click here, the Facebook page of the Chattanooga Times Free Press has tons of devastating pictures from the aftermath of the storms and tornadoes. Photographer Greg Beasley does as well; more, even. And, Wikipedia does a pretty good job with details from all of the tornadoes that happened. Here is some information on how to help if you would like to. My church is getting together and planning on ways to help with the relief. I am sure many of the churches around here are doing so if you would like to check with them. There are so many things you can help with.

Praying for the helping hand of God in every situation caused by these storms.
Praying a peace over the victims, for they will be taken care of.
Praying that this disaster will bring lost souls, who are looking for help and answers, to Christ.
Praying that Christian brothers and sisters come together as one to show the love of Christ through giving, serving, and loving.

The end is here.

I haven't been to sleep yet so technically, its still April 30th to my body. With that being said, it's the last day of BEDA!

If you've managed to stay with me through the whole thing, congratulations... you have won:
1. My gratitude, for your loyalty.
2. My apologies, for your suffering.
3. My astonishment, for your perseverance.
4. And a hug. A cyber hug. (wrap your arms around your body and squeeze... you're welcome ;)

Having no internet at home is seriously cutting into my ability to produce a normal post. Sorry for the rubbish and inconvenience.