Lydia woke me up at the bright, early time of 8:00 am on a day when I have no class so I could go eat lunch..I mean breakfast (as you can see, the effects of getting up early are still strongly affecting me) with her. So, now that I’m up and dressed, I don’t know that I feel like going back to bed or taking a nap, though I’m sure that’ll come later.

Anyway, my reason for sharing that story is because, as a result of my desire to remain awake, I was surfing cartoons online and I came across several decent ones, but one I’d especially like to share with you all. If you’re not a big fan of Lord of the Rings, that’s okay because though I enjoyed the movies, I don’t obsess over them, but I still found this cartoon amusing.

Check it out >>

I’ve got 6 Gmail invitations available to me, so if you would like a Gmail email account (and you aren’t some random person who found my site on Google), let me know and I’ll hook you up with one.

After staring intently at my computer screen, working on homework for a good hour and a half, Adam showed me this list of Newspaper Headlines from 1999. I decided to share them with you in the hope that they will relieve as much of your stress as they did mine.

1. Include Your Children When Baking Cookies
2. Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Experts Say
3. Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
4. Drunks Get Nine Months in Violin Case
5. Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
6. British Left Waffles on Falkland Islands
7. Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
8. Clinton Wins Budget; More Lies Ahead
9. Plane Too Close to Ground, Crash Probe Told
10. Miners Refuse to Work After Death
11. Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
12. Stolen Painting Found by Tree
13. Two Sisters Reunited after 18 Years in Checkout Counter
14. War Dims Hope for Peace
15. If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last a While
16. Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
17. Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
18. New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
19. Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space
20. Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
21. Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
22. Typhoon Rips through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Earlier this evening, as I was sitting and talking with Lydia in the lobby of the other dorm building, I overheard another student quote from the song, “It Is Well.” It’s pretty powerful tp say “it is well with my soul.” The statement encompasses so much more than just feeling great physically or exercising the mind. Rather, it seems to convey the idea that regardless of what is happening to us, what state we are in, whatever good or hardship we are experiencing, everything is well with our soul because of Christ’s presence in our life.

Philippians 4
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Here are the lyrics to the song, written by Horatio G. Spafford.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

As you might know, these past two summers and a random weekend here and there, to earn money, I have gone to peoples’ homes and offices and done miscellaneous computer work – anything from virus removal to typing to DVD creation and a number of other tasks. Just a few minutes ago, I was bored and checking random people’s away messages and I found the following in Brandon Feil’s profile:

“playing erich for a while… aka im fixing ppls computers”

So…would you like to play Erich today?

…going through the drive-through backward.

– Everyday Sunday, Just a Story

Ever since I heard Just a Story, I wondered who in their right mind would go through a drive-thru backward, why someone would do something so crazy, and what one would accomplish by doing something so, well, backward.

Tonight, Anthony and Scott wanted to get a little bit of food from McDonald’s and I tagged along to get out of here for a little bit. We went through, got our food and began eating in the parking lot. After realizing they forgot to give us one of our burgers, we went up to the window and took care of that matter. Then, when we were about to take off, Scott decided he was still hungry and was going to go through once again. Not thinking he would take me seriously, I randomly commented that it would be amusing if we were to go through backward. So we did. Since I was sitting in the front passenger seat, I did the ordering and paying. … While the three of us got a good laugh out of the ordeal, the lady at the window and the guy car behind us (or, rather, in front of us) really didn’t seem to think much of it.

Now, having gone through the drive-thru backward, I guess that makes me someone who’s not in my right mind. I still don’t know why I wanted to go through it backward – I guess for a laugh, to do something different. And as far as what we accomplished…really, nothing. But, everyone says laughter is good for your health, so maybe I’ll live a few hours longer.

Anyway, I’m a little over a week into the second quarter of my sophomore year now. Lydia and I are dating now and I’m planning on driving her home this weekend so I can meet her family and all that fun stuff.

And now that you know the important (juicy) details (and those that aren’t so important) of what’s new in my life, I’m getting pretty sleepy. I’m thinking a shower and going to bed sound good.

Around Thanksgiving, it is common practice for people to contemplate and discuss those things for which they are thankful. As my family ate dinner this afternoon, my dad narrowed the scope of the topic by asking the question, “What are you thankful for that you weren’t thankful for last year?” This question brought new meaning to those things for which I’m thankful because it creates a basis for comparison. Rather than simply listing things for which I’ve always been thankful, it forced me to think of what God has done in my life over the past year, of those things for which I can give Him thanks this year that I couldn’t in the past.

I know it seems cliche, but I’m thankful in an even greater way than in past years for God’s work in my life. It’s tough to put a finger on precisely everything that God has revealed to me in the past year, but as I grow older, I can see His hand in my life in stronger and stronger ways.

I’m thankful for my family more so than in previous years. I’ve done a lot of thinking the past few days and weeks come to realize that I really have it easy, as far as my family goes. While we aren’t perfect, we don’t have any major problems causing constant dissension among us. We may argue now and then, but I know my parents and my brother and sister all love me. I’m thankful for the way my parents support me in my endeavors – whether with regards to school, computers / work, girls, or just life in general they’re always there to point me in the right direction.

I’m grateful for the friendships I have formed and cultivated this year. While I’ve always been thankful for friends at school and at home, having known each of my friends for a greater length of time allows us to have closer relationships, deeper discussions, and more good memories together.

Some of the friends I am most thankful for are Adam, Anthony, Ryan, and Lydia. While I knew Adam last year, rooming with him this year has allowed me to do a lot more with him, get to know him even better, and learn a lot from him. Even though Scott seems to have this notion that any two roommates will have disagreements now and then, Adam and I get along extremely well. Ryan, since he lives on campus this year, is around slightly more frequently. He’s provided me with much advice, for which I am indebted to him. Anthony, as a freshman, is one of the new guys this year and he’s been a great neighbor and friend. I’ve enjoyed getting away from school and discussing all sorts of issues with him. Then, there’s Lydia. It’s really hard to put into words all I’m thankful for with regards to her. She’s an amazing woman of God and has been a great friend to me these few months I’ve gotten to know her. I’m thankful that, like some other friends of mine, she’s not afraid to discuss deep issues, things that matter. She goes beyond what’s on the surface and delves into the heart of issues. There’s so much more to say, but I’ll leave it at that for now.

One guy I (intentionally) forgot in that list of friends is Stan. Because we’ve both been busier with school and certain female friends this year, we haven’t had as much time to hang out or even talk. But, I’m thankful that despite time spent apart, we can still hang out as if we’d been hanging out every day for the past six years. Time spent with Stan is always time well spent and I continue to learn and have fun with him.

Last March, I bought a car for $250. This car has taken me 12,000 or more miles and I’m thankful for God’s provision in this regard. Having a car makes working, getting to and from school, and going places with friends significantly easier and I’m thankful not only that God provided me with the car, but did so at minimal cost and repairs.

I guess all I’m thankful for could be summarized by God’s provision – the people God puts in my life and the material things He gives to me for survival and ease of living. In reality, God’s provision is no different than it has been in the past. I’m just seeing it in new and exciting ways and am grateful to Him for each and every one of them.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Source: Abraham Lincoln Online

A few days ago, my brother told me about a humorous flash cartoon entitled The Internet Soap Box. If you’re looking for a good laugh, I recommend that you check it out. For all you who pass around every chain letter that comes your way, it might be a bit sobering, as it makes fun of people who pass on such nonsense.

We had the first significant snowfall of the season today. This morning, I checked the forecast and saw the prospect of snow, but it sounded like it wouldn’t snow much and I didn’t expect it to stick. Instead, quite the opposite happened. Beginning at noon, it snowed for probably ten hours. At about three, Stan and I decided to head out to the Tiger Direct outlet store in Naperville. The combination of the rush hour traffic on the eve of a holiday and the crazy weather with poor visibility, resulting in accidents turned the normally brief 20-30 minute journey into one that lasted at least an hour. We finally got to the store, picked up what we needed, then set out for home. This drive, too, took much longer than it should have. In addition to skidding around briefly on some unplowed streets, we hit heavy traffic driving down Eola because of an accident at Butterfield. Traffic was moving so slowly that we got out of the car twice and had a brief, 2-3 minute snowball fight, without backing up traffic.

After coming home, finding out church was canceled, and eating dinner, I went back to Stan‘s house, where we watched Terminal. It was different – had some funny parts, but didn’t really turn out as expected. I was pleased, though, that it was pretty clean, without much dirty humor. That was nice, for a change.

Saturday night, I was a bit bored and I started experimenting with ideas for a new layout for my web site. I quickly drafted something I liked and have now tweaked it to near-“perfection.” I should get around to making it live before the end of the week-long Thanksgiving break I’m currently enjoying. Check back soon!

Well, I know there’s a lot more going on in my life than I write about…things along the lines of a girl, a new quarter starting Monday, and other stuff I can’t think of right now. Maybe I’ll write more about that later. Or, just ask me and I can tell you.