simple why do bad things happen?

Sorry I am two days late on I Am Second Mondays.

But I promise to do better.

Last week I made a commitment to start blogging about my group and to be nicer to my roommate.

I was successful at this, to the point that me and my roommate actually went to dinner twice this past week. I left her 3 sticky notes saying that I hope she had an amazing day and that classes went well and fast. One day she had a test the next day and I sent her some encouragement on hoping that she did well on her exam.

This week that I had made the commitment to blog about this Monday and to share it to one of my friends whom I thought that this video corresponded best to. This girl is one of my really good friends. I'm not going to say her name but I hope that this video gives her encouragement for this month. I have lost touch with her ever since coming to college, and I also hope that we will starting talking once again. I miss her. 

Monday, we watched the video about Bethany Hamilton. Little did I know that "Soul Surfer" was based off of her true story. She had her arm bitten off (is that correct grammar?) by a shark while she was surfing one day. She talks about her struggles with understanding why this happened to her and why God "chose" her to have this done to her. This lady has to be the strongest person I know because she put her faith in God and accepted her fate. She even starting surfing again! Of course this had to be a struggle for her because she had only one arm, but she was determined not to let this one unfortunate moment in her life to keep her from her passion, surfing. She has accomplished so much in her life all because she didn't let life get her down. She just put her faith in God. Sometimes we may not understand why God does what he does, but he always has a purpose for it. We need to always look at the positive side of life, and not at the negative. This is so much easier said than done, but we should always strive to do so.

This is a story out of the 9th chapter of John. It explains how if we do put our faith in God, he can heal us in so many ways, other than just physical.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam." So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" Some claimed that he was.

Others said, "No, he only looks like him."

But he himself insisted, "I am the man."

"How then were your eyes opened?" they asked.

He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

"Where is this man?" they asked him.

"I don't know," he said.

The man was then taken before a council of religious leaders where they questioned him about his healing. However, because they could not accept his testimony that his healing was of God and that Jesus was from God, they threw the man out of the synagogue.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

"Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."

Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

John 9:1-12, 35-41

I think I may go watch some Soul Surfer now.

Have a great rest of the week!

simple sales&softball

This past Thursday I was asked to help out with yearbook ad sales. These two hilarious ladies, Aerika and Haley needed a ride and some tips on how selling business ads.

So after picking up Haley from her house at around 11:30ish, we made our way to Mount Airy to pick up Aerika from volunteering at the hospital, and went towards 89, their territory, to attempt to make some money for the yearbook next year.

We started at a pawn shop, then just went from there. We traveled up and down 89 in an attempt to sale. Unfortunately they sold one but had two more businesses to promise that they would purchase an ad.

their first sale.

 

The day was a day of success. These two ladies sold their first ad, had their first experience in selling ads, which I personally think they learned alot, from what to say exactly and how to say it with confidence, and had an amazing time riding around in Mount Airy.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

After dropping Haley off back at her house, Aerika and I continued the day with just hanging out at her house, going to get my nails polished, and riding all over Pilot showcasing her dancing skills.

Later on that day, say around 7, I got to practice my favorite sport with this tight-knit group of girls.

All in all it was a fabulous day of laughter, fun, and memory making. I am so thankful that God has brought these people into my life. They are all amazing in their own little ways and I'm so thankful for each of them.

simple intros.

This would be my first time blogging ever.

I love to talk, about anything, so why not write it all down?

 Let me just start by introducing a few amazing people in my life.

senior night. please excuse the hair.

Mother and Father.

They are awesome beyond words. They love everyone and everything and will always lend a helping hand no matter what. They have taught me so many life lessons. Of course they do know how to embarrass me, but whose parents doesn't do that.

right after we won states.

Brother.

Oh where do I even begin on him. He knows how to make me laugh, whether I'm happy or not. He is the best big brother anyone can ask for. He was actually the one that influenced me to my college choice of UNC-Charlotte; he is an alumni from there. He is so supportive of everything I do and tries his best to always be there for me, anytime, anyday.

Da bestie.

Aerika aerika aerika. This girl is just simply amazing, I love her to the moon and back. She is hilarious and never fails to crack me up on a daily basis. We have gotten rather close this year. We do everything together, from hanging out at civic, to just riding around and showing off her "dancing skills". We know how to have an awesome time together. I will miss her so much next year, but she knows that I will be back to visit. She even jokes around and says that I will be attending the University of Aerika.  

Ashley Smith.

Oh my word I love this girl to death. We did everything together during softball and came up with our own pre-game hang out. We always had the craziest "dates" whenever we hung out. One day I believe we drove everywhere possible, but we had the most fun ever. Like I told her after we won states, I love her to death and I will miss her beyond words next year.

Emily and Jessie.

These two lovely ladies are like my sisters. We have been together since middle school, even though we all separated to different high schools. I love them beyond words and I don't know who I would be without these ladies. Yes, it is difficult being able to get together as a group with them, but when we do we know how to have a good time and we always ending laughing until our cheeks hurt. 

 Like I said I love to talk, hence the semi-long introductions, but I just had to show you a piece of my amazing life and all the people that are involved.