Recently I have been encouraged.

By a man I barely know and a man I know very well.

I have been challenged to stop hiding.

To let my talents, my personality and my thoughts be noticed.

Therefore, most of the photographs that you have seen on my blogs are mine.

I am just a little worried, I suppose.

I want to be humble, but confident.

I want to be confident, but not prideful.

So bear with me as I attempt to let myself be what I am.

The main reason for this blog is to say I have no other profound thoughts.

Life is good. Very good.

Ben & I are absolutly soaking up the newlywed life.
We have built wonderful relationships here at Sterling.

And we look forward eagerly to the rest of lives.

To our friends elsewhere, we miss you.

Thank you for your support and the challenges you offered us.

I hope we have done the same.

And to clear the air. There are no babies on the way.

Not for a long time as long as I am in control.

And Finally: My Ode to Lauren, my sister:

Oh Lauren,

How can words capture the essence of such a being.

A girl full of spunk.

A girl who hugs tree trunks.

She is like her sister.

Artsy and not a mister.

She takes the most wonderful photos.

Especially of her hott older sister.

She makes it hard to right an poetic ode.

I don't know wheter to rhyme, scream, cry, or kiss a toad.

She is beautiful, witty, intelligient and fun --

Can she really be my relative?

Of course!

Who is could carry such wonderful genes?!?

Oh Lauren,

You are a unique creature.

A special feature.

Oh Lauren,

Oh Lauren.

No longer a creature of captivity

Many times in my life I've tamed wild horses

I've repeated the process countless times

I have the strength & courage to break the free-spirit of a stallion

But I don't know how to tame my own

My spirit burns for experience

It longs for numerously different adventures

It is not easily broken by reigns of comfort

Nor is it domesticated by fences

It has the ability to leap higher than these fences

It's passion to run is not altered by the whips of reality

How can a wild animal be tamed?

How can a firey spirit be calmed?

How can passion & peace co-exist in the heart of a woman?

Should such a spirit be brought to a place of restraint?

Or should it be allowed to roam & run in fields of freedom & liberation?

Political Ponderings

The Election is close

I have chosen my side

I feel it's the right choice

My heart aches for change

A change for the lonely and forgotten

Many people think I am denying my faith by my political choice

How can a Christian believe in such a thing?

I'm not "pro-choice" I explain

I do not believe it is a womans right to have an abortion

I do think that there is a better plan through education & freedom

Then we can find in more rules & restrictions

I am pro-life completely

I want little babies to stay alive

I want war to be an option rarely considered

I want the homeless and the hungry to have resources

I want broken families to be repaired

I want the trees to keep standing

I want the little kittens and gigantic whales to experience their lives to the fullest

I do not just take a political party and fight for it if I don't believe it wholeheartedly

I'm not registered as a Republican or Democrat

I just want to help America in whatever way I can

I want to help America help other countries too

I have a lot of friends who differ from my views

They perhaps tend to be a bit more "conservative"

But they've taught me a lot

And we've given each other different challenges

I like that

I like that we can talk and not argue

I like that we don't have to bash each other

I like that we don't have to be hypocrites

Saying we want change

We must be willing to be the seed of it

Something new and exciting is happening

I sense it, I think

If I became President

I would probably just throw huge Mundies parties in the White House

I already know who my running mate would be

And I know who I'd want in my Cabinet

So, I guess my point is I know where I stand now

It may change

It may not

But I hope that no matter what happens

We stay united in an active plan for many changes

And we participate in these plans

As Derek Webb says

"We'll never have a Savior up on Capital Hill"

So You Want An Adventure?

As a little girl I dreamed of adventure

Either I was a princess in need of a knight to carry me away

Or I was a gypsy

Wandering distant lands

Or I was an Indian girl protecting my tribe

But Never would I expected the adventure I am currently on

I've thought of adventure as traveling the world

Learning different languages

Climbing the highest mountain

Exploring the darkest caves

Experiencing a whole new culture

All these things I would still love and hope to do

But they can't compare to the adventure of marriage

To experience complete transparency is more grand

than seeing the clear beaches of Cozumel

To witness the growth of love is more breathtaking

than standing at the top of Eiffel Tower

To awake each morning remembering your vows is more exciting

than a bull run in the streets of Spain

Although I have only been married 5 months

It has been the most adventorous time in my life

I wish heaven was open for vacations

I'm not even sure where heaven is

I'm not even sure what heaven is

I'm not even sure if is a place

But I just know heaven is good

I could use that kind of good

Don't be mistaken

I am happy

I love life with my husband

I have more than enjoyed the opportunities here in Sterling

But some times have come that have left me begging in the dirt

And with each situation

I am helpless

I take on the responsibility of all my families well-being

I am limited with what I can there

I can only give my body a certain amount of health

Sometimes abnormalities happen

I can only help the loss and lonely to a certain extinct

I cannot be the one that changes their mind

I long for more of God

And a taste of His heaven

Even the slighest scent of His heaven

Could put together the broken pieces of my family

Restore my body to full health

Bring the wandering into His arms

If only heaven was open for vacation

little flowers

I am a flower

A flower of never before seen design

Colors not found in the rainbow

I drink up my thirst -- water of the purest kind

Pouring over me

I bathe in the brightest rays of the brightest sun

I reflect the shine that taints my petals

I stand tall

I brave the coldest winter winds

I do not wither

I do not conform to the dying colors of the dark season

You will find me being what I am

A flower revealing it's magnitude

cute old ladies

So at the coffeeshop the other day I was working when this elderly women came into to get some coffee
I made her a drink and took it to her table
After I left, she spilled her drink
Luckily she wasn't burned, but my heart was hurting for this little old lady whom I now had to make a new drink for.
I gave her some towels to dry the coffee off her pants.
She seemed lonely to me and so I decided to talk with her.
I found out that she has been living with her son but is now going to a retirement home in South Dakota.
She tried to speak of all the fun she will have there, but I think she was just trying to convince herself.
She was lonely.
So we talked more about her life and her family.
We even discovered that we both grew up on goat farms and love to read.
She recommended a magazine to me.
I wished her the best and we parted.
My relationship with her only lasted about thirty minutes, but I am thankful for little experiences like these.
I often think people miss great opportunities to love on people.
People are very focused on "bigger issues" on a global spectrum, like poverty, the envirnoment, slave trades, etc. that they ignore the oppressed, forgotten and poor living right next to them.
Don't get me wrong, I think issues that are on the global spectrum need to be addressed majorly and I plan to help with that, but too many people focus on those things that they miss and even hurt those they cross while they are on their way to what they consider "seeking justice".
I just wish everyone was aware of the opportunities in Sterling, KS just as they are aware of the opportunities in Chicago, IL.

On another note- I am upset with the way Democrats have represented themselves and Obama. I'm a registered Indepedent, but I have done tons of research and keep coming to the conclusion that I want to vote for Obama. But when people misrepresent him, it angers me.
For example:
A group of war protestors went to the Republican National Convention and were picketing outside of the convention. When they started to get a little rowdy, some security tried to prevent them from becoming any more destructive to the Convention. So what do the war protestors do?? They get violent. War protestors. It seems hypocritical to me and quite seriously makes me think that too many people are only jumping on the bandwagon of peace and love without seriously changing who they are.

Well, that's it for now. I have class in about an hour so I'm going to go shower. :)