Homework
by Jack Pretlutsky
============
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you
away in the sink.
If only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You're giving me fits.
I'd rather take baths
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework
my teacher assigns.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You're last on my list.
I simply can't see
why you even exist.
If you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Knots
Things have changed so much recently. I have a box of letters in my room. These letters are those important things that I've received that I never want to lose. I re-read them every once in a while. Some of them make me laugh and smile, while others make me tear up. Some make me laugh and cry. All of these letters represent a significant time in my life. All of the letters are from people who have changed my life and changed who I am. There are letters from Chris, Paige, Valerie, Michael, and a few others in there. There's one from myself in there.
Chris has been my constant support through pretty much every hard thing that's happened to me since 7th grade. When my dad and step mom first said they were getting a divorce, he was there. He was there when my dad told me he never wanted me and he answered his phone at 1 in the morning when I couldn't sleep because of it. He was there when my insecurities turned into an awful addiction of mine. He was there for me. The letters from him represent the times when I struggled most. The letters from him represent the first person to show an interest in me. I will always keep those letters and emails because they help me when I forget that I'm important.
Paige is my cousin and my best friend. I use the term best friend very lightly most of the time, but with her, it's true. She's the one who knows everything about me and still loves me. She's the one who finishes my sentences and the one who understands what I'm trying to say even when I don't. She gets me, she makes me laugh, and she's always there for me. The letters from her represent friendship in its truest form. She's always there for me and I will always be there for her. She knows every detail about my life, including when I want to meet my future husband, how I want to meet him, where I want to fall in love, where I want him to propose, and how I want to get married. I keep the letters from her because no one knows me like she does, and we all need someone like her in our lives.
Valerie is a girl I met in San Francisco. She was one of the workers at YWAM and she impacted my life in a way she'll never know. I only have one letter from her in my box, but it's quite possibly my favorite to re-read. We had a night up in San Francisco where I turned my life around. I was sitting on one of the couches crying, and Val was the first one to come up to me. She prayed with me and she talked with me and she convinced me that I'm better than I was treating myself. She gave me that letter right before we left San Francisco. She handed it to me and said that she would always be there for me, and she has been. She's there at 2 in the morning when I'm having a rough night and she calls me and prays with me even though she lives in a different state and even though I might never get the chance to see her again. I keep her letter because it's a constant reminder of the week my life was changed. I keep her letter because Valerie treats me the way God treats all of us-with unconditional love and patience.
Michael is someone I met in my youth group and I got close with him during the trip to San Francisco. I have quite a few letters from him in my box, and each letter has a completely different motive behind why it was written. I keep these letters because they remind me of trust and forgiveness. Michael was the first person I truly trusted with anything. I keep these letters to remind myself that trusting people is worth it and that forgiving people is worth it. I keep these letters because they tell me alot about myself-my character and my heart. and I always need a reminder of that.
The letter from me was written on the last day of San Francisco. It was mailed to me a couple of months later. The letter talks about change, and after re-reading that letter today, I was inspired to write this blog. I talked in this letter about how much God had changed me that week. I talked about a few other things, but the main theme seemed to be change. God's ability to change people. I keep this letter because I need to be reminded constantly that I can change. I read this letter more than any of the others because this letter is how I continue to change. This letter is what offers me strength through the change because most of the time, it hurts. Most of the time, I don't want things to change.
But God always has a reason for everything. God had a reason for sending the four people mentioned in this blog into my life, just like God had a reason for changing my life around so much in the past year. Sometimes I get so upset about the change that's going on, but right now, I'm grateful. I'm grateful that I'm not the same person I was when this year started. I'm grateful things have changed because it's drawn me closer to God.
I heard this comparison once that I'd like to end this blog with. When we first accept Jesus as our savior, it's as if there is a string from our bodies, straight to God. With each change or hardship that occurs, a knot is tied in the string. Knots are hard to get out and sometimes they'll remain in our string forever. But with each knot tied, the string gets shorter.
When the string gets shorter because of our knots, we move that much closer to God.
Chris has been my constant support through pretty much every hard thing that's happened to me since 7th grade. When my dad and step mom first said they were getting a divorce, he was there. He was there when my dad told me he never wanted me and he answered his phone at 1 in the morning when I couldn't sleep because of it. He was there when my insecurities turned into an awful addiction of mine. He was there for me. The letters from him represent the times when I struggled most. The letters from him represent the first person to show an interest in me. I will always keep those letters and emails because they help me when I forget that I'm important.
Paige is my cousin and my best friend. I use the term best friend very lightly most of the time, but with her, it's true. She's the one who knows everything about me and still loves me. She's the one who finishes my sentences and the one who understands what I'm trying to say even when I don't. She gets me, she makes me laugh, and she's always there for me. The letters from her represent friendship in its truest form. She's always there for me and I will always be there for her. She knows every detail about my life, including when I want to meet my future husband, how I want to meet him, where I want to fall in love, where I want him to propose, and how I want to get married. I keep the letters from her because no one knows me like she does, and we all need someone like her in our lives.
Valerie is a girl I met in San Francisco. She was one of the workers at YWAM and she impacted my life in a way she'll never know. I only have one letter from her in my box, but it's quite possibly my favorite to re-read. We had a night up in San Francisco where I turned my life around. I was sitting on one of the couches crying, and Val was the first one to come up to me. She prayed with me and she talked with me and she convinced me that I'm better than I was treating myself. She gave me that letter right before we left San Francisco. She handed it to me and said that she would always be there for me, and she has been. She's there at 2 in the morning when I'm having a rough night and she calls me and prays with me even though she lives in a different state and even though I might never get the chance to see her again. I keep her letter because it's a constant reminder of the week my life was changed. I keep her letter because Valerie treats me the way God treats all of us-with unconditional love and patience.
Michael is someone I met in my youth group and I got close with him during the trip to San Francisco. I have quite a few letters from him in my box, and each letter has a completely different motive behind why it was written. I keep these letters because they remind me of trust and forgiveness. Michael was the first person I truly trusted with anything. I keep these letters to remind myself that trusting people is worth it and that forgiving people is worth it. I keep these letters because they tell me alot about myself-my character and my heart. and I always need a reminder of that.
The letter from me was written on the last day of San Francisco. It was mailed to me a couple of months later. The letter talks about change, and after re-reading that letter today, I was inspired to write this blog. I talked in this letter about how much God had changed me that week. I talked about a few other things, but the main theme seemed to be change. God's ability to change people. I keep this letter because I need to be reminded constantly that I can change. I read this letter more than any of the others because this letter is how I continue to change. This letter is what offers me strength through the change because most of the time, it hurts. Most of the time, I don't want things to change.
But God always has a reason for everything. God had a reason for sending the four people mentioned in this blog into my life, just like God had a reason for changing my life around so much in the past year. Sometimes I get so upset about the change that's going on, but right now, I'm grateful. I'm grateful that I'm not the same person I was when this year started. I'm grateful things have changed because it's drawn me closer to God.
I heard this comparison once that I'd like to end this blog with. When we first accept Jesus as our savior, it's as if there is a string from our bodies, straight to God. With each change or hardship that occurs, a knot is tied in the string. Knots are hard to get out and sometimes they'll remain in our string forever. But with each knot tied, the string gets shorter.
When the string gets shorter because of our knots, we move that much closer to God.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Ava
The first time I ever worked at a Vacation Bible School was the summer after 5th grade. I had my own little preschool group and I was so excited to finally be able to work with kids. This little girl Ava came in and she was crying, which isn't surprising for 3 or 4 year olds. She sat down with me and I got her talking and after a couple minutes, she had stopped crying. Desiree then called me over to help her with something and the second I stood up and started to leave Ava with our other group leader, she started crying again. So I went to sit with her and she was fine again. She didn't leave my side all week. she was always in my arms or on my lap. I literally could not go to the bathroom all day because she couldn't handle me leaving her. It's been over 4 years since I first met Ava and she will always have a place in my heart. She was the first kid that ever made me feel like I had a calling in children's ministries. I still talk to Ava a lot even though she's not in my class anymore. She's one of the most mature 7 year olds I know and I've loved seeing her grow up these past few years. Her little brother, who was just born when I first met Ava, is now in my sunday school class as well. I've grown to love this family a lot. They're the sweetest family and Ethan and Ava are the perfect kids.
But I found out today that Ava's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last week.
While doing worship, Ava volunteered to pray and after she prayed I couldn't stop crying. Ava asked God to heal her mom from breast cancer because she wanted to see her mom make it through this. She asked God to keep her safe and to help her get better. Then she thanked God for letting everyone come to church today, and said amen. I watched to see if she was upset after praying but instead, she went right back to singing and dancing and praising God. Ava's pretty smart for her age and I know she knows that her mom is very, very sick. She might not know all the details, but she knows that what's happening isn't good. And somehow she can still turn to God and praise him as if nothing ever went wrong. I've mentioned before that I wish everyone had the faith of a child and Ava is the perfect example of why. In her prayer, she never once uttered the word "why". She never questioned God in her prayer or demanded to know why her mom got cancer in the first place. She simply prayed for healing for her mom, and went back to praising God.
We all need faith like that. Faith that stands strong even when bad things happen. Faith that never keeps us from praising God. We're all going to experience hard times and we're all going to struggle. So we can either sit there and yell at God for what he didn't do, or we can take a step back, and praise him for what he is doing and what he has done.
But I found out today that Ava's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last week.
While doing worship, Ava volunteered to pray and after she prayed I couldn't stop crying. Ava asked God to heal her mom from breast cancer because she wanted to see her mom make it through this. She asked God to keep her safe and to help her get better. Then she thanked God for letting everyone come to church today, and said amen. I watched to see if she was upset after praying but instead, she went right back to singing and dancing and praising God. Ava's pretty smart for her age and I know she knows that her mom is very, very sick. She might not know all the details, but she knows that what's happening isn't good. And somehow she can still turn to God and praise him as if nothing ever went wrong. I've mentioned before that I wish everyone had the faith of a child and Ava is the perfect example of why. In her prayer, she never once uttered the word "why". She never questioned God in her prayer or demanded to know why her mom got cancer in the first place. She simply prayed for healing for her mom, and went back to praising God.
We all need faith like that. Faith that stands strong even when bad things happen. Faith that never keeps us from praising God. We're all going to experience hard times and we're all going to struggle. So we can either sit there and yell at God for what he didn't do, or we can take a step back, and praise him for what he is doing and what he has done.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
A heartfelt thanks
I got this challenge when I was in San Francisco from one of the youth leaders. Actually, it wasn't a challenge; it was a homework assignment. Every day I'm supposed to write down 5 things I like about myself. I'm in four honors/AP classes and have about 4 hours of homework every night but this assignment is the hardest assignment I've ever done. There are some nights where it takes me hours to think of 5 simple things. It's the most frustrating assignment I've ever done and it drives me crazy that Jake made me do this. But tomorrow will be 5 months for me and I've never been more excited before. It's been over 3 years and I finally feel so alive. So I guess I should be thanking Jake for giving me the most life changing homework I'll probably ever receive and for being the support I've needed for 5 months. Thanks Jake =]
Old friends =]
It's funny how things happen. I went to a party tonight and got to reconnect with a friend that I haven't spent much time with lately. I wasn't even expecting to talk to her that much because my best friend was there. but she had other obligations to attend to so this other girl and I sat and talked for a while. We talked about boys for most of the time and we talked about the hard things we've gone through and it was really refreshing to have someone to talk to about everything. I haven't had that for a long time. I haven't had fun like that in a long time. Lately everything I've done has been homework or choir stuff and I'm so happy that I got a night without either of those things. I'm also glad that she isn't sick of hearing me talk about certain people yet.
It's funny how all of my friends say that they're always there to listen to me and how I can talk to them about anything even though so few of them ever really listen or care. I think I need to find more friends that actually do care. I need friends like that right now.
-Savannah
"Sometimes, when someone is missing, it feels like the whole world is depopulated."
It's funny how all of my friends say that they're always there to listen to me and how I can talk to them about anything even though so few of them ever really listen or care. I think I need to find more friends that actually do care. I need friends like that right now.
-Savannah
"Sometimes, when someone is missing, it feels like the whole world is depopulated."
Friday, November 6, 2009
Fear
We all have fears of something. Fears of loneliness, rejection, love, inadequacy, tape (maybe this one is just me), loss and so many other things. There's a quote that says courage is simply fear that's said its prayers. I hate when people say things like that but I think this is true. I don't think it's matter of not having fear but it's a matter of not letting the fear run our life.Life is hard, but it's easier if you hand your fears over to God.
There are some things that it is healthy to have a fear of. Like a healthy fear of poisonous spiders, or a healthy fear of jumping off high things without any harnesses or parachutes, or a heathly fear of tape (ok, again, only me). I think letting fear define our life is a good way to fail to be all that we can be. God doesn't want us to sit in our own little bubble, comfortable with our fears. God wants to hold our hand as we confront those fears and attempt to beat them. God wants us out of our comfort zone, serving God despite our fear, and trusting in Him every step of the way to hold our hand.
Because He always will.
-Savannah
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. -1 John 4:18
There are some things that it is healthy to have a fear of. Like a healthy fear of poisonous spiders, or a healthy fear of jumping off high things without any harnesses or parachutes, or a heathly fear of tape (ok, again, only me). I think letting fear define our life is a good way to fail to be all that we can be. God doesn't want us to sit in our own little bubble, comfortable with our fears. God wants to hold our hand as we confront those fears and attempt to beat them. God wants us out of our comfort zone, serving God despite our fear, and trusting in Him every step of the way to hold our hand.
Because He always will.
-Savannah
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. -1 John 4:18
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Waking up the dead
OK I'm feeling a bit more sane now. I think I know what I need to do now. Chris was recently talking to us about growing through the pain instead of just going through the pain. And I haven't been doing that. I've been numbing myself to all of it because I didn't want to feel anything. But I'm going to let God hold my hand now as I wake up the dead and face the things I've tried so hard to forget. I don't want to be numb anymore. And maybe, just maybe, all this pain is better than not feeling anything at all.
-Savannah
-Savannah
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