I look like a blowfish!

This is me, believe it or not! Gosh, I look like a blowfish...but, due to that fact that I have enough self-confidence to overcome this horifying event in my life, I am not afraid to post this picture. So, it's been a little over a month since I last blogged....(this thing is so over-rated!)...so, besides getting my teeth yanked from my mouth and vommiting constantly for 3 days, (sorry for the mental picture!) here's a quick wrap-up:

We finished up cantata season for wavaires which is sorta bitter sweet, although we get to do some of it in New Yrok and for graduation. I finally got to see one of Paige and Andrea's gymnastics meets in Cbus. It seems like I've done a lot of shopping lately as well. We had our big family get together for Easter (and when I say big, we're talking like 100-120 pple when everyone shows up!) at my grandparents church. Been to a couple card parties...those are always fun. Attempted to watch a lot of movies, in which I have stayed awake for 0% of them! I've recieved some exciting information from Anderson University, and my mom got me a nice hoodie when she was over there this past week for a meeting..(thanks, mom!)

We went to OMEA State Choir Contest last night, and all the choirs recieved 1's or Superior Ratings.. we did not make history, however, like we did last yr, but we still all did awesome and we all got 1's in the end, which is what matters! So, 5 more plaques will be added to the shrine on Monday in the Choir Room.

I've come to realization that my socail life is going to revolve around choir and other Wavaires related activities until June 12th! (my life is consumed by this)... We have choir-o-rama coming up in 3 weeks and we are way behind on that. Then, we have New York City chortly following. Other than that, prom is right around the corner and I'm really lookinh forward to it, although we don't have all our plans so far, but you know, we have a week! Anyway...i think that's about it, so Marissa, now you can't yell at me or call me a traitor anymore!

~*My NeW PiErCiNg:)

Check out my new piercing! Ok, it's not THAT devious, but it was something new and fun, so I thought "what the heck!"... I got the doubles done on Sat afternoon at the Dayton Mall. As you can see in the picture, they're still a little puffy and swollen, but it'll go away soon! Other than getting my ears pierced, I got an amazing purse...it's so cute and pretty original...love it! And then, a pretty big surprise, Matthew came here this weekend, and I ended up getting to spend some pretty quality fun time w/ him...as always a blast. And I met his two extremely awesome friends, Seth and Charissa. Needless to say, it was a pretty awesome weekend, although I need sleep b/c I lost a bunches of it....(yes Matty, it's your fault for staying here SO late!) .....anyway....good times! Rock on.....lata!*

So, wow!!! It's been a bit of a while. A lot has happened since the last post, so here's a short summary b/c i really don't feel like spending time to write a post, but you at least get a pic, so don't complain! Anyway....here's a few highlights: We've had a few cantatas for wavaires, we went to district contest and all the choirs recieved ones. I've hung out w/ the two b-e-a-utiful ladies above which included movie nights, going to richmond and troy, and just being dumb! (Marissa...this pic is a pay back for all the pics you post of my when I look stupid...now the tables are turned!) I went bowling with the "crew" which included the usual plus some newbies....it's always good to see new faces though...no complaints! I had my wavaire auditions yesterday(dance) and today(singing and sightreading!)...i think it went well! I aced my Chem and Trig tests last week. I spoke and did a mini sermon at church last Sunday. So basically, school's good, friend's are good, God is good, and life's good!!! Other than that, there's not much to say...oh except that my brother started driving a week and a half ago...pray for our family!!! God bless!:)  

Here come the brides, all dressed in white. Where can you find stylish wedding gowns other than, you know it, Goodwill in Troy, Ohio. I mean, those sleeves on the dress to the right, wow-sers!!! Those are incredible...not to mention the b-e-a-utiful ruffles in suz' dress! We are definitely wearing these when we get married...we'll be the hottest brides ever!:) 

To this day, Troy, Ohio has the greatest Goodwill store in the entire universe. I mean, seriously...where else can you get cool outfits similar to the one i am wearing above. Wow!!! Talk about amazing! 

HUESTON WOODS SR. HIGH RETREAT!!!!!!!!!

This is us! Yeppers...we all took off Sat. morning to head to Hueston Woods state park for our Sr. High Youth Spiritual Retreat! It was loads of fun and some things really hit home for me that I've never thought about before. It really challenged me to dig into God's word and really have an understanding for WHY I believe WHAT I believe. Alex and I led the music for the worship services. It was really fun. I've never really actually LED worship before, so it was really neat just to see how God worked and everything! I think it went pretty well, all things considered! Other than sessions and playing music, we went hiking, swam A LOT, exercised a bit, and just hung out while talking, playing games, and EATING!!! Oh, and did I mention EATING!!! haha...it was quite an amazing weekend!!! I'm really kinda excited becaus eI'm pretty sure that I'm going to be going back again to Hueston Woods this weekend for the JH retreat. Jon wants me to lead some worship their too, but it starts friday and I can't make it there til Sat. b/c of work and some wavaire stuff, but hopfeully everything will work out with that! Pray for that though! Hmm...other than that, I had an incredible weekend just spending time with my God and falling more in love with Him!!!!:)

Huston Woods or bust!!! Yeppers....this was the hiking crew!!! Sat. afternoon the six of us went out on a hike. It was pretty crazy! Anyway...in the back(L to R) are Aimee, Katie, and Kip. In the front are Alex, Matt and Me! We had quite the fun time....although my hair was soaked from swimming right beforehand, so my hair completely froze....it was a trip trying to thaw it out, lemme tell ya!  

I absolutely love all of these girls!!! This was my cabin for our church retreat this weekend and they were by far the coolest gals ever! From left to right: Me, Kirstin(we're related, can you tell?), Andrea, Katie(she's the "face"...she didn't go, but was supposed to and was going to be in our cabin), Bethany, Brittany and Julie. Not pictured here was our cabin leader, Charlene. She's such an amazing individual!!! Wow...we had tons of fun!:) JUMP!!!!!** 

Bridal Shows and Tic Tac Toe...(b/c it's the only word i could figure out how to rhyme w/ "shows"

Woah!!! It's been FOREVER!!! So anyway... first, an explanation for the picture... I finally got my digital back a few days ago b/c it was broke and had to be sent to colorado to get fixed. This pic plus some others were ones that i took but never got to view b/c that's when the camera broke. So, basically...this pic is from sharnettdales. What is that, you ask? Welp...some pple from gville, pretty much wavaires, dance and model for sharnett bridal and prom, and this is from the bridal show like 3 weeks or so ago. They're pretty fun...but a lot of work and some early mornings!!! Anywho....from Left to Right: Kaci, Kate, Lindsey, and me!.....welp...now that I have that under my belt...
What has gone on in my life?...here's a quick overview: tons of bball games, homeworks, tests, cantatas, wavaire practices, tap dancing, solo and ensemble contest, hanging out w/ the best friends in the whole wide world, youth group, bible study, bridal shows, winning a video iPod(yay!), dr. appt's in dayton, ACT....and I think that's about it!!!....welp...i felt like posting something just to let everyone know that I was alive and breathing...so anyway....don't want to take much time b/c i have much better things to do w/ my day today!!! By the way...it's B-E-A-utiful outside!!! Gotta go get some fresh air...maybe some rollerblading...so tootle loo! Later gators!:)

Ok, so this weekend I went to Dare 2 Share w/ my friends' youth group from Grace Brethren. This thing was INCREDIBLE!!! I don't think I've ever come home from a conference or retreat feeling so challenged and feeling as though God had really opened up and shown me some things that I had never seen before. God is so incredibly amazing. I realized that I need to "lose" myself in God and totally turn my whole entire life over to Him so He can lead me and show me where I need to be headed in my life. I've become a "loser" and totally committed myself to God. I want to "lose" myself and get "lost" in Him and all the wonder and awe. God really opened my eyes this weekend to a lot of opportunities of things that I hadn't seen before. I once was blind, but now I see!!! And that's a totally awesome and incredible feeling!!! Thank you Jesus!!! You're amazing!:) And I even got the opportunity this morning to start on my target for my 48-hour challenge!!! It was amazing as well... I mean, this kid usually isn't even at church and he was there today, so I couldn't help but witness!!! Wow!... And for all the grace people reading this, "Santa stops here, and so does Jesus"... ps- the rest of you just WON'T get it!!!:) haha... All I have to say is that I'm proud to be a LOSER!!! How about you?