Thursday, June 30, 2005

Rain...

You have no idea how absolutely amazing it is to jump on the trampoline in the pouring rain. If you look up at the rain, its like you are flying towards it, and it towards you and its so... I can't even explain it.

I know I have said I love rain before, but I just wanted to make sure that you knew. Only sometimes it ruins plans, like tomorrow if it rains we won't be able to go to the Symphony on the Prairie. And if that happens I will be extremely sad. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone again. Here is a poem about rain -

Rain
Rain is water,
Rain is sky,
Rain looks like clear glass falling from the high,
Sometimes it looks like snow,
Falling softly to the ground,
But then there may be the sprinkle,
Very few it may be,
But still it shall be rain,
When it hits the ground it looks like shattered glass
has fallen,
But softly though,
It falls,
Rain feels like wet warm showers,
But though sometimes it feels like cold,
Freezing water,
Rainbows appear above,
After the rain is gone,
I am sad because of this,
There is no rain,
But rain is my name

Katie Rains

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Sleep

Have you ever been so tired, but you can't go to sleep because you might sleep too long, or because its the middle of the day you might not be tired when it comes time to really be tired? That's how I feel right now.

1 four-hundred freestyle
1 three-hundred IM
1 three-hundred Pull

10 one hundreds freestyle

4 three hundreds pull

10 fifties - your worst stroke
400 IM - all out
10 fifties - all freestyle
400 IM - all out
10 fifties - your best stroke

200 warm down

Now I know that's probably confusing to people who don't swim, but let me explain a couple things. In our outside pool a 100 is 2 lengths of the pool, down and back. In our inside pool a 100 is 4 lengths of the pool down and back, down and back. So if you feel like doing math you could figure out exactly how many lengths we swam. I just don't feel like engaging my brain in something that complicated at the moment. And that's about all for this post.

Monday, June 27, 2005

CPR

Is anyone certified in CPR?
Tonight was in-service; we have it once a week to review our rescuing skills and to go over situations that happened during the week. We have one at 6:30 and then one again at 8 for the people who were on duty. I was the victim in the 6:30 one - it was really fun. I got to jump in and be a passive drowning victim, someone would rescue me and then they would use the backboard to pull me out of the water. At 8, I was one of the rescuers and Michelle, Danny and I did CPR on Jeremy. I'm glad we review it every week because if we didn't I'm sure I would forget what to do in a real emergency.
Quote of the post:
"The formula for water is H2O. Is the formula for an ice cube H2O squared?"
-Lily Tomlin

Saturday, June 25, 2005

I got soul...

Hello - And Goodbye. Just a song and a quote today! luv you all

Song of the Post:
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more song
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on

I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand

Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no

Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out

And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out, yeah.
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out, yeah.
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah.
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on

Quote of the Post:
"No man is condemned for anything he has done: he is condemned for continuing to do wrong" - George McDonald

Friday, June 24, 2005

A Child's Dream

I sit and wonder at my window,
Will the moon show full and bright,
Will my dreams come true,
Will we dance on the moon?
I sit and wonder at my window,
Are you coming to take me away,
Are there places to go for love,
Are there fantasies that come true?
I sit and wonder at my window,
Knowing that some will come,
And some will go to a place,
A place where I can not go.
So the moon so bright,that's fading fast,
Don't be long, I'll see you again.

-Monica Kay Sleeper

I'm falling asleep as I type - today has been really nice and relaxing. I went to practice this morning, read all afternoon, and then babysat this absolutely adorable little boy all evening. Right now I can really feel this mornings practice, I think I must have done something to my shoulder because its kinda painful. Anyway - Goodnight, Sleep tight, Don't let the bed bugs bite...

Goodmorning -

I've started posting every night, and last night didn't end up happening so here I am posting this morning. I am not a morning person, or I didn't used to be. I can stay up all night and not really have a problem, but waking up used to be a major difficulty. Now that I'm on a swim team I've gotten better about it, but I'd still rather be sleeping.

Sorry this is kinda short at the moment, I might update later if I can think of something more insightful to post. I don't have to life-guard today, though I am babysitting from 4:30 - 10:30 tonight, so I'll be here at home. Luv you all! :)

Verses of the Post:
"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My makes its boast in the Lord, let the humble hear it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together!" - Psalm 34:1-3

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Ellie the red-nosed person...

I got burned today, especially my nose! *sigh* I guess that's something that happens when you are at a pool all day and you don't wear any sun-screen. I guess I just figured that my skin was pretty used to the sun by now, but its not, so I won't be doing that again.

You wanna know something awful? I already am planning what I'm going to wear on Sunday. Its the only day of the week that I actually get to dress up for, all the rest of the time I just wear shorts and t-shirts or my bathing-suit, and you really can't wear makeup to the pool - that would just be stupid! I wanna go out to dinner - which means when my dad gets home tonight, I'm going to bug him into taking me out this weekend. :)

Here's the song that's been stuck in my head today:
Its called Mi Morena by Josh Groban -

And so my love
From my window I can see
A beautiful vision
And when the music plays
Your body rises like a bird of grace

Mi morena
I saw you dancing in the rain
Holy water
Shining like a silver flame
Come like a ghost
I will watch you dance alone
Mi morena
You’re the light within my soul

And so my love
The way you’re moving in your dress
To a nylon guitar
On wings of silk and lace
You lift upon the notes and slip away

Mi morena
I saw you dancing in the rain
Holy water
Shining like a silver flame
Come like a ghost
I will watch you dance along
Mi morena
You’re the light within my soul

Take this cross of feathers and bone
Take this heart I’ve carved in stone
In your name

Where the setting sun surrenders to the moon
Mi querida
I wait for you
(Repeat chorus)

Mi morena
Hold your hands out to the night
Be my lover
I will fall into your eyes
Sweet fire of love
For you I’d steal the stars
‘Cause I adore you
O my morena

Quote of the post:
"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to."
-Elvis Presley

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Quote of the post:

"It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company."
Do you guys agree with this quote?

Zachary, Charity, Maria, Tamara and I had a wonderful lunch! Us four girls treated Zach cause his birthday is Thursday. We all got these Strawberry smoothie things and they were really good! It was alot of fun, I wouldn't mind doing that every week! :) Anyway tomorrow I'm swimming from 6:30 to 9:30, working from 10 -1, then I have a break, and I'm working again from 3 - 8. I love my job! :) You people should come see me sometime, I can probably get you in free if you tell me that you are coming, or at least I get a discount. I want to have a swimming party sometime this summer - I'm aiming for July 21. Luv and miss all of you!

Monday, June 20, 2005

Lunch

I'm on the phone with Charity and we're talking about lunch tomorrow! She and Zachary are going to come up after her Drivers Ed. After reading all my comments I figured I'd tell all you people that you should come. Don't feel like you have to come, but it'd be awesome for anyone who wants to. Just call me tomorrow morning around 11. If I'm not there leave a message! ( I sound like an answering machine ) Anyway that's The End!
"On with dance, let joy be unconfined, is my motto; whether there's any dance to dance or any joy to unconfined." -Mark Twain

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Father's Day!

Here's to my Dad!

A father and a dad are not the same:
One can be a dad and not a father,
Or one can be a father and not bother
To earn through love the more endearing name.
Some find fatherhood a bit too tame,
Leaving all the details to the mother,
Or dumping the sweet burden on another
Man with just a passing twinge of shame.
You have been our dad so many years
That you've become the landscape that is home,
The mountain that we look to from afar.
No matter where we go we're not alone,
For you remain within to still our fears
And be the word that tells us who we are.

Anybody want to go out to lunch with me on Tuesday? Applebee's in broadripple is donating 15% of all sales to my swim team! But you have to show a flyer. Anyway if you are interested just call or e-mail me, or just call me or e-mail me just to talk anyway! :) Miss you all!

Friday, June 17, 2005

Life must go on...

So here I am – at home. My summer schedule has started, I’m sore and tired. I still haven’t caught up on sleep, though it’s not like I ever do anyway. Tomorrow I get to sleep in till nine – wow that’s so late. (being sarcastic here) I miss all you ECHO people an awful lot! And last, I’m really having an issue with a certain little green monster. Forgive me – I kinda had to vent. God has been so good to me and I shouldn’t complain. I have wonderful parents, three wonderful pastors, four siblings that aren’t exactly wonderful all the time, but can be. I have tons of friends that love me, and I wonderful of all I have an awesome God who is in total control of my life.

On to bigger and brighter subjects: I bought the “phantom of the opera” soundtrack today. If you haven’t seen that movie, it is beautiful; I only wish I had a voice like Christine, or at least the confidence to hit the extremely high notes. I suggest you watch the movie before you listen to the soundtrack though, because the songs tell part of the story, and you might be really confused if you didn’t see them movie first. Anyway it’s a beautiful movie and soundtrack. If I could get my music to work I’d try to put one of the songs on my blog, but unfortunately I’m not smart enough to do that. :(

Sunday evening the people who went on the first Echo trip have to share. Anybody who wants to come is definitely welcome, service starts at 6pm. I really have “Echo depression” so to see any of you would make me happier! I added a bunch of Echo people to my links, so check them out and if I forgot you, please remind me. Thanks to all the people who took time to comment on my blog - :)

Quote of the Post:
"Sooner or later, you start taking yourself seriously. You know when you need a break. You know when you need a rest. You know what to get worked up about and what to get rid of. And you know when it's time to take care of yourself, for yourself. To do something thatmakes you stronger, faster, more complete. Because you know it's never too late to have a life.And never too late to change one." -NIKE Advertisement

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Back Home Again in Indiana...

The first ECHO team of 2005 got back to Southside 2nd RPC at about 5 pm today. During the last stretch of driving before we got to the church my van – Daniel, Nathan, Luke, Andrew, Haley, Heather, Grace, Charity and I – sang psalms. As we pulled into the church the girls all started crying, I think our crying must have been contagious because by the time everyone was out of the vans all the girls were crying.

ECHO was a blast! I hope I get to go every year I can from now on. But I can’t even try to compare this year and last year. They had their differences, things that were good and things that were not so good, but were both equally awesome!!! :) I already decided before I started writing this that I wasn’t going to give you all the nitty-gritty details, and right now I don’t feel much like giving you an explanation at all, maybe tomorrow when I’m not so tired.

Here’s a song I’ve had in my head for a couple days, Allen got a mix CD from Laura Soma in a care package, and we played it in the car… anyway here’s the lyrics. I would try to put it on my blog, but I can’t figure out how to make the music work at the moment.

Friends Forever by Vitamin C
And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down

These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of the night in June
I didn't know much of love, but it came too soon
And there was me and you, and then it got real blue
Stay at home talkin' on the telephone and
We would get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at our selves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

Chours:
As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
Come whatever
We will still be, friends forever

So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money
When we look back now, will that joke still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

Repeat chours

La, la, la la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there? Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

And if anybody from my ECHO trip is reading this right now, I miss you bunches and bunches already! I wish our trip wasn’t over. I love you all!!! :) Night-night.

Friday, June 10, 2005

Updation

Hello People!
I'm guessing that nobody reads this right now, because all the people who read my blog are here with me on this ECHO trip. Anyway those few people who do read my blog will probably appreciate my updation.
Yesterday after lunch it started raining, for a while we waited in the new shop until the rain wasn't as hard, after a while my group - Grace, Mary R, Zachary, Nanthaniel and I - weeded with Lyndsi. It poured and so by the time we were done we were soaked! :) We got done with work early and some people were using a tarp as a slip-and-slide, but I had a headache so I went and took a shower. After dinner Danny organized a square dance. He had music and we all danced and danced. It was really fun, but by the time we were done we were all really hot and sweaty. I think that should be a tradition that every year we square dance at least once. We all went back to the church and had ice cream, and I called my mom. I miss you mom!!! :)
Today its still raining and so all the interns had to think up jobs for us to do inside, Grace, Haley, Micah and I are cleaning the seed bank. And as were were cleaning off the counters I decided to see if I could hack into the computer - legally! :) Anyway Grace wants a turn on the computer, so I better get off!
I love you all and miss you terribly!

Monday, June 06, 2005

Hello...

ECHO rocks!!!! :)
We've been here since Friday night, and today was the first day of work. In the morning I power washed these trailers, the best part was when I killed a bunch of fire ants with the hose thingy. In the afternoon I worked with Zachary, Bekah, Heather, Beth, Mary R, Mr. Blackwood and two interns, Laura and Rachel. We weeded the area. It was really hot, but Rachel was really nice and turned on the sprinklers for a little while. Tonight we are going to Walmart, I am really excited because we haven't been allowed to get out at the gas stations, and the only place where I bought something was McDonald's. Anyway Mr. Blackwood has been doing devotions in Ephesians, its been really good and this morning we all put our hands up and said to the best of our ability we weren't going to lie today. You can pray for our team that
1) We will all work hard
2) Have good attitudes
3) To be sensible
I love you all and I miss you bunches and bunches!!! :)

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

ECHO

Bright and early tomorrow morning I leave for ECHO. If you want to send us (me) a card, care package, or money ;) the address is......

17430 Durrance Rd
N ft Myers, Florida 33917

Please keep us in your prayers. I don't know if I'll have access to a computer while I'm there, and if I do I will attempt to post! :) So I will leave you with two quotes:

"Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment."
-Robert Benchley

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."
-Sam Ewing

And I would appreciate comments on the post below: