GLBT? Fine by Me

The homophobia in this town astonishes me.
I can't even.

I'm literally shaking and my heart is pounding thinking about the wonderful people I know that are mistreated just because of their sexual orientation.
THAT IS THEIR BUSINESS
they are still normal human beings.

Actually, they're stronger than I could ever be.
They face adversity every. single. day. And they still shine brighter than the sun.

so shame on you.
shame.


And all 'christians' that persecute the gay community just break my heart.
I thought God taught us to love all people. And not to judge, because that's his job in the end
Do you hate divorcees?
Because from your point of view, saying that being gay is a sin, no one else should be allowed in the church because of the sinful lives we all live. And if you've forgotten, God says that all sins are equal, no one is greater than the other.


“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:1-5




I rest my case.

Wanderlust

wan·der·lust/ˈwändərˌləst/

Noun:

A strong desire to travel

I am passionately consumed by wanderlust.

I have an odd combination of personalities/ persons I identify with.
  The Texan in me loves country music, two-stepping, carport parties
  The city girl in me loves downtown, crowded places, busy bodies
  The indie in me loves Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ray Bans, skinny jeans, Chuck Taylors
  The adventure in me loves camping, s'mores, hiking, repelling, nature

And the adventure is screaming to escape.
To take two weeks and backpack across the country
to drive from the east coast to the west coast
to say 'screw society' and live in the woods.


Graduation trip, maybe?

The Truth

"Women want to be treated like shit. It's just a fact, they're morons. Whether she's a super model, works at a daycare center, ugly, hot, it don't matter. You all look for the guy that pisses you off. The guy you can complain about trying to fix. Want to know the number one complaint I hear about men from women? 'He's too nice.' This is considered a detriment. Show me some girl that can date any guy she wants, 50 bucks says she's with some ass hole. You don't want nice, you want an ass hole... Ever hear of a guy breaking up with a girl because she's too nice?"

I'll admit it, it's true. Why?


But honestly, I think once a girl finds someone they truly love, that changes.
in the mean time, the ass holes will finish first.

But don't worry, the good guy wins in the end.

A Breathing Room for the Spirit

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
-Thomas Merton

The past year I've found perfect release in painting. I surely am not an artist but painting allows me to express what I'm feeling without truly even knowing, myself, what that is. When I have an overwhelming weight on my heart, I paint it out. These are the few pieces I've done that I'm proud enough of to share. They may not be beautiful, but they have so much meaning.
Yes, all are painted on scrap cardboard.

Inspiration: Swim by Jack's Mannequin

Jump.

The color gradient here is my absolute favorite. Each color has a specific meaning, especially the silver and gold highlighting the top and bottom, respectively. 

I was just exploring textures here. Not quite sure what I was even going for

What I'm currently working on (I'm actually letting the blue dry as I'm writing this). I'm really excited to see what it'll turn into. I was so upset last night that I said 'screw the brushes, I'm using my hands' and now I don't think I'll ever paint with a brush again. 

Just something fun I did as part of the decorations for Samantha's bachelorette party.

Christmas for a College Student

I've been counting down the days until I take that journey home to be where my heart lies.

with my family.

My mom asked me the other day "what do you want for Christmas?" and the only thing I thought was, "to be home and surrounded by the people I love the most."


So, what do I want for Christmas?
I want to watch The Christmas Card with my dad on the couch.
I want to bake all day with my mom while listening to Christmastime by Michael W. Smith.
I want to build castles with Ella and see Luke's smile light up when I make a funny face.
I want to spend every night cuddled up with my mom on the couch watching Christmas movies.
I want to wrap everyone's gifts for them while singing along to A Muppet's Christmas Carol.
I want to bake cupcakes with Nicole and laugh over a glass of wine.
I want to hold a candle at church on Christmas Eve and sing until my heart's content.
I want to smell that familiar, indescribable scent of home.
I want to read 10 books because I have nothing better to do.
I want to take trips to Starbucks at midnight with my favorite friends.
I want to stay up all night talking and planning with my best friend.
I want to read by the fire, drinking the best hot chocolate in town
I want to be home.

I don't think I've ever been more ready for a semester to be over.

The Art of Assisting Discovery

"You see, it's not enough to leave school and just desire to succeed in this cold, cruel world because then you simply become a part of it. You must also have the desire to change it."

-Mr. Feeny, Boy Meets World

If one more person asks me "Why would you want to be a teacher"in that ridiculing tone I might just scream. I hope this answers your question;

My first response to this question is always "because it matters!" but what I really mean is "do you really not understand how important teachers are to the world?!". Maybe most people don't have the strength or patience to teach high school Chemistry but it's something that I'm very passionate about. 

1. There's a great need for math and science teachers in the state of Texas 

2. There's an even greater demand for good teachers. Not tenured ones who are just doing the job to get paid. Not gym coaches forced to teach math. Teachers who care whether you learn the material or not. 

3. You would be nowhere without the teachers in your life. I wouldn't be a Chemistry major if I didn't have an amazing Chemistry teacher in high school. Other than family, I believe teachers have the most influence in our lives. 

Since I was 6-years-old I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I've always known where I'd end up. For a while I let everyone discourage me from teaching, with arguments of low pay and a dysfunctional system. But I realized that money will never make me happier than doing what I love, and I can manage on whatever God gives me. I don't have to be making millions, I just want to touch lives. 

I want my class to be the one that students look forward to going to each day. I want to make the learning environment comfortable in order to maximize the absorption of material. I want to inspire students who wouldn't normally have an affinity towards math/science. I want them to actually want to learn instead of just doing everything possible 'to get that A.' 

So the next time you look down on me for choosing to be a teacher instead of working for a big company, just know that you wouldn't be anywhere without someone like me.

“Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.” 

Jacques Barzun 

Today, Today is Awesome

Today is a good day.

Today, you rock.

Give today a chance. Maybe you overslept, didn't finish your homework, are having a horrid hair day and are sick. But don't hold that against today, you haven't given him a chance yet. He'll bring you a shining moment in lab or cross your path with a chivalrous fellow. Next thing you know you'll be skipping to your car and singing along with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. 

Maybe you'll bring sunshine to someone else's day because today shined on you. 

Remember that the next time you wake up on the wrong side of the bed.