Boycotting Chick-fil-A? Seriously?

Ok, so apparently gay people are now boycotting Chick-fil-A because they served their sandwiches at a Christian marriage conference. They’re saying “If you’re eating Chick-fil-A, you’re eating anti-gay.” Come on. You’ve got to be kidding me. First of all, Chick-fil-A serves sandwiches at ALL KINDS of events—from football and basketball games to normal school lunches to all kinds of conferences. They are a business. They want to earn money. Second of all, Chick-fil-A is, and always has been, a company founded on Christian values. They’re closed on Sundays, and they try to put Christian business principles into practice in their stores. So why is it a huge surprise that they’re providing food at a Christian-sponsored event?? And, why is that seen as anti-gay? It’s not like they’re saying, “Oh you’re a lesbian? I’m sorry, you can’t eat here.” Plus, if gay people boycott Chick-fil-A, they are only hurting the workers—some of whom are gay.

And finally—good luck convincing people not to eat there. There’s a reason they have a literal fan club. These people will dress in cow costumes or wear pajamas or camp outside of a new store for 2 days just to get free Chick-fil-A. That’s some serious dedication. Eat Mor Chikin y’all!

My Best Friend

Last night I had a dream that my best friend and I had our very first fight. Now, we’ve been friends since preschool, so this was pretty traumatic. I’m not sure what the fight was about, but there was a lot of yelling and hand-waving and walking away, so I’m sure it was a big deal. An old friend was trying to make peace between us, but we were both so mad that we wouldn’t hear of it. At the end, I dreamed that we completely stopped talking to each other and stopped being friends. It was so real that I had to check Facebook when I woke up to make sure we were actually still friends!!

I was pretty panicked because my favorite thing about our relationship is that we never have drama. Even if we disagree, it’s just not a big deal. I know I can tell her whatever and she’ll be cool with it. I also know I can trust her to tell me what she really thinks, instead of just what she thinks I want to hear. We balance each other out pretty well—I tend to get passionate about whatever it is that we’re talking about, and she’s really laid back. We’re both from big families so we relate on that level too. So basically, this is a friendship made in heaven.

Soo Hannah… You’re amazing. You make me laugh, and you make me think. I love being around you, and I admire your faith. I love you girl! So, don’t ever get in a fight with me ok???? Hahaha.

I want to be a...

Like most people, I wanted to be a lot of different things growing up. When I was 6, I wanted to be a teenager. Specifically, I wanted to be 16 years old. For some reason, I thought that when you were 16 you didn’t have to go to school anymore. I thought you got a license and a car and then spent every day at the mall hanging out with your friends and buying things. (I’m not sure where I thought all this money would come from—but that’s a minor detail right??).

When I got a little older—around 13—I wanted to be a lawyer. I have a very strong sense of justice so I thought this would be the perfect job for me. Later on, I decided that judges have more influence, so I decided I was going to be a Supreme Court Justice. (I mean, if you’re gonna dream, dream big!)

When I was a junior in high school, I decided that I wanted to be a journalist. I decided this mostly because the media controls people’s perception of the world/events around them. With this in mind, I went to college in NY, NY my freshman year. However, while I was there I realized that writing wasn’t worth all the stress that journalists face—at least, not to me.

Another thing I had to consider was the fact that I want kids someday. Kids are the most important investment in a person’s life. For this reason, I didn’t want to have my kids in daycare and school all the time while I was off working for material possessions. So, a full-time career wasn’t really an option for me. I know it’s old fashioned, but when I’m a wife and mother, my main priority will be the well-being of my husband and children. What better way can you spend your time than in serving those you love?

So, I was not going to be working full time. So was I just going to be a wife and mother, or was I going to do something else? I think I’ve finally found the answer to that question. I believe that God has given me a heart for women affected by abortion. Ever since I was young, stories of abortion have broken my heart. It’s not just the death of all those innocent babies that hurts me. My heart breaks for the millions of women who have been lied to, and forced into choices that leave them robbed, broken, scarred, and not allowed to grieve for their lost children because “it’s just a lump of tissue.” These women are forced to bear an enormous load of guilt, shame, despair, and grief in absolute solitude because our society does not care about them, or the children they would have had. If I can show even some of these women the love, joy, forgiveness, peace, and hope that my Jesus has offered them, then I will consider my life a success. So, in order to help me accomplish this goal, I’m planning on switching my major to Behavioral Science, which is basically counseling. I want to eventually work part time as a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center.

Whatever I end up doing with my life, I want to remain open to all of the possibilities God has for me. The way to live life to the fullest is to follow God with everything that you are. May He give me the strength to do that.

My Favorite Animal(s)

Ok, so I don’t really know what to write about tonight. I have loads of homework that I am hoping to ignore into oblivion. That usually doesn’t work too well for me though...

The other day, for some random reason, someone mentioned that their favorite animal was a wolf. This got me thinking, and I realized… I don’t think I have a “favorite animal.” This really bugged me—I’m not sure why. I guess not being able to make a decision frustrates me. Horses are pretty. But everyone likes them.

Dolphins are cute and really smart, and they live in the water, which is awesome.

Eagles can fly, which makes me insanely jealous. But, they also eat dead stuff, which isn’t too appealing.

I like dogs but they aren’t super amazing or anything so I feel like they can’t be my favorite animal either. (Although wolves are my favorite kind of dog. They’re cool in an eerie, majestic kind of way.)

So, since I can’t decide… Here are some other photos of animals I like. If I ever pick a favorite I’ll let you know.

It’s so pretty!

Probably because of the Lion King.

Because they’re so creepy they’re cool.

Because their jellybean-sized babies have to crawl up into their mom's pouch right after they’re born.

Because they are the fastest animal on the planet. They can dive at speeds of over 200 mph, pulling 25 Gs. (A normal human passes out at about 5 Gs. Fighter pilots can handle between 8 and 9 Gs.)

Because they’re so ugly, they’re cute.

Because… awwww, just look at them.

Because it’s just so weird looking.

My Take on the Bachelor

Ok, so I’m watching the Bachelor right now. My family had a birthday thing last night so my mom recorded it. It’s highly entertaining. My mom and my sisters and I watch it every week. We make fun of all the drama and talk to the people on the show like they can hear us. (For example, I just yelled, “Oh yeah THAT’S gonna get you a date!” at this one really obnoxious chick. She’s really full of herself.) One thing that really bugs me about this season is how easily Brad is manipulated by these girls. I mean, when a girl comes to you and whines about all the other girls treating her badly, do you not SEE that she’s trying to make you take her side, and dislike all the other girls? Also, I think Brad likes drama waay too much. I don’t care how cute he is, he’s kind of a sucker. Either that or HE’S the master manipulator. Hmmm,I haven’t thought about that possibility before.

Honestly, who goes on this show to find love? You’re fighting 29 other girls for a minute or two with a guy who has no idea who you are, who may or may not be the kind of guy you really want to date. (And chances are, he’s not.) And because you’re fighting for his attention you let yourself think you love him—after 6 weeks of hanging out in a hot tub drinking while he makes out with you AND everyone else. These poor girls. They’re settling for fighting over one guy because they don’t think they have any other option/chance for finding love.

Random bunny trail—do you ever wonder if arranged marriage would work better than this whole dumb dating mess the world is in? I go back and forth. Most of the time I don’t like the idea. But sometimes I feel like maybe it would be easier to just marry someone (who loves Jesus and has good character) and then figure everything out and get to know each other and all that. Because the commitment’s already been made, so there’s really no pressure, right? You can just have fun with it. Plus… then you don’t have to worry about temptation or being in an inappropriate situation. Just saying….

No Condemnation

I wrote this in my journal during church last Sunday (Oct. 31) and finally got around to typing it up.

“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1

God, I am my own worst critic. I don’t want to accept who I am. I’m constantly trying to be who I think others think I should be. I’m always putting myself down. And putting others down. Jesus, in You I’ve been made new. I am no longer incomplete. You rejoice over me. You accept me. Give me a new spirit God—a spirit of contentment. Let me be satisfied with who You have made me.

No condemnation. None. Not even a rolling of eyes or a smirk. No “she’s an idiot.” Your eyes of love see me differently—they see me as You have made me with Your precious perfect blood. I go through life thinking that You don’t see me as I really am—that You ignore my sin and pretend that I’m good enough. That all the while, underneath, You see what I’ve done and who I really am and You hold it against me.

Who I am is not what I’ve done. That used to be who I was. But You took me out of that and changed me. I don’t have to live as though I’m not good enough. Sure I can, if I choose to. But when I do that, I’m the one who is living a lie. I think that You can’t possibly be right about who I am, so I walk back into my prison cell of negative thoughts and self-condemnation. It’s like the scene in The Last Battle (C.S. Lewis), where the dwarves have convinced themselves that they’re in a stable. In reality they are surrounded by heaven. But they refuse to accept that—and so they’re stuck drinking filthy water and eating dry hay. You’ve given me abundant life. I need You to help me live that.

God, You are worthy. You’re holy. You’re so amazingly good. Your grace is more than enough for all my insufficiencies. When I am weak You are strong. Your love surpasses all the glories and wonders in this world. You are life and peace and joy, and Your Spirit dwells in me. I am fulfilled in You, and only in You. My value is not determined by what I do or even who I am. It is determined by what You think of me, by what You have done for me—by who You have made me. Thank You for that. Your goodness overwhelms me. Let my life be Yours. Don’t let me believe the lies that come from everything but You. May Your will be done in me.

Rambling

I'm a living mishmash of contradictions. I'm the "smart kid"--but I'm always having dumb blonde moments. My life is sorted and organized, everything in its place--and yet it's a full-blown crazy mess. I over-analyze everything--but I don't pick up on hints. I love playing basketball--but I'm out of shape (and when I was in shape I wasn't any good!) I own a cowboy hat and boots, and I know every country song on the radio--but I'm a city girl at heart.

It's really hard to be happy with myself sometimes. I try to see myself like others see me--and I see a dork who's not funny and is awkward to talk to. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not constantly thinking about how I'm not good enough or anything like that. It's more of a subconscious thing; I'll analyze myself without even realizing it. People always tell you to "just be yourself." Well that would be great--if I could figure out who that is!! Maybe I'm way behind everyone else, but most of the time I have problems figuring out where I fit in the "big picture." I know I want to do what God has for me--but what on earth is that?? And should I be dropping everything to figure it out, or am I supposed to sit here until it falls in my lap?

Every day I get a million little influences telling me who--and how--I should be. Some messages are easy to judge--like "don't do drugs" or "don't steal money from work." Some are harder. How should I respond to that arrogant jerk of a customer? Should I say hi to that girl in my class--I think her name's Alexis--or will she think that's weird? What do I say that won't sound stupid? Do I start a debate in lit or do I keep my mouth shut? (Funny how the "don'ts" are easier to judge than the "dos"...) Should I do laundry or homework? Or should I blog? (And side note: why do I even blog? Why should anyone else care about what I have to say? It's arrogant if you think about it.)

I don't know if all the things I'm rambling about are even important. I feel like I'm moving backwards as I get older. Shouldn't I have more answers than questions at this point??

This is why God is God and I'm not. If we were supposed to have it all figured out, then I'd be in big trouble. I guess I'd better just give it all to Him, again... at least until the next time I start trying to find all the answers.