The World of Lydia

Update of Me :)

2007-08-13T11:18:00.000-04:00

So, I really don't blog that much anymore....for those who read it, but I have some time so I will update everyone. As couple of weeks ago, my grandmother passed away. That was a little rough for me because I just saw her right before she passed away. My grandfather passed away about a year and a half ago. It's weird because things are going to be different without them. I do miss them, but since their passing I believe our family has bonded closer and that is a blessing in the end.

I started taking horsback riding lessons back in April. It's a bit scary, but at the same time I am loving it. I am getting the basics down and soon will be cantering without fear...hopefully.

on top of that, I've been target shooting a lot. I bought a hand gun back in Jan and started to gradually get into target shooting. I've been doing very well with it and hope to maybe enter a competition some day.

Piano playing is going well. I have a lot of gigs and hopefully will have an album done soon. It was started, but never finished. So, in the next couple of months, that will be one of my main focuses.

So starting in Sept. I will have close to 50 students! That is exciting and I love what I do. I hope that my students will continue to grow musically.

For the most part, I' ve starting to realize that this life is so short. I've always said that Time is my enemy and now that I am 25 and a half, I've been trying to focus in spending as much time with my family and friends. That is what matters most to me and sooner than you think, it will be gone. But I've learned to manage my time and come to realize that Time is also a friend when you want it to be.

Tooodles!

How Women Should Encourage the Men in their Lives

2007-01-25T13:35:00.000-05:00

Interesting title, eh? Let me begin with my perspective on today’s dating life. Due to the feminist movement (sorry ladies), men today have become so confused on how to approach a woman. Should they call the girl first? Or should they wait until she makes the first move? Who should pay for the date? Do you go dutch? Should the girl pay? etc., etc.

When I ask the question to my girlfriends "what is your ideal man?" this is what I typically get as a response: “Well, besides being physically attractive, I want a man who will sweep me off my feet and fights the evil dragon for my rescue.” A knight in shining armor! Then I get the puzzling question, “where have all the gallant knights gone?” Women are just as confused as men when it comes to dating, but hopefully we can fix this problem through proper communication.

Over the past year I have dated all types of guys from the typical lawyer to the poor college student. And I've realized that they all have the same thing in common....they want to be the "man" in the relationship. Well what does that mean? This is what I concluded: God created men and women to be equals, but have different roles. Men want to be the leader, hunter, provider, and protector of their family. Women want to be the supporter and nurturer. We as women have decided that we don't need men in our lives. I have seen single mothers support their children and bitterly respond that they don't need a man for support because they can do it all on their own. I totally disagree, especially for the child’s sake.

I am not saying the women cannot be strong leaders. I am a strong woman, leading in many ways, and very opinionated, but I also know when I need to step back and let a man be a man. I recently finished reading a book by Dr. Laura Schesslinger entitled the "Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands". I know, a goofy read for a single gal like me, but I tell you I learned a lot from that book and it's helped me with relationships period.
This is what I concluded:
One --we are all self-centered and having a selfish attitude will make us unhappy. If we wake up in the morning and decide, ok, I am not going to think about my desires, but try to serve other people desires. Having this attitude will make us happier because we are effecting another person positively and contributing to their life.
Two--Men are simple creatures (yes, you guys are). In all the men I know, I've realized they have very simple plans and goals, which means ladies they are very easy to please ;).
Three-- It is easy for a woman to get what she wants when she asks NICELY. One big factor in marriages today is that women have become too controlling and demanding on their husbands. Instead of shouting "why can't you take out the trash when I tell you to?" say sweetly "Honey, you forgot to take out the trash today. I really appreciate it if you could get it done soon." ...then give him a hug and a kiss and the request is done! This stuff really works.

So, where do we go from here? Do you want more manly men in the world ladies? As women we hold the power to make it happen. So step back and encourage our men. Encourage all the men you know, including your father, brother, friend, or significant other. When a guy opens the door for you, thank him. If they don't, just give them an encouraging word stating that you like it when they open they door for you because it makes you feel special. Now if you are one of those women who thinks "I can open the door on my own and I don’t need a man to do it," …well I say stop being so bitter! Take a step back from your desire and let the man do it. You might actually like it ;).

Quick Update

2006-12-21T13:30:00.000-05:00

Hellooooooooo fellow Blog Readers!

I know I haven't posted in awhile. So here is a quick update. So, I joined a gym three months ago and now am all muscle...tee hee hee! I work out everyday :P. I have been working on some original piano compositions and have almost finished recording my demo. I have to give props to my good friends Jake Dougherty and Sara Shade for all the help and hard work on this project. So, once the demo is completed I will let everyone know. Then I will work on a full album. Started a new link group in owings mills and its going great. Also I am now up to 46 students and I know I will get more soon! I just paid off my trip to Germany and will be departing to Europe in the Spring. yipeeee!

God's been good and I am excited to see what the future holds. so Toooooooooodles!

~Lydia

God's Timing

2006-10-01T17:03:00.000-04:00

Why is it so hard to trust in God's timing on things in our lives? Is it because we are mortal and know time is running out so we better make a move on it? According to 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. God is outside of time because He is immortal. He sees the BIG picture on a bigger timelime, while we can only see little. This is where faith and patience comes in. Since we do not know the future, we can only hope and trust God in the things to come.

What things are you waiting on? A career, finishing school, a relationship, buying a house, being healthy, being financially stable, or maybe it just the simple fact that you are going through some type of suffering and waiting for the pain to end.

I think a lot of times we fear that God will not supply our needs because we are not getting them met immediately. But Philippians 4:19 states And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Simply put, focus on your relationship with God and things will come in its timing.

I've been studying the book of Ecclesiates and things really hit me. There is a time and season for everything as it states in Ecclesiates 3. Some seasons are good and some are bad. But then the first part of Ecclesiates 3:11 states He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time... Wow, everything is BEAUTIFUL...even times of tribulations. Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So no matter where we are in life, we must trust in God's timing through prayer, encouragement from other christians, and reading the Bible. Life is not an easy journey and we can never see the whole picture, but God knows what you need at the right time.

Faith without Works

2006-08-17T09:29:00.000-04:00

I've been doing a lot of studying lately on Faith and Works. How much time do we invest in something and when do we let it go to let God take care of it? In James 2:14-26 it talks about faith and deeds: v. 26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." Having faith is not that hard, but we need to put action to it. But can we over do it? When do we get to the point where we are doing all the work and not allowing God to take care of the rest? In a sense that is a lack of faith. Any thoughts on this is appreciated.

Conan the Barbarian Comics

2006-08-03T17:10:00.000-04:00

So, after six years I finally did it. I collected all 275 Conan Comics from the 1970 series! wooo0--hooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Now I will read them in order and it will probably take me about a year to complete that task. ;)

if you don't know who Conan is here is link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_the_Barbarian

My Milkshake brings all the Boys to the Yard

2006-07-06T23:33:00.000-04:00

Sunday afternoon was a beautiful day and a rather hot one too. I began to crave ice cream, which is of no surprise, but this time it was different...I needed it to survive the heat! A friend recommended me to try "TCBY". I ventured into the store, which was rather crowded with other ice cream fanatics. Since I had never been here before, I didn't know what to get, but I was looking at this picture of this milkshake/blizzard that was entitled, "Monster Madness." Wow, bits of oreo cookie, cookie dough, fudge, and yogurt (which was close to ice cream). I didn't see a price on the menu, but I decided to order it anyway, thinking it couldn't be too much. Dairy Queen Blizzards are only $4 and this was very similar. So, I place my order and the lovely lady gave me the small size of Monster Madness and directed me to pay at the next window. As I began to eat this concoction, I realized it wasn't that great, but satisfied my stomach. As I approached to pay, the young man rung me up and guess how much this came too.....$7.10!!!! Not just $7, but . 10 cents too! I gave him all the money I had and I didn't have a dime and the guy said that is was ok, but next time I better make sure I had it. So, what should have Lydia done? Should she have asked for her money back and given back the shake? Or just stand there in shock? What do you think I did? That's right, I stood there in shock. I could have gone to McDonalds and bought seven ice cream cones for this! My stomach began to curl and I didn't even have the appetite to eat it. Never will I venture into TCBY ever again!

The Heart-Ache of Break-ups

2006-06-29T23:33:00.000-04:00

Amy and Johny were madly in love. Everything seemed so perfect in life and nothing could go wrong in their little world. Then one day, Johny calls up Amy to have coffee and since she is thinking that this is just another typical date she has no worries....though Johny has a different plan set in mind. "I don't think we should be together anymore, Amy. It's not you, but me. But I still want to be friends." Amy replies, "sure we can still be friends." Though her heart and thoughts think something differently. Crushed and her dreams shattered, Amy cries all night long praying for the pain in her heart to go away. They were only dating for a week.

You may have been in a similar situation where your heart was torn apart just like Amy or maybe you were a Johny where you decided to break the hopes of another. But why do break-ups hurt so much? Is it the fact that we imagine being with this person for a long time and start planning things in our heads? For instance, I know most girls play the "name game." They will take their first name and their boyfriends last name and put it together and create something like "Mrs. Brenda Lee Darling." Of course we girls would begin to daydream our wedding day and how perfect our dashing husband to be will sweep us off our feet and carry us into the sunset. So, when someone tells us, hey it's a dream and AIN'T gonna happen..what do we do?

I have also realized it doesn't matter how long you've been dating the person, or in my case not even making it to the dating stage , it still hurts. A week, five months, or even a day... a hope and dream is crushed. Can we move on? It's may seem like it's the end of the world and that there is no body else out there that could possibly connect as well, but there answer is always YES! Remember, there are 6 billion people in th world and I can guarantee that you will at least match well with 1,000.

Relationships are a risk and you must be willing to let your heart be set-up for the break-up. It's ok to cry when things don't work out. Never give up on hope, because one day something will happen.....and usually it happens in left field when your not paying attention and get hit in the face with a baseball. But in the end, you still caught it! :)

Dear Friends

2006-06-21T00:42:00.000-04:00

I realize how blessed I am when I am amongst friends. Through the good times and the bad times. We laugh together and we even cry together. A lot has happened to me recently, but I know I can get through it because I have friends who I can always call for help. Just knowing that they are around makes me feel safe and secure. I always appreciate their ear, allowing me to vent about my problems, and just having their company makes my day easier. I could just sit there beside them and say nothing and still be at peace. So, here I am saying thanks to all my friends...you know who you are ;).

Death, the Place of No Return

2006-04-30T09:33:00.000-04:00

This has been a really hectic week for me. For once in my life I had someone close to me die. I always knew this day would come and in my mind, I would rehearse what I would do and how I would act during this time. But it's nothing like actually experiencing it. When you break up with someone, there is always that hope of getting back together or saying good-bye to a friend who is moving across the country, you still have hope in visiting them. Someday you will meet again. How do you say good-bye when you know there is no coming back? But with death, you have one last good-bye and that is it. You do not have the control to see them again no matter how much hope you have of them returning. It makes me realize how short life really is and how we should live each day like there is no tomorrow. What are you living for?

My grandfather led an interesting life and during the viewing, I was able to see a slide show of pictures that laid out his legacy. Pictures of when he was a young boy, then of him getting married, then of him with his children, then the grandkids, which included one of me where he had me on his lap when I was three. We were both smiling away in that picture and seemed so happy in our christmas hats. Sometimes I wish I could just go back to those moments and relive them and forget the sorrow that I have now. But as with any good tale, we need sorrow to remind us of the joy that we have in our journey of life.

Everyone seemed to hold up well during the viewing and funeral. There were no true tears until the very end. My grandfather served our country for a time and was honored by being buried in a veteran sight. All the grandchildren were pallbearers and I didn't realize what was happening until I carried his casket to the chapel at the grave sight. This was my final good-bye. As they honored my grandfather with the playing of "Taps" and giving my grandmother the american flag, the tears began to fall from all around. There will be no more thanksgivings, christmas breakfasts, easter egg hunts, or trips to ocean city with my grandfather. This will be a changing point in my family's life and mine.

Going through this I realize how important family truly is. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and I couldn't ask for anything more. Though sometimes we fight and argue, but in the end, we are truly there for one another.

Lord, thank you for the wonderful blessings I have received in my family. Let me realize that no matter what I am going through, they will always be there to support me no matter what. Amen.

helloooooooooooooooooooooo

2006-04-20T14:09:00.000-04:00

So, I'm alive and well. I will post more later. toooooooooodles! :)

Text Messaging

2006-03-16T12:15:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know it's been awhile since my last post, but I've been really busy with life and enjoying every moment. But I just have to vent and explain my viewpoints about text messaging so bare with me.

Text messaging started to become popular about a year ago for me when I upgraded to a new phone. I admit, I enjoy texting people and receiving text messages, but that is NOT the only way to communicate to people. Have we gotten to the point where we prefer to type messages to someone instead of calling them? Which one do you think is more personable? Obviously talking to someone on the phone would be the appropiate answer.

Here are my problems with text messages. For one, since you are reading a message and not listening to the person, the message could totally be misinterpreted. The message could have a sarcastic remark taken seriously or visa versa. Two, I find that text messaging is a cop out when it comes to certain things. For instance, if you are going to ask a girl out on a date, don't text them....call them. And if you decide to cancel plans especially, they deserve a phone call. Same thing goes for the ladies too.

Now there are some benefits to text messaging such as asking a quick question or letting multiple friends know about events coming up. But don't let it replace a phone call or soon that is all you will do in your relationship with that person. Besides, if you text a lot, your phone bill can add up if your not careful.

I am not against text messaging, but phone calls work much better. Thank you for reading my vent. Toooooodles!

Commitment

2006-02-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

In Link Group last night, my good buddy Sandy and I led a discussion on commitment. Sometimes we don't realize that we are committed to certain things, like maybe a favorite TV show or working out. But when commitment applies to people what do we do? How committed are we to our friends? There is only enough hours in the day to be distributed, so obviously we can't hang around everyone. Now, what about commitment in relationships? When do you pass the "honeymoon" stage and realize that you need to make the decision on if you want to be committed to that person? It would cause you to sacrifice many things, but if you care so much for them, it wouldn't matter. Then why are so many people afraid of commitment? Possibly, it's a risk of opening up to someone and getting hurt. Or it might be one commitment too many for a person to handle.

Psalm 37: 5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

As Christians, our main commitment is to be to follow Christ and serve our church body. But we shouldn't be afraid to take risks with committing to other people because this verse states that HE will help us, as long as we trust Him.

It's Time to Blog Yet Again

2006-01-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

Hellooooooooo my fellow readers. I know it's been awhile, but I have been busy busy busy which deserves an update of many things. So, let's back it up to about Christmas. Well, my parents went away so I spent Christmas with my brother at the Geekhouse. It was totally awesome and a few friends stopped by later. News Years I went to some parties and now it is 2006. Teaching is going suberbly! I have 40 students and getting more each week so I am almost at my goal of 50. Students are all doing quite well despite the rowdy kiddies who never practice.

Link group is swell and growing! It seems one week we will have 50 people then the next week we would have five or so. We've been discussing various topics like fear, hope, prayer, and patience. Plus we have fun afterwards usually ending the night with a nerf gun battle and someone getting shot in the eye. hmmm...maybe that is why they have a warning label on the gun stating NOT to AIM at the FACE...but where's the fun in that ;)?!

In my spare time I have been doing a lot of reading with a book entitled "Truths of the Bible". It's helped me to stay focus on scripture so I can be prepared to answer anyone's questions. I have also been working out harder changing my workout routine...and unfortunately it doesn't include DDR.....soooorrrryyy! I have stayed away from the internet so I can focus on hanging out with peeps and going to coffee shops. I have bonded with many people over the past few weeks and life is good. So, that's all I got to say about that! Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodles!

What's so Funny?

2005-12-23T08:56:00.000-05:00

So, I have realized recently that humor is a big part of my life. I connect with many people through using humor and laugh with others who share my sense of humor. And sometimes people don't understand it. For instance, why is it so funny when someone falls or hurts themselves like this guy. I could watch that video over and over again and still laugh. And it is so weird how we all have a different sense of humor (or don't have one at all....those poor unfortunate souls). For instance, I find "Seinfeld" to be the funniest sitcom ever...and I can't stand "Friends", yet people find that show entertaining (why I don't know....).Though I realize that laughter is truly medicine for the soul. If you ever had a bad day, but just laugh about certain things, it makes you feel better.

Here is a list of some things I recommend to watch to make you laugh more:

"Marx Brothers"
"Three Stooges"
"MXC"
"Family Guy"
"Robot Chicken"
"My Name is Earl"
"The Office" (not the british version....sorry guys....I can't understand a word they are saying)
"HomeStarRunner"
"EbaumsWorld"

And much much more. And if you can't find any of those in the list funny, well, sorry to say, you don't have a good sense of humor. Try to laugh once in awhile in your life or you will become sour as a grape. And we don't need anymore sour grapes in the world. There is a enough already. That is my advice to you.....laugh more ;0). Tooooooooooooooooodles!

Options

2005-11-26T23:24:00.000-05:00

Do you feel that more options are better? For instance, in your leisure time would you rather read a book, watch tv, surf the net, play video games, play a instrument, play a sport, dance or just sit and listen to the radio ? You hear people say that more options are better. You have the freedom to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, barber, computer engineer, salesman, carpenter, policeman...and the list can go on. Or with food, would you like chicken, tacos, pizza, alfredo, rice, pork chops, pancakes, cereal, hamburger, fries and would you like to super size that? Personally, having more options makes it harder and complicated to make decisions. We are always afraid of making poor choices and since we have so many things to choose, we could make many mistakes. Plus, having more options can be distracting. Would you rather play video games or practice the piano? Hmmmm.....I would hate to say it, but I would choose video games. I am not saying that having more options is bad, but I think life was easier when things were more black and white. You usually had only two choices, coke or pepsi, book or radio, teacher or doctor, etc. We didn't know anything else(like having the option of diet coke) and yet we were still happy. Ignorance is bliss :P. Since there are so many options today, it takes longer for us to make decisions. What if something else comes along that is better? But despite all the complications of more options, I am thankful that I have the option to choose so many different things.

It makes me unique ;).

Is Dating a Sin?

2005-11-01T13:38:00.000-05:00

Person 1: "I use to take girls out."
Person 2: "What happen?"
Person 1: "I became a christian."

Ok, so I paraphrased the conversation a bit, but when I heard this, I was rolling on the floor in laughter. Ok, what is wrong with this picture? Do Christians think dating is a sin? Sometimes I think christians do think this. Again, I blame Joshua Harris. Though his books had some good points, but it has become more of a fad than anything. Why did the church cling to this "I Kiss Dating Goodbye" idea? There are other authors out there who wrote books about christian dating. How come we don't hear about them? Personally, I think it has to do with publicity. It was a new idea and has changed christians perpective on dating for the worse. Christian singles talk about it all the time and we are always baffled and confused by what is a date and why aren‘t we seeing this in our christian community?

I have heard some christians say that they never want to be alone with the person they are dating. Well, I hope you have a chauffeur because if you are in a car together, you are alone. Do you think you really can get to know each other on an intimate level with other people always around? I also hear other christians say that they shouldn't touch the person there are with until they are married. That sounds so silly. Then I hear others say I don't want to date anyone unless I will marry them. Well, how will you know you are going to marry them unless you get to know them by dating?

What are we christians afraid of? Shouldn’t we be more of an example to the world and show them how to date in a Godly manner? Or is it that christians are afraid to take the risk? But if we are christians, shouldn’t we have less fear since we know God will take care of us? I think when bad things happen in life and when things get messy, christians tend to think they did something wrong. They wonder if they are out of God's Will. So when a relationship doesn't seem too perfect, we don't pursue it. In reality, relationships are messy, but it' s our commitment to that person and our commitment to Christ that helps us through. Now, I am not saying that you should stay in a relationship if it doesn’t work out or you're not compatible . But sometimes, we never pursue a simple date because we fear that will happen. Dating should be fun and a great way to get to know someone else. Sometimes we go too many steps ahead and when we meet someone for coffee, we think....am I going to marry this person? That can be a scary thought. Shouldn't we stop thinking that far ahead and say wait, I like this person and I would like to get to know them more. We over analyze things too much because we want to be in God’s Will. But God gave us the freedom to choose. It is up to us to decide. We can pray about decisions, but if we don’t set actions to those prayers, we get no where. Sometimes it is easier just to do nothing and sit and wait and hope to find the perfect person. Unfortunately there are no perfect people out there. Sorry to burst your bubble, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

I am all for the dating scene. I think christians can set a good example to the wordly view of dating. We just have to take some risks.

God Never Promised an Easy Life

2005-10-27T10:05:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered what happen to the people Jesus healed? Are they still walking around today? I highly doubt it. So, the man who was healed from blindness, how did he die? Did he become blind again before he died? Or Lazarus for that matter. He had to die again! But did he die peacefully of old age or from an illness?

I was pondering this and realized that bad things happen in life, but that shouldn't be our main focus. As most of you know, I've had my troubles with back surgeries and pain. At times, the pain was so bad that it consume my thoughts and I couldn't think of anything else. It took away my true joy. As Christians we have joy in knowing that we will have eternal peace with Christ. There will BE NO pain or suffering....but endless happiness. That is what we need to hold on to. No matter our troubles or sufferings we are guaranteed to see Jesus in Heaven. The people that Jesus healed were not just physically cured, but spiritually. The focus wasn't on their physical healing, but on the forgivness of their sins. Eventually they suffered and died, but now they have their eternal joy.

Sometimes we forget how short life is. We need to live each day like it is our last. What are you doing in you life to further the Kingdom of Heaven?

Life Moves On

2005-10-10T10:01:00.000-04:00

So, my big brother Luke has finally moved out. I know he is going to a good home at the Geekhouse. I will miss him....but wait, I see him all the time anyways :P.

So, I am finally healed and back to my good old self :). I went to the doctor Friday and she said that we can stop packing...and the next day, it closed up. I am not in any pain, but I always have the slight fear that this may happen again..though my doctor thinks it was a one time thing. But I realized that this happened at the same time of me sharing my testimony. What have a learned from this? It humbled me and made me realize that I am completely nothing without God. It was by His power and strength that got me through my trials. I also know that if anything like this happens again, I can get through it with Him by my side and with the help and support of my family and friends. I am just so thankful:).

Life is good. No matter what each day brings, I always find the good in it and enjoy it. Life is so short and I think we take it for granted at times. So, I signed up for eharmony and convinced others to do it too :P. It should be a fun adventure!!!!! :):):):):):):):) Toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodles!!!!

Trials and Suffering with Support and Thanks

2005-09-22T10:59:00.000-04:00

Where to begin. Last week, I had a big scare. I woke Wednesday morning in blood and I knew what had happened right then and there. I called my mother in a panic and she came home from work right away and took me to the ER. I had another pilonidal cyst rupture! So, the doctor lanced it and put me on antibiotics. Needless to say, I can't sit down yet, but each day is getting better. I have a tiny hole that is about an inch deep. My mother has to pack it full of gauze each day in order to get all the infection out and allow it to close from the inside out.

Ironically enough, this happened just a few days before I was suppose to give my testimony at Horizon Church. I was going to speak about all the past problems that I had due to surgery of a pilonidal cyst and a wound that would not heal. But God totally healed me from that and I have had no problems for two years. This cyst that happen this week is a totally new problem and it's in a new area. I know God took care of me once, I know he will do it again :).

But going through this again I realized many things:

One, we all face trials and suffering in our life.

Two, trials makes us grow stronger. Romans 5:3 “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us --they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

And most importantly, three, you don't have to suffer and face trials alone. This past week, the Horizon Community is been such a blessing. When I first told people about my trip to the hostipal, many people began to pray and told me if I needed anything that they would be there for me...and they were :0). Matthew 25^{: 34-40}"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

I was still able to share my testimony this past Sunday due to the help of many people. I am very grateful and want to give thanks to them :

DaveC.: Thanks for your prayers and for always willing to help me and others in need no matter the cost.

ScottJ.(a.k.a. Scotty2Hotty): Thanks for sharing your testimony and all your encouragement and prayers.

MarkS.: Thanks for all your wisdom and concern.

RebeccaM.: Thanks for stopping by Westminster and getting me some yummy mint and peanut butter ice cream from Stone Cold. You're a great friend.

Tali: Thanks for always listening and for always coming over your home whenever I feel like it. I guess I am kinda like Kramer from Seinfield....in a way.

ChrissyR: Thanks for carrying me on your back the other night after your soccer game. I hope you didn't break anything from it :O!

ShannonS.: Thanks for all your kindness and willingness to keep me company.

JennS.: Thanks for your encouragement and understanding of my sense of humor. I hope my little dance helps brighten your day!

AaronA.: Thanks for all your strength and sarcasm. It gives me a laugh :)!

Lindsay: It's been totally awesome getting to know you and amazing to see how God brought us so close so quickly. I thank you for always encouraging me in many ways and I can't wait to see how God continues to work in your life.

Special Thanks to my home boys, Tronster and Banks:

Tronster: Thank you for coming over and helping me with my testimony. I appreciated it greatly. Also, thanks for the ice cream, picking me up for link group, and much more ;). It's been a blast serving others with you in link group.

Banks: Thanks for all your support including talking with me last Wednesday, taking me home from link group and all your encouragement. I am blessed to have you as a good friend.

To my parents: Thank you for all your support through my illnesses. I know it has been a tough road to travel, but I could not have done it without your loving support.

Luke: Thanks for always being a good brother and friend. You have blessed me with many things, especially with introducing me to the Horizon Community.

To Towson Horizon: Thank you for all the prayers, phone calls, and wonderful flowers. I feel very loved and supported by all of you.

Jesus Christ: Thank you most of all for forgiving my sins and giving me the strength to endure through my trials. I could not live life without You.

My Summer of 2005

2005-08-31T09:55:00.000-04:00

So, summer is coming to an end, but this has been one of the best summers ever. It all began with my ten-day cruise to the bahamas. I got to see so many new places like Cozumel, Mexico and Cococay, but the best part was spending it with my best friend, Sarah, here family, and my parents. We usually take a cruise every year, but probably won't take one this coming year. Maybe if we save enough money, we can take an European cruise in two years....well, at least that is the goal.

Then when I came back, I played at Java Mammas with Aaron, who is just an amazing musician. It was an awesome good time of jammin' and seeing all my friends come out, including Horizonites and even some of my students.

After this, I started leading link group with two wonderful people, Tronster and Banks. It's been so much fun getting to know them better as we dive into the Word and party with a BBQ every Tuesday. God is doing great things and it's awesome to see how he continues to work through us. I then started accountability with another amazing person, Tali. It's great to see how God puts people in your lives at the right time. Thanks Tali for all your advice on many issues and allowing me to be open and transparent with you.

I then went on my first camping trip with Tali, Banks, Scott, Aaron, Darcy & Dave, Tronster, Rebecca and Reichley. It was my first true camping experience ever, but it was fun staying up all night talking, swimming in the creek, tossing a football around, and being able to act as goofy as possible. Rebecca taught me a lot of neat tricks that one must use in the woods...I won't forget them :P!

In July, I played at one of my dear friend's wedding, Justin Ready. Justin and I have been friends since 7th grade at L.C.A. We worked together at my parent's Christian bookstore and it has been awesome to see him grow and meet his wife, Ruth. His wedding was more of a high school reunion. Eight out of the 12 people graduated in our class were there. It was great just to talk and catch up on what everyone has been doing in the past five years. Justin, I pray that God continues to bless you and Ruth as you move forward in your life.

The next thing I did was take a trip to Detroit to see the Dear Friends Concert. I really appreciate my parents who endured the 10 hour drive to and from Detroit. This was one of the best concerts ever and I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. Afterwards, we spent the week at the O.C. with my Dad's side of the family. It's been a tradition to go to the O.C. every year, but this is probably the last for me. My grandparents are getting older and it's hard to keep the family of 20 together. But I will always cherish the memories that I had at the ocean with them.

At the beginning of August, it was back to the O.C. with Luke, Tronster, Banks, SarahLynn, Dan & Alicia, Chad, and Lindsay. This was so much fun because we played in the arcades, sat out on the beach and went to Coldstone almost everynight..hmmmm....that ice cream is delicious. Oh, and I highly recommend mixing mint ice cream with peanut butter. It's the best!

The week after, it was a party at Otakon! It's fun just to come and see everyone dressed up. I didn't watch any anime this year, saw a few movies, but mainly just hanged with my peeps and watched the geeks all dressed up. I was suppose to dress as Sonja Blade, but I ran out of time to make a costume. Though, there is always next year!

Wow, this is just a glimpse of what I did this summer. There were also many pool parties at Mike's, meeting people for coffee like Shannon and Jenn, having girls night with Amber, Rachel, and Meg, and having movie nights at the Reichley's and Scott Jenkin's place. But all and all, it has been a totally awesome time and I hope to have a better summer next year. Toooooooodles for now my happy readers!!!!

Otakon

2005-08-23T09:47:00.000-04:00

So, where do you go to see people dressed up as their favorite anime character and to watch live action martial arts films and buy stuff imported from Japan? The Baltimore Convention Center known as.....OTAKON!!! It was an awesome time to fellowship with others as we adventured through wet and rainy long lines, watched anime music videos, played video games, watched funny and bizarre Japanese films, danced the night away, and oh, yes, and endured the “bog of eternal stench” provided by fellow geeks. But alas, it was a good time and I can't wait until next year to do it all over again.:)

My trip to the OC and then Some

2005-08-17T09:47:00.000-04:00

This weekend was totally awesome! It was great fellowship with friends and there was so much to do in OC. The best part of all was going to the arcade...Luke had his Dragon's Lair, Tronster had his Tron, and Banks & I had Warzaid, which is this totally awesome shooting game where you kill skeleton soldiers....though we made it to the end and used many, many quarters, we weren't able to defeat the final boss. But, next time we will! Also, one thing I love to do in OC is going to the shooting gallery....heeeeeeeee haaaaaaaa! I am not a bad shot if I do say so myself.....:P Also, my dear Lindsey came down and we got photos taken....our best pose was most definitely blue steel ;). Other things we did....we went to the beach, played miniature golf....(Happy Gilmore style), and ate at the Hobbit. This was the first time I actually went to OC with a bunch of friends. I go there every year and it is usually with my family.....of 20 people (and that's just the one side of the family). Out of all my trips to the OC, this was the best. God has truly blessed me with so many people in my life and I am thankful for that.

So, this weekend.......is OTAKON!!!!! wooooo-hoooooo! I can't wait to enjoy the smell...hahaha. Hopefully people remember to take showers this year. Otakon is totally awesome. It's not all just anime, but live action flicks, people in costumes, and karaoke....though it's all in Japanese.

So, that's all for now! TOooooooooooooooooooooooooodles!!!

Back to the Ocean!!!

2005-08-11T08:57:00.000-04:00

Yippeeee!! I am going to Ocean City. I am leaving today with my buddies Tronster, Banks, and Luke. I can't wait to get away and relax by the ocean and hang out with some Horizon peeps. More people are coming down this weekend. It's gonna be a blast! Anywho, so tooooooooodles for now! Teee heeee heee!

Risks and Consequences

2005-08-03T11:32:00.000-04:00

As you well know I went in for a interview for a piano instructor position at McDonogh School. The interview went very well and I was rather excited. I was told I would know in two weeks if I would get the job or not since there were a lot of people who responded to this job position so there were many interviews. During that time I was thinking and praying about what to do and knew this would be a big change for me. Would the job be beneficial for me? As I calculated the pros and cons, I realized that I would be making the same amount of money as I do now even though the job is double what I make now and is only three days a week, but I would lose my flexibility as well as many of my students. So, does God want me to take this job? I thought it made logical sense since I have been hanging out more in the Owings Mills and Towson area and this would put me out there more... but then again, everything God does or wants us to do is not always logically correct. So, as I continued to pray and think upon this offer, I realized that this job wasn't for me. So, I prayed to God that when I do receive the phone call about this job, hopefully they would tell me that I wouldn't get it. Unfortunately, it was just the opposite.

I got the call today and they were very excited to hire me, but I had to turn them down. I could tell there was disappointment and I felt terrible to turn down an opportunity like this. So, I began to wonder if I did the right thing. Did God really want me to take the job or not? Then I realized that God gives each of us the ability to choose. We can take risks or sit around and do nothing. I took a risk and pursued this job realizing that this is not what I wanted. So, why did this opportunity come into my life? I also realize that the journey of taking a risk is beneficial for you. What have I learned through this experience? I now value my students more than ever and feel more motivated to find homeschooled students for during the day. I am going to advertise more and get my name out there to the community.

My advice to you is to take more risks. The risk could be almost anything-- a job, hobby, sport, school, or even a relationship. Realize that things may not work out they way you want it, but you learn so much through the journey of pursuing. Or who knows, taking the risk may work out exactly the way you want it. Just remember that God is always with you know matter what and things will work out they way HE wants it to. Take care my readers and tooooooodles!

I have returned from the Dear Friends Concert!

2005-08-01T09:56:00.000-04:00

Wow, I must say, the Dear Friends Concert was amazing. It was worth the ten hour drive to Detroit, plus the flat tire on the way and the 12 hour drive to Ocean City afterwards:P. Unfortunately, Nobuo Uematsu was not there:(, but I was able to get the conductor, Arnie Roth, and the producer's signature. I don't know what it is about live music, but you truly can't beat it. I knew every single song performed by heart and I could even tell when the orchestra made a mistake...though the audience didn't know;). But listening to a CD is so different than seeing and hearing music performed right in front of you. It proves to me that recorded music will never fully replace live music. That's why there are so many concerts and people playing live at weddings, coffee shops, and lounges. Anyway, it was so neat to see the mixture of people at this concert. Most of them were young people bringing their parents, some were well dressed, but most were not. They all came for one purpose, to listen to the beautiful music of Final Fantasy. This is the first video game music tour in the U.S., and I hope to see others in the future:).

Detroit Here I Come!!!

2005-07-23T00:36:00.000-04:00

So, I am leaving for Detroit in a few hours. I can't wait and will tell everyone about the Final Fantasy Concert. I so hope Nobuo Uematsu is there!:) I guess we shall see. I then will be in ocean city for a few days. So, again, leave a message & I will get back to you. Toooooooodles for now my Peeps!!!!

In God's Time

2005-07-20T10:54:00.000-04:00

So, I must say I have been really busy as of late, but things of been great :). I've been hanging out with Towson peeps, gone camping, watched movies with friends and many other things. Link group is going swell. This has been our fourth week or so and I've met many new people. I can't wait to see what God will do next.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and have had many questions on my mind. For instance, have you ever been searching for something and things make logical sense, but they never turn out the way it logically seems? About two months ago, I was at a crossroads on making some important decisions. It was closing to the summer and I was trying to get more students and alas, I couldn't get any. I kept pursuing avenues such as sending letters to homeschooled groups, handing out my business card to everyone, and spreading the word by mouth. I felt like I was doing everything I could, but nothing was happening. So, I questioned many things....was I in the wrong community? Was I suppose to stay more connected in Westminster than in other areas like Towson? So, I wrestled with many ideas, going to Westminster and Towson link groups determining what would logically make sense. Obviously, since I live and work in Westminster it would make more sense to stay in this area and connect with people locally. But everytime I tried to do it, it never worked out. Huh, weird. So, I prayed and asked God to direct me on where to go and which community to reach out more to, Towson or Westminster. Though it may seem illogical, but reaching more people in the Towson area seemed so right. I may not understand God's will sometimes, but I know that I will always trust in His direction. Now, other things look like they are setting into place. I've been trying desperately to get more students during the day and not a single person has called me and I've been advertising for many months. Unexpectedly, I get a phone call from someone who is trying to hire a piano instructor for McDonogh School. So, I have an interview tomorrow. Wow, I don't know if I will get the job or not, but whatever happens I know that God's will will prevail.

In other news, I am leaving for Detroit this saturday to go to the Dear Friends Concert! YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I can't wait....afterwards, I am going to go to Ocean City so you won't hear or see me for a week (unless I bump into you on the beach). So, toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodles for now my fellow readers!

An Update & the Worst Movie Ever

2005-07-05T09:35:00.000-04:00

So, I guess I will give everyone an update on what's been happening in my life. I've been chillin' this summer since most of my students are away. What have I been doing with my spare time? ....I have no idea. Though it consists of working out, watching movies, practicing the piano for hours & hours, and hanging out with people. One exciting thing that has happened is that I am co-leading a link group with Jonathan & Tronster. It has been a pleasure working with these two wonderful brothers in Christ and I can't wait to see how God is going to continue to use us as we reach out to other people in the community. We meet every Tuesday night @ the Geek House around 7:20pm. It's in a relaxed atmosphere with wonderful food provided by the grill and desserts by yours truly :D(I looooooooooooooooove baking...tee hee hee.)

So, on another note, I watched one of the worst movies ever the other night, Million Dollar Hotel. If you haven't seen it, don't bother. It was a waste of two hours of film. Though Bono did co-write it & Mel Gibson is in it, the plot is absolutely horrible & the acting is very annoying. So, save yourself a few dollars and rent something more entertaining.

So, tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodles for now my fellow readers! Tee hee heeeee!

Don't Leave Things on the Kitchen Table Part 2

2005-06-28T13:28:00.000-04:00

So, I woke up this morning and grabbed my cell phone and entered the kitchen. I placed my cell phone on the kitchen table for a moment and ran downstairs to grab some movies to return to the library:P. As I was doing this, my mother was heading out the door. So, I went about my day, then I realized I didn't have my cell phone. Oh, I know, I left it in the kitchen...but wait.....it's not here....? So, I did the next logical thing & called my cell phone using our home phone. I thought maybe I could here it ringing in the house somewhere. So, I went about seaching aimlessly around listening for my cell phone's ring. But alas, there was none. Hmmm...now I knew I had it this morning.....and I remember laying it on the kitchen table.....Oh no, the dreaded kitchen table! So, I did the next best thing.....I called my mother. Now again, I love my mother dearly, but she can be a hoot sometimes. Apparently she picked up my cell phone & put it in her purse thinking it was her phone though she already had her phone in hand. Good grief. Again, I warn my readers, DO NOT PUT ANYTHING ON THE KITCHEN TABLE!! Toooodles!

Don't leave things on the Kitchen Table.

2005-06-17T08:23:00.000-04:00

Where to begin my story. It all started last week when I met Holly at the library. She had recommended two movies to me, The Happiness of the Katakuris and Noi. Since they were from the free movie section, I figured I would give them a shot. So, I come home late that evening and left the movies on the kitchen table with some old newspapers. Now, I had a busy week and never even had a chance to watch these movies and I decided to take them back on the due date. Well, since things were hectic, I left the movies on the kitchen table all week. And as it is, I live at home with my family, which includes my parents and brother totaling four adults altogether in a house. At the time, the kitchen was a mess and I admit I had been too busy to clean about the house, which left my mother to clean. Let me explain something about my mother. I love her to death, she is the best, BUT when it comes to cleaning, she is the queen of throwing everything away....and I mean everything.

So, I woke up on Monday, remembering that it was due day, which meant I had to make a trip to the library. So, I proceed to the kitchen, thinking that the movies would be there, but alas, they were gone. Hmmm....I pondered a bit. Maybe I had taken them out of the kitchen and placed them somewhere else. I roamed the house aimlessly looking for these movies. But to no avail, I could not find them. Then I got my Dad and my brother involved in the frantic search for these movies. Again, no luck. So, the next logical step would be to ask my mother. She said that she cleaned the kitchen and didn't see any movies. Then it dawned on me, when she said "clean" she meant "throw away." I asked her what happened to the papers on the table? Oh, those went out in the trash....so, where were the movies? On top of the papers. That leaves one assumption, the movies went out with the papers and now belong to the trash man.

After calming down a bit, I was ready to face the consequences. I went to the library and explained to the librarian what happened and that these movies where tossed in the trash accidentally. Unfortunately, I had to pay for them with other fees totaling $60! So, now I am out $60, but I have learned a valuable lesson. For the love of cranky McFirerFly, DON'T LEAVE THINGS ON THE KITCHEN TABLE!!!

Thanks for reading! tooooooooooooooooooodles;)!

I'm back from the high seas!

2005-06-08T09:57:00.000-04:00

Whelp, I am back. I had a wonderful time and I can’t wait to go again. I love traveling & I enjoy the high seas. Actually, I loved it so much that I am going to apply for a job on a cruise ship. Now I wouldn’t be gone for long. Only 4 to 6 months and I would return. I can’t leave my students and friends behind:).

So, this has been my third cruise & it was fantastic. I went with my best friend Sarah, her family which included her brother, parents, and grandmother, and my parents came too. I went to many different places like Freeport, Bahamas; Key West & Port Canaveral, Flordia; Cococay Island; & Cozumel, Mexico. There was so much to do in so little time. Here are some of the highlights that I did: I got to swim in a luxurious pool, play in the casino, go to the gym & spa, have a wonderful five course meal every night (you could order as much as you want since it was all paid for. So I ordered three appetizers, two entrees, & three desserts every night! I know, I am a glutton:P. Oh, did I mention I gained two pounds while I was away.) I also took salsa lessons! Woo-hoo! I can finally dance now;)…well, besides the DDR. I went dancing every night in the club on the ship, and there was so much enterainment like comedians, singers & dancers since they had a show every night. I also sang Karaoke….woo-hoo! It sounded terrible too since the song was out of my key range…tee hee hee. I was going to shuffleboard, but it got too hot that I didn’t…though they had a shuffleboard tournament. They also had bingo every single day, which I loooooooove to play. Oh, and I went snorkeling! Wow this was my second time snorkeling. I think I eventually will just buy snorkel equipment because I know I would do it again. I also bought tons of jewelry in Cozumel, which is the way to go since it is like 40%- 60% cheaper there then in the states. It’s because it’s all tax & duty free…yippeeeeeeee!!!

So, You really can’t beat cruising. If you haven’t been on one already, you should definitely save up and go on one. There are relaxing and adventurous at the same time. Anywho, I hope I summed it all up for ya. Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodles!!!!!

Cruisin' Away

2005-05-27T09:10:00.000-04:00

Hello my fellow readers. Whelp, I am leaving on my cruise today. YIPPPPPEEEEEEE!!! I am very excited. So, you will not see or hear from me for nine days. NINE DAYS!!! YEAH! But you are more than welcome to leave me a message & I will get back to you on my return. So, tooooooooooooooooooooooooodles for now!!!:):):):):):):):):):):)

Star Waaaaaaaarss...Nothing, but....Staaaar Waaaars.....!!!

2005-05-23T07:51:00.000-04:00

Well, I went to the 12:01am showing of Star Wars Episode III at the Senator this past week and let me just say it was amazing! Thanks again to Dave R. for getting tickets for us all. It was a night that I think we all shall remember. It was soooooo awesome to have the whole crowd get into the movie with the cheering and clapping. It's almost like a ride down in Disneyworld. WEeeee!! Though I have to say I enjoyed the movie, but there were some corny spots in it, especially the part of Darth Vader screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" was so random and poorly done that I couldn't stop laughing. But still, I am ready to see it again:).

Other things happening, well, I finally had my recital for my students this past saturday. It went very well. I was a bit nervous and running around frantically beforehand, especially when I got to the church and realized there was a piano, but no piano bench!!! A chair won't do because its sits too low for anyone playing it. Luckily, one of my students saved the day by bringing a bench in. Afterwards, we had a party where every student brought a bunch of goodies. Hmmmm..yummies and I had so much left over. Thanks goes out Luke, Tronster, Banks, & Chad for coming to support and chillin' afterwards.

I am sooooooooo excited because I will be leaving this Friday for my cruise!!!! Yipppeee!! Nine wonderful looooooooooong days. Aw, it will be sooooooo nice to relax and read by the pool on the ship or go to the the lovely islands. The best part it all the food you can eat! Yippee!:P Hopefully I won't come home five pounds heavier like I did last year. Man, I better keep working out when I am away!

So, I woke up this morning thinking I was going to have a very loooooong day today. I was suppose to substitute teach for Guidance at Northwest Middle School then teach piano later this evening. Well, I get a call from Northwest saying that they didn't need me because they don't need substitutes for Guidance. You mean, they couldn't have told me this like many many days ago when I got the call? They apologized for the mistake and said that they didn't need me today. Good grief....I am going back to bed then. TooooooooooooooooodleS!!!!

Wisdom...how does one obtain it?

2005-05-12T08:16:00.000-04:00

I've been reading through Proverbs a lot lately and it's really shown me how important is wisdom. But I also wonder, if you desire wisdom..how do you get it? I pray to God asking for wisdom, but do I really understand what I am praying for? Whenever I make a decision, especially an important one, I always pray about it. Though, have you ever felt that the decision you made was the wrong one or that with your decision, you had to face some really dumb consequences? I know I have;). Then I think to myself, wow, the wasn't a WISE decision. Where were you God on that one? I asked for wisdom on this, but you didn't give it to me. Then I realize, He kinda did. We gain wisdom through our poor decision making. For instance, you touch a hot stove and burn yourself. Do you think you will touch a hot stove again? No, for it would be unwise because you know the consequences. I know that I am not perfect and that I make mistakes, but at least I know God is given me what I asked for.....Wisdom.

So, what has been happening in my life? Well, I have a lot of decisions to make. I hate when I am this type of dilemma because I always fear of making the wrong decision. But I want to thank those friends who allowed me to talk to them and for the prayers. I realize that when we ask God to speak to us about decisions, sometimes we don't get a direct anwser. But I believe God doesn't just speak to us out loud, but also through our friends, family, and community. I am so thankful for their support:).

Well, I have some exciting things happening. In a week & a half, I will be having a recital for my students. This is my first recital and I can't wait to see how things go. All my students have been working very hard, my younger students and adults. I have 22 out of the 31 students performing. Recitals are important because it helps one to grow musically as well as parents get to see the progress of their child. Then once the recital is over.....I'M GOING ON A CRUISE!!!! WOOOOO-HOOOO!!!! I can't wait! I will be in the Caribbean for 9 days with my best friend Sarah, her family, and my family. We are celebrating my Dad's retirement & Sarah's Mom's 50th birthday. If you never been on a cruise, you should go on one. They are very relaxing and the food is all paid for ...and it is great food too...not the cheap stuff...hee hee.

Anywho, thanks for listening...or reading;). TOooooooooodles!

"Who is your daddy and what does he do?"

2005-05-06T17:37:00.000-04:00

Do you recognize the quote above? Well, if you don't, that's sad cuz' it comes from one of the funniest movies. Yeah, that's right, it's Kindergarten Cop and I definitely feel like Detective John Kimble today. I taught 7th grade English...BIG MISTAKE! Guess how many lunch detentions I gave out ......15!! Good Grief! The kids had a read-a-thon and were to read for the full six school hours . Well, that is tough to do, even for me and I am out of school. IF they do it, they receive six community hours. So, they were to remain quiet throughout the day and read. I thought to myself...piece of cake.! That means I could have time to read too....ha ha ha...I think not. These children didn't understand the definition of reading to yourself quietly. I gave one girl detention for talking and she told me that she didn't do nothin' and that she wasn't afraid of me! She doesn't take this from nobody and was gonna run to Ms. Moore and tell on me! ....OOOOHHH, I am soooooooo scared. First of all, I don't know who Ms. Moore is, but I assure you, she would have done the same thing if she was in my situation. And if one more student asks to use the bathroom I think I am gonna scream! Apparently all the children run on the same bladder cycle and they all have to use the bathroom at the same time. To quote John Kimble: There is no bathroom! Stop whining!

Now I can say I am safely home and I will take a nap. Toooooooooooodles!!!!!

Ah, Seinfeld:)...what a brilliant show!

2005-05-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

Have you ever felt like your life is just one big Seinfeld episode? Yeah, I feel that way everyday. Maybe that is why that is the only sitcom I really enjoyed. It's everyday experiences, for instance forgetting where you parked the car in a mall parking garage.......oh, it has happened to me. I was 16 and on a date and we went to the Rainforest Cafe in Towson. Unfortunately, we could'nt remember where we parked the car. So, we were searching aimlessly around until one of the rent-a-cops came and rescued us. He drove us around the parking garage until we eventually spotted the car. Kinda like the one Seinfeld episode where Jerry and the crew couldn't find there car. And poor Elaine's goldfish had to die at the end. So, sad.

So, I leave you with some lovely quotes to ponder from one of the best shows on tv. Enjoy and tooooooooooooooodles!!!

"I love that bathroom. It's got that high-high toilet. I feel like a gargoyle perched on the ledge of a building.": - George, in "The Butter Shave"

"Rock paper scissors match.": "Alright! Rock beats paper!"
"I thought paper covered rock.": "Nah, rock flys right through paper."
"Well, what beats rock?": "Nothing beats rock."; - Kramer and Mickey, playing games, in "The Stand-In

"A bird ran into my giant freak-head.": "What giant freak-head?"
"The one that sits atop my disproportionately puny body. I'm a walking candy apple!": - Elaine and Jerry, in "The Andrea Doria"

Oh, the Craziness!!! :):):):):):)

2005-05-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

So I survived yet again another substitute job. This time is wasn’t so bad because the classes were so big that there were required assistance there and they basically took over the whole class while I just stood there. Hey, you can’t beat getting paid for just standing around doing nothing. Though the class was a bit loud and hyper, but I got the privilege of giving some of them detention. Yippeeeeee! That was a great feeling….sweet justice. So, I think I may continue to substitute some more. To me, it’s like an adventure.

Oh, If you are up for a good movie or two, see Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. If you've read the book, you'll enjoy the movie. If yo are looking for a good movie to rent, please rent Run Lola Run!. It's a German film, but it is very well done and a great crazy flick that will keep you on your toes. So, toooooooooooooodles for now!

Patience...or Lack There Of

2005-04-27T08:42:00.000-04:00

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matt. 6:34

Ok, so I am a worrier. This past week I have been worrying about everything, especially about my job. I have about 30 piano students currently and I am trying different ways to get more. I've been advertising and telling everybody I am available to teach piano. I even sent in a resume to Carroll Community College. So, everytime I get a new student, I lose another student. Well, at least I am staying steady;). So, I started to dwell on it and I began to worry. What if I lose more students? What if I can't gain anymore?

This past Sunday's sermon was on patience. We've all been through it...everyone has been impatient at some point in their lives, especially in the American culture with all the fast food, fast internet service, fast cars, etc. WE want things to happen now! So, as I was taking notes on Sunday I realized how impatient I have been about getting more students. First of all, this is not the time of season to gain students, but usually to lose them. When fall hits and school starts more people will be calling for lessons. So, if you really think about it, I worried for nothing;). Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ~Matt. 6:27. That means I wasted more time worrying than I could have been relaxing or doing something more constructive. Good grief, why do we put so much trouble on ourselves? I guess I learnt my lesson from all of this. The ironic point is that once I decided to stop worrying, I came home Sunday& seven people contacted me for lessons. Granted most of them won't start towards to fall, but to me it shows that once you give up a section of your life to God, it all works out. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? ~Matt. 6:26

Well, I have been quite busy as of late. I've been performing places with my trumpeter, Chad Goodman. We performed the other day at Franklin High School for a talent show. Again this kid is an amazing trumpet player for only being 15 years old. Next year, he is trying out for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, which I will be accompanying him on the piano :). Plus I've been teaching piano lessons and substitute teaching. I have another job this Friday at Northwest Middle, which is in Taneytown( really it should be called hickville), teaching 8th grade math. Hmmm....so let's see if the 8th graders are more well-behaved than the 5th graders. Then I have been busy composing. I've decided to set a goal for myself. I want to have a 5 to7 minute demo done by mid-summer. It's going to use various styles for all sorts of video games. Can I do it? Ummmm....yeah, I think I can :D.

Again, thanks for reading my ramblings. More to come later...toooooooooooodles!

A Nightmare and A Dream Come True

2005-04-17T16:43:00.000-04:00

Wow, so I finally decided to substitute teach on Friday....WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!! I did it so I could get some extra cash until I get more piano students. I taught thirty 5th graders who were not well-behaved. I told them to sit in there seats and dont leave the classroom and they would get up and leave anyway. Then I had one student use the "f" word towards me, another mocking every word I said, and another kid who would wander into other classrooms without permission. It was terrible! Then I found out that the school I was subbing for was a school for students who had disciplinary problems. hahaha! No one told me that! Good grief! So, I left a note for the teacher letting her know about all the misbehaved students. Sad to think that one day these children will have jobs and will be working in society. So, would I substitute teach again? Hmmm....I'll give it another try, but I think I will pick a different school this time.

Ok, my most exciting news of the week.....DUM Ba DUM.....I AM GOING TO SEE NOBUO UEMATSU!!!! YIPPEEEE!!! One of my dreams is coming true. Well, as you well know, there is the Dear Friends Concert touring the U.S. and the closest place that the concert is being held at is in Detroit, Michigian. So, I called up and got the best seats in the house AND with these seats, I get a signed poster by Nobuo himself!!!!!!! WAY COOOOOL! Surprisingly enough, my parents want to come and join me. It's so great to have parents who are supportive of their children's dreams. I am very blessed and thankful for that. We are going to drive up there, which is about an 8 hour drive and I am already counting down the days until then....so far it about three months away. So, more on that concert when it happens on July 23.

Again, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed hearing some of the exciting and crazy things that are happening in my life. I know I am! So, again, I will keep all my readers posted! Toooooooodles for now!

Viva Las Vegas!!!

2005-04-10T23:24:00.000-04:00

Woo--hooooo! I am back my lovely readers and let me just say, Las Vegas was fabulous. there was so much to do and see that I will definitely have to go back. The hotels were amazing and of course, I took lost of pics^__^. You should at least go to Vegas once just to see how cool these places are. I personally liked the Venetian Hotel the best. That's where the beginning of the movie Rat Race was filmed and the interior was decorated similarly to the sixteen chapel.
Now, I am not much of a gambler, but I did play some of the penny slot machines. The coolest one was this Star Wars slot machine, which I won $7! Wooo-hooo....but I gambled all the money away. So, to prove a point, you never, ever win at gambling.
Anywho, we stayed at the Aladdin, which was a nifty place, but it will eventually become a Planet Hollywood in 2006. So, we saw some shows like the "We Will Rock You" show. If you are a big Queen fan, see this show. The plotline was rather lame, but you got to admit the concept of adding Queen lyrics and music into a script rocked.

We also got to do the Star Trek Experience, which was my favorite. Now, it was a bit pricey, but worth it. The place is designed like the interior of the Enterprise and they have a mini-museum and timeline that goes through all the Star Trek history of every Star Trek show. Pretty cool. But the best part was the rides, the Klingon and Borg invasion. These rides were interactive and considered 4-D. They made you feel like part of the story and you actually have to get on a set that looks exactly like the Star Trek deck. Amazing! so, needless to say, I was geeky-happy;).

We also went to this things called the Tournament of Kings. It's similar to Medieval Times. You get a dinner while you watch this show and yes, there was jousting. The meal was quite filling. I got a whole chicken. Yipppppeeeee...hmmmm...my fav...though I couldnt eat it all...where was Holly when I needed her;). Again, the show was great and definitely worth the $60.

I also got to attend the Liberace Museum. I know, most people think it is rather lame, but for a piano player, it was inspirational. There were about ten pianos on display all owned by Liberace. One of them, was from the 1800s, which Liszt, Schumann, and Strauss played on occasion. Wow, that was amazing to stand in the presence of a piano that was not only touched, but played by such wonderful piano composers. I wished I could take a pic, but no cameras aloud.....bummer!

So, we only stayed for five days, but I would like to go back. There is so much to do and see. Though if you ever do adventure out there, make sure you bring a good pair of walking shoes. I walked about 2 miles daily.....good exercise though.

So, I am now back home safely. I hope you enjoyed to hear of my travels. I hope to do more travelling in the future. So, tooooooooodles for now my fellow readers!

The giant mosquito that would never die!

2005-03-30T12:26:00.000-05:00

So, this past week has been very busy for me. I’ve been trying take care of bills, taxes, students, and other things as well as pack for I am going to Las Vegas with my family this week! Woo-hoo! I’ve never been, so I am very excited. We are going to do some sightseeing, see the We Will Rock Show, and of course, the Star Trek Experience for the geek in me;).

So, after a busy day, I decided to spend some time relaxing and playing some more Final Fantasy VII. Well, as I was playing, this huge mosquito (whom I shall refer to Mothra for good reasons) landed on my screen! So, I did the normal reaction and took my FFVII strategy guide, rolled it up, and smashed Mothra until she fell to the floor. Phew, so I was about to return to my video game, but then our dear creature got up and started flying around again! So, I started to chase Mothra around the room with my rolled up strategy guide and every time I would hit her, she would get back up and start flying around again. So, I did the next logical thing, I got some of my body spray and started to spray this unstoppable creature. Can you believe I used about half my body spray and it still wouldn’t stop flying! Though I must say, the room smelt lovely.

Anyway, as I quoted some Austin Powers to the creature, “WHY WON’T YOU DIE!”, I began to brainstorm and realized that I could use a shoe. I mean who uses a shoe, honestly? (sorry, I couldn’t resist another Austin Powers quote, but I’ll stop now). So, I waited patiently until Mothra finally landed…mwhaaa, I took the shoe and SMASH! She was dead…so I thought. I gently disposed of her in the bathroom trashcan and went back to my room and returned to my world of Final Fantasy VII. Little did I know, that as I was playing, Mothra was still struggling for her life. On my return to the bathroom, I spot dear Mothra climbing out of the wastebasket and onto the wall. So, I decided if this bug can survive this much torture, it deserves to live…..just not in my room. So, I shut the bathroom door and to this day, Mothra is living nicely and peacefully on the bathroom wall.

Well, I hope you enjoyed that lovely story. Stay tune for some more fun stuff in the Wonderful World of Lydia. Tooooooooooooodles!

My Seventh Heaven

2005-03-25T09:53:00.000-05:00

Ah, I have to say, I've been in heaven as of late. Why? Love?Well, I guess you can say that:P. It's because I am getting back into the groove of video games :D:D:D:D:D. Yes,yes, I know, I am a sick individual. I got out of it for awhile, but now I am back in the game. I am playing Final Fantasy VII again because Final Fantasy Advent Children will becoming out soon. I can't wait! It's so weird because I've played FFVII three times (but never beat it) and the music is so inspiring. Again, I cry. It's just so moving;).

Anyway, well it looks like I must put Nobuo on hold. I really want to go to his next concert, but it's going to be May 14, which is too close to me going on my cruise. DANG IT! BUT I just found out that they are doing a whole tour! YIPPPEEEEE! They finally set some dates and places that are closer to me:D! I am thinkin about going in June to the one in Georgia! OH, I wanna go sooooo badly. Check it out here!

So, I've been really getting into composing as of late. I think it's the inspiration of the music from playing FFVII. I must say, I am quite pleased with the turn out of some of the songs I have written. These compositions are not songs with lyrics, but are designed strictly for video games. I can't wait until I finally start really composing for a video game company. OOOOOOOOOH the joy:)!

Anyway, that is all for now, but tune in for more. Remember, same Bat time, same Bat channel! Tee hee hee! Toooooooooooooooodles!

Gigs, Concerts, & Movies! What a Life:)

2005-03-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, so let's get it on! Friday, I practiced all day for my gig. Then Jenn Jackson and I went and saw Hitch. It's a good movie and I recommend it to all. It's a good date movie for both guys and girls to enjoy and it has a good message. It's better than some of these other date movies I see today.

So, Saturday, I taught then practiced a bit more and tried to relax before I headed to Java Mammas. So, I watched the Time Machine, the re-make to the classic. Now, this is my second time seeing it. The first time I saw it I was on a date with this guy who talked through the whole movie and his conversations had nothing to do with in or pertaining to the movie. So, basically, I missed the whole thing. But after I watched it for the second time, I realize, I didn't miss much the first time. In my opinion, stick to the classic.

Afterwards, it was off to Java Mammas. I was a bit nervous, but more excited than anything. There were a lot of people there which was totally awesome and overall I was pleased with the performance. Though, there were so many people there, it was hard to hear what I playing. SO, I was asked to come back and I will be playing in June again. I took some requests for next time and it will definitely be an even better show than this one;). Oh what fun!

Sunday, I went to church and afterwards a few of us went to the Senator to go see the Ring Two. Now, the movie wasn't that good. But the best part was Banks making comments throughout the movie. Man, whenever I go see any horror movie, I am taking him with me for the comic relief. It was a fun time that I won't forget :D!

So, great news! There are doing another Final Fantasy Concert entitlted More Friends. This time, the Black Mages will be there, which is a band that Nobuo Uematsu recently formed. BUT.....the concert is in L.A.! Dang it! Though I am going to try my best to go! So, if you are interested let me know;)! It's an opportunity of a lifetime. Unfortunately, they haven't set a date yet. All I know is that it is during E3! So, I guess we shall see what happens!

Thanks for tuning in! TOooooooooooooooooooooooodles!

Nobuo Uematsu...Where are you?

2005-03-18T09:46:00.000-05:00

So, let me just say I rarely ever regret anything in life, but now I regret something.....not going to the Game Developers Conference and going to the DEAR FRIENDS concert! Props goes out to Tronster for taking so many wonderful photos and clips. I cried as I watched them and that means something because I rarely ever get emotional over things like that. There is just something about live music and especially, Final Fantasy music:). So, if there is another concert in the US, I am going! I don't care if I have to spend a lot of money on a plane ticket and fly there, I am going! This is a once in a life time thing, so I must do it! This is my passion and I must follow it. Plus, I am really thinking about going to GDC next year. So, I can start saving now baby!

Anyway, so I just wanted to share that. On other news, I was eating a beef taco hot pocket earlier, and apparently the beef was rather tough. So, as I was enjoying my meal, I bit don't on some grissel, and chipped a tooth....OUCH!!! I never had something like that happen to me before! I feel fine now...no pain really and I really didn't want to go to the dentist b/c I don't have any insurance. So, I am just going to let it go.

Well, I have to go practice and get ready for my gig tomorrow. Woo-hoo, there are going to be some exciting things like Lord of the Rings and Final Fantasy music as well as other stuff. Can't wait! so, tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodle for now! :)

Life and a Missed Concert

2005-03-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Wow, I have been very busy as of late, but I will do my best to some up all that has happened in the past few days. Well, as you all know, I have been practicing very hard for this trumpet and piano duet for Chad Goodman. He’s a very talented individual. He’s only 15 and can do so much with the trumpet. So, I was praying over the performance this past weekend. I was definitely nervous because we recorded this piece back in January and the recording was ok, but we definitely had some rough spots to deal with. Anyway, so we get to the competition Saturday and performed in front of one judge. Well, …..we blew the judge away;). He was so impressed with us both. Though this competition was mainly for Chad, I felt really good. The judge told me that this is quite a challenging piece, but I nailed it! So, I have a few more performance with this piece and then we are going to move to another more difficult piece. Good grief, but I enjoy it though. This helps me to grow as a musician and its one of my passions in life. So, now, that I have this competition out of the way, its time to work on my gig for Saturday. I’m really excited because this set it going to be totally different from other sets that you hear normally. I just hope I have enough pieces to cover the three hours. I believe I can do it!

So, the Baptism was this past weekend and it rocked! Suzanne and Tali got baptized and let me just say how wonderful that was to see. I have seen both of these girls grow spiritually and it’s a wonderful experience to see how God is using them. Afterwards, I went swimming! Woo-hoo! Now, that may not seem too exciting for some, but for me it was and this is why. You all probably know about the history of my back and its healing (If not, refer to the My Testimony section of my blog) and because of all the health issues I had, I couldn’t swim without any pain. But now I can:) Yipppeeeee! It just makes me feel so blessed and grateful that I don’t have to deal with this medical issue anymore. I actually feel human now ^__^. Anyway, after swimming, I played Walley Ball and what a weird game this is! It’s kinda like volleyball, but you can bounce the ball and hit is of the wall. Weird! Well, that ball definitely left bruises and marks all over me. I am black and blue on my arms and legs. OUCH! You see, this is why Bandys don’t play sports and besides, I am a fragile person. I’ll stick to video games….and speaking of video games. Tronster just got back from GDC and let me just say I wished I could have been there. He went to the DEAR FRIENDS CONCERT! This is the concert of my life! Nobuo Uematsu was there! So, Tronster took many pics and movie shots for me. I can’t wait to see them! Oh, I hope one of these days I will meet Nobuo…maybe if I start getting crackin’ in the video game music industry I will! I’ve started with the basic equipment now and eventually will move up. But I just got to keep working at it:).

Well, that is my exciting life right now. Tee hee hee! So tooooooodles for now my peeps!

................

2005-03-11T17:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, here it goes...DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Whew, that was fun. Have you ever had a bad day or been stressed out that you just wanted to scream! WEll, there, I just did it. You'll feel better if you do it too. Yes, I am having one of those days. I mean it hasn't been a bad day or anything, but I have been stuck in my studio since 11am and it is now 6pm. Ive been practicing all this time. Though I did take a little break and watched Toy Story 2. Funny, I own it on VHS and I've been so used to watching movies on DVD that I totally noticed the quality change. Wow, where is technology going to go in the future? Anyway, this is my tip for today, take a break and scream! It's fun;)! Toooooooooodles!

Life is Meaningless

2005-03-07T14:28:00.000-05:00

I’ve been reading through Ecclesiastes this past week and really have done a lot of thinking. Solomon did many experiments to test to see if he could be happy without God and found out that all of it was meaningless. He had great wealth and power, but was not happy. The only thing that made him happy was having God in his life. As I came across Ecclesiastes 3, it made me realize how short life is and that we should enjoy every minute of it. We may have some rough times and some good times, but we should seize every moment for these moments will not last. So, Carpe Diem to all!

So, I facilitated link group this past Thursday. I thought it went well and everyone was open with the discussion. I decided to discuss the topic of repentance since baptism is coming up soon. We basically talked about how repentance leads to refreshment and how that effects our lives. Very cool stuff!

Anyway, this weekend was a lot of fun. I was able to hang out with Tali! Wooo-hooo! She has been missed. We chilled at the Pour House and ran into many Horizon people. So, a group of us went to the “oh hurting” 11:30pm soccer game and we lost, but it was a close one. So, needless to say, I was very tired the next morning when I had to teach. I then tried to take a quick nap before our Screwtape meeting, but I overslept. I need my rest;P! I am really excited about this project and I hope it goes well as we try to get this organized and on the way. I can’t wait to start composing music for it. Yippeeee!

Later, Holly and I went to McDaniel Library. That place is sooooo cool and we lost track of time and were in there for two hours. It was weird going back to McDaniel’s campus. I wished when I was in college that I had the opportunity to do more activities and stuff. They had this cool anime club and movie club, but unfortunately I was sick all the time and couldn’t do it. But that’s okie dokie with me ^__^. Things happen for a reason.

So, I have been really busy working with my new Home Studio software. I’m learning so much stuff and started to work on composing. I also have a lot of things coming up, which I have been practicing for. This Saturday, I perform with Chad, my trumpeter, for some competition. I’ve been really practicing hard and to tell you the truth, I am sooooooo sick of this piece. It’s a tough piece, but I’ve worked through it though its soooooo draining. Good grief, I can’t wait until this is done! Then, I am also trying to get things ready for my gig coming up. I’m really excited and can’t wait to play some of these pieces that I’ve been working on. It’s gonna be a rockin’ time!

So, that’s all for now. Tune in for more later! Same Bat time, same Bat channel :D. Tooooooooooooooooooodles my homies!

Death of a Beloved Friend ^--^

2005-03-01T22:21:00.000-05:00

So, my RAT died today. It was quite sad, though I must say he out lived his years. Rats only live for two years or so....but Ramses survived for almost three. Wow, what a rat ;). I don't think I will replace him either. Hmmm...do you think animals go to heaven? I always wondered that. I know they don't have a soul, but God must have some special place for them. Though if they did go to heaven, it would be pretty crowded. Imagine all the animals that have died since Adam and Eve's time to now. Wow, thats a lot of animals. Think about all the animals that we eat daily like chicken and cows. Hmmmm....chicken...its so good :P. But are they in heaven now? And what about bugs and things. Do they have a special place too? Where do all the dead ants go? Tee hee hee, these are thought provoking questions that must be answered! Anywho, tooooooooooodles!!!

LA LA LA LALALALALAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

2005-02-28T09:25:00.000-05:00

So, this weekend was again a blast. Saturday, I had a party for Paul, me, and Jenn in celebration of our Birthdays. Woo-hoooooo! IT was fun and we all had a good time. We played games like Scene IT and Imagineiff, and had tacos, and three different cakes, chocolate cheesecake, red velvet, and ice cream cake. tee hee heeeeee! :):):):) Wow, and I didn't get to bed until 2am. Good grief, needless to say, I was tired the next morning ;).

So, Sunday was great because I got to spend it with Holly, which I haven't done for a long time. We went to Towson church together and let me just say that the sermon was excellent. It was about the fall of man and the crisis that Adam and Eve went through. I never thought about this before, but when God asked Adam what he had done, Adam replied that the woman that HE [GOD] made for him had made him eat the forbidden fruit. So, Adam initially blamed God for his wrong doing. HOw often do we blame God for the situations that we are in? Is it really His fault? We really don't want to put the blame on ourselves, but that just shows how human we are and how we truly need God. Wow...amazing isn't it :P?!

So, church got out late and we went to lunch and had some really good conversations. I never thought about this before, but when you are in a relationship, you have these high and low points. For instance, in one point you are really lovey-dovey and think of the person all the time and then at other times, you just feel blah and really think wow, this person is just ok. So, do these feelings change in marriage? Just the thought of it can be scary. But the true point is how does this relate to your relationship with God? Sometimes, we are on a spiritual high and we read our Bible and pray everyday, then other times, you really just feel blah and don't do anything. Sometimes we expect more from human relationships than from the most imporant relationship, which is with Christ. Investing time in someone is the only way you grow closer to them. It made me realize how vital it is to spend time with God especially when you don't feel like it.

After lunch, Holly and I went shopping! Yippeeeeeeeeeee;)! tee hee hee! Then it was time to head to the Pour House. A whole bunch of Horizonites were there in support of Jadon, who played and sang for us that evening. Wow, it made me realize how much I enjoy music and listening to others perform. But soon it will be my turn to perform for everyone;). And speaking of music, I FINALLY GOT MY MUSIC SEQUENCING SOFTWARE!!!! Plus a mixer and awesome speakers;). I got them all for a really good deal and Brad was so kind to hook it up for me. Yeah, so guess what I am going to be doing for the next few days? tee hee hee!

Thanks for reading and toooooooooooodles for now my lovely readers :D:D:D:D:D!!!!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY

2005-02-23T19:32:00.000-05:00

Woooooooo-hooooooooo!! Happy Birthday to me :):):):):):):):)! So, I am finally 23 years old. I don't feel older today, but 23 is a good age to be. My friend Jenn Jackson turned 18 today. It's soooooooooooo cool to finally meet someone with the same birthday. Paul M.'s birthday is tomorrow so we are going to have a big party on Saturday for all of us. Anywho, so yeah, I had a good day. People IMed me or text messaged me wishing me a good B-day...that was thoughtful of everyone. Do I have any Birthday wishes? hmmmm....

Well, tomorrow, I hear it is suppose to snow...a lot!!! So, there may be no link group. :(....I hate to miss out on that especially since tomorrow I am leading. I am really excited and pray that God will give me the words to say. I realize that link groups are different from Bible studies. It's more about trying to connect with one another and develop relationships rather than just teaching something in the Bible. I just feel blessed by having the opportunity to do this. As I continue to lead, I pray that I will continue to be a good witness and example of Christ and His love.

WEll, tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooOOOoOOOdLES to a wonderful day!

Lights, Camera, Action!!!!

2005-02-21T21:14:00.000-05:00

So I had an exciting weekend. I went to Towson Horizon church Sunday morning and it was great to be back. I went to Owings Mills last week to check it out and see old friends . Wow, there were sooooo many new faces there. It's amazing to see how God is allowing Horizon to grow. I met quite a few people from the Westminster area. Does this mean that a church will start in Westminster? Quite possibly. That would be so awesome because I wouldn't have to drive 40 minutes to go to church, but I would definitely miss everyone from OM and Towson:(. Though things can change for the best, but change can be quite hard. But I like the idea of staying involved in all of Horizon no matter if it be in Towson, OM, or Westminster.

So, after church a group of us went and saw Constantine. What an interesting movie. If you like sci-fi, fantasy, or supernatural movies, I recommend it. It's about this guy Constantine (played by Keanu Reeves), who can see demons and angels. It's basically a spiritual battle between good and evil. I normally don't like movies like this b/c it's so unrealistic to the Bible, but this movie had some pretty cool special effects and interesting concepts. Go see it! :)

Afterwards, everyone came back to the Bandy's house as always. Everyone is always welcome there ^__^. And since it was icy out, they all spent the night! What fun we had! It was great b/c Ashley, Jenn and I had some girl time. I haven't had that in a looooooong time. It's great how a group of girls can bond over silly things and talk about life.

So, what else have I been up too? Well, my Dad has been recording our home movies from VHS to DVD so, we started watching them. It's amazing to see how people have changed and especially how I have changed. When I look back at those moments, I wonder how I ever survived. (If you want to know more, read My Testimony Blog written back in December 2004). Anywho, I see myself there on the TV and wonder, wow....I'm fat! ;) Ok, so I wasn't like fat, but I was way bigger than I am now. It seriously doesn't even look like me. I had extremely long hair, big glasses, and 40 more pounds! But it made me realize that I have grown into a better person and a deeper relationship with Christ.

On another note, I have been really focusing on my passion lately...music. It's funny, I've studied music all my life and even majored in it, but I still learn something new from it everyday. I am lucky to have a job that relates to my passion. It makes me feel like I am not even working. But I've been really focusing on song writing as of late. I'm trying to get better at it and maybe hopefully one of these days, I will produce a CD. But we shall see where God leads. I still want to compose my video game music and other stuff.

Anywho, thanks for reading my peeps! Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooodles!!!!

The Day of Valentine

2005-02-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

So, Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Now, let me just give you a few of my thoughs on this day. I hear a lot of singles talk about how they don't have anyone to share this special day with. Well, how is this day different from any other day? First of all, Valentine's Day is not just the celebration of love between a couple, but a love amongst friends and family. St. Valentine was a martyer who would not give up his love for Christ and died on Feb. 14 for it. Click here if you would like to read more about it. This story is symbolism of Christ's love for us for He payed the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross and that's what love truly is about. But I admit, Valentines Day is a fun day though. I only celebrated it twice in couple mode ;). But they were not the most memorable V-days. Actually, the most memorable Valentine's Day was last year. I was alone at home and I didn't mind it because I was doing one of my most favorite things, playing video games. And you know what I did? I beat Chrono Trigger! Wow, what an amazing game. For some reason I will never forget that day. I don't know if it was because I was alone at home or that I totally felt happy because I was alone and didn't feel alone. Tee hee hee! But again, I don't think people should feel bitter about V-day. If you are in a relationship or not, it's still a holiday and it can be celebrated in many ways.

Anywho, enough about that. So, what has been going on in my life as of late? Well, my DVD-ROM and DVD/CD-writer Drives on my computer decided it break on me:(. It was sad, I mean I'd always had trouble with them since we bought the computer back in September, but now, it doesn't recoganize anything. So, Brad was so kind to help in trying to fix it and Mike tried too. But alas, nothing worked:(. SO, I had to call the company, which is HP by the way. Any let me just say, I couldn't understand a single person that I talked to! They were all speaking Indianish or something. Anywho, after being on the phone with them for almost two hours, I was able to get them to send me two new drives for free! YIPPPEEEEEE!!! I'm so happy and this is in good timing too. For I just finally purchased my Sequencing software. WOOO-HOOOOOOOOO!!!!! This is very exciting for me because I feel like God has finally opened up the doors for me to pursue my dream as a composer. Well, I am getting a mixer, speakers, and the software for a really good price because Stu's (the music store where I teach at and get discounts) decided to finally carry more computer music supplies. YIPPPPEEEEE!!! PLUS, I saved up enough money to get a new Clavinova (a super piano...it's like a piano and computer in one!)! I'm a sooooooooooooooooo excited. I have a Clavinova, but it is soooo out of date, but the owner of Stu's is letting me traded it in for an up grade. I can finally start composing the way I want to. So, I have a few projects to work on now and I am very happy:):):):):):):).

Oh, before I forget. I am going to play at Java Mamma's again on March 19. This time, I will be singing and hopefully I will be able to have a few tunes of my own for the evening. Luke is going to help me with a few songs. So, we shall see what happens. I just wish I had a full sized keyboard with better sound quality for I could do so much more. But you learn to play with what you got:D. Anywho, sooooo that is the update in my world. Tooooooooodles!

Hulk Smash

2005-02-10T23:58:00.000-05:00

So, if you could have any super power what would it be? I was pondering this the other day as I was driving in my car and someone rudely cut me off. I thought hmmmm....if I could only move things with my mind I would pick this inconsiderate driver's car (with the person inside of course) up from the ground and toss them into the air so far that they wouldn't come down for weeks. Yep, that would teach them for cutting me off. I guess that is why God didn't give us super powers. We would probably use them for more harm than good. It's not like with the X-Men where everyone has some special mutant power that can help save the world or fight off bad mutants. I know if I had a power, I would definitely use it for my benefits :D. Man, but think of what you could do! Out of all the powers I could have, I think I would want to fly. That would be so much fun and I wouldn't have to worry about driving anywhere. But then again, I would have to worry about the wind, rain, and the cold. hmmmm....maybe that is the wrong power to choose. I could be invisible! That would be so cool because no one could see me and I could go to places off hours or sneak in to some building. But then if no one can see me, I probably would be hit by a car and then die. So, no that wouldn't work. hmmm....oh, I could have super lightning speed like the Flash. Oh, but with my clumsiness, I would probably trip and hurt myself real badly. Good grief, nothing seems to work for me. I think I will stick with Catwoman's powers....though I really don't know what her super powers are but she does get nine lives. Can't go wrong with that;).

Anyway, enough of my nonsense. But I'm sure you all though of this questioned to. I mean who wouldn't. So, what super power would you like to have? toooooooooodles!

Wow, the Saddest Anime Ever!

2005-02-03T22:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I was all excited about going to link group tonight. We decided to have a chillin' 80's movies night and we were going to watch Goonies and Indiana Jones. I even made muffins late this evening so they would be nice and fresh for the festivities. But guess what.... it was snowing like crazy outside. So, I though to myself, I could still make it to link group...I must because I have the movies and muffins, PRECIOUS MUFFINS that must be eaten or else ;). So, I cleaned off my car and came back inside to get ready. I go back out, and my car was totally covered in snow again. I knew right there and then, I couldn't make it:(. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! But it was probably best that I didn't venture out because my mother and brother both told me that the roads were not plowed and were very slick. It took them 40 minutes from work to get home and it should only take them 1o minutes. Sheesh, that is what you get for livin' out in Hickville.

So, what was I gonna do this even? Well, luckily I went to the library earlier and rented an anime called Grave of the Fireflies. GOOD GRIEf! THE SADDEST ANIME I HAVE EVER SEEN! Seriously! It actually brought tears to my eyes. You must realize that I never cry in movies (but for some odd reason I cry in video games, like when Aeris died in Final Fantasy 7....why did she have to die? Darn you Sephiroth!). Anyway, if you want a tear jerker...rent this anime. So, I just wanted to share that all with you. Toooooooooodles for now my lovely readers!

The Written Word

2005-01-31T22:16:00.000-05:00

I'm starting to realize how things appear so differently when written down. For instance, when you instant message someone you only see what is written and not spoken. So, sometimes you can misinterpret the message. One person could be joking and the other one may take it as an insult. Or when you post something on a the message board, you may make a point that comes across harsh because words typed up are open for interpretation and words spoken are more direct because there are tones and pitches that help relay the message. It's the same thing with blogging, which can actually be dangerous. Since it is a journal you can get very emotional and personal about things, but you must realize that other people read it. Something that your write could hurt someone else if you are not careful. I realize that tons of people read my blog and there are a lot of people who read it that I don’t know. So, I try to always blog something meaningful as well as updating things in my life. So, what are you blogging about? Some friends I know have actually stopped blogging because they are afraid of offending someone. Now, I can understand the fear of offending people and I hope I haven't offended anyone on my blog. Most of what I talk about is done in a joking manner and we all need to laugh at times, but the thing is don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. That is what blogging is about…You have the freedom to say what you want about anything and no one can stop you. People may disagree with you and post comments about it, but don't let that discourage you. Anyway, that was something that was on my mind. I never cared for reading or writing that much in school, but here I am writing now.

Anywho, so, how is the Wonderful World of Lydia? Excellent at always. I try to make the best of everyday even if it is a bad day. Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! Each day brings me joy. I realize that God has given me another day to live and I enjoy it no matter what. So, what have I been up to? well, I joined this substitute teaching thing. I get tons of calls for substituting, but I haven't taken a single one:). To tell you the truth, I really do not want to do it. The only reason I signed up for it was to make some extra cash on the side. I really want to get more students, which for some odd reason, I got like 4 or 5 new students in the past two weeks. That's really been an answer to my prayers. I really want to get 40 students and then that is all I will need to support myself. Right now, I have 30! Yipppeeeee! 40 students = 20 hours, which means I will have plenty of time to compose on the side:). Yeah, I have so many projects that I need to get crackin' on. I have something for the Screwtape video, which I will explain more in detail later. It's will be a surprise. Then I will be composing for Holly's Kung Fu movie. Yeah! And then hopefully, on to some video game music. I've been really studying hard on what I need to do and what equipment I need to obtain. The only problem is I am terrible with computers! They don't like me very much. As soon as I walk into the room, they go into sleep mode. tee hee hee! So, I am trying to gather as much information as I can to understand the wondeful cyberworld and innerspace of computers...riiiiiight!

Also, I discovered something.....the library! I know that sounds so stupid, but I have not been to the library in years and I just decided to go last week. Did you know you can rent movies there? And some are free! I bet you wouldn't believe that they have anime! Wooooooooooo-hoooooooo! Isn't that grand:). I was able to watch the next two disc of Chobits. And let me just say, I have read all the manga and it's a very good story, but it does kinda cross the line a bit. I wouldn't recommend it for young viewers even if it is animation. Though I watched a whole series entitled “Someday's Dreamer“. Interesting and boring at the same time. But this is getting me pumped for Otakon. I can't wait to go:)! Hopefully, I can get a group of ten people to go and we can get a discount. This year, I am planning on cosplaying Sonja Blade from Mortal Combat. Heck Ya! Kick your butt, baby! Luke is going to be Johny Cage and I think Brad is going to be Sub-zero. It would be really awesome if we could get more people and do a Mortal Combat group. Anyone wanna come? It will be a great time....despite the smell. I must admit, every year that I go to Otakon the stench gets worse. I don't understand why anime geeks don't take showers. I guess all they do is sleep, eat, and watch anime all day. So, there is no time for showers. EEEEWWWWW ! GRrrrrooooooooossssss! Anyway, enough of ramblings from a blonde. I hope you enjoy reading my quirky stories and weird things that happen to me. tooooooodles my peeps!

2005-01-27T12:21:00.000-05:00

Dating & Relating

2005-01-22T08:48:00.000-05:00

Haha! Did my title catch your eye? Hopefully it did:D. Anyway, I think it is finally time to discuss this topic in my blog where I can express how I feel about the whole CHRISTIAN dating/courtship scene. It is a topic that I notice that many shy away from or avoid. But such is life...do you want to get married someday? Come on, most people do and here is my opinion about this topic. It may be long and it may be blunt, but I am gonna tell ya like it is from my perspective.

So, let me begin with a certain person who, in my opinion, took the whole christian dating and tore it apart....Joshua Harris. Yes, I have read his I Kissed Dating Goodbye and When Boy Meets Girl and let me just say that he contradicts himself so much in both books. In his first book, he tells his readers that you should not date anyone unless you are going to marry them so, you should develop friendships and then instead of dating you should court. What is courting? Courting is the process where instead of the guy approaching the girl and asking her on a date, he approaches her parents and asks if he can court her for marriage. If the parents feel that he is a good enough husband candidate for their daughter, they then discuss this courtship with the guy's parents. Both sets of parents pray together and if they decide it is a good match, they then approach the daughter and tell her about the guy who wants to court her. She then decides if she wants to go through with the courting process with this guy or not. I have heard this preached in the pulpit on many occasions. Do I think this is what Harris meant when he was talking about courting? No, not necessarily, but I believe that the christian church has gone too far with this concept and turnedthe lives of singles upside down.

I see many hurting singles because they don't know what to do and how to approach the process before marriage. There are many good articles that I suggest singles to read that talk about this like Dateless in Christianville. It discusses why there is a lack of dating in the christian realm and about what to do about it....if there is anything we can do about it.

So, here is my opinion on everything and the way I think it should be done. Ok, so if a guy is interested in a girl, he should ask her out. Yes, that means taking her out on a date and paying for dinner. This is a real sore subject for me because part of a guy's role is to be a gentleman and treating a lady to dinner is part of it. I have in the past been on dates where I had to pay for myself as well as for the person I was with because the guy didn't want to pay. Men, don't ever ask a girl out to dinner and then don't pay for it. Come on, it's not that expensive. Don't get me wrong, if a guy can't afford to take a girl out, there are other things that can be done like a walk through the park or something that is free along those lines. The whole idea is getting to know each other and developing a friendship. Yes, you have to establish some sort of friendship before you actually have a relationship. Do people think that if you go on a date that you are in a relationship already? Good grief, but I know many who believe this. So, what is a date? It's defined as an engagement to go out socially with another person. Does that mean it is all romantical? By all means no. The whole idea is to get to know someone and see if you are compatible to live with the rest of your life.

As for me, I prefer getting to know someone in a group setting because you see how they interact with others as well as you don't feel as intimidated being in a setting with just the two of you. But, eventually, that has to happen at some point. So, guys, be a gentleman and become more gutsy. Ask a lady out and take her out! If she says no, oh well. At least you tried something. If you like a girl and never pursue her, someone else will and she may never know that you are interested. She might have been interested in you, but you did nothing about so she moved on. And ladies, be more gentle with the guys. For instance, don't be flirting and giving off signals to all the boys for this confuses them and it's wrong to play with people's emotions like that. If a guy does ask you out and you are not interested, tell it to him directly. It's not the easiest thing to do, but if you tell him up front that you are not interested then the guy is able to understand that and can pursue someone else if they wish. Just don't keep leaving them on the hook and open ended for that leads to more hurt and more pain. Again, it will be disappointing to the guy, but he is a man and can handle it. But girls, if you are not interested or have semi-interest, why not just try for one date over dinner or a cup of coffee? Will that really hurt? He did build up the courage to ask you out so maybe you should give him a chance. That doesn't mean to take advantage of him, but I don't see how chatting over coffee can be crime.

One thing I want to make clear is to the ladies…never ask out a guy. It wasn’t meant to be that way. God created men to pursue women, so let them pursue you. Does that mean that you shouldn’t do anything at all? By all means no. You can give subtle hints that you are interested in a guy. Just don’t think that God is going to drop off your knight in shining armor at your doorstep as you sit at home. You have to put feet to your prayers. Get out there and hang with some other singles in your area. Stay active and one day, something will happen.

Also, I just want to say that you should be content in your singleness. God has someone out there for everyone. How do I know this? It says in Matt. 6:33 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all of His righteousness. And all these things shall be added onto you.” God knows that it’s not good for man to be alone and he will provide someone for you at the right time. Think about all the things you can do when you are single. You have a lot more free time as well as you don’t have to worry about someone else all the time. So, that is my advice to my follow readers. Take care and toooooooooooooooooooooodles!

Busy and Passionate Life

2005-01-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Wow, I've been sooooo busy this week. I've been attempting to get more students and get my studio more organized, I had accountability with Suzanne & Kelly, had link group as always, had practiced and recorded with Chad (my trumpet player that I accompany), cheered on the Horizon soccer team, oh, can't forget me teaching my students, got to chill and have dinner with my best friend, Sarah Lippy, went to Java Mammas and played many chess matches, led worship with Jenn for Horizon service, played more chess with Dave Reichley, chilled with the "gang":), had some DDR action at Tronster's, and then watched the movie Tron. WHEW! That was a lot of stuff:D. But have you ever been so busy meeting people, being around crowds, but yet felt so alone? It's weird because I have, and talked to people who have felt the same way. Does this feeling go away when you are in a relationship with someone? It' s been so long since I dated that I really don't recall. What about when you are married? Do you still feel alone at times? hmmmm....as I sit and ponder these questions, I believe that no matter how much you are around people or how much you are around your loved ones, you still at times will feel alone. Why? This is what I think....we are nothing without God and we are designed to have a relationship with Him. I know whenever I feel alone, I start to pray to God and talk to Him. It reminds me of when God and Adam were in the Garden. Eventhough Adam had Eve, he still would always converse with God and WALK with Him. Wow, that's soooo cool. It makes me wonder how people can live without Christ. I can't imagine living a life without Him....I would be soooo alone. And the scary thing is that Hell is going to be worse.....utter isolation from God. I definitely don't want to go there;). It makes me more thankful and grateful for God's love and grace.

So, on to another topice now...passion. What is your passion in life? I come to realize what passion really means and what is it all about. Usually the term is associated with romanticism and followed with the phrase, passionatley in love. But do people really know what the word "passion" really means? It's interesting because this has been on my mind lately and that was the topic that we discussed during link group this week. If you could follow your passion, what would it be and what would you do to accomplish it? Ok, most of you know that my passion is (as crazy as it sounds)...video game music. :):):):):):) I found this site that's about video game remixes. Now, some pieces are really lame, but others are amazing. I highly recommend grosselederhosens' Wizards and Warriors remix. If you never played this game, you should, it was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. But even if you haven't played it, listen to the music because it's excellent. Anywho, one of my many goals in life is to compose video game music and I will do what it takes to obtain my goal. If you really love and desire something, you are willing to make many sacrifices for it. That is what true passion is about. So, what are you passionate about?

So, I bid my fellow readers, tooodles for now!

Actions & Appearances

2005-01-10T23:29:00.000-05:00

The other night, I was out with a few friends at a local pizza place. We were having a good time and we all noticed our poor waiter was having problems. It was pretty busy and he was the only one working. He was rather young and seemed to be new. So, needless to say, our food took a long time to arrive, but no of us complained one bit. Then, a family walked in and sat across from our table. They looked like they just got out of church and there was a mother who had two little boys. The one little boy never stopped staring at me. I smiled back at him as I was talking amongst my friends at my table. Then, our waiter came out from the back and dropped his tray and it landed right behind Luke. The poor boy cleaned up the mess and went back to the kitchen. I felt sorry for him because he was working really hard and I know that if I were in that position, I would be clumsy enough to do the same thing. Luckily, I never had to work tables in my life;).

Anywho, the poor waiter returned from the kitchen and brought out food for this family across from us. The mother was not so kind and was rather blunt with the waiter and told him to watch it with his tray because she didn’t want any food spilt on her. I started to cringe as I heard this because this women was setting a terrible example for her children as well as the appearance of a Christian. My friends and I noticed this and decided to tip the waiter well at the end of our meal.

So, just before we left, I decided to stay at our table until I was done my water. Just then, the little boy who kept staring at me came up to me and started a lovely conversation. He began to tell me that his name was Shawn and that he noticed that I had my game boy with me and started talking to me about video games. Hahahaha, I was so happy to converse with him. But as we started talking, the mother started to yell at him telling him that it was time to leave. She never did say one thing to me and interestingly enough, the boy left with a smile on his face.

The reason I am telling this story because this little event made me realize how crucial it is for us, Christians, to be Christ-like in all we do. Our actions effect others. For instance, how did our poor waiter feel about the way this mother treated him? If I were him, I would probably cry. How did her reaction to her child make him feel? But Shawn left with a grin. He never talked back to his mother, nor disrespected her in anyway, but he obediently listened to her. It reminded of the saying "having faith like a child". That little boy displayed more Christ-like qualities in that pure moment than the mother did all night. Wow, it made me realize, am I showing a Christ-like attitude? Do people see Christ through me? I know that it is hard to always be happy and joyful all the time though I try my best to be. We are only human and we all get in grumpy moods sometimes, but we should watch our actions because they effect others. So, I pray for that little boy that came up to me that day. I hope he spreads love and kindness to everyone he meets. He left with a grin….and made me leave with one too^__^.

So, tooooooooooooodles for now!

Changes

2005-01-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

So, I have a lot of changes going on in my life right now. It's funny, I use to absolutely hate change, but now, I don't mind it, though it can be frustrating. My Dad finally retired from the post office, which is great:). Now, he will be home all day with lovely me. It's going to be strange because I am usually home by myself during the day and I get more things done when it's just me. Now, I am going to be distracted since there will be someone else there. So, I have to adjust to this. Hmmmm....

Even though things in my life are changing and I am making new friends, I don't want to forget about my old ones. My good friend Justin Ready called me and told me that he is getting married. I think this is soooo wonderful. He has a true heart for God and God is blessing him. Actually, talking to him gave me some hope since I am still single. Not that I am not content in my singlehood, but I still would like to get married someday. It made me realize that there is a time and place for everything. Sometimes I think we all get impatient with things, especially in this area. God designed man not to be alone so it's only natural for us to desire to be with someone. But I think we need to wait on God's timing with this. That is extremely difficult to do, but again, God knows what is best for us. Anywho, so I also got a chance to talk to my best friend, Sarah Lippy. Yipppeeee! I can't wait to see her tomorrow. It's been forever since we last talked and fellowshipped. It's a great feeling to be able to keep in touch with old friends and see what they are up to. Then it's great to fellowship with new people. I had coffee with Jenn Stephenson today, which was totally awesome. We had lovely conversation and she shared part of her testimony, which I was so happy to hear. I love to see how God works through people and it's always inspiring to me to hear how other people started to follow Christ. From listening to people's testimonies, it helps me to grow closer to Christ.

So, what am I going to plan for this upcoming New Year? Well, I really would like to set up my studio for composing video game music. It's hard because I need some money before I can do anything and then I have to purchase different gadgets and stuff. I've been reading this really great book called Game Audio. It's really helping me with getting started in the field. So, we shall see what happens. Other things....hmmm...well, I will be starting to substitute teach, which is exciting and something new. I hope that goes well. I also want to get more involved at my church, Horizon. It's hard sometimes because I live about 45min. away from church and friends. Though I will make all the effort to do what I can to help out. Fellowship is very important especially in this day and age. I just want to offer that to those who need it. I have so much I want to do this year, but I know I can handle it.

This past year, 2004, has been amazing. God has really blessed me. Ever since my back was healed and I was released from the doctor in Jan. 2004, my life has gotten so much better. I can't believe all that I have been through. It makes me realize that I can accomplish anything with Christ and that I can trust Him to provide everything for me at the opportune time. I just want to keep serving Him in all that I do because I know I would be no where without Him.

So, that is an update on my life. Toooooodles for now!

The World of Video Games...Delightful!

2004-12-29T22:57:00.000-05:00

Wow, this week has been so great. I took off from teaching and have all the time in the world to do what I enjoy most.....playing video games:). I get trapped into some of these RPG stories and I can't get away from them. And the music, wow, I just can't believe how the sound quality in video games has evolved. So, my biggest passion in life is video game music. Crazy, huh! It may seem strange for a girl to be so passionate about something that some consider to be a "guy" thing, but really it's not. One of my dreams is to compose video game music and God has provided me with so many connections already for that....quite amazing really and exciting. I hope to one day meet my favorite composer of all time, Nobuo Uematsu. He is sooooo amazing and rumor has it he will be doing a U.S. tour and you can get passes to meet him! Wow, this might be my chance. Tee hee heee! The world of Final Fantasy..hmmm...for some reason just thinking about the music or playing the video game series actually gives me goosebumps. I don't quite understand it and it probably sounds so goofie. Well, if you are as passionate as I am about Final Fantasy and video games, drop me a line and we'll chat. I can talk your ear off about it. Ah, ....what a delight^__^.

Yesterday was totally awesome! I spent the whole day at the Reichley's watching all three extended verions of Lord of the Rings! Wow, it was sooooooo much fun. Dave made us t-shirts in remembrance of the day and lembas bread. It was so totally cool. I was there from 8am to midnight. Woo-hoooo! Now, I can't stop thinking about hobbits, elves, dwarves, and wizards. It will be a day I will not forget. Thank you Dave and Mel!

So, back to me chillin' with my video games. Currently, I am playing Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for the GBA. If you haven't played PS2's Kingdom Hearts, you better....I consider it the best game ever made. How can you go wrong with mixing Final Fantasy characters with Disney characters? Tee hee heeeeee! So, tooooooooodles for now!

Merry Christmas:)

2004-12-26T01:18:00.000-05:00

Well, first of all.....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! I hope you all had an exciting day.....I know I did. I woke up this morning and opened presents with my parents and Luke, my bro. So, I got a lot of cool things and I gave my family a lot of cool things....BUT the best gift of all came from my parents to Luke and I...We unwrapped all these tiny little boxes with clues: dice, then an air plane, then a date book with a week highlighted in it....Finally, the last box was a travel book of.....dum ba dum....LAS VEGAS! YEAH BABY YEAH! My parents our treating us to a trip to Las Vegas. I never been before and I am soooooooo excited. I definitely want to check out the Star Trek Experience as well as the Queen Musical We Will Rock You. Wow, that was such a awesome gift. My parents are the greatest.

We then had breakfast and my grandparents came over. It was a nice little meal although our oven went up! So, no baking whatsoever for awhile...Oh no! What will I ever do? I hope I can survive^__^.

So, things were quite peaceful.....until later! Let me explain, my family is HUGE! On my father's side, we have twenty people. Luckily, it's all adults and no kids, and we usually meet for Christmas on Christmas eve. Now, on my mother's side.....there are over 28 people......most are children and we meet on Christmas day. My mother's brothers and sisters rotate every year having Chirstmas in each of their homes.....well, it was our turn this year.

So, 3pm, everyone decides to come in....Ok, I love my family dearly, but I just can't take the kids all running around and nobody watching them. As soon as they come into the house, the parents forget about their kids and they begin to run around everywhere and get into every little thing. Well, my cousin's son decided that the computer is his toy and began to mess with the keyboard and mouse and whatever he could find. Well, he somehow sent a message to everyone in my AIM to come to a conference chat room....and I mean everyone in my list! DAH! And this child is only two...so, I did the wise thing and turned the computer off. Well, as I was doing that, this child decided to steal my lovely new book that I got for Christmas, Sting's Broken Music, and begins to mess with it. DAAAAAAAAH!!!! Good grief.

So, after our chaotic dinner, it was time to open gifts....this takes forever. Everyone in my family gets each child a gift and the adults do a wonderful thing known as a gift exchange;). So, every gift has to be opened one at a time....this took three hours.....three hours of watching these greedy little kids open gifts! Seriously, as soon as they got a gift, they unwrapped it and wanted more. Wow, I hope to one day marry into a small family....where it will be peaceful, yes, peaceful...like the hobbits in the Shire. If there are children they will be well behaved and proper. MWHAAAAAA!!!!

So, anywho, despite the fact that it gets extremely chaotic in the Bandy household during Christmas, I still enjoy it. If I didn't have all this craziness going on....what would I talk about;)? So, I will end my blog by thanking God for my family. Lord thanks for a crazy and wonderful family. It wouldn't be Christmas without them. So, toooooooooooodles for now my peeps!

Much Ado About Nothing

2004-12-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

So I am getting ready for Christmas. It's sooooo exciting! I know sometimes I complain because I have such a big family, but I still love them all. It does get a little crazy when you have twenty people in your home and there are kids running around everywhere and nobody is watching them. Then usually something breaks.....someting of mine unfortunately. I guess I have all the luck with the kiddies:D. Whenever I do get married and have children (da! the thought I me being a mother) I will make sure that my kids are well behaved or I will discipline them with a stick. Mwhaaaaa! Just kidding...though I can picture it in my mind. OR I can get one of those leashes that people have for kids so they can't wonder away from you. Heee heee hee, that would be fun! I'm actually becoming better with children, especially since I teach them. I have some really well behaved kids and the others I just want to throw out the window. But again, I am ranting on about nothing.

So, I have an exciting day today. I get to meet my college friends for lunch, teach for a few hours, and practice with the Towson praise band this evening. Oh, I'm excited! Holly & I were suppose to perform in Owings Mills this Sunday morning, but it didn't work out. BUT that's ok because we were able to do it in Towson. YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!! Things always work out in the end and I am pleased that were are able to do this. I wonder how many people will actually be in church this Sunday? Most will be away visiting with their families, fortunately, my family lives around me so I don't have to travel very far.

So, I will post more later on...but to all, if I don't see or talk to you before hand...I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Fun fun fun! Tooooooooooooooooooooooooodles:)!!!!

fun fun fun!!!

2004-12-20T02:32:00.000-05:00

So, I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I am still alive. I did a lot of things this weekend. Friday, I had dinner with Tali & Eli, then we made more signs for the soccer game. We had a larger cheering section this time, which was great, but the other team was ruthless! People in the stands were mocking us as we cheered and telling us to sit down. Let me just say, I don't get upset real easily, but I was getting rather agitated. But what can you do, they were a bunch of rednecks anyways. Though our team did very well scoring a total of six points, but the other team won by one. It was a fun game to watch. We won't have another soccer team for three weeks because of the holidays....quite sad, but we all need a break sometimes^__^.

Saturday was a lot of fun. Tronster had his annual Cocktail Party. Wooo-whooooo!! I've never been to one before, but I had the chance to dress formal. Yippeee!! I love dressing up. I got to wear my mother's Chinese dress. Yes my mothers..I actually fit in her clothing now, but surprisingly enough, the dress was a little big. Yep, I lost a lot of weight. In total, I have lost 40 pounds! Wow, I am amazed by that, but I feel so much healthier now and for good reasons. Anywho, the party was fun and yes, all I had to drink was water. I think people still are in shock that I don't drink. I can't stand the smell of alcohol, let alone trying to taste it. To tell you the truth, I really don't understand why people drink so much. I guess it has to do with how it makes you feel. Don't get me wrong, I am not against alcohol, but it makes me wonder what are the motives behind someone drinking. I see what alcohol can do to people and I personally never want to experience that state. It's not my idea of a good time.

Anywho, Sunday, we again had prayer in the morning, which I think it great. I know more people are interested in doing this and it's going to grow. It's great to see everyone gathering together and praying in a group. At service, we had communion, which was rather nice. I think sometimes we forget how much God loves us, sending Christ to earth to die and forgive us of our sins. To think that Jesus suffered severely for no actual cause, but He still did it for us is amazing. His body was broken and His blood was shed to cover our sins. Wow....that's almost uncomprehendable, but I know I am thankful.

After lunch in Towson, a group of us went to see Ocean 12 in wonderful Westmintser. It was ok....I think the first one was probably better and I didn't like some of the camera shots because it actually made me sick. Hee hee heeee! Then, I chilled with Banks, Luke, Mike, Jake and Jen Jackson at the Pour House. I have to say, you must try their cookie dough cheesecake...it was delicious:). John & Carrie Lewis were performing that evening & they did a marvelous job. So, my weekend went well. AND it actually snowed Sunday evening. YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Time to go sledding....once there is more snow on the ground of course. So, tooooooooooooodles for now!!!!!

My Testimony

2004-12-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

Introduction

Alright, so here is goes. This is an intense and long story which expands six years of my life. I wouldn’t change a single day because I have learned through this experience and it has made me who I am today:). I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1

So, the question is where it begin? I guess I'll begin when it all happened in the summer of 1998. I was very content at this point in my life. I was working hard, had many friends, a boyfriend, & I was succeeding very well in my piano studies. Nothing could go wrong....or could it?

I woke up the Thanksgiving of the same year with a terrible sore in my back. I felt as if I were sitting on a golf ball. So, I ran and grabbed my mother & asked her to check it out. Apparently, I had an abnormal cyst growing on the base of my spine. Later, I found out that is was called a pilonidal cyst. These cysts are abnormal cells that never form at birth in the human body, but as soon as a person reaches adolescent hood, it begins to take shape, but becomes infected. It usually becomes infected, causing a great deal of bleeding and puss. Not everyone gets these nasty things, I guess only the special people get to endure its turmoil.

So, when I discovered this news, I was in panic. My mother helped calm me down and insured me that is was an easy fix. All that had to be done was a minor surgery to remove this nasty thing. So, Dr. Steers, a local surgeon, was called & I saw him the next day. He assured me that he could remove this cyst by surgery, but I would have to be out of school for two weeks. Ok, so that didn't seem to bad. He gave me some pain killers for the pain & scheduled a surgery in mid-December. Wow, talk about a Merry Christmas. Ok, so a minor surgery.... no biggie....right?

So, as I went in for surgery, I was a nervous wreck because I never had surgery before. But my family was there to help me through it. So, they prayed with me and in I went. Wow, the surgery was very quick & I was back home the same day. I felt great afterwards, probably from all the drugs they gave me. I was instructed not to sit down or lay on my back until Dr. Steers removes the stitches after the holidays. Ok, yipppeeeeee!!!! Things were going great. I survived my first surgery & I was only in minor pain at the time. But, unfortunately things never go as planned.

A few days after surgery, I noticed that I was bleeding through my clothing. Talk about being scared. I did exactly what I was instructed to do, no sitting or lying on my back, so where is this blood coming from? I went to the doctor & I told him about the blood, but he said nothing about it & took the stitches out. So, I was suppose to see him in the following week for a check-up. But the next day, I was in more pain than usual. Things just didn't seem right. So, I went back to the doctor and he informed me that the incision from the surgery came open! AAAHHH! What was I suppose to do now? Well, he instructed me to take Vitamin E & stay off my back & no sitting for awhile, which meant no school. Ok, I can handle this....right? Well, I went to this doctor for 8 months and his treatment did nothing for me. He said that he didn't understand why I wasn't healing & there was nothing he could do for me. WHAT?

At this time, my world seemed to crash. I was unable to work & make money because I couldn't drive, I had no social life because I couldn't go to school (actually I am surprised I graduated on time. If it wasn't for being in private school & the teachers allowing me to make up my homework over the internet, I probably wouldn't have), & the unthinkable happened....my first boyfriend of nine months broke-up with me. Normally, I wouldn't dive right into this, but it was heartbreaking because it happened at a crucial time in my life and the words that he said to break it off were few, but painful. He basically stated that he could not handle me being sick and that God was telling him to move on. What really hurt was that a few months later, he got engaged to another girl. Talk about feeling like a piece of crap. I felt like I at had lost everything, my health, my friends, & even my family. I have to say, I have been really lucky to have parents who are so supportive of me, but my sickness started to wear them down. My mother had to take care of me because I couldn't take care of myself. She had to dress and change my wound bandages everyday, twice a day. I knew it was causing her pain to see me like this & I felt like it was all my fault. What was happening to me? Why was I not healing? I don't understand? Why has God left me so alone? With nothing....and no one to turn to. At this point, my sickness was getting worse, it wasn't just a incision not healing. Whatever was effecting me was effecting me physically and mentally.

I was angry at God because I had lost everything. Why? Why had He forsaken me? My life was perfect before this cyst even occurred? It was suppose to be a simple operation and easy fix. Why was I not healing? Oh, the pain was so unbearable. Imagine not being about to sit down for a year of your life. Imagine not being able to do what you love the most, which was for me, playing the piano. I couldn't sit, therefore I couldn't practice. Again, I had lost all joy and hope. Though I was still angry at God, I still read the Bible, hoping to find an answer. At this point, I knew who I could relate to the most, Job.

Job had lost everything, his family, his livestock, his wealth, basically his whole world. And he too, was suffering from physical pain...boils all over his body. His friends were never very supportive as Job grieved. They believed that he had done something wrong and that was why he was suffering. No, he did not suffer for that. He suffered because God knew he could handle it & rewarded him more than he had before because of his faith. You see, God was testing Job because he knew Job had great faith in Him. He was a righteous man and did not suffer because of sin. In the same way, I was not suffering because I did something wrong, though I felt like it, I was suffering because God knew I could handle it. I so love the last verse in the book of Job. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, good life. I too, wanted this. I wanted what Job received....a long & good life. No matter the pain, no matter the loneliness, no matter how long it would take, I was never going to lose my faith in Christ.

Chapter 2

In the summer of 1999, Dr. Steers finally concluded that he could do nothing for me and transferred me to another doctor, Dr. Miller. At this point, I felt like my body was on fire because of the pain. She looked at the gaping wound on my back and determined a new treatment, packing it with gauze. THIS IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL!!!! I had a 3-inch wound at the base of my spine & now I had gauze shoved inside it. Apparently, this is suppose to soak up all the blood and puss that oozes out of the wound so it can heal from the inside out. This had to be done twice a day. I cannot tell you how much I cried during those few weeks of treatment. I even at one point ask God to just take my life rather than going through the pain since it was so unbearable. But, the treatment looked like it was working. The wound was actually shrinking! What a relief! This meant I could go back to school. Yes, finally a break through. I can gain another piece of my life back...or so I thought.

It's interesting how things begin to look up and you become very thankful, but what happens when things don't meet your expectations? Though I was back in school, I still had to be cautious on how I was sitting. I had to sit side saddle for the longest time. I thought that this would be all over soon, that my wound on my back would be no more, but things never go the way it seems. I still was in pain & I saw Dr. Miller almost every week for months. Then one day, things took a toll for the worse.

I remember being in computer class and all of sudden I went pale. I didn't feel good at all & the pain in my back began to worsen. My computer teacher, Mrs. Bollinger, knew that I wasn't feeling right. She requested for me to go home and rest. So, I did, but rest I did not get. I was lying in my bed screaming in pain. What was happening now? I couldn't move my legs! It was like the bottom of my body was on fire and I couldn't move. I kept on praying that God would come and save me from this burning pain! Plus, my parents were away and my brother was gone, so I felt so alone again. Help me! Help me! Anyone? Please! Those were the only words that were going through my head. I tried my best to sleep and just wait for someone to find me. I woke up the next morning, trying to move, but again I couldn't...then I noticed the blood. It wasn't just little droplets, it was a lot. I felt so weak...was I dying? I had no energy, I couldn't move at all. Finally, my parents came back home and found me.

I was taken to Dr. Miller immediately & apparently all the packing treatment did not help at all. I was hemorrhaging severely from this wound so, Dr. Miller decided to run some test and she gave me some painkillers & told me to rest at home. Had God left me? I knew I had faith in Him, but why? Hadn't I suffered enough? Every hour my mother had to change my bandages because I was bleeding so bad. I could see the tears in her eyes as she was trying to pull herself together and tell me that everything was going to be ok. I knew it wasn't.

Finally, the next day, Dr. Miller called and had results. I had four bacterial infections that could be treated with antibiotics, but I had to go in for surgery because they found more cysts. No, not surgery again! Ironically enough, surgery was scheduled in mid-December, exactly one year from my first surgery. Though this surgery was more serious. I was suppose to stay in the hospital for a few days & couldn't eat any solid foods. I remember lying in the hospital bed and feeling so alone. Visitors were allowed to come in during the day, but couldn't stay the night. I couldn't sleep because I was scared and lonely. Also, I had to lie on my stomach in the hospital bed & wasn't allowed to stay on my back at all. This is extremely hard to do, especially since I sleep on my back. Your whole body begins to ache & your stomach becomes very tender and sore because you can't move off of it, not even for eating (or in my case sipping chicken broth). Luckily, I finally came home on Christmas Eve. Wow, I would be able to enjoy the holidays somewhat.

Chapter 3

So, after this surgery life started to look better. My pain was not as intense as it was & I no longer had a gaping wound on my back:). I started back to school & tried to enjoy the rest of my Senior year. Yeah, things were much better. I found out from Dr. Miller that if I didn't have this past surgery, I could have died. She actually found debris and rotting flesh inside the wound that she had to clean out, but she got it all out including all the extra cysts. Wow, what a relief! Was God finally done testing me? Was I now going to be able to live that long & good life? At least I thought so....but God wasn't done with me yet.

The rest of my Senior year in high school went great. I was able to have a social life again and I felt like thing were looking up. I was going to college in the fall & I actually graduated from high school on time despite being out of school a total of six months. Wow, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I finally could put this nasty illness behind me, but I was wrong.

A few months after my second surgery, my wound started to come open again. Though it wasn't deep like before, it still was causing me some pain & discomfort. I informed Dr. Miller about it & she did a few basic treatments, but nothing was working. So, I tried my best to live with it. I went to college & ignored it. I knew it was there, but I didn't want to go through the pain and suffering like I did in the past. So, I didn't do anything for it for a whole year and survived my first year of college. Then I decided to get help for it. Dr. Miller said there was nothing more she could do & recommended me to another doctor, Dr. Cohen, a wound care specialist.

Dr. Cohen examined me & said the he could fix the problem by surgery. What? Another surgery? No, I didn't want to do it. Though he assured that it would be minor & it should work. Ok, so I heard all this before, but will it actually work? Well, I guess I should try it. So, I had my third surgery in July of 2001. I was in the hospital for a few days & again, lying on my stomach the whole time, which I have become a pro at doing. It seemed like it worked. After surgery, the wound was closed even after the stitches were taken out. I thought I was getting better, but I wasn't. It came open again! I couldn't believe it! Had I done something wrong? I've been doing exactly what the doctors suggested me to do. Will I have to live like this the rest of my life?

So, since the surgery was unsuccessful, I had more testing done to find out what was wrong with me. Did I have diabetes or was I allergic to something? So, I spent a whole day at the hospital getting blood work done. Do know you that I still have scars on my arms where they punctured me with a needle? Eleven times they drew blood that day and my arms were so bruised and sore.

The test came back that I was a very healthy girl with no problems regarding diabetes or anything of the sort. So, that ruled many things out, but what was wrong with me? Why wasn't I healing? Dr. Cohen wasn't about to give up on me. He concluded that the only other thing was that my body was rejecting the stitching known as vicryl. Vicryl? What is that? Apparently it is a type of suture that all hospitals use in surgery now a days. It is very rare, but there have been cases where people have allergic reactions to them. I was one of those lucky people. So, in order to fix the problem of my back wound not healing, I would have to undergo a fourth surgery. But I refused to do it while I was in college. I was not going to stop my life for this any longer. I lost so much already, but I wasn't about to lose anymore.

So, I had my fourth surgery during my Jan term break of 2002. Wow, I couldn't believe I had to go through this again. I am cursed...this illness that I had affected everything around me. The way I interacted with people & how I felt about myself. But I still had hope. God was still with me in this....at least that was what I believed. So, yet again here I was lying on my stomach in the hospital. To me it was like a routine thing and since I've done it so many times before, this one wasn't going be any different. I thought I could tough it out because I thought this would be the last surgery. They finally found out what was wrong with me, right? So, this surgery should do the trick. Dr. Cohen basically sewed up the wound using other suture material besides vicryl. So, it had to work....at least that is what I hoped for.

The healing process was going smoothly. I still was in pain, but I was so use to being in pain that it really didn't bother me. I started my Spring semester of my sophomore year at college hoping that I could at least enjoy the rest of my college years in peace. Again, I was wrong. About a month after surgery, my incision came open again. WHAT? It started to become more of a nuisance than a problem. How can this be? God was suppose to take care of this? I felt as if God was playing a game of chess & I am the pawn that never advanced. Why? That was all I could ask God. Why was he doing this to me? Job didn't suffer this much? Come on, give me a break here!

So, Dr. Cohen tried another treatment that he thought would work besides having another surgery, using silver nitrate. Now, let me explain this in full detail. Silver nitrate is a chemical that burns the skin off to promote healing. How this actually promotes healing, I don't know, but remember the key word is burn. Again, another quite painful treatment that I had to endure twice a day for many months. I couldn't take it anymore. This had better work. Well, it didn't.

Chapter 4

I decided to give up. I didn't want to deal with going to the doctor every month. I've been doing it for the past four years. I didn't want to do it anymore. Maybe God didn't want to cure me. Maybe this was something that I had to live with the rest of my life. A painful wound on my back that effects everything. I couldn't exercise, though I tried so hard to, it hurt just to even walk. I couldn't practice the piano as much as I wanted to....my love for music would have to fail due to this. My relationships with people was so hard to maintain because I was always so tired and didn't want to explain to every person that I met what was going on with me. Another question I had to face was would there be someone out there willing to love and take care of me despite me being sick? I had already lost someone in a relationship because of this. Who would want me? I couldn't offer anything to them because I was so ill. God, you have cursed me! This is not the life that I wanted. Why?

So, for a year I continued to see Dr. Cohen on a regular basis, but that was it. I didn't want any treatment nor did I want a surgery. I just wanted to leave it all behind, but Dr. Cohen had hope even when I didn't. He believed that one reason that I wasn't healing was that my tailbone was putting pressure on this wound & that is why it wouldn't heal. Hmmmm...interesting theory...but what could be done about it? Oh yes, another surgery. This time it was a little more dangerous because he was going to shave some of the tailbone off, which could cause more pain and some complications. No, I don't want this anymore, but I was willing to risk everything again so I could live a normal life. So, I finished my Junior year of college and had my fifth surgery in June 2003.

This surgery was very serious and it was taken very seriously. I had to stay in the hospital on my stomach for a whole week, the longest I had ever stayed in the hospital before. Could I survive? The pain was quite worse than usual after surgery, but I did lose part of my tailbone so, it was understandable. When I came home, I was so happy because I felt like this was it. This was the turning point. I was finally going to be healed! So, I thought...again.

I was being overly cautious after this surgery. I tried my best not to even move around at all. I didn't want anything to happen to me. So, it looked like I was actually getting better. Yipppeeee!!! I was so excited. My life was about to change. So, I decided to go to Ocean City with my parents for vacation. I needed to get out of the house. Being cooped up all the time at home is not my idea of a good time. It was time to see the sun again. I was determined to get my life straightened out. I had no problems when I was on vacation whatsoever. I still had some pain from post surgery, but again I am use to that. I even walked the whole boardwalk on my own...though it was a very slow walk since I had to take baby steps. I was feeling like things were going to go up from here. Well, things changed.....

As soon as I came home from vacation, I started bleeding again. My whole world had crashed yet, a second time. I saw Dr. Cohen & he couldn't believe what had happened. Part of the incision came open again. Why? I stopped even asking that questioned after awhile. I have said it so many times that it didn't matter. So, Dr. Cohen said he was going to do another surgery making tight, tiny stitches to insure that this wound would close up. Again? Another surgery? Though, this one was extremely minor I was told. So, I had my sixth surgery in August of 2003.

At this time, I had other things happening in my life. I was about to start my Senior year of college, which was a big year for me. I was in my second relationship with someone, this one was a friend I knew for years. He knew what I had been through with my illness, which gave me some comfort, but it was not meant to be. Again, the pain I had to endure. This time, I had done the unthinkable.....I had lost all hope for everything and anything in my life. There was no such thing as God. He was never with me during these times. He probably doesn't even really exist. He is just a made up story and a lie.

I went through the sixth surgery with no problems. I began school the next week with a broken heart and physical difficulties. I didn't really think I was going to get better. God had abandoned every aspect of my life. I felt like I meant nothing to Him at all. I would read the Bible and think that it was just words on a page, nothing more. Why wouldn’t God heal me? He doesn't really care. I had no hope.

I tell you this, when you have no hope, why live? Hope is what keeps us going and what makes us pursue our dreams. When you lose hope, you lose everything. So, I was at my wits end. The stitches from my last surgery were taken out, but I knew that didn't matter. My wound would come open again.

I started not caring about anything in life. I didn't care if I was doing well in school or how I acted towards others. I fell into a great depression and couldn't get out of it. I was living in fear that this wound would come open anytime & destroy my life more than it already had. What was I to do? I lost my faith in God altogether, but fortunately, I am here to say that God never gives up on you.

I went to church every Sunday, but I never really paid any attention to the sermons. Why should I? It's not going to help me or anything. But one sermon did change me forever. My pastor spoke about a lovely, young woman named Hannah. The story of Hannah can be found in 1 Samuel 1-2. Hannah was married to Elkanah, who had a second wife named Peninnah. Peninnah was able to bare children, but Hannah was not because God had closed her womb. Peninnah would taunt Hannah because she was not able to bare children, though Elkanah loved Hannah very much and tried his best to comfort her.

One day during Passover, the taunting from Peninnah was so terrible that Hannah was unable to eat and wept greatly. It got to the point where she went to the Tabernacle to pray. As she was weeping, she made this vow, "O Lord Almighty, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you." Eli, the priest at the time saw Hannah talking to herself and thought she was drunk. He told her to put away her wine, but she replied that she had not been drinking, but praying because she had a very sad heart. Eli saw this and replied to her saying, "Cheer up! May God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him." She then gave many thanks, stopped crying, and was able to eat again. You see, she was no longer sad because she knew in her heart that God was going to grant her request. He eventually did and she kept her promise and gave the boy over to Eli when he was old enough. This boy was known as the Lord's helper, Samuel.

Wow, I felt like I was in the same situation as Hannah. All I wanted really was for my back to be healed. So, one night I wept unto God asking for forgiveness for my doubts and losing my faith and hope in Him. I presented my request to Him saying, "Lord, I truly want you heal my back so I can live a normal life. In return, I will give my life back to you, serving you in any possible way." I continued to weep, wondering if my prayers were truly going to be answered or not. Then that is where the miracle happened. God spoke to me, but not in a big bang or loud voice, but in a small, tiny whisper, "My Daughter, you have suffered long enough. It is time for you to be healed." That very moment, I knew I was healed and my heart was filled with joy.

I still continued to go see the doctor once a month for the next few months after that, but I knew I was healed. I was finally released from the doctor January 2004. Wow, after six years, I am finally healed. I know I had suffered greatly, but I wouldn't change anything that happened during those years. If I did, I wouldn't be the person I am now. Why do these things happen to people? Why was Hannah barren for so many years? Why did Job suffer? This was all in God's plan, to show His mighty power and to perform a miracle. I truly believe that God allowed this to happen to me so that he could use me as a miracle and allow me to help others in similar situations.

Epilogue

I am currently the happiest I have ever been. I am in no physical pain or have any physical formalities, besides major scarring. I graduated college in May 2004 with a B.A. in Music and currently am teaching people to play the piano. I am able to exercise everyday, practice the piano as long as I want, and go out & socialize. God even led me to a wonderful church known as Horizon where my gifts and talents are being used and I am meeting a lot of new people. I am finally living like Job after he suffered, a good life full of days.

I hope this little tale will help you as well. Remember, even when you lose hope or believe that God is not around, He is always there and has a plan for you. You may be suffering from physical or emotional pain, but never lose hope. It may look hopeless now, but there is a gift God has for you, Jesus Christ. In Christ, there is endless love and happiness. I hope you to will get to experience the joy that I have in knowing Him. Consider this, miracles still happen today. I know because I am a walking miracle.

WeeeeeEEEE!

2004-12-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

Okie Dokie, so things that happen to me.....Well, today, I finally assembled my lamp from IKEA....well, it doesn't work...nooooooooooooo!! That means I have to go back, which I don't mind, but it is not very close to me. Dang it!

So, I called about the substitute teaching & I am scheduled for training on Jan. 18th. Awesome! I am actually really excited about this. I can't wait to start, which probably won't take effect until Feb.

I must say, I am sooooo tired of practicing this piece for my trumpeter. It's sooooo draining because the piece is very fast pace and hard. I keep putting it off, but I must resist. It is fun to play, but I got to work out a few tricky spots though. ugh, I hope it will be over soon:).

Ok, so I finally finished my testimony. It will be up probably on the next post or so. Anywho, toodles for now!

The day I had....

2004-12-12T21:49:00.000-05:00

So, I had a loooooong & great day today. This morning was great because we started a prayer group before Towson service. Thanks goes out to Tali for putting this together. I think it's a great idea & hopefully we will get many prayers in the prayer box. Hmmm....maybe we should get the list of prayer requests from other link group leaders from their link group & pray over them...that's always a thought. I'm excited about this! Yippeee!!

Service went very well. I've been trying to get more involved in church, especially in the music area. The sunday after Christmas I will be playing & singing at Owings Mills. Actually, Holly is going to sign each song & I will play & sing. I'm excited about that. Surprisingly enough, Jenn Stephenson asked my to sing the same day at Towson. Darn it, I can't be at two places at once....I need to be cloned. Hahahaha!

Dave Cowan preached this morning about giving & receiving. I finally started taking notes again in my journal. Wow, the last sermon that I had in there(besides the one line from last week) was from Pastor Sulcer in Oct 2002. Phew! Time does fly. Anywho, Dave mentioned that it is better to give with BOTH hands, meaning when you give to someone, you give your best. Sometimes that is hard to do, especially when you don't like someone. I know I sometimes slack off with some of my students, but I shouldn't. I should work like am working unto God. Also, it is so hard to comprehend, but I need to realize that God gave the greatest gift of all, His only son, Jesus Christ. This is the true meaning of Christmas, which I forget sometimes, but I should always dwell on that whenever I can. At the end, the link group leaders gave each person a $2 bill as a gift. Wow, that is really cool!

Afterwards, it was on to the food court for fellowship. I decided to randomly have a game night at my house later this evening. People wanted to come, but couldn't make it because they were really busy. That is always cool because the Gang & I still had our fun and my parents even joined in on the games! I definitely want to keep up with doing more activitites & having them available for people. I think that's very important to keep up with fellowship with others. It is a sense of community, which unfortunately is not something we see now a days.

So, that was basically my day for now. until next time, Tooooooooooooooodles!!!

Phew!

2004-12-11T21:33:00.000-05:00

Wow, these past two days have been jammed packed full of goodness. Friday, I, again, was trying to get things organized in my life. I decided that I will probably start substitute teaching so, I will have to call the Carroll County school system on Monday. It should be fun, despite that I am nervous about doing it. I can teach kids on a one-on-one basis, but a classroom full of children? Eh, we will see what happens.

So, I have been really busy typing up my testimony, which will appear on my blog in the next few days. Wow, I didn't realize how extremely long it was, but it does take up six years of my life. It's interesting how I can remember some of those days so vividly. It actually really brings me joy thinking about what I have been through & how God is so awesome^__^. More on that later.

Ok, so I had a lot of fun with Tali (aka Jess) Friday night. We made signs for our Horizon soccer team. YIPPPEEEE!!! We made this one sign with all the players on it and put different expressions on them. A few to mention are Rebecca with pigtails, Eli with a hockey stick, Tronster with all his geeky computer coding, Suzanne saying "y'all", and Banks being hit in the face with a soccer ball in remembrance of our first soccer game. Ha ha ha:)! We didn't score one point this past game, but that's ok. As long as everyone is having fun, that's all that matters. I know I am having a blast cheering everyone on....WOOO-HOOOO!!!! Go team go!

So, Saturday, I woke up extremely tired. I couldn't sleep the night before & didn't get to bed until like 4am. Goodness! Must have been all the Karaoke Revolution:P. Anywho, I taught my lovely kiddies & then it was off to IKEA with Rebecca. We had a great time and I got some lamp stuff for my room. Afterwards, Rebecca showed me some really pics & talked about Native American Indians & Pow-wows...really cool stuff. Rock on girl!

I then venture to Holly's house, and Brad, Holly, & I watched The Brotherhood of the Wolf. It's very long and slow, though has some cool fight scenes. But I was falling asleep since I was so tired. So, I went home & now I am here typing up my blog. I think I am just gonna chill & play some video games. Heck ya! I haven't done that in forever. Final Fantasy anyone? So, toodles for now!

Getting Organized....:D

2004-12-08T02:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, so, today, was Lydia getting organized day. Yeah! The question is now, let's see how long it will last;). I will admit that I have been procrastinating things as well as been lazy. I kinda took a break after graduating college in May. I haven't been pursuing things like I should. I think it is time that I put a stop to it & get my life going. So, basically, I am saying I need to make more money. Ok, so I have 25 students right now, which is great, but that won't support me the rest of my life. It's been great that my parents have helped me through a lot financially, but it all most end. It's time for me to grow up and get my act together. Unless for some strange reason, I will marry some really rich and wealthy guy.......yeah riiiiiiiiight^__^! I can't be dependent on that...though it is a thought;).

Anywho, so, I saw in the paper a few weeks ago a position for a piano teacher. Why in the world have I not called about it, I dunno. Again, I procrastinate, that is something that I pray God will help me change. So, I finally called and left a message. Knowing my luck, it is probably already filled. But then I am also looking into substitute teaching. I am really nervous to do this, but it might do me a lot of good. It seems like fun, but can I handle a classroom full of kids? Good grief....I can see the stories now. Children trip & tie up a clumsy, substitute teacher and lock her in the closet as they rampage and take over the school. Yep, I can see that happening. But I must be brave and soke up all my fears and remember that God is with me. So, toodles!

Personalities...

2004-12-07T02:24:00.000-05:00

Ok, so, I had an interesting conversation with my friends about personalities and personality types. So, I decided I would take a test online today to see what kind of personality that I have. Well, the test was three hundred questions and took an hour to complete. As I awaited my full results, the response on the screen stated that the test determined that I was a kind and caring person, considering others before myself. THEN, in order to see my full results, I would have to pay $11 to see it. WHAT? I wasted an whole hour of my day. Darn it! Oh well, I just have to find another AMPM test that is free. If anyone knows of one, let me know!

Anywho, back to the subject. For those who don't know, a type B personality is someone who is laid back, artistic, and very disorganized & a type A personality is someone well-organized, punctual & up-tight. So, as I was talking to my friends, they said that I have a type B personality. You know what, that is definitely me! I am starting to realize how disorganized I am. I thought I was rather well-organized, but as I look at how messy my studio is and how disorganized my budget is, I've come to the conclusion that I am not organized whatsoever. So, what does that mean? Well, it means that I need to become organized. I just find it interesting how God created these different personalities and how they actuallly fit. For instance, my parents are very different in there personalities, my mother is definitely a type B & my father is a type A, which means that they compliment each other. hmmmm....almost like a jigsaw puzzle in a way....

So, anywho, I definitely would like to become more organized. Starting tomorrow I am going to make a list of things a I need to do to get organized with my business as well as my life in general. I need to start by keeping a datebook with me & writing things down. For instance, I have a lot of piano practicing to do. I've been a slacker this week and it is time to get back into shape. I have to get things ready for my trumpeter, Chad Goodman, who I am accompanying & recording in January. Then, I also have to start working on my music video, which hopefully will air in Feb. at Horizon. Plus, I need to start composing video game music & focus on getting that business started. Good grief, I realize that I have so much to do in so little time. So, I should depart and say toodles for now! Tempus Fugit!

What a Weekend...

2004-12-06T02:58:00.000-05:00

Wow, this weekend was jammed backed with goodness and now, I am extremely tired from it all. Saturday, I had my wonderful gig at Java Mamma's, which overall went very well. It was amazing to see all the people who came out to support me. I appreciated it as well as all my parents' help and support. God has truly blessed me with many gifts and talents & I praise Him for that. This gig was the longest I ever played straight while standing up. I have to say, I was exhausted by the second hour & ran out of material. The great thing about playing music in the background is that you can basically play whatever you wish & no one truly realizes it, especially if you make mistakes^__^. But as soon as you stop playing, people notice, which is a rather interesting phenomenon. Thanks goes to Tronster for letting me borrow a really cool tip jar. Funny, one guy came up to me & said, "I think you are really pretty" & tipped me five bucks. Wow, I actually find that rather comical because it didn't matter if I was playing or not, I got tipped for my charming looks!(Tee hee hee, just joking about that;)). Afterwards, I was sooooooooooooooo hungry and drained that a group of us went out to Dennys for some grub. And a rockin' thanks goes out to Jonathan Banks for taking Luke and me home from Owing Mills to Westminster in the late hours of the evening...or I guess sunday mornin' really....anywho, it was fun!

On Sunday, I began my day bright & early...which was rather sad because I didn't get to bed until 3am on Saturday ;).....I'm definitely not a morning person. Anywho, Luke & I met Tronster & Banks for breakfast in Towson. We had great conversation about Star Trek......Yeah! Afterwards, we helped set up church and had service. Unfortunately, I was not feeling too good during the sermon & had trouble focusing. Though I took one note from what Mark preached stating, "God might be exceeding you expectations." This is an encouraging thought. I think whenever I feel low or confused about any problems in my life that God is always there. Sometimes we expect things to go a certain way in our lives, but it always ends differently. There is a purpose for that & God knows what we need for our life.

At lunchtime, I started to feel better. It was great because Holly & Brad were able to come to Towson, which means.....chicken time!!! It's funny, Holly and I always split the chicken combo from Boardwalk Fries, but the one in Towson is not as good and more expensive than the one in Owings Mills.....????....Why? I don't know;).

Afterwards, I was able to get a group of people to go to the Senator. Surprisingly, some people have never been there before, but they had a good time. We saw Finding Neverland, which was rather good...yeah, it has Johnny Depp in it....can't go wrong there^__^. Though it was rather sad and ended strangley, but still, it was a great time with everyone. In the future, I hope to do more group activities for single christians. It's so sad to see that a lot of churches don't really have functions for people in their 20's. Maybe I can change that somehow or at least try my best to.

Wow, the night is still young. Jess came on over & taught me to crochet! Yipppeeeeee!! I used to do it all the time last year, but I have forgotten how. But Jess is totally awesome, she helped me to get started on my website, which hopefully will be up and running soon, AND she let me borrow C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. I'm excited to read it because I haven't read a good book in awhile. It's funny, when my parents use to own a christian bookstore, I saw all these books that I was interested in reading & never read a single one. I had these books at my fingertips & now, it is all gone:(. But I was never much of a reader to begin with though I think I am starting become one.

So, I had a great weekend & now, I am extremely tired....so, until next time...."same bat channel, same bat time"....toodles!!!!

It's Friday! YIPPEEEE!!!!

2004-12-04T02:44:00.000-05:00

Alright, girls night was awesome! Thanks goes out to Rebecca and Suzanne for putting this thing together. The different fondue recipes were great & I loved the real New York cheesecake...totally cool! Afterwards, I went to Horizon's soccer game to cheer everyone on again! RAH RAH RAH!!!! Our team did very well. It was 2-5, so, we lost, but we improved from the first game. Can't wait to see what we do next:). Afterwards, chilled with Luke, Jake, Paul, Banks, & Brad at Friendly's. And let me just say, Friendly's is not being too "friendly". They cut back on the ice cream flavor choices AND the prices have sky rocketed. GOOD GRIEF! Luckily, I was so full from the fondue that I was only up for a glass of water, which was rather freshingly, free^__^.

So, my gig is on for tomorrow:)! I think I am ready for it! It should be fun and exciting. I'm gonna try to get the crowd involved in it....teee heee heeeee!!!! I just hope I can stand for three hours and play;). Until next time, toodles!

Thursday & Link Group

2004-12-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

Wow, today at link group we discussed the book of Job. This is a book that I know very well since I studied it tremendously when I was sick. Eventually, I will have to make any entry explaining those terrible six years that I had to endure. But I would never change anything from those years because now, I have a wonderful testimony of faith & witnessed... a miracle:). Anywho, it was great discussion & I brought up the question, which always seems to puzzle me, did Job sin? At first, I said no & that he was without sin & still suffered. Then as I read through it I realized that Job didn't receive his reward until after he prayed for his friends. I think at this point in time, his friends were more like his enemy, not comforting him, but trying to convince him to curse God and die! I believe that during his suffering, Job was prideful believing that he did nothing wrong. For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Though Job sinned, that is not why he suffered. He suffered because God knew he could handle it and He rewarded him in the end. I think that is amazing and actually gives me a lot of joy and hope. Through all the suffering that I have been through and will go through, God will not give more than I can handle, despite my sin, and in the end I will live a life full of days. YIPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

So, what else did I do today? Well earlier I whipped Banks at yet another game of online chess. MWHAAAA! I am unstoppable! :P Seriously though, he did pretty well for someone who was suffering from a cold. I also baked some delicious blonde brownies for link group...hmmm... they were good^__^. I've been continuing to practice for my gig Saturday, which I am basically prepared for. At least I am feeling better and don't have a sore throat like a did earlier this week. Thank you, Allerx;)! That stuff is amazing! I did teach today and let me just say....what is with kids not bringing their books to piano lessons? Do you go to school without your lesson books? Good grief! And the parents are like...oh well, you still sound good Sweetie, despite the fact you don't have your books. WHAT? I child cannot advance any further without their books! Oh, but it's ok because they still sound good. Well, not for long!

Well, I guess we shall see what tomorrow brings. Toodles for now!

Oh, the Wonderful Things that Happen to Me!

2004-12-02T02:55:00.000-05:00

I almost forgot to tell about the adventure my Dad & I had yesterday. Well, needless to say, our water heater broke gushing water right into Luke's closet!!!!! Luke wasn't home so my Dad & I took care of everything. It was quite entertaining because water was everywhere and I had to go sort through Luke's precious comics and see if they were ok. Luckily, they were tightly sealed in protective bags, but some others goods got soaked. Well, let's just say Luke was not happy when he got home!
Since I am still feeling under the weather today, I decided to make soup for myself. I grabbed a nicely sealed bag of crackers from the downstair pantry to go with my delicous soup, and I noticed a tiny hole. As I inspected the bag closely, there was a bug eating through the crackers! EEEEEEHHHHHHHH!!!! Ok, so I threw the bag away and didn't eat the crackers:(. Good grief, weird things like this only happen to me.
Anywho, after I taught this evening I watched the movie Elf with my family. Actually, it was quite funny. I would recommend it. Well, off to bed & to talk about my adventures another day.

Tuesday

2004-12-01T02:55:00.000-05:00

YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!! It's time to start the Christmas season. I love Christmas time because you get to decorate, listen to cool music, and bake cookies...tee hee hee! And eventually, when it snows, I'm gonna build a snow-man and go sledding! WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Anywho, enough of my silliness. Today, I got to hang out with my home girls from college. It's so funny, as I commuted to McDaniel College during my years of attending there, I hated to stay on campus. Now, after I graduated this past spring, it seems that I am always there now. So, lunch was fun and I went to the library and checked out a book on Tai Chi. I would like to get back into that. It's been over a year since my last lesson, but hopefully this book will help me to dive right back into it. Tai Chi is very slow & boring at times, but it does help to relax the mind and keep good balance, which as everyone knows, I'm a clutz, so I would definitely benefit from Tai Chi:).
After teaching today, I practiced for my gig this Saturday. I'm really excited and a bit nervous, but it will rock! I enjoy performing and have done it so many times that I'm use to the performance jitters. I just hope I don't get sick or anything because I woke up with a sore throat. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Hopefully, it will go away.
Later, I watched Lost in Space the movie and let me say, it was nothing like the tv show at all. Highly disappointed! At least Jonathan Harris didn't make a cameo like the rest of the original cast. That guy was sooo cool and unfortunatley he died a few years after the movie was made. Well, fun, fun, fun! Let's see what tomorrow will bring in the Wonderful World of Lydia^__^!

Just Another Manic Monday

2004-11-30T02:21:00.000-05:00

Well, Mondays, who actually really enjoys them. I went to the movies this afternoon with my parents, which I haven't done for a very long time. Orginally, I was gonna see Bridget Jones 2, but as I got to the theater there was a big sign that stated, "There is a scratch in the movie reel that can be seen throughout the movie. Sorry for the inconvience, but nooooo refunds." hmmmm.....well, that must be pretty bad if they had to make a sign like that. So, The Incredibles was what I was destined to watch. The animation was awesome and it had a good story line, though I thought it would be funnier. I think I liked Toy Story 2 better. Oh well!
After that is was a rush home to teach! I love teaching at home, though it has its moments. I don't like the idea of being stuck in the house all day, but I like the idea that I don't have to worry about getting in my car and fighting traffic to get to work. So, the good overcomes the bad.
I have to remember my mother in prayer for tomorrow morning. She is getting some testing done due to some pressure she has been having in her chest. She says she is fine most of the time and it doesn't bother her, but once in awhile it comes. Doctors think it just might be a blockage to the heart, which is fixable. I just pray that whatever it is God will take care of it. Unfortunately, results will not be in until next Thursday. Patience is something that I have learned to hold on to, though it is not easy, I will endure.

Beautiful Sunday

2004-11-29T02:24:00.000-05:00

I love Sunday because I get to go to Horizon church and fellowship with everyone. I decided to attend Owings Mills this morning because I haven't been there in awhile. It went well and I got to chat with a lot of my old friends. I need to start taking notes again during the sermons, which I stop for awhile due to laziness. Writing things down really does help me to remember things, and what is discussed in church is the most vital information that I need to grow in my walk with Christ.

After service, I had lunch with Meg, which was really cool because I haven't gotten a chance to hang out with her before. Holly was going to be there too, but she got sick...poor thing. So, Meg and I walked around Owings Mills Mall and I eventually did her nails. Wow, I've never really painted someone's nails before....I guess I am starting to become like my mother, who's a manicurist. It was fun though I didn't get a chance to put designs on her nails. We'll do it again in the future!

Later, I made dinner for Brad, Luke, Mike, Banks, and Jess. Holly came in for a little bit and she really wanted to stay for dinner, but she was still sick and decided to go home. Luke, Mike, & Brad left right after dinner...talk about eat and run! That's okie dokie cause I'm use to that from them:). What can you do? So, Jess, Banks, and I played Karaoke Revloution. They have some really good voices and it was a blast to play. But before that, they showed me some really cool shortcuts to do on the computer. So, I just hope I can remember them all.

Phew, so it's been quite a weekend. I'm sure I will have more mishap adventures in the future of the Wonderful World of Lydia! Toodles for now!

Saturday....

2004-11-28T02:48:00.000-05:00

Surpisingly enough I was wide awake this morning ready to teach despite the fact I only got 5 hours of sleep. Teaching went well, I really enjoy it and hopefully I can build up my studio in the near future because I would like to make more money. I thought about substitute teaching like Luke, which I might start doing after the New Year. My Dad is thinking about doing that too after he retires at the end of December. Wow, that would be really crazy, three Bandys in the school system^__^. But we shall see what happens. Again, most people know that my goal is to compose video game music, but in order to do that I need the right equipment. In order to get the right equipment, I need money. I know as long as I keep pursuing it, God will provide for me.

I spent the afternoon playing chess online with Banks. I won..hee hee hee....but my father helped;). Ok, so I step out of the room for a moment and my Dad came walking in and started playing. But it was ok because we all were making big mistakes. There will be a rematch I'm sure.

Afterwards, I hung out with Holly, Brad, Luke, Josh, and eventually Mike (basically the "gang"). We went to Target and bought Cranium and played it. That's a really cool game. I haven't played games like that in awhile. I hope to in the future have a group of people come over to my house and play games on a regular basis. It's just a great time to fellowship AND I get to cook for everyone, which I love doing.

Later, I met Jess, Meg, Banks, & Paul at JavaMama's. We eventually played poker, which I am really not the greatest at, BUT I was able to shuffle the cards well:). It was great because they were all helping me to learn this game. Also, the music at JavaMam's was entertaining. I can't recall the girls name who performed, but she has a wonderful voice and plays not just the guitar, but the piano and some percussion instruments. I can tell she will go a long way this her music. Very cool :8!

Black Friday

2004-11-27T02:50:00.000-05:00

WOW!!!!! This morning was crazy. This is the first time I've actually shopped at 6am on Black Friday. I went to Target and it was jam crowded with people. Then I went to Kohls, which was ten times worse. Good grief, people, there are 24 shopping days til Christmas, you don't have to get it done in two hours way early in the morning!!!! ;)

Anywho, later that evening I went and cheered on the Horizon soccer team in Westminster. Woohoooooo!!!! Though we lost to the other team, we still got a point:). Don't worry, we will crush them next time. MWHAAAA!!!! It was fun cheering everyone on, especially since I don't know anything about soccer, except getting the ball into the other teams goal:D. Yeah!

My First Time Bloggin'

2004-11-25T09:58:00.000-05:00

Hey heeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!

So, I finally decided to blog because it seems like a fun thing to do ^__^. So, what is happening in the wonderful world of Lydia? Well, today is Thanksgiving and I am visiting my grandparents in Ellicot City. It's always a little chaotic over there because my Grandmother is old and thinks she can still cook;) . Plus, I have a big family....good grief, but it could always be worse. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am with a wonderful family. That is something that I take for granted at times. God has truly blessed me!!! Well, Happy Thanksgiving and more posting in the future!!! Toodles!!