tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23480371777828045602024-03-12T17:01:28.453-07:00While she was seeking...Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-9570612311305049132012-06-09T14:21:00.001-07:002012-06-09T14:21:34.089-07:00A Change in Perspective and a Transformation of LifeGod has always been a huge part of my life.<br />I grew up in the church, I was involved in leadership, and I went to a Private Baptist University.<br />But it wasn't until recently, that I really understood what it meant to be a follower of Christ.<br /><br />Growing up, my faith continued to progress and then plateau and even degress at times.<br />But no matter what happened I always acknowledge God in my life.<br />That was the problem.<br /><br />The extent of my faith consisted on only acknowledging God.<br />In hard times, I thought God will fix this.<br />In good times, I announced God is good.<br />I lived my life, my way, and just acknowledged that God existed.<br /><br />It wasn't until my sophomore year of college that I began to understand.<br />The whole first semester I committed to read the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.<br />I decided this because I realized that there were a few people in my life that did not know Christ and I wanted to understand the gospel thoroughly in order to explain it to them.<br />It was then that God planted a desire in my heart.<br /><br />Furthermore, the second semester, I read Frances Chan's book, Forgotten God.<br />To put it simply and honestly, this book absolutely changed my life.<br />It rocked me with the truth that the Holy Spirit had been forgotten about in the church, and in my life.<br />It stated truths such as the Holy Spirit is God. the Holy Spirit is alive and at work, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of me.<br />With a truth like this, it posed the question...How does my life look different than non believers?<br />If the Spirit of God lives in me, then my life should look radically different.Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-33585873940315344632011-11-07T16:37:00.000-08:002011-11-07T16:52:12.759-08:00Seventy times Seven<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Okay if I'm going to be honest, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have to admit that one of my greatest struggles is <b>forgiveness.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There have been a few situations in my life where I have really wrestled with God on how to forgive someone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I believe the lie that society tells us</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> "some things are unforgivable".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">That perspective quickly turns into a life of bitterness, pride, and ultimately sin.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have struggled hard with forgiving someone before.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I thought,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> "this person has ruined my life" and "this wasn't supposed to happen" and "Why am i hurting because of something YOU did...I don't deserve this because I didn't do anything wrong."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It didn't help that every person that I respected constantly nagged at me "God calls you to forgive."..."You have to forgive them, Kelly or you're walking in sin and darkness"</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And that's what I did, I walked in darkness for a long time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Forgiveness wasn't something I wanted to say and just move on.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I wanted to mean it from the depths of my being, I wanted to feel it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I wanted to say </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"I forgive you" and never feel bitter towards it again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">but I couldn't, I couldn't say it, or live it, because <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">I didn't mean it.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It took several months for me to grasp God's idea of forgiveness...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was away from home one summer at a summer camp with high school group.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was the time in my life where I was right in the middle of all the hardships going on around me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I realized about mid week that I was struggling to fully connect with and experience God because I was holding this grudge towards someone close to me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And it was starting to eat away at me.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was the day of the week that the whole camp spent at the beach.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Towards the end, we were worshipping and sharing testimonies of all the great things that happened so far during the week.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I couldn't take it anymore. I was frustrated. I wasn't feeling fulfilled with God. I wasn't getting the answers I was looking for. I couldn't find God....<b>so i left.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I walked away from the rest of the group worshipping.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I made my way down to the water and just strolled along the shore.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I expressed my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">frustration</span> with God...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I complained to him about everything that was happening in my life. I asked him "Why?" a million times over. I asked Him where he was. And I begged him to do something.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Then...silence filled my mind and I felt an overwhelming command to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><u>Stop.</u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">God whispered into my heart </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"You are just as much a sinner as they are and I forgave you. Therefore, you must forgive them..."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I broke down crying. I finally understood God. I understood his idea of forgiveness and his unconditional love for me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I kneeled down in the sand and wrote with my finger, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">"</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">I forgive ______, because God forgives me.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The second I stood up, a wave came and washed it away.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was God's way of saying, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Well done, it is washed away. Now go in peace and love them. Never forget what I taught you here.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and from that day on my heart has been radically different.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I now find myself going through a similar situation where I am constantly in pain because of the hurt caused my another...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and I am reminded of how hard it is for me to forgive someone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I know that God calls me to it, but I can't help but think</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> "I don't want to listen to you God. I'm sick of listening. You ask too much. It hurts."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">but in my heart he repeats "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Seventy times Seven</span>"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Matthew 18:21-22 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">"Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often</span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23746A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?</span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23746B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> As many as seven times?" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Jesus said to him, </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;">"I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.</span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;">"</span></span><br />
<span class="woj" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It doesn't matter how much pain you're in, how mad you are, or how much you think you deserve better. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">God loves you and God loves them just as much.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">God forgave you, therefore we must forgive others...even if that means again and again and again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Because in fact, if we continue to live in bitterness, then we will miss out on what God has for us.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This week, I am praying for a forgiving heart like my Father's in Heaven.</span>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-27552434115192087212011-10-21T01:16:00.000-07:002011-10-30T13:02:56.530-07:00Mee-hee-ko (title inspired by Jordan)<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><i>In high school, I didn't spend my spring break trips in Cabo, or Las Vegas, or hanging out at the beach</i></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I spent my spring breaks playing with <u>ninos</u> in Mexico.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My youth group went on a serve trip every year to a city called Ensenada</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where we were paired with one or two little orphans. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These individual kids became our buddy for the whole week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">f</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">la</span>sh<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">ba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ck</span>kkk:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Gum3MFNpOzi2twS-buc2v9NFdwHjbbMc1TXX2jKFobwUyItteUvg1JNAdfIrnjlKMMlOEqjwZxzV-zgdhf2BjhUUpocoIdFPktIFovFwQSKniTAK3sOOQT0oDtSqlH3aMJ1OqgmZPw/s1600/viriandmecolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Gum3MFNpOzi2twS-buc2v9NFdwHjbbMc1TXX2jKFobwUyItteUvg1JNAdfIrnjlKMMlOEqjwZxzV-zgdhf2BjhUUpocoIdFPktIFovFwQSKniTAK3sOOQT0oDtSqlH3aMJ1OqgmZPw/s320/viriandmecolor.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">(this was my precious nina,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> Viridiana,</span> the first year that I went)</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGXmYLk6r2yaqnL4YH7dPnBRX49Qgk3aR8kDLpkuV65GzqxRFCd8Rlzf6i71gALkWDB34llpDCX5IVG7FXOwoZFNfRFeS7OunDszo-G3S2fx3Sap1dVJAIeDIrB72REbAPcQ3weSLgZA/s1600/rocio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGXmYLk6r2yaqnL4YH7dPnBRX49Qgk3aR8kDLpkuV65GzqxRFCd8Rlzf6i71gALkWDB34llpDCX5IVG7FXOwoZFNfRFeS7OunDszo-G3S2fx3Sap1dVJAIeDIrB72REbAPcQ3weSLgZA/s320/rocio.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">(and this little angel's name is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Rocio,</span> I fell in love with her and wanted to adopt her instantly)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This trip was EASILY one of my<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> favorite </span></b>trips my high school group ever did.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I learned how to love people. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in return, I learned the depth of God's love for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I learned how to serve God with my whole heart</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and to serve other people with a willing and helpful attitude without complaining.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I learned to appreciate the simple treasures in life that I am fortunate to have back home...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-my wonderful and loving parents</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-my job at the time</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-my education</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-my church</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-my friends</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-my life</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also encountered God in a unique and beautiful way with dear friends by my side</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">by hiking a mountain in the middle of</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b><strike>no where</strike>...</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwypKGLopMbPfBU5hzj4NH4YjDwenTZZ_VwT4mYBMg0j6EIAn49BrehUy6amhPRpkh9p3J-1Wv4YBnoXk5T-W698EYaOxPvU6GZiJc7hE3CFTJUeiouKAwOrjmjpv_aS6z71yroJG_S0/s1600/bridesmaids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwypKGLopMbPfBU5hzj4NH4YjDwenTZZ_VwT4mYBMg0j6EIAn49BrehUy6amhPRpkh9p3J-1Wv4YBnoXk5T-W698EYaOxPvU6GZiJc7hE3CFTJUeiouKAwOrjmjpv_aS6z71yroJG_S0/s1600/bridesmaids.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each year, it became our <u>getaway,</u> our <u>mission</u>, our <u>fellowship spot.</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We helped each other to the very top and once we got there</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we stared at the miraculous beauty of the world that God created.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We sat there, and talked about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">his creation</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">his love </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">our youth group </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">the ninos </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">our love for one another.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">we encouraged each other and prayed to our Father</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">together.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mexico is one of my favorite places in the whole entire world</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for all of these specific reasons...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and i get to go back tomorrow!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday- Sunday</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[please be praying for my church while we are there]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blog and pictures soon to come :)</span><br />
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</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-64114002619521512912011-10-19T14:05:00.000-07:002011-10-19T14:05:30.924-07:00Public Transortation...<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">When you are a student at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">CSULB</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">, you have the privilege of using public transportation for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>free</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> in the city of Long Beach.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">...I live less then a mile away from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">CSULB</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">((I can ride my bike there in 7 minutes))</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">but i decide to take the bus anyways...just because I can.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">This is the bus stop that I wait at:</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9-PuLA62PbdEmUImoKQpxegeNdFXmr9k5irKKKQMgZWj3JoW6G9I0m0hJYS6C7rXG67PrxVeSIA-LG_kSF6EloR9bhEsQAiOkouG0MEagw0rrmJ663QPxJL8BxZXToTHkWYgRo0dDWZi/s1600/photo13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9-PuLA62PbdEmUImoKQpxegeNdFXmr9k5irKKKQMgZWj3JoW6G9I0m0hJYS6C7rXG67PrxVeSIA-LG_kSF6EloR9bhEsQAiOkouG0MEagw0rrmJ663QPxJL8BxZXToTHkWYgRo0dDWZi/s320/photo13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">((of course with some cool effects using my new iphone...holler))</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">I like public transportation for a few reasons:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">1. It makes me appreciate my janky, beat up jeep grand cheroke SO much more</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">2. It slows life down just a bit.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">3. I get to see the wonderful city of Long Beach from a different perspective.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">4. The people that i encounter on the bus/metro are so beautiful and so dang interesting.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Today...I took the bus to school</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">As I was waiting for the bus stop, I decided to paint my nails</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> (I appreciated that time I had to sit and do nothing)</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Then, I got on the bus and simply sat there and listened to the conversations going on around me.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">I paid special attention the 2 older gentleman a few rows behind me...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">They were talking about GOD</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">They were just 2 men chatting away</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">bringing up Satan, philosophies, the virgin Mary, and Jesus.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">One man even said...and I quote...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">"if I were going to get a tattoo, I would get a picture of Jesus on my back</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">" </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">HA this made me giggle to myself.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anyways...</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">As I was sitting there listening to these strange, philosophical, somewhat crazy men talking about Jesus</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">it made me realize just how much I love my God.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">one of my most favorite things in the whole entire world is when I hear strangers talking about <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">my God</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">...it makes Him feel <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">BIG</span> and close and so very real.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">I sat there in silent prayer</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">thanking God for that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">moment</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">thanking God for being</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> BIG </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">REAL</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">thanking God for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">loving</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> and the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> people </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">around me</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">and thanking God for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> life</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-23484313989237589492011-06-04T16:02:00.000-07:002011-06-04T16:04:00.071-07:00Fellowship<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For most of my life, I have appreciated the gift of fellowship with amazing girls that I have grown up with and one of the most influential woman in my life who I truly look up to.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2rxLDyJxEUGjDgWK9PBNoG3mo2vmYZ1W3x_WwfENQbmUbZr1ClztAz0WKe2aKRn-JJPU26uxzzsBhzwF9iXbt-4Vv5qib32RXlg1P-yTrtSv4z5kf7SlMnqVkDewDQPAPeqP285i0jSw/s1600/IMG_7549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2rxLDyJxEUGjDgWK9PBNoG3mo2vmYZ1W3x_WwfENQbmUbZr1ClztAz0WKe2aKRn-JJPU26uxzzsBhzwF9iXbt-4Vv5qib32RXlg1P-yTrtSv4z5kf7SlMnqVkDewDQPAPeqP285i0jSw/s400/IMG_7549.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am who I am thanks to all of these women in this picture, as well as Julie Flint (who is still at school in SLO)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have walked through every part of life with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large;">Maddy</span></b> (on the far right) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">has truly grown up with me since we were in about first grade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am so thankful for a friend who has chosen to continue to invest in my life</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">from</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">childhood into adulthood. She has been there for me through my hardest times in life and she has shared with me my happiest times. She has walked beside me in serving our Lord and has shared prayers with me crying out to our Father for direction and help. She has hiked up a mountain in Mexico numerous times with me to talk in fellowship and in prayer. I love her so much and i really cherish our friendship and I always will.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Deb<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(second from the right)</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">has been one of the most influential people in my life since I met her my sophomore year of high school. She is a woman that I highly respect, look up to, and value advice from so so much. She speaks truth into my life and she isn't afraid to do it. She wants to be involved in my life and she asks me hard questions and in return lovingly leads me to live a life that pleases and honors our God.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I cant even explain how thankful I am for her guidance in my life. I can only pray that I can become a small group leader, a FOCUS leader, a mentor, and a friend to girls in such an influential way as Deb </span>did in my life</span>.<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Alicia</strong><span style="font-size: small;"><strong> </strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(right in the middle)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">is probably my longest and greatest friend. She has been there for me in every situation of my life not only as a friend with a shoulder to cry on but also as a strong and stable believer in our Savior. Alicia is the most strong willed person that I have ever met. She knows what she wants in life and she works her butt off to get it, sacrificing whatever she has to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(needless to say she was valedictorian of our graduating class and now goes to a private engineering school in New York). But the best thing about her is her humility. She is also the one of the most humble people I have ever met. Although she knows what she wants and goes after it, she wants nothing more then to glorify God. When she is faced with a decision to either follow her heart or follow God and where he wants her, she ALWAYS chooses to live for God instead of herself. She has taught me to try hard at everything I do and to never desire anything more then the will of God.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Allison</strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> (right next to me!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">has been my closest friend since the seventh grade. She is completely opposite from me in so many ways but we are also very similar. Allison is so genuine and so loving. Last week in bible study we discussed the Armor of God and what that looks like. When we brought up the Shield of Faith, I thought of Allison. In my opinion, she paints a beautiful picture of what putting on the shield of faith ought to look like in a believer's life. Allison has been dealing with a lot of hard stuff for the past few years, when it comes to breaks ups, all of her friends moving away for college, and tough family situations. Throughout all of this, Allison has very rarely complained, she ALWAYS has a smile on her face and always rejoices in our God and proclaims of his redeeming goodness. She has so much faith in our God and it makes me have more faith too. Her faith in God is so stable, so deep, and so real, that it acts as a protection from all of the flaming darts that this world throws at her. Despite of all the hardship, Allison remains joyful, and praising God because she knows that he is <span style="font-size: large;">bigger</span><span style="font-size: small;"> than everything else that is going on in the world and he won't let her go. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Julie</strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> (not pictured)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">LOVES God. She desires to know the heart of God so deeply. She is the kindest girl you will ever meet and she wants to know you, most of all she wants you to know the God that she worships daily and that saved her life. Julie broke her knee at winter camp when we were in the 9th grade and was diagnosed with a nerve disease. She went to several doctors and endured many treatments but the doctors did not know if it could be healed. They had even planned on amputating her leg. But God healed her miraculously and Julie's life became a witness to all of the doctors and everyone else she encountered that our God is real and our God is powerful. The doctors had no way to describe the healing except for a miracle. Julie's faith is inspiring. She fears God with everything in her. But she is not afraid of the devil because she knows that her God will conquer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Arial;">I Love these girls so much. We have all been together since middle school and I know we will grow old together as friends. I am so excited to see where God takes each and every one of us and to be apart of their lives. The friendship and fellowship between a group of girls desiring God is something to be cherished. I am so so blessed.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>"As iron sharpens iron, so one woman sharpens another." -Proverbs 27:17</strong></em></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Amen!</span>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-50409505756886725712011-05-19T23:50:00.000-07:002011-05-19T23:50:56.134-07:00L.O.V.E.<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;">has definitely been a theme in my life in the past few weeks.</span></span></span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Firstly, I got a new job working at Katella Senior Living community and I really <b>love</b> it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is something about old people, you know, they just have a whole lot of love in their hearts.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday, a man named Doc, probably around the age of 80, was talking to us at the front desk.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was telling us about his wife who is over on the other side of the senior living area where there is more skilled nurses and more people to keep a watch on the residents who are ill and need extra care.</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doc goes over to the other side to visit his wife every day and it is adorable to hear him talk about her and how much he </span><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">loves</b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> her and hopes that she'll get better so she can stay on the side of the residential living with him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inspiring.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another thing, This week's Gossip Girl was ALL about <b>love.</b></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chuck and Blaire</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">It was beautiful. They cried... I cried. It was great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> This scene tore at my heart, I think mostly because I can relate to the feelings, emotions, and thoughts almost perfectly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">What is "Right" <b>love </b>anyways?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Thirdly, my Bible study group discussed Ephesians 5 fairly deeply.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> The line that stuck with me the most was verse 2 which reads, "Walk in<b> love</b>, as Christ <b>loved</b> us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">The leader challenged us to <u>walk in<b> love</b></u> rather than to walk in <strike>judgment. </strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">To ask ourselves <span style="font-size: large;">"What am I for?"</span> instead of <span style="font-size: x-small;">"What am i against?"<strike> </strike></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>Walk in love.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and Lastly, I was reminded tonight that I share an overwhelming, beautiful, and perfectly unique <b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love</b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> with Jesus, my savior. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Jesus is the only way for us to experience complete <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>unconditional</b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> <b>Love</b></span></span></span></span> in absolute FREEDOM.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">what a precious <b>love</b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">The truth about life is...human <b>love</b> isn't perfect and never will be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The only person that will </span><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">love</b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> me the "right" way...the way it was intended to be is Jesus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...I love you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-60220867617514530882011-05-15T12:53:00.000-07:002011-05-15T12:55:25.230-07:00Prom...[Continued]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just thought I'd point out that we <span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">successfully<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">snuck into Lakewood's Prom... </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE_k8Fwx36FU9g8sd0vkOOBqfYc0RdYS0d0-OOohs8r56oPcs2uF_9E-yq-jLRKzcpXUvdwW_1JPHUjKAAzdedc31n1sDjWXQ3XlDMBQwVrIwjVNynvJA1usYILjn-YPLmlnK4-xDaTv_/s1600/prom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE_k8Fwx36FU9g8sd0vkOOBqfYc0RdYS0d0-OOohs8r56oPcs2uF_9E-yq-jLRKzcpXUvdwW_1JPHUjKAAzdedc31n1sDjWXQ3XlDMBQwVrIwjVNynvJA1usYILjn-YPLmlnK4-xDaTv_/s400/prom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">...All for <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>you </b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sabrina Crew!</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Congrats on graduating</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">... </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">we all know how long you have been waiting for this</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-59123018210670237602011-05-14T18:29:00.000-07:002011-05-14T18:35:45.799-07:00Prom...<div style="color: #073763; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">First off, I'd like to apologize for my recent posts down memory lane...</div><div style="color: #073763; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">but I just had to do it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Tonight is </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">PROM</span><span style="color: black;"> night. </span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of my seniors from high school group, Samantha Wariner, is on her way to enjoy a wonderful night of fun, dancing, friends, and memories that will never leave her.</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is her:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwpJECetKxOZxJKJHRynNBwufRQqjOigqbcvdVUmor2xNg7KkraPKyMfDIIkF1NJoPkblEAjynPXCwyK4YwSnc3RPAIdKlWXUp0fjGFWv2xD2X6bYOeogRrBxgZU_3tMMYEb8FiN9ozfO/s1600/_MG_7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwpJECetKxOZxJKJHRynNBwufRQqjOigqbcvdVUmor2xNg7KkraPKyMfDIIkF1NJoPkblEAjynPXCwyK4YwSnc3RPAIdKlWXUp0fjGFWv2xD2X6bYOeogRrBxgZU_3tMMYEb8FiN9ozfO/s400/_MG_7342.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> isn't she <span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">beautiful?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I remember my <span style="color: red;">Prom</span> night...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I am pretty sure I switched dates like <strike><span style="color: #783f04;">3 times</span></strike></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">But I eventually ended up with the </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: large;">perfect<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> date.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet <u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Vance Smith</span></span></u>: </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7Xdqk1Pytn6nKTnTO689RZlEAMPp54LWgVJiuCd9egsc-HajXCbOXJFNfhOYdESKAFUFLk-13bgzq6KRej3iVzpIftVD4DnT9hVpfdT6hWLxLGHFDIfWw-NureIVQlso5xvuG_R6VLNq/s1600/162984_488481919429_633489429_5679473_2735773_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7Xdqk1Pytn6nKTnTO689RZlEAMPp54LWgVJiuCd9egsc-HajXCbOXJFNfhOYdESKAFUFLk-13bgzq6KRej3iVzpIftVD4DnT9hVpfdT6hWLxLGHFDIfWw-NureIVQlso5xvuG_R6VLNq/s400/162984_488481919429_633489429_5679473_2735773_n.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was my very first</span> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">real crush<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">in the 4th grade</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">and we remained friends ever since.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">He was the perfect <span style="color: red;">date</span> for Prom.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0We5i_twfm0gu3nIXmd172S-a8lZrrrFdSgQYEl_ani1pG8k8I22fK8FvXgni54mFcKEDEmt0fLBtSW9PKCNS_ExOi7GubyMqj_R526Wr9AYq8mS0gGNrgg8nsXsjJ31NgzlbZNg_Lw-g/s1600/17360_294111034429_633489429_3284926_7996963_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0We5i_twfm0gu3nIXmd172S-a8lZrrrFdSgQYEl_ani1pG8k8I22fK8FvXgni54mFcKEDEmt0fLBtSW9PKCNS_ExOi7GubyMqj_R526Wr9AYq8mS0gGNrgg8nsXsjJ31NgzlbZNg_Lw-g/s400/17360_294111034429_633489429_3284926_7996963_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My friends and I were not ones to take limos and party buses to school dances</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">so we all piled in Vance's VW Bus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMZVEHSJ3SOzdKqhXoq6Dww5erP9VJxd4rgTIBMUIgWXjy5v8gv_AbVCej0KyY3qWv7KcGSr6CNRO4-R7mTt20qsc5s7BYvAe8BBxoNBASRSM6LSMv0Rs-p_kk_uN_NYPmqeLgk1vLTo8/s1600/vw-samba-bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMZVEHSJ3SOzdKqhXoq6Dww5erP9VJxd4rgTIBMUIgWXjy5v8gv_AbVCej0KyY3qWv7KcGSr6CNRO4-R7mTt20qsc5s7BYvAe8BBxoNBASRSM6LSMv0Rs-p_kk_uN_NYPmqeLgk1vLTo8/s200/vw-samba-bus.jpg" width="200" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">It was a really </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">fun</span></b><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> night that I will never forget...</span></span></span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1NeRDlxf4vSqV-Wg7RX-BEG1W9IFP5oeh84Z13zi0u9loUdJOoG2h6Vd7s_F7VKhksOvWAhAxUGgDcrDcO-BzoS96W3H57LltgSXsm5UfgTUJbv_dnPrnp-fvqfiUTK4HhRpObf3hWjC/s1600/n633489429_1631293_4631190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1NeRDlxf4vSqV-Wg7RX-BEG1W9IFP5oeh84Z13zi0u9loUdJOoG2h6Vd7s_F7VKhksOvWAhAxUGgDcrDcO-BzoS96W3H57LltgSXsm5UfgTUJbv_dnPrnp-fvqfiUTK4HhRpObf3hWjC/s640/n633489429_1631293_4631190.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have Fun </span><span style="color: #7f6000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: orange;">S</span><span style="color: blue;">E<span style="color: orange;">N</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: blue;">I</span>O<span style="color: blue;">R</span>S</span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: purple;">cherish <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the night. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">You're going to miss this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">...<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and be safe!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348037177782804560.post-26432043443969661882011-05-13T22:09:00.000-07:002011-05-13T22:11:59.655-07:00high.school.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR4d-D_9RhfS7BinDKw_5B2xABqR6y8Ly9v5bQo8TCgK7obpPu-sFjTlJqKzJV6YszMtc_HiveDEUkJbE_wZPLikHyJ06sYtAkQZi51ODVtp4aioLYhLCEqOpS6_6J3o2XOJp3uSc5bZb/s1600/190242_10150129289919430_633489429_6314007_1984477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR4d-D_9RhfS7BinDKw_5B2xABqR6y8Ly9v5bQo8TCgK7obpPu-sFjTlJqKzJV6YszMtc_HiveDEUkJbE_wZPLikHyJ06sYtAkQZi51ODVtp4aioLYhLCEqOpS6_6J3o2XOJp3uSc5bZb/s400/190242_10150129289919430_633489429_6314007_1984477_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have been back in long beach for a week now after finishing my second year of college.</div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Time flies...</span> <br />
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<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tonight I decided to drive thru Taco Bell for dinner.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While I was there, I observed a number of highschoolers dressed in </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Millikan<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">(my alma mater)</span> sweatshirts running around the parking lot, causing trouble, driving crazy, and making out in the dining room of the fast food restaurant.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I quickly remembered the times when i went to Millikan:</span></div><br />
<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when my friends and I would leave campus at lunchtime to eat Taco Bell down the street</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">...not to mention the several times we "accidentally" didn't make it back in time before the bell rang for class and ended up ditching the last half of the day</span></span></span><br />
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<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when we used to r</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">un around in the local parks way past curfew playing games like sardines, sharks and minos, hide and seek, ninja, and sand monster</span></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when we used to eat lunch at the 800 building every day with all of the other QUESTies where everyone would share homework and their lunches...</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when we used to sneak into other school's proms and winter formals and dance all of our cares away</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when we used to have sleepovers and make stupid music videos and pull pranks on the boys</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The Truth Is...</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><u>I absolutely loved my high school experience.</u></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and while I was sitting </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in the drive thru at that Taco Bell tonight observing those teenagers...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">i found myself feeling <strike><span style="color: #274e13;">jealous </span></strike><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: black;">of them and all of their freedom.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><br />
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</span>Kelly Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640438593818180992noreply@blogger.com0