"Do EVERYTHING without complaining or arguing..."

Complaining. We all do it. Whether it's your parents wanting you to take out the trash or having to do homework, you're most likely gonna complain either out loud or in your head when you have to do something you necessarily don't want to do.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." Philippians 2:14-15

This verse for me is especially difficult to process in my mind, because I am such a complainer in my mind and in my actions. I can't argue worth anything, so I don't have a problem with not arguing, but the complaining part really hits home. I read this verse just the other day and immediately I thought, "Oops". Even today, I was complaining to myself about having to do stuff. I'm thinking I should plaster this verse all over my room, so I would pay attention to not complaining more often.

"In a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." Like stars in the universe. Think about it, have you ever met somebody who was happy in dark times? Who had an unnaturally loving way about them? Who you never hear anything negative from? I have, and I can see this verse in her life, because she just has that way about her, that makes her stand out and you can see God in her. If you have met somebody like this, then you are not likely to forget them.

I think I'm probably the biggest complainer that I know...which needs to change.

Dear God, change me.

Sincerely,
Jo

Yes, I Have Deep Moments Every Once in A While

There's one decision that faces everybody when someone else does something wrong to them: To forgive or to not forgive? Now from the viewpoint of an unsaved person, it would feel fine to just harbor that unforgiveness. What that person doesn't realize is that unforgiveness can lead to so many other sins. If you hold that grudge, you are putting more weight on your shoulders to just carry around the unforgiveness.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men of their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matt. 6:14-15

How easy does that sound? Forgive and you will be forgiven. That's one of my favorite verses, and yet one of the most convicting. I've held grudges before, and it is not easy. You just feel terrible every time you think about what happened. When you let go of that grudge and just forgive, it's truly worth it to know that God just released that burden off of your shoulders. Your heart just feels so much lighter. Harboring unforgiveness is a sin, but when you forgive the person who wronged you, you will be forgiven by the one who truly matters: God. That's worth it.

So there's one question left: Will you forgive?

Sincerely,
Jo

*CAUTION* MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE GAGGING

I just got done having a conversation about how gross it is to find things in your food at restaurants. Like one time, I was at a Sonic and I got a java chiller (the frozen coffee thingy) and I was about halfway through with it when I looked down into the cup and found a ball. of. hair!!! GROSSNESS! Seriously, I haven't had one since, and that was like 2 years ago. I mean, a ball of hair!!! Somebody's probably greasy hair ended up in my java chiller. I'm surprised I didn't throw up...And then once I got food poisoning from a Taco Bell. I was on my second taco when I thought it tasted weird, but it wasn't TOO weird so I finished it. Let's just say that I had to leave in the middle of a movie to go barf. It wasn't pretty...but then again, barfing never is.

I hate puking. Just the feeling you get in your stomach right before it happens, and then having to run as fast as you can to get to the bathroom, hoping along the way that nobody is in there. (I've had that happen before, I'll elaborate later.) And then the feeling of it in your throat. EW!

Anyways, the story about not making it to the bathroom in time. Well I was about 6 or 7 years old when I got REALLY sick. My Mom and Dad went somewhere, leaving my brother, Jake, to babysit me and Ryan. Well Jake invited our neighbor, Phillip, over to our house. Well I was doing something, when I had to puke, so I ran as fast as I could to the bathroom, but Phillip was in there. So I was banging on the door, one hand over my mouth, when it just came up at once, and I puked all over the floor. Jake had to clean it up, though. :) *Chuckles*

Everybody forgets that I have another brother besides Ryan. I HAVE AN OLDER BROTHER PEOPLE, HIS NAME IS JAKE AND HE LIVES IN NORTH CAROLINA. There...now you have no excuse.

I have a volleyball game tonight. We're gonna win big time. If we don't, I'll be shocked and upset, considering we just creamed them on Tuesday.

So friends are a great thing. They always cheer me up and make me jumpy, and it's AWESOME! I can be having a really bad day, and I'll just even talk to one of my friends online, and I end up laughing or smiling and it makes my day so much better. I'm so glad that I have a bunch of friends who are hilarious!

Well as fun, gross, and awesome this blogging has been, I'm done for now!

Adios, readers! :D

Sincerely,
Jo

Just An Update!

So I've been sick the past couple of days, staying at home while my brother goes out and sees friends. It's been pretty darn boring! I'm almost fully recovered now, so tonight I get to go to a movie night at our church and then to somebody's house! :D FINALLY! SOCIALIZATION! Yeah, you could say that I miss a bunch of people after only going 4 days without seeing anybody but my family. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing my family, but I miss my friends a lot.

I got a new laptop this past Friday and have been going nuts on it! I just LOVE ITTTT! It's got some great stuff on it! I've made a bunch of funny videos with this effect thingy! I'm going to try and add a new page on this blog to put some of the videos on! If I can just figure it out! lol

That's really all I got to say! Just an update!

Sincerely,
Jo

The Sore Volleyball Player

Volleyball is INTENSE.

I never thought that I would ever get really frustrated or mad during any sports game that I play in, but last night proved me wrong. Even one of my friends said that she noticed that I was getting mad. We were losing pretty badly, and when other girls on my team started getting frustrated, then I got frustrated and was SO glad when I got benched. I laugh at myself now for being happy about being benched (something I never thought I'd be happy about!) I got over the frustration when we starting winning against another team. :) I should really control my emotions more, or at least shouldn't let my bad ones show as much!

Anyways, now I'm superly sore. O_o Seriously, it hurts really really REALLY bad to even walk! I feel like an old woman with arthritis! =/ I need a caaane! *Hunches over and squints eyes* I need my glasses!

WE START CHOIR TOMORROW! Yesssss! Our song that we are going to learn is so complicated and awesome! I can't wait!

So....Senior year. Not sure if I like that.

Sincerely,
Jo

My Phobias

So after reading a blog post by one of my friends about her fears, the first thought in my mind was, "Well I don't have many fears!" After about 0.0000069 seconds of thought, I realized I do.

Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns. I absolutely HATE clowns. I just got goosebumps thinking about them! Maybe it's the insane makeup, creepy hair, and rudolph nose....or maybe it's because I've watched "IT" one too many times.

Masklophobia: Fear of mascots. Now this one, I can see why people make fun of me for it. But seriously, they creep. me. out! Ever since I was little, I've never liked them. Nothing happened to make me not like them, but they make me flip out. It happened before, I hyperventilated during a volleyball game.

Aichmophobia: Fear of needles. Even just the appearance makes me fidgety! Plus, the nurses lied to me when I was 6 and told me that they were gonna give me the shot on three. They only counted to two...

Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting. I could never be a bulimic, even if I had the stupid urge to WANT to! Barfing is just...ickyyyy and makes your throat sting and it just...isn't pleasant. =/

Gephyrophobia or Gephydrophobia or Gephysrophobia: Fear of crossing bridges. I absolutely LOATHE crossing bridges! Only big ones, little ones over teeny creeks don't bother me. But big bridges...O_O Wow. I even cover my eyes sometimes.

I know I have more, but none are coming to mind. Some of these are irrational, but I can assure you, I'm afraid of them! This was one of the most goosebump-filled and cringe-inducing blogs I've had to write.

Sincerely,
Jo

Blob About Everything!

Poems are awesome...I think somebody should write me a poem. It could be as simple as "Kirstin's so nice, Kirstin's so sweet. She doesn't like mice, She has pretty feet." See? Easy as pie! :D

So pretty much, my summer has been amazing. It has definitely been the best summer of my life! :D Yay for summerrrr!

I just watched "Freaky Friday"...I love that movie! Seriously, it cracks me up every time I watch it! Ahhh good times.

I wonder why they call this a "blog"? It reminds me too much of "blob" or "bob"...Which reminds me of my Dad! (My Dad's name is Bob, just in case you didn't get that.)

Singing is cool, Singing is fun. I hate school, I wish I was done.

I haven't started school yet. I start next week! So this is my LAST week of summer oh-ten! Sad, sad story.

Aloe plants look weird. They kind of remind me of iguanas...O_o

I hate how I don't realize how weird something sounds until AFTER I say it....Boy, oh boy, that's bringing back some awkward memories.

Me and one of my friends Amanda are always laughing at how awkward we can be. We usually don't realize how awkward we are until we take a random video of ourselves, and then watch it and say "Jeez, we're SO awkward!" Yeah...we can be. TRUST ME!

My friend once said my face is like rubber because I can make so many weird faces. =/ I don't like thinking of my face as rubber!.....(I just pinched my cheeks to see how they felt.)

I suck at phone conversations. I never know what to say no matter who I'm talking to. I can be talking to my best friend and we always have awkward pauses on the phone, but NEVER in person. Weird? Yes...so don't call me, unless it's REALLY important.

Hahahahahahahahaha....Prank calls. Hahahahahahahaha. Good times, gooood times. :D

I just got goosebumps from nothing. *Rolls eyes*

The music in "Air Bud" is so inspiring. *Wipes tear from eye*

I have nothing else to say but this......I AM A BANANA! :D

Sincerely,
Jo