So, my "big brother" Sam came for a visit on Sunday evening after his
weekend drill with the National Guard this weekend. Like a normal big
brother he wrote smiley faces on my toes with a permanent marker, wrote
on my ace bandage and wrote me a nice little ode to my foot. It is not
really broken but dislocated ankle was too many syllables....

Ode To a Broken Foot - By Sam Cornett

Oh broken foot, you came to be, on winters night, on foggy eve.

In such a rush, did you falter, so you could fetch a pail of water.

So now you cause much pain so sharp, a pain in foot, a pain in arse.

You made my bed a new found haven, where my mother keeps my legs shaven.

Six months or so will prove no more of walkers, wheel chairs and days of bore.

I long to visit with friends and family, especially with my big brother Sammy.

He tells me that I should be happy that I'm not taking a big dirt nappy.

People love me because I'm out going, even in wheel chair rolling.

I am a blessing in many lives, I help them through sorrow, pain and strife.

So broken foot, take haste in healing, many people need advice and butts need kicking.

I'll pray to God that you won't heal slow, so my big brother Sam...

WILL STOP WRITING ON MY TOES!!!

Well, many of you have heard that I was in a car accident Friday night on February 20th. Many have been asking how I am doing and what happened so I thought I would give you all an update or inform some of you for the first time.

On Friday night after my Jazz Choir I performance my friend and I decided to go for a drive that turned into driving to my house in potlatch to pick something up. After finding that the stuff was not there we grabbed some homemade cookies and headed back to moscow the Palouse/Pullman way for a change of scenery. What started out like a relaxing drive in mild fog turned into a pretty scary drive in dense fog. A few miles outside of Palouse the fog became very dense. I decided to slow down even more (I was going about 40 mph) my foot was on the brake and I was trying to follow the white line to my right because that was all I could see. All of sudden it went right and I tried to follow and well.. Apparently Washington paints their white lines to follow turn off roads. Those familiar with the area I crashed on the turn off for Kamiak Butte. The white line went right but the highway goes a little to the left and I uh kind of went through the middle and I guess jumped the ditch and crashed into a hill thing. Yes, my poor car is totaled. My friend is okay aside from some bumps, bruises and a few scrapes. I however dislocated my ankle pretty good.

This weekend was a weekend of firsts: My first accident as a driver, my first ambulance ride, my first ticket (Wheels off of Road is what the police gave me), first surgery, first hospital stay the list goes on and on. I spent the weekend in the hospital and was discharged Monday afternoon. So, you are probably wondering what do I mean by dislocating my ankle:

There is a bone called the talus bone (refer to clipart posted in albums) that kind of sits between your actual foot and your tibula and fibula of your leg. My talus bone popped out of my skin tearing all my ligaments in between. I posted pictures taken of my foot at my follow up appointment on Tuesday in my photo albums for your enjoyment. They are very impressive but a little gruesome. I have been on strict bed rest for the past several days meaning my foot needs to be elevated for at least 20 hours a day. I hope to get back to my college courses on Monday depending on what the disability services on my campus can do for me. I am going to be in a wheel chair for the next 6 weeks and have a walker for the duration of the semester right into June.

I had a constant stream of visitors at the hospital. I have gotten flowers, ice cream and countless numbers of other things to help me get through this mess. All in all I am trying to keep up my spirits. Thanks to those of you who have sent me cards, leave me messages, and above all keep on praying for me. All I can say is thank God I was not hurt any worse and my friend is not hurt a whole lot either. If you have any other questions feel free to let me know! This bed rest thing makes a girl a little bored.

Promise of a Lifetime

I have fallen to my knees
As I sing a lullaby of pain
I'm feeling broken in my melody
As I sing to help the tears go away

Then I remember the pledge you made to me

[CHORUS:]
I know you're always there
To hear my every prayer inside
I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime
[ Lyrics accessible from http://www.rare-lyrics.com ]

Will you help me fall apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow
Through the change

I still remember the pledge you made to me

[BRIDGE:]
I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day
Putting my understanding aside

And I am comforted


~Enough said >.<

After a nice game of Apples to Apples.... these are the green cards we all won... read and be entertained!! :) We played Imaginiff too... This was a great question Rachel came up with:
imagine iff ___________ was at a girl's night game party. what would she do?
1. Host the party
2. Bring the Game
3. Keep it Real
4. Make good jokes
5. Insist on taking pictures of jokes
6. Laugh at everything!


APPLES TO APPLES RESULTS!
Emmalee:
Hot
Swift
Insane
Luscious
Magical
Lucky
Lovable
Neat
Unforgettable: Men...REAL men (too great to not include)

Rachel:
Sweet
Refined: Jerry Springer (also TOOO great to not include)
Technological
Loud
Spiritual
Witty
Expensive
Sultry


Kellie:
Realistic
Influential
Extreme
Masculine
Wild
Distinguished
Legendary
Lazy
Refreshing
Inspirational
Spooky


Me:
Silly
Naïve
Femmine
Primitative
Irritating
Juicy
Explosive
Wicked
Intense
Exquisite
Fancy
Cute
Hostile
Fabulous
Nasty
Dirty
Desperate
Dainty
Temperamental
Natural

Nothing I say nothing is better than a girls game night....after a stressful day of finals week... YAY for extreme relaxation after a stressful couple of weeks!!

So, someone at payroll TOTALLY screwed up and has been giving me $50.00 an hour...Excited as I should be I am totally angry.. Mainly because I only get so much money per year of work because it is Work Study... So, I told my boss and he called down there and they were like OOPs...tell your student not to spend any money until we get this sorted out.. Because basically I have to pay them back for what they overpaid me .... I know that is the fair thing to do but jeez I feel like I am being punished for what they messed up on. Oh did I mention they did this for 2 not just one pay check?

ARGHNESS....

However, I have had the pleasure of dealing with a researcher who was probably one of the sweetest old men I have met (besides my grandparents of course).. He was really polite and patient when we were looking for the material he requested. He has spent the majority of the last two days in my office. I have been a huge help to him because he was researching the Old Potlatch Mill and was asking me questions about Potlatch. Which was handy because I am from Potlatch...He was just sweet and kind.. I usually get older researchers that have no patience and are generally very rude to me. Or I get people who have NO IDEA how to research and are ungrateful/rude for the help I give them. This guy was awesome... He even wanted to buy me a drink from the coffee shop when he went to get caffeine because he had been working for several hours. He literally was in my office from about 8:30 am until 4:15 this afternoon. He was an interesting guy and I had fun helping him. It was nice to have a happy researcher instead of a a research who has procrastinated so much that they take their stress out on me... It is not my fault if you wait until the day before it is due to start your research in a place where you can't check the book out... Oh well... Today was a nice refresher.. Next week is dead week.... So, I am sure I am going to be swamped with a ton of researchers and students very soon...

So, the last two days I have had an allergic reaction....Took benadryl to help with the itching...Found a spider and suspected that I was bit. Later I fell up stairs and dumped my box of art supplies that I was carrying... Today, I managed to cut myself with a pair of scissors while I was cutting up a bunch of little tickets for a program I am working on this weekend. All in all I have had just one of those days x2... SIGH... At least I haven't fallen on the ice outside... *Knock on Wood*..I blame it ALL on the benadryl because I am way exhausted... On the up side... I got to see my best friend who I haven't seen in over six months!!

So, at work today I came across a record review of this song... I remember teaching it to an elem. jazz choir for jazz festival a couple years ago... It has been stuck in my head for about 8 hours or so...So, I thought I would post it for all my friends to see too!!

"AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE"
Words by: Johnny Mercer
Music by: Harold Arlen

You've got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene

(To illustrate his last remark Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they do Just when everything looked so dark)

Man, they said we better Accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between No, do not mess with Mister In-Between Do you hear me, hmm?

(Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear About the elininatin' of the negative And the accent on the positive) And gather 'round me children if you're willin' And sit tight while I start reviewin' The attitude of doin' right

(You've gotta accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between)

You've got to spread joy (up to the maximum) Bring gloom (down) down to the minimum Otherwise (otherwise) pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate (well illustrate) my last remark (you got the floor) Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they say (what did they say) Say when everything looked so dark

Man, they said we better Accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between No! Don't mess with Mister In-Between

So, today my little brother turns 16.... Crazy how fast we grow up eh? Anyways... I have been sitting here reflecting on my past weekend and relishing in how amazingly awesome it has been. First I a friend spend the night Friday night whom I haven't seen since camp. We had a great time hanging out and talking about things. Saturday I spent the WHOLE day doing generally nothing. I spent part of the day watching House one of my favorite TV shows with a great friend who I haven't got to hang out with for such prolonged periods of time on a weekend in a LONG time.... After House I went to dinner with my hall and we yet again took up a lot of space in Bob's... after that they played Canadian Pool for about three hours....After which we watched Singin' in the Rain and some of us stayed after and talked until about 3 AM...Sunday I got a couple unpleasant wake up calls...after that I got a good one.... went to lunch watched another episode of House. Did some homework.... Went to Youth Group where on the way there...Some friends and I decided we want to do a Youth Leader road trip to Seattle for a couple of days the weekend before Thanksgiving. At Youth Group I had one of the best worship times I have had in a long time. Heard an amazing message. On the way home had one of the most heart warming talks I have had in a long time. Came home to a girl who has went through and amazing transformation that I got to witness. Watched Center Stage with a friend. Had a awesome conversation on MSN Messenger with another friend..And generally I have a warmed heart from all the stuff I have felt, witnessed, and did this weekend. Making me feel happy and not angered and frustrated from previous events of the last few weeks. All I know is I am here for a reason and when stuff like this happens I know I am exactly where I need to be in life. Which is an awesome key to a person's life when they are content with where they are and who they are. Which right now I am content. And I have not been content in a very long time... and it is a GREAT feeling!

So, contrary to my past blog... I have been working so hard at being a happy person. But the last four days I have been loaded down with so much stuff that I am about ready to freak out. So, I decided to close my door and write and hopefully venting to no one in particular just the world wide web will make me feel better. My biggest pet peeve EVER is people saying they are going to do one thing and doing a completely different thing. Which of course I have dealt with this the past couple of days..I wanna know why day after day week after week and so on I have to remind myself not to rely on people? I know it is a bit harsh but I found I am a happier person when I rely on God and myself for inner peace... I know this may weird for some to comprehend...but I have gone so much of my life letting people stepping all over me and still be nice to them and not holding anything against said people.....but a girl can only take so much...Why do people say things and do another...Why do people ask to hang out to turn around and not call? Then make you feel like the bad person cause you get upset? Why do people take others ideas as their own? Why do people step all over other people and when they bring it up they be made to be the bad guy? Why does the other person take the blame when they are the one being walked all over? Why is communication is so critical but some don't want to communicate? A lot of "why" questions...but the truth is a lot of these happen all the time and more and more people become victim of being the nice person who gets stomped on and then turn out to be a stress case and unhappy person on the inside. I know a lot of the solution to these problems is building a bridge and getting over it... but sometimes there is more to it than that... Just some food for thought...

So, those who have been around me this past year have known I have not been the happiest person right? Well, GUESS WHAT!!! I figured out... I am over it I am moving on!!! Life is good.

I have come to realize what has been pulling me down and holding me in a rut per say..I am not the only one struggling with these problems...Those around me have been having the same issues..Some closer than I would have ever expected.People who I thought were "unbreakable" are the ones who are hurting just as bad if not worse than me... I realized I need to stop worrying about everything and just trust God has a bigger and better plan for me than anything I could ever even begin to plan. People are put in and taken out of my life all for some special purpose. Just a couple weeks ago some great friends and I gathered around a campfire sang worship songs and let loose are problems...We all had the same types of concerns and problems.. All on different levels of course but when we got right down to it they were the same. These people I have come to love as family and hope that their struggling comes to and end soon.

Soon after this little gathering. Began Vacation Bible School where I was introduced to four counselors from the camp I grew up going to down to help lead our VBS...at the end of the week two especially talked me into applying to work at camp. They needed support staff and decided to give it a shot. But between VBS and being here at camp I went to creation.

Now Creation for those who don't know it is this amazing four day christian music festival. (I cut it short this year by a day cause I had to get ready to be at camp on sunday)... Creation always teaches me something new every year. This year it was all about getting me back to a level of happiness that I can truly feel and seem happy to those around me. The best feeling in the world for me is 20,000 Christians gathered in one place singing and praising one God together. Words can't not even begin to describe the feeling that gives me and give it justice..I had a tough year faith wise and being surrounded by thousands of Christians made me realize I am not the only Christian out there who goes through highs and lows...I was surrounded by some amazing people in my campsite...Amos who has such love to give to everyone and happiness to share..Wilma who is and amazing worship leader and just doesn't totally understands it yet...Andy AKA the pretty girl... He made me so proud this year he was calm, cool, and collected. He also is an amazing youth leader...He really does have the heart to lead. Jake everyone gives him a hard time all the time (including me) But I really do love him as family and he is an amazing person and he will continue to become a very loving person...Heidi, Kara, Bri, Taylor, and Erin were awesome girls who all have a heart on fire. of course Kenny, and JD both never cease to amaze me. Kenny with is insight on everything which takes it to a deeper level..JD with has a large amount to give in many aspects of life...There were many people in camp who also taught me some stuff this past week and I thank each and every one of them for it.

On to Lutherhaven...I grew up at this camp and it is good to be back after 5 long years... I have been working so hard the past two days I am so tired yet I have so much energy at the same. I found myself enjoying helping in the kitchen to feed all the hungry campers. Today, I also led a discovery center and I helped kids make kites. One of the previous counselors I was talking about I spent a couple hours with him and his campers tonight playing games with them and enjoyed it very much... Slowly I am beginning to truly understand that I need to and have the heart to work with kids. When and where I am yet to find out. I am enjoying my time here very much and finding the light I once had growing brighter and brighter.. I all I ask and pray for is that light won't fade again because losing my way was frightening... "I was lost but now am found," revised from the prodigal son.