My Problem With Valentine's Day

Okay, let me start by stating firmly that I don't absolutely HATE Valentine's Day. It's a nice day to remind that special someone of how much you love them (truth be told, we should remind them daily), but anyway, it's a nice reminder. And let's be honest, without today, the country's chocolate and flower industry would more than likely go under. You could probably say I don't like Valentine's Day because I've never had a "Valentine" so I've never really celebrated it. Well, that's true. I've never had someone to call my "Valentine" and therefore I've never really celebrated the holiday, except when I was in elementary school when everybody in the class made their own little bag or box and then passed out Valentines to everybody. Other than that, I've never really had someone to spend money for chocolate and flowers on. And while it is a very nice feeling knowing that I get to save at least $40 this year, I do regret a little bit not being able to do that for someone. I mean, I love lots of people. I love my family and friends, but when you're my age, you generally (or at least from what I've seen) buy gifts for someone that is your "significant other", and well, I don't have a "significant other", which, since we're on the subject, I'm kinda alright with that. I know God's got someone out there for me, and I know I should be patient and pray, but if you know me at all, you know that I'm not the most patient person in the world (I'm working on it, I promise!), and I just sometimes wish that God would just put a neon sign over that "someone" so she'd be easier to find. Anyway, back to what I was originally talking about, I don't hate Valentine's Day, I just really dislike it because for myself and some other singles, it's just a lovely reminder of how "alone" we are. But don't let us cynical singles deter you couples from having a lovely Valentine's Day, we're just gonna go over here and have ourselves a Single's Awareness party.

Here's another year!

Another year has gone by? Seriously? Man..where did it go? It only seems like yesterday we were celebrating the beginning of 2009! I think the years are getting faster and faster. Well, I guess it's time I reflect over the past year. 2009 was the year I decided to start playing guitar and I have absolutely loved it. 2009 was also the year I had my first serious relationship with a girl, and while it didn't work out, I learned from it and I am now determined not to date again unless I am certain that the girl has the potential to be my future wife. That's about all I have to reflect on, so now, as with every new year, I have some resolutions to make. This year, 2010, I resolve to...

1. Spend time with my Creator every day.

2. Cut back on my intake of sweets and soda.

3. Exercise on a daily basis.

4. Stay caught up with my schoolwork.

5. Not date a girl unless I'm absolutely certain that she has the potential to be my wife.

6. Not judge someone before I've gotten to know them.

7. Be a better friend.

This Year I'm Thankful For...

Well, another year has almost gone by, and since yesterday was Thanksgiving, I thought that I would make a list of the things that I'm thankful for. So here it goes!

I am thankful for...

- God Almighty who has blessed me with so much and given me so much even though I deserve none of it
- my loving family, who support me, put a roof over my head, feed me, and correct me when I'm wrong.
- the amazing friends God has placed in my life
- the hard times God's put me through and continues to put me through so that my faith can be made stronger
- the fact that I'm still alive and in pretty decent condition
- being placed in Tifton, I feel at home here
- my Tifton "families", especially the Smiths. I love you guys and am thankful for everything you do for me.
- my musical abilities
- my best friends (you guys know who you are) who make fun of me, love me, support me, endure my stupid moments, and listen to me and my problems.
- coffee, which I know sounds silly, but coffee has become a wonderful and delicious part of my life
- music, which if you know me, is a huge part of my life. I love it.
- the amazing life that I have!!

Life At The Moment

Ok, so I haven't actually written anything in a loooooooooong time, and to be honest, quite a bit has happened since school started back. Most of my classes are going well, I dropped my piano class today cause I just couldn't find time to practice and to be frank, I just downright hated the class. When I signed up for it, I was under the impression that it would be fairly easy. Pssssh....was I mistaken. The teacher wasn't the best either...'nuff said. I played and sang in the ABAC's Got Talent show tonight, and of course, as Murphy's Law goes, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong. I woke up this morning with a stopped up nose and my voice was hoarse....so I don't think I did as well as I could have. Oh well, there's always next year. In other news, I met one of the most amazing girls I've ever met (well, to be honest, I met her over the summer, but we hadn't really communicated until a few weeks ago, and I'm glad we did!) And to close this blog, here's what I learned last week:

• Washed By the Water is the greatest song to wake up to
• Besides Jesus, coffee is the best way to wake up in the morning
• Why did the last 20 years fly by so fast?
• I have no idea what I'm doing with my life after ABAC
• I love open mic night at Lion Chasers
• Skyping with five people at the same time can be a lot of fun
  

Mini Update

Aaah!! I am officially in love with Skillet (especially the drummer!)

School has been going well so far. My piano class sucks because I have the devil for a teacher. But other than that, most of my classes are going well (well...maybe not Bio), but everything else is good. I've been posting videos of my guitar/singing skills on Youtube every Tuesday, and I would appreciate it if you would check it out, my channel name is: saltymusic2911. Buuuuuut, that's all I can think of for now.

Summer comes to an end...

Well, the first week of May seems like a lifetime ago, and as I prepare to move back to my third favorite place in the world, I feel like I should reflect on my summer. I feel like I complained a lot about being at home and not having anything to do. Boredom was my anthem and dislike was my motto. It seemed like all my friends (or at least the ones who seemed important) had ditched me and I had to float through the last 2 months on my own. With no job and nothing else to do, I had no choice but to do my parents' bidding, which, looking back, wasn't really that bad, after all, it is my job to help them because they're my parents. I also picked and sold blueberries, which is a lot harder than one would think. I think I picked somewhere between 18 and 20 gallons and to say the least, I am flat tired of seeing blueberries!! Don't get me wrong, it was a great way to make money, but I got sick of seeing blueberries. Apart from helping my parents and picking blueberries, I didn't do a whole lot this summer. I was the sound/video guy for my church's Vacation Bible School and then I was a counselor for a youth camp my church's association heads up every year. I've also spent a lot of quality time with my favorite coffee shop, Blackbird Coffee ind downtown Milledgeville. Alas, as my summer comes to an end I can honestly say that I'm glad to be going back to Tifton. Don't take that the wrong way, I love being at home and with my parents, but 2-3 weeks is my quota, especially when most of my friends are there and not here. I've also had the chance to get in some guitar playing this summer. I played for my church at the 4th of July celebration, I played for the talent show at camp, and I will be doing the special music for both morning services on August 9th. I wrote a song called Grace So Free and that is the one I'll be performing on the 9th. Hopefully when I get to Tifton, I can play one night at Lion Chasers. Here are the lyrics for my song:

Grace is something I don't deserve
is something that Your Word promises me
if I choose to believe
Grace is something I can't comprehend
and I'll probably never understand
what it truly means

But You gave it to me
grace so free
grace so free

What have I done
that You would send Your son
to die in my place
And I don't deserve to live
or the gift that You give
this amazing thing called grace

But You gave it to me
grace so free
grace so free

Yeah You gave it to me
grace so free grace so free

In Memorial

I remember the day we got Dixie. It was the summer before 6th grade. We had gone to my uncle's house in Sandersville and when we got there, his front door opened and a little dog ran out and started running around us. I sat on the porch and she came sprinting up to me, jumped on me and started licking my face. I asked my uncle what her name was and he said, "Well what do you want to name her, because she's yours. I was so excited because I had always wanted a dog. I said "Her name is Dixie". And so we took Dixie back to Milledgeville to live with us. That night, because we didn't have a pen or house for her, we kept her in a little crate in the hallway. After we had all gone to bed, I heard her start whining and so I took my blanket and went out into the hallway, put my blanket on the ground and opened her crate so she could lay down with me. After a few minutes my dad came out and told me that Dixie would be fine and that I should go back to bed. From then on, Dixie was one of my best friends. We spent countless afternoons running around and racing down the driveway. When I graduated from high school and got ready to move to Tifton, my Dad took over my job of taking care of Dixie. He got his job in Sandersville and once they had a house there, we moved Dixie's pen to that house and Sandersville became Dixie's new home. When I was home for the breaks, I would often stay at the house in Milledgeville for different reasons and I would always carry Dixie with me. She always rode shotgun. Sadly, she passed away yesterday. She was 9 years old and had been acting like she was sick for some time. She was a great dog and she was loved very much and she will be greatly missed...