My irrational Christmas list :)

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2.


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4.


5.


1. I would like some beautiful, cute, trendy, awesome boots. I have been searching and searching for some boots that would fit my legs. Alas, instead of calves I have cows. My legs are pretty muscular so it is very very difficult for me to find any boots that fit. In fact I have been looking for almost 2 years now. still searching. Any suggestions :)
2. I have recently come to loving these shoes. I mean come on people. If I buy one pair they send one to kids in Africa. Decision made.
3. I so so so want an Iphone but people I refuse to pay the monthly bill. Even If I am fortunate to have wonderful parents that would help me out. Plus I would absolutely LOVE this little device. It is not happening. At least not until I have a grown up job. Hey that just means I only have to wait another year and a half right?! Right.
4. I would love love love love to have a new pair of gap jeans. I realize they are more expensive than the normal jean but people let me just tell you they last forever and fit so well.
5. Last but not least I would love to have one of these babies. This will be the PERFECT place to study for my summer classes. I just cannot wait until the weather is just right for me to hang this little guy up and read a book by the lake. Or go camping and sleep in this baby.

Man O Man. Dream dream dream :)

Ps. Apparently when I make a wish list it is imperative for me to repeat myself 3 times.

so Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.

Go tell it on the Mountain.

Oh man you guys. I have had the most amazing week so far.

Can I just tell you that I am SO IN LOVE with Jesus Christ! Just after I had posted that last post down there, I had the most depressing emo feelings. Then I woke up the next morning and still had those feelings. I sat on my couch and thought Ok I know it's Sunday. Church is something that is supposed to happen. But even though I knew it was that time I sat and thought..I am not going. I will have to be there alone, it will be awkward. There is no way that I am going. Well Christ has his way of gently tugging at your heart until you are completely being torn away from what you think is the right decision. So I sat up and said I am not Chickening out. I got up and went. It was awkward alone but I was there to be filled with Jesus again. Oh how wonderful!

It seems that this Christmas season when I am down, A song pops into my head. That song my friends, is Go Tell it on the Mountain.

Imagine with me, actively climbing a mountain and standing on the very edge of this precipice and looking at the glory of the Lord. Then opening your arms and shouting, "JESUS CHRIST IS BORN!!!"

I have decided to form a bucket list of sorts. This activity will be one of my top 10 things I want to do. Maybe not yell exactly that sentence. Maybe I will just be yelling praises to the almighty. I am not sure, either way I am looking forward to climbing this mountain.

Home

I have always listened to all the Christmas songs that mention being home for Christmas. Even though these songs are special to me it's not because I could ever relate. This year however, I understand exactly what they mean.

Can I tell you the truth?

I was so so so very excited to move and be on my own. To have the "away from home college experience" that I have seen my friends and family love. But mine is not the, "away from home college experience" that most have. I live in an apartment, not in a dorm. Although I know some people in the complex, It's nothing like the wonderful experience I was anticipating. You see my sister went away to college. The only sibling of mine that has lived in a dorm. I would visit her and dream of being there. Being able to just skip down the hall and hang out with my best friend from college. You know the one that is a bridesmaid in your wedding. The one your call to have lunch with. Unfortunately, this has not been my experience.

Don't get me wrong blog people. I am adjusting finally. It has taken 4 months to get to this point. But now with the Christmas season here I am forced to face the fact that I am not at home looking at that glorious 9 foot tree with all the homemade ornaments from our childhood. But now that it is my job to have my own cheer. Right?

My all time favorite Christmas movie is Meet me in St. Louis. In this movie Judy Garland debuted a song called Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. (This just happens to be my favorite Christmas song) In the scene she is comforting her little sister, Tootie, because they are moving to New York the next morning. Although this song doesn't particularly say anything about being home for Christmas it still evokes the feeling of homesickness that often occupied my thoughts here in my apartment.

I so look forward to being home for Christmas.

What a sad sounding blog this is evolving into. I have decided my next post will contain feelings of happiness and love.

One scarred hand to the other.

My sins are too many to count. They are too many to categorize. They are too many to even fathom.

I have a problem with my sins....I cannot let them go.

There is a song I love by Casting Crowns called East to West. Several lines are currently repeating in my head over and over and over and over and over. This is what it says:

I know you've cast my sins as far
As the East is from the West
And I stand before you now
As though I've never sinned but today
I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other




What a wonderful thought! Right?! That my sins are spread from the East to the West. But I keep thinking about that one line, "I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again."

My most recent sins. The ones I count among the worst. They are rising up in me constantly.

I image this is how a prisoner would feel. At least one that actually regrets the activity that has gotten them into their current living conditions. It's like the white walls are a constant reminder of what they have done. For me, it's everyone I see around me that are the reminder.

I should have been better.
Known Better.
Chose Better.
Lived Better.

And yet the choices I've made have lead me to basically running through my local Wal Mart to get away from those that I felt were going to be some of the most disappointed in me.


See what I mean people? I have never been able to let go of my own sins. He has already forgiven me for every sin I will commit. Every sin I have committed.

The part of this post that is the most difficult for me to comprehend is that I have to forgive myself.

I say Grace.

When I was 8 years old I begged Jesus to come into my life. Literally I got down on my knees and pleaded that he would save me.

At this age, did I truly understand what he was saving me from? At the tender age of 8 did I understand the commitment that I was undertaking?

Maybe I will never be able to answer these questions. What I do know is that night when I knelt down I couldn't wait to talk to this man Jesus. My heart pounded so hard that I just knew when I opened my eyes it would be laying on the floor. Can you imagine something feeling that urgent especially to an 8 year old?

Another question:

Have you ever met someone famous? I have.
It was an experience I will never forget. I got such a rush. I couldn't even speak. The guy had to ask me if I would like a picture with him! For the first time in my life I was speechless. Literally.

One more question:

Have you ever read a book that made you have an emotional reaction? Example, Twilight caused millions of people to have an obsession.

To my 8 year old self, this book was the Bible, and the famous person was Jesus.
I know these feelings still apply and yet they feel dulled.

Truth: If I saw Jesus right now in this moment I would be speechless. But it shouldn't be that I would need to see him to be speechless. I should be in constant awe of the power and love of Jesus.


What does this boil down to?
1. I feel lukewarm and I hate it.
2. I should read the Bible so that it will become my renewed obsession.
3. I should be what I seem to be to others around me.
4. I crave to be that 8 year old with that simple understanding.

hurtful words

So question...

Why are words so hurtful? Sticks and stones right? Aren't I rubber...You're supposed to be the one that is glue. The words are supposed to back fire and hurt the hurtful one. Yet today someone said something to me that I keep dwelling on.

On the flip side of that, Do I say hurtful things? I know I have not ever called someone what I was called today. Not to a person's face. Even though this gives me some comfort I realize I do think and say things that are not nice.

Just some thoughts running through my mind.

Connect

What a week I have had. It has been filled with 2 tests, Many hours of studying, stress, love, happiness, joy. It seems to me that the last three do not coincide with each other correct? In my wonderful life they do :)

My sister came to visit me this Sunday. She decided to come help me find a church in my area. I am very thankful she did. I went into this church Sunday feeling awkward and unsure...then the music started. It was a wonderful thing that happened at that point. I got a feeling. You know the feeling where you know God is near. Where your heart flutters and your hair stands on end. I had that. All I could say was. Hello God, I have been missing you.

That last statement is a wonderfully sad one isn't it? I have to confess that it has been a while since I have felt the way I did Sunday. Life gets in the way.

There are no excuses for this. I allowed moving, school, and other things get in the way of my worshiping.

Now though I look forward to attending this place God has set aside for people to gather and worship. I can't wait for William to come up and enjoy a service with me. I really want to thank Chelsea for coming up and missing her home church service.

I look forward to growing in my life. At school and in this new area.

Blog Update

It is one of my wishes to be an amazing blogger like so many I know. Alas I am a sporadic blogger with no cohesive (is that the correct term?) blogs. O how I long to be one with awesome pictures in ever post. I am not. Maybe when my life is not consumed with tests and school. Hopefully..one day :)

just not today.

My new life

So..A little disclaimer! This post is so long! It is mostly for me. Really it's just so I can remember my first two days of Dental Hygiene school! Here it goes:


Yesterday I began a new adventure in my life. It was the first day of classes. The first day of dental hygiene school. Ok so maybe this doesn't sound exciting to the rest of you but you need to understand, I have wanted to be a dental hygienist since I was a freshman in High school. Actually I am not sure that I can pinpoint it to that year. I feel like it was before....Either way, I have wanted this for at least 7 years of my short 21 years in this life.

As class began yesterday my professor said this to us:
‎
"You are going to cry more, stress more and freak out more than you ever have in your life...and you chose this!"-Ms. Miller.

It's amazing how this exemplifies every feeling that I have had about school.

Just last week I was in tears because I was so stressed and it hadn't even started school yet!

But now it has started :)



And guess what...It is exactly what I thought it would be... So very challenging! Just yesterday we had a full lecture chalked full of information and things that I had to know.

Today was just the same. More and more information thrown at me for eight hours.

So for my own enjoyment let's recap my first two days of school:

I woke up and looked at phone. My sweet mother sent me a text that said, "Wish I could be there to make your 'first day of hygiene school' picture. :-) love Mom.

Of course this made me cry but then I decided I would take the picture for her so... here you go mom:

My first day of Dental Hygiene school:



School was just full of syllabi and a very large set of notes. After school I got to see my boyfriend! He had made a trip to Rome earlier that day for some business he had to help take care of. So it just so happened that he stayed and hung out with me for several hours! What an amazing guy :)

Then my awesome brother and mom made a special trip to fix my internet. He did a wonderful job. Then I said my goodbyes and tried to sleep...Yeah right.

I woke up early this morning to go to school. After I was all ready for school I went out into the parking lot of my apartment building and I saw a girl that is also in the program. We ended up carpooling.

School started like the day before. Filled with syllabi and boring notes. But then something awesome happened! They passed out our instruments! I was almost hyperventilating I was so excited! In fact the girl sitting next to me kept looking at me. I don't think there was anyone as excited as me!







After receiving my very own instruments I went to lunch with a few girls from the program. It was awesome! I am really excited about the other girls I am meeting. We ate at Panera...yes Chelsea I did it! You were right it was delicious :)

After we got back to class my teacher surprised us with an awesome tooth morphology DYD! Our very own tooth and gingiva model:



The teeth COME OUT!!!!!! SO AWESOME!



a set of teeth that are just loose,



and an awesome coloring book of Head and neck anatomy!



O my goodness I cannot wait! Now I just have to sit down with my books and really get into this! I am so pumped!!!!

I know the hard work is coming so very soon! But I am so so very excited about it!


And if this isn't enough today I started the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred! This video made my sister look SO HOT right before her wedding! I am determined to look just as hot! What a wonderful week!!!!

A Picture is worth a Thousand words.

Why is it that when people look at pictures they automatically look at the faults? For instance:

My legs look deformed.
Oh my! Do I really look THAT chubby?!
How did my teeth get that yellow?

Why do we have that immediate response? Is our self image really that horrible?
I guess what I am truly asking...Is my self confidence really that low?!


This are my new revelations:

1. I need to look at the good things in life more often.
2. I need to remember that God formed me in his image every moment of everyday (yes that includes everytime I look at a new picture of myself)
3. Meaning that Every single time I look at a picture or in the mirror and say I just hate my nose, or Oh my look at that belly!, or even (and this is the worst) I wish I looked more like her!....Every time I put myself down, I am also saying that God made a mistake.
4. ( a little story behind this one) A woman at the store came in and said...I want a dress with sleeves...I hate my arms..They wobble! Let me just tell you...They didn't. But she wouldn't have it that I was telling her that. And big surprise here..She fell in love with a strapless dress. I told her she looked wonderful! (bc she honestly did) and she just kept saying oh my wobbly arms...I finally said it's all in how you carry yourself... JUST work it!
So number 4 revelation....Just WORK IT!!!

Not to toot my own horn but....

Toot toot!


I am allowed to. Want to know why? I was made in the image of something perfect. God made me the way I am supposed to be.

Each stretch mark, mole, pimple, and "beauty mark" on my person was put there purposefully. I have decided to cherish each one.

:I never think of the future. It comes soon enough." -Albert Einstein

If I had a quote that is supposed to represent this summer it would be the one by Mr. Einstein. My goal was to relax and not stress these few months. I know what is coming. Dental Hygiene school....Yeah I am freaking out. But everyday I am reminded of the stress that will be my future in just 2 very extremely short months.

Every time I sign on to the wonderful world of facebook there is a new friend requests made by the other young ladies that will be entering into the program with me. After I see the friend requests it pops into my mind that I still have no apartment lined up. That I don't have everything I need for that apartment. That no matter how much I don't want to admit it I am not ready to move out of my childhood home. That I am scared out of my mind to face the crazy tests that are going to be coming my way. O dear Lord I need some prayer. Even now I feel like crying. I hate stressing out.

Side Note: Do you know what I realized the other day??? That when I move out this August it could very well be the last time that I live in my childhood home. A year from now I could be engaged....maybe possibly.... not so sure about that one. But it is a possibility. And if that is true than I will be married the summer after I graduate from dental hygiene school (if everything goes as planned). Yeah that is CRAZY!!!!!

This is my dream y'all. To be a hygienist. I just have to go through schooling. I Can and WILL do this!

What a negative post. I hope to have a more positive report next time blog world.
Please pray for me.

Retail, Dandelions, and White hair

I, like most college students, have a little part time job working in retail. I come into contact with countless people while I am at work. Tonight was exceptionally full of new faces. Each new face taught me a little lesson about myself but here are just a few that affected me the most.

There is this little boy that comes in with his mother. They are frequent shoppers. I love this little boy. The first time I saw him he had a mohawk of little blond hairs, converses on his tiny feet and the cutest face I have seen in a very long time. Being my father's daughter, I immediately began interacting with him. So his mother responded with saying, "Hey Jackson, Pound it!" He reached out with his little tiny toddler fist and I formed my gigantic adult fist and he gently tapped my fist with his. Oh I was smitten :) The next time I saw William I went on and on about this awesome kid I had met. When I have children I would love for my kid to be so very much like him.

Tonight his mother came into the store and I was so excited to see the toddler that had stolen my heart. But in the place of this precious toddler there was a rowdy (in a good way) boy with glasses that was easily 3 feet tall. It was him. My little customer, Jackson. He isn't so little any more. It was in this moment that I realized that kids really do grow like Dandelions.

Did I mention that tonight I worked POS? To those who have been lucky enough to avoid retail jobs, this means Point of Sale. It's basically who checks you out when you are finished with your shopping experience. To add to this pleasant experience it was also senior citizen discount night. This brings around many awkward moments where I have to either suppose that someone is old or wait for them to tell me they are old.

Getting to the point here... This sweet older lady came through my line and immediately said, "Senior citizen discount." Me, being the person that I am, Said I can't wait to be older and have white hair and grandchildren I can spoil mercilessly.I just love the idea of sitting on a porch with a glass of sweet tea, reading a book (with my magnifying glass in tow) and enjoying life. I want to be that crazy old lady that sits and talks about nothing at all. This seems like a wonderful stage in life. It's not that I want this to happen tomorrow... I want to enjoy every moment of my soon to be 21 year old life. It's not that I want to wake up tomorrow morning with a white hair on my pillow. I am just not dreading this time in my life. There are so many that dread being old, Not me.

Finally, the last lesson I learned: I love being able to tell someone that I was born and raised in the area that I still reside.

A woman and her daughter came through my line and as I was checking her out the conversation got around to how she had lived in many places and just ended up here. She asked me if I had always lived here. I said, "Yes Ma'am, born and bred. In fact my parents went to the same high school right down the road." I love living in a place where I have a heritage. Where I know the back roads. I have no desire to move away from here. I love living close to my family, my church, everything. Maybe I am too stagnant. It is entirely possible that I need to move away and gain some life experience. I am just not someone that thought I can't wait to get out of this town.

In conclusion:

I am not exactly the biggest fan of working in retail but I am a fan of learning life lessons. Especially in the most inconspicuous ways.

You've Got Mail

There is one quote from this movie that sums up how I feel about blogging. Meg Ryan is emailing Tom Hanks and she says:

"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something."

This is exactly how I feel about this blog post. I realized that I haven't posted in a very long time and I wanted to post. But I couldn't figure out what to say. And then I thought well there is nothing I want to say. This is my epiphany: This form of communication, my blog, is a whole load of nothings. But maybe that is the point of blogging. To distract yourself with a load of nothing and that distraction is the something. I am just not sure. I am still getting the hang of all this.

What I am sure of is that it is finals time! ((Insert Jaws theme here)) I am not a good test taker. I am an anxiety lady. School is stressful for me. I am not like my brilliant sister who graduated summaa cum laude...In fact one of my mom's favorite jokes to make is: Eden, she is going to graduate thank the laude! Which I find hilariously truthful.I am so excited for this May 11 when I will be finished for the summer! Especially because next fall I will take a large step toward my ultimate goal of becoming a Dental Hygienist :)

But can I admit something to you? I am scared. Dental Hygiene intimidates me. I have heard on all sides that this is so difficult. Achieving this goal is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Not just school but also taking the boards. Just thinking about it gives me a pain in my chest. Then on top of this I will be moving out on my own for the first time EVER! That adds so much more stress on it! I am overjoyed to be accepted and So so so happy to be taking this step in my life but... I can't exactly explain it so maybe this other quote from this movie explains it better. It says:

"You are daring to imagine that you could have a different life. Oh, I know it doesn't feel like that. You are marching into the unknown armed with...Nothing."

The difference is though that at this part in the movie she is scared because she is losing something. I guess it is opposite for me..I am achieving something. But these situations are similar because we are both diving into the unknown.

Maybe I should try to convince myself that instead of being scared I am actually brimming with excitement.



Nope that's not working. I am definitely just scared.

I am so EXCITED!!!!

I GOT INTO THE DENTAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT!!!!!

Oh How I LOVE Jesus!

Revival was amazing! I was revived in one night!
Let me try to paraphrase the AMAZING sermon! But first I have to share with you a moment I had with God!

I was driving home from school one afternoon and I started to think about how when services are running long that preachers say that we are on God's time. And it hit me! We ARE on God's time! I know this is sad and I should have written it down but I cannot not remember exactly what was revealed to me! All I know is that the sermon went exactly along with my thought! So I knew it was from the big G-O-D!

But the part of the service that really got me to praising was the song service....You see let me just tell you. My family has recently come through a very extremely difficult part of our lives. My brother had cancer. He went through treatments and now his tumor (that was 14.7 cm) is now 2.2cm!!!!!!....So during the song service we sang a song called Master of the sea! That was the first time I have EVER been so close to shouting! Oh how wonderful is the love of Jesus Christ! YAY GOD!

The most inspiring part of the sermon was part of the sermon....Another side note..Have y'all ever heard that expression my cup runneth over?!...Well the preacher held up a cup and said what if I started to poor water into this cup and when it is full I don't stop and it just keeps flowing. It flows down the hill and into the houses, Down the other side of the hill and onto the highway, it keeps flowing throughout the community. He then asked Have you ever tried to stop water from flowing once it starts? Well you can't and it's SO true! When we really let loose and get into the spirit and it starts flowing we cannot stop it! Then he said now imagine the water is oil. It is so hard to get oil off! Just like the spirit! Once it floods your soul it is so difficult to get it off!

Thank you Jesus for blessing my soul!

Let's have a Revival from the pulpit to the pews!

Howdy y'all!
(I wore my cowboy boots today. Hence the howdy)


Can I express how excited I am! This week is revival at my little church! I am so excited! I was not able to attend yesterday because I was working. But tonight is the night I get to go! I have to really make it count because it is the ONLY night I can go.

For everyone who wasn't blessed enough to grow up on the Bible belt then let me tell you about revival.

It is a time for celebration of God's love.
Every other word you hear is Amen brother!
A time for some southern gospel.
I'll fly away o glory!
OH how I love Jesus!

This explanation is no where near enough. Let me guide you to one that is. This is my sister's blog! She is infinitely smarter than me therefor she explains it better. Check out how she tells you about God's love and the better definition of revival:

Rooted in Love


My hope is to be renewed in my faith once again! I can't wait!

Wedding magazines, Gilmore Girls, and Wedding Bell Blues

Today (ok so technically yesterday) was the Monday of my spring break. It has been filled with nothing but time with my Favorite cousin/best friend, creepy oil changing dudes, Gilmore Girls, and Wedding magazines! What a perfect day :) well except for the creepiness.

Part of my night was going to Publix with my cousin. When we were there I went to the deli and got a DELICIOUS chicken tender sub. My friend, Melissa, works there and she is recently engaged. My cousin Lacy, is also engaged, the girl at the deli that was talking to Melissa was engaged. The other girl working in the Deli got engaged yesterday. Finally the boy working in the Deli is getting engaged tomorrow! All the left hand rings! On all the left hands..

I have looked at a ginormous number of wedding magazines, a pile, a plethora, a cornucopia if you will. All within the last 5 or 6 hours.

Let's just say that now have the Wedding Bell Blues.But I am so thankful for this day!

Now everyone, I realize that I am very young but I still can't wait to call a certain someone my husband. To have my very own left hand ring. To be the one not only dreaming of wedding planning but getting married myself. For the last 2 years I have been wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, planning and dreaming (subtle song reference there) of my wedding. It stems from my sister's recent wedding and the fact that my best friend/cousin got engaged a year ago on Christmas. (Did I mention my cousin and I are the same age...just a few days apart?! I don't guess that's too relevant)

Who is my certain someone? The man in the suit at the end of the aisle? Well let me tell you about who I hope it will be...His name is William. He is Christian, handsome, kind, respectful, piano playing, awesome guy...Did I mention he is hot?! Because he is! Tall, dark hair, green eyes... Oh the butterflies :)


That's him by the way...Hot right?!

I would love to know how to describe exactly how I feel but I have no words... Good thing someone else did... Hehe..

The best way I can describe it is the lyrics of one of my favorite songs ever! It's name is Wedding Bell Blues..It goes a little something like this:


Bill, I love you so, I always will
I look at you and see the passion eyes of May
Oh, but am I ever gonna see my wedding day?

Come on and marry me Bill!
I got the wedding bell blues
Please marry me Bill!

If you want a song to groove to then please look up this song It's by The 5th Dimensions. It's the best!

I don't want all of you to think I am not having a blast dating because I am!!! It was just the day today made me excited, or maybe antsy would be a better term! I am extremely happy where I am, I cherish these times. It was just the magazines and the rings....They would get any girl feeling this way. Right ladies??! Right. It was just the left hand rings..They'll make you crazy.

What a Wonderful World!

It's Story time y'all!

Today was a scary day because I had a test in Chemistry 2. Although I felt good about Chemistry 2 in the beginning..That didn't last too long! BUT something WONDERFUL happened during this test today. I was stressed, I was freaking, I was a basket case! But then I had a realization. I placed my pencil on the desk next to the MAMMOTH test paper. Closed my eyes and prayed!

OH how WONDERFUL, MARVELOUS, JOYOUS it is to be one of his peculiar people! Part of his Royal priesthood!

Because after I said my last Amen and raised my head there was peace. Where there was stress there is now relief. Now the test paper wasn't so threatening, my blood pressure went waaaayyyyy down and I was simply not stressed anymore.


Now don't get your hopes up people...It's not like I was miraculously bestowed the correct answers! They were not flowing through my pencil onto the test paper. No, I did not ace the test.


But I got something MUCH more valuable than a stinkin' 'A' on a test! I got to have a genuine moment with Jesus...Right there at my tiny tiny desk in the itty bitty room. I had a moment. One that I am sure no one around me knew about.

Want to know how I knew they didn't know?!


Because when I looked up and saw all their strained / stressed faces. I knew this Enormous moment in my life had not been shared by anyone around me. It was a moment between me and God!

Oh how Wonderful!

Money must be the Root of all Evil

My last post was a nervous yet hopeful one about completing my Dental Hygiene application...Something that now seems fruitless and sad. I was notified by the dental hygiene department Friday that they will not be reviewing any applications at this time. Ir was a very nice thing of the department to do. Notify all the hopefuls immediately and personally. But what is the reason for this development you may ask...

...WEll...

For anyone who hasn't heard The Georgia University System is now being forced to do some MASSIVE cuts to each of the college's budgets! This will effect my college by cutting 1/4 of the budget! WHAT?! That's insane! For other colleges such as UGA they will be forced to get rid of over 1,400 employees! Just think of all the lively-hoods (spell check please) of all those people! Think of the economy! With less jobs there is less income. With less income there is less revenue! That will just make it worse! This is the overall picture!

Each college has been told to make a plan of action. A "cut list". Something they can get rid of.

How does it affect me as a student personally?! My college has decided to cut the Dental Hygiene program completely! My program, my dream career! Meaning they will not review any applications for this year in order to Phase out the program. That is, if the proposal goes through.

Never mind that this program is the reason I chose this college! Or that even now, when going to google and typing in, "Dental Hygiene schools of Georgia" my college is one of the first to pop up! They still Slashed it COMPLETELY!

It's been difficult at school since the news came out. Everyone is worried about how their program is being limited! For instance, The nursing program is being cut by 30 students! 30 Students out of 100! But they COMPLETELY cut Dental Hygiene! Maybe I am biased...Ok I am definitely biased! Even considering this I still feel this development is unfair. So with a little push from my history professor (extra credit works wonders) I have now emailed a few Senators and a House Representative. The email stated :


Hello Senator Harp,
I have been interested in becoming a dental hygienist since I was in 5th grade. With the proposed budget cuts to the Georgia University System I am now unable to do this at the college of my choice. The particular program has been cut. At least that is what is being proposed. This is how the proposed budget cuts will affect me personally.
Although this is horrible, I know it is not the worst that will come from the Budget cuts. Job loss alone will force our economy further into the recession. When people do not have jobs they do not have income. Without income, there can be no capital for businesses.
Also if we believe that the future of Georgia looks bleak now. Wait until the budget cuts cause college attendance to dwindle. Our education system produces the future of Georgia. I would think it is in the best interest of all Georgians to invest as much as possible into the education system. I am under the impression that even the smallest of tax increases can solve this issue.
I urge you to please make an effort to find a better solution. One that will not destroy the higher education of all Georgia college students.


This is the last step that I can do toward this. My awesome sister gave me some words of encouragement and I realize that I have done all that I can do! It is in God's hands! What happens it what is supposed to happen!

Pray about EVERYTHING

I finished my Dental Hygiene application tonight. Words can not express how happy/excited/fearful/nervous I am. It's my second time applying to this program but it wasn't any easier than the first time. On the contrary, it was more difficult. Not that the paperwork was more extensive. It's because it is the second time. I have already not been accepted once. What if I am not accepted again? Let's not talk about it....
But like I said I finished my application! Now I feel like I should hold a prayer meeting dedicated to these little slips of paper. I am hopeful this year. I feel like I might have a better chance.. maybe.
It's difficult to be positive when I know the odds. Did you know that over 100 people apply 20...TWENTY get an interview and 14 get into the program EVERY year. Not very good odds.
Oh my lord I am nervous! Let's all pray!

Let's start in the very beginning. A very good place to start.

Hello,
My name is Eden... Yes, exactly like the garden from Genesis.


I have been staring at the above sentence for several minutes unsure of where to go next. Knowing that I am about to send this into the oblivion of the internet for many people to read. There is this one very small part of me silently hoping that I scoot by with no one really paying attention to what I am saying. While the rest of me is hoping that maybe in some small way the things I say might positively affect someone out there. That someone might notice my little blog and wonder who is this peculiar girl who is rambling on and on about God's love, her day, her boyfriend, her job...etc. etc.

Let's start with a small survey of myself:
Name: Eden
Occupation: Retail
School: college
Relationship status: taken, finally :)

But none of these express to you who I am. I am a girl who loves movies. Not just chick flicks like 27 dresses, but also independent movies that challenge thoughts. One like Elephant. A girl that will NEVER grow out of loving Disney princesses. A college student who would love to reach that seemingly unattainable goal of becoming a Dental Hygienist (it's a lot harder than it sounds). A book club loving, piano playing, shower/car/ church singer. I am a daughter, sister, girlfriend, friend. But mostly I am a lover of Jesus Christ!

That last one is the one I take most pride in!

My testimony is perfectly expressed in John 15:9. Which is stated above but here it is again:

As my father hath loved me, So have I loved you: CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE!

This is my mission statement. To love.
The challenge that lies before me: to overcome the judging thoughts that bombard my mind constantly. To look passed appearances. I would like to look at my worst enemy and still love them.

This doesn't mean that I will be able to do this in every situation, Because some people make this difficult ( that is why it is my challenge).

Let me conclude this blog by telling you about my day today: The only way for me to explain today is to say that it is the perfect day to listen to Etta James. I have been listening to her constantly today.
My play list today includes:
I want a Sunday kind of love
Tell Mama
I'd Rather Go Blind
All I could do is cry
Pushover
Something's got a hold of me
At Last (it has to be included)
And so many more.
Each song has a quality that suits me just fine. One that uses the blues to warm this cold cold day, One to inspire me to go home and tell mama all about how miserable Chemistry makes me. And others to just get me in a great mood. If you ever have a day that starts to bring you down, I suggest a little Etta.