Life is not a video game.

I had my interview with University of MS Medical Center yesterday. Three interviewers, thirty minutes, three hundred things circling through my mind. Prayers from my love, my family, and my friends kept me calm throughout the interviews. I could not ask for a better network of friends. And I definitely could not ask for a better boyfriend.

I cheated the night before my interview, and read the Verse of the [next] Day. I know God has timing better than a metronome, but why am I still shocked when He is visible precisely when I need it?

Ps. 32:8 [nlt]
"The LORD says,
"I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you."'

He knows where I need to be this year and the next in order to become the person He is making me. And nothing will get in the way of His plan. So, here comes trust, faith, love, rest, and peace. I'm glad I am not in control of my life....as if it were a video game. God's hands are holding me and I have nothing to worry about.

Visibility

It's hard to believe I have a wonderful boyfriend
who loves me very much.
It's hard to believe I am in my Senior year of college.
It's hard to believe I have a Medical School Interview in a month.
It's hard to believe I'm driving 3.5 hours tomorrow
because the State wants to give me money.
It's hard to believe I donated my hair.
It's hard to believe I will see all my family this month.
It's hard to believe all the blessings God has given me.
It's hard to believe I'm living in such love.....

It's the middle of the week. Life has been a mess.

Thursday night, I started getting sick.
Friday, it was not the flu.
Saturday, I drove home (and shopped with my sisters!).
Sunday, I almost fainted.
Monday, I went to class.
Tuesday, was yesterday.

True story. I should take a job as a story teller. I can see it working.

The Tyra Banks Show is interesting. I'm watching it now. [not right right now, since commercials are playing]. First, couples came on talking about open relationships. Now, I am learning about the three words that will cause any girl to get a date. Like I said, interesting.

I ate a peanut butter/honey sandwich for lunch. It was amazing. And my little satsuma was the perfect addition. I kind of feel bad eating them sometimes. Satsumas. They sit so adorably in my hand. And when I take the peeling off and separate the individual slices...they kind of look lonely. So I just eat them really fast. I don't want to keep making them miserable, you know.

I have the best boyfriend ever. He puts up with me...even when I'm sneezing, coughing, and sniffling 24/7. Heart. And it's 4:22 right now. Which is perfect.

And I think I'll try to take a nap now. Give my body a little time to rest for once. And have Jesus time. Helps my miiiind and soul. [I....don't know why I said "mind" like that. Shrugs.]

-out

[heart]

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barret Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

o, happy day

These have been happy days.
School starts next week, and I am so not ready for any of the moving, classes, or homework. But, it will be good to see my friends again, learn knew things, and not be two hours from my boyfriend. :P

God's ways are so different than ours.
and I like 'em! :]
-Carolita

The Day After Today

tomorrow...tomorrow...i love ya....tomorrow
you're only a daaaaaay awayyyyy

I take my MCAT tomorrow.
And then I will be free to chill in the best way possible.
I do hope my test goes well.
[Jesus? ;)]
I think I've narrowed it down to reading comprehension.
Which could be good or extremely bad.
Let's go with the former for happiness' sake.
And yeah, I'm just rambling about my test now.
Because.

Signing out,
-C

MC; Fall; 09

So, this morning is my FREAK OUT ABOUT SCHOOL morning. I know, Friday is supposed to be relaxing, but really....who doesn't want to FREAK OUT ABOUT SCHOOL on a Friday? It's so perfect!

I ordered my textbooks. All 57 of them.

[okay, so it's only 12]
[so far]

And, another reason to FREAK OUT ABOUT SCHOOL: I discovered, much to my dismay, that instead of starting like normal day classes do, my classes start August the 24th! Lovely. And I will be in Virginia. So, this will be interesting. And I hope Audra loves me enough to take notes for me in Embryo the first night. Maybe if I tempt her with the promise of candy...

[sigh. i do love me some all-caps.]

f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

My heart is overflowing with praise
for You and Your ways.
Your love is beating inside my heart.
You and I? Yeah, we'll never part.
I could not live without Your presence--
not for a second.
Longing...it's the gift You give
and the ache You fulfill.
I'm so glad I still
think I can't get enough of You.
You're so big, there's always something new.
I am Yours and will love You
forever.

My Salvation

After writing for pages in my journal, I figured I'd type up the rest to spare my hand from more pain. [I do love a good handwritten journal entry, though]

So far, this year has been one God has been using to teach me to trust Him. And wow, His ways of teaching me are....bizarre. I'm pretty sure He would admit that in a heartbeat, too. Anyway, after ups and downs and ins and outs spinning me off my comfortable chair...I....yeah, I'm still learning! :] But, it's so good. Because He is so good.

And tonight, God showed me this...and it sank in differently than any other time I have read Romans. More proof that it's not about me or anything I can or will ever do.

For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But, the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you). And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again). Salvation that comes from trusting Christ--which is the message we preach--is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."
[Romans 10:5-15. NLT]

and I hope it stays there forever.
He keeps me alive.

The Life of an 8-year old in 2009.

We played Sorry this morning...Jacob and I. After a long and glorious battle, I did get my four yellow pieces HOME before he did, so according to the rules of the game, I won. He is still learning lessons on being a good sport about things, but I think the fact that he broke the top off his little red piece helped remind him to release anger in a milder way. I'm glad we're still friends and can keep picking on each other. He's the little brother I never had--annoyances and all. I love it. "Mooooom, Jacob said my face looked like a bull-dog..." That was last week.

He picked up a stray balloon after our game ended, and I showed him how to rub it on his head to create static. He was freaked and scared he was going to get shocked. But, once I stuck the balloon to the ceiling and it stayed all of 30 seconds, he figured it was worth a shot. I bet he is still walking around the house rubbing that white balloon with the magic marker-ed face on his head and sticking it on random things.

The breakfast dishes were still sitting there, so I begin doing them as he talks to me with his never-ending questions. I turn on the radio to a country station, since that's how I roll, and the first song to come on was one unfamiliar to me. He got silent when he first heard it, then lit up after the first line and eagerly exclaimed that this was one of his favorite songs! I smiled and wondered why, since it started leaning towards the romance side of country. He started quietly singing the chorus to himself and seemed lost in a little world of his own. He looked at me, finally, and said, "Mama said that this song reminds her of Daddy....." My heart melted. His mother left Jacob's dad for a boyfriend in town. The divorce was finalized a few months ago. No wonder Jacob has this song on his list of favorites. He's eight. He misses his parents love almost as much as his father does.

Why do people throw love away?

So Daddy, stop leavin'
and Mama, be loyal.
'cause when you stop believin'
your love is worth fighting for
you destroy that little kid's world.

it makes me want to sing another love song

I cried out to the LORD,
and He heard me.
I am back in His arms.
and realizing once again,
He is all that matters.

[Sweep Me Away, by Kari Jobe]

incomplete

I have had no complete thoughts for about three days now.
Just random words exploding like firecrackers in my brain.
fire and all.
which is why
they tend to hurt most of the time.

Sushi is good.
But not as good as the word of God.
Oh, that. Yeah, what happened?
Wait, you need to remember that part.
And what about that letter?
Remember to set your alarm.
Why don't you ever finish reading a book?
No wonder you aren't growing.
"in the night...."
Where are the stars?
I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING!
Static always creeps into my radio.
I just want to race.
Failure.
That's what it has been.
Ha! Hope?
And why did you say that, anyway?
I want to learn more about boundaries.
Not that I can apply anything to my life.
I'm such a wimp.
What happened to self-control?
You will have no free evening this week.
Why do I feel like this?
I hope her mind is being restored.
Trust kills.
But you have unfailing love!
Why does it feel like this sometimes?
Remind me again.
Passion for what matters.
Where has it gone?
Have I put up too many walls?
And still not enough?
Where have you gone?
I need to knock that one down.

forgiveness. pursuit. love. unfailing.

Jealous Kind by Jars of Clay

a step of correction in the process of learning

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief.....When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor.
-James 4:7-10 nlt [and the entire chapter, really]

i <3 the weepies

Not Your Year

Nobody Knows Me At All

Hideaway

time

i'm trying to form thoughts about how to live each day.
they say live as if it were your last day on earth.
but what about living as if it were your first?

O_o

omg.
i am going crazy.
but You see me coming in
and You see me going out
so please
don't let me forget
what life is all about.

splashes of life

I like seeing what people put on their subs.
One lady asked for meatballs, extra sauce, pickles, and black olives. Imagine those flavors all shooting around in your mouth with each bite; kind of makes my mouth do funny things just thinking about it. She must have either a) a dull life that allows creativity to be expressed only during lunch hour or b) such an interesting daily existence that it has infected even her food choices. Subway is a center for sociological observations. They really should charge extra.

Alzheimer's: the test of love.
She was hunched over on top of her porch steps when we walked up. She looked up from the two empty white buckets in her hand and asked my mother how tall she was. She refused my help down the stairs, and also any mention of us holding her buckets. We walked out to the patch to pick our blueberries as she wandered around the vast yard muttering to herself. Later, her husband arrived and took her inside to eat breakfast. "Here, lets eat outside on the porch. That sound good to you?" His voice was soft and his actions embodied gentle love. Even though the responses to his questions were nonsensical babbles about her cup or buckets, you could tell his heart still beat to the rhythm of their past.

Hey, caterpillar.
I sat down at the dining room table to eat my lunch of fresh green beans, a vegetable crammed turkey sandwich, chips, and salsa. Right before we bowed our heads to bless the food, I saw a caterpillar on the center of the table. He was quite small, very fluffy, and had these little poky things sticking up from his body. When we started eating, I wanted to share, so I gave him some of my potato chip. He turned away with disgust. Anita commented that I may have shoved it at the wrong end, since it was hard to tell which was the head and which was the tail. Haha, Anita. He didn't like the hydrangea leaf, either. But, when Mother set down lettuce, he enjoyed the thought of that for a while...then crawled past. He begin walking towards my plate, so I set it aside and he kept going to the edge of the table. Oh, no! I was concerned he would crawl right off and fall into my lap, possibly injuring one of his little legs! Anita interrupted my thoughts: "Carolita, what concerns me about this picture is you have that motherly look on your face right now." She was so right. Deep down, I do love animals of all shapes and sizes and diet-choices (so long as they don't eat humans like myself). I guess what's in my heart shows on my face more than I thought. God bless the caterpillars. And the sparrows that eat them.

Mississippi Bugs

i am tired of ignoring the cracks in this glass.
i am tired of hearing the bugs keep flying past.
i am tired of smiling when i just want a good cry.
i am tired of this frustration building up inside.
i am tired of pretending i love everyone the same.
i am tired of playing these silly, silly games.
dude, i am tired of seeing your name.
i have to feel what i don't.
i have to say what i can't.
they call it overcoming.
whatever.
we all know
we're just pretending.

I Learn New Things Every Day

while filling out my Medical School Application...

"Momma, what's something good about me that I can incorporate into this Personal Statement?"

"Well, the way you organize your mind to get things done...because you sure can clean the house faster than any of the rest of us!"

Summertime

Isn't summer supposed to be a relaxing holiday? A break from school and those dreaded 8 o'clock classes?

HA. Dream on, Carolita.

I came back from Asia last Monday--the 1st of June. Only four days after, and I have already compiled a to-do list long enough to strangle myself in. Deadlines, applications, phone calls, e-mails...the whole shebang.

Next time, I will make sure to read the fine print before looking at that dotted line...
...then I'll sign, anyway.

[It's wonderful to be alive in the summertime.]

Humpty Dumpty

I think sometimes I take a well-meant idea/emotion/thought,
and enlarge it in my little mind
until it explodes into lots of little pieces of mistakes.
and there is no putting it back together.

Just Another Kokomo Sunday

It all began at 6:30 a.m.

Yeah, I know...it doesn't sound fun to you, either. See, since it was Mother's Day and all, my sisters and I were going to prepare the Sunday meal so Mother could have a break. This meant getting up early. 6:30 a.m. Of course, being the lazy youngest child that I am, I did not let myself be dragged out of bed until seven o'clock. Hey, those thirty minutes of sleep do wonders for a girl's soul.

I stumble into the kitchen and grunt a "good morning" and "happy mother's day" to my mother and two sisters who were already being wonderful domestic ladies. My dear mother, even though we told her about us making the meal, still cannot stay in bed past six o'clock, and so was out and about, doing laundry, and admiring the dedication of her three sleepy daughters. Five knives, 15 potatoes, one head of cauliflower, a pan of unbaked rolls, two heads of lettuce, one cast iron pan full of bacon, several breakfast intermissions, two Jon Foreman cd's later....and we were done. Done being a relative term, of course. The rest must be completed after church. I finished loading the dishwasher, dumped soap in it, and pushed the appropriate buttons, before scurrying off to my room to grab my Bible and notebook and head out the door.

We pull into the church drive at precisely 10:05 a.m. Anita comments to Mother how if we made lunch instead of her, we could be this early for church every Sunday morning! Church starts at 10:00. I chuckle and am reminded, once again, how often I take for granted what my Mother does. Walking into church (aka. our air conditioning shop), I am greeted with smiles and hugs from all present; from little cell phone stealing John to his father Mr. Larry, who is adjusting the sound connections to his guitar on the other side of the room. I have missed my church family. Susie and Mr. Larry start us off with songs and pause to listen to the occasional verses being read and stories/testimonies being shared. With her face full of energetic love, Ms. Cindy shares the latest update on her neighbors who hang out with their beer by the creek as they try to figure her and this whole "Jesus-thing" out. And we sing again. Derick, with his three beautifully brown children crawling all over him, puts in a word of thanks for all the mothers in the room. He lovingly nudges his wife sitting next to him on the old truck seat. Their young love is strong. Daddy hands out Greek definitions and talks about boldly coming before the thrown of God to get grace when we need it. I could feel our hearts regain strength with the reminder that God longs to help and does not abandon us when we have struggles. After standing to sing many more joyful songs, we join hands in a circle and talk to Jesus. There is still hurt, still pain, but with each other and God, we can get through it all .

My stomach reminds me of the time as I drive back home. Rachel comes with us for lunch, since she was going to help Susie with a photo shoot in the afternoon. Her cheerful chatter is a healthy addition to the day, since laughter is always frequently exhibited. Once more in the kitchen, we all work together to set out the Mother's Day lunch. My favorite Uncle Mark walks in with dessert. Uncle Tim, his girlfriend Brenda, and the two girls carry in drinks of all variety. Grandma comes over to give her "little Belle" a great big hug and kiss. I always have to laugh inside just a little whenever she does....I love her. Esther, Derick, and their three little munchkins contribute a platter of meat; or, according to Nikki, "the turkeys!" I love how she makes singular things plural. Delightful. After much more rushing, squishing past people, oven visits, and iced glasses, I yell out to the living room "we're ready!" Natisha jumps into my arms and declares that she is sitting by me to eat. We all manage to fit into the kitchen (as always), and Daddy leads us in prayer. The mothers get their food first and everyone finds a spot to sit, eat, and chat. Susie and I cannot finish the food on our plates and blame the pre-lunch "picking." Rachel's mother, brother, and sister walk in the house and talk with us while everyone finishes their food. "Marietta didn't tell us y'all were still eating! Or else we never would have come over....." My mother and her hospitality--another reason I love her.

Coffee and afternoon conversation soon has me settling a little too comfortably into the love seat. Susie laughs at our laziness. Eventually, we jump up to do the dishes before our eyes shut on us. Susie's photo shoot is scheduled for four, so Rachel, her, and I begin the journey to Hattiesburg. Along the way, we add Heather to our party. As Susie and Rachel photograph an adorable couple and their dogs, Heather and I run off to shop; only to find that Hudson’s is closed on Sundays. Bah, humbug. A quick tour of Burke’s Outlet helps me find what I need, and we stop at Starbucks before picking up the girls. They, of course, were buying water at a downtown restaurant and made us wait for many, many minutes. During which, Heather and I died laughing as we saw this old woman running out of a building and to her car. Who knew what happened...gotta love Hattiesburg.

We ate at La Fiesta Brava to satisfy our Mexican cravings before heading home. Susie, of course, exclaimed about the adorable couple the whole time, while Rachel stated her extreme dislike of dogs. The journey home also witnessed Susie holding two iPod Touches to look up a Bible verse in two different versions. Technology these days... Once home, Heather and I promptly begin sharing our music libraries. After much searching, confusion, and help from a friend, we were finally able to get the music from her iTouch to my computer. The feeling of victory lingers still….along with the enjoyment of new music! Kiss Me Thru the Phone on my computer? I can die satisfied now.

Somewhere during the course of Heather, Rachel, Susie, and I relaxing in our bedroom…we were invaded by my three little cousins once-removed. The five-year old twins and their seven year old brother were thoroughly enjoying Auntie Carolita’s room and sticky notes. ‘Tisha’s giggle cannot be replaced in my heart; Ambrosio’s craziness is unmatched; and Nikki’s asking for my name every two minutes warmed my soul. Who cares if she doesn’t remember which auntie I am? I knew she still loved me. But, I still swear they were on something. I think Anita dosed them up with caffeine before sending them into my room. She will die soon…

We eventually moved our adventures into the living room and turned the new couch into a ship. Tisha pulled out her little purse and begin handing me pieces of paper with which to make “a hat.” I proceed to show both of the twins how to make boats out of paper. And we float them in our “water-filled” laps. I was amazed at how quickly they caught on to making them. Sure, their boats were a little crooked, and their hats bent out of shape, but progress is progress! And I was impressed.

They left with their parents once the sun had already been snoring for several hours. And only my parents, two sisters, and I remained. I went back to my spot on my bed and thought through the day with smiles and sighs. Even after the long day, the busy schedule, and the drama not documented here, I did enjoy my Sunday. Because, I have a mother whom I love dearly, a church family who is real, a sister who is crazy in love, and a small town in which I have missed existing.

It’s good to be home.

this is what i need right now

-2 pina coladas
-Just Dance playing as loudly as possible
-that x's three

survival

it's kind of the mode i'm in right now.
in 22 hours, i will be finished with all my finals.
and will then have To-Do List B to tackle.
haha.
in my weakness, You are strong.

565 ways on "how to be okay"

I need a book like that. Directly related to dealing with change with those I love the most. The problem: I'd read the whole thing, understand it, learn from it....but I still would feel the same when the time came.

I want to be adult about this.
Grow up, Carolita.

winter

is just a reminder of the beauties of Spring.
it is not meant to be a constant living environment,
but exists as a pathway for the process of restoration.
without death, there would be no new life.

there is a reason for days

because the world rests at night.
and every morning,
we get a second chance at life.
and God, amazingly, never runs out of mercy.
but is eager for us to try living another day for Him.
He believes in me...in us.
it's kinda obvious...because He won't give up.

red

i am really mad at myself.
like, yeah.
upset.
wonderful.

the truth

life is pretty hard right now.
not gonna lie.

a rant

i can't focus today
and my head is swimming
and i don't think Jesus and I are :like this: any more.
and it's because of me.
and i can't figure it out.
and i don't understand.
and i have weird dreams that haunt me.
and creep me out.
and i don't want to sit still.
and i don't want to have to think.
because it doesn't help at all.
and i have a ton of studying to do.
and did i mention i can't focus?

this is how i feel:
like i am trying to get to this door, because I know Jesus is behind it.
and i know he'll make everything ok.
there are bushes surrounding the entire building, which i have to cross through.
and i am running through this empty field, in the dark, trying to reach the bushes...because that means the door is close. but there are these evil enemies that are shooting arrows at me. i keep running through the wave of arrows as they pierce my body. blood is dripping down from each of the many arrows sticking out of me. i finally reach the bushes and try to find a way through, but there is no opening. so i just begin pushing my way through the hedges. only, i have all these arrows sticking out of me...and they get caught on the twigs and branches. this makes the pain increase drastically. but, i am frantic to get through, so i keep wiggling and pushing and trying to reach the other side.
it doesn't work.
and i am stuck there. in the bushes. in pain and blood and leaves and darkness. and the enemies continuous screams. i try to call for Jesus. to let him know that i am almost there! and that i need help. because i can't make it on my own. but...i don't think he can hear me, because the others are yelling so loudly. and even if he did...i don't think he would come. because he gave me the right amount of time, and i messed up. that's what they're telling me, anyway. they're saying He doesn't care anymore, because i let him down. and now, i am stuck in the bushes.

the moon is pretty much mine

He saw my fear and asked
"Do you trust me to the moon and back?"
My stress dispersed
with the awakening of earth
and as night sky became brighter
I said, "I trust you farther."

joy has an enemy

i smile
but am dead inside
i am free—
yet imprisoned.
locked down
by Self.
continually, i fight your love.
hardened by these chains
of resistance,
(independence)
my heart has no more room
for another.
i cannot breathe like this
the Spirit is suffocated
by my growing walls of iron.
there is no gate
in this fortified city of Self.
no window.
no crack.
can you hear me cry?
You conquered death!
walk through my walls in your power
and destroy this hardened core.
(i don’t have three days).
please….i need you.
am i even worth saving
after all this?
[4-5-09, 11:49 AM]

the swing of things

Why do I continually mimic a pendulum?
And what controls the swing of things inside of me?

"oh, bother.."

"tomorrow"

"....those who trust in the LORD will be happy."
proverbs 16:20 (b)

trust

I'm a work in progress....but I have learned so much today. And will learn even more tomorrow, I know. It's like Jesus is handing me all these things, forcing me to TRUST Him and Him alone. Not myself, the world, or anyone in it.

and the amazingly funny thing that blows me away each time? when I do trust Him, He goes above and beyond anything I hoped or imagined....just to make it perfect.

<3

dreams

I had another horrible dream last night. It was the end of the world. Well, more like the horrible things happening before the actual end of the world moment. And if people inhaled this certain gas, then they would die and their bodies would snap in half at the waist. Yeah, Mom made me stop telling her any more once I reached that point.

I just wish I could get some sleep without weirdness. It's not realistic. The dimensions in dreams are so different than reality. And dreams portray Time when he was still young. Now, if these dreams actually made sense, then maybe it would be different. And, the funny thing is, I wish God would speak to me in dreams. Like, I have longed for the gift of dreams and visions for ever. If this is it, though, it's disturbing, unsettling, and freaky.

Could you clear things up for me just a little, God?

omnipresence

You are so perfect, Jesus. So unlike fleshly me. Repeatedly, I mess up; have mood swings, attitudes. Yet you, wrapped in patience, just keep holding me in your powerful arms and continue giving me your peaceful smile. Because You know I will come back around soon enough. And when I do, You never want me to feel alone. Thanks.

i definitely fit in the box

The stereotypical homeschooler. X the boxes that apply to you.

Growing up/now
[x] Own/have owned a denim jumper (flea markets!!)
[x] You were at least 13 when you got your first "trendy" haircut [try 18!]
[x] Everything in your closet at some time was referred to as modest
[x] You do/have tucked things in that shouldn't be tucked in
[ ] You have been a member of at least 3 co-ops
[x] You were a true 16 and never been kissed
[x] Your mom drives a van of some sort
[x] You have at least one childhood picture where you, your mom, and all you siblings matched [ack!]
[ ] You are/were/will be a PSEO Student
[x] At some point in your life you were more comfortable with adults than kids your own age
[ ] Have studied ways to defend your beliefs, debate, and/or create laws [well…not to structurally, anyway]
[x] Used super conservative Abeka curriculum [haha. Not Abeka, but..yeah]

Total: 9

[x] You use big words that most adults could not use in conversation
[x] You can use the words sublime, epiphany, and cognicent correctly [um…if I’m correct, cognizant is spelled incorrectly]
[x] You have a favorite word.
[ ] You have an understanding of Latin root words and how to use them
[x] People from the outside world are referred to as "public schoolers"
[x]You or one of your siblings knits. [did!]
[x] You laugh at the decline in literacy in America
[x] You score constantly higher than "public schoolers" on standardized tests.
[ ] You have no concept of cafeteria food [gag. College has cursed me]
[x] Family vacations are/ can be referred to as "Field Trips" [so true. My first real vacation was Christmas 2007]
[ ] Traveling on said vacations have included stopping at historical site markers along the way [not so much, actually…]
[ ] You have never been in a public elementary school, middle school, or high school during regular school hours
[x] You have gone to or been involved in a homeschool convention

Total so far: 18

[x] You read books on a regular basis
[x] You have taken part in a political protest
[x] You were a Pride and Prejudice fan before the movie [OF COURSE]
[x] You were a Lord of the Rings fan prior to the movie
[x] You were a Chronicles of Narnia fan before the movie
[ ] You speak a language other than English [hear me cry]
[x] You dream of dating characters from books instead of celebrities [still do, my friend….there is no one other than Malcolm who can have my heart…]

Total so far: 24

It (has been) assumed that you: [talking strictly about the past, here! As in, many moons ago]
[ ] Have won many spelling bees
[x] Have no social life
[ ] Have no friends of the opposite gender [you know, I never got accused of this one….odd]
[x] Are outstandingly smart
[x]Are extremely inept
[ ] Only listen to classical music
[x] Play piano or the violin
[x] Do not own a pair of trendy jeans.
[x] Have no knowledge of drugs or alcohol
[x] Don't date, only court. [it has been assumed….people are weird]
[x] Have never been to a "party"
[x] Know no other beliefs other than what your family believes

Total so far: 33

You have been asked more than 10 times:
[x] If you wear pajamas to school
[x] If you get perfect grades because your mom grades you
[x] If your mom teaches you or if somebody else's mom does
[x] How do you meet people
[x] Why you aren't in school
[x] If you get days off whenever you want
[x] If you're going to be homeschooled through college
[x] If you have a big family
[ ] What your parents are protecting you from [people just drew their own conclusions on this one and didn’t bother asking…]
[ ] To quote something famous
[x] For the answer, because supposedly homeschoolers always have all the answers

Total so far: 42

You have rebelled by:
[x] Listening to "worldly music"
[ ] Wearing black fingernail polish. [I want to….*laughs!*
[ ] Wearing tight clothes
[x] Watching a *gasp* PG-13 movie
[x] Breaking dress code [ok, but not…like….breaking my standards, here…]
[x] Listening to music with a beat
subtract this from total

total: 38

1-10 You're not really a homeschooler...you just do school at home
11-21 You're a homeschooler, but not what the world expects
22-32 You're a homeschooler
33-? You probably wouldn't have facebook to begin with...but congrats you're the stereotypical homeschooler

2009

I accidentally brought in the New Year with Lady Gaga's Just Dance.

o_O

I sincerely hope this is not a reflection on me and 2009.