The Difference Between You & Me

**Pay close attention, because there will be a one question quiz over this at the end**

I read something just now that didn't make me very happy. In fact, it made me downright sad.
In today's world, it is accepted to constantly put people down with your cruel words. And, making fun of them is one of the favorite ways to do it. Talking about them behind their backs is another.
I go to a Christian school, and I witness this everyday. Sadly, even at my school, people are cruel. Many people would say they act the way they do because they are "insecure". I don't know if I quite agree with that. I think some people are just really that cruel. Others just do it for popularity, maybe, or hatred? Sadly, even Christians are guilty of this.
Despite what you think, being a Christian doesn't make you perfect. Christians face the same temptations as nonChristians every day! We get angry, we hate people/circumstances, we have attitude problems. But, the difference between you and me? The way I see it: God wants us to BE DIFFERENT. He wants us to treat others different. He doesn't want us to talk about them behind their backs in cruel ways. Or to their faces [in cruel ways] either!
Don't get me wrong guys! I am human too! I don't think I'm perfect..I KNOW I'M NOT! But, I do try. I want to do what God wants me too in my life. I want to live for Him! I try every day to please Him, and no, I don't always succeed. I get angry quite frequently; it's a terrible downfall of mine! I know I should react differently than I do, but, like I said, Christians face temptations too!
But, there's another difference between you and me. And, this one is for all of you Christians out there..if you're reading this, you'll know who you are.
Ready for this? READY??
Ok, here goes..:

    I want to honor God, and you don't.

Phew, there.

I said it.

And, guess what?

I honestly don't regret saying it.

Because, you probably needed to hear it.

You see, I am so dissappointed in you! You go to a Christian school, and as far as I know, you go to church and have a great family. But, you are seriously lacking in your Christian lifestyle. And you know it.
It baffles me that you don't even seem to care. But, I guess I can understand. I mean, first of all, you have all that peer pressure, right? And, goodness knows if you stand up for what is RIGHT, rather than gossipping at the lunch table, you will be shunnned by all of your friends!!

    WRONG

Chances are, when you stand up for WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT, your friends will realize that they are in the wrong.

 Shocking, I know!

But true. :)

And, despite what you think about me, I don't gossip. Honestly, I could care less about anything other than my life, my friends, what I need to focus on for next year, my family..and my own drama! Do you think I have time to gossip about you or anyone else?

NOPE

Gotcha there, didn't I? Sorry to let you down..but, maybe it's time someone told you life isn't all about you...not trying to be mean, but it's totally true. I'm not saying life is about me either..in fact, it's about something much bigger. It's about living for God, and being a good witness, and winning others to Him. Do you realize that? Now you do. So, stop with all this petty "I'm more important than you, no one really cares about you, it's all about me, and if I don't like you I'll make fun of you" attitude. Because, one day, it will come back to bite you. Truthfully.

Ready for that quiz?

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME?

Dear __________,

Ok buddy, here's how this is going down. You are gonna read what I write, and you better take it to heart! :) I'm sorry if it sounds harsh, but some things just gotta be said.
First, let me just say, I don't hate you. I might have for alittle while (like, a month?) but I definitely don't now. So, get over it. I want to be friends! I really do! And no matter HOW HARD I try, you refuse! Why? WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS? You make no sense! Suck it up, be a man, and put forth some effort here. We had a pretty great friendship, and I would LOVE to have that back! Seriously, you meant so much to me, even as friends, and if that's all I get back, I'm ok with that! So stop being stuck on the fact that I "hate" you. I'm a different person now. If you took the chance to get to know me again, you would KNOW that! So why don't you take the chance? STOP BEING SO SCARED! You are the man, right? PROVE IT.
Second, STOP MESSING WITH MY BEST FRIEND. She doesn't deserve that. Do you not even have the common decency to call her? I'm sure just a text message a day would work wonders! And, seriously, picking up the phone at least once a week can't be THAT hard! I know you're busy with college and everything..but, you did tell her she was your best female friend? DIDN'T YOU? Are you going back on your word? What kind of person does that? If you broke up with her, why can't you let her get over you? Can you do that for me? Please?
Last, I just want to say, sorry if everything in here was harsh. I don't mean to pile it on you like that. I just think you need a smack in the face (virtually, of course). And, I think you're a great guy! I really do! You are a great encouragement to me spiritually. I just wish you wouldn't be so dense sometimes, and that you would realize that your silence really isn't that helpful. It's actually quite discouraging.
Also, I want you to know that, I still care for you. Not in a lovey-dovey way, per se. But, in the way that I would do anything for you. Honestly, I would! If you asked, I would totally give! See, I don't hate you..I just get frustrated at times.
I know you will probably never read this. I just had to..get it all out there, I guess. Plus, a girl's gotta stick up for her best friend! :)
I wanna leave you with this:

Psalm 84:11

The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

It's my life verse, I'll let you borrow it for alittle while. Think on that..and good luck in college this semester!

Love,

Nicky

Decisions, Decisions..

             It's January 18, 2011. Almost exactly four months until graduation. (more or less)
I'm sitting at my desk, looking at my computer, trying to absorb this information. I don't know if I'm ready yet. Sure, I can't WAIT until highschool is OVER. But, when I say that, I mostly mean being associated with the immature younger students in my school. Or going to classes I don't even need now! Or sitting in the same spot every day, with no variety! In that sense, yes, I CAN NOT WAIT TO LEAVE HIGHSCHOOL.

But there are things I don't want to leave, too. Like, my friends that won't be going to the same college as me. My amazing teachers..especially Mr. Reed. He's been such a great encouragement (even though sometimes it doesn't SEEM that way). I don't think I'm ready to go off on my own yet either. Paying bills, paying taxes..not something I really look forward to! But, we all have to grow up sometime, right?

I also have things that I want to happen before this is all over. And a measly                   FOUR MONTHS to do it! For instance, I would LOVE to place at Nationals in the Textile category. I've been working SO HARD on my project; sometimes I think it will never be done! But, I'm still working at it!
Also, I would love to win the championship in soccer this year! I am determined to push myself so hard! I really really really want to go somewhere with soccer my senior year!
And, to top everything off, I WANT TO PLACE FIRST AT NATIONALS FOR BAND!! We worked so hard last year, why can't we do it again?

Yes, determination can get me through all of that. But, so can decisions. I can decide to work on my cross-stitch. I can decide to push myself EXTRA HARD at soccer. I can determine to be the best defender again. I can decide to practice my clarinet, and work on the hard parts over and over and over again. And you know what? I WILL. And I already have!

But, more than those decisions, I have others. I need to decide to not be affected (or is it effected? I can never remember!) by the senioritus I already have, and finish my last year strong. I can decide to push through to the end, and have a good attitude about the classes I really hate, or the people that just plain BUG me. I can certainly decide to achieve all A's in every single class I'm in..therefore causing me to not having to take my finals!!

So, that's what I've decided for the rest of the year. Now tell me..What are your decisions?

Better Late Than Never!

    I know it's January 9,and therefore it's been over a week since the year 2011 came into play. But, I still wanted to set an extra goal for myself. Well, maybe it's not really a goal. More like one word. You see, on my way to school on the first day back since Christmas Break (that would have been January 3, 2011), I was listening to the radio.
          The hosts for that particular morning show were talking about their word that they had picked for the New Year. At first I was kinda confused..you don't really here about people picking New Year's Words..just New Year's Resolutions. Anyways, they had each chosen one word to focus on for the year 2011..a word that can help them in their life (both physical and spiritual). They were also encouraging others that listened to that radio station to call in and share THEIR words with the listeners. I didn't do that, because I was still contemplating what I wanted MY word to be!
          Many of the listeners had amazing words! Patience, understanding, and mercy were a few. I have a friend who is using the word 'risk'. But, none of those words seemed like the word for me. Yes, I can definitely use some more patience in my life! And, I can certainly have some more understanding for others too...and, we all know we could use mercy in our lives! I could probably also do with some risk too. But, like I said, they weren't my words.
          Well, I figured my word out today! Here it is..get ready for it!
                      *drumroll*
                                            BE
Yep, that's right: BE.
Why did I choose this? Well, for several reasons.
One, it helps remind me to BE MYSELF. Don't BE what others want! You are who you are, and no one can change that about you!
Two, BE A GOOD EXAMPLE. There are so many people out there in this big world that need someone older to look up to, and it would really help if they actually HAD WHAT THEY NEED!
Three, BE OPEN TO SOMETHING NEW. I guess this can go along with my friend's 'risk'..? So often we have our minds set specifically what we want, and we don't care what's actually good for us! I am probably the poster-child for that problem! :)

Along with my word, I wanted to add a "theme song", so to speak. So, here it is:
Britt Nicole- HOLIDAY

It doesn't technically go with my 'word', but it does a pretty good job going with me, if you get what I'm saying. :) When I get extremely busy, or stressed, I often forget to just take time and BREATHE..!

Another song that I really like is:
Taylor Swift-YOU BELONG WITH ME

:) I know I used to say I would NEVER, EVER, EVER be a Taylor Swift fan..but, I guess it kinda grew on me! Plus, I really LOVE this song! I think it's cute. :)
These aren't my only 'theme songs' either. Nope, I have one for me and my BFFF too. Unofficially, our 'theme song' is One And The Same by Selina Gomez and Demi Lovato. I don't think she knows it, but everytime I listen to this song, I think of everything we've done together!
It might seem lame to you that I chose 'theme songs' for things, like me, or me and my BFFF. But, remember my word? BE? Know what that means? It means that I don't really care if you like my 'theme song'..because I'm gonna BE my own person :)

Happy Monday! ;)

The Whole Cup

Yesterday, at approximately 7:00 p.m., I was driving down the road, away from Starbucks, towards my mom's work to pick her up. It had been a super long day, with the first day of school after Christmas break, cheer practice until 6, and I was treating myself and my mom to a yummy drink. :) Anyways, that was the PLAN..but I guess we all know that plans don't always work out.
How, you may ask, did this simple plan not work? Well, it goes like this:
     After cheer practice, I had some time to kill before picking up my mom from work. She had given me her Starbucks card, and I had some new ones from Christmas, so I decided to stop at my favorite ever coffee place. :) I ordered a tall carmel macchiatto (with an extra shot of espresso) for me and a grande white chocolate peppermint mocha for her. That is her absolute all time favorite winter season type. Me, I go more for the gingerbread..or pumpkin spice. :) But, yesterday was a carmel macchiatto day!
    I left the Starbucks and took a back road through the rest of the shopping centers to Route 1, which is the road my mom works off of. There was a car in front of me, going 5-10 miles BELOW the speed limit. And, NO, I WAS NOT TALE-GAITING!!
   I was behind this person for maybe 10 minutes. They kept tapping their brake lights, and I was kinda of getting annoyed. (You must understand, where I live, people are the worst drivers ever. Except me of course, I'm pretty good :D) Sorry for saying this, but it was quite obvious that this person, whoever it was, could NOT drive. All of a sudden, as we are driving DOWNHILL, they SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES. There was no indication that this was about to happen..and, I almost hit the idiot. I was maybe an inch away from hitting their bumper.
   And, with that quick slam of the brakes, my mom's grande white chocolate peppermint mocha spilled all over the floor in the passenger side of my car.
                       every.
                  last.
                      drop.
   What a nightmare.
  After causing me to SPILL THAT SACRED CUP OF STARBUCKS, the driver then continued to halfway turn their car around and speed up a little side road that they apparently missed. I guess they were blind on top of being a bad driver. (they must not have an appreciation for starbucks. how dare they?)
   I kept going after they went on their way. However, I wasn't too happy. In fact, I yelled at the top of my lungs about how "they couldn't drive" and "what on earth did they think that turn signal switch was for anyways?" Yes, I know they couldn't hear me! But, boy did it feel good to get it out. I wonder what the people next to me thought as I sat at a stoplight waiting for it to change. They probably thought I wa singing or something. I assure you, I was not.

After this incident, of course my car smelled like peppermint. And now, I crave Starbucks everytime I go somewhere..even though it only happened yesterday :)

I picked up my mom and we went home. I let her have some of my carmel macchiatto. When we finally got home, I had a massive headache. I ate my dinner and tried to work on my ODACS art project, but I just wasn't feeling it last night.
I drank 2 large cups of some delicious tea I found in our pantry. I have since decided that this particular kind is definitely MY CUP OF TEA! In fact, I'm drinking some now! If this makes you crave some hot tea, go buy some TWININGS premium black tea POMEGRANATE DELIGHT. Let me tell you, it is truelly a delight! :)

Anyways, I think this Starbucks incident was the beginning of my bad day today..yep, I'm pretty sure today's bad day started last night! Silly, right? How my terrible day could have started last night rather than this morning?

        (BY THE WAY, MY DAY CONSISTED OF SITTING AT SCHOOL DOING NOTHING FOR MAYBE AN HOUR AND A HALF, FORGETTING ALL OF THE MATH ON MY PHYSICS EXAM---IRONICALLY, I REMEMBERED ALL OF THE TERMS, WHICH NEVER HAPPENS! I NEVER FORGET MATH EITHER!---HAVING A TERRIBLE STUDENT COUNCEL MEETING, NOT DOING SOCCER WORKOUTS DURING P.E., AND GETTING BEEMED WITH THE BALL--I MIGHT GET A BRUISE FROM THAT ONE. OH, AND, MY SISTER LOCKED MY CAR KEYS IN MY TRUNK AND I ALMOST WASN'T ABLE TO GET GAS..BUT WE FIXED THAT.)

But, if you think about it, what exactly defines a bad day? Hmmm..food for thought, maybe? Chew on that, and let me know what you think! Personally, I think it's probably all in the attitude. But, you let me know :)

Life IS What You Make It

January 1, 2011. 12:00 A.M. Most of you were probably spending the first few seconds kissing into the New Year. Or at a party with friends. Or cheering because

                YAY, IT'S FINALLY 2011!

 Or, maybe even some of you were..sleeping..

        But me? I spent those first few seconds of the new year with my aunt, uncle, cousin, mom, dad, sister, brother, other brother, and one of my bestest friends. And then, after those few seconds were over, all of the adults went to sleep, and the teens stayed up (mostly) wasting 2 hours and 21 minutes of their life watching INCEPTION.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good movie! (Except for the end..I REALLY wanna know if that top stopped spinning! Personally, I think it did, because it was starting to wobble, and in his dreams, it never wobbled.) It was just extremely loooooooooooooooooong. And sad, but happy at the same time. And, it had some good parts. But, if I had a choice (which, I DO) I probably won't be watching it again.

To be  honest though..I spent some of the movie thinking about totally different things that had nothing to do with the movie. Like, the fact that one of my bestest friends (who happens to be the same one I mentioned earlier) is about to be in a relationship. And, the last time she had a special guy, I did too. And, wow..I kinda really miss it.

And, yes, the big, giant, ugly, green monster of jealousy popped up at that one opportune moment. Because, HONESTLY, I am so tired of waiting. Sometimes I feel like the hopeless loser who will graduate college, get the job of her dreams, find the BEST place to live, and wind up completely and totally ALONE. Oh, and I'll probably get a few animals too. Who knows, maybe I'll be that one CAT LADY that everyone talks about..

Ok, ok, I'm sorry for moping! This is the one time I needed to vent, and it feels good. :) haha. I just..need to...get how I feel out there. Because it's really hard to tell people when their love lives are so perfect. And, no, it didn't really hit me until now..I guess we never know when it hits. But, let's face it people! I'm always the girl that gets over-looked. Or forgotten. Or just plain ignored.

But, you know what else I figured out? Maybe, what they say is true. Maybe, because I waited so long for Prince Charming/Perfect to come along, he'll be the best guy ever. At least, this is what I'm hoping. And, no, God doesn't owe me anything. If anything, I owe Him so much more that I can give! So this isn't a "God, I can't believe you're doing this to me, how could you?" moment. I don't have those anymore. :) I KNOW God has a plan for me! So, I've accepted it! And, no more of this pity-party stuff. It's up to me to accept what comes my way..I can make it good, or I can make it bad. And, I choose to make it the BEST!

PHEW, since that's over, ( sorry I put you through that :)),  let's go through the normal "NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION" THING.

NO, I AM NOT HAVING ANY! Everyone knows no one keeps those, and I am definitely one of those people that gets through maybe,a day.? So, instead of "RESOLUTIONS" I think I'' do goals. And no, they aren't the same thing!

                                                                                  

 For instance,
 GOAL #1: Finish my ODACS project, make it to Nationals, and place..at least 3rd!

GOAL #2: Achieve A's in all of my classes, therefore not having to take any FINALS

GOAL #3: Save up enough money to pay cash for a JEEP

GOAL #4: Try to practice my clarinet more..and become much better :)

Now that we have goals, how about some great memories? Here goes..:

• becoming BEST FRIENDS with my BRACE BUDDIE, DJ
• OBX 2010, sun, sand, waves..and Enrique Iglesias ;)
• the beginning of SENIOR YEAR, and the last first day of highschool
• my 18th birthday..and the surprise party that was totally unexpected!
• the MONSTERS..no kids are better!!
• eating a Reese's for the first time in a year! (2009 was the no candy year..THAT   resolution I kept)

Well, I think that's enough for now! Sorry it's such a loooonnng post! But, it just proved to me that, yes, life goes on. And, it IS what you make it. And, you can make it your cup of tea..what could be better? :)