Relationships

There are times in my life that I really want a girl. I want a wife... Though, whenever I say this around someone who is married, they always tell me to enjoy being single. Not that it's necessarily an awful thing being married or totally dreadful. I can understand where they are coming from but I just want marriage, you know? It's just one of those things.

Although I am going to wait for a while, the feeling always pops up periodically. This is, from what I can tell, a lesson on patience.

We have to wait on God and trust that He will do what's best for us. And it's that faith that gets us through these situations.

Take heart, shaker-followers. When you are getting impatient, hang in there. It's in these trials and tough times that God grows us. (see James 1 for further reference on this topic)

Over-and-out,
-sam
Song of the Day: ...And Then the Liver Screamed "Help!" by Chiodos. (Connor is going to be happy seeing this post.)

Monkey

Just woke up from my overnight recovery, and the worst thing is

I work in two hours.

That's beside the point though, I love those eight hours from 11-7 that I can just read and what not. This post is for a good friend of mine. Something special is going down you see.

He's in Seattle.

He's doing May Term with his brother for Athletic Training. Those of you wondering what May Term is: It's something our school is offering during the last 2 weeks of May for seniors to go and shadow and get job experience in their field of choice. No doubt he is going to have a ridiculous awesome time with his brother in Seattle.

I just want to informally tell that Monkey (we'll call him Monkey for theatrical purposes) to take care and have a good time. He's no doubt a stud and its gonna be a long week without having him to do shenanigans with during school (granted I'll be taking pictures for the newspaper during that time) but after school and track bidness. It's easily the best thing to be giving speeches with that guy or goofin around at track meets.

Actually one of the better days in school was when I snook into his team sports class with our fellow shaker Sam. Despite Sam being injured, Monkey and I were a regular one-two combination up and down the floor. It's fun to play ultimate frisbee with a Monkey.

So Monkey, this one's for you man. Take care, have lots of fun. If you meet Bill Gates, ask him for a million. That's chump change for him apparently. =D

Much Love

ø Connor ø

A Boot, a 1/2 Marathon, and a Pleasant Surprise

Some things to catch you up to speed on...

I'm currently chained to a boot. It's hot. It's sweaty. But thankfully it's not terribly heavy. Just cumbersome.

Also, this morning was the first annual 1/2 marathon for FCA. It was a fairly big success in my opinion. It will be even better in the future, so stay tuned for more on that next year.

Finally, I had a very unexpected visit from a friend. it was very nice to hang out for a brief time with my good buddy. I'm glad she had a great first year and since the other shakers have been making shout-outs, I think I'll make a shout out to you, Carrie. :)

Congrats on the great first year and it's good having ya back. My song of the day will be dedicated to you.

Have a great day everybody. Stay frosty.
-sam
Song of the Day: Our Love is Loud by David Crowder*Band

Worth

If it hasn't been noticeable to our readers.

I'm in a slight rut.

Like, I have been living it up. Loving every second of it. Working, Morphsuiting, Bonfires, Meeting people left and right. Something about it, isn't fully satisfying. Even when combined with reading C.S. and Timothy (Lewis and Keller that is). I can't follow through with the happy exterior I'm displaying. This is going to actually be my blog about myself. Sorry readers, it's gotta happen sometime, you are reading my "digital journal" (for lack of better words)

The place I'm at is stemming from a lack of confidence, I think the psychological term for it is "learned helplessness" Literally sometimes it just feels like I can never win. No no I'm not clinically depressed, just pessimistic at times. It just seems like there isn't a realm of success for myself. Athletics...I don't even think I'm going to touch that, too many memories my splintered rear end from all that bench warming. Academics...I don't think barely grabbing a 3.0 gpa by the last two weeks in senior year is anything worth writing home about.

Looks like the only two ways society (seems to) scale worth and I failed at both of them.

What does that leave for me?

Friends are amazing no doubt, and we've actually been shouting out to our amazing friends whenever it needs to be done, but can friends establish worth?

This actually stems to a greater question

What is worth?

Worth-The quality that renders something desirable, useful, or valuable

I know this is a Connor pity party but I'm going to turn this around in a paragraph or so. Give me some time here.

So even in friendships and relationships this trend continues. I just don't feel like I'm worth it. Don't spend time with me. It won't be worth your time. Don't go on a date with Connor, it won't be desirable, useful, or valuable. Don't hang out with me on a Friday night. It won't be worthwhile. I had it down. I knew my place. For a kid that wasn't a star athlete or a scholar, I sure knew where I fit in. I knew my worth...

Worthless.

Pity party is over kids though.

Although that whole thought process may take ten, maybe eleven minutes in my day. At max. I look beyond that.

I see love

Everywhere I see somebody that needs to be loved, or somebody that loves me. Friends, Family, people I encounter daily. People that see me, a guy who views himself as worthless at times, and find someone worthy of loving. It astounds me.

It inspires me.

"So I have come to understand that strength, inner strength, comes from receiving love as much as it comes from giving it." -Donald Miller

I encourage you all today, despite finding little worth in yourself. Despite knowing you may not be worth it. Ignore it.

Silence those voices.

Find the worth in others. Be a person that sees past the current broken state someone may be in, and find the fully alive person underneath. Let someone know they are worthwhile.

Everyone is

As Miller previously stated, be able to receive love as well as give love.

This right here, this post is for all of our readers. As well to everyone that assures me that I'm worth it. That I may be broken, uncoordinated, and not as intelligent as most, but that doesn't matter.

Much Love

ø Connor ø

Guys

Today at lunch I reaffirmed the hypothesis that guys are the coolest people ever! I struggled to catch my breathe, from laughing so hard, when one of my friends karate chopped a plate full of applesauce. I don't know where the idea came from but I'm sure glad the event played out the way it did. Of course applesauce exploded everywhere which added to the enjoyment.

I guarantee that every female reader is rolling her eyes right now.

I'm sorry ladies but hanging out with the guys is a million times more fun without a female influence. I always wondered where male stereotypes came from but I'm starting to realize now that they come from our true actions.

So if you're feeling gloomy just follow the trail of applesauce towards some fun. We'll be waiting for you.
---Joe---

Drink my hot kool aid!!!!!!!!!!

If you get the chance, go to youtube and search "julian smith hot kool aid". Then sit back, relax and you'll know what my title means.

Back to current news, I've got nothing philosophical for you today. Simply an update of what I've been going through as of the past couple weeks.

A couple weeks ago, I got my foot stepped on and kinda jammed from a fellow shaker of mine (I'll not name names but he's the one that hasn't written a blog post yet). Through a couple weeks of pain, I found out yesterday that it's a fracture of my third metatarsal. I was not thrilled by it to be honest. I go in to get fitted for a boot today during last hour.

I'm trying to trust that God has a plan for this but it's tough because my mobility will be a lot more restricted i'm thinking... But God is good and I will give him praise all the more.

Prayer for healing would be appreciated.

Thanks guys. Love ya.

-sam

Song of the Day: Don't Waste Your Life by Lecrae

Sky

I have to admit

While I haven't been blogging, I've had so much to blog about. I'm glad I have a Joe to remind me of that.

First off big big big big big BIG thanks to God, wow between C.S. Lewis, Timothy Keller, and Rob Bell, He's been rocking my mind and life lately. I've never been more excited for camp this summer. Problems don't seem like a big deal anymore. Life is just good.

I think I'm going to echo Joe's post actually and conduct some shouting out.

First to my Aunt. She's new to the family as of last year. That's not holding her back. She's already taken an interest in being amazing. Right now she may be in labor or birthing my new cousin. Keep thinkin about her and prayin.

Also, I am standing by my refusal to have a bad day. If you are surrounded by good company. It's not possible.

Really, it's true.

I want to get that other shaker posting because he's had a lot going on, at least it's been a privilege to hang out with him and perform our usual track and post track shananigans.

This is actually going to turn into a pouring out of happy, or will it?

Much Love

ø Connor ø