1 Corinthians 1:25-28

"The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, but God hath chosen the many foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are dispised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are."

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influencial; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the dispised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are."

"The foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is greater than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose thing dispised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring nothing what the world considers is important."

And I was the class president...

So, a funny thing happened yesterday. I finished counseling at Camp Maka Maka on Tuesday and got home by 6. Just enough time to run around packing and getting ready for my 12 day missions trip to the greater Juarez, Mexico area. The group was suposed to meet at the church at 1:30 am. I finished packing at about 11 o'clock and sat around talking to my family--who all stayed up to see me off--until it was finally time to go. Hugs, "good luck's", and "we'll be praying for you's" were exchange as I packed up the car, and my brother and his wife drove me half an hour to the church. When we got to the end of our driveway we realized we didn't bring a cell phone, but decided we'd just drive really safely. We finally got to the church, and the parking lot look pretty empty, but that is to be expected at 1:30 in the morning.

"Hmm, where is the bus?"
"Maybe on the other side of the church."

The church is pretty big.

After driving around the church twice, we figured something was wrong. Maybe the bus already left and they couldn't get ahold of me because I didn't have a phone. Maybe I was early. But, surely someone would be there...

Welp, it turns out I was early. One day early! Some how I had gotten my days messed up and was one day ahead of myself. We went leaving for another day! I laughed and cried all the way home out of pure embarrassment.

Needless to say mom was pretty surprised in the morning to find me still at home. The only word I could get out when I saw her was a meek "Suprise."

She said this time I'm driving myself.

Grandparents

I love grandparents.

When they look at your old photo albums, they coo and awe at every 3X5--even the ones from your most awkward of stages. The same goes for you and their crazy outfits; no matter how mismatched and outdated they dress, they are still the coolest grandparents in the world. Seriously, though, who else will come to every fifth grade girl's basketball game and every play after crappy school play? That's right, no one.Last week was my birthday, and I recieved the usual floral print, bible verse card from my grandparents in the mail a couple days late, as expected. That's okay though because the present, I knew, would be coming later in the week when we celebrated Mother's Day together. So, when I saw Grandpa Wayne--wearing a stylish stripped polo and bright blue fishing hat--walking toward me with a twinkle in his eye, I knew it was present-time.

Now, I have to tell you, my standards for grandparent gifts aren't too high. In the past they've been known to give anything from dead scorpion keychains to ruffly polar bear pjs, so when I saw a bit of green sticking out of grandpa's fist, I was notably pleased.

It turns out it was only a fiver. But, what was I expecting? I mean, I ONLY turned 18. I'm only legally an adult now. I only now have the right to strike it rich by means of the Hoosier Lotto while I smoke a vintage Cuban--cigar, obviously.

And then I remembered of all the memories: the games and plays and birthdays they've been too--not to mention the stifled laughs at every embarrassing school picture, I'm sure. Isn't that's worth more than five dollars. It is actually I who should be paying THEM five dollars--or more. Having to sit though an entire fifth grade girl's basketball game is worth ten dollars at least!

It all sounds pretty silly when you think of it, though. What kind of grandparent would take money from their grandchild even if they deserved it? They wouldn't. That's the point of being a grandparent.

It's actually kind of like God if you think about it. He gives us so much--some of it material, but most of it being purely out of the unconditional love of His true and flawless heart. He doesn't want anything back; what he wants us to do is pay it forward--pass it on.

I think I'll keep my fiver; maybe instead of giving it back to grandpa and grandma, I'll invest it in someone else--I'll just make sure that someone has their own slew of embarrassingly awkward pictures.

Movies: Back Sheep

"On a vast New Zealand sheep station, a reckless genetic engineering experiment goes horribly wrong, turning sheep into bloodthirsty killers."

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/trailer/



This has to be the most outrageous plot for a movie EVER. I'll never look at a sheep the same again.

Music: Taylor (the Latte Boy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXS0nEOx_20

The song I wish I had written for oh, so many reasons:

There was a boy who worked at Starbucks
Who is very inspirational.
He is very inspirational because of many things.

I walk in at 8:11, and he smiles and says, "How are you?"
When he smiles and says, "How are you?"
I could swear my heart grows wings!

So today at 8:11 when he smiled and said, "How are you?"
I said, "Fine, and my name is Carol,"
And he softly answered, "Hey."
And I told him, "My name's Carol, and thank you for the extra
foam..."

And he said his name was Taylor,
Which provides the inspiration for this poem:

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him...

Well I'd like to get my nerve up
To recite my poem musical.
He would like the fact it's musical
Because he plays guitar.
And today at 8:11, Taylor told me he was playing
With a band down in the village in the basement of a bar.

As he smoothly flipped the lever to prepare my double latte,
But for me he made it triple! (And he didn't think I knew)
But I saw him flip the lever, and for me he made it triple,
And I know the triple latte ment Taylor loved me too!
I said, "What time are you playing? And thank you for the extra
skim..."
He said, "Keep the $3.55," because the triple latte was on him.

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him...

I used to be the kind of girl
Who'd run when love rushed toward her.
Till finally a voice whispered, "Love can be yours,
If you step up to the counter and order."

Taylor the latte boy,
Bring me java, bring me joy!
Taylor the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him...

So many years my heart has waited,
Who'd have thought that love could be so caffinated?
Taylor, the latte boy,
I love him, I love him, I love him.
I love him, I love him, I love him.

NEW CAT!!!

So there was this cat that kept trying to come into the ER, and they were gonna have to call the humane society or something to take it away, but my dad was just like, "Hey, I'll take it."
His name is Barkley (cutest name ever), he is orange and white with the hugest greenish-yellow eyes ever. Oh, yeah, and he has six toes on both of his front feet . crazy, eh? plus he's so so so so so so cute. right now he is passed out on the floor by my feet like he's playing dead.
"What? A cat in the Speicher house?" you may be saying. "Inconceivable!"
Dad was totally planning on just keeping it in the barn with our other 2 cats, but then we found out that he is declawed and a pussy (no pun intended). So, we're trying the indoor cat thing which is awesome because he is decalwed already, litter box trained, neutered, and amazing. I want to teach him to jump through hopes like cats in Burma.

Winter Treasures

So, it's getting pretty cold outside. After about a week of trying to convince myself that it was going to get warm again, I finally gave in and dug my winter coat out of the back of my closet. Before treking outside to brave the cold in my stiff, bright orange snowboard coat, I sifted throught its many pockets to rediscover those treasure left behind from the year before, and what did I find? A pack of Claritin Redi Tabs allergy meds, a tube of chapstick, Visine eyedrops, a snowboard wrench, a breath mint, oh, yeah, AND A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL!!!! MUAHAHAHAHA! Yesssssss!!!
I love winter.