Day 15 of 30 - Bible Verse

Revelation 8:2
2 And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and seven trumpets were given them.

It's a running joke that this is my favorite scripture.  For me, it's proof that we were never meant to be angels who sat on fluffy clouds playing harps.  Where in the Bible does it say that angels were given harps?  No, Jehovah knows that the only instrument of true import is the trumpet.




Marching band, Senior Year, 1995-96


Isaiah 40:31
31 but those who are hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not tire out.”

This is truly my favorite scripture.  I can see how the scripture is being fulfilled today, as people stand firm and endure, despite persecution and hardship, as they trust in Jehovah.  But it also reminds me that there will be a time when we will truly regain power, and taste life as Jehovah meant us to live it.

Day 14 of 30 - A Picture of You Last Year - How Have You Changed?

Lake Jocassee, SC - June 27, 2010

When this picture was taken, I was an open water dive student.  By the end of the day, I was a certified Open Water Diver.  That's one change.

I'd lost 10lbs at that point, which I've since gained back.

I am a more spiritual person, in that I've really been working on my study habits and meeting attendance.  I'm not where I want to be, but I'm getting there.

All in all, I don't think I've changed that much since last year.

Day 13 of 30 - Goals

What are my goals?  Do I even have any clear cut goals?  These questions are going to take some serious thought.

Spiritual goals:
1. Read the entire Bible in a year (and once it's read, start reading it again)
2. Read all publications released in 2011 in a timely manner
3. Increase field service hours and effort

Personal goals:
1. Lose 95lbs
     a. Lose 45lbs by Washington, DC trip
2. Finish photography program at UGA in time to graduate in 2012
3. Train for a 2012 5K race (Athens Eco-Adventure Challenge, Warrior Dash or a Disney 5K)
4. Pay car loan off in 3 years (by original loan-end date, not refinanced date)
5. Continue scuba diving
     a. Specialty certifications (bouyancy, marinelife identification, wreck diving, night diving)
     b. Dive GA Aquarium
     c. DiveQuest at Epcot

Day 9 of 30 - A Favorite Picture of Your Best Friend

A special treat!  I'm going backwards today, and catching up on the almost-forgotten Day 9!

I can't narrow down my best friend to just one person.  It's not possible to choose.  But there are only a handful of people that make it onto my "bestest" list.  Megs, Harper, Mikey, Alicia, Michael, Erin, can even throw Colin in, Brandon, Jaimi.  I don't have a picture that encompasses everyone.  But I do have a great picture that covers half of that group.

clockwise from top: Colin, Erin, Richard, Michael, Alicia

Day 12 of 30 - Something I Don't Leave Home Without

After being away from blogging for a week while getting ready for this year's District Convention, I am now back and better than ever!  Well, I'm atleast back.....

I now own a purse.  OK, it's not really a purse, it's a camera/binoculars bag, but I'm using it as a purse, and it works quite well.  I don't leave home without my purse.

It's not the purse that I can't live without, but the things inside it:
-wallet, which holds driver's license, DPA/medical directive, debit card, Starbucks gift card
-pens.  LOTS of pens
-pocket calendar
-book (currently the yb11-E)
-keys
-hand sanitizer
-cell phone
-collection of photos of friends and family

It's not that interesting, these things I carry.  But on most days, somewhat necessary.

Day 11 of 30 - Favorite TV Show

Once upon of time, my list of favorite TV shows would have looked something like this:
Dawson's Creek

That was it.  No other show mattered.  Then Kevin Williamson left the creative staff of the show, and my list began to look more like this:
Mercy, Trauma, Friday Night Lights, ER, Three Rivers, Surviving The Cut, Life After People, Glades, Bones, NCIS, JAG, House, Kings, Pretty Little Liars, Jericho, Related, Wildfire, Kyle XY, Make It or Break It, Life Is Wild, Max Headroom, Gossip Girl, Defying Gravity, E-Ring, Falcon Beach

Then, I got rid of my satellite service, and had to rely on Hulu and Netflix for my TV fix.  My list of shows turned into this:
Standoff, Murder One, Law & Order (any version), Roswell, Beautiful People, Veronica Mars, Lost, Off The Map, October Road, Rookie Blue, Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, The Event, FlashForward, Covert Affairs, Dark Angel, Brothers & Sisters, Fringe

In reality, I don't watch a lot of TV shows anymore.  There are just too many to keep up with, and I don't have the time to get involved in all of them.  But if I had to narrow down the list to my absolute favorites, they would be:
Friday Night Lights
Veronica Mars
Off The Map
Jericho
Kings
Sadly, the only one of those shows that is still on television is Friday Night Lights, and it's wrapping up the final season.  Looks like I'm going to have a bit more time on my hands.

Now, if including mini-series events is allowed, I would have to add in Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Pillars of the Earth, and Into the West.  Some of the best television ever created!

Day 10 of 30 - Something You're Afraid Of

I know, I know.  I can't count.  This is Day NINE!  Unfortunately, if you remember back to the list of topics for this blogfest, the topic for Day 9 revolves around a picture of my best friend.  And at this point, I don't have access to those pictures.  So, Day 9 is getting postponed.  And that brings us to Day 10.....

What AM I afraid of?
-small, ankle-biting, yippy dogs
-earthquakes
-panic attacks
-enclosed spaces (claustrophia)
-people - not joking!  Seriously terrified of people and social situations.  They bring on the already-mentioned-and-dreaded panic attacks, as well as bouts of claustrophobia
-failure
-disappointing Jehovah

So....
That wasn't much fun to write.  I need to go home and find pictures to scan, so that I can backtrack and get Day 9 up.