"It's all in the way I say what I don't mean, and mean what I don't"

Aaaand I'm back. The last few days have been fairly uneventful...
Sunday: Church in the morning. Went to lunch at Twin's (Bo's idea). It was bleh as usual. I watched some Gilmore Girls and did a whole lot of nothing until around 5, when I went to Skowronski's. Picked up my chemistry book, returned the microscope, and talked to Eric and Dr. S. for a while. I hadn't seen them since before this summer...
Monday: I most definitely did not want to wake up on Monday morning. Did it anyway. I went to Clio for my English Composition class. I think it's going to be a good one, although so far I haven't learned anything new. My teacher is really funny.
After class, I went to Montrose to pick up something for Mom. I stopped at a few places on the way home to inquire about employment. Wireless Giant is "always hiring," but I applied a while ago and still haven't heard anything. No one likes 16-year-old homeschooled/dual enrolled students who can't work weekends. I did a math lesson and a chemistry lesson when I got home... the two of those felt surprisingly similar. Meh. No me gusta la matematica.
Today: I hit the snooze button... 3 times? Is that possible? When I finally rolled out of bed, we went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I headed to Mott from there. Spanish was first. Easy stuff again. I sat on the other side of the room today, though.
I realized on my way to the school that I had no money and no food, so I scraped enough change from the bottom of my backpack for a bag of chips and a water. Nutritious lunch :) Bridgeta sat with me while I ate, which was nice.
I had an incredible job opportunity presented to me today. Pray that everything works out.
History was interesting. My teacher is very open to religious discussion, and I've found out that there are a few more Christians in my class. We'll have to band together :)
I came home and ate some real lunch... uploaded some videos to facebook... and now I'm going to go to the library.
Later :)

"Then summer came, and you left me with your words..."

"...The clever sounds, of your mouth, that can make me feel so worthless."
Ohhh, how I love Emery.

Too bad I wasn't home when they played in Detroit. And too bad I'll be at the rally when AARON GILLESPIE is in Detroit. BLEGH. Of all the nights for them to play at The Fillmore. If it were the night after or the night before, it would be PERFECT.

Random lamenting about my lack of recent concerts over. I enjoy putting my iTunes on shuffle. Sometimes I forget what great music I have on there.
Currently playing: "Crying" by Manic Drive. "Sunset disappears/And I’m left in the dark/ Your will not my will be done/I won’t change for someone."

Wednesday: I had my first class at the Northern Tier Center, which was English. It was a little odd going to class in the building where Pamida used to be, as I remember shopping there with my mom as a kid. We spent the whole class time playing "Two Truths and a Lie." Productive.
Continued job searching after that, got applications from Tropitan, and Big John's, and stopped at around 10 places to inquire about my other apps or ask if they were hiring.

ooh! Now it's "Save," by Timmy Curran. "Please don't follow me/'Cause I'm headed down a one way evil street/I'm destined for disaster/I've done it on my own/Please don't follow me."

Thanks to Jared for that one :)

Thursday: I drove to Mott on my own. Found out the hard way that Irish Rd. is closed to I-69 currently. Ended up in Davison. I still managed to make it to Spanish class on time though. There was a very nice girl who sat next to me, talked to me, and complained that the class was too easy. She left after break and never returned.

After lunch, I talked to Emilyy for a bit while exploring the campus. I finally decided to just go up to my history classroom early again. I saw Monica on the way and talked to her for a bit.
In history, we discussed the Reformation. I've never known that it was possible to extract Jesus from that event, but I guess a secular school does what they want. It was a bit annoying, although I raised my hand and did my best to explain what "saved by grace through faith" means in the context of history. The other Christians in the class jumped in on that one.

I stopped at several places in Davison to inquire about employment. I picked up a couple of applications, but nothing promising.

Friday: Got up around 9:30 to drive to Roscommon. Picked up MY CAR, ate lunch in West Branch, and headed home.

Saturday: I may or may not have slept until noon. We went blueberry picking, took Bo to Garrett's house. I picked up some MORE job applications. Made a bunch of calls tonight. My new least favorite phrase is, "We're not hiring at this time, but we're always accepting applications." argh. I got some Gilmore Girls discs at the library, so there's my evening. :)

Adios.

I'm Alive!

That's correct. I am alive; I survived my first day at Mott Community College.
The classes I had today were good. I think they'll prove to be challenging without being impossible.

There are some "characters" in both classes... the man who made a rather lame political joke while twirling his handlebar moustache, (yes, you read that correctly) and the man who thinks America has a secret plot to annihilate every other nation. (Why else do we have "all the money and weapons"?)

And then there was the man who cheerfully "greeted" each of us while walking down the hall. Let's just say that if his words were a color, they would have been lime green. Or maybe neon yellow.

I have English Comp tomorrow in Clio. Here's to hoping Emilyy ends up taking it with me.

Inevitable

Today was a good day :) I got up in time for Sunday School, talked to Aunt Marilyn while we did our hair, and drove to the church. There were only two other kids in my class, and I didn't know either of them. After class, Mom and I waited in the foyer for Peru people to come. Mike came first, then Craig and his family came a few minutes later. Ian did NOT come, and is in big trouble.

After church, we went to Pizza Hut with the Kesterkes and Zebells. I spent most of the time chatting with Craig. After all, I hadn't seen him for a whole week. ;-) Seriously though, we talked a lot about the upcoming school year, his new exchange student brother, and just generally being bold. I caught up with Mrs. Z. a little bit, as well as with Mike and Anne.

Mom and I got home around 7. She got to work on the casseroles for the morning. I figured out where my classes are and registered to take the ACT. I talked to Jared the whole way to the airport, where we picked up Dad and Bo.

Kaylie will be here sometime around 3. Yes, AM. Laughter and not-sleeping will abound, ending with a large breakfast in the REAL morning. With that last, bitter goodbye, summer shall officially be over.

Anticipation & Dread,
Alyssa Joy

Hey, hey, that's freedom you hear...

Buenos noches mis amigos!
I'm going to try to blog more regularly now. I doubt I'll ever have a big, "recap," whatever, about the MONTHS it has been since I really blogged.

Last night was spent at Nanny and John's house. We went to La Pinata for incredible authentic Mexican food. mmm, chorizo. Lots of snuggling with my baby cousin. Walked the dogs. Watched (an extremely edited version of) The Green Mile. Wow. Good movie, at least what I saw of it.

This morning we snuggled with the baby some more. I chased him around his room for a while... we walked the dogs, went shopping, got some lunch (mmm. Teriyaki Chicken). Made the baby laugh like crazy on the way home (are you seeing a pattern?)

We left Nanny and John's around 2 and headed for Uncle Doug and Aunt Marilyn's house. We waved hello to Andrew on Skype (he's in Jerusalem!), walked MARILYN'S dog, went to the farmer's market for lettuce and sweet corn, ate dinner, talked... and now here I am, blogging it on up. :)

Tomorrow is church at Sister Lakes. It'll be a mini-Peru reunion, with Craig and Ian for sure, and maybe more! Huzzah!

Love and excitement,
Alyssa Joy

The End of Summer

I find that lyrics can more eloquently express my thoughts than I can. These songs sum up my summer fairly well... Once I'm unpacked, I'll post a few excerpts from my summer journal, and a few pictures.

"Summers almost over and I think I'm changing colors,
It's time to lose myself again
Oh and I've been thinking this year
Maybe I'll be something better
Maybe I'll lose some of this selfish skin
Look into the mirror and it all becomes much clearer
I'm not quite who I once was
But I don’t mind these changes that time and age might bring us
As long as it brings me closer to You.
I'm not scared of being what You want me to
Put me together so that I look more like You
I'm not scared of being what You want me to
Put me together so that I look more like You
I'd do anything, yeah I'd do anything"
-Hibernation Pieces, Ruth

"So long sweet summer
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays
So long sweet summer
I fell into you
Now you're gracefully falling away
Hey thanks
Thanks for that summer
It's cold where you're going
I hope that your heart's always warm
I gave you the best
Gave you the best that I have."
-So Long, Sweet Summer; Dashboard Confessional

"Let's have a talk about the good times
But you were always giving in
Let's have a talk about the good times
Boy, you were only giving in
The summer is over and I doubt
I doubt I'll be seeing you around
I'll be seeing you around"
-Summer, Man; Taking Back Sunday

"And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
For the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends."
-Friends, Michael W. Smith

"Splashing through the sandbar
Talking by the campfire
It's the simple things in life like when and where."
-All Summer Long, Kid Rock *gags*

"Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out.
Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down.
Rid me of myself, I belong to You.
Lord lead me, lead me to the cross."
-Lead me to the Cross, Hillsong

"When the oceans rise, and thunders roar
I will soar with You, above the storm
Father, You are King, over the flood
I will be still, Know You are God."
-Oceans Rise, Hillsong

"And how can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?
Could You tell me, how could it be, any better, any better than this?
Because You're all I want, You're all I need, You're everything, everything."
-Everything, Lifehouse

"Raise your voice in song!
Sing the whole day long!
Hiawatha, sing of Christ, the truth, the WA-A-A-AY
Let His praises ring *whoop*
To the coming King
Hiawatha, sing of Christ
Who lives todaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!"
-Hiawatha, Otis Skilling(s?)

A Third Person Definition of the Author

She loves Jesus with everything in her, and is ready to devote her life to Him. She'll hug you, every time she sees you. She loves to laugh really hard. Stargazing is one of her favorite things to do. She's not going to tell you how she really feels, but if you pay attention to the lyrics of music she's listening to, you'll figure it out. She'll try to solve your problems and make things better for you. If you speak Spanish to her, she'll probably cry tears of joy.

She loves intensely. The strings of her heart are tied to so many people, and she doesn't like to let go. Change is hard for her. Slowly but surely, she's learning how to trust. If you let her, she'll talk to you for hours. She couldn't carry a tune in a basket (or the Atlantic Ocean... thanks Levi), but that doesn't stop her from singing with the windows down at the top of her lungs.

She loves driving through Hillsdale County with her friends. If she was allowed to, she would live with her Grandma and Grandpa Baker. Very few people see her as she sees herself. This reality is slowly sinking in.