Judgment Day at Hand (?)

For the past 3 years, I’ve heard people say that Obama is the anti-Christ. Who knows.

But then again, the same could be said about Fidel Castro, Osama bin Laden (except for the minor, inconvenient detail that was killed recently), Kim Jong-il, Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and multiple other dictators and oppressors who have spread their reigns of destruction, fear, and power over the planet in the past few millennia.

With everyone talking about the supposed upcoming Rapture event happening tomorrow at 6pm, it’s easy to scoff at the idea and pass it off as the crazies of the world going at it again. But once I look past all of the hype and illogical rationalization of some people who honestly believe that Jesus Christ is returning tomorrow, it really does make me stop and think about my own relationship with God. Would I be taken with the believers? I pray so. I certainly don’t deserve it – only God’s mercy, love, and grace have gotten me to where I am today. Do I show the amount of appreciation and devotion that God rightfully deserves for blessing me with such a wonderful life? I’m ashamed to say I don’t. Do I wish that I was closer to God? Absolutely – but I believe that every relationship is a changing, evolving thing that has its ups and downs, and they all take work. In this case, the work is completely on my part, because unlike God and Jesus, I’m not perfect (FAR from it). But I also believe that God made us to be imperfect beings, and understands that I try to do the best I can. I’m going to stumble and fall, make mistakes, and sometimes lose my way.

The idea of being “left behind” for whatever rapture may or may not happen tomorrow is nothing less than terrifying. I’ve read the book of Revelation, and trust me, it won’t be a picnic to experience. My biggest fear is that someday, my soul will end up in Hell (or at least a long-ass time in Purgatory), but I put 100% of my faith and trust in God and His plan that he’ll see me through.

While I’m sure that Mr. Camping whole-heartedly believes that his prediction is true (and has managed to convince thousands to cash in their life savings to spread their prophetic doom), there is one looming fact that seems to have escaped him. I’m no good at memorizing Bible verses, but there are a couple verses that I remember that contradict this prediction (I actually had to look these up to be sure): Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone,” and Acts 1:7, “He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own Authority.” To me, this means that mere mortals aren’t supposed to know, in fact, can’t know, when Jesus will return. So if a sizable group of people all over the globe are anxiously awaiting a certain hour, doesn’t that seem to go against what the Bible is saying? (no room for interpretation there, it’s pretty black and white in its meaning).

Perhaps the real “event” here is to try to get us to think about our own mortality, and our own relationship with God. While I fully believe in God and His Catholic church, I highly doubt that the world will end tomorrow. But, in any case, no matter what happens, this has been a friendly reminder that Jesus WILL return someday, and I had better be ready. Why not be ready now, or even yesterday? Gotta go home and crack open that Bible and keep reading, learning, loving, praying, and hoping.

day 2

A picture of yourself and the person closest to you:

I'm quite a fortunate gal: In addition to having the best family anyone could ever ask for, the world's most awesome friends, an incredible boyfriend, stable job, good health, and general happiness, I'm lucky enough to say that my sister is my best friend. I know plenty of people who can't stand their siblings, and the only interaction they might have with said sibling in the course of the year is the obligatory hug at Christmas, and maybe a, "Hey, can you move your car so we can get ours out?" Depending on her work schedule, I talk to K multiple times a week, sometimes for over an hour. I can tell her anything - my accomplishments, my frustrations, my questions about anything, or just when I'm bored and need someone to talk to. We were never really close growing up - I was always the annoying little sister who copied everything the big sister did, which drove K nuts. Then, we entered the stage of fighting over every single little thing. Once she went to college, I realized that I actually missed her. Mostly, because with her out of the house, my parents were able to focus most of their attention on me, but as time went on, we actually became friends. I was the maid of honor at her wedding, I was there when she gave birth to her daughter, and I was immensely honored when she and Generic asked me to be godmother to little Nuggette. I love you, K. Thanks for everything!

New Challenge

Apparently, it's been almost a month since I last wrote something on this little blog. And apparently, the 30 Day Challenge has turned into almost a 90 day challenge....Fail. The thing is, I never really liked the themes for the other challenge - a little too narcistic for my tastes. Therefore, I found one that I think will work out a little better for my tastes, so let's start this again, shall we? Day 1: A picture of yourself with 10 facts.

1. I am allergic to mosquito bites. Whenever I get bit (by any bug, really) I tend to itch it without thinking, especially in my sleep. Which then causes the site to get swollen like a golf ball, and then bruise to a nice deep purple-ish color. Try accessorizing with huge purple welts all over you. ( My record for mosquito bites was in Mexico. I had over 20 bites on one leg, and I believe that I counted over 50 total. I kid you not, I actually counted.)

2. I’m Catholic to the core. Enough said.

3. One of my many useful talents is the ability to sing along word-for-word with Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”

4. Pet peeves: dirty dishes in the sink, people driving under the speed limit, indecisiveness, and walking in a locker room/public area with tile without any shoes on.

5. I don’t drink regular soda. I grew up on Diet, and the aspartame has taken up permanent residence in my bloodstream.

6. I believe that chocolate can solve most of society’s ills.

7. If it’s a good book, I can read it over and over and not get tired of it.

8. Favorite forms of stress relief: a glass of wine, doing a sinkful of dirty dishes, or baking something.

9. I will never fail to freak out any time I see a spider, and I’m not against calling someone from the other room to kill it for me.

10. I’d love to own a Jeep Wrangler someday, either a deep red or black.

day 14

a photo of one of your favorite family members:





well, obviously, it's impossible to pick a favorite family member. but, in light of recent events, i'm going to have to pick my grandma:

growing up, she's the one who taught me to bake, so that was a major contribution to my life. until recently, i had lived with her for almost two years, before she passed away a few weeks ago from a bladder infection, which came from complications after radiation for lung cancer. she was immensely loving, God-fearing, beautiful, and stubborn (a trait I'm pretty sure i inherited). in this picture, she's holding Nuggette, who is also her namesake. it's weird living in the house by myself now, but i still think about her and miss her everyday.

on a side note, please ignore whatever the heck it is i'm doing in the background.

rant against today

Look, normally whenever people start to get on their soapbox about how holiday's are so commercialized, and people celebrate for all the wrong reasons, and we all fall for the societal stereotype, I'm the first person to stand up and tell them to keep their opinions to themselves. Holidays are about celebration, right? People are happy, it's a time of love and joy and goodwill.

I associate 'holidays' with thanksgiving, christmas, easter and new years as the larger holidays. Memorial day, labor day, the 4th of july, halloween, and even st. patrick's day are the second-tier holidays. notice that in neither list do you see VALENTINE'S DAY.

now don't start thinking that the reason i don't like valentine's day is because i'm single - i've disliked the day even when i was in a relationship and got my very own flowers and box of overpriced chocolates. listen, there are 365 days in a year. i know plenty of people who take their loved ones for granted 364 days out of the year, but then buy the obligatory card and roses for their loved ones on february 14, just because the rest of the world told them they should. shouldn't we say 'i love you' and SHOW our loved ones how much they mean to us each and every day?

yes, i bought my family members cards, and i was planning on making heart-shaped cookies for my coworkers (but then ran out of time yesterday and didn't get around to it), so i've fallen for the commercialism of the holiday just as much as the rest of society. but i'm still going to have a deep dislike for the stupid little man with wings and supposed magic arrows and the EXTREMELY overpriced Hallmark card...but i'll still appreciate the chocolate i bought for myself at Trader Joes last night. =]

Brain Dump

running last night: anyone who knows me already knows that i detest running. i'm a very picky runner - as in, i have to be in the "mood" to run, and am usually able to tell if i'm in this "mood" within 2 minutes of starting to jog. mostly i dislike running because it's so hard on my knees, but honestly....it's just so darn boring. but lo and behold, the other night at the gym i actually ran a mile! which to most doesn't seem like much, but seeing as I haven't touched a treadmill in months, it was quite the accomplishment.

london olympics: summer olympics, 2012. i DESPERATELY want to go. anyone have an extra two grand they'd be willing to give me, as well as a recommendation of a free 5-star hotel in london? let me know!

knitting: my aunt taught me the basic knit and pearl stitches last march, with the intent that i could make a blanket for the Nugget before he/she was due in July. it's almost a year later, and i don't think i've gotten past row 12. i really need to get working on that again.

fashion: my word, i need help. i have some cute clothes, but i need my very own stacy and clinton to tell me how to wear them and what to wear them with. Grace, we're going shopping when you get here!

house of cards: totally random (the theme for this post, if you couldn't already tell), but i was listening to a taylor swift song and she mentioned a 'house of cards', when i realized that i've never built a literal house of cards. i remember there was a brady bunch episode where the kids had a card-house-building competition, and i vowed right then and there i would build my own someday. i think i was about 10 when i made that promise. i should honestly cross that off my bucket list.

healthy living: i've finally reached the point in my never-ending weight battle, and decided that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: i'm finally going to lose this weight once and for all! i lost 15 lbs. in college after doing the nutrisystem plan, and kept it off for about a year and a half. but then when Nuggette was born in July, i didn't go to the gym for about a month - just burnt out, i suppose. then there were the good old American (read: fattening) summer BBQs, halloween candy, thanksgiving, christmas cookies, etc. and now that it's the new year, i have no more excuses, no more holidays, and honestly need to focus on my health. which means back to my old routine of going to the gym a MINIMUM of four times per week (hopefully 5-6), eating rabbit food and lots of soup, lean protein, yadda yadda yadda. basically torturing myself until i'm back down to my old weight. oh the fun never stops around here!

day 13

a photo of your best friends:

K

Shawtz and Polly

Grace

CKN

(haha looks like an abbreviation for chicken)