His Gentle Whisper (Christ’s Acceptance)

High school is an experience like none other. I was coasting along almost all year, only to hit a wall. A hard, cold, painful, exhausting, demon-consumed wall. All of a sudden I was loaded on with homework and finals and EOCT’s and test and projects like never before. This is my slight glimmer of real life. Hoo. Rah. (By the way, I believe Charles Dickens to be a gloomy, depressed, devious man who is trying to attack my soul from his grave.)

Someone once said that they didn’t understand why when their life was good, their relationship with God was falling apart. When their life was falling apart, their relationship with God was fantastic. My opinion on that is that yes, God can grow us in the good times. But He is more real and prevalent to us in the bad because we are desperate for Him. And the beauty of it all is that in the good or the bad, through hell or high water, when we’re cranky and grumbling or cheerful and excentric, God will accept us. He will take us back again and cradle us. It’s just that we didn’t realize something in our time away from him: He was holding us close all the while.

“God accepts all people. He accepts and shelters the homeless man with a hardened heart. He loves on the lonely little girl with a family falling apart. He cradle’s the newborn child with recently over-protective parents. He loves the defiant. He comforts the lost and broken-hearted. He whispers in my ear, in his ever-gentle way, ‘I love you my sweet baby girl. I am enough for you.’”

…excerpts from Jess’ journal

Yes, I’m sure God loved Charles Dickens too.

What Women Want

Found these on a group on facebook. These are so awesome and true! The guy who wrote this is smart. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2213453770

1. Open doors when possible – whether it be to a building or the passenger car door. the classic example that’s stood the test of time.

2. When in a place of worship (or other places that have aisles and pews), if a man is at the end of the pew, when exiting he should stand in the aisle and let all the females go before him. (This seems odd to some people, yet normal for others. If you don’t get it, don’t worry about it, okay?)

3. A man should tolerate the occasional chick flick, musical, opera, or ballet – whatever her preference is – *without* complaining about it! (Because the guy may just like it.)

4. Play one of the songs that would make any woman weep like the little girl she once was (but in a good way). A brief list includes, but certainly isn’t limited, to:
“You & Me” by Lifehouse
Anything by Frank Sinatra
Any rendition of “Everything I Do, I Do it for You”
“Collide” by Howie Day
“Out Of My League” by Steven Speaks
And MOST IMPORTANTLY “Question” by the Old 97′s (if you propose to a girl with this song, she is putty in your hands).
(“Putty in your hands” is not meant to promote “using women” in any way. This group does not encourage guys to be polite in order to get her into bed.)

5. Talk! The strong & silent bit goes from intriguing to boring quite fast.

6. Find out what her favorite flower is and buy them for her randomly (regardless of the situation you might be in). A simple yet profound truth: a single rose says more than dozens of anything else. (I encourage the women to not allow a guy to “prove himself worthy” through gifts and flowers and such. Trust is a precious thing and it should take a good chunk of time before he gains it back in your heart.)

7. If you miss her, or love her, TELL HER! Even your friends like to hear it every now & again.

8. Re-enact Zales commercials (the ice is nice but certainly not mandatory).

9. Remember: the best gifts you can give are usually free of cost.

10. Leave a note (or send a message) just to say “hi”.

11. Ask her questions about herself.

12. Dress nice every once & a while. Any girl likes to see her brother/friend/boyfriend/etc. in a well-ironed button-up with some nice slacks.

13. PRIDE & PREJUDICE …that’s all I have to say about that (I mean, that should speak for itself). (It’s even more impressive if he has read the book.)

14. Tolerate small children as best you can. Meaning, put up with the things that can get annoying. They’re children, after all. Show them love and care, teach them how to become a better man than you. (You were once extremely irritating. Get over the obnoxious kids and enjoy getting down to their level – not “for her”, but for the good of yourself and others.)

15. Learn to dance! There is nothing sexier than a man who can dance really well. If God did not bless you with the grace of Fred Astaire, at least put forth the effort, it will be greatly appreciated. Always slow dance (even if it’s just like you danced in middle school). Also, men, sing to a lady. Even if you’re terrible, suck it up! They love to listen to it and will not care what you sound like. It’s the thought that counts on this one. Unless you’re just downright terrible, nothing sexy about that. Haha, thanks, Jade!

16. Kiss her on the forehead.

17. When she’s sick, stay up with her. If you can cook (which is *always* a plus), make her some soup. If you can’t cook, there’s Campbell’s soup at hand for you.

18. Pretend to throw her in the pool (or fountain/pond). If you really do throw her in, you’d better jump in yourself. **NOTE** There are some women who just hate this apparently, so you had better do two things: 1) Never allow your buddies be a part of it if you’re unsure of how she feels about getting thrown in and 2) You had better know how she feels about it!

19. Hold her hand while you talk, drive, or just for the heck of it (it’s the small things that win you big points).

20. LOOK IN HER EYES, NOT AT HER CHEST!!!!!

21. Stupid jokes = awkwardly adorable moments.

22. Tickle her, tease her, let her tease you back without getting all bent out of shape about it.

23. Don’t call her hot, or pretty, or cute; call her beautiful, because that’s what she is. (I don’t think cute is that bad, but definitely stay away from “hot” [it's so overused and superficial] and step “pretty” up to beautiful or gorgeous or stunning or captivating or…)

24. Offer her your jacket/sweatshirt. (Note: you may not see that particular item of clothing for a while, if ever again).

25. Don’t be too proud to apologize.

26. It’s not stalking to watch her sleep if you fall asleep watching a movie. It is stalking to watch her sleep if you’re standing outside her window with night vision goggles.

27. When she feels at her worst, tell her she looks her best.

28. If you’re trying to get more than friendship out of the relationship, take it slow and never rush her.

29. Just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean you are completely incapable of calling when you say you will, it just means you are highly incapable of it. There are few acceptable answers to, “Why didn’t you call?”, & being male is not one of them.

30. Don’t check out other girls in front of your female friends/sisters/mother, unless you are sincere when you later ask them if you think she could introduce the two of you for more reasons than you “want to get some”.

31. Guys – always offer to pay for the date. No matter how expensive it gets, especially if YOU asked HER on the date. [if she is willing to pay now and again, don't let your "man pride" get in the way of her wanting to give back to you. she should understand money can be tight - especially when you're always buying]

32. Always do everything in your power to keep her as happy as you can. And cheer her up in any way possible. [if she isn't always happy - and i've never met a girl who is - don't be afraid of her and don't be stupid and always, unquestioningly, blame it on PMS. be there WITH her when times are tough and she wants you there.]

33. When walking on the sidewalk, always walk on the outside near traffic. (So everyone has a different opinion for how this started. For some, it’s because of the human waste that was getting thrown out the windows when this was happening a century ago. The woman walked under the overhangings extending from the buildings with the guy in the open to take the mess if need be. Others say it’s from the guy’s scabbard/sword being on his left with the woman walking on the right. As for today, it’s the traffic and puddles and what-not. Whatever it is. It’s just a courtesy thing, if it seems necessary.)

34. At least do everything in your power to keep cursing to a minimum while around her. If you can, cut it out period while around her, or cut it out of your vocabulary. Women don’t want to hear it, guys don’t care about it, adults don’t want to hear it, it doesn’t impress employers, and you sure won’t want your children or someone else’s to hear it!

35. Sometimes you have to take the initiative. Don’t always wait for her to come to you, because if that’s how it always is, you’re going to lose her.

36. If any lady is walking alone to her car in a dark parking lot/garage, or is carrying a heavy load, always offer to help walk her to her destination and carry things, if not the entire load. **This may work a lot better and come off non-stalkerish if you at least know the girl you’re trying to help. Haha thanks to a LOT of people on this revision.**

37. If a woman says no, let that be her final answer with maybe one question of confirmation after her first answer. Do not pressure or force her in any way after that. Don’t make her give in to something she doesn’t want to do.

38. Always be honest with her. No woman wants or likes a dishonest man. If you can’t be honest with her, she can’t trust you, and shows you don’t trust her enough to be honest. Trust, honesty and integrity are just as an integral part of a relationship and just as important as love.

39. A man should always genuinely listen to women; no matter how bored or busy the man is. Actively listening to the woman will keep him from pain (and bring the man and woman closer together). This works best, of course, when both the man and the woman actively and equally engage in conversation (this includes listening). For the ladies reading this, please talk – always talk – especially if you are having problems with the relationship and to also avoid making bigger problems.

Hey Looka Dat!

Today was brightened and crushingly body slammed then brightened again by small yet meaningful little tidbits. Today was the first day back to school after spring break. I have 29 days left of school. My head might spontaneously combust before summer gets here, but I’m praying otherwise. I got home from school to find my mother watching Ellen, my favorite talk show.   Ellen went through her series of hilarious jokes, then on cue, started dancing up and down the aisles. ”I wish I could dance like her…” I say sorrowfully. ”You can. Just stand up and get loose,” Mother says. Then commenced my mother and I dancing in the living room. That made me smile because I am an embarrassing dancer. (It made me feel closer to my excentric father, who is often very embarrassing. He wears kilts.) My joy was crushed suddenly, almost as if a piano had fallen out of the sky and landed on my small frame.

dun.

Dunn…

DUUUUN….

Mathnasium for math tutoring for the mathically challenged. I have to pass the EOCT this year in math or my life with suck. Like a little kid with an empty juice box. So I was there for an hour, sighing and pondering what I had done wrong in my life that could have landed me in this oh so glorious place. Then my excentric father saved me and we went home and ate tiny blue tacos for dinner. Then, hey looka dat! My favorite magazine, Susie Mag, had come in the mail with my favorite Band, Hawk Nelson on the cover. It made me smile because they are all inexplicably attractive. (On the subject of music, I must add this note: I have new music. Hey, Soul Sister by Train, Glee Volume One, and Eric Hutchinson’s CD.  I turn the volume up to twenty notches and belt out Don’t Stop Believing when no one is home. Tee hee..)

I love ♥

I love ♥ …

Musicals

Nutella

Wild flower fields

Daisies

Sour patch kids

Audrey Hepburn

The ocean

Pearls

Slouchy t-shirts

Bearded men

Personal libraries

coffee

Ray-Bans

Priscilla Ahn radio on Pandora.com

Madi McEver and Tray Parker the Publix Boy’s Delightfully Enchanting Love Story

Madi took in a shaky breath as she sat in her… unlocked car. Last week she had gone to Atlanta and had ALL of her cooking supplies, including her glorious Kitchen Aid, named Eloise, in the back seat. Her car does not lock, and never has. Now, why anyone would steal cookware, she would never know. That night she had driven home with an empty back seat, completely lacking and cookie-like contents.

Now Madi sat in the Publix parking lot about to start a new collection of cooking supplies. She was about to buy trays, bowls, cookies sheets, cookie ingredients, and wooden spoon. She walked through the aisles in a fog. Only she could be this heart broken over cookware.

Finally walking up to the check out line, her grocery cart piled high with new supplies and ingredients, she began unloading everything onto the conveyor belt. It was only a few moments later that she realized who was checking out her items… and her. She immediately looked at her feet and wiped way some stay tears. This boy… this man was so uniquely attractive. She could feel his dark eyes eyes looking at her.

“You alright?” Madi heard him ask.

Madi considered this for a moment, looking up at him. “Well…” she said as her voice quivered. She was suddenly terribly afraid of bursting into tears in front of this indefinitely attractive Publix boy.

“It’s okay if you cry in front of me. I have all sisters.” His face was so sincere as he said this that it practically made all the tears go away. Now the feeling in her heart was replaced by the shaky beating of nervousness.

She sighed. “Well, I have had an awful week. I went to Atlanta for a baking class, and signing in to absolutely forever. I left all of my cookware in the car because I didn’t want to be standing there with 20 pounds of cooking supplies. The thing is, my car doesn’t lock and by the time I went back out to bring it all in, everything had been stolen.”

He nonchalantly picked up half of her bags and began walking out to her car with her. Madi continued to tell the story of her missing cookware as they stood in front of her red beaten up explorer. The whole time he stood listening intently letting her talk.

“So now I can’t go to the cooking class and I have to start all over again with my cookware collection.” Madi suddenly felt ten times better telling this to a complete stranger. She couldn’t help but notice the way the setting sun shone against his face, making his hazel eyes glitter and shine.

For a moment there was silence and he looked steadily at Madi. She couldn’t bare to keep his gaze and looked at the ground.

“Well… thank you for helping me carry my bags to my car…” Madi said, trying to insinuate the need for his name.

“You’re welcome,” he answered with a white smile. “I’m Tray Parker.”

“Madi McEver,” she said.

There was another pause in conversation, until Tray said, “I’m really sorry about your cookware. Don’t hesitate to stop by our Publix to pick up your supplies and ingredients.” You would think he would be mocking her, but he was so sincere and genuine.

“Thank you.” Madi answered with a smile.

“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you Madi,” Tray said.

“Bye Tray,” Madi said, swooning on the inside. As she got into her car, she watched him walk back inside. She began pulling out of the parking lot, in time to see Tray look over his shoulder at her car.

For the next weeks, Madi always offered to go buy the groceries at Tray’s Publix. She always got into his line, and they always had small talk that made her heart simply melt. He always walked out to her car, carrying her bags, asking her about her life.

One day after a grocery trip, Madi had her two friends, Amy and Jess, over at her house. They sat in her kitchen talking about Tray the Publix boy.

“Madi, I think that you two will make impossibly gorgeous children,” Jess said dreamily, already imagining their future lives together.

“Hmm…” Madi mused, smiling.

“You know, every time he sees you in his line, his heart probably smiles,” Jess said again.

“Well… maybe I guess. But I’ve been wondering. Does he just have small talk with me, making me think that I’m considerably important to him, or does he have small talk with everyone?” Madi thought out loud. Her face was covered in a blanket of worry and confusion.

“I doubt he has small talk about people’s personal lives with everyone. And didn’t you say he always says he can’t wait to see you again. I doubt bag boys say that to the common person,” Amy said.

“Maybe…” Madi wondered. She tried to convince herself that this had to be true, but she still had her doubts. I mean she’d never had a boyfriend, so Madi had difficulty defining guys flirting signs.

Jess sat at the bar, staring off into space with a dreamy expression.

“Jess, what are you thinking about?” Amy asked.

“I’m trying to figure out if Madi and Tray’s children with be gingers or not.”

Madi stood leaning against her car, talking to Tray. They had come into a comfortable friendship of hellos and intimate small talk. Today Tray had been asking her about her brother’s peanut allergy and that forcing her to eat soy butter and jelly sandwiches.

“I mean but really, that’s awful. Peanut butter is the best thing since sliced bread,” Tray insisted. “I can’t believe you can’t have it at your house. I might just cry if that ever happened to me.”

“It’s sad. So. Very. Sad. But I have grown accustomed to it. Soy butter really isn’t that bad.” Madi loved the way he talked about crying. He was a sensitive young man.

“So… I was wondering…” Tray began to ask. Once Madi finished loading her grocery bags she looked over at him. “Yah?”

He sucked in a breath. “What are you doing Saturday?”

In the time it took an angry woman to slap her husband, Madi looked like a deer in headlights. She said nothing.

“I mean, if you’re busy… You don’t have to… maybe another day…” Tray said uncomfortably, rubbing his foot against the pavement.

“Yes.” Madi blurted. “I… I mean I’m not doing anything. Saturday. Nothing. What did you have in mind?” Madi’s words ran together in a jumble of nerves.

Tray looked back up at her, a glimmer of hope in is dark hazel eyes. “Well… Do you like horses?”

The deer-in-headlights look vanished and Madi brightened. “I love horse!”

Tray smiled a shy, victorious smile. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but I want it to be a surprise. Here’s my number.”

“Wait no,” Madi blurted. “I’ll give you my number. That way you have to pursue me.”

Tray was at first taken by surprise, but in an instant he smiled. “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll call you tonight.”

Tray had indeed called Madi that night. For a week they had talked on the phone and texted each other. Madi and Tray had talked about everything from her obsession with Frank Sinatra to his relationship with his crazy uncle. Apparently Tray’s uncle always forgot people’s birthdays, and when he did remember he always sent the strangest presents. One year his dad got a CD of Bluegrass Disney music and Tray had gotten a Framed poster of different colored monkeys.

On Saturday morning Madi kept thinking First date… oh gosh. First date… oh gosh. First date… oh gosh. Tray picked her up and was so gallantly charming with her parents that there would be no way for them to not love him. Even Mr. Scott, who was shining the barrel of an empty gun, was swept away by his polite demeanor.

Tray was able to keep their date a secret, even when they arrived at a random farm with a dilapidated barn house.

“Um… where on earth are we Tray Parker?” Madi asked curiously yet nervously.

Tray just smiled and opened her door for her. They walked up to the yellow farmhouse. An old man opened the door and he turned out to be Tray’s grandfather. He was a gentle, funny man who smelled of sweet, smoky cigars. His house was covered in yellowing floral wallpaper.

“Please call me John,” Tray’s grandfather said. He had a mischievous smile.

“We are going to paint granddad’s barn today. I hope you don’t mind manual labor,” Tray informed, moving his perfectly shaped eyebrows.

So almost all morning and afternoon Madi and Tray painted Granddad John’s barn a beautiful bright red like a plastic cookie bowl. They got into a paint fight and Tray was soon covered in red because Madi overpowered him with her feminine charms and strength.

After changing into different clothes, Madi wandered into the barn only to find a gorgeous white horse. She squealed.

“This is Chief, my horse,” Tray said. Madi then notice a second horse, less gorgeous, but nonetheless pretty. “And that’s Sun Drop. He’s slightly retarded. I’ll ride him and let you ride Chief.”

Madi smiled broadly at his chivalry, and they rode off into the grass hills of Dallas, Georgia.  The sun was setting, and Tray happened to have changed into a white v-neck button-up shirt like on the romance novels. He looked like an angle, not a human.

At the top of a hill, Tray jumped of Sun Drop the retarded horse and picked Madi a bundle of daisies. She took them happily, because they were her favorite flowers.

“How did you know?” Madi asked.

“Because daisies are the friendliest flowers, and you are so very friendly Madi McEver.”

That absolutely captivated Madi’s heart. Only a truly glorious young man would quote the movie “You’ve Got Mail.”

After they were finished horseback riding and said goodbye to Grandpa John, Tray drove them to Steak and Shake. They ordered, and Madi was so busy telling Tray about the red Kitchen Aid she wanted that she didn’t even notice how fast he ate his burger. After about ten seconds, Madi looked at his empty plate.

Madi gasped. “Who stole your burger Tray?!”

Tray laughed a heartfelt laugh. “I already ate it.”

Madi’s eyes got huge. “Oh.” Well, at least now she knew that this boy would eat her baking gratefully.

Tray drove her home after a wonderful day together in his red Ford pick up truck from the 50s. The entire way home they listened to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. He walked her to her door. Before saying goodbye, he gave her a wonderfully enveloping hug. Madi rested her head against his shoulder and sighed. This had absolutely been the best freakin’ day ever.

So Madi and Tray Parker the Publix boy were now dating. They spent most days together, but not to the point were they had separation anxiety from each other. Madi often met him at Publix during his breaks and they would eat lunch together. They would go to the movies, go horseback riding, and more and more often they would bake cookies together.

One day while buying groceries, Madi got in Tray’s check out line.

“Well hey pretty lady,” He said dramatically. “What’s cookin’ good lookin’?”

Madi laughed. As they talked, they didn’t notice a girl watching them. It was Christine, the deceptive customer service girl. She had loved Tray Parker ardently for years but was too pushy and Tray didn’t like pushy girls. She was currently giving Madi the stink eye, willing her head to explode.

“So I’m planning this amazingly huge dinner for this month’s girls night,” Madi was explaining. “It’s to celebrate the beginning of summer. I’m going to cook different courses and everything. Maybe even bake a cake.”

“Well if you would like any help Mads, I’ll be around,” He said.

So for a long time Madi and Tray were dreamily happy together, occasionally fighting, but able to get through it. That’s what relationships are all about, right? As Madi was preparing for the glorious Girls Night dinner, she hadn’t had much time to be at Publix with Tray. She needed to be planning.

But one day Madi was picking Tray up to go to Freedom Church with her from work. He wasn’t at his check out line so she asked his manager, Steve, were he might be. Steve said he was stocking shelves.

Madi walked to find him, and she stopped in front an aisle. Her heart stopped. Tray and Christine were kissing. Tray turned away from Christine and looked at Madi, panicked. In a moment, Madi felt the rush of a thousand heartbreaks. She ran out of Publix.

She did her best to stop the tears as she climbed into her car. It was too much. Her first boyfriend… had… had… She couldn’t even bring herself to say the words. She saw Tray run out of the store, franticly looking for her.

Madi was swerving out of the parking lot, just missing Tray. He jumped back on the sidewalk, avoiding her speeding car.

For two weeks Madi ignored Tray’s pleads for forgiveness. He called her five times a day, texted her about fifteen times a day, wrote her emails, and even sent her hand written letters. Madi ignored all of these with a broken heart.

On the night of Girls Night, after preparing the amazing meal alone, Madi was trying to keep her mind off of her deceptive skank of an ex-boyfriend. There were over fifteen girls at this Girls Night, making it a loud and crazy event.

While playing signs, a confusing game that few understood, one girl named Katie Head saw a boy walking down the driveway from an old red Ford pick-up truck.

“It’s a boy,” she said.

Suddenly all the girls swarmed the front doors. Screaming.

“IT’S A BOY!”

“OH MY GOSH!”

“IT’S A BOY!”

“HE’S WALKING UP THE DRIVEWAY!”

“IS THAT MADI’S EX-BOYFRIEND?”

Madi walked up to the pile of girls at the front door. It was indeed Tray walking up the driveway with something red and shiny in his hands. She went out to the front porch and waited for him to come to the end of the walk.

When he arrived at the bottom of the porch steps, Madi gasped. Tray was carrying a glittering, cherry red Kitchen Aid, so freshly bought that it still smelt like the cardboard box it had come out of. If this was his way of apologizing… Well… She might become easily persuaded.

“Look Mads…” Tray began. “I know you’re pissed at me. You have every right to. But you have to believe me when I say that Christine kissed me. She’s liked me forever. I never felt the same way so I was just polite and tried to ignore her.”

Madi’s face was scrunched up like it does when she gets angry, yet on the verge of tears.

“I was just stocking the shelves before the end of my shift when she walks up to me. I was tuning her out like I usually do, and then all of a sudden she’s telling me her parents won’t be home that night and asks if I want to come over and hang out. Before I can say no she’s jumping on me and kisses me. Honest.” Tray’s face was broken and you could easily see how horrible he felt.

Behind them, all the girls were peering intently on the scene outside. Somehow Tray took no notice of them, only concerned about what Madi was about to say.

She stayed quite for a long while, contemplating everything Tray had said. She so wanted to believe him. He had always been sincere and honest to her. Even when they were hanging out at Publix and Christine had been giving Tray googley eyes and Madi the stink eye, he had only had eyes for her.

She looked from Tray, the Kitchen Aid, to Tray again, and then to the sky.

God, maybe I’m making a big mistake here. But I’m gonna forgive him.

“Okay. I believe you. I forgive you.”

Tray set the red Kitchen Aid on the first step and ran to hug her. The sound of loud but muffled clapping and cheering can from inside. Tray laid his head against Madi’s hair, breathing in a sigh of relief. Madi breathed in his sent. He smelled of sweet laundry after hanging on a wind blown laundry line.

“Oh, by the way. I took the liberty of naming your Kitchen Aid. Her name is Paisley,” he whispered into her ear.

Madi swooned. They both went inside together and she introduced her boyfriend to all of her most beloved friends. He was even aloud to eat the fantastic meal with the girls because they all adored him so much. This was a good development since this was a Girls Night. Throughout dinner Madi and Trey shared a series of happy glances. All the while Jess was grinning like a Cheshire cat because she had seen all this from the very beginning. And so began Jess’ matchmaking future.

Madi McEver and Tray Parker dated all through college, going through the ups and downs of an honest relationship. Madi went to Berry and Tray went to Shorter, so they were neighbors and spent much time together.

A month after Tray turned twenty-two, his Grandfather passed away of a heart attack. Because he was his only and most beloved grandson, Tray inherited his grandfather’s farm in Dallas, Georgia along with the two horses and an enormous collection of New Mexican quarters.

Though it took time or Tray to recover from the grief of loosing his John, Madi stood by him through the pain. She baked her famous cookies and stayed with him while he was too upset to leave his dorm. In time Tray got better and Madi and his relationship was stronger than ever.

On the evening of Madi’s half birthday, which Tray always celebrated with her as ardently as her regular birthday, they were taking a walk to the old mill on the Berry campus.

“You know I love you Mads, don’t you?” Tray asked.

“Of course. You tell me all the time,” Madi responded. He did indeed tell her all the time. Practically every day. Tray had become very god at showing his emotions over the years.

“Then, you’d say that you don’t get sick of me most of the time we spend together?” he asked.

Madi laughed. “Of course not.”

They stopped on the stony bridge, the murky green water beside them, glittering a strange color under the setting sun. The light of the evening shot through the trees behind Trey. All of a sudden, he bent down on one knee. Madi sucked in a breath, then seemed to stop breathing all together.

“Madison Gail McEver, I loved you from the moment you gushed about your stolen cookware. We’ve gone through life together, and I want that to continue. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Though Madi rarely squealed, (she thought it was strange and embarrassing) at this moment she began breathing again and squealed. Quoting Pride and Prejudice, Madi answered, “Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes!”

Madi and Tray were married seven months later at Frost Chapel on the Berry campus. The Chapel was on top of a perfectly slopping grassy hill. The wedding was everything Madi had always dreamed of. There were daisies overflowing from every open space that brightened everyone’s demeanor.

After the reception and once Madi and Tray had changed clothes, they stood at the top of the hill. Madi, having planned this spontaneous moment for years, smiled broadly. They rolled down the hill, laughing and screaming while their family and friends stood at the top cheering them on.

And so ends this story of Madi and the adorable Publix boy.

We don’t sit around babbling about Harry Potter and Twilight…

The world is full of dorks. Today I am here to give them the respect they need, because in all honesty, you are a dork too. This planet is full of dorky people who do dorky things that are unconventional and strange. That’s what makes us who we are.

I am a dork because I would much rather sit at home locked up in my room with a stack of books and a bag of sour patch kids. I bite my nails. I have the inability to tell a lie without giggling. I jam out to Frank Sinatra and Train. (Whenever Soul Sister comes on the radio I stop the conversation I’m having to sing along.) I am a dork because I was so sincerely excited when I bought a notebook for my poetry that had good lines on the inside and had a flexible binding. I giggle when I watch army movies were peoples thumbs get shot off. I have daily doses of chocolate. (At this very moment I am nibbling on Belgian fudge.) I am a dork because I am friends with dorky people.

My dorky friends are obsessively in love with Frank Sinatra, wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning to go to Starbucks, make clover flower crowns, swoon over men with scruffy chins, watch Disney classics on normal days, sing musicals, read and reread books, and consistently wake up with a bright idea of the glass half full.

So don’t think that dorks are just these freaks that sit around babbling about Harry Potter and Twilight, but there are many brands of dork. So, I’m a dork, you’re a dork. We are all dorky people doing dorky things.

A blossoming love.

Spring has sprung! Literally. Down here in Georgia we’ve had months of rain and flooding. Then, almost overnight, flowers and green popped up like the sun awakening on a bright morning. There are beautiful cherry trees everywhere, daffodils, wild purple flowers, and pear trees with white blossoms. It’s as if everything has been asleep for an everlasting Narnian winter, and all of a sudden with the coming of the great Lion there is warmth and green and laughter again.

Unlike many teenagers my age, I’m spending spring break cuddled up in my home with a book and some sunlight shining through the windows. While thousands of kids are flooding Panama City, Florida, I am drinking coffee and enjoying a nice stack of books. I would like to read Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, Hunger by Michael Grant, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis this week. Well, it’s the hope. I’ve already read the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Magicians Nephew.

This past weekend was Easter weekend, and I’ve got to tell you I have never experienced anything so powerful in my life. God flooded my heart and my soul and broke me down to see his amazing love. At the Saturday night service I was sitting with two of my friends. Pastor J.R. was on a role to the point were he barely took a breath. When the music started playing it got so powerful and intense. There was a picture behind the band of Jesus’ face. At the climax of the song, people started breaking and tearing apart the picture from behind. As they tore it down, a cross was revealed. It was covered with pictures of people. In an instant I saw my picture nailed to the cross. He died for me. I was on his mind the moment he took his last breath. At that moment I was flooded with the power and intensity of God’s love for me and saw a glimpse of how amazing he is.

One last thing to say is that there is nothing in the world like seeing someone you love comes to Christ. This weekend I didn’t see just one, but three people I knew take the leap and surrender to God’s amazing love for them. One girl I have been praying for since she first came to Freedom Church, the very first day. I am so proud of her and am so happy and exhilarated to have her as a sister in Christ now. There is none like Jesus. There is no one more powerful!

God is faithful. God is faithful. God is faithful. ♥