There's a lot to be said for freedom.

It's amazing how easily we, as Americans, forget how blessed we are to live in this country with the liberties our forefathers were able to secure for us. It's even more amazing to me how willing we are to allow those liberties to be tampered with, to slowly peter away. We forget how difficult it was to procure these freedoms in the first place; we allow our country's history--the blood shed out of passion for American rights--to become simple trivia. "Oh yeah, 7,200 Americans died in battle during the Revolutionary War." ...yeah. 7,200 Americans. Forget your 300 Fake Jeopardy dollars and realize that 7,200 lives were given up for your sake! For all of our sakes. And that was just on the battle field. Yet another 10,000 died from either disease or exposure and an estimated 8,500 died in British prisons (according to digitalhistory.uh.edu). The numbers speak for themselves. Our freedom was bought at an enormous price.

We seem entitled to our way of life--that it's not extraordinary that we are allowed to speak, work, pray, and live as we please. I think this ignorance and sense of entitlement is what blinds so many to the dangers of extended government control. The more limitations we have over us, the less ability we have to live our lives as we please. It's not rocket science. Unfortunately, people are willing to hand control over to the government in far too many areas, even to the extent of endangering themselves in matters of self-defense.Thank God for the Supreme Court's ruling that Chicago's handgun ban was unconstitutional. The fact that it even had to go to the Supreme Court is the real tragedy. The truth is, the bad guys are always going to have guns. Whether they're banned or not. But enough people thought it was a good idea to take away the only defense the good people of Chicago had against armed attackers because just maybe the criminal minds of Chicago would heed the gun ban. What a joke! The right to bear arms, ensured for Americans in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution, is a GIFT. To see it as anything else is foolishness. We have the right to protect ourselves. Not everyone is allowed such a freedom.

I could go on all day about the ways in which current bills/laws (cough...health care...) are encroaching upon the freedoms that were hard-won by those who came before us. But what I really want to say is that America needs to open its eyes. Look around at the incredible opportunities we're provided because our forefathers refused to settle for anything less than complete freedom. We, too, MUST not settle. If we do, we'll forfeit what so many others would give everything to have.

The American's Creed

By William Tyler Page

I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity, for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.

224 years ago today, the Founding Fathers decided that what we now have was worth fighting for. I believe with my whole self that they were right. And I will not take their sacrifices for granted.

Happy birthday, America. May you always be the land of the free and the home of those brave enough to fight for you.

The Summer Plan

It is so easy to fall into the thought pattern of, "Well, when I get out of college, that will be my real 'new start.' That will be the launch of my real life." But what if I want my new start to start...now? I don't want to have to wait a year for my real life to begin. I'm tired of waking up with the same mental processes. I'm stuck. I'm a nut in a rut, as they say. And while where I am is ok, I'd really like to aim for an unprecedented incredible.

This summer, I'd like to rejuvenate myself physically, mentally, and spiritually. How? Well, I'll tell you the plan. :)

I have begun to get out of my physical rut by going to classes at the rec, and my body already feels better. It's an amazing sensation to not be stagnant, to be able to feel improvement in my muscles and joints. I'm in pain most of the time, because we all know that the beginning of a new work-out routine is nothing but pain, but I'm excited for the day that I wake up and just feel refreshed and ready for a new physical challenge. It's coming. I can feel it.

My schedule is:

Mondays- 30 minutes of cardio (elliptical) and Arms, Back, and Belly from 1:15-2 with my favorite instructor Brook

Tuesdays- 30 minutes of cardio, Mat Pilates from 12:10-1, and Hips, Butts, and Guts from 2:15-3

Wednesdays- 30 minutes of cardio and Arms, Back, and Belly from 4-4:45 (as long as work allows)

Thursdays- 30 minutes of cardio and Mat Pilates from 12:10-1

Fridays- 30 minutes of cardio and Hips, Butts, and Guts from 1:15-2 (WITH BROOK!)

That makes 6 classes a week, with cardio every day. I'll rest on the weekends, unless I feel like doing cardio.

I'm also going to be playing tennis with Russ sometimes, which makes me happy. It'll be a good work out and good friend time as well.

Mentally, I just want to be more open-minded. I'm going to work each day to have a more positive outlook than the last, and when I find myself slumping back into the same patterns that get me into my negative place, I'm going to catch myself. If what I'm doing at the time isn't helping my mental state, I'm going to leave where I am. I'll change my plans for the day. I'll change my behavior. Whatever it takes. I'm not settling for a summer containing any kind of self-loathing, self-pity, or self-demoralization. I have control over what I allow myself to encounter and a loving Father in heaven to help me when I'm too weak to see the good in myself.

I'm also going to always be reading a good book. I have a shelf full of amazing novels and nonfiction awesomeness that will be highly instrumental in helping me expand my mind this summer. Right now, I'm aiming to finish "Catch 22" in the next 2 weeks. It's a incredible book, and I can't wait to blog about how much I love it. :)

And spiritually, I'm going to make it a point to be at the Vineyard every Sunday morning. And I'm going to be actively searching for a Wednesday night worship service for the summer. Because I love those. And, of course, I need to make myself a schedule for when I can spend time in the Word. Cause I'm really bad about making time for such things. And what could be more important?? Nothing. That's what.

So those are the goals. I'm just...really not ready to settle right now. There's no reason to do so. Life is too short and too full of opportunity to waste.

Kansas City, May 18, 12:07 P.M.

My trip is coming to a close. It is time that it did, as I have many things to do back in Tuscaloosa, but I am so glad that I’ve had the time away that I have! My visit with Claire was fantastic.

From the airport on Saturday night, we went straight to her apartment, which is right off of the KU campus. I got in terribly late because of the flight difficulties in Memphis (6 hours of iPod bonding), so we couldn’t really do anything “fun,” but we had a good time catching up just the same. After some chatter and some amazing Pizza Shuttle pepperoni with extra cheese, we popped Clueless into the DVD player and I conked out wayyy before it was over. We woke up late on Sunday and ate leftover pizza for breakfast, packed up, and left to explore! Claire drove me through campus and showed me the buildings she spends most of her time in. KU’s campus is gorgeous; the buildings are made of beautiful, huge stone and are architecturally stunning. I’m really glad I got tour while we were there. J

After we left KU, we drove to Lenexa, where the Shelleys live, and went to the Nelson, a huge museum with an amazing modern art wing. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time for the whole museum, but we did get to peruse the modern art section for a good while. They have an awesome collection. I loved it. And I loved getting to go with Claire! I feel so uneducated when I talk about the art with a learned student like herself. I tend to murmur things about perspective, shading, and stroke patterns, most of which are likely way off base. But it was still fun.

After the Nelson, we drove to the Shelley’s house and ate dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Shelley. It was good to catch up with them, and the lasagna was delicious. We left from there to see “Date Night,” the absolutely hilarious movie starring Steve Carrel and Tina Fey that made me laugh so hard I cried multiple times. When we got back to the house, I got to catch up with Russell for a while, which was great. Kinda weird. But great.

The next day was an airport attempt, which failed, followed by an awesome night of pasta and my first hookah experience in Lawrence near Claire’s college apartment. Hookah is fun and weird. I won't be making a habit of it or anything, but that will probably not be the last time I do it. Never let it be said that not getting a seat on a flight home is the worst thing that could happen. Claire and I really enjoyed our extra night together. She practiced tattooing with henna on my foot, creating a design I’ve considered putting there for some time. I’m following Mom’s advice, going the fake route for an extended amount of time to figure out how tired of it I’m going to get. J When we were both exhausted, we drove home to Lenexa and slept at the Shelley’s house before coming to the airport this morning.

Our days were obviously very full of adventures, but we had great conversations along the way. Claire is an amazing person, so full of creativity and independence. She is strong and funny and ready to put her passion into practice in the world. She’s going to be an incredible tattoo artist, and she’s going to have a wonderful opportunity through her field to reach the lost and tell them how much Christ loves them.

We’re thinking about living together in Atlanta (Buckhead or Decatur) once I’ve graduated and been hired by Delta and she has an apprenticeship set up with a tattoo parlor in the city. I’m pretty darn excited about it. J

I’m sad to be ending my journey today, but I’ve certainly imposed on Claire and her family for long enough. It is time to return to sweet home Alabama. I will be happy to be settled back into my apartment and my own bed. I’ve had enough airports, at least for the next 5 days or so.

I am content. I feel like I’ve put a lot of distance between myself and the frustrations I left in Tuscaloosa on Friday. I’m really excited about this summer and all of the opportunity it holds for me. Life is so, so good. Even when it’s hard.

I would like to make a side note. My family was amazing and so helpful this weekend whenever I called for advice or help listing for one flight or another. And they never gave me a hard time about how ridiculous it was to take on a trip of this magnitude. I love them with my whole self.

Lenexa, May 17, 1:21 P.M.

I’ve had an amazing visit with Claire. I will write about it when my head is a bit clearer.

I just had a big argument with Russell about the definition of a “long life.” It started over a discussion about a large chef who was cooking an unhealthy dinner for herself and her friends. I commented that she is cutting her life short by not being proactive and Russell kind of jumped on my comment, arguing that my definition of “short” is skewed. He thinks that 50 years, as long as it’s filled with love and doing what you want to do, is a very long life. I argued back that it is not long at all. It may be full, but long, comparatively to the rest of the human race today, is at least 70, maybe 80 or 90. It’s hard for me, getting into fights with Russ about stuff like this, because I know his sensitivity to life’s “length” or “fullness” is a direct result of his losing his best friend Devin when he was only 21. It makes me sad to have struck a nerve with Russell—all I meant to do was comment about the value in being proactive, in extending your life to be with your family for a longer amount of time by actively pursuing health. I certainly didn't mean to start a deep discussion about what makes a life "long." Unfortunately, to him, I ended up sounding ignorant and petty. I still hold by what I said. I think people need to be proactive about health so that they can extend their lives to live to the fullest for as long as they can. I did not, however, mean that a short life cannot be full or worthwhile. Or that a long and unhappy life is anywhere close to as valuable as a short, full one.

It’s still tough being around Russell. It makes me sad to know what he has gone through and see how it has and still is affecting him, especially because I knew him so well prior to Devin’s death. He is different now. Not worse; just different. I do hope that he is able to make a very full life for himself. I wish so much happiness for him. And I hope that he and Maddie keep making each other’s lives better. I’m glad he has found someone to make him smile.

Memphis, May 15, 1:02 P.M.

I have had an amazing time with Hannah! Her boyfriend, Andy, and she picked me up from O’Hare and we drove out to their place in the Rogers Park section of Chicago. It’s not in the middle of downtown or near the lake or anything…it’s in a quieter little section of the city. I like her apartment. It’s very…Hannah. J Which means there are dance pictures on every wall and the shelves are filled with excellent movies. We got to catch up for a while and then met up with Ethan and Vicky at Pickwick’s, an adorable diner-type place. It was so random (and a little weird!) to have my Landmark world and my Alabama world collide in a place like Chicago, but it was so fun! After dinner, Hannah, Andy, and I went around town taking pictures by fountains and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Yeah, if you didn’t know already, they moved it to Chicago. J It was a very silly, very awesome night.

It was so good to get to catch up with Hannah. She never ceases to amaze me. Her life is not easy; it never has been. It seems like she encounters one obstacle after another in nearly every facet of her life, especially her health. She has had to stop dancing, which is her true passion, to try to recover from a myriad of health issues which don’t seem to be getting all that much better. But as she constantly tackles these very frustrating hurdles, she really has kept an excellent attitude. She seems optimistic and happy. She is so open-minded about where her life might go…she has no demands of it, but rather is simply looking to see what will come. And with whatever life hands her at one moment or another, she runs—she works really hard to make the money she needs and is just…doing life. It’s amazing to see one of the kids I’ve known since 6^th grade actually “doing” life. Maybe that’s because I’m stuck in college world and the real world and the people in it seem foreign to me. But it makes me proud to see how strong she is and who she is becoming.

I have GOT to get back up to Chicago to see her more often. We had so, so much fun talking and laughing and being the complete dorks we will never not be.

I’m waiting now for my flight to Kansas City to see Claire! We’re going to explore KC…museums and parks and such. J I’m excited.

Chicago, May 14, 4:55 P.M.

I’ve reached my final destination for the night! Except for the driving to Hanno’s house part. I am so excited to get to spend time with Hannah. She and I have always been the friends that have the same relationship when we’re together despite how much time goes by between visits. I LOVE it. J Hanno and Kato reunite!

I brought the most incredible pillow with me on this trip. I didn’t even know how amazing it was until this last flight. Best. Coach-class. Airplane. Nap. EVER. I seriously slept the entire flight. I don’t think I will be willing to travel without it ever again.

I’m waiting for Hannah to get here right now (she was at a show in Milwaukee this afternoon), so I’m sitting in the airport. I have absolutely no problem with this, which is something one of my friends doesn’t seem to comprehend. He keeps texting me about how much waiting for someone at the airport sucks, and I’m just thinkin’…Don’t bring me down, man! I’m loving everything about this vacation. The flying, the meeting random people, the scouring of O’Hare to find the one outlet where I can plug in my computer underneath an escalator…it’s all fun for me. Of course, seeing Hannah’s very missed face and laughing with her for the next 7 or 8 hours before we pass out is going to take the cake, but there is something to like about each part of this journey. My one rule for this weekend (during which oh so much could go wrong) is: no negativity. Whatever happens, happens. I will make the most of it. There’s so much to be made of it!!

Ah, iPod. How you are always so appropriate. Shuffle just turned to Mat Kearney’s “Chicago.” Amazing. J

Stepping through the haze one more day
On wide open road
On and on, the lights come and go
And everything I might not even know
What is the distance? On through the resistance…

When I left Tuscaloosa this morning, I was frustrated. I was fed up with some things in my life that have lately been making me very inwardly-focused and not nearly optimistic enough. I was lonely. I am still these things. But it’s getting better with every step I take on this trip. This a vacation for cleansing, for renewal. For time with me and God and some of the amazing people He has given me in my life. It’s time to turn the focus outward, to grab hold of life before it passes me by mid-wallow. There is no time for wallowing! Life is happening now. This is a kick-start to a better summer mentality for me. I won’t spend any more time ignoring the goodness around me.

Memphis, May 14, 1:06 P.M.

I feel so grown up. And like such a kid at the same time.

There is something very freeing and validating about flying alone. Which accounts for my feeling grown up. And the kid part? I’ve decided on my own to take an adventure that is probably a little dumb because it’s cramming in a ton in a small amount of time and miraculous availability of flights is the only way I can pull it off. But I’ve taken it anyway, and I could not be happier.

Today’s journey started with a bump in Birmingham when I had to switch to a Memphis flight instead of an Atlanta flight ten minutes before push back. It was a scramble, but the gate agents were very kind and worked me in and I got a seat! And it turns out that the necessary change in destination was quite a blessing, not only because I have a much more open flight to Chicago from here, but because I had the pleasure of chatting with a blind Army veteran for the past hour.

He did not share his war stories or the details of his apparently painful existence. He did, however, advise me on life in general. He stressed to me the value in listening to the older and wiser people around me. We discussed the importance of studying history and the horrible mistake of ignorance. And we talked about the necessity of seeing the large picture in Christianity rather than getting lost in the details of denominational theology. He then asked about my family and listened intently while I described the types of familial relationships that he later reflected he had always wanted. He told me that my parents had done an incredible job with me. He told me that he was proud of me. I shook his hand, and we went our separate ways.

I don’t have a deep revelation to share about our interaction. I simply enjoyed our banter, our mutual respect for the study of life. We had the same appreciation for the past—for learning from others’ mistakes so that we didn’t have to make them ourselves. And he was impressed with the person I’ve become in my first 21 years. That made me smile. I was happy to be a light in his sadly (and literally) darker life for an hour on a random Friday.

This trip is going to be amazing. I can feel it.