Good Day.

I annoy myself. Why? Every time I start a new post, my instinct is to start it with "today has been/will be/is a great day", or something of the sorts. I guess that's a good thing, because it means that the majority of my days are good ones. But it sure would be boring for me to start every single post with that, wouldn't it? All of the goodness would eventually cancel itself out. If every day is a good day, then good becomes the normal. If life were nothing but mountain peaks, it would become a valley. Do you get what I'm saying?

With that having been said, today was a good day. Really, no joke. I had co-op first thing in the morning, which was good. Co-op always is. Sure the work isn't exactly a party, but I don't really mind it. And the people there make me happy. After co-op, I came home and relaxed for a bit before heading off to cross-country. Have I mentioned that I quit volleyball and replaced it with cross country? I did. And I couldn't be happier about it! I'm glad I played volleyball while I did, but I had gotten rather burned out. And I love running so much. Today was the first cross-country practice. Unfortunately...I didn't actually run. I just handed in my forms and met the coach. Why? I got "glutened", as my mom likes to say.

Yesterday for lunch, we went out to eat at a place that claimed to have "gluten free bread". The sign for it warned that the bread was cooked on the same cooking surfaces as things containing gluten, but I, not wanting to be one of those uber-sensitive people, ordered the sandwich with gluten free bread anyways. I learned two things from that experience:

1. One does not actually have a say about whether or not they are one of those uber-sensitive people.

2. I am one of them.

So, yes, more than 24 hours later, my stomach was still churning from the cross-contamination. I knew running while feeling like that would be nothing but a fail, so I decided to wait and go to the practice tomorrow.

Then, mom and I had a girl's night out while Dad and the boys went to football practice. We went out and shopped for gluten-free food, which was fun. I actually do enjoy that. No sarcasm here. After that, we went out to eat at an Asian restaurant. Normally, it's great, but tonight...eh. I ordered veggies over rice, and something funky was up. The veggies were dry and flavorless. I was a bit saddened. Anything Asian (people included) excite me. Oh well. I had a great time talking to my lovely mother. Then, we shopped around. The only thing we walked away with was a Halloween costume for little Carson...who is now four now...wow. He'll be the most precious monkey anyone has ever seen!

Now I'm home, and very happy. It's been a good day, and I will not apologize for using that phrase, because it's just...it's nothing but the truth. (:

-caylielane.

The Night Has Only Begun...

Hey, hey! Just got back from Game Night for the youth group at church. It was so much fun. (Carolyn, apparently I barely missed you before and after. Stink.) But yes. Game Night was great. Today was the kickoff for the new school year and such, so all of the new 6th graders started youth group. They all seemed so itty bitty, it was funny. Haha. I love those kids! Playing taboo with them was a party.

Church this morning was great, too. I went to youth group, where we did some get-to-know-eachother kind of games. Fun stuff. Haha. The sixth graders were loving life, I tell you. After youth group, I helped in the nursery. It was kind of bittersweet. I played whole-heartedly with those kids, and then some. It was just that I couldn't get Mrs. Mary out of my mind. She was supposed to be there to say hi to the little ones, and to help make everyone feel loved and special. I think everyone at the nursery upped their game a little bit today, because we have huge shoes to fill. She was so joyful and kind, and I miss her so much.

I still have to write a paper and do math homework before co-op in the morning. This is not cool, not at all. Yet here I am, Miss Responsible, blogging first. In my defense, I'm blogging simply because you ordered me to, mother. It's good to know someone reads all of this bran leakage of mine.

I need to repaint my fingernails, they are chipped.

Ok, math first, then paper!

-caylielane.

Smiling...

You know how there are some experiences that are so simple, yet bring such a unique kind of joy that you wouldn't have it any other way? I hope you know that feeling, because it's one of the best ones out there. I had that feeling today. I spent this morning and early afternoon with that dear friend of mine who goes by the name of Carolyn. I spent last night at her new apartment with her. She shares it with a couple of sweet girls that I'm yet to actually meet. I've heard nothing but good about them, though.

Well, let me go about this a bit more chronologically. Last night, I went to a football game at my old school. Gracie, Scott, Tim, Carolyn, and Aaron came too. We had such a lovely time. It was very odd, the blending of friend groups. But it was fun, very fun. After the game, most of us went to Wendy's to eat. I love that place for...many various reasons. Their fries and their frostys are gluten free. Their main color is red (also known as the favorite color of caylielane). And their whole theme is "old fashioned"...and I'm a total granny. You do the math. I like Wendy's. After Wendy's and about thirty minutes of hanging out at Gracie's house, Carolyn and I headed to her apartment, which was very cute. We stayed up late talking and Facebook-frolicking. Ever since I deleted mine, I haven't been on Facebook very much, so that was fun. Very. We finally went to bed around 1:30, and woke up around 8:45.

When we woke up, we got ready in a very relaxed manner and then headed out the door. Where to, you might ask? Or, you might not. I'm going to tell you anywho. We were off for a girls day of shopping in the precious little downtown area close to her apartment! So fun. We shopped and shopped, but didn't buy much, simply because that's how we are. There were plenty of purchase-worthy items. Carolyn did get some adorable jeans, though. And I got some anique jewelry at this amazing antique store...oh my. Don't even get me started on how much I loved that store. Ask Carolyn, she knows. It brought me so much joy. I bought a ring and three necklaces.

I love old, random, and/or beautiful things. The store had old plates, dolls, postcards, quilts, lamps, chairs, baseball mitts, gloves, books, hats....and so much more. I was somehow transformed into a giddy little girl the moment I walked in.

I'm now back home. In a little over an hour, I'm going over to Tim's house with my fabulous mommy and little Carson. We're going for the birthday party for Naomi and Samuel. Carson is so excited! I know he'll have a great time.

You know...I'm a little tired. Very tired, actually. I'm thinking I might take a little nap. I'll dream of old things, I'm sure.

I love the song "Everybody" by Ingrid Michaelson. It's just joyful and simple. Like today was.

-caylielane.

Lost Gift

Again...it's been too long. Yes it has. Working on that whole blog-regularly-in-the-midst-of-many-flavors-of-insanity thing.

My family got back from Fayetteville yesterday. On Friday night, Christian and Dad went to a Razorback game while Mom, Carson, and I ate a gluten-free dinner at Carinos, which was lovely. Then we spent some time in Barnes and Noble. I cannot begin to express my overflow of love for that place. I could spend hour upon hour soaking up everything all of the represented authors have to say. For a dreamer like me...a bookstore is like a candy shop.

Saturday, Mom and I got some girl time. We shopped for a couple of hours and ate at PF Changs. Did you know they have a gluten-free menu there? And gluten-free soy sauce? I was very impressed. After shopping, my whole family saw Ramona and Beezus together, which was unexpectedly precious. You should see it, I highly recommend it. If anyone enjoys being happy (yes, I know. that made no sense.), go watch this movie. Definite feel-good movie. After that, we ended the day with a trip to the park.

After the park, I heard awful news. That night in Little Rock, Mary Sample was painting in a children's room at the church when she fell off the ladder. She had passed away before she even hit the ground.

When I first read the text that she was gone, I literally couldn't believe it. We were riding in the car, and I sat in silence for a minute or two; my heart was pounding, and I was shaking. I've known Mrs. Mary for years and years. She was head of the children's ministry at my old church as well as my current one. She was part of the reason we tried St. Andrews in the first place. I loved her more than I can express. Every time I got a chance to talk to her, I would walk away thinking how wonderful she was. I remember just last Wednesday, when some kids from my youth group went to eat dinner with some younger kids in the nursery, I literally just watched Mrs. Mary for a few minutes. Children adore her. She was so fun and playful, and had a way of making everyone feel so loved. I just watched her, admiring her. She was a gift to everyone who knew her.

I haven't been able to get her off my mind since her death. The past two nights I haven't slept more than an hour or two at once. I'm yet to get out of this haze. I am not an overly emotional girl, but this has really gotten to me. Maybe because it was so unexpected. Maybe because she was so young. Maybe just because she was so wonderful.

Please pray for the Sample family. They don't deserve this. Her children don't deserve to lose their mother, her husband doesn't deserve to lose his wife, and everyone else doesn't deserve to lose a dear friend that let her actions truly speak for themselves. I know this was part of God's plan, and I keep hearing him tell me that He was there. He was there when she died, and He will continue to be here.

-caylielane.

Two Things

Hello, hello. Today is already a good day, and not much has actually happened. This morning I went to a Math ACT prep class from 7:30 to 9:30, and that's about it. The class was good. We went through all kinds of questions and reviewed a lot of concepts that have been collecting dust in the back of my mind for quite some time now. I'm not saying I like math. But, as far as math goes, this class wasn't too bad. Haha.

After the class, I came home and got some schoolwork done. I was quite productive today, if I do say so myself. Tonight, I'm going over to Gracie's house for dinner and probably to spend the night, which will be fun. Me and Gracie, we have good times together. Wow. Yes, we do. She's so lovely. Do I say lovely a lot? She says I do. Hmm. I suppose it's possible. I found out two things today.

1. I am terribly sensitive to gluten. I think the wording that the test result used was that they recommended that I follow a "strict and permanent gluten free diet". Wow. For a girl who loves bread, that's not the most exciting email in the world. Yes, there is yummy gluten free stuff out there...but I'm still sad. It's ok, though. It's ok! It's just a challenge, you know? I shall succeed. Haha.

2. Eli, my amazingly wonderful best friend is on homecoming court!!! OH my goodness. When she called to tell me, I had a freak out. She so deserves it. She's sweet, godly, beautiful, happy....and honestly, life hasn't been fair to her lately. This just makes me so overjoyed, I cannot even attempt to put it into words. She was so excited, and her feeling that way is contagious to me. In a very major way.

Well, Gracie and her mama are going to be picking me up soon. Life is good. Life is good. Oh so good. My new life? Life minus gluten. Haha.

-caylielane.

Modern Day George.

Last night was the beginning of Orbit for this school year. Orbit? What's Orbit. Let me fill you in, incase you didn't read my blog last year. It's the midweek youth group event at my church, and it's totally amazing. It was lovely last night. Mike talked to us about how the expectations for teenagers have been getting lower and lower as the years have passed. He compared George Washington, who was a major in the military by age 19, to the typical 15-19 year old kid who is at home, completing their bare-minimum requests from their schools, families, or friends.

Clean your room.

Brush your teeth.

Do your homework.

Don't be foolish.

Don't drive distracted.

Be respectful to adults.

Back in the day, teenagers WERE considered adults. In fact, there was no such thing as a teenager. A person was either a kid or an adult, and adulthood usually came around age 14 or 15. Here we are, in America, being asked to do chores, schoolwork, and stay out of trouble. Yes. We can, and should do that. We are more than capable of it. But...shouldn't we reach higher? We have potential for so much more than that.

Did you know that every major Christian revival has started with young people?

Young people are passionate about life. I know I am. Why not channel that passion into something that can make a difference in our world today? It's not that we are not capable of aiming higher, it's just that we aren't expected to, so most teenagers don't bother.

I know that I (and I'm speaking for lots of other people my age out there) want to be exceptional. We only have one life, and we are the ones who decide what to do with it. Why not live drastically? Growing deeper and stronger, spiritually and relationally, are the keys to actions that make a difference. Who really wants to be just like everyone else? I know I don't. This is a world of individuals, not one giant mob. As a teenager, I know it's time to make our faith our own and find something to channel our passion into. It's something to think about. I know I am..

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7.

-cayliealane.