The Cross...Among Other Things

Well, in response to my earlier post, I did NOT get to stay home alone. Dad stayed home, because he was going to go meet mom in Bismarck today. Well, now she's staying til, like, Tuesday, I think. Or something like that. Anyway. So that's the deal there.

Now. *points to title* The Cross. I was thinking about it today. and in a Clubhouse I got like, years ago, there was this fiction article from the view of a Roman soldier, and it was like, how he didn't understand why they held the cross in such high regard, because it was a method of torture. And I was thinking about that, and about how to Christians it has become like, a symbol of salvation. The whole concept sort of interests me.

It's like, not only did Christ triumph over death (which of course is the main thing) but if you read into it a little more, there was so much else that He did. Especially when we think of the cross. If we had lived in that time period, the cross would have been horrible: maybe it would have made you shudder, maybe it would scare you, and I'm sure to criminals, it struck fear in their hearts. It would be an insanely PAINFUL way to die. I can't even imagine.

But to us, it's not a symbol of torture. Like I said, it's a symbol of salvation, of hope, of forgiveness, of freedom. It's sort of a crazy one hundred eighty degree turn, you know? I don't know why that sort of boggled my mind so much, but it did. I think mostly because we never think about what it meant to some people. We only see the Salvation Message. I guess it's sort of interesting to me to think that that's not always what it meant. It used to mean death: Now, to Christians, it means life.

Ironic, right?

My Dog Looks Ridiculous!

AHHHH! my dog got shaved...Except, except. They didn't shave his head. Or his tail. So he's like, buzzed on his entire body. And then a big POOFY tail, and still has hair on his head! Ah! I hardly even recognized him as my dog! He looks so STUPID! Bahahahaha. It's okay. I still love him, and it'll feel good for him to not be roasting in the heat, but don't you think they could have done something that was a little more pleasing to the eye?

I think they probably just took him out to Terry, the vet, and had him buz him, so it was probably just a quick job, and Terry really doesn't care what they look like. Lol. Oh well. That was pretty much all I had to say: That my dog looks dumb.

Pictures coming as soon as my mommy gets back from Minot with the camera. xD

Oh yeah! And on a different note: I'm staying home by myself for the first time tonight!!! YAY! I'm pretty stoked. Lol. Mom's in Minot already, seeing Holly and Emily and Patrick. And Dad is going up tonight. So yeah. =) I getta stay home by myself. Pretty exciting stuff. Although, I was rather counting on having my dog around to keep me safe, but now he looks so ridiculous that he probably won't scare ANYONE off. =P That's okay. He doesn't need to LOOK tough, just BE touch. And he is. =P So it'll all be good. And I'm pretty excited.

And then I sing for church tomorrow. It was a spur of the moment thing, so I'm just singing It Is Well With My Soul, but I'm singing it to both the piano and the organ, and it's a really pretty accompinament, so hopefully it won't be too boring. =P Lol. Anyway. That is all. Bye loves.

Graduation and Friends

Wow. Graduation is...CRAZY. Only 8th grade, peeps, no worries. xD But yeah. Getting all dressed up and fancy, walking down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance, singing, playing in band. Then the receiving line, hugging people that I don't even know. It's great.

Of course, everyone always asks if you feel any different, and the answer is....no. I don't feel a bit different. Other than WAY excited that it's finally SUMMER. But no, the lack of change is rather disappointing. I was hoping I would feel better. But I don't. But that's okay! Because I'm done with school for the summer and I have 3 months to just chill and do what I want to do.'

And basically, I just gotta mention that my friends are freaking amazing. Like, I honestly do NOT know what I would do without them around. Go crazy, I'm sure. I guess there's that saying about "Friends are God's way of showing us he loves us" and God must love me a LOT, because I pretty much have the most amazing friends ever. I kid you not when I say they are my sanity. Who else would listen to me cry for like, an hour straight while I try and figure out my life? I pretty darn good friend, right?

So basically: I feel pretty blessed right now. Onward and Upward! =D

Emily Lynn!

Emily Lynn was born on May 21 at 10:22 P.M. at Trinity Hospital in Minot, North Dakota. She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and was 19 inches long (I think) Anyway, she's a beautiful, healthy baby girl, and is, of course, adorable. Perfect in every way. Not that I'm biased or anything. ;P