Tribute to Dr. Jerry Falwell

Dr. Jerry Falwell has died!

Some of you may think "oh well didn't agree and don't care." That is your opinion but this is not your post. Jerry Falwell was a great man of God who knew what he believed and stood for it. How many of us can say we stand for what we believe? Yeah, we may be adamant on certain issues but what about those "small" beliefs we find not AS important? How many times do we bend on those? Dr. Falwell stood on those "small" beliefs also. I still remember in 2002, a friend was able to arrange a lunch meeting with him and a group of us. He came in and sat down and started talking to us like he had always known us. To make it even better, when his drink arrived he took the straw paper and blew it at us. He had great aim and got one of the guys in the side of the head :)

Dr. Falwell has always been controversial but whether you agreed with him or not, you have to respect him for the stance he took. He was a visionary and in his life he saw much of his vision accomplished. He was a friend, pastor, chancellor, counselor, and so many more roles he fulfilled and fulfilled well. He was willing to go out and meet people. Just ask any of the LU community about this. Most have stories about him trying to run them down in his suburban just to say "hi and what is your name." Before I went to Liberty, I was told that students felt like Dr. Falwell was a grandfather figure. I could not figure out how this was true. The school is not all that small and there was no way, in my mind, he could meet all the students. Then I started in 2000 as a student and it became quite clear. His personality is one of reaching out and concern to others. He could be speaking to the massive but you feel like it is more personal. Until you become one of "Jerry's Kids" you cannot possiblyunderstand the connection. I am proud to say I am a "Jerry's Kid" and I will greatly miss this wonderful man. Instead of mourning the loss of a giant in the faith, I am celebrating the life and vision that so many of us wish we could have or the faith to see it accomplished.

Crazy Crazy

I have so much going on right now. It is hard to figure out what to concentrate on the most. I have a way of concentrating on one thing and ignoring others. I cannot afford to do that right now. I have to find a full time job! I also need to get my thesis DONE...once I finish that it will be one less thing on my mind. The only problem is even if I finish it they do not know what to do with me. I took the class where I am suppose to finish my thesis but I didn't. Now, they are all confused with me. Once again I am a guinea pig. And last but not least, let me not forget the wedding. I feel like a need to be doing a lot more with it than I am. *it is over a year away, it is over a year away, I do have time!* Okay better now. Well, anyway you get the idea. I think I need to add a few more hours to my day.

Life is Stressful

Life can be extremely stressful at times. I am sure you all realize this by now. I feel like the more I try and accomplish the less I actually get to work on. I have being trying to work on my thesis but I just cannot seem to find or make the time. Oh well, I have some good references, I just need to actually read them now. Working on a thesis plus trying to plan a wedding, now that is stress. With the wedding, planning with a limited budget is tough. My parents would like the reception in one place and I would like it anywhere else. On top of all that, I am trying to find a full time position. I like my part-time job, but that is not enough to support my bills. I am hoping by the end of summer I can have a full time position somewhere. I am being sort of picky right now but by the end of summer I will take a job where ever I can get one. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let me know.

IT IS OFFICIAL

Okay for those of you who know me, I have been engaged for just over 3 years. For those of you who haven't talked to me in a long time, yes I have been in engaged for over 3 years and yes to the same guy. Well it is official my wedding date is June 23, 2007! Yeah! Finally! If you want to be kept up-to-date on the wedding planning check it out at dennisjewellwedding.blogspot.com. We will be putting up posts whenever we book something or make a deposit, or if we have reach a climatic decision ( i.e. who will our flower children be?) Anyway, I still have to finish my thesis! I know I should have graduated in May but now all I have to do is my thesis...and work. The work part is the easy part. All of you out there that I have lost contact with, drop me a line sometime.

Irony

The cost of items is crazy. For a person to send money within the same state through a service such as Western Union, it could cost between $20-30 or more. But if you send the oh let's say a couple of thousdand or so to China it cost the lower part of $20. Ironic!

For my fiance's mother to fly to VA from MA, it cost almost $500 but for me to fly to England it is between $200-300. Again IRONIC!

And we wonder why all the good jobs are going overseas where it is cheaper for us (American Residents) to send things (ourselves included).

I am trying to go to England this summer. Probably alone, but I don't mind. I can handle it. I can't wait. I am just checking prices for now but it can become a reality. After England, I want to visit Scotland and Ireland.

A little known tip for most people. When traveling, stay in hostels! This is the best way to go. They are cheap, clean, safe, and sometimes even provide a small breadfast. I have stayed in one before and it wasn't that bad. I acually enjoyed myself.

If anyone has any tips on cheap travel overseas let me know! After all I am a graduate student who is about to be paying student loans.

Another Semester Begins

Ahhhh....another semester has started and I graduate in May. Well, we know what I am conentrating on :) For graduation, I want to travel. I want to go overseas or tour the US. I am not picky. That would be an awesome graduation present. Then again I don't know anyone who can afford that for me. The cultural experience would be such an awesome and awakening experience. I don't even care where I would go. Let's see first start in with the basics. I would travel to California just because I have never been that far west. Then I would go to the English country side where I would just sit and relax for a few days. Stay at a B & B and soak in the culture. Then, of course, I would spend time in London to get the big city experience of England. I would do the same in Scotland and Ireland. Visit the castles and just experience life in a different culture. Well, now that you know my dreams what are yours?

Life SuX!

Well, it is officially finals week. Yeah for that--note the sarcasm. I asked my manager at work to work me less this week so I cna get things done and she addes more days to my schedule! That is one thing I don't understand but hey whatever.

Dennis and Me....where do I begin and what do I leave off? Well, we are still together of sorts but things are still off. I want to believe him and trust him but right now I can't. He knows this I have told him. It is funny...he tries so hard to make things better for example the other day we had freezing rain and at 7am he came over to scrape the ice off my car so I could get to work on time. Then other times I just want to say *sigh* life is back to the way it was with him ignoring me and doing whatever he wants again. I always have felt 3rd in his life. I know that sounds aweful but it is true. I suppose you are wonder what is 1st and 2nd. Well, in no specific order 1 and 2 are his friends and sports. If a game is on and I want to do someting it is NO I have to watch the game. A good example of this would be Nov. 5, 2005. This is the date of our 5 year anniversary! My parents ended up loading the truck to move and he came over to help. It did take a little longer than expected. That night Dennis, me, and JOE went to a movie together. After the movie I went to Hollywood Video to rent a movie and Joe and I watched the movie. Dennis went home and watched the STUPIDE PATRIOTS GAME! Any yes I am glad they lost that game. But Dennis is right I come before sports ever do.