A kick in the face...a lesson in life!

So in case you don't know, I am currently training in karate. And here's a story to share with you from one of my expiriences...

I was training last week at the dojo (the training facility) and it was a night that we spar (fight) so after putting on my gear, I chose my partner. Now since I am a white belt, I try to stay away from sparring others who are much larger and higher ranking than me, so I chose a newbie in the class. It was his second class and so I figured that he wouldn't know too many moves. So we started and out of no where, the guy jumps up and kicks me in the face. Of course, I fell to the ground and was in pain but I was wearing a mouth guard so I was pretty safe. After a few minutes, I was back out on the mat sparring again. I didn't know it at the time, but I more than likely have a small hairline fracture in my jaw because of this.

Despite the pain and frustration of being kicked in the face, I feel like I learned something. I have learned that it is more important to have control and be patient than to come out kicking and punching. My Sensei ephasized gambatte (never give up) and kinaginymastu (wait patiently) in this situation. The only thing that it will get you is a stern lecture from your Sensei and a partner in pain.

So...that's my story of how getting kicked in the face taught me a lesson.

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25 Things About Me!

I have been tagged a few times for this so here it goes. I will try not to repeat anything from previous ones.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. Please do it even if I didn't tag you!!

1. I am a very intensive deep-thinker. I find joy in deep conversations and love learning where people's hearts are. Yeah...I guess it can be irritating sometimes but there is so much to be learned simply by listening.

2. I have heart for Africa. I can't really explain why but I do. One of these days I would love to go on a missions trip there. My church is taking a Work and Witness trip there this summer and prayerfully I will get to attend but we will see what God has planned for me.

3. Someone (I will mention no names) wrote in my yearbook while growing up that I was cool because we had the same name. I have always held onto that thought that people only think I am cool because they have something in common with me. It can sometimes overwhelm me and stress me out to no end.

4. I will be a life-long learner. There is always something to be learned through-out life and I haven't even made a dent yet.

5. I want to be a woman that people look at and see God shining through. I have no desire to be a shining star - I would perfer to be a moon that reflects the Son's glory!!!

6. My passion for writing wasn't birthed until my freshman year in high school. My English teacher during that year inspired and encouraged me to write. Now it is one of my stress relievers and I am so thankful that God has given me the gift of being able to express myself that way.

7. I am really sad to have never met Mama Kay's dad. From what I have heard about him, he was awesome!

8. I love music. It is my passion! I miss being a music major and I wish that I wouldn't have lost my hearing and lost my confidence because of it. I hope to one day be able to sing like I did a few years ago but until then I will stick to my quest to learn how to play the piano and cello.

9. I am addicted to online networking. I love reconnecting with people that I haven't seen in so long and even those I just met. :) It is awesome what technology can do.

10. I miss the simplicity of my younger years. I wish I could just enjoy that time again.

11. I almost love being sore after working out. It reminds me that I have worked hard and that my body is getting stronger.

12. I love how God finds just the right way to speak to me at any particular moment. There is nothing like falling to my knees and knowing that His still voice is speaking volumes to my heart.

13. I am not a fan of shopping for clothes. I have a really hard time fitting my body shape so I tend to stick to jeans and t-shirts.

14. When my mom found out that she was pregnant with me, she asked my biological father if he wanted to look at names. He said something along the lines of "You will have a girl, she will have brown hair, green eyes and her name will be Whitney." Well...tada! Here I am! :)

15. Believe it or not, I am shy.

16. One of my favorite memories from my time at Ouachita was when three AMAZING girls sang one of my favorite Point of Grace songs. :)

17. I am a fan of lists. I make lists for all sorts of things...I guess it can be slightly irritating to others.

18. When I get married, I am going to be rocking Converse! I refuse to wear high heels.

19. To be completely honest, I am okay with how I look. I enjoy getting up in the morning, not worrying about make-up or anything like that. I rock my jeans and t-shirts and enjoy it. I do enjoy getting dressed up and don't mind it sometimes but I think that God has created me perfectly. :)

20. I feel like I tend to be an embarrassment to myself and that people think that I am some sort of freak.

21. I think I try to hard to fit in. I still struggle with feeling like I am the one on the outside.

22. I make cakes for my friends and am thinking about one day getting a degree in that area. I love the joy on people's faces when they see the cakes. It makes me happy!

23. For me, there is no subsitute for a good evening with a good friend watching one of the best shows on the face of the Earth...Boy Meets World. I love you Em!!

24. I am the first person in my family in almost 5 generations to have green eyes.

25. It has taken me almost 2 weeks to complete this. Ahhh!!

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Creative Expression

Tonight was the start of No Greater Love choir rehearsals. It was filled with laughs, tears and friends...well...at least for everyone else. Prior to the start of the rehearsal, one of the ladies that sits behind me made a comment that really distracted me during this important time. She said that when I had bent over sometime last week, I had embarrassed a man behind me because he saw my tattoo. I was really taken back by this. Now I know that it is different for Christians to have tattoos but it isn't like I have some offensive name tattooed on my body - in fact, all of my tattoos are spiritual. I have one on my lower back that has a Jesus fish underneath 3 different Chinese symbols that stand for daughter, sister and friend. It is all surrounded by water. And my other one is on my left side with a backwards American flag and Phil. 4:13 underneath it. I was really hurt by this comment - it made me wonder if people see me differently because of my tattoos. My tattoos are my creative expression of my faith and the role that it plays in my life. So to hear someone be so offended by them was hurtful. I was really hurt by this comment - it made me wonder if people see me differently because of my tattoos. So...please...post your two cents. I would love to hear it.

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I'm still kickin'!

It is Tuesday night....the good Lord has blessed me beyond all imagination.

Tonight I went to the Chonda Pierce concert and it was amazing. I got to see a few friends that I haven't seen in a really long time. I feel really blessed that I got to see those people and really express to one of them my true thankfulness that I have for them and what they did. I think they thought that I was kind of wierd but O well. I just really sensed God telling me that I needed to tell them that.

Well it is late and I am tired but I thought that I would post and let y'all know that I am still kickin'!

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Now is not the time!

Okay so I definitely should be doing homework but I gotta get this stuff out of my mind on onto some 'paper' so if you have time, feel free to read, but if not, that is okay. I don't have a drink suggestion tonight or any other suggestions -my mind is exhausted and my body is even more exhausted. I can't sleep though because of the massive amount of homework sitting next to me (gotta love being a nursing major) and this thing that is on my mind and heart.

So I have been having some weird dreams lately and even stranger (is that a word in this context?) thought processes....o sweet Lord save me now please! Last night I had a dream that I married someone that I know and I was pregnant. Now, for those of you who know me pretty well know that I have no plans to get married any time soon and I DO NOT want kids at all (I simply can't justify replicating...that's why there are mormon families...they populate the Earth just fine). What makes the dreams worse is that my mom keeps pressuring me into getting married and to have kids. I just want to yell and scream - is that an okay reaction? I hope so because that is definitely what I feel like doing. What doesn't she understand about the fact that I am NOT ready to get married and that I will NEVER have children. She can live without biological grandchildren - I have seen several older people deal with that and she is just going to have to survive. And somehow I am thinking that I must have a sign that is invisible to me that says "HOOK ME UP WITH SOMEONE - I AM SINGLE AND DESPERATE!!" I really am okay with completeing school before getting married - after all, who would want to stay up all night with me studying nursing terms just to make sure that I graduate. Now I know that some people go to college to get their MRS Degree but that is not me. Isn't it okay to just be me? Isn't it okay to want to go on missions trips, play soccer, sing and do all of my dreams without getting married? Isn't part of the college expierence to figure out who you are without the people around you who have been defining you for most of your life up to that point? Now, please don't get me wrong. I wouldn't mind going out on dates once and a while, but I am not ready for settling down unless settling down includes a person who is ready to conquer the world with me. So please don't think I am swearing boys off permenantly because I am sure, somewhere out there, there is that guy who is just waiting and praying for me. But when it is time, I will meet him and we will go from there but that time is not now (or at least in my book it isn't). I dream of the big beautiful wedding with all of my friends and family but that dream will come true in its own time which also isn't now.

Okay...well time to get back to homework. And hopefully some sleep before midnight but I still have about 20 pages to read and to take notes on so we will see how that goes. Thank you for taking the time to read my venting. :) Love y'all!

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So it is snowing outside and I am going to wait a bit longer before I go out to shovel the driveway and sidewalk (even though it is supposed to snow until 11 pm). I really want to go to Starbucks so I am going to have to shovel at some point today even if it is at 7 pm before I head to my soccer game.

Last night I got to go and see a friend that I haven't seen a while. I forgot what it is like to have a good friend like her who is only a few years older than me. It was fun to enjoy some good dessert and to try some wine (mmm...). :) I also had the opprotunity to catch her up on my life. I didn't realize how much went on in the time that we didn't see each other.

I really don't have much else to say. I think I am going to get ready for the day. Brave the snow and get coffee for me and a few friends then go play in the snow. I hope that y'all had an amazing Christmas. God bless!

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It rained.

With the Thanksgiving season not far off, I am reminded of the things that I am thankful for...and that was totally what I was going to post about. But that will have to wait because I have something so much more pressing on my heart and mind. So sit back and relax...it is time for Whitney's Wandering Thoughts....

It rained yesterday, but not just any rain. It was the type of sprinkle that could soak you to the deepest layers of underclothes before too long. I almost hate that type of rain, but then again, I tend to find a sense of release and freedom in the rain. When it rains, I have the childlike desire to run through the rain and jump into the biggest puddle to see how far I can get the rain to come up on my pants. But last night, my release and freedom was not jumping in puddles, instead my release came in the way of tears, after all, it is easier to pass off tears as raindrops when your face is already wet from the rain. After my classes yesterday, I went to visit an old high school teacher that still has a place in my heart. We were catching up and I learned something about her that I didn't know. It hit a cord in my heart that resonated through my entire body. I bit my lower lip in an effort to not cry but when I left and was walking out to my car, I couldn't help it. The floodgates behind my eyes opened and I was bawling like a little baby. What my teacher had expierenced hit me like a ton of bricks and it hurt. It really shouldn't have - she didn't seem so affected by it. But for some reason my heart hurt on such a deep level. I don't know what to say or feel so this is where I shall end.

God bless you all!

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