Stressing!

I am completely stressing out over my final exam that will be taking place in 2 hours and 11 minutes and 52 seconds. Due to inclement weather, my group was not able to tour the West Tennessee Cerebral Palsy Center for 20 points extra credit. That has added to my stress & made sure that I could not possibly receive an A in the class. So a B will have to suffice. Bad weather is not very fun!!! I am just glad that this will all be over in a matter of hours. Wish me luck!!

- b -

It's Really Early Right Now

It's 8:40 & I'm up. Things have been going pretty crappy the last few days. Well, there has been good & bad. I haven't had to work that much so it gets pretty boring here at the dorm. I got 2 shots yesterday. *ouch* I got one in each arm. My left arm got the flu shot, & my right arm got my second dose of the Hepatitis A shot. I was just sitting around yesterday thinking about my trip to Guatemala & realized that there was still some shots I needed so I talked to a guy friend of mine and was like, "Hey Ryan, do you wanna go get our shots?" And we just walked to Nurse Paul's office here on campus & had a shot party. Joy. So I woke up this morning & my right arm is really, really sore. :*( Not only that, I have been really stressing about this class that I am taking. I have 1 more assignment due Thursday & then my final exam. I am really scared about the test because the last one was killer & I got an 84. Me & some of my friends were counting on doing extra credit (20 points!) by taking a tour of the West Tennessee Cerebral Palsy Center at 10 this morning, but I called them to see if they were open due to the icy weather, and they had to cancel. Now I am even more stressed about my grade because I don't know if my teacher will let us turn our extra credit in late (it's due tonight). Agh!! I hate even thinking about all of this.

I have had some really good news in all of this though. I have my trip to Guatemala almost paid in FULL!!! I only have $85 dollars left to pay. Yesterday was amazing because I got about 7 support checks in the mail totaling over $500. God really does provide. You just have to trust Him! :) I probably will get more money donated than I actually need but that is O.K. because I can get reimbursed for this very painful shot in my right arm & possibly for my passport that I had to get last year. We'll see. Things are just really coming together! I am also getting some extra money in for my textbooks that I need to buy for the spring semester. I actually get to go buy one today!! I know, it is so weird that I am excited about buying textbooks, but I have the money now from selling my older ones so that makes me very happy. Now I just have to start saving up to pay for Colby to spend a week at the kennel while I am on my trip. It's a $96.00 expense I am pretty sure, but very cheap for most kennels. He & Otis are actually going to be staying and the place where Alex & I purchased them. They charge only 10 dollars a day & 12 if they are going to be staying overnight.

So that is all my drama for the weekend. Pray that my professor will be merciful & give us a grace period on our extra credit. I will head to the books to keep studying for my final, and then I have to tutor at 4:00. Stay safe on these snowy/icy roads!

- b -

Miss America Pageant

Okay so I just wanted to let everyone on here know that a girl from Union, Ellen Carrington is going to be in the Miss America pageant tomorrow night at 8pm/7 central time. The reality show Countdown to the Crown gave 15 lucky girls golden sashes & they were able to compete for a spot in the top 15 in the pageant! Ellen did not win a golden sash but her mom wrote a note on Facebook saying that we should all vote for Miss Indiana or Miss Georgia because it can somehow help Ellen advance if it is a close race. To vote, you can send a text message to 97979 that says either INDIANA or GEORGIA (you can vote up to 4 times) or vote on the show's website. Tune in tomorrow to see if Ellen places in the pageant! Union's prayers are with her!

- b -

Good Morning!!!

Yawn. It's almost noon & I just rolled out of bed. For some reason ever since I got back to Union I have had the craziest dreams. I used to have dreams occasionally, but now I have been having them every night! My crazy dream for last night? = I hung out with President Obama in his private jet, and we sky dived & then went to a music store and bought music & stuff for his little girls. It has been so strange!!! Maybe it is because I watched the inauguration the other day or something.

Anyways, I am really looking forward to this weekend. For my class I have to interview a teacher, so hopefully I will be able to get that done this weekend. I also have to go on a field trip with my friend, so I am going to be making contacts all weekend and hopefully making travel plans. I also plan to study for my final exam that is going to be on Thursday BUT have some fun in the meantime. Me & my friends Catherine and India have been scrapbooking a lot so hopefully we will get to work on those this weekend. Also I work tomorrow for a whopping 4 hours. Hopefully I'll get more hours when the new schedule comes out. I work at the DoubleTree Hotel here in Jackson at the front desk. I really like it, and it is a pretty chill job. It is way better than waitressing.

Well, here's to the start of my weekend! Hopefully I will get a lot done as planned!

- b -

What I Want

* I want to feel those butterflies every time I see him.
* I want to appreciate every little thing he does for me.
* I want to never hurt him with my words on purpose.
* I want to love him in the way he should be loved.
* I want us.

Forever & Always
Alex ♥ Briana

- b -

One Tree Hill

So I was playing with my blog today and picking out new layouts and gadgets, etc. and if you've noticed, I put one of the most inspiring quotes that I've heard lately at the top of my blog and also a OTH quote of the day at the bottom of my page. Yes, I am completely obsessed with the TV show One Tree Hill. If you've never watched it (which I am guessing is most of you) then you probably think it is some teeny-bopper soap opera, but it is most absolutely not. The story (or STORIES) are full of action and deal with situations regarding revenge, regret, truth, forgiveness, anger, friendship and yes, LOVE. I had never watched the show until my friends from school got me into it this past semester. As it is being aired weekly on Monday nights, they are currently in the middle of season six, so when I first watched it I was a little lost. But when Target has some super savings in November, I was able to purchase the first 5 seasons for only $75.00. That is extremely cheap considering they are anywhere from $35 - $50 per season. So starting fall break, me & Alex decided to sit down and watch them together, and as of this week, we are officially caught up! His friends make fun of him for liking it so much (or should I say LOVING it so much) :) but like I said, it's not just some stupid teenage soap opera. So I thought that during this blog I would put up a picture of each of the main characters and tell you why I love them and how they have impacted my life because they really have. I know they are just fictional characters, but each of them possess traits that I want to find in myself, and even though it is not a Christian show by any means, if you watch it with filtered eyes and a spiritually, grounded heart and mind, you are able to learn from fictional and seemingly pointless television shows and bring meaning into your life as you learn.

The Plot: One Tree Hill is about families and friends living in the city, Tree Hill. :) Nathan Scott and Lucas Scott are half brothers (they share the same dad, Dan Scott). Dan abandoned Lucas and his mom (Karen Roe) when he was a baby so that has built up anger and hostility in Lucas towards Nathan and Dan. Dan's brother Keith stepped into Karen and Lucas' lives and helped raise Lucas after his brother had abandoned them.

Peyton Sawyer and Brooke Davis are best friends who deal with issues such as deaths of parents, adoptions, psycho stalkers, estranged family, cancer, high school drama and their infamous love triangle with Lucas Scott. (I won't ruin the story by telling you who ends up with whom.) And when they finally graduate from Tree Hill and move on with their lives and their careers, life can get a little messy. They befriend Haley James, their class Valedictorian who by her Junior year of high school was also a wife and late on a mother. But Haley's life is torn in two after some hurt and pain caused in the relationship she has after going on tour with Michelle Branch.

All these characters come together and form never-ending friendships and relationships that nobody could ever tear apart. :) (I hope I didn't ruin anything! lol)



Nathan Scott: I love Nathan because he reminds me so much of Alex. He is by far my favorite character in this show. Nathan starts out as the spoiled rich kid, and you don't start to feel sorry for him until you get to know his over-bearing and evil father Dan. Nathan dreams of being an MBA basketball star and OTH takes you through his journey beginning in his junior year of high school and ending well ... tune in on Monday nights :) He is a completely different person than he was when the show started, and his love for others (especially his family) makes me fall more and more in love with him each episode!!



Lucas Scott: I love Lucas because he genuinely cares about others. He is that guy that when you talk to, he is all about YOU. He is selfless and the hero in many episodes. But he does it all with humility and rarely ever takes credit. I wish I could be humble like him and always think before I speak!



Brook Davis: Brooke is a strong character. She made many mistakes in high school, but the strength she has to not let those choices weigh her down and influence her present and her future are phenomenal. She is independent yet much of a family girl (not in the literal sense).



Peyton Sawyer: Peyton struggles with many issues such as fear and loss. She starts as an afraid little girl and turns into a confident and successful woman. I admire her ability to let go and move on when she has every right to hide from the world.



Haley James (Scott!): Haley is so smart and so beautiful. I admire how she is always organized and seems to have things under control no matter how mixed up things seem. She is a wonderful mother (I won't say who her hubby is!!!) and friend. I hope to be the mother that she is someday.



James Lucas Scott: Do not be fooled by the name! Jamie is a 5 year old little boy and son to Haley James Scott. He is just so cute, and that is why I love him.


So now that you have officially been sucked into my world of One Tree Hill, I hope that maybe you'll realize that even though television can seem pointless and superficial, it can really make you think about your life and how you want it to be. I love One Tree Hill & it is coming on TONIGHT (on the CW)!!! :) :) :)


- b -

Nerves

So I was searching the Internet during my night class on some information about Guatemala and those visiting Guatemala so that I am a little bit informed before I go. Here's what I found.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violent criminal activity continues to be a problem in Guatemala, including murder, rape, and armed assaults against foreigners. The police force is inexperienced and under-funded, and the judicial system is weak, overworked, and inefficient. Well-armed criminals know there is little chance they will be caught or punished. Traditionally, Guatemala experiences increases in crime before and during the Christmas and Easter holiday seasons.

oh my, my, my.

- b -

Back to Class ... or ClassES!

I am home safe and sound back in my dorm at Union! I have been back for eight days, and they have been very restful, and I have gotten a lot accomplished. At Union, our spring semester does not begin until February so during the month of January, students have the option of taking one or two classes and getting them completed in 4 weeks instead of a whole semester. It is a really nice option to have, so this year is my first year officially taking J-term! I am taking one special education class called Survey of Exceptionalities. We meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5-9. It seems like such a long period of time to meet, but it isn't that bad, and I have my laptop and Internet to play around on. This is the only special education class that I have to take, and it is really interesting, but I do not think I could major in it. I am going to stick with traditional elementary school teaching, and we'll see where it goes from there! I love the beginning of new semesters because everything is so unknown and exciting and fresh. I get all motivated and really learn a lot. I absolutely hate buying textbooks though. I had a friend that was in need of some quick cash so he sold me $125.00 in the bookstore gift cards for only $75.00. That was really nice, and today I purchased on of my teaching books. It is a book on how to teach language arts. I can't believe that in 2 years I am really going to be a teacher!! That is so crazy :). But I still have a few more books that I need to save up for. It is just really hard, and I have no money and am not getting the hours that I really need at my job. I am going to start tutoring this week, so hopefully that will bring in a little extra cash. I am also worried about funding for my mission trip to Guatemala. It is in March, so I don't have a lot more time to raise money! :/ Hopefully my parents are able to help me out if I am short at all until I can pay them back. I sure hope so. But other than financial worries, life is pretty good here at Union. It is lonely because none of my roommates have moved back yet, but my friends (well one is my roommate) Catherine and Indi have been over a few times, and we have been working on our scrapbooks together. They look awesome, and I am really enjoying them! :) Hope everyone is off to a great 2009! God bless!

- b -

"And GO into all the world, making disciples of every nation..."

Hey guys! I just wanted to let you everybody know that in March I will be going on a mission trip to Guatemala to work at the Casa Para Ninos Aleluya orphanage. It is such an exciting opportunity for me and my teammates as we ACTUALLY get to go this year! Last year our trip was canceled due to the F-4 tornado that destroyed over half of my school, but thankfully the Lord has provided another opportunity for us to go. I have sent out most of my support letters already, but in case there was someone blogging that actually reads this and would like to support this ministry, I am inserting directions in this note on how you can do so. I would love ANY support I can get, whether that be financially or prayerfully. For those of you who are able to financially support me, you may give online by clicking here and then clicking on "GO Trip Donations." As a point of clarity, your contribution is being given to the Global Outreach Program of Union University. If for some reason I am not able to go on the trip, your contribution will remain in the Global Outreach fund to be used for other mission opportunities under the Global Outreach program at the discretion of the office of Campus Ministries. My name of course is Briana Merante, and my trip destination is called Go Guatemala (It will ask you for both of these on the form). Thank you so much for supporting me in both ways, and I cannot wait to update you on what happens on this amazing trip! Thank you so much in advance! The Lord is going to continue doing great things!

- b -

Welcome, Welcome 2009

These past 3 days, the first days of 2009, I have just been thinking a lot about the past year and the new one that we are now embarking upon. So much has happened, and so much will happen that it is really hard for me to wrap my mind upon all of it as I have been trying to do! This last year has held so much. Alex and I actually dated the ENTIRE year of 2008 while we celebrated our 1 year anniversary in October. I got a new puppy in March, and I cannot imagine life without that precious little boy. I was a college Freshman, Sophomore and Junior all in one year :o) Yes, I know.. props to me! I went to summer school for the first time ever and began at a new college. In 2008 I started a new job, one that I love. I decided on what profession that the Lord has called me to. I didn't really decide, but the Lord led me straight to the door of the Education Dept. at Union University. I survived an F4 tornado that destroyed over half of my school. Thankfully I was safe and sound at work. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have been spared all the hurt and devastation that many of my friends had to battle, but the Lord protected us all, and for that I am thankful. In 2008 I received the news that I would have another chance to serve in the country of Guatemala since our last trip had to be canceled. If this counts for anything, I lost 20 lbs. from no action of my own. I really was against the whole New Years Resolution thing last year so I made it my resolution to not make a resolution and what most people (well girls like myself) dream of really happened to me. But I decided that this year it is OKAY to make a resolution. I was so against it before because people make them so far fetched and give up mid-February or even earlier that it seems unrealistic. It's basically saying okay this is doomed to fail and setting yourself up for it anyways. So as of December 31, 2008 I am so incredibly happy with how my 2008 turned out. It has truly been a year of blessings and friendships and love, and I can't wait for 2009. It has already been 3 days, and I have had the best ever. On New Years day I was able to walk outside into the * warm! * breeze and look over acres of farmland that the sun just magically and picture perfectly danced across. I was in the arms of the one I am crazy in love with; someone who loves me just the same. :) I didn't have a care in the world, and I still don't. Over these past three days I was able to use my health and my strength to work 15 hours and witness to somebody about Jesus Christ, a love they had lost feeling for in their heart. I was able to share laughs with my family and just be the woman that God made me to be. Someone living for him and enjoying every minute of it. Welcome 2009.


Me & my new roommate/best friend Catherine!



Me giving Colby a bath. I am so thankful for him!



The aftermath of the tornado that swept through Union's campus.


Me & Alex at Fellowship Bible Church on our one year anniversary: October 12, 2008


Me & my sister Danielle when she came to visit me at college!

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