Yes, I know your all extremely disappointed with me. I haven't lived up to my promises of posting every other day. I hope to change that, the key word is hope. I finally got settled in at home and have some time to sit down, think, and read. If you don't do this, you should. As crazy as it might sound to you, it really does help to process your life. If you didn't know already, my computer also crashed about a week ago and it took me some time to get it working again. But, I did. So that has also prolonged my little break from posting.

My hands were freezing when I took this picture. I'm pretty sure it was about like 22 degree's or something like that, I forgot my gloves, my hands were pink as the result. I realized tonight that my life this week is just like this bird, huddled waiting for it to get warmer, or for the wind to become less blistering. The difference is this bird will be waiting a little longer then myself. I have to get thru the next week and a half a live and I will get a much needed restful break. I can not wait. But, for now I am huddled trying to withstand this storm of school work. I realize as well that I bit off a little more then I can chew this week with trying to keep the Isaiah series going, well started to be more accurate. I plan on being more consistent when I don't have 5 papers to write in 3 days.

Oh, where to begin. It's been sometime since my last post, I'm not very happy about, but have no fear that will all change if I have my way. I wish to post every other day this month, I hope that giving this blog a regular schedule will make both of us happier. Me because I get to write more consistently.. and You because you get to read my mind more frequently. (Look you have super powers, mind reading abilities aren't given to everyone.. you lucky duck.)

Where did art go in church? Churches haven't built like this in a long time it seems. Churches like this are beautiful and extravagant, like they probably should be. They don't always have to be the biggest or most efficient places to worship. This church on the outside actually appears rather small, but they do put a lot of work in making the place look really nice. I haven't seen a better looking place. It has more character and emotion then any modern day church I have seen. A couple of my teachers have talked about this lately, wanting to go back to building churches so that they are artistic and really sweet. I agree with them. Lets start putting everything into some art in church... It would be a sweet way to worship.

I've been in Chicago for about a year now. It's been a great growing/learning experience, I guess that's what happens in college. Moody is a great place for learning about the Bible. I'm thankful that it is in the heart of Chicago. Mostly, because there's a lot of sweet photography opportunities. I hope to enjoy the rest of my time here, whether it is 2 years or 10 years. Hopefully, home gets a lot closer to Chicago, if not in Chicago... if you don't get it, you won't.

This week I was remembering the old days.. O.K. so they are not that old.. when I was still playing with About A Mile. This picture reminded me of all the shows and fun stuff we did. Me and Joel reminisced about it this week in one of our classes. Remembering when we went to a camp with a youth group and Levi K. dumped water down the front of his shirt doing a "stone cold steve austin," as he called it. Playing music was awesome and hanging out with these three guys was the best. I really do miss it, but duty called me to Chicago, away from the band and, what was sure to be, my life as a rockstar.

As the seasons change we see the changing of the weather, the leaves, the driving conditions, and the consistency of flight delays quite easily. However, we fail to see ourselves changing over time. I remember coming to school last year (fall 2008) and thinking to myself, "nothing is going to change, other people go to college and change, but not me." Then within the next month the way I thought had totally changed. I really started looking at why I did things and what needed to be changed in my life. I'm still doing this and, quite honestly, I will be doing it for the rest of my life, I'm sure.

Well, I am tired. Really tired. Bobbapalooza and work may be to blame. Maybe not. Somehow, I still feel like I haven't caught up on my sleep. The picture above is of Alice and the Wonder Dudes. They won the best cover song, and some other prizes. But, I really enjoyed their cover of Kings of Leon. Very catchy song, good choice, plus I enjoy Alice's voice much more so then the voice of the lead singer of KOL. But, thats just my taste. I'm pretty sure Bobba went really well for the 1:20 band. I had a fun time with everyone. However, I'm positive that I will be recuperating for the next 3-5 weeks. That maybe an exaggeration.

I just went to Jewel and bought candy. The day after Halloween is the best day to buy candy. My teeth are going to rot. That's O.K. they pretty much have already. Yesterday, I went to a halloween party for my church, shh! don't tell anyone at moody, I'm not sure if I was allowed to go. But, I did. I was dressed like a Tellatubby. If you are friends with me on facebook, You can see the pictures there. Anyway, it was pretty funny.

I love guitars. Ever since 7th grade when I got my first guitar from my parents for my birthday I have been in love with them. I have played guitar for the last 7 or so years of my life and it never gets old. I hope to sometime get better then I am now but I just like to have fun with it. If you have something like that, something that you just love to do: paint, play a sport, walk, watch, talk, whatever it is, never stop doing it. Just a little encouragement I guess, just don't forget things that you are or were once passionate about.

Hmmm, sunsets are fun. I really enjoyed the sunset this day on the way back to school. I was a little depressed because I was returning to all the work, and leaving home behind yet again. I was going to sleep the whole way home but, this sun set brought God's natural revelation into my day and kept me awake for the first leg of the trip. It really was beautiful.

Noelle is most likely my favorite person in the world to take pictures of. Not that I've been taking lots of pictures for a long time or anything... Anyway, it's not because she is my sister or just really cute or something. It's because she is always just so happy. My parents gave her the middle name Joyful, which I actually thought was kinda weird, but it fits her so well. She is the best. I miss her smile everyday. Her personality just cheers you up no matter what. Today is a great example of this, I have had a less then amazing day, but just seeing these pictures of her while writing this has cheered me up.

Of all the pictures I snapped this weekend this one pretty accurately show's everything that happened over fall break. Ok, not at all, but I did hang out with his beautiful girl most of the time and also took lots of pictures.. Not all of them in mirrors, but I did go to a scare house, which according to the travel channel is one of the scariest in the U.S. I didn't find it scary at all, not to say that I'm tough or something. But, I saw a picture of D.L. Moody in the scare house, and he, being the least scariest person, made the travel through the scare house much funnier.

Yeah, I got a camera.

I did a lot of thinking today, or maybe it has been over the last couple days. Maybe, I just don't know. My thoughts, as scattered as they are, sometimes seem profound. I've been trying to love others a lot more this semester, hopefully making it a habit for the rest of my life. Ephesians 5:2 say's "live a life of love, just as Christ loved us". Thats a pretty huge thing to do. But, I'm trying. I don't think I have been doing a great job. But, at least I'm giving a effort towards such a hard thing.

For the last two days I have had no early morning class. You would think this a good thing, as I would be getting to sleep in, therefore getting more sleep. Unfortunately, you would be wrong; dead wrong.

I was talked in to fighting again on a floor fight night. Again my opponent was much bigger then myself and totally rocked me. I really wish I was more of a fighter so that I could actually win, or do better then just getting hit in the temple three times and having to quit. But, I'm not like that at all. I think it would be wise for me to just retire from fighting now with my record being 0-2-0, what a way to go out.

Today, for me is Thomas Edison day. Not because I am appreciating all that this great man invented, or all the discoveries he has made. Nope, I'm declaring this day Thomas Edison day because like him, today I have only slept for a small amount of time through out the day.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

Ever since I was a kid I loved taking pictures. I even went through a stage when all I wanted to do was to be a photographer. My parents got me a nice (at the time) panasonic camera, I took pictures everywhere and it was really nice to have. I got to do what I wanted to do all the time. Although, about a year after getting my camera, it broke. Not because any fault of my own, for I would have never let any harm come to my baby. It had some sort of software meltdown, at the time I couldn't understand. It was very upsetting, and for a time my dream seemed, and still seems, hopeless..

I just realized that with the amount of time I spend on the internet, mostly facebook, I could easily have a blog a day. Yet, I still spend most of my time on facebook, where I look at profiles of people I don't know very well and have little time to express myself. But, I am addicted, like every other college age kid, leave a couple home schoolers who think it's the devil. Not, trying to offend anyone, just going along with a stereotype.

Back in the windy city. The first week of classes is almost over and I'm already tired of reading and homework. I hope I am just getting use to this again and that this doesn't continue to get worse as the semester progresses. Classes are as good as they can be. Youth Min classes are better then the others, probably because I'm actually interested in what they are teaching me. I don't know if I really like my other classes, it's more of a "I can't believe I have to be here" kind of thing. I know it will all be good for me and a great learning experience but I just don't like getting up early to go and then staying up late to do the home work. I've got a crap load more reading then I did in other semesters. But, as I move up in classes and credit hours, that is to be expected. At least I'm done with O.T. and N.T. right! : )

In the last 48 hours I've folded over a thousand boxes. That is actually at realistic guess at the actual amount. I've become rather good at it too. Not that it is something to be extremely proud of or, for any matter, be ashamed of. It is, simply, what it is. I wish that I could be doing something different, or that the boxes would talk to me. But, I'm not and they don't so I am stuck folding them and placing them on the slowest moving assembly line ever, that may be an exaggeration.

It is hard to put into words what I am currently feeling. Not that I really want the internet to know what I am currently feeling, or ever feeling. If I really wanted anyone and everyone to know that, well, I would be a dunderhead.
My past few weeks have been really sweet. Going to the beach with the Browns what amazing, and leading worship at CAC this week went really well. So, you could say my summer is going well. Yet, I feel the pressure of school rising from the depths waiting to crush my heart and soul as I leave for another 8 month torture session 4 states away from home. More pressure is here because there hasn't been a super steady job this summer. Let alone the 2 or 3 I wanted. So, I need money for a lot of different things. The problem is I haven't been making any. So, who knows if I'll be able to come home for thanksgiving to not..
School will bring some money with it but that is it. Not a whole lot.

The problem is that I have been making plans and wanting to do so many things. I need to just let it up to God. And hopefully they will work out to the best.

I live in a house for five, all on my own. I don't know why my parents chose to spend their summer at our camper, which is about the size of the room I am currently in, instead of our wonderful house. But, at any rate, I am here by my self for most of the summer. Which was kinda creepy at first, but now it's not to bad. I can play guitar to when ever I want and eat and watch whatever I want on TV. It's great really. Although, I have been working so I can't do whatever I want. I had a 13 hour work day yesterday, it didn't feel like it though. Call me crazy, but it wasn't bad at all, kinda fun.

anyway, too lazy to keep writing today.

Smitty.

Summer roles along and before you know it I have ignored by blogging life for about a month.. I really don't think that this is a problem but it sure does help me to think through things if I at least write a little bit. I have been busy working for a while, hopefully that continues, I really need the money.
But, anyway, within the last few weeks I have been really struggling because of some things that I really can't control that have to do with the music career I so willingly gave up in order to go to college. OK, so really it wasn't much of a music career, it was much more of a high school band that was really freaking good. Well I left the band to go to Moody, good choice, I know thats where I need to be, but it has been hard in the last few weeks to see that. I know what I am doing there and going through is great, however, the band I was in (About A Mile) just got done making a full length album. I am realy excited for it don't think that I'm not. I have listened to it, and I can't wait to get my copy because it is fantastic for three teenagers. REALLY! it is awesome musically, lyrically, pretty much every way. It was very professionally done. They are also playing at Alive festival this year. A show that could possibley really have them take off. Like if the right people hear them there, then well they could get very popular, very quickly. If that doesn't happen then any one that has connection that hears the CD will def. hook them up.

See I love that they are doing so well. But, I keep thinking about how I left all of that to go to school at do something that, at the current time, seems to be less productive, and less... well, important. Of course I don't know that, God has a plan for me at Moody and beyond that, but it is really hard to keep that in mind when I have this figuratively breathing down my neck. It also bugs me that all this happened after I left the band, I mean really, I didn't have that big of a role in it anyway. I was the worship leader of the band, I could play four chords and get the words right to most of the songs, and I could pray at the end if I needed to. NOT to say that this is not important, cause worship leading is the best, and worshipping in song is seriously my favorite thing to do, but as far as the band stuff goes I didn't do a whole lot, I didn't write the lyrics or music. I just played and sang echos.. I can't even sing harmony (although, I am working on that now).. It just kinda seems like the are better without me in the band. Maybe that is not true, but it seems like it to me...

I want to start to get back into my music thing and start writing, but I don't know if I'm really cut out for that, I've never been much of a lyricist... is that even a word? if it is , sweet. If not it probably proves my point... anyway, I really need to remember that I need to trust in God for my future and not look to what could have been. But, it is so hard to not think I could have been apart of something that seems to be doing a lot for God, something that is good, and that I love...
expecially when they come out with a killer CD.

I really want to encourage you to check out the music!!! www.myspace.com/aboutamileband

After wind, rain, cars, trucks, trains, UFO's, 8 hours, 500 miles, and a very nervous mother I have returned home. It has never been so nice to finally be back in my own kitchen. My mom is making me eggs and sausage! So much better then the SDR. Not to say that the SDR is bad, but my mom is a much better cook. I am excited.. Enough said.

I have been looking around my room, realizing how ridiculous some of the stuff I have is. OK. not all of it, but there are quite a few things. The main one being the HUGE monitor I have set up as a duel display, because everyone thinks that Macbook screens are to small, I personally don't think so, I enjoy my 13" Macbook no matter what the 15" -17" PC people think they have on me. Mac kills them and personally Laptops are suppose to be small and portable, like they can actually fit in my backpack, just saying... But, just to spite those who told me that they thought my screen was to small, I got on craigslist and got the biggest screen I could for $20. And it is ridiculous.

Huge, tube stile flat screen.... haha, solves the "too small screen" problem right?

Today I discovered the moleskine. I don't even know how to explain the pronunciation of that word, but the pronunciation isn't what matters. The moleskine is a small, pocket sized to be precise, creative notebook. The notebook is indeed creative. I just got my moleskine today and I am already feeling the creative juices flowing through my veins. It could be something close to the heroin addicts drug flowing through his veins, only mine is healthier. One day with the moleskine and I already feel like I could be the next poet or song writer that changes the face of modern writing. OK, maybe not, but it is a good thought. The fact is, however, that the Moleskine is super cool and super creative. If you don't have one, you should get one. The idea of having a journal is an awesome Idea, it's one reason that I have this Blog. But, even more so, having a journal that you can carry, literally, everywhere and anywhere.
In all actuality, I really am excited about the Moleskine. I will be able to write down the song ideas and neat stuff I hear throughout the day. It will help me to remember the different things that I need to remember that will help my writing, which is something that I have been striving for lately. Hopefully it happens, hopefully I can write some sweet stuff. You might be thinking that I could write in any old notebook. But, I will just say to you, It's a moleskine.

Today of all days had to be the weirdest day I have had in a long time. I guess by weird I mean that it was a really good day, in no way that I would have expected. First, I only had one class today, thanks to Dr. de canceling class. I didn't feel like getting up, like I ever do right? But, I went to class and it was alright, but then I was thinking about going to take a nap and ended up doing a lot of school work and, get this, I got a lot done. A paper, three quizzes, and... Well, O.K. that was it. But, it seemed like a lot to me.
Anyway, I went to lunch and the day just kept getting better. We had chicken nuggets for lunch, it was awesome! Someone from moody food service please get those on the menu everyday! SERIOUSLY!
After that I got to talk to some people about summer. I have kinda come to a desition about what I'm going to do, but I haven't worked it all out yet, so I'm not going to say anything about it just yet.
Then I got to play SOCCER!!!! YEAHHHH!!!!!!! it was cool...
Then finally tonight I had to go to the open air ministry thing with a bunch of guys. I've never done anything like that before and I had the sweetest time doing it. We just went out and shared about Jesus with a bunch of people. We used these sweet tract things that are red and blue. They are a sweet optical illusion and it was pretty funny. But we had some awesome convorsations with the people. One lady told us about some hard times she had went through, about four years ago and it had really hurt her and brought her away from believing in Jesus. She told us that she would always remember us, and that there was something amazing about us coming to talk to her tonight. We gave her a bible and it was so freaking cool.
Maybe, I'm just overly excited about this. But it was freaking awesome... Anyway, I want to encourage you, if you know Jesus, get out there and just share it. Don't be discouraged like no one will listen, cause most of the people we talked to I would have never guessed would have been interested in what I have to say.

For the first time since I have been back in Chicago it is over 50. O.K. it's not the first time but it is one of the few days that it has been this warm. I am extremely excited because warm weather means a bunch of different things. 1) Everyone is in a better mood. 2) There are more things to do outside. 3) I can skateboard. 4) I can play sports outside. Spring time, although rainy, is really sweet. Being the second best season to summer, Spring has baseball, or in this years case softball, and Soccer for IM sports, and those are pretty sweet. I bought a softball glove today, cause of course I have to play for my floor, which I still can, hopefully. But, I showed my weakness in my spending habits, which happens to be sports equipment. I don't know what it is but I have spent more money this year on sports stuff then I have in the last 4 years. Since I have been at school, I have purchased Hockey Skates, Gloves, and two Sticks, Rollerblades, and just today a softball glove. I could sence the annoyance in my girlfriends voice as I told her I got a glove over Skype. I think it is true that I probably spend too much on sports stuff, due to the fact that I am incredibly stinge in almost any other area of my life. I feel bad that I spent money on it, but seriously, it's a sweet glove. Plus I plan on going pro in a year or two anyway. When that happens I'll be rich anyway. Of course I don't know to many people that are pro in two sports but I have been planning on going pro in hockey for like a half a year and now baseball. It will be hard but I will.. don't worry.. : P

But sersously, I am excited for it to be nice out finally. I hope it stays nice, but I keep thinking that It won't. Cause it did this once before and was nice for one day then dropped to like the twenties again. So, is it really Spring this time?

Have you ever had one of those weeks were everything seems to be going faster then you. I have been having one of those weeks. Last week ended way to soon and I had to make the long journey back to Chicago, IL for school. I made this week very hard on myself, waiting until the night before to finish papers that should have taken me more then one night. But, today with one done, I still have one to do, but I will finish that one later tonight hopefully after work. I think that I have been very stressed lately and haven't realized it, because I have like some crazy headaches this week. Which is really strange because I never really get headaches, it's just this week that I have been getting them. I took a couple cuts in my morning classes this week because of them so I could get some extra sleep. This sure did help, but I was so sleep deprived over break and I really didn't have an opportunity to catch up on it yet. Hopefully this weekend fixes that. I have been in the mists of a kinda, I'm not sure how to explain it, I guess a trial for the last couple weeks. I am not really sure how to coupe with it because I have been hearing many different opinions from what seems to be to be bias sources. This really means nothing to you, I'm sure, because I'm speaking very generally. I have been so frustrated jumping from one side of the argument to the other trying to decide what I believe, but really getting no where. I have really just wanted to scream the whole time the subject comes up. I finally got a little releaf today from James, It said consider it a blessing when trials come your way. The whole idea is that when trails come and test your faith and you remaind steadfast in the Word you grow in Christ. That, to me, was reasurring and encouraging to keep working through the situation to make sure I do the right thing in Christ and not just becaue it is what others have told me. I will reach a conclusion someday, hopefuly that day is soon.

-Smitty

I have started many things in my life, only finishing a couple of them. I don't know why this always seems to happen, but it always does. I hope that writing, which has always been an enjoyment but on and off over the years, will stick this time. I don't like to write boring papers at school, I haven't since Jr. high (who does?) But I do like writing about my life, and about random things. I may very well write about a great many things on this blog.... or of course it could fall between the cracks as many things have done before. My hope to write about memories and thoughts may possibly be due to the overly ambitious mood I am currently in, but I will hopefully write here daily or weekly... This may last or it may not. But one thing is certain, this is most definitely a start to something.