I am overwhelmingly excited that after this week I will be able to read more "fluff" books.
My American Government class ends on Thursday, and I will no longer have to read a chapter a night on an aspect of the government. It's been somewhat informative. Ok, really I think I have taken a lot away from the class. I feel a little more informed when I am reading the newspaper or watching the news on television. However, it has not given me any desire to do more than what I normally do. And I could still care less about politics.
But because I am devoting so much time to this class, I have not done any recreational reading. I plan on remedying this in July. I'll have almost 3 hours between classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. It is enough time to go back to my apartment, but it's 20 minutes from campus, and I don't really feel like wasting the gas. I'll pack a lunch/snack and head to the library.
I have no idea how I will decide what to read, but I plan on expanding my reading world a little. I am sure I'll be able to find a summer reading list somewhere. And I will definitely ask for suggestions.
You have no idea how exciting this is to me. I LOVE to read. I love escaping into books. My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. I have read it at least 3 times. I enjoy that book so much. I even enjoyed the movie with Gregory Peck.
I am so excited about reading!!
29 June 2008
Excitement...
26 June 2008
When it finally hits home....
I was sitting in my math class this morning and felt a nudge to check my phone. I had checked it just a few minutes earlier. I pulled it out of my purse and saw that I had a new voice mail. I then looked to see that the missed call was from my dad's phone. My first thought was that he wanted to remind me to call about what I got on my tests. (I took two tests yesterday--math and American government.) I didn't get my test back, so I figured I'd just listen to the voice mail and call him after my American government class when I got that test back. I waited until I got out of the building to make sure that I'd have reception. I called my voice mail, punched in my password and listened to my message. It was my dad, but it wasn't about my tests.
It was serious. I could tell by my dad's voice.
He said that he just wanted to call me to let me know the news....And then he dropped a bomb.
Joel, an Army Specialist who is on his first tour in Iraq, has been killed.
I could only say "Oh my God!" over and over again. I honestly wanted to drop to the ground and weep. It took my breath away.
Joel Taylor is 20 years old. I've known Joel for a few years. We had gone to the same church for a while. His mom and I were on the dance team at church together. My friend was his girlfriend. His dad, a firefighter, had been to our house when my mom put a fuse back in incorrectly.
I can't explain how it has effected me, and I haven't seen him or his parents in quite a while.
It really puts things into some sort of perspective when it hits home.
Or maybe it changes perspectives, in a good way.
Please pray for the Taylor Family. I can't imagine what this would feel like. Joel was a sweet, fun-loving guy who was proud to serve his country. We were honored to have him serve and protect us, as we are with all of our military.
