Happy Halloween!

Yep, today's Halloween...and I've already eaten too much candy. But hey, I actually have an excuse today. I wonder if we'll have any trick-or-treaters. There are a few kids in our neighborhood so we probably will. How cute. I've got a pretty busy day. I'm going to carve a pumpkin in a little while...for the first time ever! I'm so excited. I even found a really cool design, but it's a surprise. I'll post a pic of my pumpkin when I finish. Tonight I'm going to a cookout for our small group. That should be fun.

I actually had a really good weekend for the first time in quite a while. Rita Springer led worship at Encounter Thursday night, which was the bomb diggity. Friday, I went to Emmaus. It was kind of cold, but well worth it. I won't be able to make it to the next Walk because it's the weekend of the Auburn/Alabama game. I'm so bummed. Why in the world would they schedule a MEN's Walk on the weekend of the biggest football game of the year!? I understand there are only certain times they can get the camp, but come on. It's that weekend every single year. At least make it a women's walk. Oh well, I'm sure it will still be "the best Walk ever." Saturday was the Ole Miss game. Winning was great...practicing in freezing weather at 6:30 wasn't so great. After the game, I came home, ate a quick lunch/supper, took a shower, and headed to Prattvegas for a bonfire birthday party! For future reference, Keith Harris does not give the easiest directions. He said to follow the glow sticks...but he didn't specify to walk. So here I am in the dark, driving down this old eroded dirt road, when I finally figure out that I'm stuck. The guys tried to put my blazer in 4-wheel drive but it's weird and wouldn't work. As if that wasn't enough, I ran out of gas because of the steep incline. When it seemed all hope was lost, Matt Hunt (my hero) came and tied my car to his jeep and pulled it backwards all the way back up the hill. It was quite an adventure. We chilled around a bonfire the rest of the night. After that, I hung out with Sam and Nick at Sam-bo's house. It was great seeing everybody. Of course, I had just seen most of them less than a week before at church. I need to get a job or something, because gas prices are awful but I can't just stop going to Prattville. There are so many awesome people up there, and they make me feel so special. I feel wanted and valued. I can't count how many hugs I got. Those Prattvillians are a hugging bunch of folks...maybe that's why I fit in so well. I love hugs! I can just be myself around them and have a good time. I just wish we got to hang out more than a few times a year. Oh well. Absence makes the heart grow fonder...but it still stinks.

I definitely needed that this weekend. It's just not been a good semester. I'm trying to push myself more. I've been putting more effort into school, even though it's torture. I'm trying to have a better attitude about things. I'm trying not to get caught up in going through the motions. I'm trying to learn when to let go and move on. I'm trying to stop relying so much on other people. Yep, I'm trying. Maybe the effort will pay off. I really hope so...