Lesson #91: "Reunited and it feels so good!"

I always forget how much I really do miss my friends until I haven't seen them in a week, or a year. Being reunited with close friends is always a blessing, and I will always cherish the friendships I have, and will have in the future!

Oh, and, um... Staying up until 5 AM isn't always the best plan. But it sure is fun! ;)

Thank you Maggie for staying up with me and taking funny pictures and videos with me!

Lesson #90: Forgive and Forget

Grudge - noun: a feeling of ill will or resentment.
Bitter - adjective: resentful or cynical.

We all have held a grudge or felt bitter feelings towards somebody or something. But honestly, what does that do? Does it help you? Does it make you feel better? Well I can tell you one thing. It doesn't make the other person feel better. I hate when people hold grudges against something I've done in the past. But how can I say that, when I'm holding my own grudges? I've done a lot of thinking this past week. How is holding a grudge going to help you for the future? If you held grudges against every person who has done you wrong, intentionally or unintentionally, eventually you wouldn't be left with anybody.

I'm just as equally guilty of this as anybody.
 
Forgive and forget.
Mend relationships.
Let things go.
Get over it.
Move on.
Don't let the little things determine relationships.

Where would we be if Christ held grudges? Not here, I'll tell you that. And we sure wouldn't be going to heaven either. Romans 3:24 says, "All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus."

Love, as He loved us. And forgive, as He forgave us.

Lesson #89: Chivalry isn't dead!

So being the week before Christmas, all the shopping centers are nuts. Today I ventured to Walmart to buy some last minute stuff to finish my Christmas gifts. Every check out line had at least three people in it, so I knew I would have to wait wherever I went. I didn't get a basket because, well, I didn't think I would need one. I had this wooden sign that I bought for my grandparents that's about the size of a movie poster, and 5 small bottles of paint, some wooden craft items, my wallet, phone, keys, and paintbrushes all sitting/rolling/sliding around on the wooden sign as I was trying to get money from my wallet. The elderly man in front of me, who had much less than I did in his basket, asked if I wanted to get in front of him. I kindly declined his offer, because, well, I wasn't in much of a hurry and he had very few items. After he emptied the items from his basket onto the counter, he asked if I wanted to set my things down in the basket until there was room. This time I accepted his offer, seeing as there was no way I was going to get my money out of my wallet while holding everything. While trying to put everything down, the bottles of paint fell onto the floor. The man was slow bending down, but he picked up all of the bottles and set them in the basket and smiled. I thanked him and he went on to pay for his things. As he was walking away, he said, "Merry Christmas, Sweetheart!" and I replied "Merry Christmas, sir!"

And a very, merry Christmas it is. Small acts of kindness are really what matter in this season of giving. Sure, we love presents and family get-togethers, but isn't Christmas about sharing the love? A small act of kindness can be the one thing that gets somebody through the rest of the day. And if somebody declines it, well, try again! Eventually they'll give in a put their things in the basket (metaphorically speaking). Chivalry is still alive! All it takes is one small action. 

Lesson #88: Stephen King writes creepy stories.

So it's December 19, and it seems that this year is quickly coming to a close. I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I started this blog. I'm still debating whether or not to create a new one for 2012, what do you guys think?

Tonight I watched Stephen King's Bag of Bones. I definitely recommend it if you like scary, creepy, weird stories! Of course, I'd recommend pretty much anything Stephen King. (Children of the Corn, The Green Mile, The Shining, Secret Window, 1408, etc etc). I already knew he was an incredible writer, and that he wrote some pretty creepy and weird stuff, but Bag of Bones was beyond that. It wasn't necessarily scary, so to speak, but it was creepy. It had its jumpy moments. It had its sad moments. It had its twists and turns in the story line. (Of course my favorite part of these kinds of movies is always trying to figure it out and predict what will happen).

All and all, today, I learned that Stephen King writes creepy stories. But he is one incredible writer!

Lesson #87: You don't really need to study as a senior...

Wow! It has been forever. Life is crazy, and school has been killer. This past week I took finals, and I didn't do so bad! I passed all of them, which I wasn't expecting to do. But I did, and I am very happy! And you know what I learned? Studying doesn't always help. I didn't study for any of my finals (except English) and I did good on all of them. We're seniors, we don't need to study! ;)

As this year is coming to a close, so is this blog. I've learned a lot this past year, obviously that I was so busy I couldn't post every day, seeing as I'm only on Lesson #87. Maybe I can get to at least 100 by the end of the year. Thanks for sticking with me this year, and we'll see what we can learn in 2012!