we are family?

interesting thoughts i've read lately on the effects of "the family" and the way our political system works.

"capitalism thrives from the breakdown of the family"
...a.k.a. spending is out of control when people/lives are out of control...i think that's basically what this concept comes down to at it's simplest level

thoughts on this? i'm currently trying to begin to wrap my mind around how far this might go, but i'd like some of your thoughts on whether the government and the economy thrive, recede or stay the same as the concept of "family" becomes less and less stable in America.

we're not gonna' pay....

i'm going to see RENT on saturday & these two are in it...i can't WAIT!

"measure your life in love"

H is for Happy Birthday MELINDA!!!!!

i really wanted to get this mouse pad for melinda for her birthday:



or this one:but alas, my creative thoughts came too late, as in yesterday.


melinda, maybe one day, this will appear as a random gift at your door, or at your wedding or even on your desk. you never know what i'm going to do! but i did want you to know that this was my best idea, and that you are getting the second best idea as your real gift this weekend. and for that, i am sorry.


but happy birthday to my wonderful, beautiful friend melinda! (even though it is next thursday) there are days of celebration to come...

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/467122.html
look like tony almeida is taking over the air space here in charlotte! i hope that means jack bauer will be showing up here shortly.

it's not like He doesn't know already.

i'm tired.

of a lot of things.

but most of all, i am tired of pretending that i am okay with everything all the time, and that God doesn't know how crazy i really am inside my head.

...that i can't control my life.
...that it doesn't look like i want it to look.
...that i'm not where i thought i would be at 25.
....that i don't know what the point of everyday is.
...that i really try to do what God wants me to do and yet still find myself wondering what the point is half the time.
...that i don't yet have a clue where God wants me to fall into place in this whole "career" thing.
...that i am constantly wrestling with God over the romantic relationship aspect of my life and i realize more and more than frankly, i have very little faith and trust that God has a plan for me that involves joy and love.

these things break my heart, they literally break my heart. so much that i weep fairly often these days.

i have been having a tough time lately and trying to continue on the path even though i don't see any fruits. i find myself upset every night when i go to bed and waking up to the same feeling...and looking in the mirror at a person who probably wrestled herself all through the night and feels like she didn't sleep at all.
_______________________

i realized last night that i have an extremely hard time living in the present.

logically, it's the only place to be! emotionally, it's extremely hard and i think this is probably prevalent in female minds. i think about the past and the future all the time when making decisions. i find myself nostalgic for things of the past, hopeful that the future will look just like those times in my life and then i try to fit those pieces (and sometimes people) into my immediate life. this just isn't a realistic way to think about life! and yet, i find it so difficult to control my thoughts (which, in these cases, are mostly driven by emotion). and thus, these thoughts about my life weigh so heavily on my heart and in my mind that i find myself paralyzed, feeling lifeless and worthless (not in a lack of self-esteem way, but in the way that i feel like i am not doing anything positive because i'm so bogged down in my own head).




i write these things not for sympathy, i really don't. i know that i will get through this part of my life and i DO know that God is faithful. i also realize that the reason it's hard for me to trust God is that i (sadly) seem to think that His plan is not the best for me. i hate even admitting to that, but it's simply the truth sometimes.

the real reason i write this is because i'm fairly certain you can relate, at least on some level. i thought today "if i write this, i will probably read it in a week and think it's stupid and dramatic" but i reminded myself that i write to capture different times in my life when i'm in the thick of things. i also write so that, when i do come out of this valley, i will see God's faithfulness more clearly and that you will be able to see it too.

i also just want to be a real person. i am not a spiritual giant and i by no means have it altogether. i am as weak and crazy as they come. so, there you go, a little dose of michelle for the day. i could change my tune overnight and i wouldn't be surprised, but i wanted you to know where i am today....presently.