Here's a story. Well, condensed. I don't feel like really reliving it.

Last Friday night I decided to embark on a quest to make this, like, massive post detailing each of my Top 25 Favorite Movies of All Time. It was going so great, too. It was in alphabetical order and everything (so as not to show bias)!

I was on my VERY LAST movie, when, all the sudden, the Firefox window just disappeared. I'm not even kidding. THE LAST MOVIE. And the window just flashed and disappeared. We're talking two hours of much deliberation and detail. All gone. I just sat there. And stared at the screen. Of course, I cried pathetically. Reminded me of whenever I lost all my pictures during the summer or when Vaughn died on Alias. Well, not THAT drastic. But you get the picture.

Except, this time, Vaughn's not coming back. It all really is gone. I even deleted my list that was on a separate Excel window because I was so angry.


But, all this is to say that I may decide to like individual posts on each of the movies, as I can remember them. Of course, they will never be as detailed or as thought-out as the last post. But whatever. I'm not trying to get your hopes up ; ), but I'm saying MAYBE.

The first movie: Aladdin!
Maybe coming soon to avoidingawkward.com.

Today was actually a pretty good day. My French teacher said I had a glow today. Which is pretty weird, haha. But it really made me feel good! Then again the good feelings kind of got shot down by Mr. Gray who graded intensely hard on the last test. He didn't tell us barely anything that we didn't know we were supposed to do. Sooo frustrating. Grr! But it's okay. I'm above it.

To be honest, I'm just kind of posting for the sake of posting.




I miss this.


and This.

That's right.

I heard it.

ON THE RADIO.


The happiest day of the year is...
the day before SUMMER.

Which,
HAPPENS to be,

JUNE 20!!!!!!!!
aka my birthday.

FINALLY, someone who fully agrees with me.

I didn't know you very well, but your A Knight's Tale is one of my favorite movies of all time. I will watch it in memory of you this weekend.

"Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you."

 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
   in whom is all my delight.

 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
   their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
   or take their names on my lips.

 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
   you hold my lot.
 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
   in the night also my heart instructs me.
  I have set the LORD always before me;
   because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
   my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

 You make known to me the path of life;
   in your presence there is fullness of joy;
   at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

The five most powerful words I've read in a while.

"...The Lord is at hand..."
Philippians 4:5

Ah. I, Beth, mom, and Andrew just watched the very last episode of Gimore Girls. Bittersweet. Sigh.

I know that everyone is expecting a huge procession of posts about the Ukraine. I can't say there will be posts in bulk, but they will come as I am inspired.

If I were to talk about one thing right now (which I will), I would talk about the church service. Dad's already posted the details and stuff, so that's covered. But I'll put in my 2 cents I guess. It was just so beautiful to see everyone in there singing. It was weird, because you'd think that in America in our churches where we are free to worship openly (which, they are in Ukraine too, there's just a way lesser population of them doing so) and where it is much more common to do so we would be able to achieve that kind of unity of purpose and total resignation to Whom we love. And I'm careful saying that because I have taken part in some of the most awesome offerings to Christ, and do take part every Sunday, in my church that I love. I guess it was just the fact that I was in Ukraine or what, but for some reason that worship service and that day hit me the most. I guess it was all just magnified because it was so different, but whatever. I still remember singing the song "I Believe" (which people at our church have made fun of! I mean, I did too. the "and then on Monday I can't even find my Bible" has always tickled us.) and feeling tears well up as I heard voices the small room couldn't hold sing "We believe in You, we believe in the power of Your Word and it's Truth". I remember thinking, this is so perfect for this room, and for this city, and for this country- and for these people in here to be singing this. Professing what we believe together, all different colors, whole-heartedly, in a country not yet fully aware of the Hope that awaits...was beautiful. It reminded me once again of the basic Truth, that will never fade no matter how many times the church divides, and no matter how many times the tedious details are debated in theological arguments. The fact of the matter is, no matter how many voices I hear in my head, no matter how much I may feel I am about to explode, no matter how unsure I am of changes or how wary I could get of circumstances in church, this is true- that I, along with all my brothers and sisters in Christ, Believe in the Power of HIS Word and it's TRUTH. And that's all that matters.

I'm home.

It's so weird. It kind of makes me feel as if I never left, or as if this wonderful week never happened. It's only for this brief couple of hours though, where the two times kind of overlap. It'll be Twilight Zone for a while, and then everything will be normal.

Expect a couple posts on certain Post-Worthy events (well, the whole week is definitely Post-Worthy, but all the posts in the world couldn't accurately describe all that happened). But don't expect them too soon. I'm really tired.


Good to be back, but it was very sad to leave. I honestly didn't want to leave. I cried when we had to go back on that plane to Kiev. I didn't want to get back home. Because that meant (or, now, means) coming back to school (on Monday:P), my messy room, and people. Well, I love people. And I've missed people. But you know what I mean. More awkward interactions, more stress. But hey, more Mexican Food! And Aunt Jemimah syrup. For some reason I forgot how much I love that stuff.