*Disclaimer:

     I know that inevitably someone is going to read this blog and be offended and leave me a snide comment.  My only question is why?  If you disagree with what I am writing, please mention it.  If you feel excluded, expound upon it.  This blog is intended to include all and enlighten all about connections that the human heart is capable of.  All snide and/or inappropriate comments will be deleted.  If you are disagreeing with me in a constructive way, it will be kept.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Well, as I continue to journey into this exciting world of blogs, I have found that I have become rather complacent with my bloging.  I appologize for that.  All of my avid readers have been up in arms about my extended absence.  To them I send my deepest regrets and beg for forgiveness.

As many of you know, I am a senior in high school this year.  Yipee!  Hooray!  That is what you are all thinking.  If that isn't want you are thinking, I question whether or not you have been to high school.  Well, in addition to the exciting world of college, I am forced to deal with the fact that I am going to be leaving most (ok, all but two) of my friends either to other fine institutions or to the annals of high school.  Upon the realization of this, I have started to think about the friends I am leaving behind.

In a recent conversation that I had with one of my dear friends, we talked about how there are just some people in our lives that we have a connection with.  Some of you may be saying, "Oh yeth, I know exactly what you are talking about."  Others may be saying, "I have that with lots of people."  Just to clarify, these people that we are discussing are not so much your friends or even your best friends, but those people that you connect with in a different way that anyone else.  Now, you should know who I am talking about.  These people are rare, very rare.  I hope all of you have had an opportunity to have this connection with someone.

This connection is unique.  It is deeper than a friendship, best friendship, or a relationship (although nearly always it is a biproduct of one of those.)  It is difficult to explain over in a blog what this connection is like, although I believe most of you haver probably had the luxury of having one person in your life with this connection. 

 

When discussing this connection with my friend the other day, we established some criteria that seem to match all of these connections: you could be separated for years, meet randomly, and have a conversation like no time has passed at all, and when someone mentions best friends, love, trust, ect., this person(s) is/are the first person(s) you think of. 

Typical to my blogation style, I will be addressing each of these points.  We look primarily to the separation aspect.  I think to one of the people in my life that I have this connection with and realize that this generalization is exactly true.  He was my best friend for years and as time went by we spent less and less time together.  Then a couple of weeks ago, we went out and hung out for an entire night.  Not much of an accomplishment. Pish! We hadn't done something alone together in over two and half years.  It was an awesome experience.  The reason it was possible for us to go out and hang out for an evening without having to deal with all of the normal awkwardness of "we haven't done anything forever, but suddenly, I'm interested in friendship" thing was the connection.  It was really a great experience. 

Now, the second criterion. Now, there isn't a lot to talk about on this one.  It is pretty cut and dried.  As I said before, people that you have this connection with are really special.  One distinguishing mark of these people is that when people say certain words you think of these people.  Words such as best friend, trust, love, ect.  You connect these people with these words because they have come to define these words in your life. I know what you are thinking, "When you say best friend, I think of my friend Audrey, and we don't have that connection."  That's fine, what about when I say love?  Did you think of Michael?  No, inevitably, the people that you have this special connection with come to upitamize qualities that are important.  I know it is true in my life.  Certain words bring up certain people.  Important words that describe qualities I value, bring up people that I have this connection with.

I know, you think that a lot of this is wishy-washy.  Maybe it is. I just know that it is true for my life.  I think about how blessed I have been in my life to encounter two people that I have had this connection with.  That is a huge number.  There is even a possibility of a third on the horizon.   I really encourage you to enjoy the people that you have this connection with they are special. 

If right now you are following me, but are unsure of whether or not you have anyone like this in your life.  The criteria may not have been enough.  Follow your heart.  Mentioning these people's names makes your heart smile.  You know exactly what I'm saying, so don't laugh.  It is the ultimate criterion.

What is the formal name for this connection?  Well, I'm not sure, but it is as close to Agape love as the human heart is capable of.  That's what it is.  Normally it is non-romantic, but it is always pure.  It is love.

Much Love and Many Blessings!

   Well, as you may have guessed, this blog is completely devoted to my wonderful parents.  I know what you are thinking, "You are a high school senior who is devoting a blog to his parents.  You must be clinically insane."  I assure you that I am not.  I actually am thinking quite clearly.  I think that the two people that have been forced to endure me for the past eighteen years should get to have their moment in the sun too.  Maybe it is just a moment in a blog, but it is still for them.
   So, you say, how will I begin this blog?  Well, that is an interesting thought.  I honestly haven't figured out where to start.  I could tell you all about my first memories of my parents when I was three.  I could talk about the times that I have been angry with one or both of them.  I could even tell you how they have always been there for me.  There are many things that I could say, and in all honesty, I would love to say them all.  The reality is that no one who is reading this blog will feel at all compelled read a short epic explaining every significant and insignificant event that has occured in my life regarding my parents.  That is what I am going to keep it short(er). 

   Let's start off by discussing my mom.  She is not first because I love her more than my dad, just because it was her turn to be first.  You're saying, what about your mom?  Well, there are so many great things about her.  She is kind of crazy, but in a good way.  I mean, she is the type of mom that is always hugging you and kissing you.  She always makes sure that you know that you are loved.  Does the hugging and kissing get old sometimes?  Of course, it does.  The thing is that she is a mom, and it is her job to do all of those crazy things.  She is also super supportive of everything and my brother and I do.  I believe she went to every single one of my brother's 15+ basketball games this year, but still she never missed a single concert, speech contest, or quiz bowl.  She was always great about that.  I give her credit because that is a lot of driving and travel.  In addition to her love and support, my mom awesome at being involved in volunteer activities and church activities.  It is awesome to have a mom that is involved, because it makes it easier for me to be involved in many church activities.  She definately gets credit for helping me to become the Christian that I am today, because she was the one that helped me to understand that one of the best ways to get involved and deepen your own faith is by participating in church.  Also she has taught me to volunteer and give back.  My mom is pretty much amazing, and I thank her for that.

    Now to my dad.  He is a really neat guy.  I mean, I'm not going to say that we have gotten along brilliantly throughout our entire lives.  I mean, we have butted heads here and there, but that happens sometimes.  As I have matured, I have realized that he is really a great guy, and I am very grateful to have been blessed to have him as a father.  The most influential thing that my dad has done for me is to teach me a lot about wisdom.  When I say wisdom, I don't mean that he is the most intelligent person in the world, I mean that he values knowledge but in addition, having common sense and people skills.  I have learned more from his example than anything else.  He has great people skills; however, he is not fond of using them. (He can be anti-social.)  My dad has also taught me a lot about being involved in things.  His main goal for me was to try everything at least once.  At one point in my life, I only worried about school and how to get good grades.  I enjoyed other things, but primarily, I was concerned with getting good grades.  My dad encouraged me to get involved in a lot of things.  He told me to be a "well-rounded" person.  Because of him, I have had the opportunity to be involved in football, basketball, track, baseball, wrestling, speech, choir, band, speech, student council, quiz bowl, JETS TEAM, jazz band, show choir, All-State Choir, All-State Speech, Honor Choir, drama, NHS, SNHS, and other extra-curricular activies.  I'm not saying that I have been involved with all of these activities throughout my entire childhood and teenage years.  In fact, by the time I reached my sophomore year of high school, I had dropped all of my sports.  The point I am trying to make is that because of my involvement, I am a better person.  There is more to me than just grades.  The experiences I had with those activities have been priceless, and I thank my dad for helping me to become a "well-rounded" person.

     There are countless other things that my parents have taught me.  They have taught me about love.  I have learned that it is possible to love someone unconditionally (by their example.)  I have also had the honor of watching their marriage evolve through the years.  They have argued sometimes, but they have proven to me that love will endure.  My parents have helped me to understand how to handle finances.  They have taught me how to follow my heart and stay true to myself and my God.  They are priceless.
     My parents have taught me so much, and I am so grateful to them for all they have done for me!  I have not even started to explain to you how much they mean to me or how much they have taught me.  They are two huge blessings in my life.  I cannot imagine where I would be without their knowledge, direction, and love. 
    Sometimes, people don't understand my strange attachment to my parents.  They are left curious about my choices to spend evenings at home or my decision not to leave my house until after 8 o'clock on certain nights so that I can have family time.  I cherish this time because next year I won't have it.  I am going off to college, where all of the lessons my parents have taught me will be put to the test.  I will miss them dearly.  That is why I am trying to diligently to spend time with them whenever I can.  I suddenly realize how litttle time I actually have left with them.  I encourage you all to look for the positive aspects of your parents and then make time to spend with them.  It is time that is always well spent.

 

   

So, this is a real blog?  That's what they call it right?  A blog.  I thought so.  Well, this is supposed to be something like an online diary right?  A place where I share my innermost thoughts and feelings with pretty much anyone who takes an interest in my life.  It could be an old high school friend, the old lady from down the street, the president of the United States, or someone who happened upon my space by chance.  It seems to me to be novel concept.  Let's let everyone know everything that I'm thinking and feeling.  Diaries of the past, diaries that people risked life and limb to hide, seem to have disappeared.  Now, it is all about letting everyone know everything that you are feeling.  I just may get the hang of this in the end.

 

So I am entangled in the nasty web of choosing a college.  You know me, I can never make up my mind, and as far as which college I am going to, I cannot make up my mind either.  I have asked advice from many people: my best friend, my youth director, my counselor (at school, I'm not in therapy), friends who attend the colleges, and my parents.  Is this to say that my decision is any easier?  Of course not.  In fact, all of them have given me the same advice, including my father recommending that I attend a school that he was dead set against roughly two weeks ago.  Well, at the moment, I think I will just put it out there and see what you all think of where I should go to college. I've asked so many other people that it can't hurt right?

Option 1: Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois

Ok this is an abosolutely amazing school.  Personally I think it could be one of the most impressive colleges in the entire nation.  I was accepted to attend this school.  Just so that you can get a picture of how many people are actually accepted, I was one of approximately 1000 people that was selected to attend the school out of several thousand who applied.  This school has one of the msot impressive academic reputations in that nation and is arguably the most prestigeous Christian college in the nation. 
So the positive aspects, well obviously the academic reputation. I mean it is really saying something to stand out from every college in the nation.  There are a lot of schools out there.  It looks great on an application.  Another great thing is the actual campus.  It has fantastic buildings and facilities.  I'm not even kidding.  It is so impressive, I was in awe of it when I first visited.  It also has a really cool location.  It is right outside of Chicago, so I would have the city at my fingertips.  It's a great school, and it was a huge honor to to accepted there.
The negative aspects.  The location, I mean it is over eight hours from home.  That is a long way especially in a car.  I'm not saything that I want to be home every weekend or that I don't actually want to enjoy the college experience.  I'm saying that if I needed to get home it would be really hard.  Another small negative is that I don't know anyone that goes to Wheaton, so I would be all alone, small thing really.  The main thing that is really holding me back is the money.  Wheaton costs over thirty thousand dollars a year to attend and I got very little finacial aid to go there.  I know that you say that money shouldn't be the deciding factor but we are talking over a hundred thousand dollars in debt after getting my undergrad degree.  That is pretty stiff.

 

Option 2: Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa

Northwestern is a good school.  It is a stand out in the Midwest for academics, some athletics, and for its faculty.  Most people that apply to Northwestern get in, actually I have never heard of anyone that hasn't gotten in.  That is not to say that the school is dumb. There are many intelligent people there just not as many.  Northwestern has great people and a strong Christian environment.
The positive aspects about Northwestern.  Primarily the people.  I feel really comfortable with the people that are there.  I do know some people that attend Northwestern or will be attending Northwestern so that is comforting but worrisome again, because I don't want to redo high school.  Also, Northwestern has done a fantastic job of making me feel welcome and definately wanted.  At Wheaton, I am just a slightly above average student, but at Northwestern, I am the cream of the crop, and they have been doing anything possible to get me to go to school there.  Northwestern has a great faculty too.  I feel really comforatable with the people there.  Also, I really enjoyed meeting the music people there.  I tested out of Spanish and all of my previously earned college credits will transfer in some way or another.  Then there is the main positive.  Northwestern, for me, is really inexpensive.  I'm talking with a couple of well placed outside scholarships and maybe a little (I mean a little) help from my parents I could graduate with little or no debt.  That is so attractive, I'm not even kidding.
The negative aspects of Northwestern. Well the food, so I hear, isn't the greatest ever, especially when you have to eat it three times a day, seven days a week, four weeks a month, you get my point.  I don't know for sure, but this is what I hear.  The facilities are not as nice as Wheaton's facilities.  None of the dorms have central air, heat, or elevators (all of Wheaton's dorms do.)  The buildings, just for the most part, are not not as nice.  Again the location is a negative.  It is really close to my hometown and I'm afraid of that.  I mean, I don't want to be running home every weekend.  Obviously, I'll leave my car at home so that problem will be solved.  It is still a little bit worrisome.  In addition, a small town does have its perks but the opportunities will not be as abundant as they would be at Wheaton. 

This is an interesting dilemma.  It is my first real excursion into blogging, and well, it feels pretty good.  Yeah, I think it feels real good.  I liked it, I think.  Hmm...  I guess now everyone knows my innermost thoughts and feelings about this subject.  That is kinda scary, but nice.  Hmm...

Well, I also hear these blog things have this thing called comments.  Hmm... what could those be.  Maybe if you people who are diving into my personal life know you should leave me a message with your thoughts of feelings?  Hmm... Maybe?  I think so.