November 11th

"The nation will remain theland of the free so long as it is thehome of the brave."-Elmer Davis

Elmer couldn't have said it any better then that. Thank you to all our service men, and women, who have protected our country for this long of time, and will continue to protect it. You're the best.

I'm sorry that, typically, my generation has taken you for granted, acting like you OWE it to us all to protect us--not that you volunteered yourselves for this cause. Without you, we'd be enslaved...without war, there is no peace (as oxymoronic as that sounds, it is true.)

Thank you so very, very much.

It's Smoking Time

As you know from via the grapevine, or my mom's blog, I've had the best NASCAR week of my entire life--literally. (By the way, Smoke is Tony Stewart's nickname.)


Back in the beginning of September, I was able to go to a car show at Kansas Speedway, in the infield. I walked through the garages, thinking to myself that "Tony may have been here!" I walked through the Gatorade Victory Lane...I clearly remember saying to everyone "We (as in Tony Stewart) will be here on October 4th. I can feel it." Honestly, I never suspected to be even remotely close.



On September 30th, which I posted a short tidbit already, I met Tony Stewart. I missed some school for it, put off my homework, and stood outside for 6 hours just to do it. I made new best friends, ones who shared my interests; we connected immediately. It felt like oil and fire, burning up our souls into a friendship with an unbreakable bond. I felt so happy to meet Tony...my driver, my sports idol. He told me liked my shirt (I was wearing one I had made in an art class--it says Respect The Red Fourteen on it.) He looked at me with a smile, just like he did to every one of his single crazed fans. I didn't change his life, nor did he change mine, but, this experience did. Besides seeing myself on the 10 o'clock news being the "ring leader of the crazed Tony Stewart fans" as my father put it, I was excessively happy. "This week could never get better" I thought to myself, however, I was clearly mistaken.



October 4th came around--the biggest day in my lil redneck heart. Mounted up with my sandwiches and best friend, we drove to the track. I felt as though I had been stranded on the road, and that I was finally coming back to the mothership. The flags of the drivers, the smell of the tailgaters and rubber...I felt at home. Sporting my new Tony Stewart shirt, I watched my race. Tony was up in the front of the pack the entire race, and was able to snag first position towards the remaining 20-15 laps of the race. With Jeff Gordon fans cheering on as their rainbow warrior was seen in our rear view mirror, Tony held him off. My excitement was exponential as I screamed my driver to victory. All of us Stewart fans bit our nails down to a stub as we watched our friend hold off the looming 24, and all of us rejoiced. Poor Tom probably has a bruise because I was so excited I hit him.



I will never, ever forget this experience. "Aubrey, you couldn't have staged this any better," my teacher said to me this morning. What are the chances that the same week I meet Tony Stewart, he goes and wins the race I'm at? Talk about some serious "God Loves Me" luck! :)

Political Rant [Version 1]

I figured it was time I posted a political rant on my blog, especially being deemed "most republican" in my besides my Vietnam veteran grandfather, which I gladly will take second place next to him. After all, he did defend our country and he is very knowledgeable, plus all those years of watching FOX News with him are finally rubbing off on me.


Dear President Obama,
I don't like you, and no, it's not because of your race. I'm not a racist, and if I was, you would know. I like our troops where they are. Do you know why our death tolls are raising in Iraq? It's because you're pulling us out, leaving the Middle Eastern insurgents to run ramped and destroy all that we have worked for. So, you're for the death of unborn babies, but you're okay with letting terrorists go wild? You claim that the woman has a choice, well, she does; she chooses to keep her pants unzipped. You're okay with same-sex marriage, which I do not support. I enjoy having guns and for those who claim that guns kill people, did you ever see a gun shooting all by itself? I don't believe in Socialism. If I work hard for my money, I'm going to reap the benefits of it and not some lazy person who won't go get a job. I have a Messiah, and I want a president. Be PROUD to be an AMERICAN, which apparently your birth certificate says you are. You put your hand on your heart and you say the pledge. And lastly, you do not go and APOLOGIZE for the American country--you're the only President who has done that, and I think that was a horrible move on your part.


-From A Concerned Right Wing,
Aubrey


On Tuesday, Obama is going to be giving an address to us, the kids. My school is showing it if the teacher choses to show it, and for those who don't want to see it can leave the room. Because I'm curious, I found the speech's text. If you would like to read it, come here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

It's just a glass...

Lately, I've been very "half empty" on just about everything. There are so many things racing through my mind that I'm beginning to lose myself in doubt and worrying. I struggle to find the silver lining in all my situations. Because of my pessimistic attitude and how I'm going through and "emotional rehab" to change it around, I'm going to list out all my stormy clouds and try to see the rainbows within it. This blog isn't for anyone but myself.

The Clouds:
-I'm obsessed with how well I'm going to do at school this year. Five college classes, plus an incredibly tough military history class will do that to you :(

-I'm always, always, always tired and feel like I'm running out of time :(

-Constant joint pain from arthritis :(

The Rainbows:
-These classes will be a good taste of what college is, plus, if you score well enough on all the tests, they WILL count for college credit :)

-You're tired because of seminary, which we all know you love. Plus, your boss is kind enough to let you work on just Fridays so you're able to do your homework and study for the 5 tests you've got in the next two days :)

-Be grateful that you've now gotten a taste of what thousands of people go through daily, including your own mother :)

This weekend is exactly what I need. Four day weekends are the best, especially when my days are filled with being with my best friends, along with a day trip to Nauvoo, for my very first time. I think this weekend will help me get that 'boost' I've been needing....

Au revoir, Summer 2009

This was one of those summers that I'll never forget. It was the most undramatic, most fun and rewarding summer I've definitely ever had. I'm sure my summers of my childhood were very enjoyable, but I was too young to enjoy and remember them. This one, however, was not.

This summer was great. Spiritual experiences, traveling abroad, learning, spending time with my family/friends and growing closer to those who I didn't know very well. Friendships were nourished and flourished, helping me develop unbreakable bonds with those I hold dear to me.

There weren't any car wrecks. There weren't any mysterious cases of small poxes. There wasn't drama out the wazoo. It was a very peaceful summer for me.

May 24th to August 18th seems like such a long time when you look at it on the calender. For me, it zoomed on by. Thousands of laughs, a couple tears, hundreds of pictures, two Tony Stewart victories, and about 20,000 text messages later, I'm brought to this day, August 16th, only two days before school starts. My last first day of public education. Jiminy christmas!!!

This was taken on my first day of kindergarden. Seth was only a few months old, and I had just turned 5 a few weeks previous. Kind of amazing how much you grow and change in twelve years.

And this one was taken on July 31st of this year. I think it's safe to say we've changed some :]

Points of View

"Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!"
Oscar Wilde

I've always been a born pessimist. Always, always, always. I've always been one to wait for the "bottom to fall out" and the worst to happen. In every situation, I'm always thinking "Well, if I think the worst will happen then when it does, I won't be disappointed because I already knew it was going to happen." I hated thinking this way because I never was as happy as I really could have been. I didn't reach my most happy potential very often because of this attitude.

I've been trying to work on seeing the doughnut in life, not the holes. Though things may be "holes" in our life, there are many "doughnuts" in our life itself. All the blessings, big or small, that God gives us are the doughnuts, and Satan's snares are the holes that try to ruin our view on the big picture. Basically, Satan is the world's biggest pessimist and wants you to be one too. We mustn't let him win!

My best friend and I were having a conversation the other day about being more optimistic about life and seeing the "doughnuts" in every situation that occurs. He told me to have a new motto, to see the glass as half full and not to assume that the bottom will always fall out.

"I, Aubrey, will never assume again. The glass is half full."

Oh, how I love to be a Republican :)