Young Americans skeptical about government

I heard this on the radio this evening during an interview with Ralph Reed, a conservative American political activist and founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition.  The following quote is the result of a recent study...


"More 18 to 29 year-olds believe there is life on Mars than believe they will receive a social security check in their lifetime."
                                   - Ralph Reed
                      Founder, Faith and Freedom Coalition

The young adults of my generation tend to be known for spending money extravagantly, sometimes carelessly, and often oblivious to its value. We expect many things to be free and fail to consider that everything costs somebody something.  As long as it's not coming out of our wallets, we make no connection between cost and value.  That being said, I think it's a notable event for this young generation to realize and verbalize an opinion that the government is spending too much.  We are the ones that are going to pay for today's federal expenses -- "universal" health care, bailouts, "economic stimulus packages"....most of us assume we will have no social security to speak of, and many of us are considering retirement options even while in college.  It's going to be every man for himself.  I don't know about life on Mars....but I'd be willing to bet a pretty penny that the FICA taxes I pay today won't be coming my way again.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

I have waaayyyy to much to do and I should NOT be watching videos like this.  But I couldn't help myself!  This is so adorable...

Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp

Marcel is voiced (untreated & unenhanced) by a genius named Jenny Slate

Written by Jenny Slate + Dean Fleischer-Camp

www.deanfleischercamp.com

No Time to Blog!

In the past seven days I have:

• Driven to Boise for Chason's graduation from Northwest Lineman College
• Spent way too much time (approx. 49 hours) studying Accounting...it's a full-time job
• Had a complete car makeover in preparation for the trip to Nashville, and because my daddy loves me so much, he doesn't want me to ever break down. (New timing belt, serpentine belt, transmission fluid & oil change, new freon...the works!)
• Stocked up on all the no-sales-tax dorm snacks and school supplies my car can hold
• Hung out with family in town from San Francisco....saw a cousin I haven't seen in 10 years :)
• Successfully navigated six restaurants and party events without getting sick from gluten!
• Got dropped from all my Fall semester classes after a financial aid crisis, but enlisted the help of some great Belmont administrators who are making it possible for me to go back to Belmont this fall
• Not been to the gym nearly enough to relieve all this stress
• Downloaded a few audiobooks for FREE! for the drive to Nashville (www.booksshouldbefree.com)
• Received the 19 textbooks I ordered online for this semester
• Swapped crazy European travel stories with some family friends that just got back from a 3-month Euro tour in an RV
• Completed mid-terms for my two online Accounting classes
• Celebrated Raam's 10th birthday with a big family ice cream party
• Started packing my car...ETD is 4am tomorrow!

Imagination

“Most people’s imaginations don’t have limits. As we grow older, we stop daydreaming and our minds stop wandering. When your mind wanders, it comes home with interesting things found along the way. Remember the value of imagining; the knowledge that when you look around, everything you see was once imagined at some time by somebody.”
                           -- Neil Gaiman, author

These jellyfish seem rather imaginative

A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps - Proverbs 16:9

And how true this has been for me!

So often it seems that God says to me, I like where you're going with that idea, but on the way, let's stop to....help someone out, bring someone along, rest in a certain place, or wait for the right time.  

Life is a journey, and as much as I try to anticipate, plan, and dream, I'm just along for the ride.  People do all sorts of things to try to relieve stress -- yoga, massages, vacations, medication, you name it.  I certainly enjoy a relaxing yoga session on occasion, but nothing takes stress away more than remembering this proverb.

Sure, this is my journey....but I'm just reading the map.