Despite a family member's sickness, the already present stress of school, I'm really thankful for those who are in my life.

A lot has been on my mind lately. The family member mentioned in my last post is going into surgery today and I just pray that they have the strength to fight through this surgery. I hope that everything will be okay and that we can visit them soon. I hope that my mom is staying strong and positive. I know that she needs my dad and I the most right now so it's important for me to sacrifice some things to help her out. College is the common stress-starter but how can you not stress over school? There's just so much going on with what I need to take before I transfer, what I need, what I have to do, who I need to contact, what I need to write, where the hell I'm going, etc. My family's financial standing and how helpless I feel that I can't do anything to help them because they aren't letting me get a job… and so on.

But other than what's been bothering me, for the most part I'm staying as positive as I can. The last couple days I've been pretty happy and on some crazy high. I really do believe that God puts people in our lives for a reason and I'm just so blessed to have those in my life be in it. With me are great people in their own ways who help take my mind off of the hardships and I really need that. Being with my friends is such a great escape from the troubles. Friends that make me laugh, cry from laughing, and friends that I can just honestly be myself around. Those are the people in my life who I love so much. They're so accepting, patient, funny, understanding, etc. With them I honestly feel nothing else but pure happiness. It's upsetting to think that some people aren't experiencing this natural high. Also, it's upsetting to think that one day I might no longer feel this way. The bond with the youth from church is so great. I love being with everyone, I love simple car talks with Lauren, I love the jokes we all share with each other. I love how they make me feel welcomed. My best friends, they're just so great. We're always laughing, dancing around, and just talking. I love how I can call them up once I get home from a crazy good day to just talk about how I feel. I love that they can laugh along with me and that we agree with most things. I love that they're so close by, I love that they're a phone call away, & a doorbell away. I can tell them anything. I'm am honestly so blessed and fine with who is in my life today. As of this very moment, they're all I need. I don't need to bring back old friends who I had a rough ending with. There's no need to revive my trust with those who took advantage of it, and so on. I just really wanted to write tonight even with a lot of hw on my plate right now and the fact that I still need to study for a test I have tomorrow (technically today). Tonight I hung out with the youth at Boiling Crab & MJ Cafe & Teahouse. I was just so happy. You know how you have those people you hang with and you're loud as heck but you really just don't care what others think cause you're happy and you're having fun? That's how I always feel with the youth. My friends are all amazing & unique.

Charlene