Line to the Cherry Tree.

So guys. I'm related to George Washington. That's right. My aunt got a membership on Ancestry.com and my dad came home with this bit of information tonight. I'm going to try and illustrate it on here so you guys can see it. Mary Reade is the key.

My grandpa: 

Orvil J. Richardson son of..

Eva Bennett (1888-1970) daughter of..

Elwood Bennett (1851-1890) son of.. 

Varney Bennett (1820- 1896) son of..

Joseph Bennett (1788- 1843) son of.. 

Joseph Bennett (1731-1837) son of..

William Peter Bennett (1703-1777) son of... 

William Bennett, Jr. (1684-1710) son of..

William Bennett (1624-1670) m. Mary Warner (1663-1686) daughter of..

Augustine Warner (1642-1681) and Mary Reade (1663-1686) .....

Mary's Reade's OTHER daughter, Mildred Warner's timeline is as follows: 

Mildred Reade (1671-1701) had a son..

Augustine Washington (1694-1743) had a son..

George Washington (1732-1799) 

Booyah. 

So here is how it connects. Augustine Warner and Mary Reade's had at least two daughters. One of which (Mary Warner) 9 generations later led to my grandpa, Orvile. The other daughter, Mildred, two generations later, led to George Washington. 

It's hard to describe without seeing the two next to each other, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. :) 

Comic Books.

I thought I'd write a little  blurb about comic books. 

For me, it started as a direct result of having few female friends. I've never been very good at relating to my gender kin, and I've reached an all-time low now that my darling Britts has left me for North Carolina.

Hanging out with the boys has changed how, as a girl, I'm entertained. Firstly, I like those silly video games. I sometimes laugh at things that are inappropriate. And my new thing is comic books. 

It started at the Detroit Fanfare this year. I went because Adam Baldwin from Chuck and the XFiles, was going to be there. And I thought it'd be fun to be in an extremely nerdy environment for an extended period of time. While there, I learned that they were rereleasing some of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. Being a fan of them as a child, I thought it'd be kind of cool to buy the first two issues. 

I quite enjoyed them and the fanfare, actually. Then I was lent some others by friends and here we are. I'm currently following four different stories. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Uncanny X Force, Amazing Spiderman, and just starting Wolverine and the X Men. And I really want to start the New 52 of Batman. 

This is so strange to me. I never thought I'd be even remotely into such a thing. I'm naturally a reader though. I love to read. And comics are very interesting to a reader who is used to novels and such. It's completely different and to be honest I've had some difficulty adjusting to it. I want to read through the dialouge quickly and know what happens. You can't do that with comics. You have to digest it slowly, and look at the artwork and all that. With novels you create the scenery in your head, with comics, it's provided for you. 
 I'm finding this allows you to learn more about the complexity and personalities of the different characters. It's awesome.


So yeah, I read comic books. And I'm grateful to have the kind of friends who are willing to introduce me to the things they enjoy. Even if I am a girl :P

Yep. :) 

At Midnight.

It is currently 2:30am on the first day of 2012. And my main concern at this point is to remember to date things properly. 

It'll probably take me a month. 

Every year New Years is different for me. I used to care. Now I don't. Is it because I'm an old fart? I really don't think so. God's just molded my heart this way, and I kinda love it. Everyone's all about getting a "fresh" start in their life. Starting over. The old crap year is over and this year is going to be different... 

How many of you actually stick with whatever it was you said you were going to do? Be honest. 

I'm not saying any of this to discourage anyone. It'll turn into encouragement, I swear. This rant is similar to my rant concerning Lent. And here it goes:

If there is something important in your life or my life, that needs to be changed, why do we wait until the beginning of the new year to start it? Because we feel obligated? Because we feel guilty? Because everyone else is doing it and you want to participate in the conversation? 

I stand firmly on this ideal: If something is broken, fix it. Right now. Right when it's laid upon your heart. I feel like I'm lying to God by saying right now, in this moment, that I'm going to change something. What happens tomorrow? A week from now? In a month? Do you still have the new year warm fuzzies and ambition? 

I'm going to take a risk and say no. 

Not everyone is this way. I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is that many of you will make promises to yourself, to others, to our Almighty God that you're going to fix something. And many of you will soon crash and burn, or not even begin the flight at all; for whatever reason. 

Take heart friends! You are blessed. God will take your broken, defeated heart and mend it anytime of the year. 

So, this what I'll leave you with. As much as I am against New Years resolutions (I even didn't want to capitalize it), write down what it is you feel God is placing on your heart to fix. Go to Him, pray to Him to open your eyes, your heart, your ears. Listen. You'll hear. Take your time with it. If the answer doesn't immediately come to you, keep praying, keep listening, keep TRYING. 

God is speaking. 

He's speaking to me. He's probably speaking to you. 

Psalm 46: 10

Joy Full

I want to tell you about someone I know. Her name is Hazel Chivers, she's close to 90 years old.

I've known Hazel for as long as I can remember. My mom met her at church not when my sister was really young (I think). Which means I've known Hazel literally all my life.

Hazel is sassy, and beautiful, and so full of joy. When she talks, all I can hear is love and Jesus. I know a little about her life, but I'm sure it wasn't an easy one. She was married three different times, I think. Not because she got sick of those men and traded them in for a better model. No, they all passed for various reasons. I knew her last husband. He was also a wonderful man.

I wish I could carry Hazel around in my pocket. I know, it sounds weird. She is so full of encouragement. When I talk to her, her first words are always, "How are you pretty girl? Are you still as beautiful as ever?" Or "Do you still have that beautiful hair of yours?" "Are there any men in your life? No? Well one day you'll find a man who will take care of you the way you deserve." That's usually coupled with a don't settle for less than you deserve kind of statement. She also always encourages me to continue working with people less fortunate, through my job. "I know it's hard honey, but those kids need someone to love them".

To be honest, I usually have a hard time taking in this kind of encouragement because for some reason, it always sounds forced to me. Hazel is different. She means it. From the bottom of her heart, I know she means it.

I want to be like this. When I talk to people, all I want them to hear is the love of Christ. And I can be honest with myself. I know I'm not always the best at being this way. I get upset and cranky sometimes. Everyone does. We just need to learn to deal with it better.

My fear in reaching this goal is that I'll start to sound fake. I've seen the fake. I've heard the fake. I don't want to come across that way.

My soul desires a gentle, joyful spirit.  I just need to look to Christ more and more and more. I know I can get there.




The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. - Proverbs 10:28

Done.

So guys.

I did it.

I completed 13.1 miles of running in the Detroit Half Marathon. And I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't so completely happy and proud.

I've never been much of a competitor. And even still, I completed the half marathon in 2:45:11. That's not a very "competitive" time, it's about a 12 min/mile. I'm perfectly happy with this.

My goodness. I am so tired. My day started at 4:45am, after not much sleep. I was in a wedding yesterday and I got home late and was all hyped up, so I had to calm myself quite a bit before I could fall asleep. Even then, my heart was pounding while I was lying in bed. I got myself so worked up.

I was very nervous before the start of the race. I tried to focus on the positive energy of the people around me, which as helpful. Being around all those people who are trying to accomplish the same thing you are is really exciting. The mood of the event was great overall.

As a part of the half and full marathon you run across the Ambassador Bridge over to Windsor, and you come back through the tunnel to get back into the city. The bridge was really cool. It was fun to run over the river and get to see all the good views. The incline onto the bridge was pretty intense but I set myself a good pace and took my time. The tunnel, on the other hand, was rather miserable. My feet and legs were getting tired at that point, and the air in the tunnel was so hot and stale. I have to say that was my least favorite part of the run.

Around mile 10, I got a good burst of energy. I think it was the group handing out the M&Ms to all the runners :) The last 3 miles were really awesome. I felt great and happy and a rush has I got closer to the finish line.

AH! I can't believe this is actually done. I'm SO happy I've done this. Not many people I know have. I just feel a real sense of accomplishment and pride that I've actually set out to do something and completed it, so easily. I don't feel like this very often. And I kinda like it :)

Now, bring on next year!!!

To the ladies: On being single and Christian.

I written blogs like this previously. But God has laid it on my heart, so I'm thinking this is where it needs to come out.

I'm a Christian. I'm almost 27 (EEK). I am single. Not kinda single, but straight up, in your face, single.

I have to be honest here. I've had a few moments of self pity. Moments where I wanted nothing more than to be with someone. To have that companionship. But if I'm being REALLY honest with myself and you people, that rarely happens.

For a while there, I thought I HAD to be in a moment of singledom panic. Because that's what we're supposed to do, right? The "I'm fast approaching 30, no end in sight, what am I DOING with my life??!" kind of panic.

I'm not panicking though.

Girls, we're fed this lie. This horrible, defeating lie. This lie that we don't have anything until we have a man. What is this horrible thing and where did it start? This idea has destroyed so much of who we are and what we are capable of doing as single ladies, that it breaks my heart. The goal, it seems, is to keep on constant watch and wait for the next man in our lives. What IS this?

It's a waste. That's what it is. A waste of time, a waste of energy, a waste of the precious gift of life God has given us. We're meant to live. To be free.

And please. Have standards. Don't lower what you want to fit what you can get. I won't lower my standards to fill some stupid hole that society tells me I should have.

Ladies, be single. Own it. Don't let that define your life. Don't let it bring you down. You can experience so much life. So much life that you're missing.  One day you'll look back and think to yourself, "I'm glad I had that time to figure out who I am as an individual". Let God be your companion. He will comfort and hold you in a way that a boy never could. God will carry your burdens, your hardships.

Sorry for the muddled rant. Like I said, God has had this on my heart for a while now. And I needed to get it out. It bothers me to see girls hurting because they feel like that have no worth as a single woman.

I'm telling you now. You have SO much worth. SO much. You just have to find in yourself.

Bubbles.

We all live in bubbles.

You didn't know?

I have given this a lot of thought over time. I have my own bubble. My own existence. My thoughts and my heart and my knowledge and my beliefs are all in this bubble. Now, people are included partially in this bubble. Some more than others. And those people all have their bubbles, that I'm also a part of. I'm pretty cautious with my bubble. Too scared that someone is going to take what is inside it and use it for their own good, or to hurt me. Others have an open door bubble. Awesomely transparent. Personally, I can't live with my bubble this way. I want to keep some of it to myself. Save it for someone who is going to take it and love me for it, regardless. God lives in and out of my bubble. All at the same time. Because it's God, and He's more great than I can ever try to put into words.

When you're around people, your bubbles co-exist. And this is what has always gotten me. When I leave you, my bubble goes on, and so does yours. Existing entirely outside of each other, but always aware that you are out there somewhere. For example, after I leave a friend, I go home, or go wherever, 100% aware of myself and my actions and what I'm doing. But that other person is doing the same exact thing outside your awareness and bubble. It's so strange to me. Like I can think of any of my friends at this given moment and picture where they are or what they are doing with absolutely no certainty if that is at all correct. Or my friends could think of me or picture me in my current state, without any certainty if they are correct. But in your or my own mind's eye, that is reality. When it's not.

Then there are these other bubbles floating around with you that you have no connection to, whatsoever. Bubbles with their own thoughts, beliefs, etc. I could be sitting next to someone at a red light, and they exist in their own world, their own bubble, completely separate and unrelated to me. Yet for that brief second, we find our bubbles co-existing. In one small moment.

Are you following? Probably not. I wonder if there is a philosophical science or name to anything I'm talking about right now. Most likely. Anyways. I had this conversation with someone last week and discovered I'm not the only one who thinks about these things. Kinda comforting knowing you're not the only crazy person around.

God Bless