First Experience Abroad

Proverbs 13:20, ¨He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.¨

Right now I´m in Ecuador for study abroad. It´s been a great experience! Monday morning I got on a plane for the first time. It was AWESOME! Flew from Des Moines to Chicago to Miami to Quito, Ecuador. Then, when we were landing in Quito, which is atop a mountain, we started going up again! After flying around aimlessly for a bit the pilot said we couldn´t land cause of the fog. So we went to Guayaquil. And sat on the plane. For about 2 hours. Then came back. At 3:30 in the morning we unloaded from a plane that should´ve been there at 10:30. Oh well, such is life.

The next day, Tuesday, we ate a fantastic breakfast at the hotel then went to go on a farm tour. My favorite part was the riding the bus part. I saw so many things, even though we were driving ridiculously and I couldn´t get any good pictures. We had some cool discussions though and got to know one another pretty well. 

Then yesterday morning we travelled to another little town, I can´t think of what´s it´s called just now. The drive through the lush mountains was fantastic! I opened my window and rode with my head and shoulders out for a while, til I got in trouble.

We went on a tour of a tree farm (where I saw a mule AND a donkey!), a pineapple farm, and a palm oil extraction facility. The last place gave us free baseball caps. Always a plus, especially since I noticed that I have about half an inch of blonde-ish hair growing atop the brunette.

Today we went on a tour of a banana farm, which was very cool, and a tobacco leaf farm that has 2000 employees. It was quite ginormous.

Favorite things:

1. the airplane when it takes off

2. the airplane if I´m in a window seat

3. food. all food. but especially piña (pineapple juice) and all the ways they cook meat here

4. ¨The more you play with it, the wetter it gets!¨ -Dr. Lee Burras. He was talking about a particular type of soil. We were all thinking, ¨That´s what she said!¨

5. friends. and hanging out together all the time

6. the Spanish language! I´m finally putting it to use!

7. every time I see a mule. or donkey. especially when I look at a bunch of horses and within .001 seconds I have the one mule picked out. from a distance. (it´s a talent)

8. the weather. even the rain is nice

9. COFFEE! it´s so good here I can drink it black!

Lesser favorite things:

1. smoking in public is common here. I´m allergic.

2. there are some trash problems, especially in poor areas

3. poor areas

4. no toilet paper in a lot of public restrooms

5. Josh and I can´t seem to be on facebook at the same time. I just want a live facebook chat! 

6. it´s very hard to take pictures from the bus 

That is a short summary of my trip so far. This way I won´t have to tell all the details so many times :) 

Forgiven

~Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."-1 Corinthians 9:24




"I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I see it but because, by it, I see everything else." 


"...a Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble..."-(both) C.S. Lewis


I'm a contradiction. I always have been. When I was in about 8th or 9th grade, every sentence I said contradicted itself or the surrounding sentences. My actions fall short of my beliefs and I'm one of the poorest decision-makers I know. I told someone recently that the best decision I made was to pierce my nose (spur of the moment decision): what does that say about me?


The worst decisions I make are when something contradicts my beliefs, but seems pleasurable in my mind. Somehow, I manage to make myself think that it's okay to do that: God will forgive me. I can go to a party, I can take a sip of alcohol and still claim to not drink, it's okay to sample everything a little bit...you get the picture. That's just one example. Another would be when I got pissed for getting a speeding ticket for the one time I drove 70 in a 65-I just tried to justify it by explaining how normally I drive 85 not 70, so this time I wasn't really doing anything wrong. But I was graciously reminded that 70 is still speeding and has the same penalty as 85.


One good that has come out of periodical falls: I am less apt to judge people harshly. Because I've put on a false face a time or two, I am sure as hell in no position to judge others who do the same. Reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis has helped influence my perspective as well. And the music I listen to (check out "Forgiven" by Sanctus Real) points out that our God is one who is loving and forgiving (for reference google "Jesus"). I mean, who gives up their own perfect life for the life of sinners like me? If that's not love, ... well, it is love, there's no alternative.


Which brings me to my next point: I became a Christian in May and have been reading Christian resources ever since, trying to be better, trying to live it. And in church this morning, I was thinking about some of the books I've been reading recently and came up with random proof of this God and Christianity thing. I wrote them down on the program and will present them here:


Shannon's Random Proof of Christianity (scribbled on paper as "Reasons to Believe Christianity")
1. Genesis explains where we came from. (Genesis 1 to be precise)
2. How would Noah have known to build an ark if God hadn't told him? (Genesis 6-9)
3. How could a virgin be pregnant if it wasn't the work of God? (google "what causes pregnancy" if unsure)
4. We know Jesus was sinless. Think about it: here's this dude, running around, performing miracles, and claiming to be the "Son of God." Don't you think everyone was watching Him closely? Surely Judas or one of the others would've mentioned it if He'd sinned. But nobody could find a fault in Him. (check out the ending of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or random places in the New Testament for reference)
5. The supernatural miracles that Jesus performed-enabling the blind man to see, healing the 10 lepers, and  feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, just to name a small percentage, were obviously not from a normal man. But from a God-man. (reference Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John)
6. He rose from the dead. And walked around, talking to people. There were witnesses. (Matthew 28)


As far as living it out...eh. I'm sure that I'm no worse than I've ever been, maybe even better, by the standards of this world. But because I know and am acutely aware of right and wrong (prayer will do that to ya) my errors stand out (to me) more so than before I was a Christian (Christian=God's little buddy). And it can be hard for me to forgive myself, or to even let myself see the truth of my actions. But I'm working on it. After all, I'm a Christian, and my purpose on this earth is to become "a little Christ" in order to show Christ's love to others so we can all party in Heaven someday. I'm messed up, but God loves me anywyay, and He loves you too.  :)


(This is how I use my time at school. I have 3 finals this week and plan to study for approximately zero of them.) Ha.

Wedding Planning

Philippians 4: 6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."


I could rant on and on about how horrible last week was. But I won't. Putting the past behind me. I will say this-since I've been "born again," my attitude has been affected in hundreds of positive ways. Like when I was driving home Friday, I couldn't have had a more worshipful heart.


I finished up my unfortunate week by going to a friend's wedding Saturday night. Here's a couple pictures.

The bride and groom's first dance.

Josh and I with our flower girl-also the flower girl for this wedding :)

195 days until my own wedding. I'm not panicking yet, but that is a deadline, and.... We have basically nothing done. We have the big things-preacher, location and reception location, ceremony music (which includes Bon Jovi) and Bible verses (all non-traditional), dress and new cowboy boots for myself  :), flower girl, bridesmaids and Man of Honor, and photographer. 

Sometimes I think this would be easier to plan if my parents weren't included. They tell me they'll pay for this or that, they'll take care of this or that...they are not taking care of any details yet and I'm starting to worry a little bit. If my bank account was big enough, we'd've had everything done/ordered already (invitations, decorations, cake). And they-Mom- keep trying to give me instructions and advice. This shows how little they know about me. Unless I ask for said advice, I will not listen to it and then she just gets all worked up. 

Sample conversation from this summer:

(Setup: Josh and I got engaged and chose to set the date for next summer, and I will still be in school. Dad says he won't pay for the wedding cause I won't do things his way. I say, "I don't care. I have money and a job." To my knowledge, Dad and I are both fine with the situation... Mom and I are on our way home from looking at dresses, where we were limited to the $99 rack because I'm not stupid enough to blow all my money on a damn dress. Now we're on our way home.)

Mom: "I just don't know why you can't compromise a little bit. I've been trying to talk to him but he refuses to pay for your wedding if it's outside...I just wish you two weren't so stubborn!"

Me (nonchalantly): "That sucks."

Mom (getting worked up over nothing, it seems): "I just want you to be able to have a nice wedding!"

Me (just as nonchalantly as before): "Don't worry. We'll make sure everyone knows to bring their own lawnchairs and a dish for a potluck supper. My friends will all understand. It'll be fine."

Mom (somewhat hysterical at this point): "Why do you think everything has to go your way all the time? Can't you just compromise a little bit? Just leave Razzle home and we'll see if he'll give in, at least a little bit."

Me (calmly and business-like): "Yeah that's not gonna happen. Razzle is my best friend. This is my only wedding. It's going to be my way."

Mom (on the verge of tears and getting very worked up): "You are just like your dad! I want to help you out so you'll be able to have a nice wedding! But if you insist on everything going your way, that's fine! I'll just have to be embarrassed about it and make sure I don't invite any of my friends!"

Me (just as calm as before): "Okay. ... You know, they can come if they bring a dish for supper."

For the record, Dad gave in and decided that they'd pay. But not for the photographer or my footwear, apparently.

Of course I'm not easy to work with. Dress shopping: white only, no train, not strapless, not lacy, no veil, no bouquet...I know it was frustrating for the dress shop ladies to work with that, but we managed. And of course I won't do traditional vows either-I'm writing my own. The ceremony exit music will be Bon Jovi. And we're riding off into the sunset on Razzle. 

Non-traditional, to say the least. But Josh and I are working well together, and that's all I can ask for. Everyone else can get over their issues or shut the hell up :) Cause one thing's for sure, I am my own boss, this is my only wedding, and even if things don't get done til the last minute, they'll go my way.

Life is EXHAUSTING

~"God is our (my) refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."-Psalm 46:1


Back at school...Class/work hardcore 8-5 every day, followed by an event every night Sun (last night)-Thurs. The two big projects I have this week I've known about forever, but I haven't finished them yet. I'm burnt out as heck and ready for this semester to end.


Today I woke up and was sick. I had to go to my 8 am class in case of attendance. There was attendance today so I'm glad I went, but I slept the whole time so it did me no good as far as learning. Then I skipped my other 2 classes because I went back to my dorm and fell into a comasleep. Jenni walked in and I remember telling her hi but I think I grunted it. And fell back asleep. Then I woke up for lunch completely refreshed 3 hours later.


Even my Bible is exhausted. I keep it on my loft next to my mattress, and when I reached up earlier to grab my phone I bumped my Bible a little and a corner of the cover fell daintily to the floor. It's a sign.

I Got the Magic in Me!

~Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.-Matthew 6:34

Being home is fun. Well, once I finally got there it was fun. I helped with a middle school FFA event last Saturday and didn't start heading home until Saturday night. 

I had just gotten off I-80 when my speedometer went down to zero. Now, for those of you who know of my famous driving, you realize that I was going 70+ (I usually don't actually disclose my speed). Just after that, when I was on the phone with Josh, I noticed a little boxy icon thing lit up on my dash-I call it the "check engine" light although I'm not entirely sure that's the part it represents. Anyway, Josh tells me to keep driving it, it's fine. 10 seconds later my car stops running. So I pull over and call Daddy.

(Ring, ring) Mom: "Hello?"

Me (calmly): "Hey Mom. My car just stopped running by Bass Pro."

Mom: "Hang on, here's dad."

Dad (nonchalantly): "Hi."

Me (even more calmly): "Hey Dad. My car just stopped running. It was like that time sophomore year except I knew what was happening so I pulled over safely. I'm by Bass Pro on Highway 65."

Dad: "You got off the Interstate and now you're on the road by Bass Pro Shops?"

Me: "Yep."

Dad: "Okay. We're coming right up there. We'll see you in an hour or so. The cell phone will be on if you need anything. We'll see you in about an hour."

This is how things are. I don't ever panic immediately. But as soon as I was off the phone, I started worrying a bit. I talked to Josh and he said to start my car. Eventually, we worked it out so I drove it to a place and met my parents there. I'll make this quick: The transmission went out in my car that has 237,XXX miles on all original parts except the battery. It's been determined  that the car isn't worth fixing and car shopping sucks.

The weather here has been nice so I decided to ride (um. obviously). Yesterday's big project was putting the first ride on one of our yearlings. He's pretty chill. Even with spurs on, I couldn't really get him to move. I need some brilliant ideas to make today's ride more productive. At least I know he's safe. :)

Everything is Quotable

~"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." -Proverbs 17:22


"They're like, 'Oh an elf, Christmas is early!'" I explained to Jenni after my shower. This conversation came about because as I opened up the door to come out of the bathroom I ran into the chest of another girl and we both made a startled noise and jumped. I am used to bumping into people's torsos; I happen to be eye level with most of them. However, most people aren't used to being bumped in the chest by something they don't see. Thus, I came up with a theory that when a short person bumps into a taller person, the taller person is more startled at being pushed by something they don't see at first. And that when they look down and see me, they must think I'm an elf at first.


Everything is quotable. It was just one of those days. 


Beth and I are facebook chatting and she mentions she's watching "Up" which I've seen once and I was like, "That's a good movie." A minute later she writes, "I'm going to South America. It's like America but SOUTH!" and I got all excited because I'm going to South America in a month. So I proceeded like this: 
"When are you going!
?
and when?
oh wait I just asked that 
oops"
And then she explained that it was a line from the movie and I defended myself by explaining how I'd only seen it once.


Me and Zach decided to go to the gym at 10. When he came over, I showed him my homework, which was due at midnight. I had spent an hour writing a whopping sentence. He's like, "Oh what do you have to do with that?" and I said quite nonchalantly as I grabbed my iPod and keys, "Have a two-minute speech. By midnight." Zach stares at me for a minute in disbelief and then says, "Well at least you don't seem to be taking it well."


Zach: "It's alright, I have fun playing by myself." My immediate response: "twss!!!!" (That's what she said) (for reference:we were discussing playing basketball at the gym)


"Shannon's like a public library; everyone's checking her out," said Jenni, as she explained to Alex how I'm always reading books and then passing them on to others.


One of my bad habits is reading texts from last night (http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/) and today I found many entertaining entries as I was trying to stay awake in class. 


(617): I'll be there in 5 min. If not, read this again.-This is definitely one that is applicable to me!
(518): You were humming mission impossible as we ran from the cops. -Not relevant to me, just funny as hell.
(801): Don't worry about the poodle she's always like that. she's like 14 years old and ate a bag of weed when she was a puppy. -I was talking to Josh when I found this one, and I was laughing so hard that by the time I came to the word "weed," I was gasping and had to give the phone to Jenni so she could relay the message to Josh.
(513): Just transferred the sun chips from that obnoxious Eco-friendly bag into a zip lock. Fuck the environment, that bag is loud. -Love the chips, hate the bag as well.


Then there was Josh talking to me when I had company in my room and was completely distracted. Bit of history: Josh moved to his college apartment yesterday and didn't have running water. Today they couldn't fix it. Present time: I'm on the phone with him and distracted by friends....(conversation from my point of view)
Josh: "blah blah:
Me: "Uh huh"
"blah blah:
"Wow that sucks..."
"blah...so what should I do?"
(without any hesitation): "Call a plumber." (where I got this answer I'll never know)
Then we were talking later, after my friends had left, and I asked him to repeat the whole conversation from earlier. He said he wasn't talking about anything, but he liked how I handled the situation.






This is pretty random but I didn't want to forget any of these quotes, or the other ones which Jenni said weren't appropriate to put on here. 

Tough as Nails

~Psalm 91:14-16, "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Travel nurse: "This is one option for malaria medication. The side effects are bad dreams and some people get edgy..."

Me: "Wait-what do you mean by 'edgy?' Like twitchy or something?"

Nurse: "Like...bitchy."
Me: "Oh... well we should probably look at another option then."

This is just one of the many humorous events that went down at my doctor's appointment today. She also advised me not to have indiscriminate sex like this: "This is spread by blah blah blah and indiscriminate sex... So don't do that." And she also talked to me about rabies. Like this: "I can see by the way that you're dressed that you like animals so here's the deal: don't pet any." I would make a comment about stereotyping people but she's right. :)

After discussing all the hazards of Ecuador and different vaccines I'll have to take...she also had to give me a couple of shots...a great experience for all involved. Me going to the doctor is a similar scene to when the vet comes to work on the mules. There's a lot of suspicion and protest on the part of the one being doctored. Like, she cleans off my arm and we're yakking and all of a sudden there's a needle there and I'm like (in one breath and a huge run-on sentence as I flinch away), "Hey, whoa, WAIT A MINUTE, you said to relax and I'm not relaxed yet and which one is that and are you sure that's where it goes and you're positive that I should have it?!!!" 

Thank goodness Zach was there for "moral support." He and the nurse were making fun of me at this point, which I get a lot, so it's comforting, and then the shot was no problem. Of course, the shot itself is never the problem. It's the before and after that I don't like. 

After the first shot, which didn't hurt at all or bleed, she proceeded to get another shot out. So after a bit of discussion about how "this one has a lot of volume and might sting 'a little'" then I did finally let her give it to me, with the agreement that I would still be able to use my arm after. This was the mother of all shots. It hurt a lot during administration and afterwards, and it bled a lot. Icky. 

So the doctor appointment was for my upcoming study abroad trip in Ecuador this winter break. I have to take a lot of oral vaccines, considering the length of the trip is only ten days. I also gave in...and got the flu vaccine. The nasal spray of course. But only because I'm travelling. But I will never get the flu vaccine again unless it's required for me. Not really for any reason except I think I'm tough because I never get sick...and I'm stubborn, and tough as nails, except for my dislike of shots. :)

I could've done a lot of productive things in the time it took me to write this. But I hope you enjoyed it and that it made you laugh a little even though you probably dislike Mondays. 

Just Like You-Only Prettier :)

~1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."




"Look at the way her wrinkles go into her neck...she looks frail!" says Jenni as Loretta Lynn takes the stage and we're discussing the puffy dress. And...Miranda Lambert just won female vocalist! This makes me happy because I love Miranda Lambert...she's so awesome! Like...she's the one I could hang out with, ride four wheelers with, get tattoos with...


Ramblings, ramblings.... Anyway, I've been thinking about things, pondering, if you will, as of late. I just finished up reading Acts 28, which is the last chapter of Acts. And Paul... he just amazes me. In fact, over the course of the past few days I decided that if I could go back in history and converse with any one person, it would be Paul. Previously to this revelation, I always thought I wanted to meet George Washington - he's a great guy and all, but mostly I wanted to meet him and thank him for Royal Gift, of course. :)


But that's all over with now. Paul is the guy I want to meet and confer with. I mean, he has this awesome revelation and turns from Saul into Paul (reference Acts 9), then he's all like, "Hey everyone, I'm gonna tell you all about Jesus whether you want to hear it or not and I am okay if I lose my life because of my convictions" (reference Acts 21:13). It's quite admirable. I find that I want to share Jesus with others, but I think it's difficult. I mean, I try to live out my life the way I should in Christ, but openly bringing up "religion" is another story. Especially because I feel like people probably judge me because they know I call my self a Christian-aka, Christ-follower, and there are certain...expectations that go with. Or I feel like they might think I'm like the people who want to be Christians as long as it doesn't mean living it out. Or maybe those people are trying like me, I don't know... But I guess it's like interviews-I'll do the best I can and hope they see me. Or rather, see Christ through me.


One thing that I've come to understand this semester is that it's ridiculous to try to be perfect. I got straight A's all through school, but didn't have a life. Now, I get...average grades...but I have a happy, full life.  :)  Every night I'm busy...and it's almost always cause I'm just hanging out with some amazing friends friends. And when I see my imperfections so clearly, it is easier for me to see the PERFECTIONS in my friends.


Friends... something I've come to dearly appreciate. This summer, I was far away from my fiancé, my best friend, and most of my other friends. But thanks to those pesky advances in technology, I'm closer than ever to all of them. And my friends accept me for who I am, when I mess up, when I do something to hurt them-they remain loyal, and I'm so glad to have each and every single one of them!


Today's blog title came, of course, from the Miranda Lambert song...she was the darling of the CMA's tonight and that makes me happy, so this is for her.


Here's some pictures of those friends that are oh-so-important to me (the mules are, of course, included)...

Me and my roommate Jenni

My friends Anna (on Holly) and Rylie (holding Holly)

My fiancé Josh (we're high school sweehearts)
and our mules-his mule May is on the left and mine is Razzle on the right

Grace is an Ocean

~Ephesians 4:2, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

"A blog about what?" asked a friend when I told her of my idea. Good question. Should I write a blog about mules? Wedding planning? Random quotes? 

No, those were all lame ideas. I decided that if I were to write a blog, it would be like those free-writing activities in English class. You know, the ones where the teacher gives you paper and a pen and says, "Ten minutes. Ready, set, go!" Basically, my blog will be about whatever comes out of my fingers.

"Grace is an Ocean" came to be the title of this post because it happens to be a line in my favorite song at the minute I posted this. Yes, my favorite song literally does change minute by minute! Currently, it's David Crowder Band's "How He Loves Us."

"Pretty in Pink, Wicked in Spurs" happens to be the slogan on the shirt I most recently purchased. It came to be the title of my blog because I randomly thought of it when I was working on a class assignment earlier. (Those of you who haven't had a long conversation with me before will be surprised by the randomness inside my head.) I decided it was a good title for anything I may ever put up here.