365 Day Challenge...

I've accepted this 'challenge' via Flickr. It is simply to take one self-portrait everyday for 365 days. Here are the shots from my first week of 365 Days...

[1]

"But I'll Always Be The Girl I Am..."

♫Gretchen Wilson - Girl I Am♪

[2]

"And That's What You Get For Falling Again...You Can Never Get Him Out Of Your Head..." 

♫Sugarcult - Pretty Girl♪

  

[3]

"You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt." 

♥

[4]:

"Secrets Got Me Torn Apart, Trying To Destroy My Heart...But I Can See The Light, It's Cutting Through The Night...Everything Will Be Okay..."

♫Fireflight - Stand Up♪

 

[5]:

"You See Her Confidence Is Tragic, But Her Intuition Magic..."

♫Train - Meet Virginia♪

[6]:

"I Was Thinking Just Today About How We Used To Play Barbie Dolls & Make-Up, Tea Parties, Dress Up...Wish We Were Kids Again...My Sister, My Friend..."

♫Reba McEntire - My Sister♪

[7]:

“So Watch Me Strike A Match On All My Wasted Time...As Far As I’m Concerned, You’re Just Another Picture To Burn...”

♫Taylor Swift - Picture To Burn♪

You can keep up with my 365 Days through my Flickr Photostream or 365 Day Set. :)

Save A Life...

Please take a minute today to help save a life tomorrow.

Vote now and help the Kristin Brooks Hope Center win up to $250,000 for suicide prevention. 100% of the proceeds will go directly toward creating the first online peer-to-peer crisis network. Vote now to bring the hope and help of 1(800)SUICIDE to the web.

1. Vote online here. (It's free and only takes a few steps.)
http://bit.ly/vote_hope

2. Personally ask friends and family to vote too.

3. Post a status update on Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere. "Please vote for Kristin Brooks Hope Center to win $250 K for online suicide prevention: http://bit.ly/vote_hope

4. You can vote for both the Kristen Brooks Hope Center and Active Minds. (Voting ends July 12th.)

Flickr...

Hey friends...there are lots of new photos up on my Flickr page! Let me know what you think...pretty please! :)

 "She's Not Looking For You To Fix What's Wrong...She Needs More Than A Love Song...", 

originally uploaded by jlosbon

Big Dave & The Cat Lady...

I want to introduce you to my friend, Dave. 'Big Dave' hold a special place in my heart, being that he was one of the first guys on the streets that I really got to know. My first couple nights of outreach, I was pretty quiet. But, as soon as I stepped out of my comfort zone and pulled up a milk crate and began asking Dave his story, everything started to change. He was no different than me, or my friends, or my family. He was a beloved child of God, a beautiful person...with a story and dreams and...and, now, he was my friend! 

Dave has been homeless for years and years and has some how survived some pretty situations addictions and heath situations. There is no doubt someone is looking out for him...and we've talked many, many times about how God is not done with him yet. It's a huge encouragement for me to hear him speak those words. I know there have been times in Dave's past where he was seemingly ready to just give up, lay down in his tent beside the river, and just quit. The last few months his attitude has been so refreshing. He has been trying and taking steps toward finding housing and programs to help him with this battle.

A few weeks ago, it seemed like it was never going to quit raining. The rising river forced Dave to leave his camp, the place he's called home for the past couple years. Surprisingly, this didn't effect his hope or positive attitude one bit. He told me that he knew if God ever made him move, it would be for good and he would not be returning to live in that tent. Fortunately, he has been able to stay with a friend the last couple weeks. So, he is off the streets for the time being and is really making an effort to find housing. Please, please pray for Dave to find housing and finally be able to get off the streets for good.   

Now, one thing I forgot to mention...and it may actually add to why Dave is one of my favorites. :) He is a crazy animal lover...like myself. He has a beautiful dog, named Bear, and a kitty, named Little Foot. With not knowing where he would be moving or how long it would be before he would be settled again, I got a phone call from a few friends who were helping Dave move his stuff. And...I ended up with Little Foot, who happened to be VERY pregnant. 

Little Foot had NINE kittens yesterday afternoon. They are adorable. This also happens to bring the total number of cats living in my house to...TWELVE! So, my claims to being a 'cat lady' are now a definite truth. ;) 

P.S. If you know anyone looking for a kitten, let me know! Pretty please! They will be ready to go to their new homes the end of August! :)

Yellow Balloons...

Recently...via PostSecret, an illegal immigrant pledged to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge – “I have lived in San Francisco since I was young...I am illegal...I am not wanted here. I don’t belong anywhere. This summer I plan to jump off the Golden Gate."

...but over 20,000 online voices responded with hope!

And today hundreds are meeting on the Golden Gate Bridge to take a stand against suicide at the very place where it happens most in the world.

PLEASE DON'T JUMP! ♥

You Are Loved...

I completely love the PostSecret project! Sometimes I smile...sometimes I want to cry...sometimes it gives me hope...

Check out the last reply on this post! I just pray that whoever wrote this PostSecret would know they are loved...and I agree, "Come to Indiana. I want you here. You could belong here."

 

Oh, Do Tell...

...well, actually...ask..anything you'd like! :)

Go on...CLICK, CLICK...ask away!

formspring! say anything :D, originally uploaded by βeeŁo.

When The Deck Is Stacked Against Me...

...I Just Play A Different Game...

Yeah. Right. I don't get to pick the game. I wish. If it were only that easy. Can't I just have what I want. Come on. I know what I want. I think. I thought I knew. I'm going crazy. Are you listening. Do you hear what I am saying. Crazy. You'd understand. If I could just tell you. Let me say it. But you won't ever know. I'm out of words. But I never started talking. I guess that's just how it goes. I guess. Never mind. Maybe I can just forget. But I doubt it. So keep stacking. I'll keep pretending.

At A Red Light, In The Sunshine...

It Ain't The Middle Of The Night...& It Ain't Even Raining Outside...It Ain't Exactly What I Had In Mind, For Goodbye...At A Red Light, In The Sunshine, On A Sunday...Nothin' To Say, Don't Even Try...Some Are Comin' Home, Some Are Leavin' Town, While My World's Crashin' Down...On A Sunday, In The Sunshine, At A Red Light...♥

Valentine's Day PostSecrets...

www.postsecret.com

Bang, Bang...

This is my new doggy I adopted from Indianapolis Animal Care & Control! I've only had her a few weeks! She was so sick and skinny...but has tons of love to give! She is awesome! She knew how to sit and shake, but she is a really smart...so, why not let her keep learning! :) She'd only been working on this for a couple days...so, I'd say she isn't doing too bad! :)

P.S. Rescue animals rock! DON'T SUPPORT PUPPY MILLS!

I Believe...

Just going through old e-mails...I found this! Thought it was pretty awesome! :)

I Believe - That Just Because Two People Argue, It Doesn't Mean They Don't Love Each Other. And Just Because They Don't Argue, It Doesn't Mean They Do.
I Believe - That We Don't Have To Change Friends If We Understand That Friends Change.
I Believe - That No Matter How Good A Friend Is, They're Going To Hurt You Once In A While And You Must Forgive Them For That.
I Believe - That True Friendship And True Love Continues To Grow, Even Over The Longest Distance.
I Believe - That You Can Do Something In An Instant That Will Give You Heartache For Life.
I Believe - That It's Taking Me A Long Time To Become The Person I Want To Be.
I Believe - That You Should Always Leave Loved Ones With Loving Words.
I Believe - That You Can Keep Going Long After You Think You Can't.
I Believe - That We Are Responsible For What We Do, No Matter How We Feel.
I Believe - That Either You Control Your Attitude Or It Controls You.
I Believe - That Heroes Are The People Who Do What Has To Be Done When It Needs To Be Done, Regardless Of The Consequences.
I Believe - That Money Is A Lousy Way Of Keeping Score.
I Believe - That Best Friends Can Do Anything Or Nothing And Have The Best Time.
I Believe - That Sometimes The People You Expect To Kick You When You're Down Will Be The Ones To Help You Get Back Up.
I Believe - That Sometimes When I'm Angry I Have The Right To Be Angry, But That Doesn't Give Me The Right To Be Cruel.
I Believe - That Maturity Has More To Do With What Types Of Experiences You’ve Had And What You've Learned From Them And Less To Do With How Many Birthdays You've Celebrated.
I Believe - That It Isn't Always Enough To Be Forgiven By Others. Sometimes You Have To Learn To Forgive Yourself.
I Believe - That No Matter How Bad Your Heart Is Broken. The World Doesn't Stop For Your Grief.
I Believe - That Our Background And Circumstances May Have Influenced Who We Are, But We Are Responsible For Who We Become
I Believe - That You Shouldn't Be So Eager To Find Out A Secret. It Could Change Your Life Forever.
I Believe - Two People Can Look At The Exact Same Thing And See Something Totally Different.
I Believe - That Your Life Can Be Changed In A Matter Of Seconds By People Who Don't Even Know You.
I Believe - That Even When You Think You Have No More To Give, When A Friend Cries Out To You - You Will Find The Strength To Help.
I Believe - That Credentials On The Wall Do Not Make You A Decent Human Being.
I Believe - That The People You Care About Most In Life Are Taken From You Too Soon.

P.S. I love you, friends! :)

A Two & A Five...

Just for fun...oh, and for those of you who aren't part of the wonderful world of Facebook...I'll post it here as well...;)

1. I grew up in a TINY farm town – I miss all the “neighborly things” like the way everyone waves when you pass them on a back road and the old men drinking coffee at the gas station in the morning. I kind of miss all those hard-working country boys too – I’m just not impressed with the prissy city boys.
2. I’m positive I could not go a day without music – I think it has honestly saved my life on many occasions.
3. I was in cheerleading, gymnastics, and/or dance since I was 3 – I miss cheerleading, A LOT!
4. I love football and can actually follow a game and know what’s going on, unlike some girls, ugh – the Chicago Bears are my favorite.
5. I own too much of a lot of things, including: lotion, diet pills, hooded sweatshirts, and Hot Box Pizza cups.
6. There are very few people who I will willing talk to over the phone – I’m a huge fan of texts and e-mails, if you are one of the few who I call or answer when you call...feel special :).
8. My mommy is one of my best friends – I can tell her anything, and I think that is awesome.
9. It’s safe to say I love my pets as much as most people love their children – right now I have two cats and a bunny.
10. 10 is one of my favorite numbers, I also like 11 and 5.
11. I think my one “talent” is supporting my talented friends – I have so many that I admire/am proud of :).
12. I get cold after I eat, almost instantly.
13. I’ve been out of the country twice – once to Japan for an Indy Car race and once to Canada to see Niagara Falls.
14. I wish I had a normal relationship with my “Dad” – Most days I’m convinced it’s too late.
15. GIVING gifts is one of my favorite things EVER.
16. I believe, with every bit of my being, that everything happens for a reason, period.
17. I miss my old friends so much, but I am so grateful for my new ones – it’s funny how life turns out.
18. I have four tattoos – but there will be plenty more to come. Oh, and I find them extremely attractive on guys ;).
19. When I like someone or something I completely obsess.
20. I love Jesus with all my heart, even when I don’t act like it :(.
21. I’ve had the same car since I was in high school – “we’ve” been though a lot.
22. I yawn when I am nervous.
23. I have an addiction to shoes and extreme loyalty to my “guy” at Journey’s.
24. I’ve been in love twice.
25. I’m graduating from college this summer and all I know is that my best friend and I are moving away from here – I have no idea what I want to do with my life and that scares the crap out of me.

Times Up...

Getting your point across doesn't require being rude.
Why would you try to embarrass someone over something that really doesn't matter.
I hate feeling stuck.
Isn't the purpose of a goal to strive to achieve something more than ordinary? Why are you trying to limit me?
Quit acting like you are perfect.
When you make a mistake learn from it, don't keep repeating it.
Simple will be just fine.
Sometimes I wish I had the guts to confront people when it needed to be done.
I won't take less than your love.
I'll decide who's beautiful to me.
Don't try to force things, what's meant to be will find its way.
Tell me why nobody is ever satisfied.
I thought it was a good thing, maybe it was too much.
That won't make you happy and you know it.
People give hints for good reasons.
I miss you.
I don't want to do it their way.
Fallacy doesn't work for me; you are or you aren't.
I've concluded that prayers are going to fix it all.
Stop.

I Can't Stand Still...

Okay...Most of your probably know how annoying messages from random people can be, I'm sure I don't need to say anymore. I got a message today though that I enjoyed, it was a little comment about my headline...

""For One Split Second She Almost Turned Around, But That Would Be Like Pouring Rain Drops Back Into A Cloud, So She Took Another Step & Said I See The Way Out & I'm Gonna Take It..." Nice quote, I already know that most will not fully undertand such a quote! Somethings that happen with peolpe are like the miracles that happen in nature. You are either there and part of it or you are not. Once it is over, it is over. There is no recreating it and no time machine to take you back to it. All that remains is the memory of it. You can forever hang on to that memory but, you must keeping moving forward in life."

It really is something to think about...The last couple months I realized how much I miss so many of my old friends. I mean it's part of life, but it just stinks sometimes that all of us went our separate ways. I am so thankful for the few 'real' friends that I do have...and to those of you who I haven't talked to forever I miss you, don't think I forgot about you! Too bad some good memories have to hurt so bad...