MY RIGHTS

Everyone has rights. Right now I have the right to eat 100 calorie Hostess Cupcakes because I said so and because they are yummy (and only 1 point!). I HAVE A RIGHT to have feelings, opinions and to be emotional because I am human and more so I am a woman. I HAVE A RIGHT to be bothered when people talk about things that are inappropriate. I HAVE A RIGHT to be aggravated when people act hypocritically. I'm not saying that I'm not a hypocrite, but I try hard to not be hypocritical and to learn by example of others, good or bad. I HAVE A RIGHT to be pissed off when people don't answer their phone and don't return calls. I HAVE A RIGHT to feel like a failure because I: live with my parents, have a crappy job that pays crap, and I'm single, but I know that in God's timing He'll take care of me as long as I'm faithful, patient and trust in Him. I HAVE A RIGHT to want a husband, children, a house with a white picket fence, and a successful job. I HAVE A RIGHT to be hurt when a friend tells me that, in their opinion, I've been angry lately and that's why that person hasn't wanted to hang out with me. Wow, that's compassionate and reaching out with concern making me feel loved. I HAVE A RIGHT to feel neglected when my birthday is overlooked by family and friends every year and I never do anything (fun) to celebrate. "Hi, party for one please, oh yea, and it's my birthday..." And when plans were made to go do something that I've wanted to do for years to celebrate my birthday, I HAVE A RIGHT to be unhappy when they end up not being able to happen due to work schedules, laziness, and other conflicting things going on. I HAVE A RIGHT to be extremely hurt by people that are supposed to by my friends when they say unkind, cruel, accusing things to me. I HAVE A RIGHT to feel unloved and unwanted when I clearly am truly hurting and nobody reaches out to me with concern. I HAVE A RIGHT to be offended when someone assumes that I would be offended by what they are going to say. I'm not offended by what they actually said, but by the fact that such a big deal was made because they thought I was going to be offended. And I HAVE A RIGHT to feel deserted when one of my last truly single girlfriends (not married or dating anyone) suddenly has someone new in their life and has less time for me even though they said that that would never happen. But I also have rights on how to act upon and handle situations. I HAVE A RIGHT to be jealous of others and how their lives look on the outside, but I try not to be. I HAVE A RIGHT to get upset and defend myself and get all up in your face to express my feelings. But I don't, that's not who I am. I tend to get hot, start to boil, then after some time maybe a few minutes or longer, the heat is turned off and my feelings become more of a simmer then eventually they subside and I'm over it, at least I think I am. I have chosen to use MY RIGHTS of free will given to me from God to do my best to please Him and bring Him honor. I admit, I'm not perfect and sometimes I fail, but boy do I try. I HAVE A RIGHT to hate and A RIGHT to love. And I'm going to choose love. I HAVE A RIGHT to love and appreciate the friends I do have that I've grown distant with but who still reach out to me with love when they see I'm hurting. I HAVE A RIGHT to love them back despite how others may feel. I HAVE A RIGHT to turn my affairs, friends, situations, and life over to God because really only through Him will I be able to get through whatever it is I'm going through by surrendering it all to Him. I HAVE A RIGHT to give it all to God. Maybe I'm just over reacting and being too analytical like I normally am. Then again, maybe I'm under reacting. But darnit, I HAVE A RIGHT to blog about whatever I want to blog about, and express myself however I want to express myself. Read it or not, that's YOUR RIGHT.

*The blog is solely for me to get things off my chest. If you feel offended in anyway, I'm sorry, that was not my purpose. But maybe take a few steps in my shoes and see where I'm coming from.

When I say I am a Christian

When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'"
I'm whispering
"I was lost, now I'm found and am forgiven."

When I say "I am a Christian"
I don't speak with selfish pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need His strength to carry on.

When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.

When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible
But God believes I am worth it.

When I say "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou.
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace somehow.

~Author Unknown~

Washington DC Trip Recap

WOW! That about sums up the trip in whole. What an awesome time sight seeing, learning more about our nation's history, and rekindling friendships.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
So, Stacey and I left Wednesday April 11 from Oakland. Our flight was supposed to leave at 6:15am (yes, we were there by 5am!), flying straight to WDC. But after some computer problems at the airport and everyone on the flight was on the plane we left close to 7:30am.

After landing, getting our luggage (thank God!), and greeting Melissa and Macie, we drove to our home for 5 days in Oakton.

The countryside was beautiful, homes were gorgeous. We dropped our bags off, grabbed our sweaters and headed to Georgetown. What a great shopping area. We walked around a bit, went down to the Potomac River, walked around some more and had some dinner. Macie really LOVES her pizza! Actually, so did I, mine not hers.



Thursday, April 12, 2007
After getting a great night's sleep, and trying to adjust to east coast time, we headed off to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. We were blessed with sunshine and only mild sprinkles. The property and house was beautiful, the back porch overlooks the Potomac. After a quick lunch we headed back out, walked through the museum where we learned more about the life of George Washington.




FYI: There is a National Treasure 2 in the process of being filmed. One of the scenes is being filmed at Mount Vernon, just not while we were there, but the set was still up!

After Mount Vernon, Macie took a nap in the car while we drove into Washington DC to pick up Mark from George Washington University. From there we went to the Lincoln Monument and looked across the reflection pond to the Washington Monument.



Then we quickly ran down to the Korean Memorial.

Mark played with Macie while Melissa, Stacey, and I ran from Monument to Memorial. We then went home and had yummy Thai food for dinner.

Friday, April 13, 2007
Mark was very gracious today and volunteered to watch Macie for half the day so Melissa, Stacey and I could go on a tour of the Capitol without a stroller in tow. So with an early start, we caught the bus at 8am and took the Metro into the City for our 9:15am tour. The tour was amazing!
Standing in the very center of Washington DC and the Capitol building.

First Supreme Court room.

One of California's two statues in the Capitol, Father Junipero Sierra (and our tour guide, Congressman Dennis Cardoza's intern Tom from Stockton).

After the tour, standing in Cardoza's office with Tom.

Let me tell you one thing about Washington DC, it's not easy to get around the city because of the funky streets. There are 4 quadrants in the city and each quadrants have letter and number streets. So there are numerous 22nd Streets. Odd, and confusing, I know! Melissa and I even had to pull a map out, once or twice... But look at the Capitol!


After the Capitol tour we made our way to the Air and Space Smithsonian. Currently, a small portion of the exhibits from the American History Smithsonian are on display at the A&S Museum due to renovations. Of course there was a line to see the exhibits though.



From the A&S Museum we headed to pick up Macie from Mark at GWU and then catch a shuttle to the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center was pretty neat. About 150 countries each gave a gift to the Center while it was being build, anywhere from art on the walls to crystal chandlers. Macie got to take advantage of the long hallway to run some energy off, as well as charm the passer-byers.




After the Kennedy Center we head back (on shuttle) to GWU to pick up Mark for dinner. We walked to this really cute little mall that had a great Italian restaurant, Bertucci. The food was excellent. And Macie got her pizza.




After dinner, Mark went back to working on his paper while the rest of us took a hike down to the WWII Memorial and Washington Monument.





Saturday, April 14, 2007
Saturday Stacey and I ventured out on our own. We took the Metro all by ourselves to Arlington Cemetery. We saw the Eternal Flame by JFK's grave sight, the Changing of the Guards guarding the tomb of the unknown soldiers, and the Arlington House.





After Arlington, we made our way into the City via the Metro to the Natural History Smithsonian. After having a quick bite to eat we ran through the fossils, and made it to the "Oh shiny" room where the Hope Diamond Lives. We then made our way to an Orchid Exhibit. Mind you, we quickly made our way through this museum because we thought they closed at 5:30, but for some reason they weren't closing until 7:30... which we found out on our way out.
Big head and little arms...

Oh Shiny!



Pretty flowers!




When we were done at the Natural History Smithsonian, we decided we had time to make it down the the Jefferson Monument. It was quite a hike from where we were, but we forged ahead. After our hike, we made our way back to the Metro station where we made our way home to dinner.





Sunday, April 15, 2007
Our last day of busy touring, and the one day that it really rained. We were going to take the Metro into the City, but ended up driving in to avoid having to be outside too much. So Melissa dropped Stacey and I at the Vietnam Memorial, she waited in the car with Macie while we quickly ran through it.

She then dropped us off outside of the White House Visitor Center. We walked through that then ran across the street to the White House.



After the White House, we drove down to the Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust Museum was unbelievable. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the permanent exhibit. Words cannot describe what they show in the 3 floors of information and documentation. When we were done at the museum, we drove home to rest, pack, hang out and have dinner. Macie even wanted to help in decided what to have, which was of course pizza.


Monday, April 16, 2007
This was our departure day. We packed our stuff up and headed to the airport at about 10:30am. Stacey and I flew from Dulles Airport to Denver where we had a 3 plus hour layover. We walked around the terminal a few times, had dinner, and almost decided to take advantage of free tickets from our over booked flight. But we came home on our scheduled flight and made it back into California around 7:45pm or so.

The trip was fast a furious but definitely a great time. I recommend everyone go to Washington DC at least once in their life.