What??

I can't believe it. I can't remember the last time I felt this way.
I keep thinking I'll wake up, and it will all have been a dream.
I've heard people talk about this, but I never thought it would happen to me...
That's right.
Spring break.



After a couple weeks of leaving sleep on the back burner, I have a chance to rest. Incredible! The end is in sight! Just another month!
The last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy. The biggest time-consumer was my project with Trinity for their spring Gala Formal/Fundraiser. If I didn't have Seth helping me, I would have been dead.
Also, I think I did class and school sometime. That part is a little bit fuzzy. Not complaining.
So now you know why a lot of you haven't seen or heard a lot from me.
But I am alive, never fear.

Other notes? I'm not getting my grades at NWC back. That's pretty frustrating. Evidently a ton of people have had trouble with those particular professors (and NWC in general after half of the staff left). I'm not sure if that's encouraging or not. On one hand, it means it wasn't a fault of mine. But on another, it's really not giving a place voted in the "Best Christian Colleges" a great name. And I still don't get my credits (for college, anyway). I'm still using them for high school. I don't think this will end up being much of a loss in the end (hours of work last year aside), because design degrees don't need geography and such. Oh, well.
God's been good to me through this. The whole situation was actually an answer to prayer.
I was reading 1st Peter 1:6, and decided that I wanted to know joy in trials. Not "know" as in head-knowledge, but "know" as in heart-knowledge (through experience). Granted, this trial is nothing like being hunted down for my faith, but combined with the loss of my job (because I told my boss "Church is more inportant than my job" when she kept bugging me about working Sundays and Wednesdays), it's been hard. I can see the ways God has answered my prayer, though, and He's given me joy in Him through it all. So I can say with utmost conviction: Glory to God in the good times and bad!


So, here's an intereting fact. I was born with large pupils. Here, by large pupils I mean "Bambi Eyes". This always gave me great vision (we're talking in the 10/20 range). However, given that fact (added to my light blue eyes), I've always been sensitive to light. You know how everything is almost unbearably bright when you get your eyes dilated? That's approximatly what everything is for me. Anyways, to make a long story short, I had an eye appointment a couple weeks ago. It would seem that being so sensitive to light isn't really good for your eyes (great Scott! No kidding!)... My right eye is slacking on the job a bit. My left still has great vision, but the right is slightly lower than normal. 25 or 30/20 may not seem like real bad vison (and it's not), but considering that my left is at 10/20, it's a pretty noticeable difference. Because of that, I've been getting a lot of tension "headaches". I say it that way because it's not so much headaches as it is a general tightening up of all the muscles in my face (oh, that's much better?).
So anyways, I'm trying several different things to see if I can relieve some of that. Nothing has helped so far. That being said, there's a possibility of me getting glasses. I'd probably only wear them for driving, reading, computer, etc, but I think it would be one of those "The more you wear them, the better" type things. I guess I'm not super-opposed to idea. I wouldn't need them for sports or anything, and really, what screams "Artist" more than this:

Eh? Am I right?

Anyways, we'll see what happens in the next week or so.
Other notable things?

More senior pictures!
A lovely lady named Amy that goes to my church is an excellent photographer. She was looking to add more senior pictures to her portfolio, and I was fortuneate enough to be one of those thanks to the combined brainstorm of Hannah and Taylor Curry (thanks!).
It was a lot of fun. Amy is absolutely hilarious. She had the funniest little things she would do. If she was trying to decide how she wanted us to post, she'd move us out of the way and strike several poses until she decided on one she wanted. Quite entertaining to watch. Also, after several pictures, she'd randomly burst out in a loud, fake-sounding laugh. This never failed to make us crack up, which was the whole point.
Anyway, I think they're going to turn out well. She's going to Azerbaijan this weekend (lucky!), so I should have some copies in a little under 2 weeks. Definitely looking forward to it!


Also! I just got a haircut/color. It's longer on the sides and bangs, with spikeage galore in the back. It's all red and burgundy and blonde, too. Definitely crazy. Interesting comments. One person imformed me that red is kind of "the color" for anorexics. Well, isn't that nice. Honestly, I could really care less. I know I've ranted on it before, but I really have very little patience for little social/fashion boxes. Who you are is not what you look like or who you hang out with. Furthermore, I think it's a waste to try to fit into a certain "group", if you will. It limits your expression and who God has made you to be. If you look at certain parts of my life, I could really fit into anything. I'm geeky. I'm artsy. I'm sportsy. I'm social. But, I couldn't possibly pick one of those and join a clique. They're all me. Don't let your nature be contained by what the world has made into neat little "people packages". You're awesome when you're you.
As a side note, this goes for the church, too. I love it when "different" people are loved and make an impact. Some churches frown down upon tattoos or piercings or weird hair or funky clothes. I say, lighten up. Look at these guys:


Would that not have some churches all up in a tizzy? Yes, it would. However, those dudes are some of the most awesome Christian guys I've ever had the pleasure to stumble upon. Great music, too.
Anyway... End rant. God loves you for your heart. Don't let people scare you into being "normal".


This should be a great weekend. The Maunday Thursday service is tomorrow, and several people will be hanging out at the Blackburn's for a "Flowover" (official Overflow) beforehand. Good stuff.
I've also decided I want to do paintball this weekend. So we'll see how that works out.

The weather is AMAZING right now, and looks like it will continue to be so. Helloooo spring!


This is getting pretty long, so I'd better scamper off now. Post with a prayer request or (and?) something God has been teaching you.

Love you all! Peace.

Nate