One of my heroes from American history would have to be George Washington Carver, inventor of peanut butter. Seriously. Peanut butter is an amazing substance. It's relatively cheap, filling, somewhat nutritious, smooth, creamy, and delicious. ("Heavens! It's tasty and expeditious!") Not to mention, it goes amazingly well with chocolate. I love peanut butter.

So, tell me please, how in the world can I date a boy that doesn't like nuts of any sort. That's right. He doesn't like peanut butter.  No, my friends, I'm not joking. Do you see a smile on these lips? Verily I say unto thee, I am dating a young man that does not partake in the butter of the peanut. I didn't even know that was possible until I met him.

An added strain on my love affair with peanut butter (Peter Pan in particular) is the recent outbreak of salmonella related to peanut butter from Peter Pan and Great Value. I checked my jar of peanut butter today. Lo and behold, mine is one of the affected jars. I'm apparently lucky to be alive right now... or something like that. I threw my peanut butter away to be safe, but I am still missing it very much. To commemorate the sacrificed jars around the country, I though that I would leave you with these:

George Washington Carver
US horticulturist (1864 - 1943)

When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.

George Washington Carver
US horticulturist (1864 - 1943)

First week of school accomplished.

I think that this semester is going to be extremely busy, but very rewarding. I am taking eighteen hours, trying out for a play, and performing in Spring Sing. I honestly think that I might be able to handle it. My only worry is that I'll let my friendships and especially my relationship with Kenny suffer. I really hope that doesn't happen. So maybe you guys could help me out by telling my every once in a while "Hey, Sarah, we should hang out right now and catch up. I know that you don't mean to slowly kill our friendship and break my heart. Just sit down for a spell while I tell you how my week went." Maybe that would help. Or, maybe what will happen is I'll spend all of my time doing absolutely pointless things like sitting with Anthony and Marisa for prolonged periods of time, and I'll let my grades suffer instead. That would be bad. I hope that doesn't happen.

Okay, I'm going to leave you guys with one of my favorite quotes.

You are beautiful, but you are empty. One could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you--the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28

There have been a lot of changes in my life recently, and it's made me think. I used to be very anti-change, but I guess that like the verse above says, God will take care of us no matter what.

There is a man at my church that I have known for nearly seven years now who passed away recently. I was so sorrowful for his wife and -frankly- for myself whenever I heard the news. He was such a light to everyone around him. But when I really started thinking about it, I know that wherever he is, there will be joy. And I should rejoice for him.

Our church also lost our dear preacher and his lovely wife when they decided to retire. I had to fight back tears at some points during their retirement party yesterday, but this morning we had a man try out for a preaching position. I know that he probably put more preparation into that sermon than he usually would, and we still don't know if he'll get the job or not, but if we got him- or someone like him- we will be very lucky.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is that I'm changing my mind about change. It's not absolutely horrible all of the time. I think that I will try to trust in God more. It has shown to be worthwhile.

I'm not going to go into details, but Anna, John, and I all got sick on Sunday night. I'm not talking a little sniffle kind of sick. I'm talking like the worst that I've ever been sick. It was very gross. And I'm still recovering. But it was very weird that we all got sick at the same time. And at one point we all threw up at exactly the same time. (sorry tmi....) But Anna's boyfriend Thomas got sick too, and I was wondering if anyone else was sick. I'm kind of curious as to what caused this. Maybe the nasty nursing home? Something from the church Christmas party? Or maybe just a virus that we all caught....

Anyway, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Christmas break. So far mine has been not very exciting, but things should start looking up once this bug is gone. Charlie Brown was on the other night. That was cool.

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  ~Charles Dickens

People can't concentrate properly on blowing other people to pieces if their minds are poisoned by thoughts suitable to the twenty-fifth of December.  ~Ogden Nash

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!  ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Nothing's as mean as giving a little child something useful for Christmas.  ~Kin Hubbard

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr. Seuss