update

ok, so RANDOM-- looks like I am going to Colorado camp after all. I'm soooooo excited! Please keep us in your prayers this week!

How much more can I take?!?

There I was- sitting with my parents, having a pleasant conversation- when they suddenly dropped the M-bomb on me. I can't handle it anymore. They talk about marriage EVERY SINGLE DAY! I can't take it anymore!!!! Every single conversation that I have with them leads to the discussion of my future spouse. For goodness sake, I'm only 22! Cut me some slack!

And no mom, there's nothing "wrong with me"!!!!

I know that this is typical of Romanian parents... to pressure their kids into marriage early on.... and to freak out if there's no one in the picture.... and to threaten to send me to Romania if I don't find someone in the next few years. Knowing this gives me more grace for them.

But my parents want to see me with someone so badly that they question my standards... which I think is wrong. I would never encourage my children to compromise their standards, especially when it comes to having a boyfriend. I say, it's GOOD to be picky! I'm saving myself for the BEST! Because I am the best and I deserve that! And if there are any young girls reading this.... PLEASE DON'T EVER EVER EVER SETTLE!!!

Don't get me wrong; my parents are extremely strong Christians and they believe in God's will for my life. I think that they are just a little blinded by their desperation.

Hehehe sometimes I say that God is calling me to be single just so that I get a rise out of them.... it's a little cruel but hey, there's a lesson to be learned....

Good times in the Braica house.

Scott Song articles...

I never met the kid but a friend of mine introduced me to his articles and I think they're so funny! Here's one that he wrote on "HEIGHT"

Here is the typical conversation i have with girls when talking about the
ideal future spouse:

Scott: so what does your ideal spouse look like?
Girl: well, looks don't really matter. it's ALL about personality.
S: really....
G: yeah, really...
S: would you ever go for a guy shorter than you?
G: no.
S: well, doesn't height count as looks?
G: no, its different! i mean, he can be kinda ugly or out of shape...
S: but not short?
G: well, i dunno.
S: well, you ARE aware that height IS a physical characteristic, you know.
so you DO care about looks, then.
G: no i don't care about looks, but i just can't be with someone really
short.
(then i roll my eyes in disbelief in what i am hearing)

*******************************************************************************
see, girls like for people to think that they are not shallow at
all. they want people to think that all they look for is a good
personality. but just as many guys look at physical appearance in girls,
so do girls look at HEIGHT. though many girls may argue that all they
care about is the HEART, what they REALLY mean is that they only care
about the heart as long as it is trapped inside of a tall body. i can say
with 100% confidence that HEIGHT IS THE #1 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC THAT GIRLS TAKE NOTE OF. if they noticed ONE physical trait about a guy, it is
HEIGHT, whether they know it or not.

HEIGHT GOVERNS A MAN'S LIFE. short guys would kill to be taller.
tall guys would kill themselves if they got shorter. why is height so
desired?

first, i shall discuss why height is so appealing:

1) It displays CONFIDENCE. i am not saying by any means that a short guy
can't be confident...i know many who are...but in terms of first
impressions, the greater the height, the more confident people think you
are.

2) PROTECTION. girls feel more protected around you. especially when
your body can tower over hers. makes her feel more petite.

3) SUCCESSFUL. it is a proven fact that taller guys (on average) get
better jobs.

4) RESPECT. they tend to be more respected by the general public (i.e.
strangers, playing sports, everyday life)

5) FAMILY. someone recently just showed me an article showing that taller
men are presumed to be more fertile than shorter men.

obviously when you see a tall guy, you don't automatically say to
yourself, "oh, this guy is confident, strong, successful, well respected,
and fertile", but these are the kind of assumptions our mind makes
unconsciously. and i think the whole confidence thing encompasses the
other 4 points as well. can shorter people have these qualities? no
doubt. but its a lot harder for people to see those traits right
away....they kinda have to have people get to know them first. on the
other hand, the taller guy is already assumed to have these traits without
ever doing anything.

then there's the question: WHY IS HEIGHT MORE IMPORTANT FOR GUYS
THAN IT IS FOR GIRLS? there are some obvious reasons.

first of all, in a relationship, usually the guy is taller than
the girl, so as a result, he is almost OBLIGATED to be taller. MOST girls
will NEVER go for guy shorter than her. they will go for guys with
addictions to drugs, guys with bad tempers, guys of different religious
beliefs, guys who are complete dogs, guys with no job or money, but they
won't go for a guy shorter than her. go figure.

secondly, a short girl can look cute and attract guys. a short
guy can look cute and attract girls....as FRIENDS. and we all know how
horrible FRIENDS are. its harder for shorter guys to get girls to take
them seriously. they always view him as HARMLESS, or even worse, ONE OF
THE GIRLS. this leaves NO opportunities for a relationship to form. so
some of you girls may be reading this plan and thinking, "well gee, i
don't discriminate against short guys...i could care less." but then when
asked about different short guys you know, you say, "well, i wouldn't go
out with HIM, he's just my FRIEND!" GEEEEEZ!!!! can't you see that
you are discriminating subconsciously? you say you aren't prejudice, but
then again, you automatically view all your short guy friends as harmless
friends! you ARE discriminating by never letting them even get past the
FRIEND stage. only a girl who has THREATENING short guy friends (guys who
she doesn't just view as harmless friends) can say that she doesnt
discriminate.

finally, ALL girls want a tall guy. tall girls want a tall guy,
obviously. and SHORT girls want a tall guy, too. sure, they may be
willing to be with a shorter guy (as long as he is taller than her), but
she would still desire a taller guy, if possible. some give bogus reasons
such as "i want a tall husband so that my kids won't be short." that's
when i know they are lying to my face. that's like a guy saying "i want
to marry a supermodel so that my kids won't be ugly."

HEIGHT TO A GUY IS LIKE WEIGHT TO A GIRL. not many girls
understand this. and this is SO true, too. just as only a total jerk
would make fun of a girl's weight (to her face, at least), so would only a
complete jerk make fun of a guy's height. never make fun of a guy's
height, ESPECIALLY if you are a girl. height is a sensitive subject
for many guys. especially b/c its one of those things you have no control
over. you can always build character, lose weight, build muscle, get
smarter, learn how to dress, or improve your sense of humor, but height is
one thing in life you cannot change. and lots of guys are willing to
do anything to grow a few more inches. sometimes i feel that guys may
actually have it more rough than girls, b/c girls can lose weight or
change their appearance much easier than guys can, due to the whole height
thing, the funny thing is that most guys are willing to go for a girl
who is a little chubbier than he is...but for MOST girls there is
absolutely no way a girl will go for a guy who is shorter than her. he
can be the PERFECT guy and they will not even look twice at him if he is
shorter than her. and you know it.

so what now? well, either learn to love shorter guys more by not
automatically viewing them as harmless friends, or learn to accept the
fact that there exists a little bit of shallowness in you. i mean,
everyone is shallow in different ways. but if height (which i remind you
is a purely physical characteristic) is such a road block, then you are
NEVER AGAIN ALLOWED TO SAY THAT LOOKS DON'T MATTER. because whether you
like to think that it doesn't, to a certain degree it DOES.

I sound like a man.

Unfortunately, my head cold and sore throat have given way to a hoarser voice... and I don't sound like myself. So please, don't be alarmed when you call me and I pick up-- you'll be talking to me and not my dad! I can't wait till my cold goes away... it's so strange to be sick in the middle of summer! I'm not exactly sure what I did to compromise my immune system... but I know for sure that it better be gone by saturday because we're all going cherry picking!

Today is Lauren's 22nd birthday... Just thought I'd throw that out there... even though she never reads my blogs. Happy Birthday, love!

I had the most amazing day yesterday. I went to Caris (If you don't know what that is I'll explain it in person) for my "unofficial interview" as a volunteer.... and I had so many reservations going into it- mainly because right before I left the house my parents gave me a lecture about how they disapprove of the way I spend my time (they want me to get a second job). I was also nervous because I didn't know if I was qualified enough... and I didn't know if God was calling me to commit my time to it. But once I got there, all of my apprehensions seemed to disappear. It became so clear to me that I belonged there. I felt so much peace! And after speaking with the director, she affirmed what I was feeling by saying, "You know, Sarah- whenever volunteers come in for an interview, I can tell right away whether or not they belong here. And after speaking with you, I know that you belong here... it's the Holy Spirit!"

I can't wait to begin there... it's going to be a beautiful journey!

***************************************

I've been listening to Sarah Groves...

"You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light

And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can’t be a light unless I turn my face to you.."

My incredibly ADORABLE younger sister, Rebecca

Bethany & Jeremy Elston- June 3, 2006