Locked Out

Have you ever locked you keys in you car or truck? It can be one of the most annoying things in the world, especially if you leave the spare key at home, and your cell phone in the car, leaving you no way to get n or call for help. This very thing happened to me just today. I made my way back to the car after spending some time in the Orange City Wal-mart. I got into the car and inserted the keys into the ignition, only to remember that I was supposed to pick up a pack of ground chuck for our dinner. I got out of the car, locking the door as I went, completely forgetting that Ihad already stuck the keys in the ignition. I went back into the store, bought the meat, and walked back to the car. As I reached into my pocket for the keys, I realized my mistake. I also realized that my cell phone was sitting on the passenger seat, seeming to taunt me. It took me a full half an hour(during which time I was trying to break into my own car) to realize tht all I had to do was go back into the store and ask to use a phone. I did and managed to find someone who was willing to come out and bring me my spare key. Sittng at a table at the in-store Subway shop, drinking a Red Bull, waiting for my friend to show up, I realized how stupid I could be and that this was the first time I had done this, but it would most likely not be my last. I laughed at myself as my friend pulled up with my spare key,(which from now on is not leaving my wallet.) I still have a whole lot to learn.

Help From God In A Busy World

I spent the better part of my morning driving around town putting in applications and talking to managers looking for a job, so that I will have the money to pay my insurance and the rising cost at the pump. By the time I got home to lunch, I was tired, hot,(my AC. is not working,) and somewhat aggravated that I had only gotten to fill out one application, having been turned down by every place I tried.
I ate lunch and checked my e-mail just in time to get a phone call from D.B.C (Daytona Beach Community,) the college I am going to attend. The Vise President of student development wanted me to come out to the campus to fill out some paperwork. I got to the college and sat there forever, filling out stack after stack of endless paperwork. It seemed like it would never end. I finally finished and was able to leave campus, (after I stuck a new student parking permit on my windshield,) but no matter how busy I was today, I still couldn’t get the Ranch of the Boys there off of my mind.
I arrived back at my humble abode, took my Bible from its place on the shelf, settled myself in bed, and began to read. Looking through it, I found tow verses that seemed to ease my mind. The first one was Psalm 51, verse 12,

“Restore unto me with the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

The second one was Matthew chapter 5, verse 4,
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

I spent some time praying after I read those and realized that I do have the strength to continue, to make a successful person out of myself. I still miss everyone, but now I know that I can move on and live my life to the fullest.

Mixed Emotions

If you have ever made a really close friend and then had to leave that friend as you moved across state, you will be able to under stand what I'm going to talk about here. I have lived at the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch in Live Oak Florida for the last three years of my life, and come yesterday, I have left the Ranch and my friends to come home permently. Since I arrived at my home at 11:25 on the 21st., I have not really been the same person that I had been before. I feel empty, like something's missing. I have gotten really close to a couple of the kids at the Ranch, and I knew that I was going to miss them when I left, I just didn't realize how badly I was going to miss them. I cryed when I had to say good bye, espically to Kyle, one of the boys I had developed a true friendship with. We were closer then brothers, Best of friends. When I turned to him to say goodbye, I burst into tears and pulled him into a hug. We both cried as we embraced. I miss him more then I thought I would, I'm ashamed to say that typing that almost got me crying again, not just for Kyle, or Cody, another boy I formed a close bond with, but for the Ranch itself, all of the staff members there that I will miss. I had serious mixed emotions about leaving, part of me did, part of me didn't. Part of me was actually happy to finally be able to leave, the other part of me was stricken be grief, reluctant to leave because of the people that I was leaving behind. If those two emotions got into a fight, I would have to say thay the sadness and reluctance to leave the people that I care so deeply for, both staff and youth alike, would win by a longshot.