Mandy's Blog

Pieces of Joy Part 16 of 365

2009-01-16T22:43:00.002-05:00

1. Having ZERO Friday classes!

2. Watching The Holiday on my iPod as I killed myself on the elliptical.

3. Catch-up time with good friends and good food.

4. $5 scarves from Wal-Mart ( I am a compulsive scarf-buyer).

5. Scratching things off my to-do list.

Pieces of Joy Part 15 of 365

2009-01-16T11:36:00.002-05:00

1. Feeling refreshed and awake in the morning.

2. Good, new coffee when I wake up.

3. Getting my first Real Simple magazine!

4. Working out!

5. Watching The Office, even if it wasn't as funny as usual.

Pieces of Joy Parts 12, 13, & 14. goodness

2009-01-15T20:12:00.004-05:00

Part 12:
1. 2d Design and Sociological Perspectives.

2. Awaiting the arrival of these.

3. Lunch with my sweet Colonnade editors.

4. Finalizing D.C. plans for the weekend!

5. Cleaning out my messy closet. There is room for clothes now!

Part 13:
1. Newspaper Design, International Politics and Issues, and Spanish 1

2. Catch-up time with Sam and my D-group girls!

3. Yummy spaghetti with homemade sauce.

4. Eating said spaghetti while watching and thoroughly enjoying AMERICAN IDOL AUDITIONS

5. Doing hair cut/color research for my sister.

Part 14:
1. Getting my hands dirty in Art class.

2. Lunch with some good friends.

3. Seeing many friends and sharing many hugs in Athens.

4. UGA's Wesley.

5. Winning a beautiful white silk Banana Republic dress on eBay... finally!

Pieces of Joy Part 11 of 365

2009-01-11T22:08:00.002-05:00

1. Getting to show my little sisters around my school.

2. Sweet reunions with sweet friends.

3. Being pleasantly surprised by the food at Saga.

4. Matching Christmas gifts.

5. A clean, unpacked room.

Pieces of Joy Part 10 of 365

2009-01-11T13:31:00.002-05:00

1. Spending all day packing and watching The Wedding Date

2. A message from a friend in Chicago!

3. Yummy Ippolito's with my family

4. Painting with ten-year-old Paige and six-year-old Hope

5. Finishing gifts for friends

Pieces of Joy Parts 8 & 9 of 365

2009-01-10T02:51:00.002-05:00

Part 8:
1. Spending only 10 min. at the dentist and getting smooth, even teeth out of it.

2. www.angelaandy.com you won't regret it.

3. Watching The Office, even if it was a re-run.

4. Getting to watch two episodes of House in a row.

5. Making two new pairs of earrings for my etsy shop.

Part 9:
1. Trying to teach my sister how to balance on her new bike.

2. Getting my phone turned back on!

3. Previews for a bunch of awesome movies.

4. Seeing and loving The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, even if it was nothing like the story.

5. Playing New York City Monopoly until 2:30 a.m. with my sister.

Pieces of Joy Part 7 of 365

2009-01-08T23:09:00.003-05:00

1. My sister Kelly turns 7, yay!

2. Six-year-old Hope lost her very first tooth.

3. Speaking of teeth, I got mine cleaned.

4. Buying five of my books for next semester for less than $200.00

5. Watching John & Kate Plus 8 at 2 a.m. and secretly wanting half-Asian sextuplets.

Pieces of Joy Part 6 of 365

2009-01-06T23:59:00.002-05:00

1. Having a clean house.

2. Playing with my six-year-old sister, Hope.

3. Watching episodes of The Office that are still funny after you have seen them 15 times.

4. Finally beating my sister at "Spit" after playing 12 games.

5. My current happenings: watching Mamma Mia, yes!

Pieces of Joy Part 5 of 365

2009-01-06T03:27:00.002-05:00

1. A new conversation with an old friend.

2. A quick, but tasty dinner with my family.

3. Apples to Apples and The Family Game with friends and acquaintances.

4. Bittersweet moments.... like saying goodbye to a friend who is following her calling, even if it means she is 718 miles away from me.

5. The rain.

Pieces of Joy Part 4 of 365

2009-01-05T02:23:00.002-05:00

1. A completely filled church this morning.. woo hoo!

2. Yummy broccoli and cheese soup and turkey sandwiches from Panera.

3. A quick trip to Target to buy gifts for a friend.

4. Watching Office Space with Sammi and Jena.

5. Making cute cute cute things for my Etsy shop and cleaning my room late at night.

catching up

2009-01-03T20:55:00.004-05:00

Hello internet world, sorry I've been so absent.

I intend on catching up on the happenings as of late, but until then I have decided to try something new: It's a new year and I want to write about the little pieces of my everyday life that bring me joy. It's a sort of New Years Resolution that is running a few days late.
I'll start with day one:

Pieces of Joy Part 1 of 365:
1.Painting with my favorite colors with my best sister

2. Waking up in my own space

3. Cute scarves and even cuter jackets

4. "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw

5. My sweet dog laying on my stomach as I read the book mentioned above

Pieces of Joy Part 2 of 365:
1. Folding warm laundry and knowing that all of my favorite clothes are clean.

2. Having the house to myself for a few hours.

3. The WWF commercial on behalf of polar bears

4. Past- midnight trips to Wal-Mart that end up in two hours and $14.73 spent of 75% off Christmas decorations.

5. Falling asleep while watching "Freaky Friday"

Pieces of Joy Part 3 of 365
1. Sleeping in late

2. Discovering old pictures that proudly display my awkward phase (to which my sister asks "when do you think you'll get out of it, Mandy? very funny).

3. Meeting an old friend for coffee

4. Purchasing "Never Been Kissed"

5. Watching a man run through an empty mattress store with his dog running on all of the mattresses beside him. priceless.

whew. see you tomorrow!

once you go black...

2008-09-22T22:43:00.005-04:00

Today was a weird day. Every thing about today was just... off. But I got to talk to my lovely friend, Noelle and it was excellent even though it was such a short conversation. I'm trying to make a better effort of keeping in touch with the people I want to stay close to. If you are one of them, I'm sorry I've been so distant. I'm realizing that while I am at school, I am in this little comfortable bubble. It's easy to forget how much I miss and need my other friends. But those people that I love so much are still so important to me and I guess I fail in that friendship if I don't keep in touch, right? So that is another one of my goals, being better at keeping in touch. That reminds me... I need to buy stamps.

Speaking of goals.. there is this website called 43things.com and I love it. Basically the way it works is that you choose a list of goals that you have for yourself. It's really interesting because you network with other people through the goals that you choose. For example... my current list comprises 33 "things" including novel things like "learn to swing dance" and "take crazy pictures with someone is a photobooth." These are goals I share with 1,004 and 150 people respectively. More of my serious goals include "Move to New York City", and "Go back to Guatemala". After you complete a goal you go back to the website and log it. I really enjoy reading about people who accomplished their goals (or the trials of those who quit). The three that I have been able to finally mark as "I've Done This!" are "work at a camp", "ride the subway", and "go skiing." Anyway, It's a cool website and I encourage you to check it out. (my username on the site is amboddy12)

I just painted my fingernails black... hence the title. I decided to go with black mostly just because was bored. And I usually go with pale. It's a new season so I might as well mix it up, right? Speaking of Fall, I will just have to save my excitement of this new season for a new post.

I got this picture today from one of my campers from my very favorite week at camp:

welcome back

2008-09-21T18:42:00.003-04:00

...So it's been a while. Wow. It has been so long. I entered into this whole "blogging thing" with this expectation that I would be constantly unleashing my thoughts here. Well, let's be honest, that didn't happen. But I'm back, and I'm trying to make writing here become more habitual. I was reading my friend Sammi's blog and she inspired me. So thanks, Sammi.
By the way, Sammi is a friend from high school. And it's really weird to say that. Anyway, we hung out last night and it was so so good. Probably better than anytime we hung out in high school. So, I'm happy.

I'm at home right now, waiting to be picked up to go back to school. I'm not exactly looking forward to this week of school. It's going to be BUSY. A lot of tests and such due soon. I'm trying to be more focused and more social. Also, more active. There was a week recently where I felt like I did nothing besides go to class and sit around my room. I want my time and my efforts being used all the time to glorify the Lord. So... now I'm trying to be a really good student and get my work done and not slack off. I guess its a lesson in discipline. Also, Spending more time on front campus getting to know people. Especially the freshman girls I've been meeting lately. They are awesome. Recently Heather and I have been working out most days which is so nice. I love waking up and going to the Depot first thing in the morning. It's such a good way to clear my head. Through all of these things I want to pursue God's heart and His will. So maybe this week won't be so bad after all.

"no kissin' at Glisson"

2008-05-31T00:48:00.003-04:00

I need to be back here.
While I am not at home this summer, I will be settling into this little corner of the World Wide Web when possible. Seeing as though I have access to one computer that I am sharing with about 200 people, you may not see me around here too often. I have, as of tonight, accomplished a week of staff training to work at Camp Glisson here in Dahlonega, Georgia. I don't really know what I was expecting, but I was not ready for what I have experienced in the last seven days. I have been submerged in this tiny culture of people who are incredible loving and are truly seeking after the love of God. They care about the campers and they are so passionate about loving on them and making an impact on their lives. Aside from that, I have been doing all sorts of outdoorsy-type things that I hadn't experienced previously.

I have to cut this one short for now... I'm tired. There is more to ensue... goodnight!

ch-ch-ch-changes

2008-05-16T02:48:00.004-04:00

wow... its been a while. In the fewdays after first posting on this blog of mine, I was constantly wanting to return. I had all this inspiration and ideas that I desired to share with the world. In an effort to pace myself and you all I kept telling myself to wait and that posting every day would be far too often. Well, as is common, the zeal of this new blog soon died down and I fell into a pattern of forgetting that I really enjoyed my little corner of the World Wide Web. I have recently grown to miss this space, though, and so I am back... more than a month later.

What brings me here today, though, is not the joy I get out of typing all the little musings in my head out for the world to see but instead both the demands of a friend to return and also some thinking I have been doing. I am currently in Ohio visiting my family during the small amount of my summer break that I will be available to do so. It is almost 3 a.m. Usually I have my sister to entertain me while I am here (Monopoly is a favorite way to postpone sleep), but I have made this visit on my own. Anyway, while I was sitting here avoiding sleep, I was figuring out my class schedule for next semester and trying to decide if I wanted to get a job. Last year around this same time I was rejoicing over my lack of finals and searching the mall for a dress for graduation.

Things change fast.

Now, I've always known all along that big changes were headed my way and as I wrote in my college application essay, I feel that my life has been defined by change. Meaning, the most monumental pattern in my life is that I don't have one... the big, important things in my life have been through so much change in the little time of 18 years. Well, I guess everyone's life involves a lot of change, right? And how exciting would one's life been if nothing changed?

I don't know... I guess I am in a place in my life where everything withing a few years either has changed, is changing, or will change. Family, school, friendships, thoughts on God, opinions, passions, goals, you name it...

The thing is, I'm not really a fan of change. And because of this I am constantly getting kicked in the butt because change is happening and I just have to get over it, right? It is interesting how much change scares me considering that I have never really known many concrete things in my life. Alone from my God, few things have been true throughout my entire life. But He is there, and He is faithful, and He is so so GOOD.

ha. sorry if this is confusing. or boring. I feel like I am abusing this blog as just a place for my thoughts to ramble. Maybe that was it's purpose all along.

Oh, also... I mentioned a busy summer. I am working at Camp Glisson for ten whole weeks these next few months. I will be hanging out with kids, playing outside, learning about the Lord, making new friends, and loving every minute of it! Write please...
Mandy Boddy
690 Camp Glisson rd.
Dahlonega, Ga 30533

I need sleep. I need to read my bible. Also, I need a new name for this thing... suggestions please!

Goodnight!

in the beginning...

2008-04-11T00:08:00.001-04:00

We have finally met, this blog and I. It's interesting and refreshing: settling into this new forum of expression and escape. This is a place for communication, memories, and, if I am successful enough to entice them: discussions and maybe, debate.

I will warn you, readers, whom I may or may not have, this space, my small, personal space, will be scattered. It may at times not make sense or make you bored. It may, during different times in my life, be abandoned or stuffed with my ramblings and thoughts on whatever the subject is. That's the thing: there is no subject for this blog other than whatever travels from my mind to the tips of my fingers. I heard this woman say about writing that she was only doing so for her own pleasure, even though she had a career as a script writer. She explained that if she was constantly writing for the pleasure of others, trying to decide if they were moved by her words or whether she was reaching them, that she would not actually be accomplishing anything. And the interesting thing is, as pointed out by by Mass Media & Society professor, that what we are taught in school is to write for your audience, right? I suppose that at times considering the audience is necessary, but this, obviously, is not one of those times.

So, now you get it. I will let you know that I have been contemplating this blog for a while. In high school, I had a xanga, but let's be honest, it was less about personal expression and having a chance to expand my skills as a writer and more about my naive considerations and keeping in touch with a small community.

Now that I have introduced my blog, I suppose that I should introduce myself.
I am finishing up my freshman year of college (and I can hardly believe it) at the charming and beautiful Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. God is doing incredible things in my life and in the lives of the people on my campus. He is constantly revealing Himself to me and beckoning me closer to His heart. I can say that I feel at home, which, to be honest, is a feeling that I have difficulty coming by. I am in this place in my life where I am seeking to want to please God in everything. I am learning the beautiful truth behind the Bible and and am being blessed with incredible people. The Lord is shaping me into the woman He created and although I struggle with it, I could not be happier. I am currently eighteen and pursuing a major in mass communications. I am hoping to be a big, bad journalist one day. :) But really, I can't wait to be led in whatever direction God has for my future. If you know me, you know that I am a person who needs structure and likes plans. You know that I am anal about recycling and talk to my sister almost every single day. I love being outside; sitting on the front campus at my school is one of my biggest pleasures. I am learning to love people and how to take better care of the earth. I feel guilty when I skip class and I struggle with change. I am infatuated with New York City and enjoy open night skies that are good for star-gazing. And as I list these things, I wonder if I should have let you learn them on your own.

Right now I have a lot to say, but I warn you: that is not always the case.

It's almost one o'clock a.m. and I'm watching Conan O'Brien. I am sitting on a made bed and have the room to myself. I have flowers on my bedside table and am reading one of my favorite books (Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers... read it!!!). Life is good, God is so good.

p.s. Thanks for reading all of this, Honestly, you're awesome.

I'll see you back here soon.

p.p.s. this blog is under construction!