My take on relationships

So I thought I'd write something deep today. There is something I have been noticing lately that has been bothering me. The nature of romantic relationships in our generation. This may be a little controversial and I'm sure there are a ton of you who don't agree with me, but it needs to be said. I absolutely hateee it when I'm on facebook and I read a status (usually by a teenage girl) that says something along the lines of "I love you (insert name) you are my everything and I would be lost without you". Now at first glance you may think, 'aww its just teenage infatuation, it's a stage we all went through', but it runs deeper than that. Sure as these girls get older they may not proclaim their undying love on facebook, but they are still under the impression that they would be happy, if only they had a man. A boyfriend/husband would take away the loneliness in their lives and that the greatest kind of love/relationship is between a man and woman. Well I'm hear to tell you that is wrong. Of course marraige is an amazing thing, created by God, but the greatest love you can have, the greatest love you already have is the love that God is giving you. Right now. At this very moment. It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done or even if you believe in Him. He loves you. With a perfect love. He loves you more than anyone on this whole Earth ever will- yes even including your parents. How do we know that? Because He died for us. He came down to Earth as Jesus Christ, fully human yet fully God. He faced the same temptations as us, he suffered like us, and he was identical to us except for one thing- He never sinned, He led a perfect life. And because He loved us "He forsook the comfort of Heaven" and bore the full weight of our sins. He was humiliated, mocked and tortured, He was separated from God- all because He loved us and He wanted to have a relationship with us. Now why can't we make that love the center of our lives instead of the love of a man/woman? Men and women are only human, we let each other down all the time. I know I have. There is a need inside of everyone to be loved, to be validated, and nothing/no one will fill that hole completely. Only God will. If you think He doesn't understand what you are going through, you are wrong. He was tempted like us, He was hated like us, He faced death like us. He is not a distant, uncaring God. He is a God who loved His people so much, with such fervor that He lowered Himself to our level, He dwelt with us in this Hell-hole called Earth, simply so He could save us. I would be lost without my boyfriend? No, God is my everything and I would be lost without HIM.

Me!

This is the South Park version of me...pretty cool right?

Surprise!

Don't worry guys no one is breaking up with me, I found this on stumbleupon.com, although for future reference if anyone ever wants to breakup with me, I would really like it if you compared my smile to 100,000,00 sparkly trampolines ;)

So I haven't posted on this thing in FOREVER!!! I was too busy doing...stuff. Actually thats a lie, I've pretty much been doing what I always do and I'm not going to go into details, because the people that read this are with me for the majority of the day... and night lol.

Anyways I couldn't think of what to write, so I decided to make a short list of 7 traits/things that I value in people.

These aren't in any particular order:

1. I love it when people love God. I think thats self explanatory

2. I love it when people are really outgoing and friendly. I'm more on the quiet side so when we hang out it makes for a nice balance.

3. This only applys to guys: but I looooove it when guys do nice things like hold the door open for girls. It's nice to know that chivalry is not dead

4. I like it when people are open about they're feelings. It makes me feel valued when people talk to me about stuff going on in their lives.

5. I love it when people are close to their families.

6. I like it when people are humble. Arrogance (in the real sense, not in a joking way) is really unflattering.

7. Lastly, I love it when people are generous.

Well that's it. Feel free to continue this list!

I don't know why I put this up here. I just thought it was really really cute :)

Once again, I really don't have much to write about so I guess I'll just talk about my week and how it's been. This week was considerably better than last week, school-wise at least. I learned something new: that for the majority of my life I have been spelling tomorrow wrong. Thanks to Ansari and his mastery of the English language I now know that it is NOT spelled tomarrow....even though it sounds that way. I am also at the halfway mark of Lent. I had been doing very well until this week. Sadly, I messed up and ate a donut, which turns out, does have milk in it. Next week will be better though.

This weekend, Anisah has a bunch of friends coming here, and Lynsey has Raj over. We all went together to Belle Isle to watch the sunset. It was so pretty! I love the river, actually I just love water in general. I like the sound it makes and the way it moves over rocks in a river, or when the waves crash onto the shores of the beach. It's hypnotizing.

I remember during my second to last week in Costa Rica I decided to travel solo to see some of the country and ended up staying at this lodge in the rain forest at Corcovado. I only stayed for 2 days but it was amazing! I had met some people the first day, but on the second day I was by myself so I decided to go down to the beach (this is it, on the left). I had the entire thing to myself! You'd think it'd be boring with no one around, but I loved it. I felt like I was reconnecting with myself and with nature. I didn't have to worry about other people and if they were enjoying themselves, or if they wanted to do something else. I could just relax, be myself and enjoy God's creation. I sat for hours, just watching the waves crash onto the shore. It was nice to be able to get away from everything, even if only for a day.

Speaking of traveling, somehow while driving back from Best Buy, Audrey and I ended up on the road to the Richmond Airport. Every time I drive past an airport, it makes me want to go somewhere really bad...reallyyyyy bad. It's been about 9 months since I've gone somewhere, and I'm starting to get itchy feet.

So I've decided to make a new post...finally! I was having a severe bout of writers block, and that coupled with a mountain of homework = no blogging.

Anyway, I don't really have much to write about, except that we oficially have a place to live!!! Colonial Reserve, right across from The Jefferson. It's amaaaaazing! It was our first choice and I'm in love with it. The view is breathtkaking! I'm so happy!

Lets see, we made a hardcore parkour video, and I conquered trees...except that I fell out of it afterwards.

We also tried to do a moon project and failed miserably. I don't really care about the moon, but I love the stars. It's so much fun to just sit outside and look at them, especially with someone you care about ;). A few years ago, my family went to Sunset Beach, NC and rented a beach house. It was the summer before I turned 18, and I felt I had to do something semi-rebellious so my cousin, my sister and I snuck out at 1 AM and went down to the beach. We laid on the sand and looked at the stars untill 7 in the morning. It was so much fun, it really puts you in touch with nature.

I looked up lent on google images and this is what came up lol....

For those of you who don't know, Lent is a Christian tradition that lasts the 44 days leading up to Easter. There are three tasks during Lent- fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Fasting for 40 days symbolizes Jesus's 40 days in the wilderness. Although some churches have certain dietary restrictions set in place, many times people decided for themselves what they wish to abstain from. This year I decided to do it Greek Orthodox style and give up all animal products, olive oil and wine (although I don't drink anyway so that shouldn't be a problem).

I guess the purpose of Lent is to work on self discipline, and to refocus on God. It's also about taking something in your life that is bad or unproductive to your spiritual life and turning it into something good. For instance, someone who gave up Starbucks for Lent might take all the money he would have spent there, and donate it to charity instead.

So yeah...thats what Lent is about, hope I didn't confuse you too much lol.

Look at my hamster I just got! In'it he cuuute!?
Play with him!

Valentines Day

I know, classy right?

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." ~ 1Corinthians 13:4-

This is a description of perfect love. This is the kind of love that God shows to us, and part of our purpose on this Earth is to attempt to show the same kind of love to each other. This Valentines Day I am single. Now that I think about it, I have always been single this time of the year ;). But instead of wallowing in self pity at my lack of romantic love, I've decided to focus on the other kinds of love that surround me.
I have so much to be thankful for: I have a wonderful family, amazing friends, even pets. All of whom love me. When I focus on the above, the bitterness of not having that special someone melts away. So for all you singles out there, on Valentines Day don't just sit around moping, get out there and spend it with the people who matter most in your life.
And for the people who actually read this (all 5 of you lol) know that while my love can never be as perfect as the verses above, that I am so thankful to have you in my life, that I love you and care about you and that I hope this makes your day a little brighter :)

Love,
Erin

These are some photos I found...I'm not even sure what to say, except that if I have nightmares tonight, this will be the reason why.

I got this from the oatmeal.com

Oh God...I think I need to go into hiding...

So I have to clear up a few things. In my title, Tsoleas is pronounced Cho-les, it's my nana's last name, it's Greek. This post is actually my first post, the one above was done by Anisah, and my title was done by Lynsey. Oh yeah and this isn't my first blog ever. I have another one from my time in Costa Rica- erinnoble.blogspot.com
Speaking of Costa Rica, I had a dream last night about one of the babies from the orphanage I worked at- Mar Darling.

Isn't she beautiful?

It's been a little over a year since I saw them and my dream last night made me realize how much I still miss them.

Last night I watched 500 Days of Summer with a bunch of my hall mates and it was so much fun :)

Oh and this is my first blog EVER, so get excited because this might be the next most visited webpage on your browser.