A few pictures from the beach :)

Sorry there aren't more, my camera died pretty early on in the trip! :(

XOXO-

-HLT

What I'm up to!

I just wasted time, writing a long blog because I felt angry. But, then I remembered how stupid people look when they gossip in blogs, and I will not take part in that. I'm glad I thought twice before pressing "publish post".

Also, I am sick of writing about tort lawsuits. WHY did I choose this subject? Are we serious? 5 pages down, 5 to go!

In 6 days, I'll be relaxing on the beach from the 15th-21st with some of my very best friends and Kyle. I always have fun on vacations with him, and it will be so good to get away from school.

Midterms came out, and I was very happy with my grades! =] 4 weeks of school left after spring break, and then on to summer school. Will it ever end??

XOXO
HLT

My Statement

One thing that bothers me about the attitude of today's society is the extreme LACK of will to make a statement. You see, I was under the impression that we're only given a short amount of time on Earth, and our purpose is to believe in something and make a statement for those beliefs. What happened? Is it socially taboo to be remembered for something you strongly believe? If you died tomorrow, what kind of legacy would you leave behind? Would it be cliche'? Would anyone remember it ten years later? Is it not a slap in the face to whoever you choose to worship if you do not use the life given to you to support something, anything? There is absolutely nothing wrong with putting yourself out there and standing up for WHO YOU ARE. So many people are afraid of what may be said about them if they step out of the box. This is understandable, seeing as so many people ridicule those who dare to make a new path. So, let me make myself public. Let me make my statement, and put myself at risk for insult. To anyone who wishes to gossip, let me say that it fails to matter. I am still in the journey to find what I'm meant to do while I'm here, but I know that I will find it. I will never accept that I'm meant to be average, and if this bothers you, maybe it's because you know you HAVE accepted that for yourself. I refuse to live a mediocre life, and not make my mark. And, when my time is up, I hope that if anyone wishes to find out what it is I believed in, they will be able to ask someone and be told. I have no secrets, my life is an open book. I will remember the compliments I get, and forget the insults. I will move forward with those who make my life better, and leave behind those who cause me harm. The amount of money in my bank account will NOT define how successful of a person I am. What should, and DOES, matter are the lives I've touched, and other lives I've allowed to influence and teach me. I will embrace the struggles, and the right and wrong choices that I make. I will love the fact that I'm not always right. I will take the hard road, if it is the one that will get me where I want to be. I will continue to question those in authority, as well as the laws that I do not understand. I will NOT hurt those I love just to get further in life. I will not mind seeing those I care about reaching "success" before I do. I will follow my dreams. I will enjoy the power and beauty that comes with youth. I want to show that real friends ARE family, reputations are nonsense, and exposing your soul IS worth it, if you love who you are. So, here it is, here's my statement:

I'm Haley Lauren Thomas, and I do believe that one person can change the world.

Don't Panic

I know that I never knew her, but wasn't she beautiful? This girl was loved by so many, and is said to be someone who was a true joy to be around. All those who knew her are devastated, and all of us who never met her wish that we had. Lauren Burk, for some reason unknown, did not get the chance to live a very long life. However, she touched so many people while she was here. She's still touching people now that she is no longer here. That is truly amazing. I cannot begin to imagine how her family feels. I do not even want to think about how her friends must be doing right now. I've lost people that I cared about, but I've been lucky enough to not experience the loss of a best friend. It breaks my heart to wonder what I would do if it were me receiving the call that they did on March 4, 2008. I love my friends with my entire heart, and while I know that I cannot prevent bad things from happening to them, I still feel the need to be overly protective at this moment. I do not think I would be able to get through that sort of loss. I hope that her family finds solace in knowing that people my age across the country have, without help, set up organizations ordering tshirts, wristbands, and bumper stickers in her memory, and are donating the money earned to her family, as well as to fund the reward for information to help solve this mystery. The tragedy of Lauren Burk has pushed us all to look deeper inside ourselves and wonder if we're living life to the absolute fullest. Will we be remembered as good people, too? DID WE CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE? Lauren did. She truly, honestly did. I know that society questions God when things like this happen. We ask him, "Why?" and wonder if he exists at all. Is it possible that he sent Lauren here for 18 years to teach us a lesson on life, and it's precious importance? Maybe. I just hope her family and friends know how much everyone is supporting them at this time. I know that nothing will ease the pain, but you've got prayers coming in for you all across the country, and beyond. The news said that Coldplay's "Don't Panic" was one of her favorite songs. Here are the lyrics::

bones sinking like stones
all that we fought for
homes, places we’ve grown
all of us are done for.
and we live in a beautiful world,
yeah we do, yeah we do.
we live in a beautiful world.
bones sinking like stones
all that we fought for
homes, places we’ve grown
all of us are done for.
but we live in a beautiful world,
yeah we do, yeah we do.
we live in a beautiful world.
oh all that I know,
there’s nothing here to run from
everybody here’s got somebody to lean on

Addressed to Granddaddy.

I'm not sure why, but I was thinking a lot about you today. I've been through a lot in the past few years, and I have made many different types of decisions to get through the struggles. I wonder if you would be proud of me. I've forgotton the stories you used to tell us, even the one about the skunk, and it was my favorite. I don't even remember your voice anymore, and it tears me up. I do remember, however, the way you put pepper on everything, and lots of it. I will never forget the chair you always sat in during the big breakfasts that grandmother would always make when all of us spent the night. I still have the big teddy bear you got me, and I'll always tell the story of how you chose this one over a white bear because it looked real, and you knew I'd like it more. I remember being confused when you passed away, and I did not understand why. I still don't. You were the only grandfather that I ever knew, and nobody has ever changed that. I hope that at some point, people that knew you will be able to look at me and see characteristics of you. I just wanted you to know that I still think of you, we all do. I know that I've put myself in too many dangerous situations, and I'm aware that somebody up there has pulled a lot of strings to keep me safe and well down here. I'm pretty sure it's you, and I owe you a really big "THANK YOU"!! So, thank you.