Airplanes and Heart Attacks

I'm about to go on my very first plane ride. :)

My grandfather has had a severe heart attack and is in unstable/critical condition. Fact is, he might and is likely to die. I've never met him. Hence why I am going on a plane ride.

Grandpa is 66 years old and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. we're taking a flight from Denver, Colorado to Atlanta, Georgia. From Atlanta we head for Indi.

It'll be an approximately 7-hour flight, total, starting at 7 am. Meaning we have to be there at 5 for check-ins and such. Meaning we have to leave for Denver at 1 am. 5 hours and counting.

We (Mom, brother and I) will be staying in Indi for about 9 days, at my Uncle Jeff's house.

I'm nervous and excited about the plane ride. I'm absolutely terrified of heights, but everyone has told me it's a load of fun.

I'm praying constantly for my Granddad. I don't want to lose him when I've never or barely met him, but I know it may just be time for him to go.

Unfortunately, I'm going to miss a week of school and two Children's Classes. I'm going to be surrounded by unfamiliar faces and unknown relatives, in a city I've never seen before. I'm crossing my fingers that I may find a Baha'i community nearby - and perhaps attend a class or meeting there.

the Baha'is in my community are a constant uplifting influence. they encourage me and hold my hand while I pray.

Allah'u'abha!

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Oh God, My God! I have set out from my home, holding fast unto the cord of Thy love, and I have committed myself wholly to Thy care and Thy protection. I entreat Thee by Thy power through which Thy didst protect Thy loved ones from the wayward and perverse, and from every contumacious oppressor, and every wicked doer who hath strayed far from Thee, to keep me safe by Thy bounty and Thy grace. Enable me, then, to return to my home by Thy power and Thy might. Thou art, truly, the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

Baha'u'llah

Time is annoying.

Why? It just keeps going...and going...I wish sometimes that I could stop time for about ten minutes just to catch my breath and contemplate. There seems to be so much to do suddenly. I don't know how it all started moving.

I plan children's classes now, partly. I seem to be connecting with the kids in a way I couldn't last year. They've become so much fun =)


I've also planned out two feasts, which is amazing and wonderful - at least to me. A year ago I never would have thought the Faith was this strong. It's all-consuming. I've found myself thinking over a hidden word scribbled on my palm in the middle of Algebra. Crazy insane!

School seemed to get three times as hard recently. Algebra is a pain. I love Earth Science this year :-). the workings of the universe amaze me. My Science teacher is actually attending a fireside next week. She and I have had a lot of wonderful discussions about the similarities of Science and Religion. They really do walk hand-in-hand!

I've been tested for Arthritis twice and am going to a rheumatlolgist this Friday. Hopefully I'll know where the pain is coming from soon.

I'm out for basketball...Yeah, I'll just leave that one alone.

I went to the Baha'i unit convention on the 16th. It was so fun. =D I rode six hours in a car with three people older than my Grandma - and enjoyed it! While we were there, I had a conversation with a Lady about Baha'i jewelry. I told her that I had a necklace at one time and it got broken. She took off the necklace she was wearing and handed it to me.

The kindness of the people in my faith continually astounds me. From an amazing youth who would spend a year away from home to serve, to a lady who would give something of her own to a complete stranger.



Allah'u'abha!

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God is one, man is one,
And all the religions are one.
Land and sea, hill and valley,
Under the beautiful sun.
God is one, man is one,
And all the religions agree.
When everyone learns the three onenesses,
We’ll have world unity.

Three Guesses What It Took

Y'know, I just read my last post and realized how much had changed.

As my title says, three guesses what it took to make me open my eyes.

A little girl. Her name is Naomi. I've known her for a few years, I helped her learn to read. This is the conversation.

"Cassie, what's a matter? You look sad. You're not sad a lot." We were in the park, eating Ice cream...of course, my brother was a few feet away (oi)

"I am sad," I said. "I really am sad a lot lately. I can't help it."

Why are you sad, Cassie? You said life was s'pose to be happy."

I sighed. She was adorable sometimes, other times she made me really think. "I'm sad because I'm confused." We sat down on the grass and she sat in my lap and faced me. "Too many changes, I can't help it, Naomi."

She actually dropped her ice cream on the ground, grabbed my cheeks, and gave me a big, sticky, little-girl kiss (an adorable moment.) "You're special, Cassie, and I love you. You're always telling me about friends you got, and friends are s'pose to make you happy. You make me sad when you're sad, Cassie. I miss you being happy."

I nearly started crying right there, because she made me realize something. I once heard about a ripple effect. When someone is angry, the anger spreads, it gets wider and wider until everyone around you is angry. I had to think back. I was worrying my parents, and my brother had all but stopped talking to me. I was being so selfish, and I didn't have really concrete reason why!

The next thing that popped my eyes open was attending baha'i meeting. It was like...wow. I had almost forgotten this amazing support I could get just by picking up the phone. They all happened to be there that night. I got hugged at least 8 times (!) which was sort of odd. but when we sat down and started saying the prayers...I can't describe the sensation. The most incredible sense of belonging you can imagine...magnified.

the third was just a half hour ago...I was checking my friend, Hannah's blog...and there was a message there from a lady named Nina...for me. A complete stranger to me. I was...a bit shocked. but then I thought about it. This lady found and read my blog...then when she couldn't post a message to mine...posted it to someone else's in hopes that it would be passed to me. This seems to be the word of the evening...Wow!! Kindness is a virtue, one that is well-carried out by many people.

So here is my realization:

Depression and sadness only seem overwhelming. When in Darkness, always search for light. This alone will make the darkness shrink away. The kindness and generosity of this world, the few people in every million who will offer a word, a hand, a smile to help are worth being happy about.

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O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord."

'Abdu'l-Baha

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As Life Goes By...

I find that I need my faith more than ever.

I just realized how long it's been since I posted to this.

There are about three precious weeks left of Summer, and then I'm back in the Junior High for another year of crowds and bullcrap. Can't you see the excitement?

Hopefully, this year, I can begin to rely less on school and the people around me for support. Last year I grew up a lot, this summer even more, and next year I would like to leave childhood behind me, or at least most of it.

I've closed in on myself this summer, dependent on things that I do by myself. I've not attended a group meeting of any kind in over a month, and it's startig to wear on me. I don't want to be a hermit!!

I have had so many ightmares that keep me awake at night, so many odd dreams that I can remember in perfect color and detail.

Oh well, Que Sera Sera...

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"Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abha; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision to the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy!"
Compilations, Baha'i World Faith, p. 351

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I love SUMMER

I survived the seventh grade. A miracle, in my eyes. this year was the hardest of my life. So many things happening, changing. But I made it, and summer's here at last. :)

Waking up late, spending al my time reading, writing, and playing an addictive pirate game are the fun parts. But I might be able to get a summer job this year.

Not much else to say, really.

I lied...

Okay, yes, I lied. I'm laying on my couch, seven hour past my last post, and creating another one. -_-;;...I'm really wanting to try adding pictures, so I guess I'll give it a shot. I'm watching the Tenchi Muyo DVDR's that Hannah loaned me. They are weird to watch because they have the Japanese words and the English words going at the same time. So instead of one person talking, there are two, and instead of two, there are four. It makes my head hurt to watch too many of them. They are really good though! I saw Tenchi years ago, when they had it on Toonami, but they got rid of it and now I am so glad to watch it again...My favorite character is, as they always seem to be, the youngest of the lot: Sasami. She's a kid with bright blue hair who is a cook...:)

At one time a Ridvan Party

The party is this weekend! It was originally a Ridvan party but was rescheduled to tomorrow,then rescheduled again for the next day. I can't waitfor the party! Rightnow I'm making brownies for it, soon I'll make cookies, too.^_^

I'm so excited to see if we can get some newinterested junior youth! There will, hopefully, be a bunch coming to the party, and I hope some of them will start coming to the classes!

I'll post again after the party.

:)

Happy MayDay

First of all, Allah-u-abha, happy Mayday, and happy 11th day of Ridvan!

I recieved a letter in the mail today from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. It was a congratulatory note from the Treasurer to all Baha'is thanking us in meeting the goal of the Kingdom Project. The letter made me happy and excited for the begining of The next Five Year Plan! Since I now consider myself a Baha'i Junior Youth, I am very much looking forward to doing all I can for the new Plan!

Tomorrow is the 12th and Final day of Ridvan 2006. I'm sad to see this holiday end, but glad to see the continued growth in the community.

Abdu'l-Baha says: "O Friends of God! Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture, your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with goodly gifts and bestowals...There is no boubt that the living Lord will abundantly confirm those who expend their wealth in His path."

I am not old enough to be a registered Baha'i and can therefore contribute no money to the Faith. However, some the closest and dearest people in the world to me do so continually. I am glad for them!

All Her Fault

I want you all to know, this is Hannah's (one of my Best Friends) fault. She showed me her blog, and I thought it was awesome. ^_^...She has pictures of me up there...

Well, I'm Cassandra, but a few people call me Cassie. I yelled at someone once for calling me that, but hey!

I'll add Hannah's link up here soon, I think. Once I figure out how, that is.

Anyway, today we had Children's classes. I remember earlier this year, when we would sometimes would have two or three students. Now it seems like We never have less than a dozen!! It's amazing to watch them all growing up! I have been helping with (or trying to help with) the classes for almost a year now. It always makes me feel good to see one of those little kids learn a quote or remember something we learned before.

Unfortunately, Youth classes (in which I am a student rather than a teacher) don't always go so wonderfully. There are only five of us who routinely come to the class, and three of those are kind of sketchy. Sometimes Hannah and I are the only ones there. My brother usually shows up, and so do the girls in the class, but I wish it could be more concrete. And even when others do show up, we seem to get disrupted and unfocused.

Yesterday was the first day of Ridvan. There was a potluck and prayers and the Baha'is presented me with a prayer book. It's the first prayer book. Before I usually just used my mom and dad's books. But now I have my own, and it is signed by all the Bahai's in the community! I love that book, and I'll keep it forever.

The potluck was a lot of fun. I got to talk a lot, which is, of course, my favorite thing to do in the world. :D...Not to mention I got to wrestle Hannah. I'm bigger than her now, but she is a LOT stronger! She pinned me three times, then stuck grass up my nose...

I guess that's it for now. So y'all know, I can't get on the computer very often at the moment, so until Summer the posts will be few and far between.

Bye!