Christmas and Birthday Wish List

Its that time of the year! Time to get our holiday wish lists out so our friends and families aren't forced to guess what we want and we don't end up with something completely absurd!
So here's my list, mind you its a wish list so I'm gonna put things up that I want but know that my chances of receiving are very very small. I've posted links to the websites to make everyone's lives more convenient.

My Wish List

• Art- homemade art would be amazing. Drawings, sketches, paintings, sculptures, etc. There are few things I love as much as having something that was made for me with love from someone I love!
• Galaxy Tab
• Barnes and Noble gift cards (so I can get more ebooks for my Nook!)
• Gift cards to Maurices or Alloy (I'd like a new pair of jeans)
• Wine glasses- white wine style
• Snow gear (pants, sweaters, etc for snowshoeing) or gift cards to Tri-state/Hyperspud so I can purchase this myself.
• Kinect and games
• Sugar glider toys - mostly foraging type
• New cage set in a summer theme (bright and happy!)

 If you have posted your own wish list please either email it to me, or leave a link to it in the comments so I can get on it! I'd like to get shopping/creating done early so that I don't have to rush last minute! And so I can get things shipped!

Seattle Trip Success

My trip so Seattle was amazing- I enjoyed seeing my family and brought back lots of stuff!
OOO and one of the highlights of the trip was getting my Kirsten doll's hair restored to its nearly former glory! I couldn't be happier about this! Seriously. I almost cried. I'm so happy she's looking so much better.
Saturday I spent the day in downtown Seattle with Mom, Dad, and David. We visited EMP, ate at Ivar's, and enjoyed downtown. I loved every moment of being with my parents.
I was sad to go... but I'll be back in January!

After a lot of thinking...

I've decided to just put it out there.
It gets tiring when people constantly assume you're Christian, when you're not. And its tiring to be told I'm wrong. Here it is:

I am an Atheist.

Sure, a lot of people knew that, but a lot of people didn't.

I'm a card carrying member of the National Atheist Party. I don't believe in any higher being. I believe in science, logic, and reason. I live my life by the moral code of "Doing the Right Thing", the way my Papa raised me.

What exactly does this mean?
Well, since its no longer 1950 and McCarthy isn't trying to kill off and imprison all Atheists, I should be okay.

Some assume I will go to "hell" because of it, others are concerned for my "soul", while others wonder if I will try to 'deconvert' them from Christianity...

No, I will not. I will let you live and believe whatever you wish to. If you're not hurting anyone else I have no problem with your beliefs. In fact, if they help you to cope with life, make good decisions, ect ect, than I support you in your religion.

I've been asked why.
Simplest reason? I've never found a religion that I don't constantly question and feel comfortable with. There's never been a moment when I've thought "There must be a higher being".

I've been told I just haven't seen the light and I have to let Jesus in.
If someday I were to see "the light", then fine. I will not go out of my way to be defiant and push away all religion and its ways, but I'm not going to go out of my way to seek it either.

This isn't a phase. This is how I've felt my whole life, and now I'm coming to terms with it. I've always thought I was an outlier and that I just "didn't get it". I'm not, I'm one of millions who don't believe in a higher being and most of the people my age that I know are part of that number too.

I know there are people who will be disappointed to read this, but it doesn't change who I am.
I'm still the person you've known and loved for years.
I haven't changed.
I've just put it out there that I'm an Atheist.