we've got to whisper for a while...cause you know as well as I do that it's perfectly illegal to do anything for yourself while you're in college...sorry it's taken us so long to rendevous...this college thing is sucking me in like so many dust bunnies in a vacuume cleaner...
I considered about appologizing ahead of time for the length that is about to insue, but while reading a journal entry of Andrew Peterson's the other day (which itself was quite lengthy), I realized that that is not needed. Read if you want...don't if you've got something better to do, but in the meantime I'm going to try to document the highs and lows of my last few weeks.
School is school...going fine but very time consuming. I just made it through my first round of tests which feels good...but midterms are also aproaching with scary movie music begining to sound in the distance. Our bio labs have been FACINATING of recent weeks...we're studying basically every phylum in the universe...and memorizing them all for my test thursday Lord willing...it has been great to finally learn to use microscopes and get a handle on such a large knowledge base.
I've been getting really involved with some of the IV kids recently...going to prayer in the evenings almost every night ( a great time of reflection on the day and supporting each other), going to large group meetings when I can, and attending training sessions for next year's leadership team, which I hope to be a part of. This has been really good for me...a great chance for being challenged and staying accountable.
This past weekend was vocal jazz fest at MU, when a bunch of high school jazz groups came to perform and spent a half hour with a clinician for some tips. I helped chaperone a group around for a while and then my jazz group sang at the end of the day. It was fun...and a great experience for our young group of singers. May I say that kirkland stage feels huge when there are only 9 of you and the microphones up there...
Had some of my music buddies over to the house the other night for games and a movie...that was a blast. I think it scared a few of them to knock on the door and have "DR HOLMES" answer. :) hehe...it really does crack me up some times to be the daughter of my dad...I hope he doesn't mind having his students in his refrigerator one minute and in his class the next.
Speaking of music, next Saturday we'll be performing a major work...a requiem by Verdi with full orchestra and soloists from Chicago. Composers for hundreds of years have been using the same texts to set their works to...a requiem is just a specific set of latin texts which many different composers set their own music to. Most of the work is spent singing about "Dies Irae"...the day of judgement. The requiem was typically a funeral mass, and in some lights you could see this concert as and hour and 15 min of singing about hell fire and brimstone in Latin...but if you could hear these choirs...the HUGE sound, the orchestra, and the pleading texts "Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death, on that fearful day when the heavens are moved and the earth when thou shalt come to judge the world through fire. Rest eternal grant your children, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. Lord have mercy...Christ have mercy" ...wow...I get shivers just thinking about it. So while this concert means four extra rehersals this week, I'm very excited about it...
I've been reading through the gospels in the last couple of weeks...trying to get through them before easter as a precursor. I haven't ever just sat down and read these books as a whole so I'm really excited about it. A few days ago I finished the sermon on the mount in Matthew. Took me a while to look at it all slowly and carefully...some facinating lessons there. I'm amazed over and over about how Christ takes the state of the religious people there and attempts to show them how much they have missed the heart of the matter. "You have heard it said that you should not murder, but I tell you that he that is angry with his brother is guilty of the same sin." "You have heard it said 'and eye for and eye' but I tell you do not resist the evil person...when your enemy strikes you, turn the other cheek" "You have heard that you should not commit adultery with another man's wife, but I tell you that he who even looks at a woman (or man) lustfully has already committed lust in his heart." Why is it that I get so tied up on the rules...the things I have to do in order to "pass the test" and totally miss the motives of my own heart? It's a challenge that I can't overlook and one that I know will be a life long struggle. Somehow I pray that I can learn to live a life of freedom by the spirit and yet use that freedom to surrender myself...my whole self...
Ok wow...so I have class in 3 minutes and I really have to run. If you're reading this, thanks for listening...if not...that's Ok too...
Blessings on your new week....
Monday, February 27, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Yeah...it had better be Friday...
Hi all,
It's been a while and I'm amazed at how fast time is starting to fly. Perhaps because of the heavy class load, perhaps because of the crazy happenings in the rest of life it feels like I'm spinning more plates than ever before. It's a good feeling too though...it's gonna be spring break before we know it!
I just got home from a fun part-ay with some of my IV buddies...we watched a countdown of the top 100 teen stars of the 80's and 90's...it was pretty good times. Then we chowed down on pizza during "Anchorman" and "Drop dead gorgeous"...I can't probably recommend either of them...but I sure laughed a lot tonight.
Tomorrow a bunch of the same kids are going up to Champaign for a concert by the acapella group "the Extention Chords"...I hope to go with them and so get in my party quotient for the weekend.
This week in school I learned how to create a powerpoint presentation (it's not done yet but the fact that I haven't blown anything up with the technology so far is re-assuring) and in my Visual Rhetoric (the persuasion of visual images) class we are learning some awesome stuff about how images, colors, and even shapes shape how we think. It's facinating and scary at the same time. We'll be doing a research project in this class, which is a bit daunting...but we'll take it as it comes.
Bio is overwhelming at best, but I am being exposed to an amazing amount of knowledge and our labs are really cool. well...I think so. ...I'm pretty sure that I really grossed my dad out when I told him about the fungus growth that we are observing on horse dung. hehe...I've decided that it is a biology major's fate to take whatever the world thinks is disgusting or "untouchable" and stick it under a microscope for a closer look. But hey, I can definitely see the connection between a cure for cancer and cutting apart a flatworm to see if it will regenerate a head...yeah...no problem...
I'm amazed ever day at how much God has provided great friends for me here. Somehow I am meeting scads of them all the sudden, and I think it's because I've finally realized that I need to be in the music building more often. I am having some great times with the girls in my choir and jazz group, the freshman boys in an acapella group called "remedy," and the kids in my dad's choir who keep me updated on his sanity. There is a warmth and closeness around people who make music together...I'm eating it up. While in the science building Mary and I are sticking close but also finally meeting some fun study buddies if nothing else.
In many ways, this past week has been one of the toughest I remember in a long time...and yet God has been faithful...I only wish that I could be faithful in return. I ache to show these kids a love that is far bigger than me or any of us...yet I balk in the face of the unknown and the seemingly self-sufficient people I meet.
I've been yearning for Friday for a good week now...and suddenly it's Saturday. Crap. That means study day...ok...time for bed!! :)
Blessing and sweet dreams~
"He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the lord is the Rock eternal."
~Isaiah 26:3-4
It's been a while and I'm amazed at how fast time is starting to fly. Perhaps because of the heavy class load, perhaps because of the crazy happenings in the rest of life it feels like I'm spinning more plates than ever before. It's a good feeling too though...it's gonna be spring break before we know it!
I just got home from a fun part-ay with some of my IV buddies...we watched a countdown of the top 100 teen stars of the 80's and 90's...it was pretty good times. Then we chowed down on pizza during "Anchorman" and "Drop dead gorgeous"...I can't probably recommend either of them...but I sure laughed a lot tonight.
Tomorrow a bunch of the same kids are going up to Champaign for a concert by the acapella group "the Extention Chords"...I hope to go with them and so get in my party quotient for the weekend.
This week in school I learned how to create a powerpoint presentation (it's not done yet but the fact that I haven't blown anything up with the technology so far is re-assuring) and in my Visual Rhetoric (the persuasion of visual images) class we are learning some awesome stuff about how images, colors, and even shapes shape how we think. It's facinating and scary at the same time. We'll be doing a research project in this class, which is a bit daunting...but we'll take it as it comes.
Bio is overwhelming at best, but I am being exposed to an amazing amount of knowledge and our labs are really cool. well...I think so. ...I'm pretty sure that I really grossed my dad out when I told him about the fungus growth that we are observing on horse dung. hehe...I've decided that it is a biology major's fate to take whatever the world thinks is disgusting or "untouchable" and stick it under a microscope for a closer look. But hey, I can definitely see the connection between a cure for cancer and cutting apart a flatworm to see if it will regenerate a head...yeah...no problem...
I'm amazed ever day at how much God has provided great friends for me here. Somehow I am meeting scads of them all the sudden, and I think it's because I've finally realized that I need to be in the music building more often. I am having some great times with the girls in my choir and jazz group, the freshman boys in an acapella group called "remedy," and the kids in my dad's choir who keep me updated on his sanity. There is a warmth and closeness around people who make music together...I'm eating it up. While in the science building Mary and I are sticking close but also finally meeting some fun study buddies if nothing else.
In many ways, this past week has been one of the toughest I remember in a long time...and yet God has been faithful...I only wish that I could be faithful in return. I ache to show these kids a love that is far bigger than me or any of us...yet I balk in the face of the unknown and the seemingly self-sufficient people I meet.
I've been yearning for Friday for a good week now...and suddenly it's Saturday. Crap. That means study day...ok...time for bed!! :)
Blessing and sweet dreams~
"He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the lord is the Rock eternal."
~Isaiah 26:3-4
Friday, February 03, 2006
me of little faith...
What will be left when I’ve drawn my last breath,
besides the folks I’ve met and the folks who know me?
Will I discover a soul saving love or just the dirt above and below me?
I’m a doubting Thomas, I took a promise, but I do not feel safe.
Oh me of little faith.
Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face,
Sometimes I pray for a slap in the face,
then I beg to be spared cause I’m a coward.
If there's a master of death, I bet he's holding his breath
as I show the blind and tell the deaf about his power.
I'm a doubting Thomas...I can't keep my promises, cause I don't know what's safe...
Oh me of little faith.
Can I be used to help others find truth when I’m scared I’ll find proof that it’s a lie?
Can I be lead down a trail dropping breadcrumbs that prove I’m not ready to die?
Please give me time to decipher the signs,
Please give me time to decipher the signs,
please forgive me for time that I've wasted.
I'm a doubting Thomas, I take your promises though I know nothing's "safe."
Oh me of little faith.
Nickel Creek
"In this you gratly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire,--may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith...the salvation of your souls"
1 Peter 1:6-9
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Birthday bashes, potlucks, wimps, and construction...
Well well well, lookie here...it's almost February! What?? February?
Indeed the days seem to fly right now. It's midnight and I have 3 other things I should be doing right now...but I had a few random events I wanted to chronicle before I get into the Word and then hit the hay. I know if I don't write them down now, they will slip through my fingers like so many poppyseeds...
Let's see...events recently include a surprise 50th birthday party for my dad, a not surprise 16th birthday party for Casey (license to follow in about 4 weeks...), work, school, a church potluck (and a hillarious convo involving boogered meat and spoons...), and an afternoon with my friend Cristina from Millikin. She is an absolute sweetie...I hope you all get to meet her some day. We frequented Culver's and had some very uplifting conversation...I anticipate a lasting and meaningful friendship with her!
School is in full swing and after just a week and a half I must admit I'm a little overwhelmed. Yet I love my classes, and I'm facinated with all that I'm finding there is to learn. I secretly laughed when my critter teacher told us the other day that "the more you know, the more you know"...but as I've pondered that phrase I've begun to wonder about what does happen when you know more. I got so curious that I wasted about 45 min the other day looking it up...here's some that I found:
"the more you know, the less you understand"
"the more you know, the more you sell"
"the more you know, the more you see, the more you percieve"
"the more you know, the more you know there's more to know"
"the more you know, the more options you have"
"the more you know, the harder it will be to make decisive choices"
...I could go on, but you get the point...and I'll let you decide which one is the most true or applicable. There's a point where I think all of us wonder, "where is this going?"...and yet I have been very convicted of late that God's purposes are not held outside of academia, though my friend Millikin would love for me to believe that. The God of all who fasioned our human minds in a way that we still don't comprehend surely wants us to put them to good use. There's something quickening and exciting about that truth...about the possiblity that all of this "know" could cause us to do some growing...and, Lord willing, some "doing" too.
Speaking of doing, I saw the movie "End of the Spear" twice this weekend...once with Cristina and again with my family and the Costerisans. As we walked out of the theater, my friend turned to me and said, "man, I feel like a wimp..." ...ditto...
If you haven't heard about it, it's the true story of the group of missionaries who were speared to death preaching to the native people of Equador. Jim Elliot, one of the 5 men killed, has had his story told often, but this movie was told from the perspective of the son of another missionary. His story is one of incredible courage, intense pain, and the battle for forgiveness and sacrifice in his own adult life. Although the message of the gospel is not as blatant as I would have liked, for those of us who know Christ's calling to "Preach the word," the challenge is as clear as it is frightening and breathtaking. I won't talk any more about it, but if you haven't seen it, I would give it a shot.
God has been doing some pretty tough chiseling on my heart in recent weeks...if you think of it, please pray for me. I guess you'd say I'm going through a little bit of a personal construction project...one whose end is not in sight but whose improvements I hope to see soon. Its funny how I never notice how big of a problem I have until I start trying to change it...thanks Lord for speaking clearly.
Well, tomorrow I have classes and/or babysitting from 8am to 9:30 pm straight...so it's really time I hit the hay...may he continue to bless you as you give your hearts to him...goodnight
Indeed the days seem to fly right now. It's midnight and I have 3 other things I should be doing right now...but I had a few random events I wanted to chronicle before I get into the Word and then hit the hay. I know if I don't write them down now, they will slip through my fingers like so many poppyseeds...
Let's see...events recently include a surprise 50th birthday party for my dad, a not surprise 16th birthday party for Casey (license to follow in about 4 weeks...), work, school, a church potluck (and a hillarious convo involving boogered meat and spoons...), and an afternoon with my friend Cristina from Millikin. She is an absolute sweetie...I hope you all get to meet her some day. We frequented Culver's and had some very uplifting conversation...I anticipate a lasting and meaningful friendship with her!
School is in full swing and after just a week and a half I must admit I'm a little overwhelmed. Yet I love my classes, and I'm facinated with all that I'm finding there is to learn. I secretly laughed when my critter teacher told us the other day that "the more you know, the more you know"...but as I've pondered that phrase I've begun to wonder about what does happen when you know more. I got so curious that I wasted about 45 min the other day looking it up...here's some that I found:
"the more you know, the less you understand"
"the more you know, the more you sell"
"the more you know, the more you see, the more you percieve"
"the more you know, the more you know there's more to know"
"the more you know, the more options you have"
"the more you know, the harder it will be to make decisive choices"
...I could go on, but you get the point...and I'll let you decide which one is the most true or applicable. There's a point where I think all of us wonder, "where is this going?"...and yet I have been very convicted of late that God's purposes are not held outside of academia, though my friend Millikin would love for me to believe that. The God of all who fasioned our human minds in a way that we still don't comprehend surely wants us to put them to good use. There's something quickening and exciting about that truth...about the possiblity that all of this "know" could cause us to do some growing...and, Lord willing, some "doing" too.
Speaking of doing, I saw the movie "End of the Spear" twice this weekend...once with Cristina and again with my family and the Costerisans. As we walked out of the theater, my friend turned to me and said, "man, I feel like a wimp..." ...ditto...
If you haven't heard about it, it's the true story of the group of missionaries who were speared to death preaching to the native people of Equador. Jim Elliot, one of the 5 men killed, has had his story told often, but this movie was told from the perspective of the son of another missionary. His story is one of incredible courage, intense pain, and the battle for forgiveness and sacrifice in his own adult life. Although the message of the gospel is not as blatant as I would have liked, for those of us who know Christ's calling to "Preach the word," the challenge is as clear as it is frightening and breathtaking. I won't talk any more about it, but if you haven't seen it, I would give it a shot.
God has been doing some pretty tough chiseling on my heart in recent weeks...if you think of it, please pray for me. I guess you'd say I'm going through a little bit of a personal construction project...one whose end is not in sight but whose improvements I hope to see soon. Its funny how I never notice how big of a problem I have until I start trying to change it...thanks Lord for speaking clearly.
Well, tomorrow I have classes and/or babysitting from 8am to 9:30 pm straight...so it's really time I hit the hay...may he continue to bless you as you give your hearts to him...goodnight
Monday, January 16, 2006
Things I've done since friday (besides showers, sleep, and talking to myself)
Hey all...here's the story
It was more than a week ago that Dad and TJ left for choir tour in Florida (they spent the day in Disney yesterday...yeah, feel sorry for them), and on Friday afternoon Casey left to go to Snow Trip in WI (ok...now feel sorry for me...). The long and the short of it is that Mom and I are home alone and enjoying some amazingly kicked back time. It's fun to see mom cut loose and totally relax...she needed it! Here's what we did...
-Made puppy chow for the kiddies on Snow trip...yay for bus rides
-Went to see the kiddies off (in the middle of the biggest freezing rain storm I've ever seen)...the usual hour of chaos trying to get the vans loaded and decided how to "fairly" divide up the kids.
-Went to the mall...shopping for Dad's B-day and coffee with Mrs. Bostick and Mrs. Cos
-Got a pizza and watched tons of West Wing...the dog started barking a lot and we got spooked and called the Bosticks to come over...the dog barked more and we called the police. Nothing there...my dog is officially psyco...
-Watched the first Pink Panther...which I had never seen
-Went to lunch with Cheryl and Heather Cos...Heather and I got in a good chat which we rarely get to do...good times
-Started a quilting project for mom...More west wing...more Pink Panther...no more police
-Worked on my application for leadership team for Intervaristy
-More quilting
-More West Wing
-Church
-Work...finally something productive!!
Rumor has it that I might acutally have to start working hard again soon...they keep sending me text books in the mail...alright...I'll take the hint. I'm ready to start thowing myself into it again. I know that it's gonna be a tough semester...I have a very heavy load...but I'm ready for the challenge. A lot of my buddies from school come back today...yay for friends!!
If you're looking ahead and the future is cloudy or daunting, take comfort in Lamentations 3:21-23:
"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!!"
Love, Peace, and Blessings to you all...
Me
It was more than a week ago that Dad and TJ left for choir tour in Florida (they spent the day in Disney yesterday...yeah, feel sorry for them), and on Friday afternoon Casey left to go to Snow Trip in WI (ok...now feel sorry for me...). The long and the short of it is that Mom and I are home alone and enjoying some amazingly kicked back time. It's fun to see mom cut loose and totally relax...she needed it! Here's what we did...
-Made puppy chow for the kiddies on Snow trip...yay for bus rides
-Went to see the kiddies off (in the middle of the biggest freezing rain storm I've ever seen)...the usual hour of chaos trying to get the vans loaded and decided how to "fairly" divide up the kids.
-Went to the mall...shopping for Dad's B-day and coffee with Mrs. Bostick and Mrs. Cos
-Got a pizza and watched tons of West Wing...the dog started barking a lot and we got spooked and called the Bosticks to come over...the dog barked more and we called the police. Nothing there...my dog is officially psyco...
-Watched the first Pink Panther...which I had never seen
-Went to lunch with Cheryl and Heather Cos...Heather and I got in a good chat which we rarely get to do...good times
-Started a quilting project for mom...More west wing...more Pink Panther...no more police
-Worked on my application for leadership team for Intervaristy
-More quilting
-More West Wing
-Church
-Work...finally something productive!!
Rumor has it that I might acutally have to start working hard again soon...they keep sending me text books in the mail...alright...I'll take the hint. I'm ready to start thowing myself into it again. I know that it's gonna be a tough semester...I have a very heavy load...but I'm ready for the challenge. A lot of my buddies from school come back today...yay for friends!!
If you're looking ahead and the future is cloudy or daunting, take comfort in Lamentations 3:21-23:
"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!!"
Love, Peace, and Blessings to you all...
Me
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Life is Beautiful
~I got called off work tonight
~I'm headed to see Pride and Prejudice in a few minutes with my sis and mom instead
~It's mid January and it's like 60 degrees and sunny out
~The doctors haven't found any cysts on me...yet
~I get to go to summit this summer
~I only have one more semester of my Freshman year in college
~I don't have to go back to school for 10 more days
~I've got a roof over my head right now...I'm typing on a laptop...
~my family hasn't kicked me out yet, even though there are days that I'm an impossible grouch
~I've eaten at Panera twice today
~There were two little kids at lunch...one sleeping in her carseat and one wide awake, standing in her mother's lap...who made me thankful to be alive today. Kids are facinating to watch
Man...life is sweet
Casey wrote a song (actually, she wrote a bunch but she won't let me hear them...) that she sang in church this morning. It's cool that I have a sister who is able to make beautiful music out of thoughts and feelings that seem to come out of my heart rather than hers...cool and scary how that works. Got to love being sisters!! :) I thought you might enjoy the lyrics...
Casey Holmes...future awesome composer of the year...and my sister...who doesn't want this one here....hehe....she says it's copywrited...so don't steal it...
Blessings on your week...on a new semester and a new life. When we put our lives in his hands we can be confident that his mercies and grace are new EVERY MORNING...now THAT is truely beautiful. Peace
~I'm headed to see Pride and Prejudice in a few minutes with my sis and mom instead
~It's mid January and it's like 60 degrees and sunny out
~The doctors haven't found any cysts on me...yet
~I get to go to summit this summer
~I only have one more semester of my Freshman year in college
~I don't have to go back to school for 10 more days
~I've got a roof over my head right now...I'm typing on a laptop...
~my family hasn't kicked me out yet, even though there are days that I'm an impossible grouch
~I've eaten at Panera twice today
~There were two little kids at lunch...one sleeping in her carseat and one wide awake, standing in her mother's lap...who made me thankful to be alive today. Kids are facinating to watch
Man...life is sweet
Casey wrote a song (actually, she wrote a bunch but she won't let me hear them...) that she sang in church this morning. It's cool that I have a sister who is able to make beautiful music out of thoughts and feelings that seem to come out of my heart rather than hers...cool and scary how that works. Got to love being sisters!! :) I thought you might enjoy the lyrics...
Once again I come before you broken and afraid
Once again I feel my heart has given itself away
and I confess that I forgot whos life this was
And I want you to be the only thing to capture my heart with love
I've betrayed you Lord and maker over and over again
For useless gain with selfish thoughts I constantly trade you in
But if there's one who can forgive it's you alone
can you take back this rugged life I call my own?
So I turn again to you
And I remember that you are the one I've given myself to
And I pledge my love...again
Cause in this book of life I've promised you the pen
So here's my heart again
Casey Holmes...future awesome composer of the year...and my sister...who doesn't want this one here....hehe....she says it's copywrited...so don't steal it...
Blessings on your week...on a new semester and a new life. When we put our lives in his hands we can be confident that his mercies and grace are new EVERY MORNING...now THAT is truely beautiful. Peace
Sunday, January 01, 2006
another year, another blog, another random ramble...
Hey y'all,
One year ago yesterday I started this blog. Its hard to believe it's been that long...even harder to believe how much things have changed since then. More and more I sense that life is kind of carrying me along with it, rather than allowing me to more or less have control. Perhaps that's just Gods way of trying to teach me some surrender and dependence right now. Then again perhaps that's just life.
We had a great Christmas...the day we spent alone (a wonderful contrast to our usual habit of either driving for 20+ hours to get somewhere or having a houseful of people for a week), but we had lots of parties with friends and family before, and so we enjoyed the peace. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved going to church that morning. Somehow the season just seemed weird to me this year. Fun, restful, but different. I had trouble getting into the christmas mood...singing and baking and seeing friends was a blast as always, but at times they lacked personal meaning. Anyway, something hit me like a major holiday wake up call that Christmas morning and by the time we hit the presents my heart was right and my spirit refreshed by the arrival of the tiny babe who is still chipping away at my heart.
We also got to visit our good friends Dennis and Donna in St. Louis this past week, we went shopping and saw their new house. It was awesome to re-connect and sit around a play games. We also ate at the best Italian restaraunt on the plannet, but that's another story.
Since today is also a sunday and our usual routine of staying up till all hours on new year's eve would not cut it for a saturday night, we held the annual new year's party at the Kneezels a night early. This not only totally threw off my calendar skills but made the party a few hours LONGER (if that was even possible) since we still stayed till midnight yesterday to count down and enjoy bubbly and fireworks on the deck. The families in our church are something very special...being with them is the safest feeling in the world. Jackie and I had a long talk about what it will be like in a few years when we all are married and have kids. Will we drag them along, raving about "what good friends these people are"...and will our children connect or sit and stare akwardly at each other while the parents talk? Idealy we will all live on the same street, our kids will be best friends, and yet another generation will grow up together...sharing everything from school homework to afternoon chores. But we all know that there may be a few hiccups in that plan. I hope though, that as we spread out and begin to make our own lives we will take the seasoning of this group with us. I hope that we can come close to building similar communities of believers wherever we are planted. I hope that with God's help, my own children will be supported and loved by so many wonderful people.
Well, there I go again, rambing as normal. The point is, Happy New Year everyone. See that horizon? Can you see past it? No, of course not...that's the point. It was extremely fitting that this morning our pastor preached a sermon on patience...trusting friends is the only way to live, to face that mountain range ahead, to enjoy the passing days without regretting their exit.
Blessings on your new year...praise him for his plans to use all of us to accomplish his purpose!!
One year ago yesterday I started this blog. Its hard to believe it's been that long...even harder to believe how much things have changed since then. More and more I sense that life is kind of carrying me along with it, rather than allowing me to more or less have control. Perhaps that's just Gods way of trying to teach me some surrender and dependence right now. Then again perhaps that's just life.
We had a great Christmas...the day we spent alone (a wonderful contrast to our usual habit of either driving for 20+ hours to get somewhere or having a houseful of people for a week), but we had lots of parties with friends and family before, and so we enjoyed the peace. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved going to church that morning. Somehow the season just seemed weird to me this year. Fun, restful, but different. I had trouble getting into the christmas mood...singing and baking and seeing friends was a blast as always, but at times they lacked personal meaning. Anyway, something hit me like a major holiday wake up call that Christmas morning and by the time we hit the presents my heart was right and my spirit refreshed by the arrival of the tiny babe who is still chipping away at my heart.
We also got to visit our good friends Dennis and Donna in St. Louis this past week, we went shopping and saw their new house. It was awesome to re-connect and sit around a play games. We also ate at the best Italian restaraunt on the plannet, but that's another story.
Since today is also a sunday and our usual routine of staying up till all hours on new year's eve would not cut it for a saturday night, we held the annual new year's party at the Kneezels a night early. This not only totally threw off my calendar skills but made the party a few hours LONGER (if that was even possible) since we still stayed till midnight yesterday to count down and enjoy bubbly and fireworks on the deck. The families in our church are something very special...being with them is the safest feeling in the world. Jackie and I had a long talk about what it will be like in a few years when we all are married and have kids. Will we drag them along, raving about "what good friends these people are"...and will our children connect or sit and stare akwardly at each other while the parents talk? Idealy we will all live on the same street, our kids will be best friends, and yet another generation will grow up together...sharing everything from school homework to afternoon chores. But we all know that there may be a few hiccups in that plan. I hope though, that as we spread out and begin to make our own lives we will take the seasoning of this group with us. I hope that we can come close to building similar communities of believers wherever we are planted. I hope that with God's help, my own children will be supported and loved by so many wonderful people.
Well, there I go again, rambing as normal. The point is, Happy New Year everyone. See that horizon? Can you see past it? No, of course not...that's the point. It was extremely fitting that this morning our pastor preached a sermon on patience...trusting friends is the only way to live, to face that mountain range ahead, to enjoy the passing days without regretting their exit.
Blessings on your new year...praise him for his plans to use all of us to accomplish his purpose!!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
If you're reading this, you're invited
Hey y'all...here's how it's going down...On Jan. 2 our buddy Chris (if you don't know him leave this blog...) is going to be in town and I'm having a party at my house. Please come!! By the way, for those of you who have siblings that are Jordans age or just know these cool kids and want to come and hang out...bring them all...anyone's invited. We'll make tacos and nachos...I'd appreciate it if guys could bring some soda and girls some snacks or desserts...also if you need directions just let me know! I hope you all can come...Later!
Friday, December 16, 2005
a thunk for your thinker
CS Lewis and I had a ramble last night after a whole day of studying and he hit me in the forhead as he began talking about how satan gets christians concerned about the wrong things. It seems that very often in the church we are put at odds with each other over trivial errors in the faith and its application. Lewis explains:
"I feel a strong desire to tell you-- and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me-- which of these two errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs--pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors. We have no other concern than that with either of them."
Let your heart chew on that one for a minute, and realize the incredible love of God, who continues to pursue us even though our free will causes us to stray every day. ...Who follows us deep into those crevices, where by backing away from the cliff we are entering a deep, dark cave. He patiently watches us travel horizontally, piously avoiding the worst of two evils, and all the time He is calling us from above, and waiting for us to stop and listen.
Praise be to our Father, who gave his life for us and calls us only to put our feet in His hands.
Blessings,
"I feel a strong desire to tell you-- and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me-- which of these two errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs--pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors. We have no other concern than that with either of them."
Let your heart chew on that one for a minute, and realize the incredible love of God, who continues to pursue us even though our free will causes us to stray every day. ...Who follows us deep into those crevices, where by backing away from the cliff we are entering a deep, dark cave. He patiently watches us travel horizontally, piously avoiding the worst of two evils, and all the time He is calling us from above, and waiting for us to stop and listen.
Praise be to our Father, who gave his life for us and calls us only to put our feet in His hands.
Blessings,
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
cliff notes....
VESPERS...amazing...totally surreal...one of those "everyone pull together or stand back and watch it collapse" experiences...ugly red dresses...crazy amounts of practice...draining and totally rewarding week...
PAPERS.....several of them....one about roly-polys that is gonna be about 14 pages long....who does that.....go figure....I'm pretty tired of making up homework that I should have done last week...
FRIENDS...vespers=awesome bonding for the choir kids....much fun and many late night practices and runs to steak and shake....finally found the group that I want to chill with for the rest of the year....mostly music majors...tons of fun....no alchohol needed....holy cow, what a concept...self proclaimed "Jesus people" rock my world....thanks lord....
FINALS....breathing down my neck but not quite here....got to enjoy my grandparents as much as possible before then....wishing that DCS had made me take one final in all of my time there....prayers would be nice.....
CHAPTER6......everytime I see those guys I'm amazed...such an awesome testimony...in your face...good stuff....new christmas songs and a fight with the circut breaker...lots of laughs...hot cocoa...
BED....you mean sleep....as in vertical rest...as in more than last night.....hmm...ok...you convinced me.....
PAPERS.....several of them....one about roly-polys that is gonna be about 14 pages long....who does that.....go figure....I'm pretty tired of making up homework that I should have done last week...
FRIENDS...vespers=awesome bonding for the choir kids....much fun and many late night practices and runs to steak and shake....finally found the group that I want to chill with for the rest of the year....mostly music majors...tons of fun....no alchohol needed....holy cow, what a concept...self proclaimed "Jesus people" rock my world....thanks lord....
FINALS....breathing down my neck but not quite here....got to enjoy my grandparents as much as possible before then....wishing that DCS had made me take one final in all of my time there....prayers would be nice.....
CHAPTER6......everytime I see those guys I'm amazed...such an awesome testimony...in your face...good stuff....new christmas songs and a fight with the circut breaker...lots of laughs...hot cocoa...
BED....you mean sleep....as in vertical rest...as in more than last night.....hmm...ok...you convinced me.....
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Be still...
Still is something I don't do too often. Stop...listen...sit...meditate...breathe...wonder... These are the things my independent and flurried nature often forget to allow. In the midst of a crazy service sunday, God caught me by the collar and whispered a few important words to me. "Be STILL...and KNOW that I am God. Come to me. Learn to trust by sitting in my lap instead of running ahead and wondering when I'll catch up. Stop inviting the frustration of spinning your wheels. Feel the healing of being effective again. Will you just WAIT??" Yet another beautiful hymn that I missed in my growing up years and have come to appreciate recently...dust off that hymnal if you don't know the tune:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
May we all learn to invite his peace and calm into our lives, which are not really ours at all. Blessings to you~
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
May we all learn to invite his peace and calm into our lives, which are not really ours at all. Blessings to you~
Sunday, November 13, 2005
the ugly, the bad, and the just plain good...
Holy cow, and greetings all!!
It seems like yesterday that I was prattling away on here in my last entry, and yet somehow more than a week has slipped by. Guess I really am busy over here. Allow me to fill you in:
Let's see...I think I left you the night before our departure for the IV conference in Dekalb. We spent last weekend up there and it was really good. Hard...but good. It was a racial conference for white people. ...yeah, that's what I thought too...what in the world is this about?? But it turned out to be one of the most challenging weekends I've been through for a long time. We always recognize that different ethnicities have connotations projected by the color of their skin, but we very rarely stop to wonder what the connotations attached to ours are. Wow...it's sad guys....it's devestating...it makes me want to puke...puke and then go throw my heart and soul into changing things, one person at a time. We had an awesome 3 days of teaching, prayer, worship, and confession....and came home with a challenge to "stay in pain." There's an interesting thought for you...how are we to keep doing God's work if we are not kept in pain, and reminded thereby that there is a problem? Perhaps this is the whole reason for the suffering that we are promised on our straight and narrow journey.
In contrast to the heavy deep and real subjects we covered in the conference, God sent me a huge blessing...I got to visit with Matt H for a good while and we played some frisbee in the rain (frisbee withdrawl finally curbed...for now...) and an endless game of pool with some other kids from the group. It was so nice to see him again and be encouraged and laugh with an old pal. Thanks bud!! God also granted me a great time with the 3 other millikin girls who attended. These girls are awesome and will keep me focused, lifted up in prayer, and laughing too. :)
Sunday afternoon, after a stuff your face mexican feed (guac and salsa made right at the table...yeah budddy) we headed home and drove onto campus 10 minutes before our first vespers rehersal. That was quite possibly the weirdest experience I've had in a while...but so cool too. It's official...my dad is the best there is...
This week is really a blur that I'm having trouble sorting out at this point. Classes are good for the most part, but each day comes with it's new set of challenges. A discussion that I have to "stand up" in the midst of, an embarassing moment (or 5), a ruined chemistry lab (...oh, it's burnt alright...), a bad grade on a huge paper, a forboding feeling of loneliness that I can't shake. And yet in the midst of things, as classes heat up and the semester presses on I am finding more and more aquaintances that just may become good friends in the future. PATIENCE! ...not too good at that one.
This weekend I attended "The Baker's Wife," our theater department's latest production. I also babysat for 6 hours saturday afternoon and worked at the hospital saturday night. Today was church, lunch, shopping, church choir practice, and then vespers rehersal. aka...I have no voice now... :) We are singing some amazing pieces...and I'm just praying that the incredible message carried in each will somehow penetrate the faces sitting all around me. That's one cool thing about choir music...it's allowed to be blatantly sacred. This is one area where christians have done well in keeping up with the world and producing truth in a form that's both amazing and acccepted by the general public. Anyway, long ways to come...but the dream of finally being in this production during the first week in December just about has me giddy....
This week I'm doing a ton of random stuff...presentation of our roly poly project in bio...Vocal Jazz concert (I am jazzed...no pun intended) Tuesday, huge test Friday, vocal Jury on Saturday morning. ...and, praise the lord, life goes on.
I'd appreciate prayers for:
-my health...I'm stretched and I need good vocal chords this week especially!
-some personal jazz that's been challenging me...self control and peace needed
-strength to minister to those around me...and the determination to keep looking around and seeing the need.
May I leave you with a verse that we were challenged with last weekend. How quickly I forget that none of God's commandments or promises are on my terms. ...from Isaiah 58
For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right...they ask me for decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. "Why have we fasted," they say, " and you have not seen it?? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed??" Yet on the day fo your fasting, you do as you please, and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrels and strife...you cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high....is this not the kind of fasting that I have chosen??...that you share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?? THEN your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear...THEN you will call and the Lord will answer, you willl cry for help, and he will say: here I am...
I'm praying for you all...have an awesome week...I'm off to hit the hay hard!! :) Blessings and love~~
me
It seems like yesterday that I was prattling away on here in my last entry, and yet somehow more than a week has slipped by. Guess I really am busy over here. Allow me to fill you in:
Let's see...I think I left you the night before our departure for the IV conference in Dekalb. We spent last weekend up there and it was really good. Hard...but good. It was a racial conference for white people. ...yeah, that's what I thought too...what in the world is this about?? But it turned out to be one of the most challenging weekends I've been through for a long time. We always recognize that different ethnicities have connotations projected by the color of their skin, but we very rarely stop to wonder what the connotations attached to ours are. Wow...it's sad guys....it's devestating...it makes me want to puke...puke and then go throw my heart and soul into changing things, one person at a time. We had an awesome 3 days of teaching, prayer, worship, and confession....and came home with a challenge to "stay in pain." There's an interesting thought for you...how are we to keep doing God's work if we are not kept in pain, and reminded thereby that there is a problem? Perhaps this is the whole reason for the suffering that we are promised on our straight and narrow journey.
In contrast to the heavy deep and real subjects we covered in the conference, God sent me a huge blessing...I got to visit with Matt H for a good while and we played some frisbee in the rain (frisbee withdrawl finally curbed...for now...) and an endless game of pool with some other kids from the group. It was so nice to see him again and be encouraged and laugh with an old pal. Thanks bud!! God also granted me a great time with the 3 other millikin girls who attended. These girls are awesome and will keep me focused, lifted up in prayer, and laughing too. :)
Sunday afternoon, after a stuff your face mexican feed (guac and salsa made right at the table...yeah budddy) we headed home and drove onto campus 10 minutes before our first vespers rehersal. That was quite possibly the weirdest experience I've had in a while...but so cool too. It's official...my dad is the best there is...
This week is really a blur that I'm having trouble sorting out at this point. Classes are good for the most part, but each day comes with it's new set of challenges. A discussion that I have to "stand up" in the midst of, an embarassing moment (or 5), a ruined chemistry lab (...oh, it's burnt alright...), a bad grade on a huge paper, a forboding feeling of loneliness that I can't shake. And yet in the midst of things, as classes heat up and the semester presses on I am finding more and more aquaintances that just may become good friends in the future. PATIENCE! ...not too good at that one.
This weekend I attended "The Baker's Wife," our theater department's latest production. I also babysat for 6 hours saturday afternoon and worked at the hospital saturday night. Today was church, lunch, shopping, church choir practice, and then vespers rehersal. aka...I have no voice now... :) We are singing some amazing pieces...and I'm just praying that the incredible message carried in each will somehow penetrate the faces sitting all around me. That's one cool thing about choir music...it's allowed to be blatantly sacred. This is one area where christians have done well in keeping up with the world and producing truth in a form that's both amazing and acccepted by the general public. Anyway, long ways to come...but the dream of finally being in this production during the first week in December just about has me giddy....
This week I'm doing a ton of random stuff...presentation of our roly poly project in bio...Vocal Jazz concert (I am jazzed...no pun intended) Tuesday, huge test Friday, vocal Jury on Saturday morning. ...and, praise the lord, life goes on.
I'd appreciate prayers for:
-my health...I'm stretched and I need good vocal chords this week especially!
-some personal jazz that's been challenging me...self control and peace needed
-strength to minister to those around me...and the determination to keep looking around and seeing the need.
May I leave you with a verse that we were challenged with last weekend. How quickly I forget that none of God's commandments or promises are on my terms. ...from Isaiah 58
For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right...they ask me for decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. "Why have we fasted," they say, " and you have not seen it?? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed??" Yet on the day fo your fasting, you do as you please, and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrels and strife...you cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high....is this not the kind of fasting that I have chosen??...that you share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?? THEN your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear...THEN you will call and the Lord will answer, you willl cry for help, and he will say: here I am...
I'm praying for you all...have an awesome week...I'm off to hit the hay hard!! :) Blessings and love~~
me
Thursday, November 03, 2005
a nutshell for you...
Hey y'all...
Not much time but I thought I'd drop a line for anyone who cares to read this. It's been a very busy week and time is simply flying. Vespers rehersals start on Sunday, Advising is next week, final projects, speeches, and group work are at their climax, and I'm getting tight with the roly polys here (ever spent 3 hours poking them and recording their behavior?? I have...) This morning was Ray Pinkley's funeral...a stunning tribute to a fantastic guy. I had never been to a millitary man's burial...it was very moving. Keep praying for Mrs. Pinkley...she was amazingly joyful but I know that she is hurting too.
This weekend I am going up to NIU for a Intervarsity retreat...not too many people going, but it should be a good chance to get to know the ones who are. I'm ready for the chance to get out of town and get a little rejuvinated.
Well, I'm off to another round of roly poly observation...bleh. I am tired...very tired...but I'm trusting God to give me strength. Prayers appreciated. Hope you all are having a great week. Love ya~
Love lifted me, love lifted me,
When nothing else could help love lifted me...
Not much time but I thought I'd drop a line for anyone who cares to read this. It's been a very busy week and time is simply flying. Vespers rehersals start on Sunday, Advising is next week, final projects, speeches, and group work are at their climax, and I'm getting tight with the roly polys here (ever spent 3 hours poking them and recording their behavior?? I have...) This morning was Ray Pinkley's funeral...a stunning tribute to a fantastic guy. I had never been to a millitary man's burial...it was very moving. Keep praying for Mrs. Pinkley...she was amazingly joyful but I know that she is hurting too.
This weekend I am going up to NIU for a Intervarsity retreat...not too many people going, but it should be a good chance to get to know the ones who are. I'm ready for the chance to get out of town and get a little rejuvinated.
Well, I'm off to another round of roly poly observation...bleh. I am tired...very tired...but I'm trusting God to give me strength. Prayers appreciated. Hope you all are having a great week. Love ya~
Love lifted me, love lifted me,
When nothing else could help love lifted me...
Monday, October 31, 2005
If these don't make your day, nothing will
Hey all...
So I wanted to share some pics of my most recent experiences. It seems that all the sudden my life is full of kids! Friday night we went to the Booseum and got to do science experiments and a costume contest with all the kids. These guys absolutely cracked me up...especially the little boy who freaked out when we showed him the "ooblick" aka monster slime. :)
And the prize goes to... well, he didn't get the real prize, but in my mind there was really no competition... Continuing with the theme, for the next day or two our old friends the Traums, with their 7, 2, and six month old daughters, are here. This makes our house the biggest anti study zone in the world, but it's all good. ....last night I was carving partner with the two year old. Together we created a pumpkin Piccasso would be proud of. So much fun. Hope these made you smile!
So I wanted to share some pics of my most recent experiences. It seems that all the sudden my life is full of kids! Friday night we went to the Booseum and got to do science experiments and a costume contest with all the kids. These guys absolutely cracked me up...especially the little boy who freaked out when we showed him the "ooblick" aka monster slime. :)
This power ranger really got into it...gotta love the fake muscles...
And many of them loved the volcano project...baking soda and vinegar were never put to better use!
awww!! I want one!! (just not for a little while...) :)
There has to be a witty caption for this somewhere...but I know I won't do it justice if I try...
And the prize goes to... well, he didn't get the real prize, but in my mind there was really no competition... Continuing with the theme, for the next day or two our old friends the Traums, with their 7, 2, and six month old daughters, are here. This makes our house the biggest anti study zone in the world, but it's all good. ....last night I was carving partner with the two year old. Together we created a pumpkin Piccasso would be proud of. So much fun. Hope these made you smile!
It's been a little while since I've done much babysitting, but the last time I did I for some reason had my camera. Since then these post card shots have made my day many times. 
Ever have one of those times in your life when you feel like you're really supposed to be getting the point because God keeps bringing the same thing to your attention. Well...it's happening to me through these little kidlets. Something about their innocence...their amazing joy...their facination with life...their honesty. Something about the way they put their trust in you when they run to you for a hug or to be held. Something about the way that they mimick and immitate your every move. Something about the fact that everything they have is little, but they give it all...and sometimes that is worth more than all the paritial, two faced, uninterested, bored "grown ups" in the world.
Little hands, little hearts, little smiles. For all of these and the lessons they have taught me recently...praise the Lord.
Ever have one of those times in your life when you feel like you're really supposed to be getting the point because God keeps bringing the same thing to your attention. Well...it's happening to me through these little kidlets. Something about their innocence...their amazing joy...their facination with life...their honesty. Something about the way they put their trust in you when they run to you for a hug or to be held. Something about the way that they mimick and immitate your every move. Something about the fact that everything they have is little, but they give it all...and sometimes that is worth more than all the paritial, two faced, uninterested, bored "grown ups" in the world.
Little hands, little hearts, little smiles. For all of these and the lessons they have taught me recently...praise the Lord.
Friday, October 28, 2005
TGIF
Hey y'all...
This week has flown (fine by me) and suddenly it's Friday afternoon and I'm staring at the weekend again...the last one in October. Can you believe it?
Thank goodness this week slowed down a bit. After all of the flurry last weekend and the stress of pre-fall break tests, it has been a welcome relief to find the monotony of normal class periods, short homework assignments, and the never ending ebb and flow of college existence. I find more and more that I'm loosing touch with individual moments for the feeling of just being carried along by it all and affected by the whole. Ok I guess...but I like specific moments too. Hmmm....
This weekend is FULL!! And fun too...Tonight I head to the "Booseum" at the children's Museum with a few of my buddies. We will be helping out wherever needed...painting faces, helping sticky-fingered kids make treats and crafts, sporting costumes, probaby playing in the museum some too! :) Then mom wants me to help her get started on a quilting project and I think we'll pop in a movie. Something about green tomatoes...I'll let you know. Tomorrow we clean for the arrival of our old friends the Traums, who will be here Sun and Mon...and I work, Sunday the choirs have their fall concert. Good times.
Looking ahead is always a bit intimidating, but somehow around this year I get way pumped to do so. Vespers, turkey day, finals, snow and coldness, christmas caroling, presents, and a month of break. What am I talking about...the leaves haven't fallen and I'm only a week out of fall break! Oh wells...
Wish I had something more interesting to say...but I don't...so there. Hope y'all have a great weekend...blessings and prayers~
This week has flown (fine by me) and suddenly it's Friday afternoon and I'm staring at the weekend again...the last one in October. Can you believe it?
Thank goodness this week slowed down a bit. After all of the flurry last weekend and the stress of pre-fall break tests, it has been a welcome relief to find the monotony of normal class periods, short homework assignments, and the never ending ebb and flow of college existence. I find more and more that I'm loosing touch with individual moments for the feeling of just being carried along by it all and affected by the whole. Ok I guess...but I like specific moments too. Hmmm....
This weekend is FULL!! And fun too...Tonight I head to the "Booseum" at the children's Museum with a few of my buddies. We will be helping out wherever needed...painting faces, helping sticky-fingered kids make treats and crafts, sporting costumes, probaby playing in the museum some too! :) Then mom wants me to help her get started on a quilting project and I think we'll pop in a movie. Something about green tomatoes...I'll let you know. Tomorrow we clean for the arrival of our old friends the Traums, who will be here Sun and Mon...and I work, Sunday the choirs have their fall concert. Good times.
Looking ahead is always a bit intimidating, but somehow around this year I get way pumped to do so. Vespers, turkey day, finals, snow and coldness, christmas caroling, presents, and a month of break. What am I talking about...the leaves haven't fallen and I'm only a week out of fall break! Oh wells...
Wish I had something more interesting to say...but I don't...so there. Hope y'all have a great weekend...blessings and prayers~
Monday, October 24, 2005
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Probably
In the past 10 days....
~I have probably learned how to drive a golf cart both in drive and reverse (and I've learned how to plug it in to charge) I have also probably driven it at 2 am under a full moon
~I have probably spent a fair amount of time "working the farm" and toting water buckets, lost cats, food for the swans, and mail from here to all the ends of creation
~I have probably chased two runaway dogs for 45 minutes around the pond in the backyard...in my PJ's...and I have probably attracted most of the really annoying sticky seeds in these woods on my pants in the process
~I have probably chased the dog the size of a horse out of the pond twice...and bathed him later
~I have probably watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" twice
~I have probably spent the week with a variety of awesome people and enjoyed the awesome house in a ton of ways
~I have probably had a pie war with Ryan Jackson
~I have probably been reunited with a ton of my friends from the college world and undergone the surreal experience with each of realizing that they are not the only ones who have changed a lot in the past two months
~I have probably experienced the worst test of my life...ever...chemistry is not my strength
~I have proabably spent some rockin time with my sis again and gotten some good talk time in
~I have probably completed my "independence fix" to hold me for a little while....good stuff
Some of you know that most of these are true....and most of you know that some of these are true...but ALL of you don't know for a fact that ALL of these are true....so I figure I'm safe. Blessings on your week....
~I have probably learned how to drive a golf cart both in drive and reverse (and I've learned how to plug it in to charge) I have also probably driven it at 2 am under a full moon
~I have probably spent a fair amount of time "working the farm" and toting water buckets, lost cats, food for the swans, and mail from here to all the ends of creation
~I have probably chased two runaway dogs for 45 minutes around the pond in the backyard...in my PJ's...and I have probably attracted most of the really annoying sticky seeds in these woods on my pants in the process
~I have probably chased the dog the size of a horse out of the pond twice...and bathed him later
~I have probably watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" twice
~I have probably spent the week with a variety of awesome people and enjoyed the awesome house in a ton of ways
~I have probably had a pie war with Ryan Jackson
~I have probably been reunited with a ton of my friends from the college world and undergone the surreal experience with each of realizing that they are not the only ones who have changed a lot in the past two months
~I have probably experienced the worst test of my life...ever...chemistry is not my strength
~I have proabably spent some rockin time with my sis again and gotten some good talk time in
~I have probably completed my "independence fix" to hold me for a little while....good stuff
Some of you know that most of these are true....and most of you know that some of these are true...but ALL of you don't know for a fact that ALL of these are true....so I figure I'm safe. Blessings on your week....
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Sometimes college cracks me up....
So I wanted to let you know about all the productive things that are going on in my life, the indescribable knowledge that has been granted to me over the past few weeks...I mean, wow...it's been reallly incredible:
~On Thursday we had a Bio lab on Cricket grooming methods. Basically we got a partner, 5 crickets, a bag of cornstarch, several observation methods, and 2 hours. We were to dust the crickets (and I quote from the lab assignment...) "Shake and bake style" and watch them clean themselves, recording the data in various ways. At one point I took a moment to relieve my cramped neck while my less than cooperative cricket groomed it's left antennae for the fifth time and I was reduced to a fit of laughter after seeing 6 pairs of eager college freshmen crouched around a plastic cage, armed with pencils and stop watches, and observing some very white and disgruntled crickets. It was quite a show.
~Chem is throwing me for a loop, and today in class we spent a good 10 minutes arguing in small groups about whether a percent of ionization of a compound was the entire percent of all the molecules or only the percent of each individual atom. And the funny thing is that I understood it about as well as you just did.
~In vocal jazz we are learning the ins and outs of "shooby do-oping"...yes, there acutally is a style that has to be followed for that crazy 50's music that sounds like all the singers have amnesia and can't remember the words! :)
~Our Seminar class is in the middle of a big group project in which we are planning an activity night for 3-5 year olds at the Children's Museum. This involves everything from reading crazy stories to playing with playdough and koolaid. The theme is colors, and its gonna be a blast. We also get class credit for helping with the "Booseum" near halloween. I love little kids!!
~On Monday we went to see the fireworks at the opening ceremony for Homecoming. No wonder our student activities fee is so much...it was an awesome show! It was hillarious hearing all the kids react to them, such as the girl standing behind us who yelled out "purple!!" every time she saw that color. Got to love the academic excellence here.
~Friday night there was a huge bonfire at a guy's house who goes to Intervarsity. It was classic, and hardly altered at all from any bonfire I've been to since I was in high school. We sang Veggie tales on the hay rack ride, the boys played with the fire (and one got a hole burnt in his shoe), we threatened to play cubby bunnies but never got around to it, we went and laid in a ditch along a country road and looked for shooting stars, we got scared coming back in the dark and I somehow ended up in a hole in the ground. Good times...I guess the lesson there is don't go walking in the dark in the country. :)
~Today I met a random stranger on the pathway on my way to class and he said hi and I asked how his day was. He told me he was tired, but that that was a prerequisite for a day of college....ah....I tend to agree. The other night I got out of the shower and did not discover until I was partially dressed that I still had shampoo in my hair. Perhaps I need to sign up for napping 101 before next sememster fills up...
Sorry for the complete lack of organization...love you all and can't wait to see those of you who decide to come home in the near future! Oh, and for those of you who leave comments (yes, all two of you...) sorry for the word verification, but these spam comments are getting rediculous...so you get to do more work rather than me get excited that someone loves me only to find out that "iheartyou" has a new online dating service. Hope you don't mind
Blessings~
~On Thursday we had a Bio lab on Cricket grooming methods. Basically we got a partner, 5 crickets, a bag of cornstarch, several observation methods, and 2 hours. We were to dust the crickets (and I quote from the lab assignment...) "Shake and bake style" and watch them clean themselves, recording the data in various ways. At one point I took a moment to relieve my cramped neck while my less than cooperative cricket groomed it's left antennae for the fifth time and I was reduced to a fit of laughter after seeing 6 pairs of eager college freshmen crouched around a plastic cage, armed with pencils and stop watches, and observing some very white and disgruntled crickets. It was quite a show.
~Chem is throwing me for a loop, and today in class we spent a good 10 minutes arguing in small groups about whether a percent of ionization of a compound was the entire percent of all the molecules or only the percent of each individual atom. And the funny thing is that I understood it about as well as you just did.
~In vocal jazz we are learning the ins and outs of "shooby do-oping"...yes, there acutally is a style that has to be followed for that crazy 50's music that sounds like all the singers have amnesia and can't remember the words! :)
~Our Seminar class is in the middle of a big group project in which we are planning an activity night for 3-5 year olds at the Children's Museum. This involves everything from reading crazy stories to playing with playdough and koolaid. The theme is colors, and its gonna be a blast. We also get class credit for helping with the "Booseum" near halloween. I love little kids!!
~On Monday we went to see the fireworks at the opening ceremony for Homecoming. No wonder our student activities fee is so much...it was an awesome show! It was hillarious hearing all the kids react to them, such as the girl standing behind us who yelled out "purple!!" every time she saw that color. Got to love the academic excellence here.
~Friday night there was a huge bonfire at a guy's house who goes to Intervarsity. It was classic, and hardly altered at all from any bonfire I've been to since I was in high school. We sang Veggie tales on the hay rack ride, the boys played with the fire (and one got a hole burnt in his shoe), we threatened to play cubby bunnies but never got around to it, we went and laid in a ditch along a country road and looked for shooting stars, we got scared coming back in the dark and I somehow ended up in a hole in the ground. Good times...I guess the lesson there is don't go walking in the dark in the country. :)
~Today I met a random stranger on the pathway on my way to class and he said hi and I asked how his day was. He told me he was tired, but that that was a prerequisite for a day of college....ah....I tend to agree. The other night I got out of the shower and did not discover until I was partially dressed that I still had shampoo in my hair. Perhaps I need to sign up for napping 101 before next sememster fills up...
Sorry for the complete lack of organization...love you all and can't wait to see those of you who decide to come home in the near future! Oh, and for those of you who leave comments (yes, all two of you...) sorry for the word verification, but these spam comments are getting rediculous...so you get to do more work rather than me get excited that someone loves me only to find out that "iheartyou" has a new online dating service. Hope you don't mind
Blessings~
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Lost...
I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.
Oh plunge me deep in love - put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.
Sarah Teasdale
"Creatures are not born with desires unless a satsifaction exists. If life leaves me with a longing that no experience satisfies, then I must realize that I was made for another world" C.S Lewis
Carry on in hope and faith...blessings
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)