I love writing for a prompt. Why? Well, I love writing, but I don't always have a clear idea what I want to write. For example, today I was rather bored as I was subbing. Staring at students for hours on end is not extremely intellectually stimulating. So what materials did I have? Paper. With paper, I tried to write, but it turned out to be a very dull account of what I was doing. Enter, my saviour: the prompt!
I write well when I write for a purpose. When I encountered the following prompt, I was excited, because it made me think about The Chronicles of Narnia, something in which I already am have a profound interest. I didn't win anything, but I thought my purposeful writing worth sharing. Maybe it will stimulate your heart and mind, as well. :)
In 200 words or less, tell us your favorite character from The Chronicles of Narnia series and share why you would like to attend the London premiere of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
I had never taken time to consciously consider a favorite character from the Narnia series. C.S. Lewis filled the series with a plethora of fantastic characters; each has a depth of its own, as well as different struggles and triumphs. I have identified with different characters at different times, yet I can easily say that my favorite is Shasta from The Horse and His Boy. It is his story to which I return the most, drawn by the wonder of a child both physically and spiritually lost and then so miraculously found by a Loving Father. Neither the themes of redemption and love nor the thrill of suspense and victory in this tale have ever disappointed me. They provide not simply a story but also a glimpse of my Heavenly Father. That is why I would be delighted to travel to London for the premiere of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Lewis’ Narnia has always helped me relate to the Triune God by painting glorious pictures of how even young children could know Him personally. I would be interested in seeing how those involved in the making of the Narnia films view the indisputably spiritual work of C.S. Lewis.
Postscript: Note that I used exactly 200 words. Being me, I started with more and whittled it down. Lol,:D.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
No-shave November
I recently heard on the radio that a guy could almost certainly point to a couple of girls he went to college with as the original instigators of No-shave November. At least he said he'd never been able to find anyone who could trace the annual event further back than these two girls in Texas. Apparently, in a season of singleness, they'd decided not to shave their legs for a month. I think the idea was that no one would know the difference--but word got out, and a holiday-month was born.
Well, that is my introduction--an anecdote of interest relative to this month. However, it is merely the reason I began thinking about this blog topic, not the focus of it. You see, I am here to tell you why I believe in a No-shave Life. I'm not being funny, silly, or sarcastic--I'm being serious. So if you don't ind, lend your eyes, your brain, and your heart for just a few moments.
I began not-shaving a couple of years ago. I've always been a fan of not-shaving during the winter. I mean, who really wants extra-cold legs when nobody will see them anyway? But in 2008, my nonconformity grew gradually bolder. You see, I had a dear friend and housemate who had never shaved her legs in her life, and she inspired me to do away with the senseless, uncomfortable, time-consuming practice.
My mother and younger sister were not fans, to say the least*, but their insistence for conformity strengthened my feelings of rebellion on the subject. Their attitudes and the prejudicial ones I encountered--or sometimes, perhaps, merely imagined--forced me to think:
~Why am I doing this?
~Why do I care?
~Why does the urging of the crowd--family, friends, random
acquaintances--make my generally docile self feel ready to boil
over?
~TBC~
*My father and older sister did not care, and my brother applauded my action--or rather, inaction.
Well, that is my introduction--an anecdote of interest relative to this month. However, it is merely the reason I began thinking about this blog topic, not the focus of it. You see, I am here to tell you why I believe in a No-shave Life. I'm not being funny, silly, or sarcastic--I'm being serious. So if you don't ind, lend your eyes, your brain, and your heart for just a few moments.
I began not-shaving a couple of years ago. I've always been a fan of not-shaving during the winter. I mean, who really wants extra-cold legs when nobody will see them anyway? But in 2008, my nonconformity grew gradually bolder. You see, I had a dear friend and housemate who had never shaved her legs in her life, and she inspired me to do away with the senseless, uncomfortable, time-consuming practice.
My mother and younger sister were not fans, to say the least*, but their insistence for conformity strengthened my feelings of rebellion on the subject. Their attitudes and the prejudicial ones I encountered--or sometimes, perhaps, merely imagined--forced me to think:
~Why am I doing this?
~Why do I care?
~Why does the urging of the crowd--family, friends, random
acquaintances--make my generally docile self feel ready to boil
over?
~TBC~
*My father and older sister did not care, and my brother applauded my action--or rather, inaction.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
October
Saturday, October 16, 2010
11:39 PM
Sticky notes turn up in the oddest of places. This week I found three.
1) In the front cover of my Bible.
2) Under the white flip-flops that used to be Megan's.
3) Under the rug.
I learned some very interesting things through these sticky notes, such as,
1) Evil Sticky-noters have very good imaginations for where to place things,
2) Jennifer Jaff turned into a giraffe,
and 3) Jennifer Mutton turned into a button.
Had the urge to sticky-note someone's room, workplace, or car lately? You probably should. Someone will learn important things as a result.
11:39 PM
Sticky notes turn up in the oddest of places. This week I found three.
1) In the front cover of my Bible.
2) Under the white flip-flops that used to be Megan's.
3) Under the rug.
I learned some very interesting things through these sticky notes, such as,
1) Evil Sticky-noters have very good imaginations for where to place things,
2) Jennifer Jaff turned into a giraffe,
and 3) Jennifer Mutton turned into a button.
Had the urge to sticky-note someone's room, workplace, or car lately? You probably should. Someone will learn important things as a result.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
An Inadvertent Win:
I posted the following for Inklings Bookshop's Poetry Day contest on Thursday. I merely wanted to be involved in the discussion, because it was about children's poetry, and if there are two genres of literature that are my favorite, they are children's lit and poetry. If you put the two together, fireworks explode in my heart, and I can't help but grin. Why, just today a fourth grade girl came up to me and showed me Sharon Creech's Love That Dog and Hate That Cat, and I could hardly contain myself in a professional manner as I tried to communicate to her my enthusiasm for poetry and Sharon Creech. So here's my little snippet--I hope it gets you reading children's poetry! :D
"One of my favorite childhood poems is'Disobedience' by A.A. Milne, which is about how a 3 year old takes such good care of his mother, but unfortunately she disobeys him and ends up lost. Despite King George's offer of "forty shillings reward," James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree's mother is never found again. Alas! But it's hilarious..."
P.S. I was just perusing the blogs in my little subscription inbox (RSS feed? I don't know what it's called, for sure). In doing so, I have realized that I am ONE MONTH behind in my reading! How did this happen? I'm sorry, dear ones--I will begin catching up on your lives ASAP. (Which probably means after I get back from California on the 12th of October:(...) I'm sorry! Will catch up; cross my heart and kiss my elbow. Hasta luego.
"One of my favorite childhood poems is'Disobedience' by A.A. Milne, which is about how a 3 year old takes such good care of his mother, but unfortunately she disobeys him and ends up lost. Despite King George's offer of "forty shillings reward," James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree's mother is never found again. Alas! But it's hilarious..."
P.S. I was just perusing the blogs in my little subscription inbox (RSS feed? I don't know what it's called, for sure). In doing so, I have realized that I am ONE MONTH behind in my reading! How did this happen? I'm sorry, dear ones--I will begin catching up on your lives ASAP. (Which probably means after I get back from California on the 12th of October:(...) I'm sorry! Will catch up; cross my heart and kiss my elbow. Hasta luego.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Borrowing From an Email, While I've Got it So Concisely Written:
Here are three little internet videos that I have found helpful to both my mind and the way are relate to God and his world; maybe you've even heard of or seen them. All three videos touch on thoughts about consumerism.
"The Story of Stuff" was a video Nathaniel had me watch a couple years ago, and it gives legitimate concerns about our consumer society and why it isn't as great as a lot of Americans--Christians included--seem to think.
One of the Advent Conspiracy videos was shared with me by Brian a few months before Nate shared "The Story of Stuff" with me. (And I think I shared that one with Brian.) These videos are a specifically Christian and Christmas-oriented look at things--"stuff." I would say they're applicable to all of life, though, not only Christmas. I advise first watching "Enter the Story" then the "[AC] Promo 2009" videos, which are respectively the 5th and 4th videos down on this page. Or even better, watch "[AC] 2009 Promo" here so that you can make it full-screen and actually read the tiny print:). The other videos are probably great, too, but those are the only two I have watched, and I think it's good to watch them both, with "Enter the Story" coming first.
"The Story of Stuff" was a video Nathaniel had me watch a couple years ago, and it gives legitimate concerns about our consumer society and why it isn't as great as a lot of Americans--Christians included--seem to think.
One of the Advent Conspiracy videos was shared with me by Brian a few months before Nate shared "The Story of Stuff" with me. (And I think I shared that one with Brian.) These videos are a specifically Christian and Christmas-oriented look at things--"stuff." I would say they're applicable to all of life, though, not only Christmas. I advise first watching "Enter the Story" then the "[AC] Promo 2009" videos, which are respectively the 5th and 4th videos down on this page. Or even better, watch "[AC] 2009 Promo" here so that you can make it full-screen and actually read the tiny print:). The other videos are probably great, too, but those are the only two I have watched, and I think it's good to watch them both, with "Enter the Story" coming first.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A Frustration:
Allow me, briefly, to mention a frustration I have with the Christian sub-culture.
Disclaimer: I am in no way saying I am perfect and amazing and do the right thing all the time, neither from pure nor calculated motives. However, it frustrates me to listen to a Christian radio station that sends listeners to foreign countries purely for the sake of going to a concert. I keep hearing this contest go on, and I think, "Really? A trip to Ireland? What about the starving kids all over the world? What about humanitarian efforts?" I can understand sending people free CDs; it's both marketing and a source of encouragement and the Message of Christ. I can kind of understand sending people to concerts, though that's iffy, depending on the amount of money going into the whole thing. But the stations are provided those kinds of giveaways. But who is funding transporting people to foreign countries to go to concerts? I want to be a part of a sub-culture that focuses its energies and monies toward curing diseases or curing people of preventable diseases or providing drinking water and food to those who need it.
As I said before, I am far from perfect, but is it just me or does sending people on overseas vacations sound a little too much like American pop culture than being the hands and feet of Christ?
Feel free to argue.
Disclaimer: I am in no way saying I am perfect and amazing and do the right thing all the time, neither from pure nor calculated motives. However, it frustrates me to listen to a Christian radio station that sends listeners to foreign countries purely for the sake of going to a concert. I keep hearing this contest go on, and I think, "Really? A trip to Ireland? What about the starving kids all over the world? What about humanitarian efforts?" I can understand sending people free CDs; it's both marketing and a source of encouragement and the Message of Christ. I can kind of understand sending people to concerts, though that's iffy, depending on the amount of money going into the whole thing. But the stations are provided those kinds of giveaways. But who is funding transporting people to foreign countries to go to concerts? I want to be a part of a sub-culture that focuses its energies and monies toward curing diseases or curing people of preventable diseases or providing drinking water and food to those who need it.
As I said before, I am far from perfect, but is it just me or does sending people on overseas vacations sound a little too much like American pop culture than being the hands and feet of Christ?
Feel free to argue.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Changer of Lives
It is late, and I am going to school tomorrow, but I could not let tonight escape without some news. Tonight I learned that one of my youth group kids became a Christian!!! Praise God! That is a huge encouragement that what I am doing is somehow really changing people's lives. That's what I want to be, a Life-Changer, but sometimes I question it. There are so many job types out there, and each one has it's place. Just today I was wondering what kind of jobs are truly meant for me and I for them, and I'm still not sure. But it IS good to know that what I am doing right now, in this silly, humdrum, interim period of life-after-college-but-before-"REAL"-life can meaningfully impact those around me and help people find the love of a Saviour who provides the "peace that passeth understanding." He is the Changer of Lives who gives me the ability to help change others' lives. To God alone be the glory!
Other brief update: I have applied for a job at a bookshop in hopes of working there part-time and subbing, as well. I would like some kind of regular income, as my loan is soon coming due. Thank God that I have plenty of food, clothes, and options for shelter; I need only repay my loan until such a time as I have enough to finish it off. (After that, my family willlll charge me rent, unfortunately but understandably.) August has been a whirlwind, but a new season is beginning with the start-up of schools all over the valley. Also, I read a very meaningful, to me, short story by Roald Dahl today called "Lucky Break," and last week my mom & I went to visit my brother in California. That's not much, but it's all I have time for today. Tomorrow I'm observing a first grade teacher throughout her first day of school--should be fun, and educational!
TTFN!
Other brief update: I have applied for a job at a bookshop in hopes of working there part-time and subbing, as well. I would like some kind of regular income, as my loan is soon coming due. Thank God that I have plenty of food, clothes, and options for shelter; I need only repay my loan until such a time as I have enough to finish it off. (After that, my family willlll charge me rent, unfortunately but understandably.) August has been a whirlwind, but a new season is beginning with the start-up of schools all over the valley. Also, I read a very meaningful, to me, short story by Roald Dahl today called "Lucky Break," and last week my mom & I went to visit my brother in California. That's not much, but it's all I have time for today. Tomorrow I'm observing a first grade teacher throughout her first day of school--should be fun, and educational!
TTFN!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Ha HA!
As it says above...ha HA! I have figured out how to beat the beast that turns all my titles and labels into a foreign language! One must simply type the title and labels in the body and then cut and paste them into the proper locations. Not a cure, exactly; I still don't know why it does it to begin with. However, I have fixed all my run-together titles and labels and shall not have to run them together any longer, and THAT makes me quite glad!
What I have been doing since graduating:
I have been working as youth intern at my church! It was a job without any description beyond what I could recall previous interns having done, but I had a very strong desire for the job, regardless of unknowns--it was something God was putting in my heart. I sent a few emails in early May and, at long last, heard back in late May: I was hired!
Since then, I have been learning all kinds of things about what it means to be a leader involved in youth ministry. I make phone calls & reservations, write emails, buy hot dogs & hamburgers, stay up all night (ALL NIGHT!) with two middle schoolers while the rest of the kids crash on couches and the floor. I write facebook messages, make more and more facebook friends; I hang out with kids and talk, but more often I listen, listen, listen. I encounter persons from ages 9 to 12 to 16 who think I am 17 years old, and then I laugh--especially because the 9 and 12 year olds still think that's old:).
I read the Bible and I pray, pray, pray. A dear woman in our church, out of her amazing heart for our youth, comes each week and asks each student if they would like to fill out a prayer request for that week. She then takes the entirety of our youth group time to pray, pray, pray, and then she makes copies for another leader and myself so that we all may pray for these precious students, their highs, their lows, their struggles, their victories, their hearts' desires, week after week after week.
I teach Sunday school, trying to learn to be a better organizer-of-thoughts, a clearer speaker. I teach youth group and try for the same. And besides all these things, there are more hopes and dreams on my heart, just waiting for the opportunity to be introduced and fulfilled in the lives of these kids. The resounding question: How do I help them care? I can have all the service projects and spiritual growth and bonding events and activities in the world planned outside of youth group and Sunday school, but in this day and age of "Too Busy-ness," who will come? Who will care? Over and over I ask God, "How can I reach these kids?" We have to work to figure out how to make the most of the time we have with these young people of whom I was so recently one.
My heart desires to continue in this vein, whether there is money in it or not. I am hoping that my church will want to keep me on in an employed capacity, having seen me work and relate with these students throughout the summer, but even if they do not, I will stay until God directs me elsewhere. It takes time to build trust and relationships, and I don't want to throw those away--neither the time nor the relationships invested in this summer.
For me, you can pray for God's direction in my life. Somehow God will provide the means to repay my school loan, I know it, but I'd love it if that plan involved more-permanent employment with my church. It could also involve another part-time job, for unless they have very direct leading from God, I do not think I would be hired in a full-time capacity. Pray for me to grow continually closer to God as I seek his will for my life; pray for total surrender and complete obedience and submission as God asks me to be a fool for Christ--as he so often does in the littlest of ways.
~Soli Deo gloria, or To God alone be the glory.
Since then, I have been learning all kinds of things about what it means to be a leader involved in youth ministry. I make phone calls & reservations, write emails, buy hot dogs & hamburgers, stay up all night (ALL NIGHT!) with two middle schoolers while the rest of the kids crash on couches and the floor. I write facebook messages, make more and more facebook friends; I hang out with kids and talk, but more often I listen, listen, listen. I encounter persons from ages 9 to 12 to 16 who think I am 17 years old, and then I laugh--especially because the 9 and 12 year olds still think that's old:).
I read the Bible and I pray, pray, pray. A dear woman in our church, out of her amazing heart for our youth, comes each week and asks each student if they would like to fill out a prayer request for that week. She then takes the entirety of our youth group time to pray, pray, pray, and then she makes copies for another leader and myself so that we all may pray for these precious students, their highs, their lows, their struggles, their victories, their hearts' desires, week after week after week.
I teach Sunday school, trying to learn to be a better organizer-of-thoughts, a clearer speaker. I teach youth group and try for the same. And besides all these things, there are more hopes and dreams on my heart, just waiting for the opportunity to be introduced and fulfilled in the lives of these kids. The resounding question: How do I help them care? I can have all the service projects and spiritual growth and bonding events and activities in the world planned outside of youth group and Sunday school, but in this day and age of "Too Busy-ness," who will come? Who will care? Over and over I ask God, "How can I reach these kids?" We have to work to figure out how to make the most of the time we have with these young people of whom I was so recently one.
My heart desires to continue in this vein, whether there is money in it or not. I am hoping that my church will want to keep me on in an employed capacity, having seen me work and relate with these students throughout the summer, but even if they do not, I will stay until God directs me elsewhere. It takes time to build trust and relationships, and I don't want to throw those away--neither the time nor the relationships invested in this summer.
For me, you can pray for God's direction in my life. Somehow God will provide the means to repay my school loan, I know it, but I'd love it if that plan involved more-permanent employment with my church. It could also involve another part-time job, for unless they have very direct leading from God, I do not think I would be hired in a full-time capacity. Pray for me to grow continually closer to God as I seek his will for my life; pray for total surrender and complete obedience and submission as God asks me to be a fool for Christ--as he so often does in the littlest of ways.
~Soli Deo gloria, or To God alone be the glory.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Much to Think About
I know it's late, and bed is definitely calling. But there was much to think about, and here's one way I can process it a little better [i.e. by writing].
Nostalgia. This week has been full of nostalgia. First, on Sunday I went to a small group from church, and ohhhhh, did that feel good. I miss both Core and Village from school, though Core much more, since I stuck with it and got to know people better than through Village. It's so good to be able to gather with a small group of people to eat and talk and laugh and play and build community; it is such an integral part of the Christian life. Just read Acts--the early church lived in community. They also shared in a very God-centered, communistic manner, but that's another story. (Read it and find out:) Anyway, after getting back to the house of the people I carpooled with to small group, (carpooling: another nostalgia-inducing, "this-reminds-me-of-college" event) I was invited in for chit-chat and such, and in the course of that was invited to a Phantom of the Opera party on Thursday. It felt almost overwhelmingly good to have friends. Yes, I've had friends for a while now here, but this is evidence that we are becoming even better friends, that I can hang out at people's houses and that we can have fun together on a regular basis:).
Tuesday, a friend & I planned an old-movie-athon for Monday--further evidence of real friendship:D.
Thursday, we watched Phantom of the Opera with our other friend and then planned more details for Monday.
In between, on Wednesday, another few friends planned a Midnight Bowling party for Friday (today/technically yesterday).
Today was soooooo much fun!!! Oh. my. goodness! We bowled--always fun--and then went in search for ice cream. Baskin Robbins was closed, DQ was closed; we settled for Walmart, which for the record has cheaper pints of ice cream than Safeway, at least right now. First, we girls stopped by the bathroom while the boys wandered off. Second, we girls looked at clothes, while the boys were presumably gazing at ice cream. Third, we girls found the boys in the ice cream aisle. Fourth, we spent a considerable amount of time choosing kinds of ice cream, and I made an excellent choice: Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Macademia--soooooo good! Fifth, we wandered the store looking for boys shorts with a size 30 waist, which proved difficult, to say the least. Ended up looking at a lot of clothes, then wandering back to ice cream, then fiiiiinally paying and heading to the parking lot, where we cranked up the music (but not tooooo loud), ate ice cream, and danced around in the rain and watched the lightning give its most incredible performance yet.
Note about Thursday: There was also a guy giving a girl guitar lessons at the house while we watched Phantom of the Opera.
All these things remind me SOOOOO MUCH of Pullman Life. SOOOOO MUCH. Making our own fun, buying pints of ice cream, dancing in the rain as if without a care in the world, the music. Maybe some people lived like this before college and continue to do so after it, but I haven't had the opportunity. I left Pullman life in Pullman approximately 8 months ago, and I never knew how much I missed it until this week, tonight especially. Having friends everywhere, having music everywhere, having people be sooo laid-back and amiable. Being outside in the rain. THANK YOU, GOD. It's been incredible. And the best part? Fun didn't and doesn't end with Pullman; TBIYTC--the best is yet to come!
If alllll the raindrops were lemon drops & gumdrops,
oh what a rain it would be.
Standing outside with my mouth open wide,
ahh-ahh-uh-uhh-uhh-uhh-uhh-uhh-uhh.
If allll the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops,
oh what a rain it would be.
~SDG. [Soli Deo gloria]
Nostalgia. This week has been full of nostalgia. First, on Sunday I went to a small group from church, and ohhhhh, did that feel good. I miss both Core and Village from school, though Core much more, since I stuck with it and got to know people better than through Village. It's so good to be able to gather with a small group of people to eat and talk and laugh and play and build community; it is such an integral part of the Christian life. Just read Acts--the early church lived in community. They also shared in a very God-centered, communistic manner, but that's another story. (Read it and find out:) Anyway, after getting back to the house of the people I carpooled with to small group, (carpooling: another nostalgia-inducing, "this-reminds-me-of-college" event) I was invited in for chit-chat and such, and in the course of that was invited to a Phantom of the Opera party on Thursday. It felt almost overwhelmingly good to have friends. Yes, I've had friends for a while now here, but this is evidence that we are becoming even better friends, that I can hang out at people's houses and that we can have fun together on a regular basis:).
Tuesday, a friend & I planned an old-movie-athon for Monday--further evidence of real friendship:D.
Thursday, we watched Phantom of the Opera with our other friend and then planned more details for Monday.
In between, on Wednesday, another few friends planned a Midnight Bowling party for Friday (today/technically yesterday).
Today was soooooo much fun!!! Oh. my. goodness! We bowled--always fun--and then went in search for ice cream. Baskin Robbins was closed, DQ was closed; we settled for Walmart, which for the record has cheaper pints of ice cream than Safeway, at least right now. First, we girls stopped by the bathroom while the boys wandered off. Second, we girls looked at clothes, while the boys were presumably gazing at ice cream. Third, we girls found the boys in the ice cream aisle. Fourth, we spent a considerable amount of time choosing kinds of ice cream, and I made an excellent choice: Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Macademia--soooooo good! Fifth, we wandered the store looking for boys shorts with a size 30 waist, which proved difficult, to say the least. Ended up looking at a lot of clothes, then wandering back to ice cream, then fiiiiinally paying and heading to the parking lot, where we cranked up the music (but not tooooo loud), ate ice cream, and danced around in the rain and watched the lightning give its most incredible performance yet.
Note about Thursday: There was also a guy giving a girl guitar lessons at the house while we watched Phantom of the Opera.
All these things remind me SOOOOO MUCH of Pullman Life. SOOOOO MUCH. Making our own fun, buying pints of ice cream, dancing in the rain as if without a care in the world, the music. Maybe some people lived like this before college and continue to do so after it, but I haven't had the opportunity. I left Pullman life in Pullman approximately 8 months ago, and I never knew how much I missed it until this week, tonight especially. Having friends everywhere, having music everywhere, having people be sooo laid-back and amiable. Being outside in the rain. THANK YOU, GOD. It's been incredible. And the best part? Fun didn't and doesn't end with Pullman; TBIYTC--the best is yet to come!
If alllll the raindrops were lemon drops & gumdrops,
oh what a rain it would be.
Standing outside with my mouth open wide,
ahh-ahh-uh-uhh-uhh-uhh-uhh-uhh-uhh.
If allll the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops,
oh what a rain it would be.
~SDG. [Soli Deo gloria]
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Galaderia
Hmmmm. I thought I'd solved the title/label problem, but maybe that was only on another computer. Maybe the trouble is with my computer, and maybe I haven't solved the problem after all...
Anyway. Yesterday I learned the name of a very pretty flower. Today, I tested my powers of recollection and asked my mother, What's that flower's name? galaderia?" She responded, "Yes, galaderia."
Well, I wanted to know how to spell it. (Don't you???)
I always want to know the spellings of words I learn. Somehow I am not able to be completely in touch with the soul of a word until it's spelling & I are well-acquainted. I cannot explain why this is true, but I like that it is.
At any rate, I went to faithful Google to find the correct spelling of my flower. When regular Google only brought up mentions of Galladoria and bits of foreign languages, I moved my search to Google Images. Though Google Images, too, was sure I was interested in Galladoria, I simply was not. And while a search for "galaderia flower" came up blank, "galladeria flower" returned to me lovely photos of Gaillardia aristata, apparently also known as "blanketflower" or, much more delightfully, "goblin blanketflower."
Sadly, I prefer the misspelling--and mispronunciation-- of "galaderia," and I am nevertheless considering naming my first daughter such: Galaderia. Lovely ring to it, isn't there?
And after all, how many people would ever know it was a misnomer, really?
Mischievously yours,
~The Furry Eel~
Anyway. Yesterday I learned the name of a very pretty flower. Today, I tested my powers of recollection and asked my mother, What's that flower's name? galaderia?" She responded, "Yes, galaderia."
Well, I wanted to know how to spell it. (Don't you???)
I always want to know the spellings of words I learn. Somehow I am not able to be completely in touch with the soul of a word until it's spelling & I are well-acquainted. I cannot explain why this is true, but I like that it is.
At any rate, I went to faithful Google to find the correct spelling of my flower. When regular Google only brought up mentions of Galladoria and bits of foreign languages, I moved my search to Google Images. Though Google Images, too, was sure I was interested in Galladoria, I simply was not. And while a search for "galaderia flower" came up blank, "galladeria flower" returned to me lovely photos of Gaillardia aristata, apparently also known as "blanketflower" or, much more delightfully, "goblin blanketflower."
Sadly, I prefer the misspelling--and mispronunciation-- of "galaderia," and I am nevertheless considering naming my first daughter such: Galaderia. Lovely ring to it, isn't there?
And after all, how many people would ever know it was a misnomer, really?
Mischievously yours,
~The Furry Eel~
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Deep Breaths
Well, I've discovered that if I don't put any spaces in my titles and labels, they don't turn out Arabic. Haven't figured out any other way to fix that, yet, or had time to try Brian's suggestion on it.
This past week has been surreal, in both speed and happenings. The weekend of the 4th, I went to Spokane for a wedding, then spent Saturday doing yardwork with a friend in Reardan. Good times:). Sunday was church and a lunch at the house of some friends from church, which ended up cosuming the large majority of the day. Monday began as write-to-people day and ended in chaos. You see, my uncle in Alaska died, very unexpectedly. I have only one memory of the man; a good memory. But, needless to say, it hit my grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles pretty hard. He is the second child my grandparents have lost, and no one is sure whether he ever committed himself to Christ. But I'd rather not dwell on it. I prefer to latch onto the hope over the darkness, and I trust God, no matter what. Tuesday was college group, Wednesday was my first day as official youth intern (thus, youth group), Thursday my dad & aunt & uncle flew to Alaska to put their brother's affairs in order, Thursday I also spent 8 hours at an ex-teacher's house working/doing yard work (7 1/2 hours yardwork, 1/2 hour lunch), Thursday I also went to my high school's graduation ceremony, Friday my mother and I drove to Spokane for a wedding rehearsal + to finish my bachelorette party pottery project, Saturday was the wedding, Saturday we drove home, Sunday was church--including Sunday school with the youth--and dinner at three with my mom's parents and dinner 6 to almost 9 with the youth group's graduating seniors, and today my dad's parents came for dinner.
Point in fact: I am currently overwhelmed. I need lots of deep breaths and some slowing down, which is coming. I have been gone from home every weekend since school ended, due to weddings and housesitting and pikcing up my sister from school. I will be gone the next two weekends, housesitting. But hopefully the fact that I will not be going ANYWHERE out of the valley for the next good while means I will have a chance to breathe, relax, and wind down, besides being enthusiastically involved in productive work, such as interning and possibly volunteering and/or finding some kind of compatible work. (It'd have to be really flexible work...)
Point in fact 2: Praise God from whome all blessings flow. Through it all, he is here. Through it all, he gives me guidance and inspiration and love for even the people I completely do not understand.
Point in fact 3: I have decided, due to the hecticness of not only MY life, but those of almost everyone around me, that I do not want a full-time job next year. I want a part-time job that will allow me to be involved in my church and my community in meaningful and eternally significant ways. All around me are people "too busy" to spend real time with other people. If you are one of those people--and even I qualify, for my barely-employed life has been rather busy in exhausting ways for the past month and a half--I a) suggest you read Colin Beavan's
No Impact Man, b) suggest you reevaluate your desires and priorities for your life, and c) suggest you take action when you realize that God has provided ways for you to live a meaningful and abundant life--because he has. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," John 10:10 [NIV].
It's not easy. Lack of structured time, or more concisely time management, is something I really struggle to use wisely. I'm struggling now, I've struggled in the past, and I will likely struggle in the future--possibly my entire life. But that is no reason to give up. There is victory in Christ. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me," 2 Corinthians 12:9 [NIV]. Boasting about my weaknesses is another thing I find difficult, but another area God can work on in me. Life's a process, and I'm not going to suddenly just get it all right. But, as a very wise girl just told me, "I think this is good though. I think, in the end, I have a Savior. :)" And that pretty much sums it up: It's all about him and completely, totally not about me. Not. about. me.
In the vein of weddings, two of my favorite songs that weddings remind me of, one of which I've only just met:
"Margie Ann" by Fernando Ortega (about his wife:)
"Lemonade" by Chris Rice
OK--sleep well, friends.
This past week has been surreal, in both speed and happenings. The weekend of the 4th, I went to Spokane for a wedding, then spent Saturday doing yardwork with a friend in Reardan. Good times:). Sunday was church and a lunch at the house of some friends from church, which ended up cosuming the large majority of the day. Monday began as write-to-people day and ended in chaos. You see, my uncle in Alaska died, very unexpectedly. I have only one memory of the man; a good memory. But, needless to say, it hit my grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles pretty hard. He is the second child my grandparents have lost, and no one is sure whether he ever committed himself to Christ. But I'd rather not dwell on it. I prefer to latch onto the hope over the darkness, and I trust God, no matter what. Tuesday was college group, Wednesday was my first day as official youth intern (thus, youth group), Thursday my dad & aunt & uncle flew to Alaska to put their brother's affairs in order, Thursday I also spent 8 hours at an ex-teacher's house working/doing yard work (7 1/2 hours yardwork, 1/2 hour lunch), Thursday I also went to my high school's graduation ceremony, Friday my mother and I drove to Spokane for a wedding rehearsal + to finish my bachelorette party pottery project, Saturday was the wedding, Saturday we drove home, Sunday was church--including Sunday school with the youth--and dinner at three with my mom's parents and dinner 6 to almost 9 with the youth group's graduating seniors, and today my dad's parents came for dinner.
Point in fact: I am currently overwhelmed. I need lots of deep breaths and some slowing down, which is coming. I have been gone from home every weekend since school ended, due to weddings and housesitting and pikcing up my sister from school. I will be gone the next two weekends, housesitting. But hopefully the fact that I will not be going ANYWHERE out of the valley for the next good while means I will have a chance to breathe, relax, and wind down, besides being enthusiastically involved in productive work, such as interning and possibly volunteering and/or finding some kind of compatible work. (It'd have to be really flexible work...)
Point in fact 2: Praise God from whome all blessings flow. Through it all, he is here. Through it all, he gives me guidance and inspiration and love for even the people I completely do not understand.
Point in fact 3: I have decided, due to the hecticness of not only MY life, but those of almost everyone around me, that I do not want a full-time job next year. I want a part-time job that will allow me to be involved in my church and my community in meaningful and eternally significant ways. All around me are people "too busy" to spend real time with other people. If you are one of those people--and even I qualify, for my barely-employed life has been rather busy in exhausting ways for the past month and a half--I a) suggest you read Colin Beavan's
No Impact Man, b) suggest you reevaluate your desires and priorities for your life, and c) suggest you take action when you realize that God has provided ways for you to live a meaningful and abundant life--because he has. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," John 10:10 [NIV].
It's not easy. Lack of structured time, or more concisely time management, is something I really struggle to use wisely. I'm struggling now, I've struggled in the past, and I will likely struggle in the future--possibly my entire life. But that is no reason to give up. There is victory in Christ. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me," 2 Corinthians 12:9 [NIV]. Boasting about my weaknesses is another thing I find difficult, but another area God can work on in me. Life's a process, and I'm not going to suddenly just get it all right. But, as a very wise girl just told me, "I think this is good though. I think, in the end, I have a Savior. :)" And that pretty much sums it up: It's all about him and completely, totally not about me. Not. about. me.
In the vein of weddings, two of my favorite songs that weddings remind me of, one of which I've only just met:
"Margie Ann" by Fernando Ortega (about his wife:)
"Lemonade" by Chris Rice
OK--sleep well, friends.
From a Friend
Rain
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.
Shel Silverstein
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.
Shel Silverstein
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
~summer~
Grrrr...I don't know what's making my title's and stuff randomly translate themselves. It was amusing for about 3-10 seconds, till I realized I have no idea how to rectify that.
Anyway, the above says ~Summer~. [Oooh--I think I just fixed it, so it's not in a different language!:)]
Summer. Here it is. I'm glad:). I like summer. The weird thing is, this is my last end-of-school-as-a-student summer, as far as I know. I mean, maybe I'll go back to school, but I really don't know; I can't see anywhere near that far. I kind of hope not, but then there's so many things I still want to learn, so who knows. People keep talking about being almost done, and I am SO GLAD I'm already done. Done, done, done!
Today I found out that I get to be youth intern at my church. I'm super-stoked:)!!! It's so exciting! I'm sure there's plenty coming up that'll challenge me to the core, but it's a worthwhile cause, and one I think I'll enjoy, a lot. So here goes! It's different. I mean, day camp I was trained for. Teaching young kids, I've been trained for. But this? Older kids? We'll see. But God's in charge, and God's in control--so no worries.
Dear God--help me do this for you. Help me figure out how to do this for you. Not for me, not to be somehow altruistically involved in the community. I want to Shine. For you. It's hard for me. I'm so naturally shy. Break the ice; help me out; help me make a good difference in all kinds of lives. Today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter. Soli Deo gloria.
Amen.
Anyway, the above says ~Summer~. [Oooh--I think I just fixed it, so it's not in a different language!:)]
Summer. Here it is. I'm glad:). I like summer. The weird thing is, this is my last end-of-school-as-a-student summer, as far as I know. I mean, maybe I'll go back to school, but I really don't know; I can't see anywhere near that far. I kind of hope not, but then there's so many things I still want to learn, so who knows. People keep talking about being almost done, and I am SO GLAD I'm already done. Done, done, done!
Today I found out that I get to be youth intern at my church. I'm super-stoked:)!!! It's so exciting! I'm sure there's plenty coming up that'll challenge me to the core, but it's a worthwhile cause, and one I think I'll enjoy, a lot. So here goes! It's different. I mean, day camp I was trained for. Teaching young kids, I've been trained for. But this? Older kids? We'll see. But God's in charge, and God's in control--so no worries.
Dear God--help me do this for you. Help me figure out how to do this for you. Not for me, not to be somehow altruistically involved in the community. I want to Shine. For you. It's hard for me. I'm so naturally shy. Break the ice; help me out; help me make a good difference in all kinds of lives. Today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter. Soli Deo gloria.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Um, hi!
Quick update on my life:
-I had an interview today for a 1st grade position at my old school, aka the best school in the world that I could ever teacher at! It'd be really cool if I ended up there:), but I'm equally open to whatever else God may have in store. He's the wise one, after all.
-I'm filling out numerous job apps. Thank goodness for the one district that has it online! That makes things sooo much easier! I find pretty much all of the applications confusing, though. What do they want under experience? Do they want all the kid-related jobs I've ever had? Do they want only professional-type jobs I've had? Do they want any job I've ever had, kids-related or not???? Nobody explains these things.
-Meg & I got to meet with Julie Ann today, which was super-fun, and we found out she's MARRIED!!!!! Eloped March 27. Has a beautiful ring. Congrats Julie Ann & Murphy!!!:D!
-I was in one wedding in March. I am going to one wedding this Sunday. I am going to one wedding the following Sunday. I am in one more wedding in June. The weddings I'm in happen on Saturdays. The ones I'm not in are a week apart and in between the other two and happen to be on Sundays. Curious.
-In the meantime, as I await the 1st grade job decision, I am filling out numerous apps. I completely forgot I'd already said that till I got to "numerous." It is soooo time to go to bed.
-I also get to see my dear and wonderful friends Kiira, Rachel, and Sabrina this weekend, quite apart from whomever may be at the wedding. Hurray!
-I moved down to my grandparents' domain and Meg moved back into her room.
-Our ancient golden retriever, Molly, has been jumping down from our yard into my grandma's the past couple days for no apparent reason. Any suggestions? It's really strange, and we're afraid she's going to end up breaking something:(
-Was in Pullman last weekend and got to see various wonderful peoples! It was really nice:)
-Started going to my church's college group on Tuesday, because I need friends, and that's a pretty good way to start getting some, I think/hope. Spending time with people on a regular basis is the best way I get to know people, I think.
That's all for now. Adieu:)
-I had an interview today for a 1st grade position at my old school, aka the best school in the world that I could ever teacher at! It'd be really cool if I ended up there:), but I'm equally open to whatever else God may have in store. He's the wise one, after all.
-I'm filling out numerous job apps. Thank goodness for the one district that has it online! That makes things sooo much easier! I find pretty much all of the applications confusing, though. What do they want under experience? Do they want all the kid-related jobs I've ever had? Do they want only professional-type jobs I've had? Do they want any job I've ever had, kids-related or not???? Nobody explains these things.
-Meg & I got to meet with Julie Ann today, which was super-fun, and we found out she's MARRIED!!!!! Eloped March 27. Has a beautiful ring. Congrats Julie Ann & Murphy!!!:D!
-I was in one wedding in March. I am going to one wedding this Sunday. I am going to one wedding the following Sunday. I am in one more wedding in June. The weddings I'm in happen on Saturdays. The ones I'm not in are a week apart and in between the other two and happen to be on Sundays. Curious.
-In the meantime, as I await the 1st grade job decision, I am filling out numerous apps. I completely forgot I'd already said that till I got to "numerous." It is soooo time to go to bed.
-I also get to see my dear and wonderful friends Kiira, Rachel, and Sabrina this weekend, quite apart from whomever may be at the wedding. Hurray!
-I moved down to my grandparents' domain and Meg moved back into her room.
-Our ancient golden retriever, Molly, has been jumping down from our yard into my grandma's the past couple days for no apparent reason. Any suggestions? It's really strange, and we're afraid she's going to end up breaking something:(
-Was in Pullman last weekend and got to see various wonderful peoples! It was really nice:)
-Started going to my church's college group on Tuesday, because I need friends, and that's a pretty good way to start getting some, I think/hope. Spending time with people on a regular basis is the best way I get to know people, I think.
That's all for now. Adieu:)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Yippeeeeee!
Ten minutes ago, I got onto my email to just do a quick check before going to bed. The computer was on, and I hadn't checked my email today, so I figured I might's well. WELL! I didn't really figure there'd necessarily be anything on there, but lo and behold, I won a book-review contest, resulting in me getting a free book, which I get to get tomorrow, if all goes as planned! So awesome. It was a review on No Impact Man, which was formulated partially from my post about it. Just in case you want to see the review, (cuz of course you do!) here it is:
Every moment I can get, I have been sneaking snatches of Colin Beavan's No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes about Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process. It is the much-involved tale of how Colin, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Isabella embarked on a year-long attempt to minimize their environmental impact right from their own New York City apartment. This book is absolutely full of information, musings, and witticisms on all kinds of topics: the environment, the economy, stewardship, existentialism, intra-community relations, local and organic eating--the list goes on. It contains significantly more than I expected or bargained for, but wonderfully so. Whether you are looking for hilarity, eco-friendly tips, or just a good story about a year in the life of a little New York family, No Impact Man will draw you in and captivate you attention!
Wish me luck--who knows, it could be the beginning of my career as a famous writer;D!
Oh, and P.S.--I'M DONE! The student is done; the teacher must begin (or rather, continue). And I even have a half-day sub job for Wednesday! Woot!
Every moment I can get, I have been sneaking snatches of Colin Beavan's No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes about Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process. It is the much-involved tale of how Colin, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Isabella embarked on a year-long attempt to minimize their environmental impact right from their own New York City apartment. This book is absolutely full of information, musings, and witticisms on all kinds of topics: the environment, the economy, stewardship, existentialism, intra-community relations, local and organic eating--the list goes on. It contains significantly more than I expected or bargained for, but wonderfully so. Whether you are looking for hilarity, eco-friendly tips, or just a good story about a year in the life of a little New York family, No Impact Man will draw you in and captivate you attention!
Wish me luck--who knows, it could be the beginning of my career as a famous writer;D!
Oh, and P.S.--I'M DONE! The student is done; the teacher must begin (or rather, continue). And I even have a half-day sub job for Wednesday! Woot!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Hello!
Hey there, World :). What's up? This week seems like it has had at least an extra week squashed into it. My mom left last Friday so that she could fly out Saturday morning (early) to California to visit her grandma. Since then, I have mowed the lawn twice, made dinner three times (Dad helped on most of them, and they were rather simplistic), watered A LOT of plants, done some laundry, turned a composter almost daily (Dad did it once), done way too much homework (Thank God it's done! Yay!), and played a few games with my dad. It was a nice weekend-through Tuesday experience, but I'm so glad my mom's home! I still missed her. But I enjoyed being able to play the piano without using the damper pedal and being able to leave all my school work sprawled across the living and dining rooms without worrying about anyone caring AND not making my bed or cleaning my room (I just kept making more piles) for several days. That's how I roll under stress, so it was a good weekend for her to be gone.
And NOW, all the school stuff's turned in--HURRAY! I'm still a little paranoid. What if I did something wrong, somehow? What if they don't like the stuff on the CD I turned in? What if somehow I still fail? It's all prob'ly pretty silly, but I can't help it. But for now, I won't think about it. Come what may; soli Deo gloria.
This week feels extra long for another reason, besides my mom being gone. There have been all kinds of new experiences I've been jumping into! On Monday afternoon, I got to go supervise a 4th grade class, which was good practice. All week I've been making observations, and I have seen kindergartners (quite incidentally) in both music and P.E. I'm purposefully making it to all the classes in general, and I've seen the three K classes in their own rooms, but P.E. and music were added bonuses. They have helped me realize that I really am happiest working with kindies, and I am subliminally rejoicing at the kindergarten opening my school has next year. Well, theoretical opening--it depends on registration, which is really low at this point. Would they take me, even if they have the opening? Who knows, but I KNOW I want to apply for it if it opens in June, and that's a good thing to know. My love of kindergartners puts something a little more solid in the mass of "what-ifs" about my life. Thank you, Jesus!:)
Back to the supervising-rather-than-observing train of thought: I got to supervise 3rd graders starting their day yesterday and 2nd graders ending their day today and those same 4th graders eating lunch today. Really cool! It has given me more confidence, whereas before I was feeling like, "Oh, boy! I'm fine with 2nd, but how can I possibly sub anywhere else." Another praise:) Life is good, God is good. Plenty still up in the air, don't get me wrong, but unexpected blessings have been so wonderful to experience this week.
Also important: I began reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief on Monday (my post-stressful weekend veg-out session:), and it is fantastic! At the beginning I was kind of like, "Unhhhh--" because I was expecting Percy to be older than 12 and the style of writing to be a little different, but once I got started, I made it to pg. 93 before I stopped, and then I kept going. (Sorry, Dad, for the late dinner.......)
That's all for now; best wishes for a Thursday of Wonders:)
XOXO!
And NOW, all the school stuff's turned in--HURRAY! I'm still a little paranoid. What if I did something wrong, somehow? What if they don't like the stuff on the CD I turned in? What if somehow I still fail? It's all prob'ly pretty silly, but I can't help it. But for now, I won't think about it. Come what may; soli Deo gloria.
This week feels extra long for another reason, besides my mom being gone. There have been all kinds of new experiences I've been jumping into! On Monday afternoon, I got to go supervise a 4th grade class, which was good practice. All week I've been making observations, and I have seen kindergartners (quite incidentally) in both music and P.E. I'm purposefully making it to all the classes in general, and I've seen the three K classes in their own rooms, but P.E. and music were added bonuses. They have helped me realize that I really am happiest working with kindies, and I am subliminally rejoicing at the kindergarten opening my school has next year. Well, theoretical opening--it depends on registration, which is really low at this point. Would they take me, even if they have the opening? Who knows, but I KNOW I want to apply for it if it opens in June, and that's a good thing to know. My love of kindergartners puts something a little more solid in the mass of "what-ifs" about my life. Thank you, Jesus!:)
Back to the supervising-rather-than-observing train of thought: I got to supervise 3rd graders starting their day yesterday and 2nd graders ending their day today and those same 4th graders eating lunch today. Really cool! It has given me more confidence, whereas before I was feeling like, "Oh, boy! I'm fine with 2nd, but how can I possibly sub anywhere else." Another praise:) Life is good, God is good. Plenty still up in the air, don't get me wrong, but unexpected blessings have been so wonderful to experience this week.
Also important: I began reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief on Monday (my post-stressful weekend veg-out session:), and it is fantastic! At the beginning I was kind of like, "Unhhhh--" because I was expecting Percy to be older than 12 and the style of writing to be a little different, but once I got started, I made it to pg. 93 before I stopped, and then I kept going. (Sorry, Dad, for the late dinner.......)
That's all for now; best wishes for a Thursday of Wonders:)
XOXO!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Funny how these things happen most often when I should be either doing homework or sleeping...
Well, the report back:
God is good; peace is, for the most part, restored. Looking forward to going to my church tomorrow, not someone else's. (Two weeks ago I was in Pullman and didn't go to church, since my Pullman church happens at night. Last weekend I was at a retreat and went to a service, but it's not the same.) I love my church. I hope God uses me there in amazing ways, allows me to pour love into it. There are lot of things that need to change there, I think, and after much debate, I decided that staying there to help it change would be far superior to running away--church-hopping. I love my church, even if I've been gone for the past 3 1/2 years. I want to help it grow, reach out, and be healthy.
Read the last chapter of No Impact Man this morning. It gave me a great idea. One of the many internal issues I've been ruminating on is the fact that I a) don't want a 40 hr./week job once I have children and b) want to volunteer at my church have left me wondering, "How on earth will I ever get to know people in my community who don't go to church?" Well, No Impact Man provided me a solution in another area I am passionate about: environmentalism. I can volunteer with some sort of eco-conscious/environmentalistic organization(s)! Isn't that exciting? I suppose nothing ever turns out as planned anyway, but it's nice to at least have a solution in mind there.
OK, to bed!
Gute Nacht:)
God is good; peace is, for the most part, restored. Looking forward to going to my church tomorrow, not someone else's. (Two weeks ago I was in Pullman and didn't go to church, since my Pullman church happens at night. Last weekend I was at a retreat and went to a service, but it's not the same.) I love my church. I hope God uses me there in amazing ways, allows me to pour love into it. There are lot of things that need to change there, I think, and after much debate, I decided that staying there to help it change would be far superior to running away--church-hopping. I love my church, even if I've been gone for the past 3 1/2 years. I want to help it grow, reach out, and be healthy.
Read the last chapter of No Impact Man this morning. It gave me a great idea. One of the many internal issues I've been ruminating on is the fact that I a) don't want a 40 hr./week job once I have children and b) want to volunteer at my church have left me wondering, "How on earth will I ever get to know people in my community who don't go to church?" Well, No Impact Man provided me a solution in another area I am passionate about: environmentalism. I can volunteer with some sort of eco-conscious/environmentalistic organization(s)! Isn't that exciting? I suppose nothing ever turns out as planned anyway, but it's nice to at least have a solution in mind there.
OK, to bed!
Gute Nacht:)
"AHHHHHHHH!" is a fairly appropriate sentiment, I think.
Everything is due Monday. I am trying to organize everything that is and is not finished, finish what is not finished, and make sure I am not missing anything. It sounds so easy, but certainly is not. Still, shouldn't I feel impending glee at the thought of being done? Shouldn't I be at peace, knowing I won't have to figure all this out after Monday, knowing everything will work out, as it always does? Then why am I so stressed all of a sudden? I'm fine till I start facing it all and trying to do it, and then my heart starts beating faster and it's harder to breathe or to think. These are the symptoms that perpetuate procrastination in my life. But I don't want to procrastinate--I want it all to be done. Why is this so hard? God?
Please pray for me. I AM excited about the coming freedom and possibilities of actually making money rather than watching it continue to be siphoned away, month by month, as I need to put gas in my car, pay car insurance, keep up with my Compassion International commitment, and (lately) buy several wedding presents. I have less money than I owe or need right now. It's all up to God now. Forced dependence:)--it can be a good thing, when God is involved. Soli Deo gloria as I finish out these 17 years and move on to--what? Good question.
:)
Please pray for me. I AM excited about the coming freedom and possibilities of actually making money rather than watching it continue to be siphoned away, month by month, as I need to put gas in my car, pay car insurance, keep up with my Compassion International commitment, and (lately) buy several wedding presents. I have less money than I owe or need right now. It's all up to God now. Forced dependence:)--it can be a good thing, when God is involved. Soli Deo gloria as I finish out these 17 years and move on to--what? Good question.
:)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Um...
I was originally getting on here to whine about the stress at present. Why is it that stress makes one want to avoid all stress and therefore end up more stressed because more exists to cause stress? BLAH! I only have a week and a half left of student teaching, and it seems from one light quite simple. I'll finish this, this, and this, and all will be well. Maybe I'll begin getting sub jobs so I can pay off my loan by fall. Maybe something better will happen--like $5,000 drops from heaven:). Or maybe it's better to have spent all your hard work earning it...:)
From the other light, though, it's all horrible, and I'm doomed to failure. Now, I know that I haven't failed anything academic in my life. Well, nothing important. There may have been some quizzes. I'm always managing to get a B or better but always panicked because I, for some reason consistently have zero understanding of where I lie on the scale from 50-100 and am apt to imagine the worst in order to be prepared. Prepared for what? For disappointment. If you don't expect to get 100%, you won't be disappointed when you don't; things can only look up. But somehow I get lost between not expecting 100% and having any realistic idea of what I DO have, so I just imagine that I'm going to fail somehow. I can't help it, I don't think. Maybe I haven't tried. Is this making any sense?
ANYWAY...I said I was ORIGINALLY getting on here to whine on that. Secondly I planned to whine about the fact that I just opened an email from a classmate and that email was apologizing for a prior email (that contained only a link) that is somehow the result of a virus on his computer. Oh, dear. Does opening his emails automatically mean I have a virus, or would it only have happened if I'd opened the link? And how can I ever know? How can I be sure there's not an evil virus floating around? Is it on the camera card that's still attached to my computer? Would it kill the camera? How do I find out? AHHHHHH!
Well, thinking about those two things and how my life is over if my computer dies, especially before next Tuesday (because everything is due Monday), though I THINK all the important stuff besides the video from the camera card has been either put onto Google docs or emailed to myself.......
I'm starting the sentence over because it was clearly becoming too long and I'm in too much of a mood to start it over. Well, thinking about those two things and how my computer might die, I suddenly realized, hmmmmmm, life is FINE. It's better than fine. It's amazing and miraculous. I am loved by a good God who is going to take care of me, regardless of whether my computer dies or I pass student teaching or I have a nervous breakdown between now and Monday. So here's the important part of all this:
Psalm 5:3
Every morning
you'll hear me at it again.
Every morning
I lay out the pieces of my life
on your altar
and watch for fire to descend.
I'm thinking of renaming my blog "The pieces of my life." I have been ever since I first read and wrote down this Psalm from The Message Remix Bible. Because how beautiful is that sentiment? "Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend." It makes me think of Elijah and the fire falling from heaven to consume the sacrifice and the altar in, I think, 2 Samuel. One of those books over in that section of the Bible. As far as I can see, it means I lay out all I have every morning, nothing more nothing less, from the very start and wait expectantly for God to do amazing things, for him to help me do amazing things, just as he did for Elijah and the other prophets. We serve an awesome God.
My blog's first name was Miss Jenn's Ed Tech Blog, because that's how it began. It was for class. It was probably fairly boring. I don't remember--I erased those blogs because they were just assignments. I renamed it "I'll get to that" because I ramble. Constantly. Everything must be said in a roundabout way that gives all the details of everything and everything's mother. That's just how I am, and no, I don't plan on changing it anytime soon. But "The Pieces of My Life." It's appropriately descriptive and also appropriately spiritual with the reference back to Psalm 5. I think I'll do it. :) I actually originally thought, "What a great book title that'd make," but as I have no time for book-writing right now, a blog will do.
In sum, praise God from whom all blessings flow. He is great, he is good, and he will provide for tomorrow.
Soli Deo gloria!
From the other light, though, it's all horrible, and I'm doomed to failure. Now, I know that I haven't failed anything academic in my life. Well, nothing important. There may have been some quizzes. I'm always managing to get a B or better but always panicked because I, for some reason consistently have zero understanding of where I lie on the scale from 50-100 and am apt to imagine the worst in order to be prepared. Prepared for what? For disappointment. If you don't expect to get 100%, you won't be disappointed when you don't; things can only look up. But somehow I get lost between not expecting 100% and having any realistic idea of what I DO have, so I just imagine that I'm going to fail somehow. I can't help it, I don't think. Maybe I haven't tried. Is this making any sense?
ANYWAY...I said I was ORIGINALLY getting on here to whine on that. Secondly I planned to whine about the fact that I just opened an email from a classmate and that email was apologizing for a prior email (that contained only a link) that is somehow the result of a virus on his computer. Oh, dear. Does opening his emails automatically mean I have a virus, or would it only have happened if I'd opened the link? And how can I ever know? How can I be sure there's not an evil virus floating around? Is it on the camera card that's still attached to my computer? Would it kill the camera? How do I find out? AHHHHHH!
Well, thinking about those two things and how my life is over if my computer dies, especially before next Tuesday (because everything is due Monday), though I THINK all the important stuff besides the video from the camera card has been either put onto Google docs or emailed to myself.......
I'm starting the sentence over because it was clearly becoming too long and I'm in too much of a mood to start it over. Well, thinking about those two things and how my computer might die, I suddenly realized, hmmmmmm, life is FINE. It's better than fine. It's amazing and miraculous. I am loved by a good God who is going to take care of me, regardless of whether my computer dies or I pass student teaching or I have a nervous breakdown between now and Monday. So here's the important part of all this:
Psalm 5:3
Every morning
you'll hear me at it again.
Every morning
I lay out the pieces of my life
on your altar
and watch for fire to descend.
I'm thinking of renaming my blog "The pieces of my life." I have been ever since I first read and wrote down this Psalm from The Message Remix Bible. Because how beautiful is that sentiment? "Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend." It makes me think of Elijah and the fire falling from heaven to consume the sacrifice and the altar in, I think, 2 Samuel. One of those books over in that section of the Bible. As far as I can see, it means I lay out all I have every morning, nothing more nothing less, from the very start and wait expectantly for God to do amazing things, for him to help me do amazing things, just as he did for Elijah and the other prophets. We serve an awesome God.
My blog's first name was Miss Jenn's Ed Tech Blog, because that's how it began. It was for class. It was probably fairly boring. I don't remember--I erased those blogs because they were just assignments. I renamed it "I'll get to that" because I ramble. Constantly. Everything must be said in a roundabout way that gives all the details of everything and everything's mother. That's just how I am, and no, I don't plan on changing it anytime soon. But "The Pieces of My Life." It's appropriately descriptive and also appropriately spiritual with the reference back to Psalm 5. I think I'll do it. :) I actually originally thought, "What a great book title that'd make," but as I have no time for book-writing right now, a blog will do.
In sum, praise God from whom all blessings flow. He is great, he is good, and he will provide for tomorrow.
Soli Deo gloria!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
News & Revelations, or The Essay
I) My class has been soooo rowdy this week. In as far as I have theorized and can conclude, it is probably related to A) the fact that it is spring, B) that spring break last week provided much more fodder for talkativity from the outset of the week, and C) (most importantly) I am out of classroom management practice because of spring break. I am not a natural authoritarian; it has taken me a long time to build up my skills in that area, and they are far from perfect. I do honestly believe they are good and job-worthy, but spring break was a setback. I have, however, seen gradual improvement in both myself and the kids every day. But the end of today we worked on handwriting--cursive, specifically--which I have only actually taught twice. My previous methods, in essence, sucked, so I tried something new. Parts of something new were really good; other parts were bad. I had my kids sitting in their seats rather than on the carpet where they would usually be. Being in their seats--and don't forget my nice, loud salmon tank that's humming away--it is both harder to hear them and harder to diffentiate between voices in order to correctly nab talkers; thus, I am less likely to nab individuals. Instead, I count up by tens seconds of time to be spent in at recess. Well, usually by 10 or 20, maybe 30, they've caught on and shaped up. Unfortunately, we got all the way to 50 on a single count:P I habitually raise my voice to be heard. My supervisor tells me to keep a quiet voice and that the kids will therefore be quiet, but I'm not entirely convinced. I think that would've worked if I had started out the year that way, but I've been through a stream of changes throughout the time I've spent with them, both in the brief interval in the fall and throughout the current semester--which is clipping along at record rates.
There have been times that I talk more quietly that the students simply carry on their side conversations more freely. They're a tough group. I'm extremely thankful to be student teaching and not first-year teaching to them; it's honestly a huge blessing. But that doesn't make it much easier. So, my supervisor told me, "You need to be a bitch."
Well, tomorrow comes soon; here goes nothing.
II) Every moment I can get, I have been sneaking snatches of Colin Beavan's No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes about Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process. This book, besides being so well-humored, as is obvious from the beautifully long title, (yeah, that's how I talk/write!:) is full of information and musings on issues that I consider crucial and fascinating: the environment, economy, stewardship, existentialism--way more than I bargained for. I expected simply a description of Beavan's family's methods of living one year with as little impact as possible on the earth; I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I found something speaking to all of the above, full of wit and hilarity--and even besides which are a plethora of touching (also funny, most often) tales of a little family's New York City existence and discovery of the joys of a simplified life. No cars, no planes, very few trains (and only because skipping Christmas/the birth of a nephew would've been too much to ask of Colin's family; three other train rides were canceled). Advice on how to shop and eat locally; recipes; an ethically-minded man who loves cows so much that he owns a 75-cow dairy farm that bottles milk in glass. I find myself pausing to ask God why on his used-to-be-much-greener earth Christians can't hear this kind of stuff and feel semi-responsible for it [the earth]. Listen to the loads of research Beavan did; listen to how badly plastic is affecting our environment; listen to the fact that studies show the world's fisheries will be unsupplied by 2048 if we do not reverse pollution trends that are killing fish, crabs, shrimp, etc. and which will shut down the 100%-28% of fisheries (worldwide) that now manage to remain working. (28% have already been shut down; there is not enoguh marine life surviving to sustain them.)
Why is it that people hear "global warming" and automatically say, "It's all a lie"? Is it that hard for you to believe that a plastic bag won't break down for thousands of years and when incinerated gives off toxins that affect the health of you AND YOUR CHILDREN??? That a huge pool of garbage resides in the Pacfic Ocean? That sea turtles are endangered by those same plastic bags floating around in the ocean cuz sea turtles, having bad eyesight, mistake them for tasty jellyfish?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS FREAKING WORLD???????
"And if we are the body,
Why aren't his arms reaching?
Why aren't his hands healing?
Why aren't his words teaching?
And if we are the body,
Why aren't his feet going?
Why is his love not showing them there is a way,
Them there is a way?"
That song is talking specifically about reaching out to people, but shouldn't we, too, be showing people all around us a good example of stewardship? God created a beautiful world for us; shouldn't we care that it's going to pot? Don't just tell me, "It's all gonna burn anyway." I DO NOT accept that. Hello--do we take a look at people who have addictions, diseases, cancer, children who are ill, and say, "Hey, they're gonna die anyway; may as well just let it take its course. No point trying to help, cuz it won't be enough"? HELL NO!!! We try. God told us to love and care for people--we should do it. God told us to take care of his green earth--we should do it. Yeah, there's a lot of things God told us to do, and we're not perfect. Neither should we become obsessive about environmentalism to the point that we ignore people and simply strive for the environment's right, or animals' rights. We humans are the only things created in God's image; the only things with souls. We are somehow more important than all those soulless things. But that's no excuse to ignore our stewardship. Think of parables in the Bible that talk about workers mistreating/misusing God-given land or talents. How did they fare? Not so well. He condemned them to death.
This wasn't supposed to be this long. ...It never is.:) But when I'm passionate, I'm long-winded. This is something I REALLY care about, and this book has given me a beautiful way to put words to some of my own thoughts as well as to dialogue with God about all these cares and concerns. Colin Beavan was very ambitious in his project, and he, doing it for the purpose of writing a book, had the time to integrate drastic changes into his life. You don't have to do it all at once. I don't have to do it all at once. But take the time to think about how you can be a better steward of this earth. And it's not just about stewardship. It's about not treating a limited amount of resources as thought they will last forever. "Jesus is coming back before it will matter" is NOT a good reason for wasting resoruces. It's like saying, "I'm going to use up all the money I have by the time I'm 70, cuz I'm sure I won't live any longer than that." In doing so, you would be compromising the possibilities and resources of your post-seventy life. WE are compromising the possibilities and resources of whoever will come after us, whether only our children or our great-great-great-great-....-great grandchildren. Don't be stupid about it.
Yes, I would reccommend this book to anyone and everyone, but let me give you a deeper reason. Environmental thoughts and challenges are a good enough reason for me, but even if environmentalism makes you sick, I wholeheartedly believe that EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE US should read this book wholly for its exploration of what technology and our "efficient" way of life has done to our communities and relationships. I am learning SO MUCH, and the church could learn as much or more, I believe. Conversations with God were NOT what I expected to be prompted to by this book, but it's full of them.
If you're interested, Colin Beavan's blog is found at . If you're even the tiniest bit intrigued, please read the book. I have read only about half, and I believe it is changing/will continue to change my life in many ways, not the least of which is my relationship with God and passion for connecting people. Christians, non-Christians, families, non-families, similar people and different people. I fully intend to buy it once I have finished reading my library copy, and once I have the money:) I wasn't going to buy it, due to an aim at conservation; however, I feel the benefits of reading and rereading as well as sharing and applying its principles to my life--and continuing to dialogue with God on it--will far outweigh the use of 100% postconsumer recyled paper bound in 100% postconsumer recycled cardboard.
:D
There have been times that I talk more quietly that the students simply carry on their side conversations more freely. They're a tough group. I'm extremely thankful to be student teaching and not first-year teaching to them; it's honestly a huge blessing. But that doesn't make it much easier. So, my supervisor told me, "You need to be a bitch."
Well, tomorrow comes soon; here goes nothing.
II) Every moment I can get, I have been sneaking snatches of Colin Beavan's No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes about Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process. This book, besides being so well-humored, as is obvious from the beautifully long title, (yeah, that's how I talk/write!:) is full of information and musings on issues that I consider crucial and fascinating: the environment, economy, stewardship, existentialism--way more than I bargained for. I expected simply a description of Beavan's family's methods of living one year with as little impact as possible on the earth; I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I found something speaking to all of the above, full of wit and hilarity--and even besides which are a plethora of touching (also funny, most often) tales of a little family's New York City existence and discovery of the joys of a simplified life. No cars, no planes, very few trains (and only because skipping Christmas/the birth of a nephew would've been too much to ask of Colin's family; three other train rides were canceled). Advice on how to shop and eat locally; recipes; an ethically-minded man who loves cows so much that he owns a 75-cow dairy farm that bottles milk in glass. I find myself pausing to ask God why on his used-to-be-much-greener earth Christians can't hear this kind of stuff and feel semi-responsible for it [the earth]. Listen to the loads of research Beavan did; listen to how badly plastic is affecting our environment; listen to the fact that studies show the world's fisheries will be unsupplied by 2048 if we do not reverse pollution trends that are killing fish, crabs, shrimp, etc. and which will shut down the 100%-28% of fisheries (worldwide) that now manage to remain working. (28% have already been shut down; there is not enoguh marine life surviving to sustain them.)
Why is it that people hear "global warming" and automatically say, "It's all a lie"? Is it that hard for you to believe that a plastic bag won't break down for thousands of years and when incinerated gives off toxins that affect the health of you AND YOUR CHILDREN??? That a huge pool of garbage resides in the Pacfic Ocean? That sea turtles are endangered by those same plastic bags floating around in the ocean cuz sea turtles, having bad eyesight, mistake them for tasty jellyfish?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS FREAKING WORLD???????
"And if we are the body,
Why aren't his arms reaching?
Why aren't his hands healing?
Why aren't his words teaching?
And if we are the body,
Why aren't his feet going?
Why is his love not showing them there is a way,
Them there is a way?"
That song is talking specifically about reaching out to people, but shouldn't we, too, be showing people all around us a good example of stewardship? God created a beautiful world for us; shouldn't we care that it's going to pot? Don't just tell me, "It's all gonna burn anyway." I DO NOT accept that. Hello--do we take a look at people who have addictions, diseases, cancer, children who are ill, and say, "Hey, they're gonna die anyway; may as well just let it take its course. No point trying to help, cuz it won't be enough"? HELL NO!!! We try. God told us to love and care for people--we should do it. God told us to take care of his green earth--we should do it. Yeah, there's a lot of things God told us to do, and we're not perfect. Neither should we become obsessive about environmentalism to the point that we ignore people and simply strive for the environment's right, or animals' rights. We humans are the only things created in God's image; the only things with souls. We are somehow more important than all those soulless things. But that's no excuse to ignore our stewardship. Think of parables in the Bible that talk about workers mistreating/misusing God-given land or talents. How did they fare? Not so well. He condemned them to death.
This wasn't supposed to be this long. ...It never is.:) But when I'm passionate, I'm long-winded. This is something I REALLY care about, and this book has given me a beautiful way to put words to some of my own thoughts as well as to dialogue with God about all these cares and concerns. Colin Beavan was very ambitious in his project, and he, doing it for the purpose of writing a book, had the time to integrate drastic changes into his life. You don't have to do it all at once. I don't have to do it all at once. But take the time to think about how you can be a better steward of this earth. And it's not just about stewardship. It's about not treating a limited amount of resources as thought they will last forever. "Jesus is coming back before it will matter" is NOT a good reason for wasting resoruces. It's like saying, "I'm going to use up all the money I have by the time I'm 70, cuz I'm sure I won't live any longer than that." In doing so, you would be compromising the possibilities and resources of your post-seventy life. WE are compromising the possibilities and resources of whoever will come after us, whether only our children or our great-great-great-great-....-great grandchildren. Don't be stupid about it.
Yes, I would reccommend this book to anyone and everyone, but let me give you a deeper reason. Environmental thoughts and challenges are a good enough reason for me, but even if environmentalism makes you sick, I wholeheartedly believe that EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE US should read this book wholly for its exploration of what technology and our "efficient" way of life has done to our communities and relationships. I am learning SO MUCH, and the church could learn as much or more, I believe. Conversations with God were NOT what I expected to be prompted to by this book, but it's full of them.
If you're interested, Colin Beavan's blog is found at . If you're even the tiniest bit intrigued, please read the book. I have read only about half, and I believe it is changing/will continue to change my life in many ways, not the least of which is my relationship with God and passion for connecting people. Christians, non-Christians, families, non-families, similar people and different people. I fully intend to buy it once I have finished reading my library copy, and once I have the money:) I wasn't going to buy it, due to an aim at conservation; however, I feel the benefits of reading and rereading as well as sharing and applying its principles to my life--and continuing to dialogue with God on it--will far outweigh the use of 100% postconsumer recyled paper bound in 100% postconsumer recycled cardboard.
:D
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
reconsidering.
Hmmm...
I was all set on growing my hair out. It reached that nasty stage where it's impossible to deal with and nothing looks the way I planned on.
However, after flipping through recent photos (recent as in from October to January), I'm reconsidering. I'm thinking it's time for a visit to the barber. Orting's not too far off; just have to set a date. And figure out whether it should be before or after the slew of weddings. Maybe during? Provide input as desired.
:)
I was all set on growing my hair out. It reached that nasty stage where it's impossible to deal with and nothing looks the way I planned on.
However, after flipping through recent photos (recent as in from October to January), I'm reconsidering. I'm thinking it's time for a visit to the barber. Orting's not too far off; just have to set a date. And figure out whether it should be before or after the slew of weddings. Maybe during? Provide input as desired.
:)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
March.
Hello. I've been reading many blogs today, both to catch up and to reread. It's Spring Break, and I'm trying to take advantage of the time. The thing is, I still find myself coming to times like this and yearning for this sort of life. Some would probably say I'm just lazy, others would think I'm crazy, and who knows about the rest. But the truth is, as much as I love, love, LOVE children, really & truly, I prefer the freedom of this sort of life. Freedom to have flexibility rather than a strict 40-hour (+) work week; freedom to be involved as a behind-the-scenes (or not) volunteer; freedom to set aside time to write letters and potentially to tutor, volunteer in 100 different ways, and simply find ways to love people and build community. That is where my heart lies.
But the path is unclear. It's hard for me to explain all this to people because I want them to clearly perceive my intent. I do love kids; I do love woring with them at a school on a daily basis. And for all I know, that is where my life is going, where God will lead me and my heart. But right now it isn't. It's hard to want to search for teaching jobs, knowing that. But, as so many say, the journey rather than the destination is what matters. Perhaps in applying for jobs I'll never have I'll grow enough to see the path of the next bit of the journey; only God can say.
Another complication which I can't quite sort in my mind is money. I love living with my parents, but almost daily, at least weekly, come reminders of how much I want a house of my own. With all the volunteer jobs in the world, how would I support myself? $10 a week mowing my grandparents' lawn won't keep a house or even feed me (unless, perhaps, I eat nothing but rice and pinto beans?). But, undoubtedly, God will reveal the solutions in his good time. Soli Deo gloria--to God alone be the glory.
Amen.
But the path is unclear. It's hard for me to explain all this to people because I want them to clearly perceive my intent. I do love kids; I do love woring with them at a school on a daily basis. And for all I know, that is where my life is going, where God will lead me and my heart. But right now it isn't. It's hard to want to search for teaching jobs, knowing that. But, as so many say, the journey rather than the destination is what matters. Perhaps in applying for jobs I'll never have I'll grow enough to see the path of the next bit of the journey; only God can say.
Another complication which I can't quite sort in my mind is money. I love living with my parents, but almost daily, at least weekly, come reminders of how much I want a house of my own. With all the volunteer jobs in the world, how would I support myself? $10 a week mowing my grandparents' lawn won't keep a house or even feed me (unless, perhaps, I eat nothing but rice and pinto beans?). But, undoubtedly, God will reveal the solutions in his good time. Soli Deo gloria--to God alone be the glory.
Amen.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Current Life + Recent Past + Future Thoughts
Hi! I guess this is my last shot at a February post, huh? Well, I'm still student teaching, amongst other things. Two months in, two months to go; isn't that scary? My kids are so beautiful and wonderful; how do I do a REALLY GOOD job of teaching them? I feel so inadequate on that point. I know it takes practice, but will I ever do it really well? Is it just enough to love kids? I'm trying--I really am. But I am still afraid of failing these children. God, help me, please.
I am also reading Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (last HP book). It's amazing how much I forgot from the first reading. Or have I read it twice? I know I must have listened to it first, because I didn't want to read till I'd heard it read. I like to know how to pronounce new words when I get to them, and there are plenty of things I don't know how to pronounce, really, in HP, so I let Jim Dale do the work and adopt his pronunciations, however correct or incorrect.
In even more remarkable and exciting news :), Julie Ann came to visit me today, which brightened up my life quite a bit! I miss my Pullman people; wish more could visit more often--or vice versa. We spent several hours chatting, which was absolutely, delightfully lovely:)!
The Olympics have been another highlight, besides grading writing assignments. (Kids write the greatest stuff!) An avid ice skating fan as a child, I was glad to have the opportunity to watch a good bit of skating and ice dancing these past couple weeks. I missed the last one or two winter Olympics due to the seemingly ultimately important homework:P I'm hoping the tapes of the Torino skating are still somewhere, cuz I know they taped it for me. I just didn't have time to watch anytime soon, and who knows where it is by now? I could tell you exactly where that tape was at the time, but now...
That's pretty much it. I'm constantly wondering what I'll be doing next year. I completely trust God to have it all worked out, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to be in on the plan:). At the moment, I'm going to post this blog and then fill out an app for my old school--see if that gets me anywhere:). Wish me luck, or even bettter, throw up a few prayers for me.
Thank you, and Good Night:)
~jen
I am also reading Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (last HP book). It's amazing how much I forgot from the first reading. Or have I read it twice? I know I must have listened to it first, because I didn't want to read till I'd heard it read. I like to know how to pronounce new words when I get to them, and there are plenty of things I don't know how to pronounce, really, in HP, so I let Jim Dale do the work and adopt his pronunciations, however correct or incorrect.
In even more remarkable and exciting news :), Julie Ann came to visit me today, which brightened up my life quite a bit! I miss my Pullman people; wish more could visit more often--or vice versa. We spent several hours chatting, which was absolutely, delightfully lovely:)!
The Olympics have been another highlight, besides grading writing assignments. (Kids write the greatest stuff!) An avid ice skating fan as a child, I was glad to have the opportunity to watch a good bit of skating and ice dancing these past couple weeks. I missed the last one or two winter Olympics due to the seemingly ultimately important homework:P I'm hoping the tapes of the Torino skating are still somewhere, cuz I know they taped it for me. I just didn't have time to watch anytime soon, and who knows where it is by now? I could tell you exactly where that tape was at the time, but now...
That's pretty much it. I'm constantly wondering what I'll be doing next year. I completely trust God to have it all worked out, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to be in on the plan:). At the moment, I'm going to post this blog and then fill out an app for my old school--see if that gets me anywhere:). Wish me luck, or even bettter, throw up a few prayers for me.
Thank you, and Good Night:)
~jen
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Alas!
It is January the 14th, and Christmas is certainly gone.
Every Christmas, my family has breakfast strata for Christmas morning breakfast. However, this year, Nathaniel was absent on that day, so we planned to wait until he got home. Well, he, too, has been gone nearly a week, and it is just today that I came to that important realization: WE NEVER HAD BREAKFAST STRATA. EEP! What a terrible break of tradition. Perhaps I shall persuade my parents to make it for just us, anyway. Then we could have ever so much more, too:) Not such a bad situation, in the end.
P.S. I've begun my student teaching and always seem to be exhausted at the end of the day. When I get home, I'm generally alright for about 3-5 minutes--then it all hits me, and I just want to sleep. If you think of me, send up some prayers on my behalf:) Also, I've already had my first sick day, on only the second day of school. Meg was driving me to school, and I suddenly felt nauseous. She pulled over to the side, and there went my breakfast onto the side of the road. Thankfully I don't mind peanut butter toast & apples in spite of it, cuz they make an easy breakfast:)
Best wishes to all,
~me
Every Christmas, my family has breakfast strata for Christmas morning breakfast. However, this year, Nathaniel was absent on that day, so we planned to wait until he got home. Well, he, too, has been gone nearly a week, and it is just today that I came to that important realization: WE NEVER HAD BREAKFAST STRATA. EEP! What a terrible break of tradition. Perhaps I shall persuade my parents to make it for just us, anyway. Then we could have ever so much more, too:) Not such a bad situation, in the end.
P.S. I've begun my student teaching and always seem to be exhausted at the end of the day. When I get home, I'm generally alright for about 3-5 minutes--then it all hits me, and I just want to sleep. If you think of me, send up some prayers on my behalf:) Also, I've already had my first sick day, on only the second day of school. Meg was driving me to school, and I suddenly felt nauseous. She pulled over to the side, and there went my breakfast onto the side of the road. Thankfully I don't mind peanut butter toast & apples in spite of it, cuz they make an easy breakfast:)
Best wishes to all,
~me
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