This week has been insane. I can't believe how much time it has taken. Physically, it has been no longer than any other week (as far as I know), but mentally, it has felt much, much longer.
It's the weekend! While I should probably rejoice over this fact, I'm slightly overwhelmed by the amount of homework that will be due in a few days time.
I feel like I should just be a hermit until said things are accomplished. I have a nervousness that I will put the things off [my tendancy] until they are all on top of me and I suffocate from the weight of procrastination. College procrastination is much heavier than high school procrastination, leading to sooner suffocation.
*deep breath*
It's all going to be okay.
On top of it all, this week has also been rather amusing in events that have happened. I really wish I had a camera crew following me discreetly sometimes, so that I could later view my week at my leisure.
Maybe I'll write a book. I'll write a book about the craziness that is my life. The style: tongue-in-cheek, because everyone knows those are the best kinds of books. It will be written for my own benefit, really. And probably I'll force a copy on my close friends and relatives.
But 19 years of my life have been fantastic so far, and rather humorous years at that.
I hope they keep going at this rate. Maybe it's just me, but I hold to the philosophy that humor and amusement is everywhere, if only you look for it.
...a decidedly good thing, for I dearly love to laugh.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Getting into shape
This made me laugh hard:
Anyways...
Four weeks into the semester!
My friend reminded me that we are (already or only, call it what you will) 1/4 of the way done with the fall semester.
I'm not sure if I should be encouraged or discouraged.
I have been struggling with time management. I am not the kind of person who can explicitly schedule out every minute of my day, but I do have to have some sort of structure in my life. I've been putting social first, which is not good. I need to become more of a hermit-like person.
I did go on an amazing fall retreat last weekend:
I realize that this whole "college thing" is totally a God-thing.
Going into it, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be getting in, I applied late, I would have to have a ton of loans, and then I was out-of-country for most of the class enrollment period. I was just like, whatever God wills will happen. I surrendered it to Him and stopped worrying about it {mostly}
All of those excuses? God took care of everything. Every little detail!
Now I just have to work to get the groove of using my brain.
I am feeling pretty certain that God has put me in this place to learn and grow. I've heard a few stories of God pulling people out of college to go into full-time work, but I'm experiencing the inverse. God directs every path individually (such a beautiful thought) and if I keep on trusting Him, I know He'll see me through.
My faith is growing through all of this.
So as I'm working on getting mentally in shape, I'm also working on the physical side of in-shapeness. Running around campus from class to class is a good workout. Whee windsprints! My backpack is also about 100 pounds [maybe a slight exaggeration], so it's a good arm/back workout.
My university has an amazing gym, and I've been trying to go there and swim, weight train, and run. My goal is to build up to the ability to run a 1/2 marathon again (and do way better than before)
I've never been a lap swimmer, so the ability to jump in and swim 25+ laps would be awesome. Yesterday I did 8. But Rome was not built in a day...
Anyways, all of that to say that there is much to work on and improve in my life, but God is holding me up! Kind of a boring update, but c'est la vie.
I so love this passage. I identify with Israel, thinking that maybe God doesn't care so much. But He does! {Isaiah 40}:
Four weeks into the semester!
My friend reminded me that we are (already or only, call it what you will) 1/4 of the way done with the fall semester.
I'm not sure if I should be encouraged or discouraged.
I have been struggling with time management. I am not the kind of person who can explicitly schedule out every minute of my day, but I do have to have some sort of structure in my life. I've been putting social first, which is not good. I need to become more of a hermit-like person.
I did go on an amazing fall retreat last weekend:
I realize that this whole "college thing" is totally a God-thing.
Going into it, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be getting in, I applied late, I would have to have a ton of loans, and then I was out-of-country for most of the class enrollment period. I was just like, whatever God wills will happen. I surrendered it to Him and stopped worrying about it {mostly}
All of those excuses? God took care of everything. Every little detail!
Now I just have to work to get the groove of using my brain.
I am feeling pretty certain that God has put me in this place to learn and grow. I've heard a few stories of God pulling people out of college to go into full-time work, but I'm experiencing the inverse. God directs every path individually (such a beautiful thought) and if I keep on trusting Him, I know He'll see me through.
My faith is growing through all of this.
So as I'm working on getting mentally in shape, I'm also working on the physical side of in-shapeness. Running around campus from class to class is a good workout. Whee windsprints! My backpack is also about 100 pounds [maybe a slight exaggeration], so it's a good arm/back workout.
My university has an amazing gym, and I've been trying to go there and swim, weight train, and run. My goal is to build up to the ability to run a 1/2 marathon again (and do way better than before)
I've never been a lap swimmer, so the ability to jump in and swim 25+ laps would be awesome. Yesterday I did 8. But Rome was not built in a day...
Anyways, all of that to say that there is much to work on and improve in my life, but God is holding me up! Kind of a boring update, but c'est la vie.
I so love this passage. I identify with Israel, thinking that maybe God doesn't care so much. But He does! {Isaiah 40}:
27Why do you say, O Jacob,and complain, O Israel,“My way is hidden from the Lord;my cause is disregarded by my God”?28Do you not know?Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth.He will not grow tired or weary,and his understanding no one can fathom.29He gives strength to the wearyand increases the power of the weak.30Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;31but those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Come back, Monday!
The whole labor-day thing is throwing my week out of whack!
I need my Mondays.
As much as I might moan about Mondays, they're actually a pretty amazing day.
They take the full brunt of people's complaints.
I don't think I know of anyone who thinks Monday is their favorite day.
A google search of "Monday" proved to be...interesting
From cute little kittens
To a really bizarre, "Have a Magical Monday"
Poor underrated Monday.
Monday is so dependable though. It takes a beating, is universally disliked, yet it still comes around once a week.
Except for this week. This week Monday took the day off, decided to be a weekend day, and the rest of my days have suffered.
I am used to having one day to gripe, and then all is well. Instead, my week feels like I overslept my alarm on an exam day, and I'm dashing out the door while trying to wake up.
>>>
I am a nutrition science major, and therefore I should be eating like a healthy person.
HA
Ha ha ha ha
If you saw what I've been consuming since the start of college, you'd be shaking your head. I'm working on figuring out how to eat healthily while also not having conventional eating times open and not being close to a kitchen.
My diet has ranged from celery sticks to McDonald's (though I'm not eating there again for a LONG, long, long time)
I have also been eating gluten-free bagels (I have a wheat allergy, therefore, gluten-free)
Bagels are one of my all-time favorite foods. When I found out wheat was making me sick, I was okay with giving up most breads.
But even giving up bagels? That was a sacrifice.
Then Udi's was discovered! I am now not feeling so deprived and full of self pity.
Only one thing that has remained consistent in my diet: my coffee.
I have consumed much caffeine.
I'm happy God created the coffee bean.
Also, a coffee company visited my college and gave a talk about their facility.
I now know my dream job: coffee cupping.
You get to taste coffee. As a job.
All day, every day, tasting and rating coffee.
I need my Mondays.
As much as I might moan about Mondays, they're actually a pretty amazing day.
They take the full brunt of people's complaints.
I don't think I know of anyone who thinks Monday is their favorite day.
A google search of "Monday" proved to be...interesting
From cute little kittens
Poor underrated Monday.
Monday is so dependable though. It takes a beating, is universally disliked, yet it still comes around once a week.
Except for this week. This week Monday took the day off, decided to be a weekend day, and the rest of my days have suffered.
I am used to having one day to gripe, and then all is well. Instead, my week feels like I overslept my alarm on an exam day, and I'm dashing out the door while trying to wake up.
>>>
I am a nutrition science major, and therefore I should be eating like a healthy person.
HA
Ha ha ha ha
If you saw what I've been consuming since the start of college, you'd be shaking your head. I'm working on figuring out how to eat healthily while also not having conventional eating times open and not being close to a kitchen.
My diet has ranged from celery sticks to McDonald's (though I'm not eating there again for a LONG, long, long time)
I have also been eating gluten-free bagels (I have a wheat allergy, therefore, gluten-free)
Bagels are one of my all-time favorite foods. When I found out wheat was making me sick, I was okay with giving up most breads.
But even giving up bagels? That was a sacrifice.
Then Udi's was discovered! I am now not feeling so deprived and full of self pity.
 |
| free product placement! |
Only one thing that has remained consistent in my diet: my coffee.
I have consumed much caffeine.
I'm happy God created the coffee bean.
Also, a coffee company visited my college and gave a talk about their facility.
I now know my dream job: coffee cupping.
You get to taste coffee. As a job.
All day, every day, tasting and rating coffee.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Glory Hallelujah!
Okay, cheesy as it may sound, I had a jump-up-and-down-inside kind of moment today.
I have to confess something: I have been in a spiritual slump.
My day was long and busy. Here's how it went down:
6:30am - Up and at 'em...after hitting the alarm 3 times. [yes, I set three alarms, spaced about 10 minutes apart, so I have time to wake up properly. SNOOZE DOES NOT WORK. I pretend it doesn't even exist, or else I'll hit it infinitely]
I grabbed breakfast and coffee, then dashed out the door to hit the beautiful downtown, heavily congested traffic.
The interstate I take is usually 3 lanes. Something had happened this morning to make those three lanes funnel into one.
Oh Beautiful.
But never fear, I took the next exit and used my innate ability to navigate (*cough* my gps *cough*) and arrived at school just in time.
Following this was a blur of classes, rapid note-taking, and trying to be an active participant.
Did I mention that my classes are in different parts of campus and are 15 minutes apart?
It's a good workout (but really, it is. I'm thankful for the excuse to dash about quickly)
After the classes, it was 1:30, and LUNCHTIME.
I ate, and then went to study.
I studied...
...and studied.
Chemistry is what my main focus is on, because my teacher (I do like him) told the class that we needed to devote at least 2 hours a day to the practice of Chemistry.
Optimally, 3 hours.
"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?", is his favorite question.
PRACTICE is the answer.
Following my study time, I went to some meetings [and am now a co-chair at the Nutrition Club! Yay!]
So it had been a long day, and I was about ready to just go home. I had gotten an email about a Cru (campus crusade for Christ) Bible study kick-off, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't like it/I'd be too tired/I wouldn't fit in/insert-excuse-for-not-interacting-socially. (I sound like a terrible person to expect the worst from a Christian group!)
On top of that, thought I, I'm going to Nutrition Club, and it would probably make me late to the Cru thing...and being late isn't good, so I won't go.
Crazily enough, Nutrition got out early.
I had no excuse for not going to the Bible study. I had been studying school stuff for the past few hours, so a break was on the to-do list.
So I went, in all honesty, expecting the worst.
My expectations were unmet.
I had a great time. I am so stoked about how it is working out! It was exactly the pick-me-up I needed, to be around a group of Christian peers, a more tightly knit group (the on-campus weekly big meeting has ~1,400 attending)
I mentioned it at the beginning: the slump. My spiritual slump has been a downer. I came back from Burundi all glowing with stories of God's provision. I had seen how He provided in real ways.
I felt almost like Moses coming down from the Mountain -- His face was GLOWING with God's glory, but the glory faded over time.
I was feeling like the glory was fading. I needed a renewal! Personal quiet time was good, but I think I was craving real fellowship.
I've been feeling like every thing Satan can use, he has been using to attack me and how I relate to God. Little things have added up to a discouraged, despondent, apathetic me [though it isn't very visible on the surface level].
It does hurt my ego to admit this, but it also feels so good. It is freeing to admit that one has been in struggle, because through it I can say that: God is faithful, and He doesn't let His own slip away.
This is part of what we read in Cru tonight:
(John 10, Jesus speaking)
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life —only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Knowing that Jesus knows me, that he is not like the hired hand who just runs off when attacks come, is...
it's...
I can't even describe.
I have been feeling attacked, but Jesus has my back, and He is the Good Shepherd. He gave me just what I needed today!
And get this: one of my Bible study leaders is a Junior and a Nutrition Science major, too.
It's the little things.
The other leader is awesome as well. We all clicked nicely, and the whole Cru event left me feeling refreshed and encouraged.
I love those moments. When God takes all of those expectations and flips them around.
Imana ni neza cane! (Kirundi for God is very good!)
I have to confess something: I have been in a spiritual slump.
My day was long and busy. Here's how it went down:
6:30am - Up and at 'em...after hitting the alarm 3 times. [yes, I set three alarms, spaced about 10 minutes apart, so I have time to wake up properly. SNOOZE DOES NOT WORK. I pretend it doesn't even exist, or else I'll hit it infinitely]
I grabbed breakfast and coffee, then dashed out the door to hit the beautiful downtown, heavily congested traffic.
The interstate I take is usually 3 lanes. Something had happened this morning to make those three lanes funnel into one.
Oh Beautiful.
But never fear, I took the next exit and used my innate ability to navigate (*cough* my gps *cough*) and arrived at school just in time.
Following this was a blur of classes, rapid note-taking, and trying to be an active participant.
Did I mention that my classes are in different parts of campus and are 15 minutes apart?
It's a good workout (but really, it is. I'm thankful for the excuse to dash about quickly)
After the classes, it was 1:30, and LUNCHTIME.
I ate, and then went to study.
I studied...
...and studied.
Chemistry is what my main focus is on, because my teacher (I do like him) told the class that we needed to devote at least 2 hours a day to the practice of Chemistry.
Optimally, 3 hours.
"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?", is his favorite question.
PRACTICE is the answer.
Following my study time, I went to some meetings [and am now a co-chair at the Nutrition Club! Yay!]
So it had been a long day, and I was about ready to just go home. I had gotten an email about a Cru (campus crusade for Christ) Bible study kick-off, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't like it/I'd be too tired/I wouldn't fit in/insert-excuse-for-not-interacting-socially. (I sound like a terrible person to expect the worst from a Christian group!)
On top of that, thought I, I'm going to Nutrition Club, and it would probably make me late to the Cru thing...and being late isn't good, so I won't go.
Crazily enough, Nutrition got out early.
I had no excuse for not going to the Bible study. I had been studying school stuff for the past few hours, so a break was on the to-do list.
So I went, in all honesty, expecting the worst.
My expectations were unmet.
I had a great time. I am so stoked about how it is working out! It was exactly the pick-me-up I needed, to be around a group of Christian peers, a more tightly knit group (the on-campus weekly big meeting has ~1,400 attending)
I mentioned it at the beginning: the slump. My spiritual slump has been a downer. I came back from Burundi all glowing with stories of God's provision. I had seen how He provided in real ways.
I felt almost like Moses coming down from the Mountain -- His face was GLOWING with God's glory, but the glory faded over time.
I was feeling like the glory was fading. I needed a renewal! Personal quiet time was good, but I think I was craving real fellowship.
I've been feeling like every thing Satan can use, he has been using to attack me and how I relate to God. Little things have added up to a discouraged, despondent, apathetic me [though it isn't very visible on the surface level].
It does hurt my ego to admit this, but it also feels so good. It is freeing to admit that one has been in struggle, because through it I can say that: God is faithful, and He doesn't let His own slip away.
This is part of what we read in Cru tonight:
(John 10, Jesus speaking)
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life —only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Knowing that Jesus knows me, that he is not like the hired hand who just runs off when attacks come, is...
it's...
I can't even describe.
I have been feeling attacked, but Jesus has my back, and He is the Good Shepherd. He gave me just what I needed today!
And get this: one of my Bible study leaders is a Junior and a Nutrition Science major, too.
It's the little things.
The other leader is awesome as well. We all clicked nicely, and the whole Cru event left me feeling refreshed and encouraged.
I love those moments. When God takes all of those expectations and flips them around.
Imana ni neza cane! (Kirundi for God is very good!)
Thursday, August 23, 2012
I'm still alive-ish
Hello my dear readers!
It has been a good long while since I have posted anything terribly significant on here. I have some good excuses for this, as my life has changed drastically in the past few months. (Africa to home to college)
You see, I am not the best at multi-tasking, and I have to say that my current phase of life is quite taxing time-wise. (I am taking a few minutes to just quickly update)
I am now a real-deal college kid. I *was* a college kid before during high-school (as my current school insists that I'm a transfer student), but I was never an University student.
Now I am here at uni, and it is a wild ride.
I am currently taking Cultural Anthropology, Intro to Psychology, Engineering Chemistry, Intro to Nutrition, a required orientation class, and Whitewater Canoeing.
I must say, whitewater canoeing is the class I am so so so stoked about. There are only 9 other students in my class, which is a lovely change from the lecture halls of 200+ students.
There is one little hang-up: part of the swimming requirement for said PE is that I be able to swim at an intermediate level:
Tread water for 5 minutes, and swim 4 laps straight.
Now 4 laps sounds measly (I have friends who swim 25 as their workout), but you must know that I am not a lap-girl.
I can swim pretty well, I took swimming lessons back in the day, so I thought this lap-thing would be a walk in the park.
I lean towards being pretty physically fit, too. I mean, I bike and run on a pretty regular basis. Nothing spectacular, but I have some endurance.
I decided to go to the pool yesterday to practice the swim test...no problem, right?
HA. I am such a land-dweller.
I DID swim 4 laps straight, but I was breathless afterwards.
You know that a lap is down the lane and back, right?
200 yards does not sound like a long distance to swim, but oh, my muscles are not tuned to this swimming thing.
They're used to pounding pavement or biking.
I tacked on another 2 laps, noticed the time, and decided that I had better get to the pool and practice again pretty intensively ASAP.
It has been a good long while since I have posted anything terribly significant on here. I have some good excuses for this, as my life has changed drastically in the past few months. (Africa to home to college)
You see, I am not the best at multi-tasking, and I have to say that my current phase of life is quite taxing time-wise. (I am taking a few minutes to just quickly update)
I am now a real-deal college kid. I *was* a college kid before during high-school (as my current school insists that I'm a transfer student), but I was never an University student.
Now I am here at uni, and it is a wild ride.
I am currently taking Cultural Anthropology, Intro to Psychology, Engineering Chemistry, Intro to Nutrition, a required orientation class, and Whitewater Canoeing.
I must say, whitewater canoeing is the class I am so so so stoked about. There are only 9 other students in my class, which is a lovely change from the lecture halls of 200+ students.
There is one little hang-up: part of the swimming requirement for said PE is that I be able to swim at an intermediate level:
Tread water for 5 minutes, and swim 4 laps straight.
Now 4 laps sounds measly (I have friends who swim 25 as their workout), but you must know that I am not a lap-girl.
I can swim pretty well, I took swimming lessons back in the day, so I thought this lap-thing would be a walk in the park.
I lean towards being pretty physically fit, too. I mean, I bike and run on a pretty regular basis. Nothing spectacular, but I have some endurance.
I decided to go to the pool yesterday to practice the swim test...no problem, right?
HA. I am such a land-dweller.
I DID swim 4 laps straight, but I was breathless afterwards.
You know that a lap is down the lane and back, right?
200 yards does not sound like a long distance to swim, but oh, my muscles are not tuned to this swimming thing.
They're used to pounding pavement or biking.
I tacked on another 2 laps, noticed the time, and decided that I had better get to the pool and practice again pretty intensively ASAP.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Deal with it?
Deal with it
My eyes have been mega sensitive to the sun the past week or so. I'm pretty much at the point of the link above. I spent the whole day in shades.
My eyes have been mega sensitive to the sun the past week or so. I'm pretty much at the point of the link above. I spent the whole day in shades.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Oh say! I'm happy.
As I've been back from Africa, I am realizing how much STUFF I have. It's great and all....but I don't need so much of it.
It is time to purge.
Also, I am happy for a few reasons:
1) I now have a bike. A nice classic road bike.
At my church there is a nice older man who loves to bike...and set other people up with bikes. He had an old school Ladies Schwinn road bike he said I could have to use for commuting around school.
I have not ridden a bike in ages, so this past week, I've been getting back into the saddle.
I will not say that I'm super fast or that I have super endurance... but I'm content with getting in a good cardio workout. (Plus, that thing is going to be a lifesaver at school)
2) I now have a desk. A nice, vintage-y, student desk. Last week, I bought a desk from IKEA. It looked nice online...upon opening the box, I discovered it was ALL PARTICLEBOARD and it didn't seem very sturdy. I was so frustrated.
Beyond annoyed.
Words can not describe.
I checked craigslist again (I had been hunting on there days before and hadn't found a thing) and I found a cutesy desk for 1/3 of the price of the cheapo IKEA desk.
AND it's all wood.
AND it has butterfly drawer-pulls.
Score.
I have not yet written about my lifetime longing for a desk.
So here it is: I have wanted a little desk for a long time.
There. Written.
I have visions of writing great novels while seated at a desk -- Or actually penning letters to people (I'm terrible about it!).
I'll feel more like a profesh blogger when I type posts while seated at my desk. (first post written from my desk!)
At the least, I have visions of having a nice place to store my school supplies. [I have a love of office supplies: hilighters, post-it notes, index cards...]
3) I have 2 whole weeks of freedom before school starts. I've been catching up with friends, and it has been awesome.
4) Most importantly, I am loved by God. This is a reason to be joyful any day. Even when I'm not "happy" I still have hope because of this.
It doesn't matter what crummy mistakes I make in life, what crummy things have happened to me, He is always there to love on me.
He has also mega-blessed me with wonderful family. I don't know where I'd be if my parents weren't as great as they are.
5) I have a coffee in hand. Today, I have a headache. I have had a headache the past few days, and meds just do enough to take the edge off. I went out shopping with my sunglasses on, because my eyes are so darn sensitive to light today.
It might be all in my head, but I think I got some funny looks from people. I don't really care anymore about what the general public thinks of me. Africa kinda helped to get rid of inhibition.
Maybe I'm becoming a vampire.
It is time to purge.
Also, I am happy for a few reasons:
1) I now have a bike. A nice classic road bike.
At my church there is a nice older man who loves to bike...and set other people up with bikes. He had an old school Ladies Schwinn road bike he said I could have to use for commuting around school.
I have not ridden a bike in ages, so this past week, I've been getting back into the saddle.
I will not say that I'm super fast or that I have super endurance... but I'm content with getting in a good cardio workout. (Plus, that thing is going to be a lifesaver at school)
2) I now have a desk. A nice, vintage-y, student desk. Last week, I bought a desk from IKEA. It looked nice online...upon opening the box, I discovered it was ALL PARTICLEBOARD and it didn't seem very sturdy. I was so frustrated.
Beyond annoyed.
Words can not describe.
I checked craigslist again (I had been hunting on there days before and hadn't found a thing) and I found a cutesy desk for 1/3 of the price of the cheapo IKEA desk.
AND it's all wood.
AND it has butterfly drawer-pulls.
Score.
I have not yet written about my lifetime longing for a desk.
So here it is: I have wanted a little desk for a long time.
There. Written.
I have visions of writing great novels while seated at a desk -- Or actually penning letters to people (I'm terrible about it!).
I'll feel more like a profesh blogger when I type posts while seated at my desk. (first post written from my desk!)
At the least, I have visions of having a nice place to store my school supplies. [I have a love of office supplies: hilighters, post-it notes, index cards...]
3) I have 2 whole weeks of freedom before school starts. I've been catching up with friends, and it has been awesome.
4) Most importantly, I am loved by God. This is a reason to be joyful any day. Even when I'm not "happy" I still have hope because of this.
It doesn't matter what crummy mistakes I make in life, what crummy things have happened to me, He is always there to love on me.
He has also mega-blessed me with wonderful family. I don't know where I'd be if my parents weren't as great as they are.
5) I have a coffee in hand. Today, I have a headache. I have had a headache the past few days, and meds just do enough to take the edge off. I went out shopping with my sunglasses on, because my eyes are so darn sensitive to light today.
It might be all in my head, but I think I got some funny looks from people. I don't really care anymore about what the general public thinks of me. Africa kinda helped to get rid of inhibition.
Maybe I'm becoming a vampire.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wait...Wait...
My sister's dog, Roca, is pretty smart.
I've taught Roca a few tricks (and as my sister would dispute, WE have taught her tricks)
One of the most entertaining is the "Wait" trick.
"wait", I tell her. She sits down and stares at me expectantly. She knows whats coming...
I hold the treat bag in hand and pull out an odoriferous treat.
I place it in front of Roca.
To me it smells not so great, but to her...you can just tell,
She wants that treat. She wants that treat now.
"Wait.", I repeat.
Amazingly, our dog has the willpower to not eat the treat. She even averts her eyes so that she isn't tempted. She holds gaze with me, waiting for permission to scarf down the treat.
"Okay!"
As soon as those words leave my lips, Roca gobbles up the treat.
It was such a perfect reminder to me.
There are some things that God tells me "wait" about. They're much bigger and better than a milkbone treat, and He has better reasons for having me wait than just for an entertaining trick. Just as Roca trusts that I'll eventually tell her, "okay!", I trust that my Father will tell me when I can stop waiting.
Love these verses:
Let me say, this book is amazing. I read it, and it just floored me. I was convicted and encouraged.
The book is called, What Are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh. It is so pertinent to people {especially girls} entering the relationship realm (whether you call it "dating", or "courting", or "hanging out"...)
I strongly suggest you read this book.
It's pretty life-altering.
I've taught Roca a few tricks (and as my sister would dispute, WE have taught her tricks)
One of the most entertaining is the "Wait" trick.
"wait", I tell her. She sits down and stares at me expectantly. She knows whats coming...
I hold the treat bag in hand and pull out an odoriferous treat.
I place it in front of Roca.
To me it smells not so great, but to her...you can just tell,
She wants that treat. She wants that treat now.
"Wait.", I repeat.
Amazingly, our dog has the willpower to not eat the treat. She even averts her eyes so that she isn't tempted. She holds gaze with me, waiting for permission to scarf down the treat.
 |
| This is a representation. My dog is not quite that talented yet... |
"Okay!"
As soon as those words leave my lips, Roca gobbles up the treat.
It was such a perfect reminder to me.
There are some things that God tells me "wait" about. They're much bigger and better than a milkbone treat, and He has better reasons for having me wait than just for an entertaining trick. Just as Roca trusts that I'll eventually tell her, "okay!", I trust that my Father will tell me when I can stop waiting.
Love these verses:
Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
~Psalm 27:14
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
~Isaiah 40:31
BOOK RECOMMENDATION:
Let me say, this book is amazing. I read it, and it just floored me. I was convicted and encouraged.
The book is called, What Are You Waiting For? by Dannah Gresh. It is so pertinent to people {especially girls} entering the relationship realm (whether you call it "dating", or "courting", or "hanging out"...)
I strongly suggest you read this book.
It's pretty life-altering.
Monday, July 23, 2012
A term I HATE
Now I have grown up in Christian circles.
I've learned much about relationships from various speakers and books. It's definitely a blessing that there are so many resources out there!
But there is one word. One word, that when I encounter it, makes me feel a little queasy.
You know what this word is?
Help-meet.
*shudder*
It sounds so...strange! The connotations that come with that word are just not right.
If someone were to call me that, I'd feel like a literal piece of raw chicken.
A helpful one, I guess.
I can just imagine this playing out someday:
"Honey, if you are going to insist on calling me your help-meet to friends, how about you just call me Hamburger Helper? It's much more preferable."
I mean, I guess to some people "help-meet" is somehow sweet?
But, if you love that term, good for you! I'm not telling you to change.
It's personal preference.
To me though, as happy as I'll [someday] be to help my [way-in-the-future] husband, I will not be called his "help-meet"
I've learned much about relationships from various speakers and books. It's definitely a blessing that there are so many resources out there!
But there is one word. One word, that when I encounter it, makes me feel a little queasy.
You know what this word is?
Help-meet.
*shudder*
It sounds so...strange! The connotations that come with that word are just not right.
If someone were to call me that, I'd feel like a literal piece of raw chicken.
A helpful one, I guess.
I can just imagine this playing out someday:
"Honey, if you are going to insist on calling me your help-meet to friends, how about you just call me Hamburger Helper? It's much more preferable."
But, if you love that term, good for you! I'm not telling you to change.
It's personal preference.
To me though, as happy as I'll [someday] be to help my [way-in-the-future] husband, I will not be called his "help-meet"
Sunday, July 22, 2012
up late? time to blog!
It's the wee hours of the morning and I'm awake.
You know what that means: BLOGGING TIME!
A great many things have been swirling around inside of my head the past few weeks.
I came back to America expecting extreme culture shock.
I was so prepared, I had such high expectations of my own inability to adapt, that well,
...really, pretty much all has been well for me.
For the most part. There have been a few, "WOAH, Americans are strange!" moments, and a few, "I MISS BURUNDI SO STINKING MUCH!" moments sprinkled in there.
But on the whole, the culture shock in both going over and coming back have been pleasant experiences.
So, I praise God for that. I praise Him that he is the one in control of all things (despite my feeble attempts to be the one in charge)
I have this horrible habit of stressing out and overthinking. God has been hammering the lesson of "my child, I am the mighty one who has got this." into my head. Still, if I'm not careful, I go back to my way of thinking that the world rests on me.
Newsflash: IT DOES NOT.
I forget that I can't do any good thing without my Jesus.
I'd be lost without the Holy Spirit's guidance.
It's a daily struggle that needs daily reminder.
You know what that means: BLOGGING TIME!
A great many things have been swirling around inside of my head the past few weeks.
I came back to America expecting extreme culture shock.
I was so prepared, I had such high expectations of my own inability to adapt, that well,
...really, pretty much all has been well for me.
For the most part. There have been a few, "WOAH, Americans are strange!" moments, and a few, "I MISS BURUNDI SO STINKING MUCH!" moments sprinkled in there.
But on the whole, the culture shock in both going over and coming back have been pleasant experiences.
So, I praise God for that. I praise Him that he is the one in control of all things (despite my feeble attempts to be the one in charge)
I have this horrible habit of stressing out and overthinking. God has been hammering the lesson of "my child, I am the mighty one who has got this." into my head. Still, if I'm not careful, I go back to my way of thinking that the world rests on me.
Newsflash: IT DOES NOT.
I forget that I can't do any good thing without my Jesus.
I'd be lost without the Holy Spirit's guidance.
It's a daily struggle that needs daily reminder.
-Psalm 54:4Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Monday, July 16, 2012
I am a hypocrite
During those lovely years of high school, I took a chemistry course.
I loved it.
It was my absolute favorite class, and I was actually good at it.
I understood the logic of the class and I pulled off an A in Chemistry.
I decided that I wouldn't mind having a career in the Chem field. It was just that fun to me.
This was in 9th grade, however, and many subjects have happened since. I've even had a gap year of no school! (except for that calculus class...)
But when people would ask what subjects I liked, I always said "Chemistry. Chemistry is my favorite! I could study reactions all day!"
...fast forward 4 years.
I'm supposed to take a placement test for getting into the basic 101 college class. I looked at sample questions and... I'm a little rusty.
So I am sitting here with my old textbook and notes, cramming for the placement exam. I am happily having AHA! moments.
I am feeling more than a little sheepish for declaring to the world so often that I love this subject.
Because now, I'm blanking out.
I loved it.
It was my absolute favorite class, and I was actually good at it.
I understood the logic of the class and I pulled off an A in Chemistry.
I decided that I wouldn't mind having a career in the Chem field. It was just that fun to me.
This was in 9th grade, however, and many subjects have happened since. I've even had a gap year of no school! (except for that calculus class...)
But when people would ask what subjects I liked, I always said "Chemistry. Chemistry is my favorite! I could study reactions all day!"
...fast forward 4 years.
I'm supposed to take a placement test for getting into the basic 101 college class. I looked at sample questions and... I'm a little rusty.
So I am sitting here with my old textbook and notes, cramming for the placement exam. I am happily having AHA! moments.
I am feeling more than a little sheepish for declaring to the world so often that I love this subject.
Because now, I'm blanking out.
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