Good Night

Putting aside homework (it will get done eventually, I promise!) I had quite the night. We went to a very cute little coffee shop called the Wire to here one of or fellow students, Skyler, and has band play. The lyrics were great, and his songs were very thoughtful and musical. It was neat to see the support from friends and family of all ages for them! Little old ladies smiling away, proud parents, and even younger siblings helping out with video. We came back and went to the SMF bonfire. It's one of my most favorite events on campus! We had smores (I'm quite bad it roasting marshmallows on the fire and they are super sticky but I just like to eat the makings of them i.e. graham crackers, delicious chocolates, and of course giant marshmallows) Note: we did not play the fluffy bunny game but will have to save it for another day. It is just a really fun time to hang out with friends by a warm fire and sing praise songs to the Lord, Maker of it all! Fire is also a very powerful and amazing concept. When you start to think about it, it kind of blows your mind. After that I came back and planned to just wind down and go to bed. But after two foiled attempts, for which I was very grateful, I finally made it in at 2:30. The first attempt I heard there were brownies and of course I sprang up! Gooey brownies and the movie Dan in Real Life, I figured that was a good way to the end the night. Well then a friend told me to come let him in....they had made pancakes and wanted to bring me some! They weren't just any pancakes but hot chocolate pancakes. The poor guy had to improvise to thicken the pancake batter after he realized the milk he had was curdled! Gross! Well we were just standing around talking and a few more people stopped by, it turned into a few hours and eventually sitting :) My roommate came back at about 4, so I take it she had a good night too! The other night she was sad because she went to bed later than me and got up earlier, because of homework. I think this morning was a bit more normal as I got up earlier.
Other highlights of the day:
-the amazing Chiquita banana sticker
-sewing feathers on a soon-to-be skirt in the costume shop (the bird piece)
-talking to good friends on face book chat

Taste and see that the Lord is good!-Psalm 34:8
It is finally warming up a bit and i came back from work to see that our window was open....I just love the smell of fresh air, it makes such a big difference!
Had a performance tech evaluation today and God was really good. I was very nervous but was really happy, I felt like I gave it everything I had, left it all on the floor. I'm still learning how to dance for Him alone. I tried to think of that verse for this piece. Our teacher spoke of how it's a representation of the fact that in the midst of our trials and searching God is holding our hand through it all as we serve Him each day. Maybe I'll get a copy of a rough performance of it.

Just another day

Guess what?! I am actually doing homework and studying for my Educational Psychology Midterm tomorrow. Here are some thoughts I found interesting that we tend to know but not really think about....

As for gender differences:
-girls tend to be more motivated in school but can't handle failure. boys take more risks (guess they don't think about failure, I don't know because I'm not a boy)
-boys over estimate their sense of self/ego and girls underestimate/low self-esteem
-boys like to hang out in groups and girls are just fine with one or two good friends
Self-fulfilling prophecy can make or break a child's future. I don't want to be the one who causes a kid to drop out. Words are powerful.
I just thought this was an interesting quote: "Even if I had a quick answer to your question, I would never answer immediately. That would be saying that your question was not worth thinking about."-Gilliland
The context of the quote was how some cultures see interrupting a conversation as participating in the conversation, others see it as rude or disrespectful, others see a thoughtful response as respectful.

It is a beautiful sunny day in Jackson, MS and the Lord and music has gotten me through another day. Jason Mraz has been keeping me company with "World Play" and "Make it Mine". Actually each song that has come on my ipod, I guess I haven't listened to in a while because they've all been great!

Quote found in Education Psychology Developing Learners 5th edition, by Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, copyright 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., NJ. Pg. 110

so its midnight and just recently came back from I-hop's free pancake day! We got there at about 9:30 and waited for at least an hour. Somehow they missed our name or we didn't hear it. It seemed like they called it and someone else stood up so we didn't think it was ours. The pancakes were delicious! It was so hard to refrain from picking all the other yummy menu items. I decided that it would be a great place for a date :) breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

It's all about perspective

A professor was shot at JSU.
A lady was attacked at Laurel Park.
Four car break-ins on campus and an apsire student robbed.
A family laid their Marine son and brother to rest...he was 21.
Two middle school students were shot at a school in Colorado.
A friend weeps because her dad isn't there to banter with her mom.
Fly to Florida not for a sunny vacation but a memorial.

These are the times in which we live.

Hug. Sit. Cry. Pray.



"No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."-In Christ Alone, words and music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Oh Canada and office chairs

Oh Canada! Canadian ice dancers take gold! So exciting....we watched as my roommate sang along to her national anthem!
Random: after working in the same office for about 6 months now, I have just realized how amazingly comfy the office chair is, maybe the officer owner got a new one. I don't know what it was but today I noticed. I bet it would've been funny to video tape because I actually sat back in the chair instead of sitting on the edge and thought, this is so nice! I just sat back, kicked off my shoes and made my calls. I was thankful for a comfortable desk chair. It's the little things in life.

The power of a book....

Today was quite the day...
Sunday school was great and though my thoughts strayed slightly from the lesson, it was great to delve into the classic OT stories. We filmed our mock show of House for our capstone project and laughed a lot. It went pretty well until someone complained that we were being too loud. Then we had small group and I came back and started laundry. First of all, the laundry room was an explosion, I guess Sunday night isn't exactly the best night for that. Secondly there were rose pedals all the way down the stairs-slightly strange I must say. Got to talk to momma and after studying some and not having to study for the same test the study group in my room was studying for, I decided to not worry about other stuff and just read for fun.
Oddly enough I have tons of things I should be doing but at the moment am taking one day at a time and if possible, I might get to bed at a decent hour tonight.
Anyway, I just love books that pull you in. This one was no exception and is still wonderful (with the distractions of school, I have been working on this particular book since New Year's)! Anyway the lady in the book made a coffee cake to help her de-stress or not worry about the possibility of losing the guy she liked and then they went on a camping trip. So my first thought was boy could I go for some coffee cake! Next I thought of the camping trip which involved hot dogs and all the best camping food. All I could think about was all those trips I took with the fam when it would always pour and we would have mac and cheese, baked beans, salad, bbq chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers....mmmm! The list goes on! Now I would really like to go camping and eat that delicious food and I can't wait 'til summer cookouts. One of my friends commented and said that you can't always get what you want which is true but I will keep dreaming because they're great dreams!

Wishful Thinking

For some reason this semester all the fun things that I would rather be doing than school keep popping in my brain, (don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for the opportunity and the school I am attending, it is just summer time blues i suppose). For example, a stay-at-home mom or just being able to do small group instead of so many other things. However, that will come in due time and yes, life will not stop or get any less busy and that's ok. We are supposed to make the most of our days anyway. Once more I caught myself engulfed in wishful thinking. I would love to watch a movie, get some hot chocolate, read for fun something that I don't HAVE to pay attention too, and go out to eat (Chick-fil-A sounds wonderful!) However, until spring break, which is actually only a few weeks away....a majority of that down time will have to be overlooked.

In other news, the music played in dance class has been so great this week! We've had Pachelbel's Canon, titanic, and some worship songs!

And just fyi, USA is racking up the medals! Hershey's Cookies and Creme candy bar and the olympics-now that's a pretty good night!

I also feel as if I should never plan to do homework on a Friday....

Happy Weekend!

Learning

It's fun to be an ElEd major because you figure out why your teachers did the things they did. Today I was reading for Ed Psych and learned two interesting things: 1. the reason why they always read after recess was to calm us down, and get us back in the mindset of school and 2. if you need to learn the difference between the letters 'b' and 'd' make a fist but leave the pinky finger up...the one on the left or the first one makes a 'b' like it comes first in the alphabet and the other second one, a 'd'

P.S. apparently the snowboarding phrase (from the halfpipe Olympics commentary)is 'go big or go home!' I think I need to apply that to dance...

Does it ever go away?

It feels like it has been so long since I have posted but it has only been a few days. Today was one of those days where you get home and just feel like doing nothing. I had been going from 8a.m. till about 7:30p.m., didn't even have a chance to put make-up on so I went all-natural. Got some summer school figured out (it's a process), got a wonderful package from home, and worked in the costume shop, among other things. I cut out lots of feathers for a bird piece the dance department will be doing. Boy I stood there for about 2 and a half hours cutting and tracing. My feet hurt and I think I was starting to get a blister from the scissors but it was kind of nice to be by myself and listen to the quiet or the rehearsal music every now and then. I kept thining of how mom had to make all these headpieces for my little ballerina friends or sew rind stones all over a costume.
Well I feel as if I am fighting off a cold.
Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer just came on my itunes.
It has been a weird day.
I wore my chicklet earrings again and one of my guy friends was like nice earrings-I knew they were good for something ;) just kidding, but they do brighten days!
In other news, I don't think you get over the loss of a loved one. In my package I got the letter Grandpa wrote to the grandchildren and his 'In memory of' card...I read them and the tears just fell. It still hurts and yet the whole thing was about not grieving but using your time for the Lord!
Whew, what a day!

"Perhaps my time seemed all to brief, don't lengthen it now with undone grief. Lift up your hearts and share with me, for God wanted me now-He set me free."

"There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth-You shall rest in Jesus' land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh the joy to see you come!"-Safely Home

new shoes!

So I definitely have a lot to do this week and should not have spent all that time on face book; I really have to study for a quiz. Well, my 8a.m. was incredibly hard to get up for, but dance woke me up soon after. Somehow, I am sad to say, i feel as if I will have a battle with 8a.m. for the rest of my life. Well maybe not that long, and maybe actually being a teacher will help instead of going to sit in a classroom. Maybe they are trying to teach my to be sympathetic towards students in the morning. Anyway, crazy week ahead but I have new shoes which makes everything so much better! I had to throw away my most favoritist pair of shoes (yes I know that was incorrect grammar at it's finest but I just had to prove how much i loved them). Those shoes were so perfect: slip-ons, cute, and just went with everything! Anyway, I am thankful to say, I found some new ones!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Church was encouraging, a good reminder from Psalm 8-1-know that you are significant! and from Hebrews 11-what have you done by faith today?
P.S. the flower goodies are for small group girls....hope they like them!

Olympics are Here

Olympic Madness has begun! I caught the end of the opening ceremonies. I was quite surprised to see tappers and violinist in kilts. The tappers even had sparks/fire/sparklers on their taps! It seizes to amaze me that after all these years, we still have a world wide competition. It must be awesome to be a competitor and meet people from all over the world! The speech that was given about how people look up to these young Olympians and they can make a difference, really made me think. To work so hard for that chance every four years and then to succeed must be incredible. Also to have that opportunity to influence so many, well that's a high calling. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be famous!

P.S. Annie, I went back to the three post syndrome

Chains

When I was in Naples, I was trying to help my mom untangle her necklace...a task I often find that I have to try to do for myself as well. Man, I was struggling. There were a couple of knots and at one point the chain was so fine that I thought I broke it! Well, there was actually more than one chain and I did break one of them. It was ok, but then I started thinking...I wonder if that is what God feels like with his kids. He just works and works and sometimes we can be so stubborn that we don't budge. After a lot of love and hard work, I bet He is thrilled when we are untangled. Sure, there may have been some difficult breaks along the way. What a beautiful piece of work is left for all the world to see.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Remember When

As promised, the following is the post from our Memorial Weekend....


Last weekend I boarded a plane, for the first time by myself. I was headed to Naples, FL for a memorial. It's a little difficult to explain when people ask on flights, but it is quite the conversation starter and can be a good testimony. I remember thinking about if I should go to the memorial, God would have to tell me because it was going to be hard-hard to get a ticket, hard to leave school, hard to fly by myself, hard to handle death. But you know what? It was a little hard, but God made all of it possible! I didn't miss any of my classes and can now say I know how to fly by myself (maybe I'll get out to Portland soon Josh & Alli)!



Anyway, it was all very surreal. It was such a blessing to see my family again, as for some reason this semester has been harder than usual. If you didn't think about it, it was just like every other visit to Naples. Except Grandpa wasn't there. Grandma started the day with 'God is good!'. What a testimony and legacy Grandpa has left! Oh my Grandma loved every minute of the service. Though I'm sure all of us are still hurting, she just loved hearing all of the Grandpa and Ed stories!

Well, Saturday some of the cousins went to the pier that Great Grandpa built and saw all the business and houses that Grandpa's firm built. There was even a crazy car show down there that we stopped by. I bet Grandpa would've loved it, especially watching Eli give everyone the low down on the all the cars :).
Saturday night we all had pizza and shared more memories. Yes, my mascara was shot and my eyes quite swollen in the morning, and that's ok.



Naples was beautiful, 70 and sunny. I feel like it's never winter there! After the pizza the Mike Schreck family (my mom, dad, and brother) went to desert. I think the waiter thought we were a mess trying to decide what we want, and talking about anything and everything. Mom and I laughed until we cried and I don't know why but somehow it seems I laugh the hardest with her about the silliest things!

The memorial was difficult yet all the praise and glory went to Jesus whom Grandpa Schreck is praising all the more.



Grandpa, I'm working on that advice you gave: take each day one at a time, step by step! I'm also waiting for that bowl of ice cream in Heaven! I'll see ya soon! I love you!

Snow Day!

11:30 What-a-burger trip is definitely the way to start a Snow Day! We sat and talked for a couple hours and came back to visit some friends in the other dorms. We were so excited about everything after a good long bonding time that we laughed and tried not to break quite hours. At 3 a.m. we ended the night with prayer and headed home. It is so neat how God is working at Belhaven and I think we all feel it and know the power and importance of prayer! One of my friends jumped up and yelled 'yes'! at the suggestions to pray. What a blessing!



Soon after I woke to the sound of yelling and screaming as lots of Jacksonians were playing in our Bowl right outside our room. Well catching up on sleep was a lost cause but it was so worth it to catch up with friends and realize that it was STILL snowing!
We've probably got between 5-6 inches I reckon! (Sorry that Southern drawl is rubbing off).


Oh I almost forgot, during our what-a-burger run, we ran into a cowboys, complete with hats, boots, and accents due to the rodeo in town. Everyone liked Alli's Dutch rain boots, quite the conversation pieces. Anyway, I attempted homework but it's not to be done on a snow day!



We watched Full House and ventured out into the Winter Wonderland for pizza day at the caf. The day got even better because the snow is a wet snow, great for packing snowballs and it wasn't so cold that you couldn't play in it. The caf. even had a chocolate fountain in honor of Valentine's Day. Two of our Malasian girls had never had chocolate covered strawberries. One of them was so surprised that we would put chocolate on fruit, on purpose. She then put the whole thing in her mouth, leaves and all! It made me happy. I recommended she not eat the leaves.
Snow puts just about everyone in a good mood!

Then we had a snowball fight, a mini one, complete with tray fulls of snow being dumped on people. We tried to get the culprit, but our aim was a little off. To end it, we came back and had hot chocolate. Well the day's not over yet. There's the Dance Ministry Concert and Valentine's Day the movie!

I'm a little sad because I mixed up all my body positions/facings and points for the Vaganova Method on my dance quiz today. I was going to ask about it after class but then I either forgot, or thought it would be ok. Only later did I realize that I have a quiz on the same stuff tomorrow. Well I might not have a quiz because it's snowing. When it snows in the Jackson, MS, or almost anywhere in the South for that matter, everything shuts down. I might not have the quiz. I still want to figure out those positions though.
P.S. the sound of a light snow hitting the ground is pretty cool....there's nothing like it and I don't get to hear it often

So a few weeks ago I had some really interesting classes in Literature and Form and Meaning and had meant to post something about them but then forget. Since I am now having to study for their tests I figured I would post a little.....
In Literature we are studying poetry from World War II which is very depressing but very powerful at the same time. These men had nothing to hold on too and yet they kept fighting amidst hopelessness. Two very moving poems, that may even seem relevant today in honor of or getting into the mindset of what a soldier still deals with today, are called In Flanders Fields and The Target. It seems as if many of these poems were just scribbled on a sheet of paper and yet they went down in history.
Just to wet your appetite....
"We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields."-John McCrae
As for Form and Meaning (an art and music class) the two pieces that are really though provoking are Erich Heckel's Two Men at a Table (To Dostoyevsky) and Edvard Munch's The Scream

The first evokes various emotions most of which are impending doom. One can only wonder what Dostoyevsky had done to get the two of them into that situation.
As for The Scream, which is a fairly well known piece, the alienation is quite evident or screaming if you will. For me, I want to head the warning and remember that you never know what friends are going through our how they may be feeling. As a teacher, one should pic up on warning signs and catch those who seem to be floundering. These expressionist pieces are certainly unforgettable and leave quite the impressions.

Yellow chicklet-cheer

So i really want to post but because this week is shaping up to be incredibly busy and sleep my even be hard to come by. This post will have to do. Maybe sometime this weekend I can catch up on internet world and sleep, i'm even trying to avoid face book and have pictures that could be uploaded.

Today I wore yellow square earrings that I have had for years but failed to wear. I don't know why because they are very fun and I like them a lot. One of my friends told me they are like chicklets gum and this made me very happy. I figured I could use the yellow cheer in my life to get through the day along with God's grace of course. I'm glad the yellow chicklet-earings worked. Maybe I'll manage a picture in the next posts or so.

So today my teacher told our class that we should "kiss dating hello" and our homework is to go on a date within in the next week or so. That along with the board table study system, I think it's been quite the day. At the board table in the lobb, we do things by a raising of hands...we got through studying in an hour, not bad, i think the system works. When the rabbit trails start going and we should be moving on, one raises a hand and the table must follow in suit. Did I mention a three hour season premiere of Lost was on? Granted 3 hours is a bit much. However, if you watched the first hour then you didn't have to watch all of the other four seasons. The next two episodes brought everyone together once again except there are at least two very different story lines. We shall just have to see....I am glad there is going to be an ending but I have to say these are some of my all time favorite characters.

Some of my favorite songs:

Seasons of Love: Rent
Concerning Hobbits: Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Soundtrack
Why Should I Fear: Red Mountain Music, This Breaks my Heart of Stone
Home: Blake Shelton

I kind of feel like they are really good summations of my life at the moment.

In other much less important news. This week is apparently look like a celebrity week or something like that. I've got votes for Belle, Natalie Portman and Alexis Bledel.

So what do you think?

Oh and did you know that sissonne (a ballet term, you jump from two feet to one) was actually named after the originator of the step, it doesn't actually have a French/English translation like most of the other terms.
Also, Enrico Cecchetti (founder of the Cecchetti method, Cecchetti and Vaganova are the two forms of ballet, French and Russian) was born in a dressing room in a theater in Rome.

Won't be the same when we all get together Grandpa, but so happy for you!

And again, this is my life at the moment.

It has been a difficult week. I struggled through saying goodbye to my grandpa, a goodbye only for a little while, and then found out the news a few days later. One of my friends found me crying and I knew they were just tears of joy, thinking of memories. I see God's hand so much. That day, I wasn't thinking much along those lines which was unusual. I had a friend ask me how I was, had another friend give me a little gift. Dad called me but I was at work, and for some reason unlike every other time, I didn't think that it was bad news. It seizes to amaze me, that God knows the exact hour and time. Even now I am smiling and the tears are forming. What a life lived. I bought some pink roses this week and as they begin to droop and fade, I'm thinking about many things. Grandpa's life was beautiful. Just as those roses, he faded, but the best part is that it's only for a time...I know there was much rejoicing on the twenty-eighth when a saint made it home.
There was also news of a friend's mom who lost her job and another friend who's friend lost her baby.
My struggle with school seems so trivial but God is sovereign and nothing is a surprise to him. All this reading and papers and yet it sometimes seems like you are getting nowhere. The truth is progress is made and yes there is so much more to life than school. It has value, but it is all a part of the big picture.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. -Isaiah 40:11

But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:31

Keep up the faith and the fight, it's so worth it!

One step at a time, Grandpa finally got to see what's on the other side. We love you and miss you already but know you are having the time of your life!

There is more to write about but for now the fact that my ed psych book had a child's story about Napoleon Nose to illustrate that the student is in Piaget's formal operations stage made me smile.

Well it has been quite a week. Somehow this week seemed much longer than actually 5-7 days. Interesting how time works but then again in the long run (eternity) time isn't really an issue because it's eternity, if that makes any sense. That's a bit of an abstract concept for this morning as I'm still waking up. As I'm dancing a lot more this semester that means I have been sore quite a bit. Weird because I wake up sore and then can't get comfortable enough to sleep again oh well. So I decided to start the homework I should've been doing all week. We are reading a book called Hollywood Worldviews by Brain Godawa. It's about learning to look at the meanings behind movies. He included an excerpt from Geoffrey Hill's Illuminating Shadows: The Mythic Power of Film that I thought portrays movie-goers, myself included, quite well:

"As ironic modern worshippers we congregate at the cinematic temple. We pay our votive offerings at the box office. We buy our ritual corn. We hush in reverent anticipation as the lights go down and the celluloid magic begins. Throughout the filmic narrative we identify with the hero. We villify the antihero. We vicariously exult in the victories of the drama. And we are spiritually inspired by the moral of the story, all while believing we are modern techno-secular people, devoid of religion. Yet the depth of and intensity of our participation reveal a religious fervor that is not much different from that of religious zealots." (Hill 3)

copyright:
Illuminating Shadows: The Mythic Power of Film by Geoffrey Hill
found in
Godawa, Brian. Hollywood Worldviews Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002. Print.

Oh my goodness, it has been too long since I have posted and for that I give my apologies. Needless to say, it has been very crazy around these neck of the woods. You may not have known but Jackson had a big freeze which caused the pipes to burst. This would normally be no big deal except that oh say 70-100 pipes burst. As a college student showering it just seemed like the pressure was a little light but then they started hanging out bottled water and we were a bit in trouble. We eventually got kicked out because the heaters are run by water so that would not due. We were quite happy however that we didn't have to utilize the porta-potties. Ended up going to Olive Branch, MS for a week of extra vacation (school started a week late!). The rest was much appreciated. The trip was complete with good southern homecoming (grits which I had never had before), viewing Gone with the Wind (which is rather depressing but has great characters), and oh maybe 18 college kids!

So it is only 3 days into the school year and I'm exhausted but it's ok because God's got good plans. I am learning lots, at least I think I will be and much more than just academic college. There's a song I heard at a church service that had great lyrics called Rock of Ages by Sandra McCracken and I wanted to pass along two of my favorite verses....




"Rock of Ages, when in want or rest
My desperate need for such a Savior I confess
Pull these idols out from my heart embrace
Rock of Ages, I need your grace"

"Rock of Ages, 'It is done,' You cried
The curtain's torn and I see justice satisfied
Now write Your mercy here on my heart and hands
Rock of Ages, in faith I stand"

Also a really neat quote to think about: "Faithfulness is what's left when pretense disappears."-Rev. Mike Winebrenner

So I should really be doing school work but somehow I have found many other things to do. I suppose I'll try and get on that on Friday except that a plan like that never seems to pan out seeing as it's the weekend. Well, it'll get done at some point.

I am also lifting up my dear Grandpa to the Lord, He's so ready to meet his Maker but he will be immensely missed. Battling cancer for numerous years, he has overcome odds and God has used him mightily. We love you Grandpa Schreck!

So first of all I am back at school! It's always hard to come back but good friends help that. Boy I was so bummed though that when I actually have an opportunity to sleep in my body's time clock decided to get up super early and be super sore. Oh well. I have been meaning to write a post about emptiness and just haven't gotten around to it so now I suppose I will.....

After packing for school and with all the other moving we are doing, my room is officially empty. We gave away my bed to a good friend to help furnish his college apartment. It is strange to think I slept on a sofa because I didn't have a bed but then it went to a good place and use. Also thinking about how so many people don't even have a bed is astounding, such seemingly insignificant/average things I so take for granted. Well that is a whole other issue in itself and not the gist of my thoughts, though a part. I began to think about emptiness. My room was empty. Nothing in it, white walls, a blank canvas. Then I thought about what if I came to God like that. I let everything go and just came to Him. That is what He does after all, washing us whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7). How much more could God use me if that were the case?

Trader Joe's Tissue Quotes:

"Please don't leave me in you pocket when you do laundry!"
"I'm there when you're sad. -love tissue"
"I'm there when you need to pick up icky things.-kindly tissue"
"I'm there when you're sick.-feel better tissue"
"I'm there when you run out of toilet paper.-you're welcome tissue"

Just thought it would brighten your day a bit-Emily tissue
p.s. 'tissue' is a weird word

Pink phones are for girls

I was in Walmart today and heard the following conversation between a very cute little girl and her daddy; it went something like this....

Little girl: I got a pink phone daddy!
Dad: That's cool, I wish I had a pink phone
Little girl: No, you don't need one daddy
Dad: Why not?
Little girl: Because pink phones are for girls, and you're a boy

It made my day, that along with an STP from Groucho's and a mountain dew...mmm I love SC!

Brudder and Seister!

Woa, it has been a little while since posting! That is because I am way out west in Portland, Oregon to visit my brother and sister! We started out flying on Friday but with two fights canceled it ended up being a two day trip. We took one of the shortest flights ever to Atlanta and they put us in first class, I guess because we had so much trouble. It was funny that it was so short but that's good because it felt like everyone was staring at us. First class isn't for me and I think I would rather have someone take my place. It wasn't super different, just a few free snacks and some leg room. I suppose other longer flights' first class are much different. Anyway, I love how the soldiers are all recognized at airports, some get first class and most get recognition and early boarding. I sat next to a soldier on the five and a half our flight to Portland but he seemed pretty sleepy so we didn't really get a chance to talk. But wherever you are soldier, thanks for your service! So after the Atlanta flight it was so cold as we waited outside for a bus to take us to our hotel. We kinda get messed up again because we were supposed to get two rooms and so many meal vouchers when we really got one room and two less meal vouchers. Anyway the hotel we stayed at was nice and they were having an isec (i think that's what it was call) business convention for college kids. It was their last night and they were having some sort of hoe down? There were people with blue hair, short skirts, reindeer ears and a few cross dressed guys. I almost stopped and asked what sort of bet he lost but then we were so tired that I didn't talk much. Smile and nod would've been a good philosophy on that one I suppose.

Anyway we tried to get another room for about an hour and a half and then gave up. 6 hours later we headed to the airport and boy was that place hoppin'! The lady at the ticket counter was super stressed because she wanted to get the plane out early due to winds. Then we held up the line because we had to get our exit row seats switched. Well long story short, well not so short now, we made it a few hours later. Oh, I forgot, our luggage made it before us because there was room for it on the flight but not passengers. Boy are airports busy these days, so many flights are oversold, sometimes there aren't crews to fly, and the confusion just keeps growing.

Josh and Alli met us at the airport and realized that mom and I are very short. They could only see dad in the crowd of people. Anyway after two showerless days we felt awful but were ecstatic to be at our destinatin. Had a starbucks breakfast and headed to ikea-mom's favorite store. It was packed! Then we got showers, I was really happy at that point, and went to Olive Garden!

I ate so much food, oh my word! I felt like I was the finisher, maybe that should be my superhero name. We had gelato, tera massu, and an amazing rasberry cheesecake (that was my favorite)! Since then we visited church and it was such a blessing to be their for the dedication of Josh and Alli's new night church service that starts Friday!

We returned to Ikea for a less stressful visit and I even got some decorations for my dorm room. I know it's silly but maybe it will brighten the place up a bit. We also went to Costello's-my all-time favorite restaurant here I believe. It's a travel restaurant, they have video footage of the owner's trip and the Manchester-roast beef, grilled onions, horseradish and cheese. Sounds strange but it's delicious and a yummy salad to go with it....mmmm I'm a happy camper!

We did some shopping too and had chocolate at Moonstruck. For some reason I am into coffee deserts but not coffee. Odd I know. Oh and there are so many cute little stores here and they don't have tax! It's amazing. We took a quick stop at Trader Joe's and I got some fun presents fro friends who will remain nameless in case they are reading this. Well needless to say, we are enjoying our trip, even if mom and dad don't sleep-in, they must still be in SC time. And Josh still beats me at Mario Kart on the Wii. I was in first and he knew a shortcut and beat me at the last minute!

Happy New Year! I really like New Year's and this year is no exception. Even though I don't have a whole lot of plans I am still psyched! I always love spying fireworks late at night around this time of year; it may actually be one of my favorite things. Maybe New Year's is one of my favorites because it's all about New. New beginnings, starting over, fresh and perhaps all of those are favorites because that is the incredible business that God is in and I am beyond blessed to have experienced it. What do you like about New Year's?

P.S. After today, face book, I will log on much less. Bloggers have no fear, i will continue to blog!

Some how I managed to get sick. I have an odd pattern of getting sick over breaks. One of the times I was most sick was the day after school let out. Anyway, maybe it was because I went out in wet hair but my hair usually dries pretty fast. Maybe it was all the nasty dry wall air in the new house, but the dry wall guy is covered in that stuff and he seems fine. Well actually with his smoking and other not so conventional habits he seems really fine compared to what he should be feeling. Or maybe, I just got a cold. Weird. Anyway I know a lot of people have been sick over break so I don't want to complain because it is really not that bad. I do have to say I am slightly disappointed because I was working on my New Year's resolution...a little early just to see if I could do it and I was doing really well until I got sick and we had people come look at our house. I didn't have much to do either time so I caved and logged on to face book. Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with face book and I do like it. It's just that I spend way too much time on face book and I was starting to get annoyed. That is one of my New Year's resolutions: very few time spent on face book. Well at least I have until January first right?

Happy Sunday to you and your family! We were knee deep in wall paper glue yesterday trying to strip the bathroom in the new house. An afternoon and some very sore hands later the walls were bare. Gives a lot of time to do some good thinking and talking too. The house is coming along, I think it will be the fastest flip my parents have done yet!

Today is a day, a day that most will just sit still and enjoy the blessings of life. Merry Christmas!

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

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.-Hebrews 11:1

Wouldn't it be love-ely

One of my favorites of the play. Actually I really like all of them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5fW7sERw7I

2 Days! Merry Christmas!

Watched the season finale of Monk. Can't believe it's over. That was quite the show, good wholesome tv. Gotta love the Monk in all of us...

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I haven't been entirely sure what to post about so here is just a hubub of posts that could have been I suppose...

It's raining. I love the sound of rain and the fact that I was at home during the rain in pj's watching Regis and Kelly. To all the Caldwellians on my hall, the wish list works, my wish came true! The pic is the view from window.

Our house is even more so empty than at Thanksgiving. Now there are boxes everywhere, I think this Christmas should be called Christmas in Boxes. It's not a bad thing, just part of life. I even think someone should make a Hallmark movie, see I even gave them a title! Oh and some of my favorite quotes of the week: Don't question just pack! Just leave it, it's gonna get worse before it gets better. (the cardboard I was trying to organize by the trashcan) and I discovered that I am slightly inept at putting together cardboard boxes. They are actually really cool once you figure them out.

I went back to the school my family has been at for twenty plus years to get some moving supplies and the secretary didn't recognize me right away and my mom said you look like a lady amid all those teeny boppers and high schoolers. It's only been a year and a half since I've graduated. My how the times change.

We watched Because I Said So last night and it's one of my favorites.

And some great verses in Psalm 80:17-19

"Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. Then we will not return away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved."

Jesus took our place and for that there is no words.

A Book on a Shelf

Books are funny. We packed up the office/library today. I did find a couple to add to my stack of to-be-read books but then again I'm always in a conundrum. What do books do, they just sit on a shelf...waiting to be read or read once, I'll give you that. But don't you wish you could pass them along and others could keep reading them, I guess that's why they came up with libraries. Anyway after saying how awful books are because they just sit on a shelf I was pulling down kids books and so excited to have them! There were Berenstein Bears, Peanuts, classics, and Silly Songs for Kids! I was in another world of fun and soon realized why books sit on shelves-so you can come back each time and enter that wonderful world of adventure. My mom loved to read to me when I was growing up and now I can't wait to read to future students/kids. So what do you think about books sitting on shelves?

Go Team

So today we packed up the craft room, and let me just say it was quite the day. We found pressed flowers, some unfinished projects, and a whole lot more. My favorite was when we were wondering if we the glue was still any good, some of it was green and solidified and the other had taken the shape of the bottle top. It was amazing. We had craft snow that had even solidified. Boy do you have a lot of memories and good times after twenty some years. There was the button box that mom got from a yard sale with Uncle Charlie and her bear beans. They were so much fun to play with. The sticky stamps from the dollar store were pretty gross but we did use them and made quite the projects. I remember running upstairs and painting something, I even pretended like I was on a craft show: Now you take the sponge and dip it in the paint.... A lot of the supplies we decided to pass along to His House and some friends of ours have little girls. I am glad that they will get to have lots of fun! It is hard to pack up after twenty some years but thankfully the memories still last. We did have a few laughs packing up to. I was looking at a cute clay bear but my hands were sticky so I was like he's cute oh my hands are gross, but it translated as he's cute but kinda gross! So in one afternoon we packed up the remaining crafts of twenty some years.
P.S. Though most people aren't liking the weather here in SC I kinda do....it's perfect temp, not too hot and not too cold and its that foggy eerie atmosphere, the trees look really cool!

During this Christmas season, this year, and this life for that matter, so often people go through struggles and hardships. Though you may not have the words to say or the things to do there is always prayer.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
-Romans 8:26

Good Stuff

After another long day, SC welcomes me! Mom had a fight with the umbrella and i think she won. The tree is up but a little bare because we get to finish decorating it, Mom says its because she couldn't reach up there. We are watching Martha Stuart and it is just making me laugh so much. These are two new favorites from So You Think You can Dance and the cha cha, my favorite part is the very end, wait for it....

Christmas is here!

So I'm sitting against those awfully cold cinder block walls that only seem to be found in college dorms. I have officially completed my third semester at the soon to be Belhaven University. It has been quite the exam week, we even threw in two fire alarms and yes, the alarm on our hall is RIGHT over our door. Even though I only had a few exams and they were spread out, I am really tired and slightly afraid that I may fall asleep in the hall as I type this. Wow it's only 10 a.m. and I feel like I could use another good night's sleep. Maybe I should just be like elf, "I slept great, I got a full 4o minutes!" Oh man, I have watched that movie so much this Christmas. Anyway, we sure did have some great quotes as always, "Civilization is a moral obligation!" "A big flat lady" (studying Manet's Luncheon on the Grass) oh and from One Fine Day, a study break mind you, "Where do you get a bag like that?" I would venture to say, especially during finals week, every girl needs one of those! I actually can say that I did learn some very interesting stuff: Stravinsky was a great Russian composer but because of World War II he moved to Los Angeles and made quite a name for himself-one of America's 100 most influential people, a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, and he even messed with our Star Spangled Banner and tried to re-harmonize it but was quickly imprisoned because it was illegal at the time. Tchaikovsky too had in interesting life. He was known as "the weeping machine" and had an anonymous widow donor that supported him for many years but they only communicated by letters. He drank tainted water and died from chlorea though some say he committed suicide over a lover. I can also tell you how to care for someone who is having a seizure and that there are many schools, technologies, and counseling help for individuals with disabilities. I've heard of a Polonaise and Mazurka and can define pirouette, attitude, and gand battement. Well I won't bore you with any more details, let's just say this was quite a semester. As for every semester, I think we are all ready to go home. We are as ready as any girl who has lived in a dorm. It's bitter sweet as tensions are high despite close friendships. Well tomorrow I make that 8-10 hour drive once again, and guess what?! Christmas is here! P.S. kudos for those of you who can figure out what the sign says in my picture, yes i am in college, i just forgot that i would've had to write it backwards to make your day even better!

So I took my first exam today. Well sort of. I had one on Monday but it was more like a short test. I'm not sure if I wrote my name on the essay portion because sometimes I forget and just start reading the questions. I was pretty excited about my essays and I even had High School Musical written in my paper. Then I re-read it and thought about it. Maybe since I am in a college literature class I should rephrase that. I opted to just maximize the phrase, "We are all in this together," like some people say. I hope that was ok. Mississippi had snow on Friday and now it's sunny and warm. But hey, at least I don't have to walk to exams in freezing rain. Or maybe that would be better because then I wouldn't have an exam. Actually exams aren't that bad and then I am done the semester! Exams this year are so different from last year. I had three on one day and this year I only have four and only two are on the same day! How weird is that? I actually have a life during exam week. Now that's a blessing!

Well we survived the Singing Christmas tree. One of my friends was actually in the tree but sick and therefore lip-singing. We could still hear him, now that's impressive. Today we explored the dollar tree and I finished some gift baskets for a Christmas party. Let me just say the dollar tree is my new favorite place and I also love lime tostitos...we had our hall party today as well and watched Holiday Inn-great movie, classic! It was completed with chocolate and a bunch of my neighbors cheering for the hero. I especially liked the song "Your Easy to Dance With". Then we went to our College Christmas party and had amazing food and a while elephant gift exchange. My favorites were Dance wit Lisa, the flarp puddy, the paper snowflake taken from Caldwell lobby window, a free pilates lesson, and the BFF cd and glow in the dark light sticks. The CD and glow in the dark sticks occupied us for a good half hour. We also had a blast playing MadGab it's amazing what people say! Well good ending to the weekend, exams start unofficially tomorrow...

Feels like it has been a while since I have posted so I'll give a quick update. This week went super fast, praise the Lord! I had all my dance evaluations and my modern one was actually fun! Then Friday we had formal and can you believe it....it snowed!!!!!! It snowed during the Singing Christmas Tree when the sang Let it Snow and White Christmas :) it was amazing! I have to say that was the first time I have ever gone to a formal in the snow. We ended the night with a very late run to Whataburger. Today went shopping for Christmas baskets and then we went on a walk to Laurel Park and found roses that had survived the snow. Last night we watched the Singing Christmas tree from our window and yelled at the passersby, it was so fun! Tonight we will bundle up and brave the cold....we'll see if we survive!

My dance teacher used the word catawampus to describe our circle of 9 as we attempted to complete an exercise. I secretly celebrated at the use of the word. Needless to say, it was quite the class.

Well scratch the part about not posting. My roommate somehow managed to slice her arm on our bed post while i was gone; it looks nasty, sad. I am waiting for Pandora to upload....So it's spitting/sprinkling windy and my face had nice little splashes on it and my hair got quite wet. I'm super sleepy and this weather isn't helping much. Oh well. Half a class and one class canceled! Ballet Journal about to be written and Christmas music on, now if only I could wake up.

To get in the spirit of things...

Nuttin' For Christmas by S. Tepper and R. Bennett 1955

I broke my bat on Johnny's head;
Somebody snitched on me.
I hid a frog in sister's bed;
Somebody snitched on me.
I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug;
I made Tommy eat a bug;
Bought some gum with a penny slug;
Somebody snitched on me.

Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

I put a tack on teacher's chair
Somebody snitched on me.
I tied a knot in Susie's hair
Somebody snitched on me.
I did a dance on Mommy's plants
Climbed a tree and tore my pants
Filled the sugar bowl with ants
Somebody snitched on me.

So, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

I won't be seeing Santa Claus;
Somebody snitched on me.
He won't come visit me because
Somebody snitched on me.
Next year I'll be going straight;
Next year I'll be good, just wait
I'd start now, but it's too late;
Somebody snitched on me.

So you better be good whatever you do
'Cause if you're bad, I'm warning you,
You'll get nuttin' for Christmas.

Weekend!

Well I am back at Belhaven for two weeks. Feeling slightly intimidated with all that will happen in these two weeks but there will also be a lot of fun events here within these two weeks. Dance evaluations on Monday and Tuesday which is always interesting, hopefully I'll remember all the combinations, I'll just do my best. In the meantime the rest of break was awesome and it was hard to leave. After all, there's no place like home! Last night we had a fire and watched some more movies. The weekend was completed with the 8ish hour drive back to MS. Which, I might add, we saw deer, cows, corn (I think), a safari car driven by a man with a beard (the two didn't quite fit), rainbow, gorgeous sunset, and a lady doing her make-up in the car. We also received numerous travel mercies as there must've been at least four accidents on the way back here. Well, I have lots to do tonight but have been distracted by seeing everyone once again. The blessing of a small school is that I get to catch up with everyone instead of unpack :) oh and I got an amazing dinner with my friend Annie! Since I may not post in a while, here's a few pics from Saturday...note the black eye I gave myself with my hair. Oh and we did do a little black Friday shopping and did get some good deals. One of the salesman was funny, I'll have to tell you about that conversation after Christmas. And please, no questions....its Christmas time!

Happy Thanksgiving! First of all I am so blessed and thankful for so many things...salvation, family, job, school, friends, breath, life, food, shelter, and the list goes on. I have also had such a wonderful day. Started with Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Santa. Then we made our yummy mashed potatoes from French's recipe...the first recipe we tried was wrong but then we figured it out and it turned out great! Went over to our neighbors and Thanksgiving dinner and played Uno. Ok our neighbors are so great...we have known them for 19-21 years and each new year is exciting. Our first round of uno we played the version where if you don't have a card you draw until you get one, the game lasted a good 30 minutes to an hour I think. Then we played where you can play cards with the same number at any time, even if it isn't your turn. Boy did we have fun with that. Daddy was playing in such a way that we all fell apart laughing. I'm so thankful and happy to say I laughed until I cried! Some good conversation to catch up and a picture to finish off the afternoon. Ran to Bi-lo which I'm happy to say was closed and had to find dad some tea at CVS. To the cashier who helped me, I'm glad I was able to get my dad tea and am sorry you had to work on this day, I hope that the other customers and myself somehow brought some sunshine to your day. The night is coming to a close with leftover mashed potatoes and apple pie by dad and em! MMmmmm, doesn't get much better than that. Oh and did I mention we are about to watch While You Were Sleeping?

13 hours later.....
Speech went well. Late night talks with momma, great breakfast {mom was giving me tips on how to cook ;)}, watching the Bear be as spoiled as ever and back at home. Let me just say there's no place like home. Dad will be home today, mmm apple pies are on the way! Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow!

Trying to finish up some last minute school work before Thanksgiving Break -Woohoo- I was reading some good thoughts from Alfred Lord Tennyson's In Memoriam A. H. H....

"Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
Confusions of a wasted youth;
Forgive them where they fail in truth,
And in thy wisdom make me wise."

"That nothing walks with aimless feet;
That not one life shall be destroyed,
Or cast as rubbish to the void,
When God hath made the pile complete;"

"I falter where I firmly trod,
And falling with my weight of cares
Upon the great world's altar-stairs
That slope through darkness up to God,

I stretch lame hands of faith, and grope,
And gather dust and chaff, and call
To what I feel is Lord of all,
And faintly trust the larger hope."

Almost break!!

I am now officially nervous about giving my last speech. It's persuasive and our professor emailed us, maybe because he really wants us to do well, but it kind of intimidated me because he says this one is worth extra and if we do really well and improve, we get extra credit. I don't know if mine is persuasive enough, but we'll see what happens.

can't beat a Disney movie from the 90's, can you guess which one..."A party? Ooh, I could teach you the latest dance step. It starts with, like, a "whoa." And then you get really crazy with the hips, sir. It's fun!"/"It's a perfect ending. No it's a perfect beginning."


so we had a sleepover last night! Woohoo! Our neighbors put together their beds so it was like a ginormous bed, needless to say we found our new movie room! Before that I watched Pride and Prejudice and it just makes me laugh. I love how in that movie and in Anastasia the boys get so tongue twisted, are girls really that intimidating? I guess that's a good thing :). Anyway Our sleepover was complete with Disney movie, Popcorn and chocolate, and concluded with "Say Yes to the Dress," we are such girls :) Good times!

Love these pieces! And I like how they are using technology in dance now a days!

So this week I had to read the Death of Ivan Ilyich by the reknowned Leo Tolstoy. It is actually quite sad and depressing but there are some truisms (if you're like my Bible teacher, a truism is something that you can take away as true) or instances people often find themselves in/feelings they experience. This kind of ended up being a challenge for me that I thought I'd share: live your life to the fullest, you only have one to live, John 10:10. It's also just good writing, some great imagery.

"The doctor summed up just as brilliantly, looking over his spectacles triumphantly and even gaily at the accused. From the doctor's summing up Ivan Ilyich concluded that things were bad, but that for the doctor, and perhaps for everybody else, it was a matter of indifference, though for him it was bad. And this conclusion struck him painfully, arousing in him a great feeling of pity for himself and of bitterness towards the doctor's indifference to a matter of such importance."

"He comes in fresh, hearty, plump, and cheerful, whit that look on his face that seems to say: 'There now, you're in a panic about something, but we'll arrange it all for you directly!' The doctor knows this expression is out of place here, but he has put on a frock-coat in the morning to pay a round of calls." careful to genuinely care

"And the longer it lasted the more deadly it became. 'It is as if I had been going downhill while I imagined I was going up. And that is really what it was. I was going up in public opinion, but to the same extent life was ebbing away from me. And now it is all done and there is only death.' " learn from mistakes and regrets, time flies

"In them he saw himself-all that for which he had lived-and saw clearly that it was not real at all, but a terrible and huge deception which had hidden both life and death." Don't lie to yourself.

"What had happened to him was like the sensation one sometimes experiences in a railway carriage when one thinks one is going backwards while one is really going forwards and suddenly becomes aware of the real direction." I like the imagery on that one :)

"...knowing that He whose understanding mattered would understand." will stand before God one day

" 'So that's what it is!' he suddenly exclaimed aloud. 'What joy!' To him all this happened in a single instant, and the meaning of that instand did not change."

Excerpts taken from The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

What happens when...

What happens when two girls go to Wal-mart with lists? Well if you are me and my friend who can't make decisions and occasionally get distracted you end up making a little trip turn into two hours. Actually we probably only shopped for an hour and we did have to shop for three people. We figured with Rush hour traffic, a few back tracks, a cashier who was nice and friendly, and our combined efforts that took up a majority of the time oh and the stop by the shoes and $5 movies, I mean its worth a shot, we really only shopped for maybe a half hour? What can I say, it was memorable I think that was one of the longest Wal-mart runs I've had but it was worth it. We finished up the night with taco surprise, brownies and Jonah, which I had never seen and let me just say that is an awesome movie! Good night!

The Good Word of the Lord...

This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not tho harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, " declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the lord, "and I will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
-Jeremiah 29:10-14

things you forget

So I was thinking about the foods you forget you love like cheetohs and oreos. MMmmm oreos and milk-delicious! After a rough night at work...Kim had story time and we ate mini m & m's and oreos, it was great and i love kid's books. "'You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.' They didn't get married after all."-The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

I also learned today that holding the plank position for a short period of time, repeatedly, really works your arm muscles. Maybe I'll get buff, nah I don't think it'll happen. Hehe enjoy your week it's almost Turkey Day!

So today it's sunny and 75, just gorgeous and kind of cracks me up because it's November but that's the South for ya I suppose. So I was waiting for a class to let out and it's always fun to people watch....i caught part of a conversation in passing and it just made me smile-baseball players were walking by and the one was saying something about how the guy on spider man, it's not Peter Parker. not quite sure how that came up or what they were talking about but he was very into it and i have to say it was awesome. I was taking a test and one of the questions was "Do boys or girls laugh more when they are reacting to fear?" and all I could think about was "I laugh in the face of danger ha haha ha!" needless to say I put boys, i hope that's right, thanks Disney! I also find it kind of funny that there is actually i thing called fatigue of inteligencia and basically your brain is tired from thinking and that love is the only learned emotion. Oh, fyi, we also learned that there is a difference between being brave and stupid just in case you were wondering.

Doing some last minute studying trying to figure out what i need to know about games, sports, and universal games when i came across a section that was called Families in Transition. This makes me sad.

Have you ever felt like you could solve all the problems of the world, but you know you can't and you are just clinging to the fact that God can, will, and has your best interest at heart? Lately I have just been hurting for my friends and the difficult times they are going through.

In other news, fun stories from my child development class....

The SG SG group which no one ever knew what it stood for, it was topic secret ya know. Well what it really stood for was the sixth grade silly group and when Miss Quinn got a letter from her student who became an FBI agent he signed it as a member of the SG SG group :)

"If you have one good friend, you won't need a psychologist."

"I don't know why you would want a snake for a pet, they don't show you love and they don't make any cool noises like a bird."-Miss Quinn

"A little girl's dad had been arrested or something like that and the next day the kids handled it so well that no one said anything or ever gave her a hard time. I was just so proud of them and then she learned from a mom that two of her students had gathered all the other kids up that morning and said if you say anything about her dad, I'll beat you up! And i was glad because they wanted to defend her and there was still some chivalry in the world....those two boys went into law enforcement."

When trying to figure out a sociogram, it may be askew. Like the time when the little boy who was asked who he would go get ice cream with answered Johnny because he doesn't eat much.

To the adopted child-"You grew in my heart, not under it"

A mom took her Chinese daughter to a circus with little Chinese kids performing and when the little girl saw them she said, "Why do these kids have on my face?"

Hope you enjoyed the stories Miss Quinn has been sharing with us in Child Development. Life is an adventure. Enjoy it, live it!

This week has been quite a week. One of my good friends is having her baby soon, praying for her! I was asked if I'm engaged or close to it because if I was, our dance class would have a coffee day and we wouldn't have to dance. I am not engaged or close to it as far as I know. I spoke to quite the characters on the phone this week at work and though it was rough, I'm learning a lot and must remember patience and that God is in control. I took two tests this week and turned one in online. Did you know that your brain, the frontal lobe, is not fully developed until the age of 25? I ran through beautiful rain and drops were falling off my eyelashes. Watched the movies The Brother's Bloom and it was really good, a few minor details that didn't need to be in there but over all it was really funny and made you think right down to the very end. I love my family and God has gotten myself, my family, and loved ones through another week. Sleep is calling my name....

For all those times I've felt like my hands were tied or I should've said more....

Kennedy Center: Millennium Stage Artist Details for Ken Waldman

Kennedy Center: Millennium Stage Artist Details for Ken Waldman


This artist came to Belhaven and we had such a blast! It was so encouraging to hear that he started learning how to play the fiddle at like 24 or 29, it's never to late to follow your dreams :) As a college student, I just feel like it's a time where every little encouraging word like that means so much and in God's sovereignty those little comments seem to pop up at just the right time. Amazingly, Ken doesn't know how to read or write music but has made up a lot of songs. And as he said, "You can do anything in Alaska!" Check out his poem A Week in Eek if he can.

So i smashed my finger between a chair and a desk today at work. I wacked my elbow on this stick out wall thing in my dorm room. And the other day I stubbed my toe on our wooden chairs, in barefeet for the upteenth time. I'm really not trying to beat myself up, I promise.

In other news this crazy adventure life is getting crazier by the minute, as I watch my friends, family, and myself go through difficult circumstances I gotta keep my mind focused on Christ and keep claiming his promises.

Love this!

So I'm trying to think of another thing to post about seeing as I've gotten into a pattern of 3's but alas I am at a loss. School decided to get kind of hard and I know my heart is burdened to pray for friends and loved ones as each day brings new trials. Knowing that you are loved by the King, and God is good, be encouraged today!

There are some things you just always wonder about. Like when God created Eve, He used Adam's rib. So Adam fell asleep and God made Eve. You just wonder how that worked. Granted God is sovereign so man has the right number of ribs but Adam always had one less I guess. And Melchizedek, he's got no family geneology but he just pops up throughout the Bible, seems like a pretty cool guy, wonder what his whole story was....Hebrews 7:3

So Confessions got slightly better. It's kind of like a movie where there's parts that it could just do without. But some of my favorites...
"higgledy-piggledy, the furniture is higgledy-piggledy"-now that's a phrase we should revive ;)

His view on small talk was also quite entertaining and I do recommend reading that portion of the piece, "In private conversation there is another difficulty, which I consider worse, the necessity of always talking./I can think of no greater torture than to be obliged to talk continually and without a moment for reflection." I got a kick out of this section.

Though I did not enjoy reading certain sections, I did appreciate his view that there is nothing like the love between a man and a woman. He defined a difference between a close friend/brother and the relationship between a man and a woman. In light of today's society, perhaps we could look into Rousseau's literary works once again.

Quotes taken from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions

Performances. I love performances, there's nothing like the butterflies backstage and a smile at the end, live music and a great audience! It was a long weekend with tech and dress rehearsal and a final performance. It went well, though it's always interesting because sometimes you only have one chance, only get to perform it for an audience once. Ironically, dress rehearsals can be better but you just have to trust the Lord that you did your best, and He'll take care of the rest. I am happy to say I now have a normal face, my silver ring to play with when im bored securely on my hand, nail polish on my toes, and the possibility of wearing funky earings once again. To top it off, the Blazer soccer boys won on a free kick in o.t. and I was able to run over and watch the last few minutes! Nice job guys!

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
-2 Corinthians 5:1-10

What I learned on Friday: if you ask a little one if there are any questions, which you should, be prepared for an answer....

Q-"Do you know how many people have gotten a ticket at that stop sign, Ms. Quinn? 12 since 8 o'clock!"
Q-"Do you know how many buttons are on your dress, Ms. Quinn? 63!"

the point...always ask for questions because it's how you learn. 1. it shows if you learned anything 2. it shows if you didn't get the lesson 3. it teaches how to ask good quetions 4. it's a spring board to find out what they should/want to learn

remember little ones don't understand the concept of a rhetorical question

Oh yes, the joys of being an Elementary Ed. Major :)

According to facebook this is the country song that best describes my life. I like it. This may be more accurate than the one that said I have sad eyes, I hope that one's not so true.

Oh wait Confessions gets better. He just "presented his reader with an apology, or rather a justification, for the petty details he just entered into, and for those he shall enter into later, none of which may appear interesting in the readers eyes." Well i thought things were looking up but now the prospects are a bit bleak. sad.


Excerpt taken from Jean Jacques Rousseau's Confessions

Likes

I like
little things. I like the cheddar cheese squares and perfectly ripe/fresh strawberries. Mountain Dew gets me through, well at least the night. I like to dance when nobody's watching. I like roses and flowers. Music in the background of my life. Time with family (even if we are a little quirky). Ice cream and a movie. A walk on a pretty day. Catching up with old friends. God's word. Deep breaths. Smiles. What do you like?

I know it's been too long since I've posted, sorry 'bout that. Well since I've last posted I have traveled 16+ hours, lost and gained an hour of my life (thank you time change), saw my family and sweet puppy, and been welcomed back to MS with school and clouds but hey it's good to see such loving faces! Right now I should be reading Rousseau's Confessions. Before I go on and explain, why I'm not, let me pause for a second. If I were you, I don't know that I would want to read someone's confessions because you never know what you'll find out. Sometimes I think things are better left unsaid. Don't get me wrong, you should be honest but I personally didn't want to know about some of those things he confessed. It is a rather intense piece and rightly so, I dare say. The Romantic Literature era was all about intense emotion. Nevertheless, I have been trying to catch up on my reading. My Lit. teacher keeps changing the schedule on us but it's ok because I was behind anyway. At least now, I sort of feel like I'm catching up. Came back from fall break and hit the ground running, well after I slept a little longer than I should've. I didn't have an early fall break so I figured it would be ok to have a later fall break if you know what I mean. Well in 5 weeks, after 2 speeches, a whole bunch of tests, some evaluations, some concerts, Homecoming, Thanksgiving, intramural co-ed dodge ball (I'm starting to think twice about that decision) and who knows what else, the semester will be done! 5 weeks + 3 weeks? I think we can do that.

Interesting

Here are some of the headlines that caught my eye on the yahoo news page today....

Botched Bungee Jump Survivor

Battle over cross in desert

Surprise 'Most Influential Man'

Burger King's big makeover

Waiter fired over celeb tweet (and I add, you gotta be careful!)

Giant Saturn ring discovered (and I add, now that's cool!)

Egypt severs ties to Louvre

Proper funeral 160 years later (and I add, it's about Poe,for all you lit people, this one's cool!)

You should check these out of you get a chance, pretty interesting! Compliments go to Yahoo News/Headlines Source: http://m.www.yahoo.com/ Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc.