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