raindrops on rosie

crazy Davy

2011-10-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

I should have a blog called "strange things in the Bible", where I could just write about the hilarious and weird things I read about every day. Because I think they are fantastic.

Today's reading is found in I Samuel 21:13

"So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard."

Yeah, David would have made a great spy, right? He knew a thing or two about improvising to preserve one's life. I know it's pretty serious, but it cracks me up every time. Sorry, Dave.

you smell like Jesus!

2011-10-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

14. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 15. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16. To the one, we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life."

I just love it. I think I could write a little bit every day about the crazy things I read in the Bible. Sometimes Paul is random. David was always a little nuts (I should post about that, too, actually), Jesus was strange, God is hilarious ( it's true!!), and even though I've read the Bible several times, different things have different meanings at different times of life. So I can always get something out of it. Even if today's lesson was simply that Jesus has a smell and therefore Christians have a smell. Which isn't necessarily literal (too bad!), but it's still something. (Something hilarious!) We're supposed to leave an impression where we go, with what we did or said.

Summer Reading

2011-05-25T16:40:00.001-07:00

Okay, so it's 45*F. Summer is more of a "mood" anyway.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

by Alan Bradley

Absolutely delightful murder mystery! It takes place in a sleepy little village in 1950's England. The "sleuth" (despise that word, but it fits) is 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, a clever, surprising, and charming young chemist (her passion is poison), whose discovery of a body in her garden leads her into the middle of an unbelievable mystery.

another blog!

2011-04-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

My birthday was last week, and my sister had her three kids who are able to draw and write (ages 7, 5, and 2) make me cards. They are the cutest ever!

Collin (2) just scribbled, but still- he's never scribbled a picture for me so it was precious! Leah (5) used glue and made flowers and clouds out of those little colorful cotton balls and sequins! She also wrote "happy birthday", because she knows her letters, but she doesn't yet know that the letters have to go in a certain order in order for them to make words. So as my sister dictated, she just scattered the letters around the page. CUTE!

The 7 year old knew that I liked movies and tea, so he drew me in my room watching a movie with a steaming cup of tea. He is so detailed in his drawing- even my ceiling fan was included! It was so sweet!

It also got me thinking that I really DO love movies. A lot. And it's a little sad that that is what I am associated with. But a lot of people are! A lot of people like movies!

So I decided to put this love to good use(haha! that just sounds funny. I shoudl rather say "I decided to spend even MORE time on movies, by writing about them!")- I have created another blog, this time for my movie reviews. That's right, now you get my opinion on movies too! I know you are dying to read it!
It's http://www.rainydayfilm.blogspot.com

I call it "The Talk of the Town", for now anyway. It is the title of a fantastic classic film, which I will soon be doing a review on I am sure, because I can't go for more than a few months without watching it!

POST #100

2011-03-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Celebrate! It's my birthday!

24 years,

8,766 days,

countless blessings,

Happy birthday to me!

Thanks be to the God of all mankind; is there anything too hard for Him?

(Jer. 32:27)

Kindle

2011-03-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Have I done a post like this yet? I have just been thinking a lot about the Kindle reading application for PC and how cool it is that I don't have a Kindle, yet I can still get Kindle books! I love that!

The books currently on my Kindle:

--Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa by David Livingstone (this is the reason I got a Kindle app. They didn't have this book at the library and I discovered it free on Amazon! Yay! I love reading his adventures in his own words!)

--Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (I haven't started it yet, but I am very interested American History and the lives of Presidents right now, so although it sounds dry and boring, I really do intend to read this!)

--Right Ho, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse (one of the best writers ever! I've read this one before but it was the only free one by him I could find. I'm going to read it again, just saving it for a rainy day)

--The Declaration of Independence (just for reference purposes and I read about US history)

--The Constitution of the US (same as the Declaration. I haven't read it on Kindle yet, but I've read these both before.)

--The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (this is the one I am going to read as soon as I finish Livingstone's book. I'm very excited. I'm also looking for more on the Founding Fathers. Hopefully free ones!)

That's my Kindle for now. I'd actually like to get a Kindle, but this is a much cheaper way to go. And besides, I love the feel of a real book in my hand. I like turning the pages and smelling that "old-book/library" smell. Actually, I even like the "new-book" smell! Kindles don't smell.

What a weird word: smell.

karate

2011-03-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

I am in the middle of watching The Karate Kid (while sewing new things for my etsy!). It's the one with Jackie Chan- not the one from the 80s. It came on Netflix "watch instantly" so I figured I'd give it a go. The first 45 minutes were a little boring and slow, in my opinion, but I am not a huge fan of kids beating each other up. So I was thinking "why am I actually watching this anyway?"

Then Jackie Chan started fighting.

And I remembered WHY I started watching.

YEAH!

I am now looking forward to the rest of the movie....

Oh, right! It's a new year!

2011-01-23T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hello, 2011!

I am only about three weeks late in my "New Year/reflections on the past year" post. I don't usually have very much to say in this blog though. This will be a slightly random post.

My only New Year's resolution is to READ MORE! It is my own fault that I don't read as much as I used to. I really want to read, but I let other things get in the way. All the time. So, this year, I am working on that. Less tv and more books!

I love my free Kindle App for this reason. I don't need an expensive Kindle to read a Kindle book! And I love that. I have been finding old books and historical documents- all free, of course- and downloading them. I also found a romance novel for free, completely by accident. I was wanting to read a different novel by the same author and when I clicked on this one, it said the Kindle Edition was free! I stayed up til 1 reading last night! It was really nice to be reading again, even if it was just a romance novel for fun!

One of my goals is to study up on American History more, and Kindle definitely helps with that goal. I just need to make myself read and study and take the time.

Another goal is to read the Bible and also journal and, especially, PRAY! WHy are these things so hard to do?

Sewing, cooking, knitting, and cleaning out the basement are the rest of my goals. that last one will probably take an entire year, so that's why it makes the list!

I am also planning a trip to the UK in the spring, so I need to save my money! But I am now headed to a book sale! haha.

And one more thing on shopping. Thanks to my sister, I was able to buy a $20 Amazon.com gift card for only $10!! I love that! SO I am also going shopping on Amazon soon.

work work work

2010-12-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ignore this post if you like, but it is going to be whining. I am tired of working! I wonder if it is possible to get a job you love and where you very rarely complain because you really, really LOVE it? I doubt it is. I really do. I'm thinking of my dream job (one that is away from rude customers who treat people like dirt or machines or brainless objects), and I think I would even get tired of that. So yeah, work sucks. But we have to do it. It is a part of life. And it IS good for us to work; God said so. And then we rest, too. And that is really nice.

So I should stop complaining. Complaining never accomplished anything good. In fact, in Numbers 11:1, it had the very opposite effect. Sometimes I am reminded of this verse when I complain. I usually don't shut up, but I should.

shop shop shop!

2010-11-11T06:55:00.000-08:00

Some fantastic fabric I found! I love finding cheap bits of fabric at Goodwill! Sometimes they can be real treasures! This one just struck me as awesome, so we'll see how it turns out and what I make of it...

I absolutely LOVE these salt and pepper shakers! Even if I don't use them for a long time (when I move out! haha) I had to get them, they were totally rad!

I hit the zipper jackpot! I found 20 zippers for 25 cents each! I spent $5, and you can't even buy 4 zippers for that much at Walmart or anywhere else. I am pretty much set for life. Well, not really, but for a very long time.

Naturally, we had to visit the weird store in Escanaba, where I found PG tips, and I had to buy some. This will last me til at least spring. Yesterday was a good day.

note to self:

2010-10-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Never read a book that you know will end in a disaster!

Having read the flap, and the tons of foreshadowing throughout, I knew the entire time that this book I read would end in a flood. And- what do you know?- it did! For the last 30 or so pages my eyes were glued to the book in horror. It was awful! That night I honestly prayed that I wouldn't have any dreams about floods and family members dying and not being able to save people. (Instead, I had a dream that Alfred Hitchcock had hired goblins to work for him. No idea where THAT one came from. Slightly scary though.)

shopping with God

2010-10-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Seriously, God is the BEST shopping partner. Whenever I find fantastic deals, or am surprised at the checkout that something was actually less than the tag said, I feel that God was right there, shopping with me! And I believe it is true.

A while ago at Goodwill, I found a big plastic tub and an old blender, together for 5.99, to finish off my paper-making kit.

I also recently found 7 old zippers for 25 cents each! And that is a deal, let me tell you! These zippers had never been used, and they will be perfect for the bags I make.

And when I needed to find something to use in a laptop bag I was making for a friend, I found something perfect I could cut up and use, and it ended up being 50% off, and I had no idea until I got up to the checkout. It was just special!

And two days ago, I was going to buy some bread, and the bread we like is not the best price, and it was nearly 50% off on sale! I grabbed 4 loaves, because we now have a big freezer, just for these situations.

I absolutely adore thrift stores and sales. It's shopping trips like these that just make my day! They make me feel a little more alive and like anything is possible.

This could be exaggerating things a bit....

The Talk of the Town

2010-08-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been into old movies (again!), and I recently watched a Hitchcock- "Suspicion" starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. Oh my goodness, it is so dumb. Do not watch movies where Cary Grant is supposed to be a bad guy! Even though I guess it is supposed to turn out ok in the end, whatever he is scum in that whole movie and no girl in her right mind would have married him!

Ok, fine, I guess I would have, too.

After that came "Dial M for Murder", which was brilliant because it was based on a play, so like 99% of the scenes took place in the same room. Anyway, Grace Kelly is having an affair with Robert Cummings (from "Saboteur" one of my favorites!), and so her husband, whoever that actor was, thinks up a plot to kill her! It's abosolutely wonderful! (If murder mysteries are allowed to be so....) This movie was actually remade in the 90s or something: "The Perfect Murder", starring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Today, I am going back to Cary Grant (because besides "Suspicion", do ANY of his movies stink? Probably not! It's Cary Grant!) "The Talk of the Town". I watched it years ago and don't remember all the details, but there's a happy ending. So yeah, I'm there!

A cat lady at 23....

2010-07-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

(To whom it may concern: Look, I am very emotional about this situation, but I KNOW it's just a cat. I will get over this quickly-- I know how pathetic I am since it is just a cat and it's not like a person...)

I started watching Disney's "Oliver and Company" with the kids today, and the beginning scene moved me to tears. You know, the part where the kittens are being sold and little Oliver doesn't get chosen? And then the sign even says "free" and nobody comes and grabs him because it's raining outside (and also because if they did pick him it wouldn't be "Oliver and Company", which is based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, so you KNOW it's depressing- at least until the end.....sorry, Charlie).

And I was totally crying because he's all alone, and yesterday was a very awful, emotional day for me: one of the kittens born on Monday took a turn for the worse. One of its legs was very swollen and black, and the moment Mom saw it she called the vet. We had to bring ALL the kittens and the cat in, of course, and I put them all in the carrier, and Kitty (the mama) was NOT happy, and as I was driving there was lots of noise back there. And then when I got to the vet and opened the car door and looked into the carrier, my heart was almost breaking because I saw the little injured baby by the door of the carrier, just laying there, and in the back of the carrier was Kitty huddled around her 5 other babies. I started crying instantly. I was like, "Mom, we are too late, I think," sniffing and trying to wipe away my tears.

Well, we saw it move so we went into the vet and the ladies rushed it back there, and then we finally got to talk to a doctor who said there was some kind of infection, and she wasn't sure if it would make it 24 hours, since it was very cold and kittens need their mom for warmth, so we would need to feed it ourselves and give it some medicine and buy a heating pad to keep it warm. And then if it DID live, it would have to wait a while but we would have to have the leg amputated. So, then my mom took them all home, and I went straight to work, after having a good cry about it. I know it may sound dumb, since it's a just a cat, but watching kittens suffer is AWFUL! I can only kill spiders and insects, I can't even bear to watch RODENTS die!

So, all day at work I had a headache from nto being able to cry (crying gives you a headaches, and not crying gives you a headache; can we win?), and I was picturing having a 3-legged cat, and it would have a great story to go with it, and I totally had already name it "Long John Silver" after the one-legged bad guy in Treasure Island. When I got home, it hadn't been too responsive, and by 12:30, it wasn't moving. I checked it again a couple times throughout the night, but it had died.

There, that's my story. Now I'm so sad every time I think about it. Poor little Long John!! He was all alone! And I buried him in the woods in the back yard, and I am really sad still. Plus, I got about 10 mosquito bites while I was out there! AND, I don't want to see my Kitty or the other kittens. At this moment, I'm pretty mad at Kitty. But I know it's not her fault, and being realistic, it dying saved em from even more bills. Because if it had lived I would have taken care of it. I can't just have animals killed! I wonder how much an amputation would have cost? Ugh.

This just isn't my week. Anyone want a kitten?

reading the whole series....

2010-07-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

"I don't know if you've ever been to the ladies' room at the Plaza, but it's like totally the nicest one in Manhattan. It's all pink, and there are mirrors and little couches everywhere, in case you look at yourself and feel the urge to faint from your beauty or something."

--The Princess Diaries

seriously time for an update!

2010-06-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

I mean, I love the quotes from Sabrina, but I need to post something else!

So here's something! On June 5th, Rebekah Anderson came for a visit for an entire week! It was so lovely to spend time with her, as I only get to see her once a year or so. Maybe someday I'll live in the UK (and she'll live in Ireland, of course) and we'll see a lot more of each other. Who knows what may happen? But I won't worry about the future. Whatever will be, will be......

Our activities included watching movies, touring ghost towns, eating delicious food, laughing, and forming a band on Rock Band called Rabbit Trails. We played LOTS of Rock Band, and earned a van, a tour bus, bodyguards, a private jet, and lots of money so we could get awesome outfits and treat ourselves to sweet guitars! And we were so close to getting into the Hall of Fame when we had to leave to get her to the airport.

I had an amazing time! It was a lovely vacation. Or "stay-cation".

movie quotes!

2010-05-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

I've been reading and sewing and watching movies lately.....

These 4 are from Sabrina, one of the best movies ever (but I say that about every movie):

"So you guys work Sundays now?"

"It's Wednesday, David."

"David, you're like my own son--"

"I am your own son, mother."

"Look, she's a real woman! She's not a ...."

"Transvestite?"

"I wondered why I was suddenly being treated with so much respect!"

from Back to the Future Part 2:

"Time travelling is too dangerous! I must now devote my life to the other great mystery of the universe: Women."

from the book Breaking Dawn, the 4th in the Twilight series:

"I took mythology a lot more seriously since I'd become a vampire."

"Charlie shot an incredulous glance at Carlisle....he looked like Zeus's younger, better-looking brother."

That last quote made me laugh and laugh when I read it, and I remember reading the books sometime in 2009 and laughing when I came to this too! I've been reading too much. It's good to be done with that great story. It's lovely and detailed (I like details in books, but only if I'm interested in the details), but it's long and I always let the good novels take over my life when I read them. It's good to be back!

from Cashier to Customer

2010-05-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Cashier. I work at Every Store. Remember me? Yesterday, I gave you your change and placed the items you purchased into those bags....oh good, you vaguely remember! Well, I've been meaning to mention a few things to you. I see you quite often, and there are a few issues I think we should clear up before we go on. Let's be honest with each other- I'll start:

I'm not perfect.

That's right- I am a human being- just like you (I think). That means I can make mistakes, even at Every Store. I know I may look like I know everything about Every Store, but actually I don't. This is so important for you to remember, Customer! Sometimes I have to refer you to someone else to get your question answered. I certainly hope that you find the answer to your question and whatever you are looking for, but don't get annoyed with me if you have to walk 50 more feet to Customer Service to ask there. My job is to send you there to get your answers! I can't do everything from my register.

You know, it could be that we are out of your item. I remember the other day when I told you that, and you seemed very annoyed- with me! You couldn't believe that the item you wanted was the item that everyone else seemed to want as well- and they beat you to it! Look, it's not my fault you want to follow the crowd and can't keep up.

Get over it.

"That will be $2.12, please." Oh, you missed my hand there!

Yes, I DO have something important to say about this. Are you really too good to lay the money into my hand? Is my hand that repulsive, that you would place your money on the counter, only an inch away from it? This is one thing you do a lot. I simply cannot believe you can't see my hand. It's right there! There's my hand, waiting, and then there goes your money, right on the counter- literally no more than an inch from my fingertips. Are you kidding? This is ridiculous. I believe if I were to do that right back to you, we would both consider it to be rude.

But I am going to do it, anyway.

There's 88 cents. Right on the counter for you. Have a nice day.

Ladies, is it too much to ask that you start getting ready to pay as I am ringing up and bagging your 60 or so items? It will take me about 2 minutes, and you could easily be ready to pay, but why do you insist on watching the computer for every single item? You know, the computer gets it right most of the time, so please relax.

And, gentlemen, I'd like to thank you for almost always being ready to pay. Unlike some, you are not taken by surprise when told that you must part with some of your wealth in order to take your items outside Every Store. Thank you.

I'm sorry, I didn't hear you? What was that? "The customer is always right"? Ha!

Hold on, sorry, I can't stop laughing! You really should warn me when you're going to say something so funny!

Phew! I'm all right now.

Wait, what are you doing? This really is not the time to balance your checkbook, ma'am. I am trying to hand you your receipt and bags and get to my next customer. Oh, now you see the long line behind you. Have a nice day.

Just a few more quick things before I go! Remember, I don't make the prices! I didn't set these prices, so there's no need to get upset with me about how much your toothbrush costs. I really don't care how much it costs. You are buying it; I'm not.

Also, did you notice earlier, when I said hello, you did not look at me or speak to me at all? Sometimes you do this, and I don't understand it. You aren't on the phone, you aren't talking to anyone else, you aren't even reading a magazine on the rack, you are simply standing there watching me ring up your items, and you can't respond to my greeting. I don't think I will ever understand that. Just say hello.

Customer, I think it is so important to remember that although my job is not a coveted one, usually, it is still a necessary one. You make my job necessary (and thank you), so please stop acting like you are too good for me, and like you can't say hi to me. We're both people!

Oh, and a small note about the phone. I don't really mind if you are on the phone. You don't have to give me all your attention as I ring up your items. In fact, I'd prefer it if you didn't; sometimes you stare as I'm working, and it's a bit unnerving. No, really- you can talk on your phone all you want, as long you pay in a timely manner. That's all I ask.

I think that's all I have to say for now. Thank you for listening. Please think about what I said, Customer. I believe, with your cooperation in these areas, your shopping could be a great experience- for both of us! So, have a really great day!

Oh, wait, I almost forgot!

Please STOP humming!

spring cleaning

2010-04-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to get motivated to clean my parents' house (actually just organize the kitchen, pantry, a closet, and my sewing room). It's tough! I hardly know where to begin and there's a sinking feeling in me because my family is not prone to organization, and whatever I do to help will just be undone in a few months! I want my own place!

Still, I'm going to do it!

inspiration

2010-04-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Careers I would love:

-Watching old movies and talking about them, and interviewing the children and grandchildren of the greatest Hollywood Stars of long ago. Hey, TCM, Robert Osborne is getting older...do you need a new host?

-Farmer; If I had all the money in the world, I think I would buy or build a farm house and get cows and horses and learn how garden. I think it would be heaven.

-Dancer. Okay, so this will never happen, but if only! I want to dance with Gene Kelly! I want to marry Gene Kelly! Or, at the very least, I want to have a giant picture of him on my dining room wall, dancin' and singin' in the rain.

23

2010-03-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to me. Twenty-three years ago, my mother's water broke while at my Gramma's house and she had to be driven an hour and a half to the hospital in my town over bumpy roads, and on the way she decided to stop at home and shower (yeah, weird), and then anyway, at 12:03 am, I was born. I appeared just barely on my due date! How many people can say that? Ok, fine, probably a lot of people can.

This has been the most uneventful birthday of my whole life. I went to work, watched two movies, and ate Border Grill. Nothing. I am sad about getting older. I'm having a life-crisis. (I can't call it a mid-life crisis because technically, I have no idea if I am at the end or the middle of my life. I could die tomorrow, you know.) Where am I going and what am I doing with this life? That is the question.

ramblings.....do not read! :)

2010-03-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for the past 4 days. It started a little bit Tuesday night, and then by Wednesday I knew I had to call in to work, and I pretty much didn't eat anything all day but some crackers and juice. I sat around all day, miserable with stomach- and head-aches, and watched movies.

Clue. 1985. Best movie ever, I think. I'm not even sure why. It's got those little moments, and quotes, that get me every time. I also love how it has three endings. I watch the version with all three endings every time. This is one of the movies that I actually could watch at ANY time.

Beauty and the Beast. 1991. You know the story. It never gets old.

Hello, Dolly! 1969. You probably don't know the story. It's a musical. It's brilliant. One of the best, in my opinion. Probably just because I have a crush on Cornelius.... However, you DO have to be in a certain mood for a musical, so I didn't even get to the "Hello, Dolly" number, I had to turn it off. When you're sick, you need a certain movie, you know?

LOST. 2004. Yes, the show. Yes, this is exactly what you need when you are sick. Uh, no, not true. Lost will NEVER make you feel BETTER, I repeat, LOST will only depress you. Nothing happy ever happened in Lost, try to argue that!

(But I finally got caught up! What will happen! Kate and Sawyer!?! Is it a parallel universe?? Did I spell parallel correctly? So many questions!! No answers.)

THURSDAY:

On Thursday I called in again. I would never do this unless I had to! I have been miserable!

Moonlighting. 1985. The detective show with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. Finally finished season 5, the final season, thanks to hulu! And I will tell you this: if you ever think, "Well, I am a Bruce Willis fan, and I like also like mystery shows, and I remember when I heard about Moonlighting from [Rosie's blog], so maybe it's good, and I should watch it!" --If this EVER happens to you, ( I know- not likely) please remember to only watch the first three seasons, ok? Then pretend that the show ended, and they got married and had kids and lived happily ever after. And that is all you need to know. It's great. Really.

Today, I actually went to work, and then went shopping, and I feel ill again (thank the Lord I have the weekend off to recover from all this movie-watching-- I mean- illness!). On tonight's playbill:

His Girl Friday. 1940. Cary Grant is a newspaper man, still in love with his ex wife and they get in a jam together and the real trademark of this movie is that they talk REALLY fast. (Something that Moonlighting copied.) It's Cary GRANT! If you have never seen it, you MUST. Trust me, you will not regret it.

and the movies will keep coming this weekend! It only gets better....I'm thinking Anne of Green Gables.....also, one that is definite is Flywheel, from the makers of Facing the Giants. Should be good stuff. Facing the Giants always makes me cry. You KNOW the part!

My legs ache!

Ziggy

2010-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Meet "Ziggy", my new little netbook. I don't actually call it Ziggy, but as I was setting it up, it asked what I would like to "name my computer", and the first thing I thought of was the super-computer in Quantum Leap, Ziggy. So, there you go, I named it Ziggy.

The picture above is the corner of my computer and the Elvis case I made for it. I am extremely proud of this case! Because it's awesome!

This one is Ziggy and its dvd drive, which doesn't have a name.

history of neckties

2010-02-27T06:32:00.000-08:00

I was watching/listening to the commentaries on all three of the Back to the Future movies a few weeks ago (stay with me- I have a point!), and the producers were talking about the creative ideas they had with ties for the second and third movies. In one scene they have a guy wearing a clear plastic tie, and in another, a guy is wearing two ties, side-by-side. (Or maybe it was two clear plastic ties? ) Anyway, they said they were criticized for the clear plastic tie thing- as in, "what is the point?" But, they countered, what is the point of a tie at all?

Brilliant! Because there is no point except decoration to a necktie anyway! I even looked it up on Wikipedia (which, as we all know, is the leading authority on just about everything), and it gives no purpose for a tie. I mean, it isn't like the tie holds your shirt on, like a belt and your trousers. It's there to look professional or stylish.

Wikipedia doesn't say this, but I am sure there was a woman behind the history of the tie. Some short woman who needed an easier way to kiss her much-taller husband, perhaps..... "Honey, why don't you wear this long skinny scarf? and you could tie it like this?"

There! The tie started out with a purpose!

weird

2010-02-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention the weirdest thing about Bleak House (besides the fact that my friend Mark was named after every character in the book.....): one of the characters died from spontaneous combustion! Actually, it makes me wonder if I was completely zoning out because of the intense levels of boredom while reading........maybe it was all a dream?

farewell, Bleak House!

2010-02-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

I finally finished reading Bleak House!!! I love Charles Dickens' writing, but I so relieved to be done with this book! It took me about 6 1/2 months! I wasn't reading it all the time, I would drop it for weeks at a time, actually. Parts of it were so unspeakably boring. And part of the story revolved around a certain case, which no one ever explained in any way. So in about 35% of the book, I was almost clueless as to what the point of anything was, if that makes sense.....

One very interesting thing about this book was the silly names! I am not kidding, every last name in this book, except possibly 4, were SO silly! And I know that England has some surnames that may sound silly to me, just as some surnames in America would sound ridiculous in other countries. But I thought these names went beyond that distinction. Dickens HAD to have done this on purpose! And now I will proceed to list them, and pray that none of my readers have them as their own last names, which they don't because only like 4 people read this! ::

Jarndyce (I thought of yellowing skin every single time I read it, ruined it for me)

Bucket

Jellyby

Turveydrop (my favorite!)

Tulkinghorn

Smallweed

Bagnet

Flite

Gridley

and......

Guppy!

Guppy takes the cake! And there's more, I just didn't keep a running count of them. I should have done that, though!

The normal-sounding ones included:

Carstone

Summerson

Woodcourt

Dedlock

And that's enough for making fun of Bleak House, I am finished! Thank God!

The Law

2010-01-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

"Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart." --Psalm 119:111

Read Psalm 119. It always puzzles me. You can pick any verse in that Psalm (and in many other psalms, as well, but especially 119) and it will say something about the Law, the precepts, statutes, word, testimony, commands, decrees, etc., of God. The Psalmist goes on and on about how he loves it! He adores the statutes of God, his heart delights in the Law, he runs in the path of God's commands and his heart is set free, and so on....

Why? I don't get it. Maybe I am missing something really obvious here. Who is he so in love with commands? "Oh, God, I love all these rules! Thank you! My heart delights in these rules!" I don't understand that attitude. Not that the rules are bad, because they aren't:

"This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome." --1 John 5: 3-4

Is that what everyone is talking about? Loving God means obeying Him. And Jesus said that in John 15 as well. But my point is, why did David go on and on about loving the commands themselves? That is the part I don't understand. Is it because in the Law the character of God is revealed? And so obeying God's precepts would reveal to you more about the mysterious God of the universe?

I want to start reading the Law, which I think means the first five books of the Bible (right? Or is it the actual rules only? Or is it the Ten Commandments?), and read it over and over again, and get it cemented in. "Engrave it on my heart", that sort of thing. I have had it in mind to do this for a while, simply because when David wrote about how much He loved the Law, I know that he only had those first 5 books. And which part of it was he talking about exactly?

So I want to go through and read it in this new light. Perhaps God will "give me discernment, that I may understand [His] statutes." (v.125)

a look at Christmas....

2010-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas season is over, and I must say I am glad. It flew by too quickly for me (I didn't even get to watch It's A Wonderful Life!) because of work. I am very thankful to have a job, but I am just so glad that my hours will be decreasing. I will have time for a life again! I will get back into reading and studying and being self-disciplined. (Although, I guess if I can't make myself read and study the things I am interested in in the hard times, then I am not truly self-disciplined, am I?)

The gifts I received this Christmas all had one major theme: TEA! I received four different kinds of tea, a tea pot, a thermos, and a mug. I love tea, so this was very cool! I also received hair product, lotion, a beautiful little notebook (which I mention because it reminds me of Rebekah- SO her style!), a fleece pullover, AND a $20 family video gift card! This last is especially brilliant because now for a couple months I don't have to pay for the movies I rent! Yay! Super duper yay! Double tap!

Also, on Christmas day, I got two fabulous treats: a day at the movies, with the whole family to see Sherlock Holmes, and a skype chat with Rob! These things made my day! Sherlock Holmes was better than I thought it would be, really, and the music and good looking actors were my favorite. And when Rob called on skype, I was so excited and we chatted and gossiped for almost an hour. (Ok, we didn't really gossip. But we did chat, like old times.) It was good, it was fun. It was good fun.

I smell....I smell....Ducky.

2009-12-28T09:09:00.001-08:00

What is it with smells and the power they have to transport you to places and times? Does anyone get this? I mean, it's not just me, right? See, every time I use "warm vanilla sugar" lotion, I think of New Zealand, because when I was there, I used that lotion. Good memories. And whenever I smell popcorn, I want to watch an action movie, like James Bond or something. (That one does not make a lot of sense to me, as I'm not particularly fond of James Bond films, and I never get popcorn at movies.....)

But I was thinking about smells at work yesterday, when I was filling the sink at Food Ave to wash the dishes. The smell of the soap detergent that goes into the sink makes me feel comforted and happy. It is completely beyond me why this would happen. As far as I know it doesn't remind me of anything specific, it just makes me feel, there's no other word for it, comforted. Is this as weird as it sounds? And then I just think, Wow! God is so cool! What is up with our noses and sense of smell! I mean, it's INCREDIBLE!!

my blog seems to be my "what I bought" list.....

2009-12-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

.....but it's fun!

AHHHH!! Yesterday I took advantage of a sale at my place of employment and bought a few wonderful things:

Converse One Star shoes- in charcoal!

Half the price of All Stars and just as cool. I love Target!

AND..................

2 Elvis DVDs, and not just ANY Elvis DVDs, but each one is FOUR movies in one DVD!!!! I got EIGHT ELVIS MOVIES!!!!!!!! For a very low price, plus with my discount.

I am a nerd, but I am a very happy nerd today!

I sold 2 more bags to a lady at church today!!! :) This is a good weekend!

favorites

2009-12-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

I love it when I see a blog of people's "favorites". Their new toys and discoveries that make their lives a bit more interesting or happy. It always makes me think, "What are MY favorites?" I love how you can ask yourself this question every few months, and somehow, there's always something new!! :)

my favorites:

1. I went to Kohls today to use my free $10 Kohls card (I am not kidding, I got $10 toward anything in the store, in the mail, absolutely free!) and bought myself a ring, similar to, but not

exactly like, this one:

and it only cost me 52 cents of my own money. It was originally $30, and it was marked down to $10. Kohls is always having a sale!

2. Elvis Presley

I am SO not kidding, lately I have had a major crush on Elvis. Man, was he good looking! I watched a fantastic movie called "Change of Habit", starring Elvis and Mary Tyler Moore! Rebekah: this must go on our list of movies that demonstrate the Transit/24-7 lifestyle, along with "For Richer or Poorer" :) prayer, mission, justice....it's got it all! Plus Elvis!

I also bought myself an Elvis Greatest Hits cd for Christmas.

3. Glenn Beck

The beginning of his show: "Hold to the Truth, Question with Boldness, Speak without Fear." Need I say more? This guy is like Superman! He fights for Truth, Justice, and the American way! (And in America, the American way is a good thing....)

Oh, and he's hilarious.

4. Musicals

I'm back into musicals right now, thanks to TCM and their Fred Astaire movie marathon on Thanksgiving Day! I love the simplicity and happiness in musicals. Well, most musicals. If they aren't happy, I'd really rather not watch them.

My favorite: Shall We Dance?

5. my new t-shirt

Yes, that would be the DeLorean hitting the TARDIS!!!

These are my new favorites. Subject to change, or be added to.

tattoo

2009-11-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 49:16

God has tattoos!

promises

2009-11-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

^{I've been reading Isaiah lately. Here's what stood out yesterday:

27} Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ 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.

Lately, everything I read in the Word speaks right to my heart. I know that it is supposed to do that. So why am I surprised? But I am glad I am surprised and in awe each time. Otherwise it would get boring.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength". I asked for God to remind me of His very great and precious promises. There He goes again!

quotes and memories

2009-10-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

Before I started my current journal, I went through it and every few pages I put in a Transit quote. Because we were a funny bunch of people, you know, and I love to be reminded of my Transit family! So I came across this one a few days ago:

"I look at myself in the mirror and I think, 'Minority Report'." --Rob

I have no idea what he was talking about.....

Oh, and this one! It makes me laugh every time!

"Did I tell you about the time I punched myself in the head?" --Colin

love it! Goodness, I miss these Australians!

Hey, the full record of our quotes is here. And in that post is a link to the Egham guys' quotes too!

job hunt

2009-10-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

So, I have decided not to worry about finding a new job. It is in God's hands. I have applied at two places, and if I don't hear back from these in the next two weeks, then I will really kick it into gear- but not worry! And I need to stop shopping. :)

notice this

2009-10-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I gave my two weeks notice at my job. I'm sick of being treated like that. This was a minimum wage job, and I can find another like it tomorrow. But I WANT to find a better job that pays more, that I enjoy, and that comes with a kind boss- TODAY.

So, we'll see.

Also, question: do you write two weeks notice with an apostrophe after the "k"? Is it "two week's notice" or "two weeks notice"? I am confused suddenly.

Truth Project

2009-10-09T07:05:00.001-07:00

For the past 12 weeks I was a part of a small group watching and discussing the Truth Project, a dvd series from Focus on the Family, designed to basically awaken hearts to the truth of God.

From the very first week, it was amazing, sometimes very NEW stuff, from my own personal perspective. Each lesson gave me something to think about. The first week they talked about where "truth" is found in the Bible and how very important it is; how Jesus said He IS the Truth, and He came to testify to the Truth, and "the Truth will set you free", those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, the belt of truth, the Spirit of truth, the Word of Truth, God is the Father of Truth, and so on.

And also, Satan is the father of lies. And of course you always hear that, but what is it about certain things- that you can hear something your whole life and it never means much to you, and then suddenly, the 53rd time you hear it, something clicks, a light goes on, and you just GET it? THAT could describe my "journey" through the Truth Project. It was eye-opening stuff. And sometimes, I wanted to close my eyes. It was both exciting and sobering.

A few more things:

We talked about the mystical union, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" and how the Holy Spirit dwells in us. And I have heard this and read this several times, of course. And I believe it. But when they showed a diagram, just a picture of a circle, and inside was written "Father-Son- Holy Spirit", and then the teacher added "you" (me!) right in there, right alongside the Holy Spirit and connected it with the Father and Son, as well-- it CLICKED! God wants us to be a part of Himself, like that! It seems wrong to say, but that is what it's like! We are a part of God? This is too wonderful for me to understand!

God is interested in ONE-ness. That was what Jesus's prayer in John 17 was all about, and that's why God said the Israelites were prostituting themselves, because He wants deep intimacy with us, and if we go after other things or people for that special initmacy we can only get from God and with Him, we ARE like prostitutes. I don't know WHY, but these things have never hit home with me.

Also, that God is humble. I know, I know, it's so obvious, but sorry! He commands us to be holy because He is holy, and He says over and over, He gives grace to the humble, lifts them up, exalts them, but He brings low the proud, and know sthe proud from afar, and all that. And He even says He is lowly and humble in heart, but He is humble?! Like, crazy to think about. And I know He wants me to be humble. It's a process.

We talked about history, and that was a sobering one. I love history, but I wonder how much of the history I have learned and studied has been the truth? Because the history books lie. All the time. And whoever writes the history books controls what we think about history, obviously, which affects our decisions in the present, which affects our future and the future of the world. There are so many lies out there!

It was cool to rediscover some facts about the beginnings on the United States.

"In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed.. .No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people." --Noah Webster

My list of books to read is about a foot in length! And I want to find a biography on Noah Webster. He sounds pretty cool.

this one is "transit quote"-worthy!

2009-09-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

So funniest story today!

So a man came in for coffee. Usually customers get a coffee and muffin to go, so I asked him,

"Any muffins for you today?"

and he said, "No thanks, I have to drive."

It made me wonder what we put in those muffins.....?

Not really! It was just hilarious!

pics of bags

2009-09-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

(Here you go, Rebekah! Pictures!)

Lots of sewing.....

this one I just finished, it's larger than the others, and I am not sure about the material (it was an old skirt):

this one was an old skirt, but I LOVE the material:

the one I sold:

day off

2009-09-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today was my first real day off in a while. I have been working a lot lately (and yes, I am very thankful!), and I've just been really tired. So yesterday afternoon, as soon as I got off work, my freedom began! Yesterday it was hard to celebrate by doing anything because I was so tired my eyes were crossing as I tried to read Bleak House. Not fun. But then I woke up a bit, and started sewing and, thanks to my little tv and dvd player being very easy to move around, watching "Sabrina", the one with Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear. I think it is one of the best movies ever made. Ever.

This morning, an entire day before me, I started off with an episode of The Office, then I sewed and listened to a Johnny Cash cd from the library. Very interesting. I liked it. I finished the bag I started last night. Very cute, and it's recycled. It used to be a skirt. I'm very proud of this bag. Now I am going to use it and see if I get any comments like I did on my first one. Everyone loves that one. But I know this second one isn't as cool. Still, it's all right. While I sewed this, and after the Johnny Cash cd, I watched "Clue", also one of my favourites.

I then went into town to hang out with Holly. We ate at a little cafe, and then watched a murder mystery. We love these, especially Midsomer Murders, or any other British shows. We always make guesses as to who the killer is. During the beginning of the show, these guesses will change at every scene because everyone looks suspicious! But eventually we narrow it down. This time we were right!

I then came home and watched another epsiode of The Office, and then started sewing on another project (this bag actually already has a buyer- I am going to sell a bag! Which I think is very neat) while I watched "The Goonies", also one of the best movies ever made.

This day has been about sewing and movies. And resting. Very good day. Maybe I'll get some pics up of that bag eventually.

hmmmm

2009-08-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

I had an odd experience at work today. I was just walking around, working, probably filling up the muffin containers in the front case, and all of the sudden I had this flash of Heathrow airport. Like the inside of it, one of the shopping areas- you know, the bright white shopping areas with watches and chocolate and stuff? It was weird. I was thinking, "Why am I thinking of Heathrow?"

And then suddenly, I got this feeling of WANTING to be THERE! In Heathrow. An airport. Like, I could have cried, it was so strong. Now, this was bizzare, and I just kept thinking, WHY would I have this strange urge to be in an airport? I mean, yes, of course I daydream all the time about going back to England and Wales, but I tend to skip the airport in those dreams.

So, I thought, is this spiritual? Should I be praying for people in Heathrow? I still don't know. It was just very peculiar. And then I got over it, and decided to blog it.

This story doesn't have a real ending.

dating

2009-08-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

I help out at my church's high school youth group. These kids are great, and I really enjoy it. But whenever summer rolls around, it seems to be the seasonal time to talk about .......sex. And dating. So it's really painful to sit through sometimes, even for me, slightly older, heard it all before, blah blah blah. It's just plain awkward at times.

Last night we watched a video of these people talking about dating. My absolute FAVORITE part:
some guy was talking ...

"Why do we date? It's not in the Bible, and it makes everyone nervous...."

(I was laughing SO hard. I mean, maybe you'd have to be there.)

Excellent point. Who wants to be nervous anyway? Any solutions to this quandary?

Aelwyd

2009-08-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

I love discovering the etymologies of words and the crazy connections that go along with them. And they make perfect sense, but as I have never thought about these connections or origins before (hence the discovery bit), they amaze me, and I kind of walk around in a daze with separate ideas floating around in my mind until I can get it out of my system and connect the ideas, usually in the form of a blog post.

(I love words!)

I made one of those crazy word-connection discoveries today! See, I have this book called The Customs and Traditions of Wales by Trefor M. Owen. Today I started the chapter called "Customs of Hearth and Home". It started right off the bat with explaining that the hearth was the central gathering place of the home, the main place of activity. The Welsh word for hearth is aelwyd. Aelwyd also means "home", "dwelling", "kin", "fire", and "fireplace". This word encompassed the focus of people's lives, in other words. Home, dwelling, family, as well as sustenance in warmth and food.

Focus is a Latin word meaning "fireplace" and "hearth". The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines focus, as "a center of activity, attraction, or attention"; and also, "the place of origin of an earthquake."

Having been a part of 24-7 Prayer, I couldn't help thinking of the Boiler Room, the name 24-7 uses for its communities of prayer-focused people. Charles Spurgeon used the term "Boiler Room" to refer to prayer meetings. Before his sermons, supporters of his ministry would meet to pray, and just as steam and boiler rooms were the source of power in his day, so he felt that these boiler room prayers were the spiritual power behind his ministry.

A Boiler Room is like a "hearth" or "fireplace", a center of activity for the community, a focal place of family and life. Boiler Rooms grow up around people who pray together; they don't simply spend time together, but seek God together, to make their fireplace "the place of origin of an earthquake." A holy shaking, as of the Spirit. The good kind of earthquake.

Perhaps a shaking as when the "dry bones" in Ezekiel came together.....Ezekiel 37:7. "And behold, a shaking, and the bones came together.......and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceeding great army." From dry bones to an army.

My favorite quotation from this book: "In many farmhouses, ninteenth-century writers tell us, the fire was reputed to have been kept burning continuously for centuries..." It just reminds me of something...

on Oscar Wilde......

2009-08-02T14:07:00.001-07:00

my favorite quotes from "The Importance of Being Earnest": (I know--there are so many, but I really could have quoted the whole play, it is brilliant!) (Which is YOUR favorite?)

CECILY: "I keep a diary in order to enter the wonderful secrets of my life. If I didn't write them down I should probably forget all about them."

GWENDOLEN: "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."

GWENDOLEN: "In fact, if I may speak candidly--"
CECILY: "Pray do! I think that whenever one has anything unpleasant to say, one should always be quite candid."

ALGERNON: "I hope, Cecily, I shall not offend you if I state quite frankly and openly that you seem to me in every way to be the visible personification of absolute perfection."
CECILY: "I think your frankness does you great credit, Ernest. If you will allow me I will copy your remarks into my diary." [Goes over to table and begins writing in diary.]
ALGERNON: "Do you keep a diary? I'd give anything to look at it. May I?"
CECILY: "Oh, no." [Puts her hand over it.] "You see, it is simply a very young girl's record of her own thoughts and impressions, and consequently meant for publication. When it appears in volume form, I hope you will order a copy. But pray, Ernest, don't stop. I delight in taking down from dictation. I have reached 'absolute perfection'. You can go on. I am quite ready for more."

JACK: "You don't think there is any chance of Gwendolen becoming like her mother in about a hundred and fifty years, do you, Algy?"

MISS PRISM: "Memory, my dear Cecily, is the diary that we all carry about with us."

JACK: "Miss Fairfax, ever since I met you I have admired you more than any other girl.....I have ever met since....I met you."

JACK: "Well......may I propose to you now?"
GWENDOLEN: "I think it would be an admirable opportunity. And to spare you any possible disappointment, Mr Worthing, I think it only fair to tell you quite frankly beforehand that i am fully determined to accept you."

ALGERNON: "My letters! But my own sweet Cecily, I have never written you any letters."
CECILY: "You need hardly remind me of that, Ernest. I remember only too well that I was forced to write your letters for you. I wrote always three times a week and sometimes oftener."
ALGERNON: " Oh, do let me read them, Cecily?"
CECILY: "Oh, I couldn't possibly. That would make you far too conceited. The three you wrote me after I had broken off the engagement are so beautiful, and so badly spelled, that even now I can hardly read them without crying a little."

CECILY: "You must not laugh at me, darling, but it has always been a girlish dream of mine to love someone whose name is Ernest. There is something in that name that seems to inspire absolute confidence."

GWENDOLEN: " You have filled my tea with lumps of sugar, and though I asked most distinctly for bread and butter, you have given me cake. I am known the gentleness of my disposition, and the extraordinary sweetness of my nature, but I warn you, Miss Cardew, you may go too far."

ALGERNON: "You can't possibly ask me to go without having some dinner. It's absurd. I never go without my dinner. No one ever does, except vegetarians and people like that."

CECILY: "Mr. Moncrieff, kindly answer me the following question: Why did you pretend to be my guardian's brother?"
ALGERNON: " In order that I might have an opportunity of meeting you."
CECILY, to Gwendolen: "That certainly seems a satisfactory explanation, does it not?"
GWENDOLEN: "Yes, dear, if you can believe him."
CECILY: "I don't. But that does not affect the wonderful beauty of his answer."

think pink!

2009-07-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been in love with the color pink.

Life is so much fun when you have pink pencils to write with! I love using pencils because I feel like I am accomplishing more work. And I love sharpening pencils every few minutes. And I think that your writing utensils can "make or break" your writing, and also spark the imagination. Does anyone agree? Now all I need are some pink notebooks....

Twisted Pink nail polish. I cannot even tell you how much wearing pink nail polish makes me feel so beautiful. I am so serious. (this pic doesn't do the color justice. It is WAY more pink than this! And a little sparkly too!)

Focus. A few months ago, I discovered vitamin water, and as it is a bit healthier than pop, I decided to switch over! I love vitamin water! And although, Focus (Kiwi-Strawberry) isn't my favorite flavor, it IS my favorite color. There's something about drinking pink!

And....I have no picture but pretty soon I am going to sew myself a girly pink bag! I'm thinking either princesses or Barbie. I know you are excited to see this, Rebekah!

that was fun

2009-07-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

"A woman's heart is such a complex problem - the owner thereof is often most incompetent to find the solution to this puzzle."

--The Scarlet Pimpernel

have never laughed so hard in church......

2009-07-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

"I will never be able to fly, no matter how many times I practice.... by jumping off my garage or house. Depending on how high, and where I land, I will always end up.....in a wheelchair.......or dead."

-Kevin Janofski

My friend Kevin spoke at my church today. His message was about contentment. And this was his best quote. In my opinion anyway. And it deserves to be recorded.

He's a character.

"It is a Western- so everybody dies."

2009-06-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

It's been an adventure in movie-watching lately. Over the past month I have seen some strange ones. My brother convinced me to watch the first two, and the others I wanted to see or was bored......

Sean of the Dead (Weird British zombie film. Stupid, suspenseful, strange, and even sad in a few parts. And very funny. Recommended if you can stand stupid zombie stuff, and guts being ripped out of people.)

Hot Fuzz (As this one sounds like a film of a questionable nature, I NEVER would have seen it if my brother had not made me. And I was surprised at how I liked it. There were some awful scenes with gross effects. I mean, it was about a psycho group of people in small town who start killing people because they don't like them. So dumb, very funny, and I like Simon Pegg.)

Disturbia (I ended up watching this because my friend Tori suggested it.... but mainly because Shia LaBeouf is in it. Shia is an annoying teenager on house arrest, and his neighbor is a serial killer, and it's quite suspenseful, so that was fun, but the rotting bodies of the dead women his neighbor killed wasn't. I could have lived without seeing that! Don't recommend it. Watch Rear Window (same story, no rotting bodies, and Jimmy Stewart!) instead. Or better yet, for a real suspense thriller, watch....)

Vertigo (This is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. James Stewart, playing yet another character who will not commit to the woman who is in love with him, is hired to follow a woman whose husband thinks she is being possessed by a dead person. Then she is killed. But a few months later, James sees her downtown, and what follows is the twist of the best movie ever. Just watch it. How can you not like Hitchcock?..................But seriously, what is up with Jimmy Stewart always playing these characters who will not commit to the gorgeous woman in their lives? "It's a Wonderful Life", "Rear Window", "Vertigo", and probably many more of his movies. It's all the same! He wasn't exactly McDreamy, so this I do not understand.)

Double Jeopardy (I finally got to see this one! And it was suspenseful and sad, as I knew it would be, and it had a strange ending. But once again, a rotting body, this time in a coffin with a terrifed Ashley Judd. That's enough to give you nightmares, waking up beside a corpse. I'm not sure I liked the ending. I wanted to know what happened to Tommy Lee Jones' character,
too.)

Inkheart (I like how Hollywood is trying to make fantasy films. But I recognize that it is hard. They can't all be as good as Stardust.)

Confessions of a Shopaholic (This was a silly, fun, movie. Classic girl lies to guy, girl gets caught eventually, girl solves her problem, girl gets guy. I was surprised at the purity of this movie. No sex or rude jokes or anything; very clean! Otherwise it was just cute. And it made me feel a lot better with my own shopping habits as this girl buys the most ridiculous things that no one needs, and that I would never be caught dead buying or wearing. Rather than convicting me, it made me feel like a sensible shopper!)

The Dream Team (Micheal Keaton, as a pathological liar, leads a band of "escaped" lunatics -including a man who thinks he's Jesus- around New York, on a mission to save their doctor, who accidentally witnessed a murder. Highly recommended. Also stars Christopher Lloyd, as a patient who believes he is the doctor. He's one of my favorite actors. This movie is great.)

3:10 to Yuma (I was on very little sleep and just felt like sitting around, and my brother was watching this movie so I joined him. Good points: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, and the fact that is a Western. I like cowboys. Bad points: It is a Western- so everybody dies. I felt that the ending was bittersweet.)

2009-06-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

So, I got a new phone! I really like Razrs!

What can I say?

Joseph and peace and rest

2009-06-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

Whenever I read about Joseph in the Bible --which is quite often, as he is my Biblical crush! Don't have one? Well, you should!-- I am always fascinated by the favor he had with God. It always says "the Lord was with Joseph" and God goes crazy blessing people because they come into contact with Joseph. I have always wanted that for me! I want to be a blessing to others as Joseph was! I envy Joseph his favor with God. And yet, maybe I don't.

Okay, so I still do, but let me explain. Just because he had God with him didn't mean his life was going right or that he was at peace. God was with him as he worked for Potiphar and then something really terrible and awkward and peace-destroying happened: Potiphar's wife wanted Joseph! You know the story, and Joseph ended up in prison. Joseph was probably enjoying his life working for Potiphar, and then Potiphar's wife had to go and ruin it! But God was still with him, and had it all planned. I guess it just comes as a shock how God worked in Joseph's case. He was totally with him, but life was far from perfect.

He was probably seriously teaching Joseph some "find your peace and rest in ME alone" lessons. Those suck.

And what did we learn from this thought process? God is crazy? Yes! So..... Trust Him with your life.

just thinking...

2009-06-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

I was reading in Proverbs today and came across this verse in chapter 21:

"A wise man attacks the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust."

And it made me think. (I know- just bear with me here...) This verse is saying: if you are smart you are going to find out what your enemy trusts in and destroy it. Your enemy then has nothing to fall back on and no hope. He loses heart, and you win the battle.

So, that got me thinking. If our trust is in the God of the universe Who cannot be defeated- if He is our stronghold Who cannot be "pulled down"- would that make us invincible?

2009-06-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

It's interesting. I only record the things I want to remember. And I conveniently forget to write down the negative things, the things I want so desperately to disappear from my memory. The uncomfortable things. Unfortunately, my life is composed of both.

And I think I know why I don't write it down. Because I don't need to. I remember it anyway.

2009-05-08T09:51:00.001-07:00

A few days ago, I was at the library, and I went to get some tea from the cafe. I had to go back up to the counter to ask for milk because it wasn't around the counter for me to help myself; there was only creamer. As the lady went to get the milk from the fridge, she asked, "Are you English?"

Cute.

I think prayer DOES work

2009-04-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

I had a minor emergency in my finances when I realized that I was $100 off! Pretty much exactly! and not in my favor, either. And well, $100 is a lot, and so I was freaking out, wondering where I (or the bank......) had made this mistake and how, because I am usually so good at adding EVERYTHING in, and I was going through all my records and bank statements, checking everything off. So this morning I got my brother Dave to help with going through and actually adding and subtracting it all on a calculator, and we found the mistake!!!! The $100 mistake!!! It was back in January. Too bad I made the mistake so now I am $100 down from where I thought I was, but seriously, I am so glad it's taken care of! I feel like the woman who found the lost coin! I just want to call all my friends and have a party. Yes, that feeling will probably fade in an hour or so.......

....but I found it! I found it! I found it!

PTL

my good deed for the year

2009-04-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I decided to leave early for work, just in case I was held up in any way by the weather. Well, about half a mile from my house, I saw a car in the ditch and stopped to see if they needed any help. The guy asked if I could tow him out- he had his own tow rope. I have a trailer hitch and 4-wheel drive, so I said yes,of course! He hooked everything up in a couple minutes, and I had him out in 10 seconds, and then he gave me $10! I thought that was very nice of him, and a car was coming so I really couldn't argue and refuse to take it.....

The snow isn't so bad. I'm even sorry I whined about it.

i just want to whine a little

2009-04-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's a winter wonderland outside, and it's not fair! It was over 70 degrees on Friday, and now it's 30, and a winter storm warning, and schools are canceled. (I would be happy if I actually went to school!) And I have to work today. And my Missions Board responsibilities are making my head spin!

I just want to stay home and read a book and maybe watch Lois and Clark! Oh and paint too. I've got to finish.

2009-04-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

I love finding those little gems in the Bible, those crazy moments of history. And the strangely random facts, which just make me smile. For example, Jehu's crazy driving. One of the best. there are so many, but here are a few.

Ehud, the James Bond of the Bible
(Judges 3:15-26)

Jehu, the crazy driver
2 Kings 9:20

'The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman." ' (love it!)

Shadrach and friends

Daniel 3 (Okay, so it's not ignored, everybody knows about the fiery furnace, but it's SO cool! I think sometimes we take these miracles for granted. They were thrown into a fire so hot that their executioners died from the heat! And not a hair on their heads was singed!! Not a single hair! The Bible even says they didn't smell like fire. they didn't even SMELL! THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!)

Joshua (and the sun standing still)

Joshua 10:12-14

^"12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

¹³ So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. ¹⁴ There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! "

happy birthday to me!

2009-03-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Psalm 39:4-5

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath."

22 years = 8,036 days (number of my days so far!)

Even at over 8,000 days, it still doesn't seem like a lot.

chicken fried....

2009-03-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

by Zac Brown Band

It's my current favorite song. I've been listening to lots of country music lately, and I must confess, I love it. In my opinion, there's something peaceful about country music. I just like it. And I like the line in this one about how it's the simple things in life that matter. That's how I feel sometimes. A rainy day will make my day. A chocolate chip cookie, a long walk, finishing a book, a breathtaking sunset, a cup of tea, a favorite song on the radio, things marked off a to-do list, a phone call from a friend, an encouraging email, an unexpected letter (does THAT happen anymore?)-- these are little things that just make me happy. A pair of jeans that fit just right--priceless! I'll pass on the beer, though. I've tried it: gross!

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that's home you know
Sweet tea pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
And my house it's not much to talk about
But it's filled with love that's grown in southern ground
And a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love
And its funny how it's the simple things in life that mean the most
Not where you live or what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I've come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise you glasses for a toast
To a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives so we don't have to sacrifice
All the things we love
Like our chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I've seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman's eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother's love

(Sometimes I just really want to be a small-town Southern country girl! I want an accent!)

2009-03-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

I've been ferret-sitting all week. Yes, you read that correctly: ferret-sitting. As in going against nature to make sure a rodent stays alive for five days. And cleaning up after it too. And sometimes even picking it up. Ugh. Mostly I just talked to it like it was a cute little baby and then recoiled in horror when it came near. I should say "he". His name was Munch.

(And his name still IS Munch....)

No really, it wasn't that bad, just a little strange. He was allowed to run free over the house. He had newspapers in certain places, but I found little surprises around the house at random times. Other than these, it was fine. I relaxed at their house and had a great time, a nice retreat from the world. I read an almost entire book. That was fun.

Penguins in Michigan!

2009-02-28T17:06:00.000-08:00

Somebody put 7 fake penguins out on a snowbank on Lake Superior (as you can see it's frozen). It cracked me up! What a prank! I wish I knew who did it. I would like to shake this person's hand!

Oh, wait, those two pics are practically the same.
Sorry. Anyway, hilarious!!!

2009-02-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

We're having another blizzard and I am bored.

Here's the cover of my new album. The Blood Stained Route Map members are very proud.

a book that changed my life

2009-02-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

"That in winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit would appear, he received a high view of the providence and power of God, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for God that he could not tell whether it had increased during the forty years he had lived since."

Today is the 318th anniversary of the death of Brother Lawrence, a man who lived in France during the 16th century, making it his whole business in life to love God and to spend every moment in the presence of God, praying without ceasing.

"He showed us how, at any moment and in any circumstance, the soul that seeks God may find Him, and practice the presence of God."

And also today (quite unaware of the significance of the date until now) I finished reading the little devotional of Brother Lawrence's collected letters and thoughts. I have read it many times, but the first time I read it, it was pivotal to my 'journey'. I look back on it knowing that my mind was being renewed and transformed as I read it and was introduced to this simple concept of loving God and remembering that He is always with me. Constantly.

"After he had received the Last Sacraments, a brother asked him if he were easy and what his mind was busy with. This was the reply: ' I am doing what I shall do, through all eternity--blessing God, praising God, adoring God, giving him the love of my whole heart. It is our one business, my brethren, to worship and love Him, without thought of anything else.' "

"Though it was in a very lowly corner that Brother Lawrence lived his days, yet there is no person, of whatever station or condition he be, who may not draw great profit from his life."

A few favorite quotes from The Practice of the Presence of God, a book I cannot recommend enough:

"Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving God."

"That our only business was to love and delight ourselves in God."

"That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of God."

(and my favorite, which has been a prayer for my life, difficult to pray at times:)
"Let Him do what He pleases with me; I desire only Him, and to be wholly devoted to Him."

.....well, I'll stop there, as I can't just type up the whole book on here!

25 facts about ME!

2009-02-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

This was kinda fun. Sometimes I think about myself too much.

1. I HATE hot weather. Going hot places for vacations just does NOT appeal to me. Some people like the Bahamas or Costa Rica wherever. Give me Alaska or Canada for vacation any day! In the summer, I like air conditioning. I only go out at night. I don't really like the beach much either, but I like that it is there. I realized recently that I just have to live by a body of water.

2. I firmly believe in the existence of dinosaurs and sea monsters. I mean, that they are still around, hiding in remote areas of the world, like lakes in Scotland and swamps in Africa, and, of course, in the depths of the oceans.

3. I have a horrible habit of reading ahead a page or two in exciting places in books. I can't stand the suspense!

4. I LOVE suspense movies. Alfred Hitchcock rocks.

5. I have a novel partially planned in my head. I know the characters, just not the complete plot. It's been on the back burner of my mind for 4 ish years now. Eventually, I will write it.

6. I was supposed to be born with water in my head (hydrocephalus), and my mom was asked when she wanted to schedule the abortion. (I guess they weren't going to try using a shunt like they would now.) She said never, and I ended up being her easiest delivery and a perfectly healthy little baby.

7. At one time, my door was covered in Jonathan Taylor Thomas posters and pictures.

8. At the age of seven my boyfriend and I agreed to marry each other on the bus on the way home from school one day. (I think he has forgotten, as he is engaged to someone else at the moment.....)

9. I have visited 17 of the 50 states, which isn't very much. I should really get out there more.

10. I've been driving for 7 years, and I have never driven outside the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!

11. I have had pneumonia twice.

12. My first car was a 1978 MG convertible.

13. I have a one-of-a-kind signed poster of Quin Delport from Shackleton. (Yeah, be jealous)

14. I've never been a jewelry person.

15. If I ever had a dog, I would name it Captain!

16. Every few weeks I come up with a name for a dog I don't have yet.

17. I was named after my maternal grandmother Rosemary, but I look just like my paternal grandmother Joanne

18. Murder She Wrote is my favorite tv show of all time. I think.

19. I love happy endings in stories, but my favorite author is actually Charles Dickens. (Yeah, I don't get that either.)

20. I have been maid-of-honor twice, and a bridesmaid twice. Lots of fancy dresses in my closet never to be worn again.

21. I don't really like wearing skirts THAT much. I'd much rather be forever in blue jeans.

22. Joseph is my favorite person in the Bible. Whenever I read his story I always picture it as a movie (like a beautiful movie, not some weird musical, or anything about a "technicolor coat". I find that sounds too cheesy and have never seen it anyway. I'm thinking of a Ron Howard or Mel Gibson movie) and it's really beautiful inside my head.

23. I have lived in 8 different houses.

24. Snowmen make me happy.

25. I am absolutely terrified of frogs!!

don't let it snow

2009-02-04T17:16:00.000-08:00

I think it's great that places that don't usually get snow are getting it, I just wish it could have been a switcheroo thing and we could have been without snow this week, while they got it. Instead we get three days of blizzard. Or maybe it was only two? They kinda run together.

Well, I'm sick of it. And to make matters worse, our cars are falling apart, partially weather-related, and I personally think it is Satan. On Monday at work I was feeling really down about my family's car situations this winter (two cars are being repaired right now), and as I was packing an espresso shot, I was encouraged to pray in a whole new creative way. You have to pack these shots in with lots of pressure--usually more pressure than I can physically achieve. But as I packed the shot, I was thinking of it as Satan's face. It was a very fun way to pray. Every time, I would just push down on it really hard and pray for God to crush Satan's influence on my family right now. And those shots turned out pretty well, I might add.

I'm so tired of driving in snow. I thank God I have a 4 wheel drive, but still! Please come quickly, spring!

Rebekah, you must read this!!!

2009-01-31T16:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, when I read other blogs, I just get to thinking that I lead such a boring life, because I can never think of things to write. But sometimes other people write about nothing, so that is what I will do today: update for the sake of updating....string some random thoughts of the day together and see what happens.

While studying Esther (the person and book of the Bible) today, I realized afresh how weird a book it is. It is actually happy! It is written like a fairy tale! The beautiful commoner marries the King and saves the Kingdom (or HER people) from death. And the bad guys dies and the good guys are honored. As a fan of fairy tales and happy endings, I am delighted. And the other thing that is weird is that God is not mentioned at all. It is mentioned that the Jews fast in this serious, life-threatening time, but nothing about praying or about how maybe God will save them. I'm pretty sure God is given no glory in this book. I mean, I still love it. If God's ok with it, then I am too! I just think it was written by someone who didn't know God. Which makes it pretty darn interesting, as a book of the Bible. But who knows?

I went shopping with my sister Krista today and found some great deals at Bath and Body Works. Lotion and soap that is normally super expensive! Sweet! I like nice smells- they are one of the simple things in life that makes me happy. Like chocolate and tea and roses and murder mysteries. Ah, joy.

I am currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo. I really thought it would be completely lame, but it isn't! I am really enjoying it! As soon as he got to prison, I was hooked. But for some reason the first 30 or so pages before prison were very slow and I barely made it through.

I am also reading All Creatures Great and Small, an autobiographical account of a Scottish veterinarian's life in the Yorkshire Dales. That one is heart-warming! There is no other word for it! Okay, yeah, there is, like happy and brilliant and fantastic. James Herriot is hysterical. I highly recommend it, if you like happiness.

In other news, I have had enough of the snow! This darn snow is pretty, yes, but it keeps on pushing snowfall records, despite "global warming", and I think we, up here, are all sick of seriously cold temperatures! Zero is too common up here!! (that's -17*C, for some perspective) I'm thinking of moving to New Mexico! (What do you think, Bethany?)

Besides this whining I have nothing else to say. I need some tea.

2009-01-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

I wish I could tell him face to face:

Thank you for all your hard work, George Bush! I pray that you live a long and peaceful life filled with blessings and joy!!!

adventures in babysitting......

2009-01-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was driving the kids (meaning my sister Marie's two oldest kids: Stephen and Leah) to my house and as we rode along, a bus slightly alarmed me with its proximity to my car, as it was almost pulling out into the street in front of me.

Well, I had a mild case of road rage, and as I safely passed it, I said something like "Yeah, that's right! Don't even think about it, pal!" From the backseat, Stephen, who is 5, said, "Aunty, why did you say that?" And I told him that the bus was crazy, but everything was okay.

Stephen said, "My teacher says we can't talk about cars." Now, I have no idea what he or his teacher meant by this, but then Leah, who is 3, proceeded for the next few minutes, to rebelliously repeat the word "cars!" over and over. I just sat there and laughed silently. It was one of those moments that I just thank God that I am alive! So sweet!

Anyway, I have been watching those two all week because on Tuesday, my sister Marie had her baby! His name is Collin Matthew and he is the cutest little thing ever! So the kids are having fun now with their new brother. And I am getting sleep. Wonderful sleep!

2009-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, so perhaps one could argue that I am in love with winter, as I wrote a whole post before about how great Christmas and winter are, blah blah blah..... But seriously, the number one thing I LOVE about winter is that there are NO frogs!!!!

This is my favorite thing. Forget Christmas time, and snowmen and penguins, and happy movies, and snowglobes, and knitting scarves and mittens (I just finished my first pair of mittens to match my scarf--SO much fun!), and winter sports (I just named that for the sake of those who actually enjoy winter sports; I say no thank you to all winter sports and being outside for fun; except maybe sledding- on a nice hill- but I haven't yet this winter)-- these things (many others!) may be jolly and fun and they definitely do their part to contribute to the "winter joy" in the air, but let me tell you: the fact that there are no frogs outside ready to jump at my heels as I walk out to the car makes up for all the negatives...( such as below zero temperatures, cars not starting, having to brush the snow and ice off the car, shoveling, hauling and stacking wood, salt stains on the legs of my jeans, and just generally being very cold.) It's all worth it.

Winter should last longer....

P.S. I was going to google an image of a frog to post, but I just can't! It makes me ill.

life is short.....don't watch bad movies

2008-12-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

I'd just like to advise you, my friends, because I care about you. I don't want you to have two hours of your life wasted, the same way as I did yesterday. If anyone ever asks you to watch the movie Death Proof, just run. Run away. That is two hours (or however long it was, hopefully it was shorter!) that I will NEVER get back. Just thought I'd mention it.

the Hitchcock club

2008-12-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

My friend Juliann and I like to watch Alfred Hitchcock films sometimes. It's our favourite thing to do when we hang out right now. Today we watched two--Notorious and The Birds. And they are definitely two of my favourites now! I know that The Birds is super famous, but do you know how it ends? Weird!! Alfred was brilliant! Seriously, it was strangely cool. I liked it.

And Notorious was good simply because of Cary Grant. I could watch him in absolutely anything, I think. Oh, except he was too weird in Suspicion.

Alfred was a genius!

(below is the most suspenseful and then most shocking scene in the movie......brilliant!!!)

One thing I hate is that Juliann ALWAYS spots Alfred first! He always shows up in one scene for about 2 seconds in almost all his movies, and I never see him first. It's not fair!

Just let them say I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

2008-12-05T17:15:00.001-08:00

Just a thought. You know those endings on tv shows and movies where the characters never get to say "I love you" and then it's too late and then they'll never see the love of their lives again and they never got to say they loved them???

I HATE THAT!!!!!!!

Why do they torture the audience like that? Hello? We KNOW already that this person is going to be separated from their beloved forever anyway (whether by death, or being stuck in parallel universe....whatever), why can't they just say "I LOVE YOU" ONE LAST TIME?????!!!

grrrrrr to hollywood and the BBC and whoever else makes movies and tv shows but isn't represented by some big name like "hollywood" or "the BBC"!!!!!

Just let them say it, darn it!!!!

ahhh! you disgust me......

pathetic

2008-12-02T10:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I know I only named three of my fictional character crushes so far, but it's a bit silly going on and on with this one. I think I have liked more fictional characters than I have REAL guys. It is good to know this about myself. But scary...

My number one fictional character crush of all time is, without a doubt, Clark Kent. Not Superman- but Clark. And yes, the Dean Cain Clark Kent is best. Oh, the number of times I watched Lois and Clark and swooned over this mild-mannered reporter! (I have seen every episode of every season. I was crazy about this show. And about Clark. Hey, I was 14!)

But Lois had it all wrong. How can you like Superman, when Clark is right in front of you? She was so blind (or just "galactically stupid", which is an inside joke with the show, that you will only know if you are as pathetic as I am and have seen every episode of every season, or really just season 4 for that one......see?).

The weird thing about that show was that I always thought of Superman and Clark as two completely different people, too. Somehow, they pulled it off. I don't think I would have been able to tell they were both Clark. But unlike Lois, I would've fallen for Clark right away.

Superman's hair was too shiny. And his smile was too fake. Clark was real! Well, you know what I mean.

la la la

2008-11-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

Miracle on 34th Street

I totally forgot Miracle on 34th Street!! I love that movie!!

I'm on my second scarf. My sisters love the color of my first one so I am making them each one. We'll be triplets!

(Except not.)

Oh, well, I like having something to do with my hands.

On my to do list:

--throw Marie a baby shower!
--finish two scarves
--watch Miracle on 34th Street
--think of something interesting to write here.....

just for nerdy fun......

2008-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

my fictional character crushes.....

......in random order:

1. Fritz Robinson

When I was little (and by that I mean younger), my brothers and sisters and I used to sleep in my parent's room when my dad was gone overnight for his work. My mom would get us to sleep -and keep her sanity- by putting in old Disney movies. I swear, before the age of 7, I had never seen more than 10 minutes of The Parent Trap. I thought it was the most boring film in existence. Well, Swiss Family Robinson was one of these "boring" movies Mom used to try to lull us to sleep. But Swiss Family Robinson is WAY too exciting! I loved it! Pirates and adventure and romance! And I always had a crush on Fritz. He looks silly in this photo, but he had his shirt off a lot in that movie. It was a tropical island after all.
Nice hat, Fritz.

2. Jonny Quest

Okay, shut up. So, I had a crush on a cartoon character. Um,what can I say? It's totally normal, right? Everybody has crushes on cartoon charcters! Well.....I was 12! I'm sorry, but he was cool! He was like a 16-year-old James Bond! I don't remember much about that show, but it was cool. Those three were always getting into trouble. And they were smart kids; they could fly planes and fight bad guys and do all kinds of cool James Bond things. And I just always liked Jonny. And his dog Bandit! So cute! I knowI say this all the time about different names, but I really think that if I ever get my own dog I really will name it Bandit.
Now I just have to remember that...

3. Gilbert Blythe

(Seriously, in my search for images of my crushes, what is up with all the ridiculous hats?? First Fritz, now Gil. Come on!)
I am not even going to pretend that this crush is over and done. I love Gil! The way he loves Anne and never gives up on her is just beautiful. Anne was so insane not to have let herself see it.
I love the part when he saves her in the boat. She is being her very silly self, gets stranded under a bridge in the middle of a pond, and he comes by and rescues her. Awww!

You'd have to see it.

Christmas films I like

2008-11-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

Elf

It's A Wonderful Life

White Christmas

A Muppet Christmas Carol

While You Were Sleeping

The Santa Clause

Little Women

Beauty and the Beast

( I may be forgetting some really good ones.....hmmm )

"having a clue is so not the point"

2008-11-18T09:52:00.000-08:00

These were the brilliant words of my dear former roommate when I shared with her my frustrations on life.....and how I have no clue what is coming next. So that was her response. Well, thank you, Frances, but of course what I really wanted was for her to say suddenly that she had just heard from the Lord and that I was supposed to be doing THIS or THAT next.

That would have been nice. But, as "having a clue is so NOT the point", I am going to assume that trusting and obeying God is the point.

It reminds me of a fantastic hymn by John H. Sammis:

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends. we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

I italicized the stanzas/verses ( dang, what are they called?) that really hit home with me.

I think the whole "happy in Jesus" thing is really cheesy. Just think JOY there. Joy in the Lord! I think the point is to LOVE God. And trusting and obeying come with loving. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart." "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." "If you love Me, you will obey what I command."

Is there a real point to this post? No. I just wanted to write it down and make it more real. I've got to work on all these things. And I so totally don't have a clue what is going on in my life, and where I am headed next.

Well, not completely, anyway......and that's still frustrating.

But never fear!

"Michigan must be beautiful this time of year......

2008-11-17T13:41:00.000-08:00

......all that snow!"

Can anything beat the beauty of a late-afternoon in winter? It's absolutely my favourite time of day in the winter. The sky is gray and white with clouds that are very slowly clearing and showing bits of very light blue. It's about an hour before twilight, so the lighting is indescribably lovely, and I cannot do it justice here. And if it is snowing at this perfect time of day, it is only snowing lightly, like the kind of snow where you don't even have to have your windshield wipers on if you happen to be driving. But hopefully you are not driving. Hopefully you are outside enjoying the freezing (or below-freezing, as it is today) fresh air, or at least sitting inside, with a window open for a minute, to experience it a little, but then you can close the window, look out on the beauty, and sip your tea/cocoa/coffee, and enjoy.

Oh, and this gray sky, and this lighting, plus the bare trees everywhere...yeah, I forgot about the trees. That's half the beauty.

And yes, I realize it is not winter yet. Officially. But whatever. We get a much longer winter here. The snow starts in October, finally sticks in December (at the latest), starts to melt in February, completely ignores the whole "first day of spring" thing in March and is back with a vengeance, and finally melts completely by the end of May. Literally. Just in time for a couple weeks of snow-less spring before summer in June.

So when we get snow before Christmas--and usually we do!-- it's happy and exciting and beautiful, and it makes you feel all Christmassy inside. Well, it does for me. Everyone is listening to holiday music, and winter is just so pleasant. Magical. All that the Christmas movies say--- and more! I always have had this dream of being romanced in the winter time.....However, I am not saying I won't say no to falling in love in the summer.....or any other season for that matter. Look, all I am saying is that November and December are great months!

After Christmas, sometimes winter is lame. All that snow, and no Christmas magic anymore.

So I am going to go a bit crazy in the next month and a half, watching my favourite Christmas movies, and knitting, and drinking tea, and going outside for fresh air, but not really walking because it's dangerous to walk on my road in the winter, as there is no sidewalk and all. But I will shovel the porches for exercise! I also can't wait to start Christmas shopping and going to Starbucks for a Signature Hot Chocolate in a cute holiday cup so that I can sip it while I walk around the mall or wherever I decide to shop. And be all cool.

Yes, Starbucks is the definition of cool.

We've got 6 inches of snow today at least, and more to come tonight. I really need to get some winter boots!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I also need to get a snow globe! Preferably a snowman one that plays a cheerful Christmas carol.

observations.....

2008-11-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was called "Midgetron" by someone at work.

I think as a short person, I carry with me a bubble of creativity. People who want to tease me have to get creative because I have heard it all before. This is a gift, I cannot brag about it.

But "midgetron"?? I wasn't pretending to be a robot or anything. Where did she get that? (See? Unexplainable creativity! And it follows me around like a cloudy mist.....and it hits people when they see me, and that is WHY I get all these crazy jokes, or songs, made in my honour. One of my favourites was by my friend Mike. He would say "Rosie, high five!" and hold his hand down below his knees. Very nice, Mike. But you were in the "creativity cloud" around me. Sorry, no taking credit for that one!)

Inconceivable!

all she wanted for Christmas..........

2008-11-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

I just watched a Christmas movie. The star of the movie was the young girl from While You Were Sleeping (Mary, the one who mashed the potatoes), so I was interested. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of those "we-have-to-save-the-factory-to-keep-all-the-small-town-residents-working-and-WHAT!-my-almost-boyfriend-who-just-rolled-into-town-is-the-grandson-of-the-late-factory-owner-and-therefore-owns-the-factory-!-and-hurray-I-forgave-him-for-lying-and-we-both-saved-the-factory-on-Christmas-Eve-!-and-it-snowed-in-a-town-where-it-never-snows" movies. Yeah, it was great.

;)

things I don't like.....

2008-11-05T05:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, working at a coffee shop is really fun! But it has its annoying moments. But all jobs have these, so that's nothing new. Rude people, for one. I'm sure everyone can relate to this one. When people come in and they're rude, it really gets you down. I always feel that way because I think I take things too much to heart.

But one of the small things that just gets to me is all the lipstick. Sorry, but all these ladies who come in need to be told about that kind of lipstick that STAYS on your LIPS, not the rim of your coffee cup!

things I like....

2008-11-02T11:04:00.000-08:00

The smell of freshly-ground coffee has got to be one of the best smells on earth! (And yes, I am taking into consideration "warm vanilla sugar" of Bath & Body Works.) It is right up there with fresh air and a baby's head! One of my favourite things to do at work is make coffee. I love scooping the beans out and getting the right amount an then throwing them into the coffee grinder! The smell is heavenly! Too bad I can't smell like coffee, rather than like a cafe. I always thought that working at a coffee place, I would smell like coffee. It's so totally a myth.

Sometimes I have to clean the drink cooler and when I do, it makes sounds like R2D2. Because of this, I do not consider it work. R2 is definitely my favourite Star Wars character. After Han Solo, that is......

2008-10-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

I've added another thing to my to-do list for this year: I want to learn how to knit. Some girls came into the coffee shop a while ago, and they sat at of the tables by the window and knitted and chatted and sipped their tea, and I thought it looked like so much fun! Okay, I'm being silly.

Well, knitting DOES look like fun, and besides that, it is a skill! I could make mittens and scarves and sweaters and.......what else? Lots!

And I would be way faster than my Mom, who is currently working on a pirate sweater for Stephen. It's really cute, it's got striped sleeves and a skull and cross-bones. But by the time she finishes it, it will probably be just the right size for Marie's next kid, "Colin", who is due this January.

So, everyone expect to receive scarves this Christmas.....

hey, God exists!

2008-10-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a dream literally come true, right in front of you, and you did nothing to make it happen, it just happens, and suddenly you just sit back -or fall over, or whatever, your choice of shocked posture- and you're just completely BLOWN AWAY and you think--"I had a dream a few weeks ago that has nothing to do with anything, and it just happened!" ???

Well, I have! Basically in my dream I had been reading something very specific, and yesterday I read it. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it was AMAZING! It wasn't just anything, it was God speaking.

And it's even cooler that it was so totally from God. Okay, it IS a little scary as well. Anyway, that's my exciting life right now.

(Hey, I should make a rule for myself. In a every blog entry I think I should have the words "so totally" or "rad" at least once. I don't know why. Just to make myself sound more intelligent, really.)

Speaking of "so totally rad", I know who I am voting for:

Change You Can Believe In

2008-09-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here's my favourite quote from Anne of Avonlea.

“The way girls roam the earth now is something terrible. It reminds me of Satan in the book of Job--‘going to and fro and walking up and down….’ I don’t think the Lord ever intended it.”

--Rachel Lind

Because of all my traveling, I find this to be just the funniest quote ever!! :) I love this movie.

(Well, not the funniest; Rebekah's are hilarious.)

so.....I guess I should start praying....

2008-09-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

edit:://

2008-09-02T16:22:00.001-07:00

2008-08-20T12:25:00.001-07:00

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know....

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far
from where you are
I wanna come home

So it doesn't describe my feelings pefectly, but I can't help it really. I didn't write the song. ANd I'm not goign towrite my own song.... It's cheesy that I feel this way, but I have been struggling a bit. I just want to put down roots, to settle, and be able to call somewhere HOME without hesitation, and with joy in my heart (hence the "I wanna go home thing", you know? but yeah, the song isn't perfectly descriptive of how I feel. But if I AM missing anybody that much to be singing about them right now, it's God). But I haven't been able to do that truly for a long time.

The words to that song are just a bit how I feel. I always say "I wanna go home!" My sister laughs at this song and calls it "my" song. But it's so true, because half the time when I say those silly, half-whiny, half-joking, but wholly-pathetic words, I am at home. Or the place I call home at the moment.

Anybody get this? It's frustrating. What do you do?

And don't even say "pray"!

....haha :)

2008-07-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

I know that some people are in hotter places (like you, Bethany, for one), but I hate the humidity of stupid summer, and I must complain!!!! I can't breathe properly in this weather. The humidity is seriously affecting my breathing. I need to use my inhaler at least twice a day, and besides that, it's just depressing.

In other news, it rained a lot today. Which is always good. Thunderstorms are well exciting.

I'm still on the job search.... .... ....OK! So, I haven't looked very much at all......

Fact: driving a car is SO like riding a bicycle. It came back instantly.

So did all my shooting skills. I can't help it. It's simply in my blood.

I'm almost settled into my new room, which was a junk room until I moved in last week. I'm never surprising my family again, unless I have a room in which to stay!!! It took days to clear it out.

I own a lot more books than I thought. That makes me happy. I like books.

I don't really know why I wrote this, I'm totally rambling now.

more quotes...

2008-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

"This is the Body of Christ. When one of us is given the finger, we're all given the finger."

--Andy Freeman

That one was said at our last Transit party on the 4th of July. Transit is finished. Now we're free. haha.

"I know, but do not speak of it!" --Rebekah (and Elisha)

make 'em laugh

2008-07-01T00:38:00.000-07:00

"Are you interested?" --Rebekah Anderson

Well, Transit's almost done. My fellow Transiscans are a hilarious bunch. Throughout the year, when somebody said something funny, or something was said that could easily be taken out of context and made hilarious, I wrote them down. I am now proud to share them on here. Without further ado....

The one that started it all, I think:

"In most cases, it is better to pray beforehand." --Mark

“I’m a Gilmore Girl!” --Rob

"One thing to remember is birds are hard to catch-- because they can fly!" --Rebekah

"What is it?" --me
"My booger." --Lily

"My Bible is like my bra- it's close to my heart and it gives me support." --Adri

"I, however, had been around the block a few times." --Rebekah

"It sounds like a chunk of earth hitting a bell: 'Floyd McCLUNG'!" --Rob

"Rosie, I don't think you're stupid, and I don't think you're American!!" --Mark

"Don't watch that movie, it's horrible!" --Rebekah
"Would I like it?" --Rob
"Yes!"

"It sounds like Jacob, but it feels like my pet dog........" --Dave Slinn

"Prune Smoothie!"
"I'm disgusting!!!!" --me

"Dude! I looked both ways before I pushed you into the street!" --Mark, to me

"Too bad you can't sleep and walk at the same time.....on the streets. You could have a little nap on your way into town." -Rebekah

"Be a lover of music, not a lover of artists." --Quin, referring to the Backstreet Boys

"Well, Monday was good, and yesterday was......Monday." --Adri

"I'm gutted that gambling is apparently a sin." --Mick Newman

"I'm just so happy inside my own head. It's a beautiful place in there." --Rebekah

"I just like sitting on my feet." -Louise

"I wouldn't actually STEAL Rebekah's underwear." --Rob

"Lord! Should we buy a chicken?!" --Rebekah

"Everything green comes from Ireland." --Chris

"Life is so much fun when you're nuts!" --Mark

"I just like to drive cars......fast." --Rebekah

"Did women have a choice who they married back then?"
"Was it set in the 1980's?" --Chris

"Okay, we don't like worms." --me

"Listen to my ears!!" --Lily

"I met my intentionally missional recipients today." --Rebekah

"I just want to buy a bunch of clothes so I don't feel so depressed." --me

“We’re obsolete, Berry. Shut up!” --Rob

"Nothing to be scared of-- it's just my uncertainty." --Rebekah

"No one can ever really know me. I'm an endless hole of inevitability." --Chris

"That's why you sometimes need men." --Adri

"It's 24-7 Prayer, but keep it down." --Rob

"I sometimes get frustrated when people want to pray all the time." --Rebekah

(I agree, Rebekah. Good thing we got involed in 24-7 Prayer. )

Well, Rebekah's unusually quotable, I would say......

And there's more where that came from........The Egham guys have quotes too (HERE)!

Quotes make life good fun.

Transit's Out for the Summer!

2008-06-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

(written with Lauren!)

We’re sitting in the beautiful kitchen of a huge, picturesque 17th century manor house tucked away in the countryside near Bristol, listening to the Goo Goo Dolls and trying to think of something to write here, about Transit. And it’s hard. (Mostly because this kitchen is distracting me. Three cheers for 24-7 for letting us stay in this house for our last retreat!) For the last 10 months, we’ve been trying to describe Transit. That was the number one question we tried to avoid: “What is Transit?” and “Are you studying? Working?” Um, no. And….no. Like face book-- it’s complicated.

What can I say? We all came here to the UK to do Transit, each of us with different reasons, whether it was to learn about Boiler Rooms, or just to learn more about Jesus and be discipled. The UK Transit class of 2008 consists of 10 students, 2 hosts, and 2 kids. We came together from7 different countries: New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Canada, England, Wales, and the United States. It’s been a cross-cultural experience simply living together.

On our ten month discipleship training programme/experience, we became a part of our Boiler Room communities, volunteered in schools, in youth clubs, and with creative mission projects. We prayer-walked and prayer-carded. We got involved in several 24-7 Prayer weeks, including ones in Auchterader, Egham Belfast, Aberystwyth, Guildford, and Southampton). We purposefully found ways to be “intentionally missional” in our greater communities. We practised hospitality; our doors are always open. We travelled around on mission weeks, even as far as the Czech Republic. We had weekly teaching times, and more intense, monthly training. We read the Bible together as a narrative. We had many early mornings of prayer and late nights of watching films or chatting about the tough things of life. That’s what we DID on Transit.

In all this, Transit has been about learning. Yes, it was 10months of learning. That we are the clay and He is the Potter, and that it sometimes hurts to be moulded into the image He wants us to be. That “as iron sharpens iron”, so we sharpen and influence each other-- and it’s not always pleasant. (Think of iron against iron- not a nice sound.) And I think the most important thing we learned was (here it is, Transiters!) that life is supposed to be about loving God, loving others, and sharing the gospel with the nations. I think that’s what Transit centred on, rally. In all our activities, that’s what we were challenged to do. Love God as we go about our lives. Love others out of that place of loving God. And do our part- whatever that might look like- in taking the gospel to the world.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may be able to test and approve what God’s will is-- His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

It’s like that. It’s been an inward journey for all of us. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that God renewed our minds in different ways, and He transformed our very beings. We are leaving next week, very much changed from who we were a year ago, and all for the better. This chapter of our lives is nearly finished, but there is more in the story for us.

jeopard..........leopard

2008-06-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

 
I think this is simply fascinating........

Merriam-Webster’s
Word of the Day   

June 15

jeopardize

\JEP-er-dyze\   

verb

Meaning

     : to expose to danger or risk : imperil

 Example Sentence

     "I'm not willing to jeopardize my friendship with Camille by lying to her," said Luis. 

Did You Know?

     It may be hard to believe that "jeopardize" was once controversial, but in 1870 a grammarian called it "a foolish and intolerable word," a view shared by many 19th-century critics. The preferred word was "jeopard," which first appeared in print in the 14th century. (The upstart "jeopardize" turned up in 1582.) In 1828, Noah Webster himself declared "jeopardize" to be "a modern word, used by respectable writers in America, but synonymous with 'jeopard,' and therefore useless." Unfortunately for the champions of "jeopard," "jeopardize" is now much more popular. In fact, it's been about a hundred years since anyone has raised any serious objections to "jeopardize."

I would like to take this opportunity to be the first person in about a hundred years to seriously object to the word jeopardize!!!!  We need to rid ourselves of such a modern word!  It.....um...... "jeopards" the English language!  

Words are great.

on money and frustrations......

2008-06-14T03:04:00.000-07:00

This post won't make a lot of sense. I am coming to the end of my time in England (this time around, anyway). Soon I will be returning to Michigan. To my loving family, and my wonderful friends, and to the familarity of my home. And I am also going back to something completely different than what I have been used to here for 10 long--yet short--months. And it's going to be a bit hard because I am leaving home again.

Among the people I am going back to are the supporters who got me here. Well, God used their obedience in sending me the finances to get me here. I have no idea what to say to them. I left it far too long. My church's mission board expects a response from me, an update. A report is what they called it actually. They want to hear how their money was spent. What I did, what I learned, what this Transit thing was all about........haha, what a great question!

So instead of actually thinking of what I should write, or say, to them, I am writing on here, whining about the fact that I don't know what I have learned and it doesn't seem like I learned enough to warrant having used their money. (But I grew SO much,and I know that!) I feel like I have betrayed them in some way by using their money. I think it's because a lot of this year was simply learning by doing, and it wasn't going out on the streets and preaching. Something for which I am thankful, but my church may wonder what on earth I did, if I didn't do that. (And by preaching, I actually mean witnessing, and getting out there and sharing my faith with strangers, something I did do naturally a few times this year, but never out of the blue in a traditional "let's go out on the streets" way. Sometimes I was supposed to do that, but I never did. It happened at parties, and while stuffing bags full of brochures......It happened by accident. I preferred it like that. I hope people get what I mean. Obviously, I am still growing in this area.) How was their money spent? On food, sometimes on travel, and of course on toiletries, which were kind of necessary.

I myself earned a lot of money to get here. I spent a lot of time in prayer, begging God to get me here, to let me do Transit, so that I could spend a special set-aside time learning about Him in a place in which I felt He was so much at work, more powerfully than I had ever known, but I wanted to know! That may sound stupid, but it's true. That IS why I did Transit! And to me, it was worth it. Every penny. I am afraid of what my church's mission board will think of me when I tell them how their money was spent, and the things I learned are things that can only be shown in how I have changed, and how I am now-- on the inside. I feel like I will be expected to have changed in dramatic ways.

I don't think I'm ready.

2008-06-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

SCREEN DOORS AND SCREENS ON THE WINDOWS!!

How hard is it?

2008-06-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters
that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them
but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far
from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like
I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

great Michael Buble

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.......and they're always glad you came.

2008-06-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you wanna go
where everybody knows your name
and they're always glad you came,
You wanna be where you can see
the troubles are all the same,
You wanna go where
everybody knows your name.

(Don't you just love Cheers?)

What I miss:

---Taco Bell

---Having a car and not being afraid to drive it (I'm from a small town, so roads make me nervous here. It's just a different way fo driving that I am not used to, it's nothing bad. And if I lived here for a lot longer, than I am sure I would get used to it just fine. I DO miss driving!)

---"Family" kind of goes without saying. I miss them a lot.

---"Friends" goes without saying as well. But it doesn't since I SAID it. Hmmm. Once you say something, it can't "go without saying" anymore. So why say it? This is actually something that goes without saying.

---Being able to watch movies when I want to, or tv. I currently do not have that option. And it would help on days when I have a headache, like today.

---Having my own room. Sometimes I just need the space that is my own. This year showed me that.

---TREES and wide open spaces (I don't realize how much I miss it until I get a glimpse of countryside, and it's breath-taking, literally.)

---American money (just a little)

---American PRICES (a LOT)

---having a job and paycheck, the ability to earn my own money. (No, I don't trust in money, but when you can't work and earn your own way, and have FREEDOM that comes with that, then yes, you DO miss it!)

there's 10, a nice number.........if I think of any more, I'll let you know.

2008-05-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

Simply Mission

Ah, mission. It strikes fear into my heart, even though I know it shouldn't. To me, mission means going up to strangers and having a conversation with them and directly steering that conversation towards God. The trick is to get to the “God” part as quickly as possible, because as soon as the person realizes you're trying to convert them, they will disengage and run away from you at top speed.

Okay, I admit, no one has ever actually run away from me (walked quickly-yes!). But anyone who has ever tried “street evangelism” knows what I mean. And until fairly recently, that is what mission was to me. Sometimes it was in my home town, but mostly I was practicing mission in a different country, on short-term mission trips. I learned so much on those mission trips and wouldn't trade those times for anything. God gave me so much and taught me loads. But mission as I knew it was my job, my assignment, my chore even. And we don't usually like jobs, assignments, or chores. We do them to get them done, we get through them, looking forward to when this job can be over so that we can then go do something we really enjoy.

But I don't want that to be true about mission! I don't want mission to be my job or chore in that painful, “I-have-to-do-this” sense. I want mission (which I currently define as “shining with God's glory coming from inside you in this world which is covered in darkness”) to be my LIFE. What I do, but more importantly—who I am.

You may have noticed that I completely plagiarized the Bible in my definition of “mission”. I got it from Isaiah 60:1-3:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the Lord rises on you and His glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

When I read these verses, I get excited about what mission could be! I know that many people have already learned the truth of these verses and are living out “mission” wherever and however that might be for them, street evangelism or not. (This IS a form of mission, and a successful one, please don't get me wrong. It has just never worked for me.)

But I am still learning. I know that mission isn't something I should fear. There are only two things God tells us to do in this passage: “Arise” and “shine”. The other actions happen around us or to us.

--our light comes (v.1)

--the glory of the Lord rises upon us (v.1)

--the Lord rises on us (v.2)

--His glory appears over us (v.2)

--Nations come to our light (v.3)

--kings come to the brightness of our dawn (v.3)

There's a simplicity to it that amazes me. First we obey and ARISE. We receive God's glory on us, His light, His presence, Himself. And then we SHINE. As a prism takes in light from the sun and bends it out again into a whole spectrum of colours, so we also must receive God's glory into our lives in order to shine with it out into the darkness. And this light that shines out of us from God—it is attractive, just like a rainbow! Hey, “nations will come” to our light! People can't help but be attracted to rainbows, and in the same way, God created us to show His glorious Light to the world in a variety of different ways, as colourful as a rainbow, and just as beautiful!

And I believe that God's glory comes on us in the place of prayer, in the awesome presence of God Himself. Moses went up onto the mountain and talked to God, and when he came down, his face was glowing. I mean, literally glowing. The Israelites were so terrified that Moses had to cover his face with a veil every time he wasn't chatting with the Creator.

I want mission to be like that! Not that I want to scare people (God can take care of that) but I want mission to be something that I can't help, because it's simply how I live. Moses couldn't help glowing- bless him - it was a side-effect of being with Almighty God.

I cannot accept mission as being a passive thing, however, and that is not what I am saying. But there is a simplicity to mission. We get into God's presence, He rubs off on us, and we look a bit more like Him as we go out into the darkness that covers the earth.

2008-05-15T10:07:00.001-07:00

I need to share this. I've been looking for a way for 8 1/2 months now. Here goes.

1 Timothy 4:7-16 absolutely inspired me. I can't put it into words very well, btu I tried.

Training yourself to be godly is useful for all things and the promise of better things for you in this life. Your reward (the “better” things) in this life is getting to know the Father, and finding your joy and love in Him. And you also find hope for the life to come- that there IS a life to come, and that it is far better than this life on earth. Who wants to live without hope?

As you strive towards godliness, you also hold onto the hope of a heavenly reward. What greater reward could we have in heaven but to have God say “Well done!”? To know that we have pleased our Father--this is my own goal. 2 Corinthians 5:9 “So we make it our goal to please Him.”

These verses in 1 Timothy instruct us to devote ourselves to teaching and preaching. These involve other people, and we should do this as a corporate thing. We need support, accountability, community, and friendship. God made us as social creatures. But don’t become too dependent on other people. In the same passage it says to train yourselves to be godly. Our relationship with God IS a personal relationship and we have that individual responsibility to train ourselves in godliness. Don’t wait to be taught, do it yourself. You should devote yourself wholly to being like Christ.

And as verse 16 cautions us, we need to watch our lives and our beliefs closely. People are watching us and will be affected by what we do. You can lead and teach just by living a godly life.