1. Yogurt. There are so many fantastic flavors, like Cherry and Strawberry Shortcake. Add some peanuts for crunch and protein, and man... nothing's better.
2. Not being an RA next year. Though I love it, I'm excited to have some time off. I'm trying not to check out, like so many people do at the end of the year.
3. The fact that my student's dad said that he loves tutoring, that he always looks forward to coming, and the fact that I have seen his fluency get better. Oh, I am proud of him... but glad that tomorrow is that last day.
4. Reflecting on my teaching, and planning for the Outdoor Classroom next week. Ha. If only you could have been in class today... the excitement was intense.
5. Looking at my longboard, knowing that in two weeks, I will be able to ride again, per doctor's orders.
6. Being included in facebook messages.
7. Being overseas in less than a month...
8. And being 21 in less than a month!!!
4.28.2009
What Do I Know Of Holy?
I should not be blogging. I have a rough draft research report due tomorrow, and my lab partners' grades depend on my work. I have a tutor/parent/child conference tomorrow and am not prepared for it. I have a quiz identifying different trees tomorrow also. And my arm hurts.
It isn't fractured, by the way, according to the orthopedic doctor here in Shawnee. But they still want me to go back in two weeks for more x-rays.
Alas.
Monica and I traded iTunes Sunday night, and one of the songs I picked was "What Do I Know of Holy?" by Addison Road. Beautiful.
It isn't fractured, by the way, according to the orthopedic doctor here in Shawnee. But they still want me to go back in two weeks for more x-rays.
Alas.
Monica and I traded iTunes Sunday night, and one of the songs I picked was "What Do I Know of Holy?" by Addison Road. Beautiful.
4.24.2009
Thought.
I just read a message board about the best compliments people had ever received. Mine is as follows:
My high school math teacher was also a deacon at my church, so I knew him and his family fairly well. One day, he stood up in church and said, "I hope my daughters grow up to be just like Melissa."
My high school math teacher was also a deacon at my church, so I knew him and his family fairly well. One day, he stood up in church and said, "I hope my daughters grow up to be just like Melissa."
4.23.2009
The Newest Accessories To My Longboard:
I completely wiped out while riding to class on Wednesday. Oops.
My knee/shin is so torn up, and I won't even show you my upper thigh! It's even worse. My right elbow has swollen joints, according to the x-rays I had taken. I have to wear the sling until Monday, when I need to go back in for another evaluation and more x-rays.
4.21.2009
Longboarding Love.
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My beautiful new Goldcoast longboard.
Isn't is pretty? That was my one stipulation: that my board be pretty. Meanwhile, Shaun and all the guys were making sure it was actually a legit board.
One girl welcomed me to "The Cult" today. Ha.
Shaun and I have been riding together at night, and I rode some around campus today. Love it. I feel so... I don't know. It's just so fun. And exciting. And quite unlike anything else I do, so that's nice, too.
There is a hill by the library, which really is not that epic while you are walking. But when you are riding a longboard for like the 4th time ever, it is epic. I went down it today, and was pretty sure I was going to die. Shaun would have laughed at me.
The pavement and I are becoming quite good friends, with the number of times I have landed on it. My knee is bruised and scraped from it, and I still have a wicked scab from the aforementioned hill (from the first time I went down it, riding on Shaun's board with him).
The guys all go to the city sometimes and ride their longboards down parking garages. They all keep saying I need to go... maybe in two weeks, when I might actually be decent enough to not, you know, die.
Goals:
-to wear a skirt while longboarding
-to go down a parking garage not scared
-to be considered "good"
4.19.2009
Twelve.
My Top Twelve Favorite Things Ever:
12. Getting captured in a really stinking good book, where it's like 3:30 in the morning, but I can't put it down, even though I need to sleep really badly, just because the book is so great. I love that.
11. Mission Center and Tink and all the little kids that come... especially Kathleen.
10. Peanut butter on vanilla icecream - tastes like a white chocolate Reeses peanut butter cup.
9. Rolley chairs and the Mafia - awesome memories. Also, just random memories in general, like 12:23 and the Smiling Club.
8. Traveling - especially flying by myself. And driving kind of goes along with that. I have happy car music that I like to turn up really loud and dance to, because I know that people laugh when they see that.
7. Hatchers Pass - hiking, prom dresses, sledding... need I say more? No, no I do not.
6. Music - I love how there's a song for everything you're going through at a certain time. And I love when God speaks to me through songs.
5. Writing...that's what she said. And art. And all things creative.
4. The song "Melissa" by the Allman Brothers. Ah. Such a good song. Makes me feel special.
3. My Sisters. I'll always love them.
2. My family - they're awesome. I love my Dad's random singing and how I can talk to my Mom about loads of stuff, important or not, and how my brothers and I are so different, and so alike.
1. Jesus. He's my everything. I just realize more and more that He loves me. Like, He LOVES me. And that's so incredible. Even when I screw up over and over, He's just like, "Hey, come back to Me. I still love you."
12. Getting captured in a really stinking good book, where it's like 3:30 in the morning, but I can't put it down, even though I need to sleep really badly, just because the book is so great. I love that.
11. Mission Center and Tink and all the little kids that come... especially Kathleen.
10. Peanut butter on vanilla icecream - tastes like a white chocolate Reeses peanut butter cup.
9. Rolley chairs and the Mafia - awesome memories. Also, just random memories in general, like 12:23 and the Smiling Club.
8. Traveling - especially flying by myself. And driving kind of goes along with that. I have happy car music that I like to turn up really loud and dance to, because I know that people laugh when they see that.
7. Hatchers Pass - hiking, prom dresses, sledding... need I say more? No, no I do not.
6. Music - I love how there's a song for everything you're going through at a certain time. And I love when God speaks to me through songs.
5. Writing...that's what she said. And art. And all things creative.
4. The song "Melissa" by the Allman Brothers. Ah. Such a good song. Makes me feel special.
3. My Sisters. I'll always love them.
2. My family - they're awesome. I love my Dad's random singing and how I can talk to my Mom about loads of stuff, important or not, and how my brothers and I are so different, and so alike.
1. Jesus. He's my everything. I just realize more and more that He loves me. Like, He LOVES me. And that's so incredible. Even when I screw up over and over, He's just like, "Hey, come back to Me. I still love you."
I Did Not Get Lost.
Yesterday was pretty epic. And long.
I officially have completed step one of becoming a certified teacher: I took the OGET. Go me! I had to wake up at 5:07am and drive to Oklahoma City, but I made it and didn't get lost, even though there was some road work being done. Then, during the reading part, I started falling asleep. Luckily, the math section was next, and I'm pretty sure I dominated. My essay was... decent enough, I suppose. Passionate.
THEN, I took a trip to Backwoods and talked to a hippie named Hogan. No joke. He was funny. As soon as I walked in, I must have looked completely lost, because all of the workers were like, "Do you need help with something??" I kind of did... I was looking for backpacks to take to South Asia this summer. I need to talk to my dad about what to do.
THEN! I went to the art museum. I saw a homeless man, and he asked for money. I gave him a dollar and made him pinky promise that he would use it to buy food. :) I was only at the museum for an hour or so, but I did some sketching and watched a movie about Chihuly. Love him. And I used my Easter money to buy some note cards at the gift shop.
THEN!! I made it back to school and slept for two hours. THEN!!! Dinner at Van's.
THEN!!!! Spring Affair last night. Supa fun. Surprising. Haha. There were balloons everywhere, and when it got really hot in there, they all started popping. Once, a balloon popped during a really emotional, cool song ("Hallelujah") and it was funny.
Also, I got awesome, delicious cookies from an awesome, beautiful friend. :) Yum.
I officially have completed step one of becoming a certified teacher: I took the OGET. Go me! I had to wake up at 5:07am and drive to Oklahoma City, but I made it and didn't get lost, even though there was some road work being done. Then, during the reading part, I started falling asleep. Luckily, the math section was next, and I'm pretty sure I dominated. My essay was... decent enough, I suppose. Passionate.
THEN, I took a trip to Backwoods and talked to a hippie named Hogan. No joke. He was funny. As soon as I walked in, I must have looked completely lost, because all of the workers were like, "Do you need help with something??" I kind of did... I was looking for backpacks to take to South Asia this summer. I need to talk to my dad about what to do.
THEN! I went to the art museum. I saw a homeless man, and he asked for money. I gave him a dollar and made him pinky promise that he would use it to buy food. :) I was only at the museum for an hour or so, but I did some sketching and watched a movie about Chihuly. Love him. And I used my Easter money to buy some note cards at the gift shop.
THEN!! I made it back to school and slept for two hours. THEN!!! Dinner at Van's.
THEN!!!! Spring Affair last night. Supa fun. Surprising. Haha. There were balloons everywhere, and when it got really hot in there, they all started popping. Once, a balloon popped during a really emotional, cool song ("Hallelujah") and it was funny.
Also, I got awesome, delicious cookies from an awesome, beautiful friend. :) Yum.
4.12.2009
In Honor Of Easter.
This weekend and Easter has me thinking a lot about love... how love and forgiveness go hand in hand. You can't have one, truly, without the other.
Forgiveness, I believe, is the epitome, the pinnacle, of love.
Forgiveness is saying, "I choose to love you, despite the hurt. I choose to restore our relationship. I choose to be in communion with you. To do that, I am willing to love you in the pain, because it is more important for me to be with you than without you."
If I am not able to do that, then love does not really exist in that relationship.
I believe that the forgiveness shown on the cross was a symbol of God's utmost love for us. The Bible says that He loved us, and gave His Son for us. He offered forgiveness because of His love. God, in turn, said, "I choose to love you, despite the hurt your sin causes Me. I choose to restore My relationship with you. I choose to be in communion with You. To do that, I am willing to love you in the pain of losing My Son, because it is more important for Me to be with you than without you."
And I think that perhaps I don't see that as often as I should.
Tahmee opened my eyes to the transforming power of love. But what about the transforming power of forgiveness, coupled with that love, inseparable?
Words cannot REALLY express how I feel right now. Very much in awe of my Lord and Savior. Completely excited that He walked out of the grave, that He now sits enthroned next to His (and my) Father in Heaven. Triumphant at the way Satan was defeated. And very humbled that He would choose me to be His own.
Oh, He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Forgiveness, I believe, is the epitome, the pinnacle, of love.
Forgiveness is saying, "I choose to love you, despite the hurt. I choose to restore our relationship. I choose to be in communion with you. To do that, I am willing to love you in the pain, because it is more important for me to be with you than without you."
If I am not able to do that, then love does not really exist in that relationship.
I believe that the forgiveness shown on the cross was a symbol of God's utmost love for us. The Bible says that He loved us, and gave His Son for us. He offered forgiveness because of His love. God, in turn, said, "I choose to love you, despite the hurt your sin causes Me. I choose to restore My relationship with you. I choose to be in communion with You. To do that, I am willing to love you in the pain of losing My Son, because it is more important for Me to be with you than without you."
And I think that perhaps I don't see that as often as I should.
Tahmee opened my eyes to the transforming power of love. But what about the transforming power of forgiveness, coupled with that love, inseparable?
Words cannot REALLY express how I feel right now. Very much in awe of my Lord and Savior. Completely excited that He walked out of the grave, that He now sits enthroned next to His (and my) Father in Heaven. Triumphant at the way Satan was defeated. And very humbled that He would choose me to be His own.
Oh, He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
4.03.2009
Come Thou Fount.
My heart is so heavy tonight. I feel as though I am being defeated, breaking under the weight of my world and the world around me. I feel as though my knees are buckling under the pressure, as though my arms are drooping as I try to hold them up high. It's tiring, overwhelming, and overcoming.
Mission Center tonight ended with a very somber feel. The whole night was just off... different than normal. One precious little girl just turned eight and was excited about her new shoes... the kinds with the wheels in the heels.
And another girl... her life is so fraught with sadness. Her lip was bruised and broken open, peeling almost. Her dad told her to wear long sleeves to cover a wound she later showed me. Her clothes don't fit and she wears flip flops in 30 degree weather. She confided that her mother went to prison this week, just for a day or so, but that the police came and took her away. She doesn't trust the police. She bumped her mouth on the playground, and while it should not have hurt much, she cried and complained about it the whole way home. When I told her dad about it, he said, "She's a tough girl. And she's teaching the twins [her younger brothers] to be tough."
Why does a seven year old girl need to be tough? Why can't she just cry about it? What has happened in her life that makes it necessary for her to be tough? And how is is that she is teaching her brothers those things? What do they see behind closed doors?
Gangs. Mothers fighting. Drugs. Prostitution. Drinking. Potential abuse. Hurt families. Excitement over going to McDonalds.
I created a Pandora station based on Bella's Lullaby, by Carter Burwell. The first song that came up was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing,Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet,sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit, Till released from flesh and sin, Yet from what I do inherit, Here Thy praises I’ll begin; Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here by Thy great help I’ve come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood; How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell, Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face; Clothed then in blood washed linen How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace; Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away; Send thine angels now to carry Me to realms of endless day.
How is it possible to praise God in times like this? When everything about the world seems to be attacking me? I guess its called Spiritual Warfare. We are being attacked. God is about to move in abundant and extreme ways. Satan wants to incapacitate us.
So I suppose the real question is "How is it NOT possible to praise God in times like this?" I feel as though my faith is the size of a mustard seed... but even that can move mountains. And even a mustard seed is compared to the kingdom of God.
It hurts, knowing their lives are like that... filled with battles for their attention, love, and spirits. It saddens me in a way nothing else has ever. Seeing relationships disintegrate because of home life. That is not God's desire.
Mission Center tonight ended with a very somber feel. The whole night was just off... different than normal. One precious little girl just turned eight and was excited about her new shoes... the kinds with the wheels in the heels.
And another girl... her life is so fraught with sadness. Her lip was bruised and broken open, peeling almost. Her dad told her to wear long sleeves to cover a wound she later showed me. Her clothes don't fit and she wears flip flops in 30 degree weather. She confided that her mother went to prison this week, just for a day or so, but that the police came and took her away. She doesn't trust the police. She bumped her mouth on the playground, and while it should not have hurt much, she cried and complained about it the whole way home. When I told her dad about it, he said, "She's a tough girl. And she's teaching the twins [her younger brothers] to be tough."
Why does a seven year old girl need to be tough? Why can't she just cry about it? What has happened in her life that makes it necessary for her to be tough? And how is is that she is teaching her brothers those things? What do they see behind closed doors?
Gangs. Mothers fighting. Drugs. Prostitution. Drinking. Potential abuse. Hurt families. Excitement over going to McDonalds.
I created a Pandora station based on Bella's Lullaby, by Carter Burwell. The first song that came up was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing,Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet,sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit, Till released from flesh and sin, Yet from what I do inherit, Here Thy praises I’ll begin; Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here by Thy great help I’ve come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood; How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell, Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face; Clothed then in blood washed linen How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace; Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away; Send thine angels now to carry Me to realms of endless day.
How is it possible to praise God in times like this? When everything about the world seems to be attacking me? I guess its called Spiritual Warfare. We are being attacked. God is about to move in abundant and extreme ways. Satan wants to incapacitate us.
So I suppose the real question is "How is it NOT possible to praise God in times like this?" I feel as though my faith is the size of a mustard seed... but even that can move mountains. And even a mustard seed is compared to the kingdom of God.
It hurts, knowing their lives are like that... filled with battles for their attention, love, and spirits. It saddens me in a way nothing else has ever. Seeing relationships disintegrate because of home life. That is not God's desire.
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