Of Boogers, Belles and Beasts

This weekend I got to be around kids more than I've been able to for quite some time. It was awesome, and exhausting. On Saturday I gave lessons to my two students -- Peter (6) and Lisa (8). I gave Lisa her a new violin today. I had almost forgotten how exciting it was when I got my violin. Her eyes sparkled. Then when we started playing declared that it sounded like a guitar (I can't decide whether that's good or not).

Peter was in rare form. Our lesson was a bit, disjointed. He played his first note, then looked up and asked, "What comes next?" He then spent the next three minutes (yes, no lie) straight laughing over his joke. He also had a cold, which meant he had snot everywhere. And he kept giggling through the whole lesson.

Sunday night Eryn and I babysat at Christ Community for Growth Groups. We played hide-and-seek for a very, very long time. It took a while to convince them that being older was not an advantage, as it also meant being larger. I found some great spots -- I must say the church is well designed. Then we played tag (Eryn and I took long, long breaks at base).

We decided to finish off the evening with Koolaid and a movie. Except while Eryn and I went to find movies, the older girls took the younger girls outside. Oops. Yeah, that scared us a bit. We rounded them all up, and popped in Beauty and the Beast. I love that movie. Belle is so cool and pretty and smart. Beast is awesome, and his library rocks my world. And the horse and riders are accurately drawn. Sigh.


And it has lines like, "conspires against harmless crackpots like Gaston!" Classic.

Full of Beauty

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company.

Apparently I look odd

Pbase.com

Restless Frustration

The past few days I have felt so strange. Hard to identify strange. Yesterday was the worst. First I was irritated at life. Yesterday was wonderful, and I should have spent the entire day happy. And while I was happy while I was distracted, once I stopped I just felt odd. Everything and everyone made me feel tense, angry, and frustrated. I recognize that the only thing responsible for this ridiculous mood swing was myself.

And now today I got myself angry enough at my own anger that I had a twenty minute nosebleed (nearly broke the record I set in third grade), which scared me more than a little. And now I have that same feeling I've had in between these times -- vague, unsettled restlessness. I'm trying to focus on what is causing me to feel this way, other than my own naturally fluxuating moodiness. And I don't know what it is.

Maybe it's because of all the trip opportunities I've had presented to me lately. Digging with ABR in Jordan over Christmas break, and a music and English tour with Morningside in Ireland next May. Both, however, cost money that I really don't have. Technically I could get it together next summer, but is that right? Should I be spending money on these trips instead of paying towards student loans and relieving my parent's financial help?

I don't know. As was talked about in sunday school today, wisdom is from our heavenly Father. I lack it. I crave it.
Debere cogito?

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Laser Savage Your Superpower is Undead Your Weakness is Dust Your Weapon is Your Air Rod Your Mode of Transportation is Horse

What's" your Superhero Name?

Eryn -- look. Even in this I manage to be undead. And ride a horse.

People, everywhere!

I'm back to typing here (though how long it lasts I really haven't a clue. My motivation ebbs and flows like the everchanging ocean).

I was really uncertain if I was going to like having a million people back on campus and suddenly having five roommates. But I do. I only felt suffocated by people once, and that was at cookies after GIFT, which honestly I always find to be completely overcrowded. All my roommates are moved in, and there is stuff everywhere. The apartment now is looking lived in. There is character in every corner, and more is added all the time.

We had a room meeting last night, where there was much laughter intermixed with the long lists of things we have to buy very shortly. I am very fortunate to now live with a totally funny, smart, and considerate group of girls. On so many things we have similar opinions, and Michelle and I just randomly joined up with this room! This is truly a gracious blessing from God, go figure?

And now, I am being assaulted with my single allergy. Grrr. It's very distracted to sneeze all the time! I'm going to go and register soon, and deplete in one small, fell swoop the entire funds I worked on this summer. Sigh. College hurts. I want to be a grown-up with a job and benefits.

And Eryn, this is for you

You Should Learn French

C'est super! You appreciate the finer things in life... wine, art, cheese, love affairs. You are definitely a Parisian at heart. You just need your tongue to catch up...

http://www.blogthings.com/whatlanguageshouldyoulearnquiz/

What kind of American English do you speak?`

I found this hilarious, and a little sad. Apparently, most of me is generic. Good news, very little of Iowa has influenced me:)

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English

20% Upper Midwestern

10% Yankee

5% Midwestern

0% Dixie

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofamericanenglishdoyouspeakquiz/

How it should have ended...

The funniest thing of the week I just found a half hour ago. This website made me laugh long and hard, and Julia too. These crazy, crazy people have made spoofs showing us very unenlightened people how the movies we have known and loved (or hated) should have ended. Among their immortal renditions are: Underworld, LOTR, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Braveheart, Matrix Revolutions, The Blair Witch Project, plus some others I've never heard of. Watch them. Now. Right now. Now. Okay, now. Now. Go...now. Stop reading this and go. Please.

howitshouldhaveended.com

Non-Dairy Creamer

My life is now complete. I can die knowing that I have experienced the very best that Sioux Center has to offer. Yup. It's true. I have seen the scariest place in Sioux Center, and it is good. Ahh. Contended sigh. Eryn, you must be shown this place when you return. It will change your life.

Oh, and I've decided that I like Steinbeck. He creates amazingly vivid characters and his books absolutely ooze life. So after I get done posting this -- I'm running away to my new favorite reading spot to dive into the world of East of Eden. Yup, I love being a bookworm.

And I also think that Hannah has awesome taste in music. She has some -- shall we say -- eclectic selections for her wedding music, but I think they'll work out wonderfully. I am so excited:) Yes, so in addition to reading, I will be practicing. Life is good. Then maybe I'll bug Nate in the gameroom. Maybe. I don't know if I dare venture into that junior-high unhallowed ground. *shiver of horror*

Oh, and finally. I like non-dairy creamer. It is my friend.

Non-Dairy Creamer

My life is now complete. I can die knowing that I have experienced the very best that Sioux Center has to offer. Yup. It's true. I have seen the scariest place in Sioux Center, and it is good. Ahh. Contended sigh. Eryn, you must be shown this place when you return. It will change your life.

Oh, and I've decided that I like Steinbeck. He creates amazingly vivid characters and his books absolutely ooze life. So after I get done posting this -- I'm running away to my new favorite reading spot to dive into the world of East of Eden. Yup, I love being a bookworm.

And I also think that Hannah has awesome taste in music. She has some -- shall we say -- eclectic selections for her wedding music, but I think they'll work out wonderfully. I am so excited:) Yes, so in addition to reading, I will be practicing. Life is good. Then maybe I'll bug Nate in the gameroom. Maybe. I don't know if I dare venture into that junior-high unhallowed ground. *shiver of horror*

Oh, and finally. I like non-dairy creamer. It is my friend.

What in the name of ME is going on here...

So the lightning bugs were out playing, watching their big brothers playing in the sky (aka -- lightning). It was quite a sight to see. For being so very stunning, those little bugs are really quite slow and stupid. But I forgive them.

My brain is basically been fried beyond most hope of recent recovery due to a hyperextended wit. Warning, do not attempt to be sharp and witty when far, far past the point of exhaustion.

In an attempt to kill everyone else's intelligence too, check out this link. My brother found out about these video's through youth group, and passed the love along. Now, keep in mind. These are Christians with an overdeveloped sense of humor who are breaking down the current world's "preconcieved notions" of what Jesus is like in a slightly -- cough -- unconventional manner.

Enjoy. www.video.google.com/videosearch?q=vintage21
visit vintage21.com -- the media gallery for their explanation and some more great stuff.

Thoughts on the Rockies While in My 12th Hour on a Train

These forests are massive and the pines strain up so tall and straight.
They cling with an awe-some tenacity to the barest lichen-covered rocks, dangling mere inches from the rolling, boiling river beneath them.
Arching in grotesque angles these trees desperatly grab for sunshine and moisture.
Some have not succeeded.
There lay strewn around the brown needle floor, withered, bare, emaciated remnants.
Though looking like mere toothpicks, most are beyond my grasp's span.
Stripped branches trail into the water, but there are no whole trees in it rush, for that has long since swept them away.
All around shards of multifaceted rocks and boulders of infinite sizes and shapes coat the mountainsides.
Whole lumps of mountain jut out from the lichin, moss, and needle-layered bed.
There is an audacity in their broad, even smooth shapes in the midst of so much striving and life.
Then -- with sudden bursts rarely heard or seen -- the smooth-faced stability shatters into rumbling, roiling shifts.
More trees have clattered down, and now lean wearily against survivors.
Over all this chaotic, eerie beauty a silent, still loon floats in a calm, twisting weave in the peace of a small pond where the sun is breaking through the trees and casting soft shadows on the sheen of the water.

Just so that everyone is aware -- I'm not dead. Yeah, Colorado was absolutely awesome, and the wedding was simply lovely. And I mean simple really is lovely. I liked the calm, casual tone everyone set. Casual enough that a bunch of people (minus the beautiful bride, still in gown) went swimming in the pool at the reception. Ahhh.

The trainride back was nice and peaceful. I was able to enjoy the beauty of the Rockies and the silence of having a row to myself, at least until we got to Denver. But by then it was getting later in the day, and I wasn't terribly concerned with the view. Over the course of both trips I managed to finish 2 1/2 books and write about 5 pages, not to mention have some great talks with Eryn. Maybe if I get ambitious I'll post a few of my ramblings.

I talked with a really nice new grandad traveling the same route I was. I attempted to sleep, mostly unsuccessfully, but still was wide awake when the train came into Omaha. Now, alas, I must do laundry. Sigh. How anticlimactic.

Mental Jumper Cables Anyone?

Yipes. I haven't added anything on here in quite a while. But as I observed lately, my brain is toasted, and sadly I don't think that any profound function will begin for some time yet. I've been reading a lot though, which hopefully will kickstart some original thought.

On the up side, I got to fly a real kite yesterday. That was cool. Really cool. Then I nose dived the poor thing into the ground. Thankfully I didn't kill it, but I scared myself bad enough to step into a giant thistle by my foot:P Apparently my coordination skills are also rather dead.

Played violin for a bit today. I missed the Chad, and I was proud to see that he even stayed mostly in tune, even if my fingers weren't quite. I did work on some sappy tunes, to passify Michelle and Eryn, who were subjected to listening to me through the door until I started dinner. Now when I get my cello, it'll be even crazier.

Here's a cool painting I found. This is what I want to look like:)

Meditations on an Iced Coffee

You Are an Iced Coffee

At your best, you are: hyper, modern, and athletic At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you're out with friends Your caffeine addiction level: medium

Why does life have to get so bloody complicated? I want to be an optimist, it's my nature! But I find it very hard to stay happy and content when I feel like my poor little world is crashing down on me. Sigh. I want to be an iced coffee. They have such an easy life. Just chill and wait for the end. This is their calling. I like it.