the weekend results...

3 days, 40 couples, 3 Walmart runs, 7 hours of play rehearsal, 3 trips into town (not to be confused with Walmart runs), one broken television, a coconut-white choc. frappe, one nasty-lookin' burn, 27.25 hours of work, 10 hours of sleep, and a pair of dishpan hands later....still goin' strong and fadin' fast....hmmm...sitting down is wonderful, until you have to stand up again...!

coming to a conclusion...

It's 2:30am. I'm here in the office. I finished work about 30min ago and was curious as to who has updated, no one has. Interesting. I don't really feel like updating anymore, but I do. Does that sound rational at all? I'm completely sleep deprived, I know this. I'm at this p0int where things are piled on and I don't see an end to it. I don't feel trapped, but overwhelmed is generally an appropriate word. I've been thinking about life, generally my life and where it's going. Where is my life going? I've made a decision about college and am excited to start there (as long as when I apply, I get in.). I am confident that that is where God wants me and as far as what happens next January. Who knows?! I am excited for the adventure of moving to a new place and embarking on a journey that will basically kick my butt again. Though I love it here at the wonderful and beautiful MBC, I am content not to be entirely content here. If that makes any sense. I suppose what I mean to say is that I have to be honest with myself in admiting that I don't think I could be happy living here for the rest of my life. Though my circumstances, at present, are not the ideal, I do know this is where God wants me for now and am plowing the fields til I move on. It's good work and I am enjoying it. God is teaching me so much. I really love the flexibility and the way I can be creative as well. The whole time I was baking tonight (that's why I'm still here, perhaps I went overboard, but I made quite a few good-looking pastries, we'll see if they taste just as well, eh?), I was hoping that I could do this someday. That perhaps, the day will be soon and I can open up new doors and new opportunities to serve the Lord in this way. Not sure how He'll use it, but I know He will, He didn't give me this passion for nothing. Well, I will go drag myself off to bed now. Peace friends, until next time.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth. O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth...For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. " -1 Chronicles 16:8-14, 25

so, I had this...

hour and a half conversation with one of my classmates. She is having a relationship issue. Why ppl come to me for relationship advice, I still don't understand. But I kept trying to explain to her what God thinks of her and what she should think of herself and all this. Conclusion: women who don't know what they're worth get me aggravated. So frustrated....AHH!!!

Making it happen...

I know I just posted, but I was going through some "saved" posts and found one I liked. It wouldn't really be appropriate for the other blogs, so I did it. I have another blog. It'll be good. I think I'll just put quotes that I enjoy, etc., etc. we'll see what I make of it, but it's coolio. Thought I'd update you...I'm actually kind of excited, or it could be lack of oxygen from blowing up balloon this morning. My tongue feels really funny and itchy and irritated, do you think I'm allergic to latex? Everyone looked at me funny when I told them my mouth felt funny...hm...I could just be weird...oh well.
Adding to this post (at a later time, this is) I decided to make the blog like inspirational quotes, stories, and things other people say, write, etc. and than comment on them. That should be quite acceptable to the population (say that with a British accent) cause you can comment as well. I like my brain, but sometimes it confuses me.

Class is canceled...

Wow, I'm tired. But I'm excited b/c class is canceled, not that it was canceled, I thoroughly am enjoying all of my classes. Even though I'm roughin' it verbally in one (a.k.a. need to keep my mouth shut). It's all good. Anywho, our teach told us that if she didn't have the schedule out to us by Monday, we get coffee drinks, and I really like Frappes. So, selfishly I am anticipating. But, there's still a chance she could e-mail it to us...so, cross your fingers friends...I'll update you with the latest...heehee....I'm such a nerd.

this is supposed to be a joke...I think it may be true...

Why God Never Received Tenure at Any University

1. He only had one major publication.
2. It was in Hebrew.
3. It had no references.
4. It wasn't published in a referred journal.
5. Some even doubt He wrote it Himself.
6. It may be true that He created the world, but what has He done since then?
7. His cooperative efforts have been quite limited.
8. The scientific community has had a hard time replicating His results.
9. He never applied to the Ethics Board for permission to use human subjects.
10. When one experiment went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning the subjects.
11. When subjects didn't behave as predicted, He deleted them from the sample.
12. He rarely came to class, just told students to read the book.
13. Some say He had His son teach the class.
14. He expelled His first two students for learning.
15. Although there were only ten requirements, most students failed His tests.
16. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountaintop.

oh the randomness...

So, I burnt the granola I was making...hmmm...no dice, it'll still get eaten, it's the thought that counts right? Sure. Anywho, we have Purity Retreat this weekend, should be good. Got my Trig test back today...98%, pretty excited about that, I thought I got a bad grade on it...mrr. SO that was good. Uh...I'm singing for my voice lesson and will be performing the song: "Come Thou Fount", so I'm sorta excited, but sorta, y'know. My voice feels so naked without a cd in the background. Mm...what else is going on...I have to finish cleaning, I have a bit of homework, I'm excited to do my math again, woot woot! I have to redo a section b/c I did it decimal and they wanted exact...oh goodness. My sister's 27th birthday is today...oh that reminds me! I have a recipe for mayonnaise and for making my own cereal, I'm excited to try that out. (that's not what I remeebered) and yes, I spelled that wrong on purpose. I also went to the library and got a disc for learning English (in Spanish), Swedish, and a Frank Sinatra cd...hmmm...yummy. I also got a few Jewish cookbooks, ooo and this one for making all-natural stuff. It's awesome! I'm pretty excited! I started reading Exodus this morning, it's pretty fun. Yeah...randomness...

Sweet Cuppin' Cakes!

(Claimer: title stolen from lifeofanotsoordinaryjo.blogspot.com)
I got tagged for a questionairre, which is a more fun version of the mass ones that are forwarded quarterly...

Four jobs you've had in your life:
1) Papergirl for the Suburban Life (started in 3rd grade til end of Freshman year H.S.)
2) Subway manager (6years)
3) Vector Marketing Advisor (sold Cutco!...2 months)
4) Subway/Starbuck's employee in Briercrest Student Center (4 months)

Four movies you could watch over and over again (not to be confused with favourite movies):
1) Ever After
2) Sound of Music
3) Dead Poet's Society
4) White Christmas

Four TV shows you love(d) to watch (among many others):
1) Saved by the Bell (any of them)
2) Full House (especially the older years)
3) Iron Chef
4) ...maybe LOST

Four places you've lived:
1) Westmont, IL
2) Caronport, SK, Canada
3) Lewis Apt and Whittaker II, Caronport, Sk
4) Maranatha Bible Camp, Maxwell, NE


Four places you've been on vacation to:
1) New York City
2) Ontario, Canada
3) Redding, California
4) Belize, Central America (It was a mission's trip, but oh it was a vacay...)

Four places you would rather be (or where you'll like to visit?):
1) Chicago, oh, makin' my knees weak...
2) I'm with Jo on studying at Oxford with C.S. Lewis...ooo...
3) Caronport with Jo and Dez and all those wonderful ppl
4) Either California or Oregon so I can hang out with my two best friends...mmm.

Four of your favourite foods:
1) Lara Bars
2) fruit
3) potatoes
4) granola or trail mix (with m&m's of course...!)

Four websites you visit daily:
(well we'll say most frequented websites)
1)all my friend's blogspots, xangas, myspaces, livejournals, etc.
2)dictionary.com
3)blogger.com
4)yahoomail, credit cards...etc...


Four CDs you're digging right now:
(and once again modified, we'll expand it to artists)
1) FlatFoot 56
2) Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis
3) Lowana Wallace
4) Andy and Dallas

Four tagged:
1) Dalton
2) Rachel
3) Hosanna
4) Abby

wake-up world!...or maybe I just should...

Hello. I am really tired today, and yesterday and the day before...seems as though I've messed up my sleeping and now I am just tired all the time, which can get me in trouble at selected moments in time. As explained later... I have a voice lesson in about 40min and I fell asleep in the library while doing my speech homework, only for about a minute, but you know when you're really tired and all of the sudden you're sleeping but your leg or body does this weird jerking action and you're like, "Man, I hope no one saw that." Yeah. I'm at the point where I feel like I have so much to do and I know it's going to be possible to get it all done, but man, it's alot. I'm really trying to rely on God and keep perspective, but alot of things are building up. My "to-do" list is getting a little longer. Got to keep working on staying focused. So, I made a list of things that I definitely need to do to maintain focus and also found out I have "chronic procrastinator" tendencies, which I'll probably deny, =P but I made a list of things that are important to me, that might help with the procrastinating. I can't maintain a focus for very long if I don't know what's important. Ironically, I was the last thing on the list. In fact, I didn't even think about putting myself on there til it was "finished" and I was like, "now what else..." That was interesting. So, I did that and am trying to get back into disciplining myself with sleep and all that jazz. I feel and see the light, warm and fuzzy and comforting even in the rain. (oh, it's so beautiful when it's raining and the sun is out! Whoo!)
So, I got into a little argument yesterday over something really stupid. I got defensive and being tired, overwhelmed, and hungry didn't help either. I definitely need to learn how to think before I talk. I think it ended on a good note, but still, useless and needless happenings of such a sort are just that.
Peace friends.

Make-believe, Trig, and Valentine's Day....?

So, I should be working. I will finish getting to that in awhile I guess. I really just want to go home and do Valentines' cards. I'm pretty excited, but my nephews birthday is tomorrow and I still don't have his address (long story) so....I'll attempt to get it from my G-ma. No worries, eh? It's so nice outside, I was tempted to drive back from town with the windows down, but I was thinking of the aerodynamacy of the vehicle and since it is already box-shaped, it's usually not a good idea.
Well, I'm tired. I'm gonna go finish working, than I'm going home to study for my Trig test tomorrow (yes, I have school and a test tomorrow), make Valentines, and watch Drew kick some butt in Ever After (currently she's in the middle of trying to tell the prince she's a commoner). Oh well, love is crazy and so is the rest of the world. Maybe that's why everyone keeps falling into it...heehee...falling into it. Hmm...anyway, oh, that makes me remember something I wanted to post. I watched Brandy's Cinderella with Bernadette Peters and Whoopi Goldberg, etc. and there's this song Bernie sings, here are some of the words, "Falling in love with love is falling for make believe. Falling in love with love is playing a fool." Now, that makes sense. However when you watch it you're like, "oh she's just the silly stepmother." But it makes total sense. If you fall in love with the concept of love, you are a fool b/c you've left behind logic for some dream of the Cinderella-world. If you know what I mean. You can't fall in love with love or you will end up miserable in the end. Eventually you will wake up from the dream and reality will hit you. Be careful with love, it's fragile and frugile and full of opportunities for hard work. That's it.
Sidenote: Isn't it interesting when you realize you prayed something and God is doing something about it? Amazingly weird.

jumbled together, we make one thought, one good day...

So, I'm here and awake. I should be sleeping, so much sleep is needed. I am deprived, yet there's so much to do. So many things to give attention to, yet so many moments to sit in awe and wonder of God and what He has made. My soul is awake tonight, full of ideas and imagery of things that will never be, of things that are not impossible, but just the inner-workings of my mind. Holding it's breath and bending over backwards to make the words fit the context of the page. I am alive tonight in my soul, yet my mind is ready for bed. We had an open skate night the other night. It was ubbergood fun and I have lots of new friends. They seem really nice and cool and I am excited to get to know them better. I had a short convo with one of my friends, who said I would never figure out the mystery that was him and as I pondered that, I thought, "Good. I don't want to figure you out, but I do want to ask you questions and learn about who you are, where you've been, where you're going, etc." Isn't that what life is about, learning about other ppl? I don't want to figure ppl out, I want to know them. I want to share deep conversations, share laughter and those moments that will last forever in the movie clips of my mind. To experience your memories with you, like an amazing run, that leaves you hungry and greedy for more. As I thought about the skate night as well, I was having alot of fun and really trying to get to know some of these new friends of mine. I stood outside myself for a moment and wondered, "Is this the real me? Am I acting naturally? Or am I putting on a show?" We are all actors, they say, on the stage of life. So what stops us from faking emotions, and being ppl we are, and being unreal? I know that there are so many different aspects of each of us, that different situations can bring out who you are. I suppose the only time you really can know the most real part of you is in an unexpected situation. Here's one: There was a littel girl that walked out of the gym during the skate night. She left one of her skates by the entrance/exit doorway and I went to move it, however I looked and she was nowhere to be found. I heard this soft crying in the background but looked at saw no one in the stillness of the dark. I turned aside, but went back, thinking the crying had to be something. I walked through these, what would have been to the little girl, heavy doors and heard her cries. She had panicked, and clutching her one skate was at a standstill between the stares. I turned on the light and saw her cute, tear-stained face and went up to her, climbing the stairs in my skates, thinking, "I hope she's ok." "Now how is this gonna work getting down?" "What if she needs to be carried?" The door that led her to her parents was locked and I could feel her distress. I led her back down the stairs after asking a few questions and reassuring her that she was going to be alright, we'd find her parents and it was all going to be ok. She was lost, she was found, but we were still on a mission. I took her small hand in mine and I "walked" with her through the gym and led her to her father. A minute later I looked up and saw her comfortably settled in her father's arms with a smile on her face obviously enjoying the triumph and security she found there. It was one of the most satisfying moments I've ever had and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I knew she would be alright and she trusted me to lead her to her ultimate goal. In her uncertainty and fear, someone heard her cries and turned on the light and said, "I'm here. You're going to be alright. Take my hand. I know the way."

Puzzled?

Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil.
I am content to observe that there is evil,
and that there is a way to escape from it,
and with this I begin and end.
~John Newton~

a google challenge...sort of...

Okay, so my "friend" Char (I don't really talk to her anymore, but I keep up with her blog, so she's more of a "friend" than a friend...) posted on her blog that if you have time, to go to Google and put in your name and the word needs....example: "Crystal needs" and than post the top ten results...here are my results...

1.) Welcome to Crystal Needs
2.) Crystal needs a park!
3.) Interlaken: Hotel Crystal Interlaken
4.) The Education Wonks: The Red Crystal Needs your Donations...
5.) Crystal Needs in Gems, Rocks, and Minerals
6.) Crystal
7.) BACCARAT Crystal discounted by upscalegallery
8.) Department of Children's Services
9.) Talkin' Broadway Review: Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays
10.) Crystal Holidays

Well, that was slightly pointless, but what can you do? It's done. Mrrmrr!
So, I don't have to cry, I found my other glove, it was between the seat and the door in my car. So lovely, I threw my hands up to God with a smile on my face. It caused quite the revelation last night, thinking about my missing glove. Knowing that the next day I was going to leave early and go on a "search and rescue" mission for my glove, knowing full well that I might never see it again. This may sound silly to you all, but I had an epiphany (sp?), I had bought a pair of extremely discounted Thinsulate gloves and had them in the car. I wore those when I found out I lost my other mitten. Hmm.. They didn't keep my fingers warm at all, they were so cold and uncomfortable and I was thinking about my mittens, so soft and amazing, you can sleep in them, they're that comfy. But I thought to myself, "Perhaps this is like a trade. I bought these when I really didn't need to and lost my other perfectly good mitten in the process." Kind of like you don't really know what you had til it's gone. But not only that, like the lost mitten, most things are gone forever. You've left them behind in search of something better, newer, and more "up-to-date." I have to tell you, these mittens have to be nearly 15 years old, no joke. They're so old. They were stored in a box of really old mittens/gloves that my family kept and I decided to keep them when we were cleaning out the house. But they're awesome. It's like marriages that don't last b/c someone couldn't see what they had and they went after something "newer, younger, and more 'up-to-date'", y'know? Than they find out they're in it worse than they had imagined and wish they could go back to the way things were. But they will never be the same. They can never be the same, even if you had remained put. Anyhow, no matter, this is what I thought about. I have it so good and so many things in my life are amazing and good. So why do we think we can get beyond amazing and good? I don't know. The insatiable want for more and bigger and better. The things we are fed everyday through TV, propaganda, going to the store, and even just the way you grow up, if your parents tried to keep up with the "Jone's" especially. Oh man. So, that's that. Not sure if this made any sense to you (I put that disclaimer on most of my epiphanies, don't I?) Oh well, don't really care, or maybe I do cause I wrote that. Hmm.
Anywho, God has just been so good to me, I walked home last night and sat in the road, staring into the sky and looking at the lake. I am in awe everytime I am outside. I never want to leave it. But I did that. I gave up again, I decided that if I made this decision to "lose" my glove, than I had to accept it, even though I was preparing to make arrangements to do all that I could. But is life sometimes accepting things the way they are, but still making all the effort you can until you know for sure that it's not gonna happen, be found, whatever? Not sure.
But I went home and made some supper and listened to Rob Bell's new book, "Velvet Elvis" on cd. So good. Than I read a bit of Bible, journaled, and did some homework. Took a really great shower and hopped in bed, not literally though. It was a good night's sleep. Today God really gave me a great day, I think everything went "my" way, if you know what I mean. It was a good day. It's like when God knows you've had all you can handle and though He's been blessing you all the while, you're ready for a little something-something. You know? Tomorrow is open skate night. I am pretty excited. Skating is a passion. If I could do it professionally, I probably wouldn't unless I could have fun while being really good at it. Besides the point. It has been snowing for awhile. I love it, if it weren't so cold I would stand out in it for hours and hours. I would lay in it and stare up at the sky forever. It's too bad I'm a realist as well as a dreamer. But I think I'm pretty good at balencing it out. I'm excited for the challenges that God has for me, even through all the "". Peace out friends. I love you all.

This is gonna be along one folks...

Randomly opening my Bible, here's what I got:

Isaiah 59

Sin, Confession and Redemption

¹ Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.

² But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.

³ For your hands are stained with blood,
your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken lies,
and your tongue mutters wicked things.

⁴ No one calls for justice;
no one pleads his case with integrity.
They rely on empty arguments and speak lies;
they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

⁵ They hatch the eggs of vipers
and spin a spider's web.
Whoever eats their eggs will die,
and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.

⁶ Their cobwebs are useless for clothing;
they cannot cover themselves with what they make.
Their deeds are evil deeds,
and acts of violence are in their hands.

⁷ Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood.
Their thoughts are evil thoughts;
ruin and destruction mark their ways.

⁸ The way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;
no one who walks in them will know peace.

⁹ So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

¹⁰ Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like men without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.

¹¹ We all growl like bears;
we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none;
for deliverance, but it is far away.

¹² For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities:

¹³ rebellion and treachery against the LORD,
turning our backs on our God,
fomenting oppression and revolt,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

¹⁴ So justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.

¹⁵ Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The LORD looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.

¹⁶ He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm worked salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.

¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

¹⁸ According to what they have done,
so will he repay
wrath to his enemies
and retribution to his foes;
he will repay the islands their due.

¹⁹ From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD,
and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
For he will come like a pent-up flood
that the breath of the LORD drives along. ^[a]

²⁰ "The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,"
declares the LORD.

²¹ "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Oh, Lord let this be true of me.
Well, today was good. I had math class, though I find it interesting, I'm getting alittle bored. Not perfect in the class yet, but I could use a bit more of a challenge, though I am having fun. I thank God that I decided to take this class instead of Intermediate Algebra (two classes below this one...) That would have been a nightmare, and I get my math credit out of the way, though I may want to pursue more math classes in the future, I just love numbers. I think my obsession for math is growing, it's starting to invade my posts...one post at a time! Ahh!
Anywho, I am going to sing, "Come Thou Fount" for my voice class. I'm kind of excited about it, it's more jazzy than normal and challenging, which I like. It does my voice justice. She says I need to talk in my "diva" voice while I'm in the car or whatever, b/c she says I talk too low. I may sound like a whole new Crystal by the time this semster is over...at least that's what she keeps threatening...hmm...
In other blogs...I posted more poetry. It's kinda dark, but I like it. It's weird, at night my mind can't stop and things just flow. You can tell which words I love at certain times in my life, b/c it's reflected in my poetry. The words "depth", "glassy", and "darkness" are gooders and "silence" and "night" are always in there somewhere. Oh well.
Actually we don't have very many wells in this area, but we probably do.
I was going to plant a pineapple, but decided not to b/c it's kind of alot of money and space I don't have. Perhaps another time. I am contemplating starting an herb garden however (inspired by Dawn on the "Babysitter's Club" and Johanna, that wonderful Canadian).
Oh man, so I had the worst migraine yesterday, oh it was so bad, I think it was from 3 things: dehydration, not eating enough, and driving around all day. Wednesdays aren't being good days for me. I need to get outside more.
Currently I am listening to Bach- Air on the G-string. I think I'm going to cry, it's so beautiful.
I also went to the store, not sure why, I like to shop when I don't feel very well, at least I tell myself I'm just going to look and I don't. I went to the Goodwill and bought some books and some overalls, granted I could make excuses for everything I bought. Than later I went to ShopKo and bought a few things for the kitchen, to decorate me hoose, and something for my sister. I made excuses for all those things too. Than I went to Wal-Mart and dropped off my film, determined to leave right away, I did. But I think I lost a mitten in the process. So sad, I truly feel like crying. I loved each one of them, hopefully it's at my house and I'm just blind. But I do have to be more disciplined about shopping, though I did go into Goodwill looking for two things...one of them was free weights, can't remember what the other thing was...
I went running yesterday. Class got canceled and I spent 35 beautiful, long-awaited minutes on the treadmill in our fitness center (which is free! Oh, how God has graced me!). It felt wonderful. They were like 10 minute miles, but who cares. I felt alive and it was so lovely. Than I lifted weights and did some stretching. Hmmm...til we meet again running, I love you.
I still feel "", this weird feeling of numbness, but it could be a number of things: not enough sleep, stressing out about school, stuff, worrying (I've remained a pro, though am getting better), Jesus stuff, maybe just having groups here. Today I was so tired, I had to keep my eyes closed most of the time in the car on the way back from school, (no I wasn't driving) and it was nice with the sun on my face and a slight breeze. It was kind of relaxing. I miss home though. I am starting to revert back to high school when I used to be so exhausted that I would fall asleep with all the lights on, on my homework. Which makes me feel worse cause I'm wasting electricity and couch-sleep isn't real sleep, so I'm even more tired. I am determined to change my ways, but I am soft. I guess I am not so determined than. I need boundaries, guidelines, a unmoving conscience. I never really had any of these ever, and I still don't. I keep getting into situations where I have a few responsibilities to other ppl, which I happily, readily, and consistently oblige to, but I am free to do what I want and am left on my own. I have to be careful to keep in contact with ppl, otherwise I will hermitize. I'm pretty good at it. So I have to make sure to get out there and do stuff with ppl. But I did join a YAM group and am in classes with ppl I know, more socialization, I s'pose. So, I guess what I really need is discipline to balance myself, I tend to be an extremist, so...yeah.
That's what's been going on I guess, it's been awhile since a detailed update. God is still very good to me. I'm reading more of my Bible and like I mentioned previously, started a new journal. I'm pretty excited, but feel the need for more. I'm still thirsty, so thirsty and I am trying to quench it but it never seems to get there, not even for a moment. I don't know what that means, but either way, I think physically and spiritually I am dehydrated. I'm gonna go now and do homework and drink some water...both kinds. Miss and love you all. Peace out.
Using discipline to leave...must leave...heehee...

Apuzzleforyouall...

30 Books
=========

Can you find thirty (30) books of the Bible in this paragraph?
Actually, there are 31 if you can find the variant of one Old
Testament prophet's name.



     There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you
find them?  This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a
gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los
Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed
it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from
Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat.
Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine
Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned
it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job
of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to
help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy
to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find
themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not
necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are
forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see
some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in
our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing
the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event,
which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth
set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over
200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most
difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it,
"The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight."
Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from
those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that
books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers.
Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle
are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well
against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is
no need for a mad exodus; there really are 30 books of the Bible
lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God
Bless.

to the keepers

TO A Bunch of " KEEPERS " !!!

¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
One day someone's mother died.

And on that clear, cold morning,

in the warmth of her bedroom,

the daughter was struck with

the pain of learning that sometimes

there isn't any more.

No more hugs,

no more lucky moments to celebrate together,

no more phone calls just to chat,

no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most goes away . .

never to return before we can say good-bye,

say "I Love You."

¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
So while we have it . . it's best we love it . . ..

and care for it and fix it when it's broken . .

and take good care of it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage .... and friendships .

And children with bad report cards;

And dogs with bad hips;

And aging parents and grandparents.

We keep them because they are worth it,

because we cherish them!

¸....¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°

Some things we keep --

like a best friend who moved away

or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that

make us happy, no matter what.

¸..¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
Life is important,

and so are the people we know . .

and so,we keep them close!

¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
I received this from someone today

who thought I was a 'KEEPER'!

Then I sent It to the people

I think of in the same way!

Now it's your turn to send this to all those people

who are "keepers" in your life!!

¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°

Thank you very much

for being a special part of MY life!

¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°

YOU ARE A KEEPER My Friend!!

I know, I know...

So, I am back and quite aware that I should have left.
Exciting news: I have retired my journal, it was quite sad and I miss it, but I got to go to my bookshelf and pick out, prayfully, the next one that will serve me through the next half-a-year. I am super excited and have a craving to write in it..ooo....new journals are so exciting! (Jesus, I want to talk!) I am also in a YAM (young adult ministry) group that really has no church affiliation (long story), I am excited. They are coming skating on Saturday and I am going to the Pastor's house on Sunday evening to hang out with them! I love making new friends! I hope I don't overwhelm them! But they liked my fudge, so it's all good! That really gets me pumped! My College Success class started yesterday, feels like today though! It should be a good class.
Today went wonderfully, mostly b/c I had great directions and someone here helping me both shifts with the food! Whoo! Good times. I'm kinda tired now. Do still have homework. Don't want to leave yet. I feel like I have something to do, but I can't find it. Do you ever just have those moments when you are like, " ". I don't know quite what it is, but it's (holding up hands and wondering, trying to pinpoint " ". ) Not sure.
Today it was about 20 minutes til serving time (we have a group here) and I was starting to stare at the counter. You know when your eyes glaze over and things just get hazey? Yeah. It's almost relaxing but the world seems to spin around in slow motion and time stops for a moment or two, until you pull yourself out of the "haze" and back into reality. While in this "haze" I realized that there was still quite a bit of work to do and I had to go do it, but those are the times it is even more difficult to get out of it, I find. When your mind is still aware, wondering if even your body is real, wondering if even itself is truly in existence. Just those moments when the nothing is tangible and all you are is kind of standing in the midst of a made-up world, with nothing but Jesus to keep you here. Standing and wondering, "Is this even real?" Sometimes I feel like I am in a movie and I have to keep going, not sure why, no goals, just knowing that I have to keep going, keep working, and keeping on. Sometimes that is a really weak reason. Just knowing. Sometimes I sit and wonder about doing my homework. I sit and stare at it and wonder if it's real. Is class real? What's the point of doing this? Than I snap out of it and realize, even though it might not still feel real, that I have to get it done and if I don't there will be consequences. Someone once told me that I was just homesick. Perhaps I'm just tired. But it doesn't take away my love of math, or of Jesus. I find solitude and peace in His Word and in talking to Him, it's in those hazey moments of my life that everything else can fade away and all I know is, that if nothing else exists, He does, and it's the knowledge of that that keeps me going.

Hmm...must be diligent and responsible...

Currently Reading Trigonometry (with CD-ROM, BCA/iLrn Tutorial, vMentor, and InfoTrac) By Charles P. McKeague, Mark D. Turner see related

So, I have some stuff I've been contemplating, however, I need to go do homework. I will have to sniffle and give my sad face, but wanted to leave a little note! Exactly a week from today is one of my very most favorite holidays, and a test in Trig. But both will be fun! Oh yeah! Love math. Hmmm...so much to write about. But yeah, I will write probably tomorrow and give you all an update, woot woot! Oh, this morning the fog was so thick that I thought I'd have to cut through it with a knife! But it left this amazing frost all over the trees and everywhere. It was so amazingly gorgeous! Man, I didn't have a camera, I was so bummed, and had to get to work ASAP! But, God makes the most amazingly beautiful things and I just love Him so much. That's why I'm going to do homework now. Peace out friends!

Interesting...

I know this is going to border ridiculous, but I just wanted to let you all know that it just started snowing outside...that's right, SNOW! I just started laughing. I love snow.

E-mail list...

Would any of you guys be interested in me putting your e-mail in so that my new posts get sent to you automatically?

Just transferred in from Xanga...

Currently Listening Come Away with Me By Norah Jones Don't Know Why see related

"In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham kind of Judah began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree...And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king...Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him....And the Lord was with him." (2 Kings 16:1-4, 20b; 18:5, 7a)

Doesn't that make you want to be like Hezekiah? Well, I want to be like Jesus, but hey, you know. Well, making lists seems to be the "thing" and I feel compelled to join the crowd...so here's a list for you all....
2.) As you can all read, I am currently listening to Norah Jones. This song will be over before I finish this post.
11.5.) I am doing very well in my Trig. class...ooo....I'm pretty excited. Math gets me all excited. Hmmm....I'm glad the teacher I have now knows how to teach it, b/c my high school teachers didn't.
6.) I made my own "granola" bar. I'm pretty excited about it. I had a little help with ideas and such, but, oh they're so yummy!
7.) This is a perfect number. Who will question God? Well, we all will at some point. It's really too bad.
100.) My house looks really clean right now. I love it.
92.78.) I am reading this book and it talks about how you can date for fun and just be friends with the person. I know this sounds silly, but that goes against my thinking. But I like it. That concept gets me going, "yeah." Yeah.
14.) This is the day of two of my favorite things: a) my nephew's birthday...he'll be 4. He really likes Mickey. b) Valentine's Day, my favorite holiday. Crazy how we can give ppl gifts and chocolate and decorate fun cards for ppl w/barely a reason....oh wait, that's everyday of the year....*wink*
0901.) How many significant digits are in there? ....note: this is more important for those taking physics and going into more science-related math classes. You won't really need to know this a whole lot for Trig. (There's only 3 sig. digits.)
17*10.) I get really excited when I think about getting to go home to eat potatoes and butternut squash. Mmmmm....oh, and pineapple....!
18*10.) I think I am going to attempt to grow a pineapple "tree". It's not actually a tree, but it sounds more fun when phrased so.
20068.) God is really kicking my brain around. He keeps giving me things to mull over. It's refreshing and frustrating, but oh so good. I wish I could think of something right now, oh that thing He opened my brain up about this afternoon, but I can't think of it.
1.783.) I have 6 wonderful, Chicago-originated pizzas in the freezer right now. Deep dish, cheese and exquisite. I long for good pizza. I ordered it from Chicago and had them send it here. Mmmm....there's really only two or three places I consider excellent pizza, one's in my hometown, L&F's pizza, and one is in my house. My sister and my dad make wonderful, thin crust pizza from scratch. So wonderfully crunchy! It's one of the best things about going home. Besides being able to hug them and make them dinner (an evening meal usually served around 8 or 9pm) and seeing them smile and praying with my mom and sister.
10.) I think I want to make a top # list of things I love about Chicago. I'm gonna do it.
11.1.) Angela Berry gets married tomorrow! I will probably cry. So beautiful.
23.) This may sound terrible (especially after that last one) but, do you ever hear of so many engagements and get to the point where you're like, "Oh goodness, not another one." I think almost every other week I hear about another one (or two) of my friends getting married. I get super excited and rejoice with them, especially when I know it's a God thing, but y'know, it's like someone saying, "Hey, we're getting married!" and I'm like, "Oh good." It's become a normality. Normal starts to get boring at some point.(On the bright side, it means I have alot of friends...)
21.) Like diamonds, they're pretty normal right. Yeah.
20.) I don't think you're gonna like my list after those two, especially the married folk....I love you guys! (that'll make it alright, right?)
13.) Digging...digging....did you know there's only one building in Chicago that has a floor actually numbered as "13"? Most skip 13 and go to 14. So there's still a 13th floor, it's just cleverly disguised as 14...like the Devil and his lion costume...
10:68.) That's a ratio for something somewhere I'm sure, but I'll let you be creative with it...anywho, yesterday was Groundhog Day. I had a friend over and we watched the movie with Bill Murrey in it. It was cute. Than I stabbed it to death with realism... Hmm...I think my desire to ever watch that movie again is gone.
289/16.) In 49 days, Crystal and Tecate, Mexico will meet for the first time. It's an internet romance...awww! SO EXCITED!!!!
1/9.) This is an irrational number and I should be cleaning. I'm going to have to rework my whole schedule now....hmmm...schedules and I don't really get along....I just won't be tied down!!!!!
1000.) This is a good place to stop. I'm gonna go clean a bathroom or something.

By the way, the cd just ended...

In commemoration of that little furry guy...

Happy Groundhog Day!!!
We're havin' a movie night at my place tonight, of which we will be showing, Bill Murrey's "Groundhog Day." I am pretty excited, except for that one part of the movie...but, yeah, so we might show "Ever After" instead, a romantic comedy is just as good as another...heeheehee...