Embrace the Elements :)

"Bring the rain" by MercyMe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain?
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Don't Fence Me In

I had a beautiful realization today. I realized how much bigger God seems when I'm outside. I know that it is the result of my limited understanding, and imperfect nature, but sometimes when I am sitting at my desk at work, surrounded by these four cubicle walls that my view and purpose of life can feel so limited that unfortunately I also allow that to limit my perspective of God's infinite power. God is not to be contained in any measure. It's just that this understanding is more clear to me when I'm outside. His design for the universe and control of every detail are visible when you see all the beauty that nature has to offer, from a blue sky to rich, dark thunder clouds and from a bird chirping all the way down to ants crawling on the ground. So my new mantra is "don't fence me in"! Let me not allow the imperfect nature of my surroundings influence my understanding of the perfectness of God!

So cute

Overheard

Scene: waiting area in my office
Players: four nerdy looking undergrads

The comment: "Every freshman year sucks man, but trust me, by your junior year you will be an unstoppable force for science research."

why did I do it...

I watched Into the Wild. I shouldn't have done it, but I did. I kept seeing it listed in the options of itunes movie rentals, but I would continually pass over it for a feel-good rental like Enchanted or even Nancy Drew. Finally, yesterday, I decided to watch it. I had already read major portions of the book and so knew the story, but nothing prepared me for actually seeing it acted out on screen. Towards the end of the movie, when he's realized he has eaten something poisonous and becoming extremely weak, he uses his last bits of energy to write. It was a line from his final words that truly got me. "Happiness is only real when shared." If anyone else had told me this line, it would have had very little effect on me. I would toss it aside with a hearty, "well, YEA!". It's because he writes it, while engrossed in a gigantic dose of hindsight and self-reflection, that it makes the words truly heart-breaking. Regret, at any age, is a difficult thing to witness or experience. All this to say, don't watch the movie. He dies in the end. There, now you know what happens. It's not a happy movie, don't watch it. In fact, instead of the current codes for movies (such as G,PG and so on), I would like happiness ratings.

Into the Wild- Rated "D" for Devastating. Rated D for the following reasons: You will ball your eyes out, ache and hurt for the life that was lost while simultaneously experiencing your own sort of self-reflective funk. Also rated "D" for DO NOT WATCH!!!

Peak Oil Survivalist Training

With the current economic state of our country, I have decided to begin what I would like to refer to as Peak Oil Survivalist Training. This is not a training for the well educated on self-sufficient, "off the grid" living. This is for the city folk, the ones that aren't likely to survive should the need to take care of ourselves actually come to fruition. Please see listed below my options for training courses. They will be offered by appointment only, however, Thursday night works best for me. I will contact you directly with the meeting times and information. And remember, there is no shame in consuming 80% of the world's resources. After all, where would this world of producers be without the willing hands of consumers ready to buy up their products!

Peak Oil Survivalist Training 101: Persuade Your Neighbor
This training will focus on your persuasive powers. In an attempt to continue driving your gigantic SUVs and Hummers which only get roughly 8-15 miles per gallon, it is crucial that you begin convincing all of your neighbors, friends, family members and church folk to purchase economy sized cars, perhaps even a "green" one. Soon they will become accustomed to the low to the ground equality with the rest of society on the road. They will forget the days of driving 6 feet above traffic, able to seek out the fastest route due to higher-ground advantage. With all of them getting an upwards of 30-50 miles per gallon, the gas consumption will be yours for the taking.

Peak Oil Survivalist Training 102: Learn Green Speak
There might come a day when you city folk need to, how shall I say it, bum off a little solar powered energy from a greenie. This training will be focused on the art of camellion-like speech amongst the up and coming green party. You will learn the turns of phrase, the points of interest, and even perhaps a good organic recipe or two. You will want to blend in. The strategy will be to place yourselves in the midst of these so-called hippies, whenever possible. Make friends with them. They will soon be the "haves" in the world of "have nots". A perfect opportunity to practice your socializing, for instance, is when all of you are walking to your cars after a hard day of work. First you non-challantly mention how you are excited to get home and try that new flax seed encrusted tofu recipe that you read about in Mother Earth News. The key to the conversation comes when you walk past your said vehicle to stand next to the economic hybrid parked just beyond you. A slight sneer and comment towards your gigantic vehicle is helpful. Try something like, "wow I bet they love slaving away at their job just to pay for their gas". Perfect the soft chuckle that always directly follows.

TRUE Atrocities!

1. My mom has a darker tan than I do, which means I have NONE.
2. I haven't been out to eat in like 10 days.
3. I plucked my eyebrows, and now I know what true pain is.
4. The itunes store is currently unavailable. It tells me that I'm to try back in a few minutes.
5. Saturday is already half over, I only have 2.5 more days to the weekend.

Sunsets, Soaring, Skittles

Anne of Avonlea By Lucy Maud Montgomery: "When I think something nice is going to happen I seem to fly right up on the wings of anticipation and then the first thing I realize I drop down to earth with a thud. But really Marilla the flying part is glorious as long as it lasts. It's like soaring through a sunset... I think it almost pays for the thud."

Well this sunset did NOT pay for the thud! Below is a picture of the most bitterly disappointing candy I have EVER tried. How has Mars gone so wrong?? In their attempt to gain the attention of chocolate lovers everywhere, they have created a new product called "Chocolate Mix" of Skittles. I have never tasted a more chemically invented bunch of flavors. From Chocolate Pudding to Brownie Batter, it was such a let down. Now I will have to drink my cup of coffee with no sweetness to go along with it. My trash can is the only appropriate home for this bag of treats.

I've heard it all

This morning I had a conversation with a woman who works in the same building as I do. Many times she comes in to use our paper cutter or fax machine. Her daughter recently got married to a service man who is currently stationed in Iraq (three cheers for military men!). Apparently, her daughter is missing her husband and finding a job after graduating hasn't been going well so they she and her mom are planning a vacation to Las Vegas!! Now, to many, Vegas is considered the best kind of vacation. You can enjoy some relaxing by a pool, drink some fruity drinks, eat cheap steaks and enjoy the continual glow of daylight from the strip. For this mother/daughter duo, however, they are going for a completely different reason. They are under the assumption that their woes of life will be answered by attending a male review. With all the loss of innocence these days, I was quite proud of the fact that I had no idea what a male review was. As I furrowed my eyebrows signaling my puzzled confusion, she comically tried to explain to me what exactly it entailed without actually using the word "stripper". I was so aghast that the only thing I could come up with was, "well let me just heap my self-righteous judgement on you by saying FOR SHAME!!!!" I truly was rendered speechless. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure many a woman has trespassed over the threshold of such an establishment, but to proudly say she is going to get some good bonding time in with her recently married daughter, again I have to say FOR SHAME!!

Just don't cry on me ok....

I was recently driving by a church that had on its sign "As the mother is, so too is the daughter". I have to say, I lucked out on this one. I happen to have the best mom in the world! She is the toughest yet most gentle woman I know, and boy can she make me laugh. So, as I read the sign, it had me thinking. Do I have the attributes of my mom? I believe I have many, but not all (which is a shame). I think like her, plan like her, worry like her, love like her and serve like her (nobody contest that last one, it would only hurt my feelings ;) I don't think I'm as tough as she is or as gracious, but she has a few years on me so I'll hope for the best! I don't think moms in general get enough recognition for the hard work, love and tears they put into their families. So here's to you Mom!! I will be completely blessed if I am able to look back over my life and say, "As the mother is, so too is the daughter" :)

Elevator Encounter

Dear Good-looking fella,
Please know that your warm smile made my morning sweeter, and your kind greeting was much appreciated. Also, thank you for being a gentleman and asking which floor is mine. Elevator manners seem to have gone by the wayside these days. I was encouraged by your positive charisma, but you nearly made me faint when you asked if I would like a Christian track. The ding of the elevator, signaling my floor, caught me off guard, or I would have thoroughly enjoyed an engaging conversation on the common love of our Savior. I am grateful that you were interested in my eternal destination. In an effort to meet you again, I will be at the aforementioned location at the same time next week, and I promise to have my wits about me!
Sincerely,
Slightly smitten

I'm quitting my job

Yup, don't think I am kidding here. I have decided to quit my job. You see, today I was doing some important research on student loans for graduate school. I have been told that the type of loan I will be getting has a maximum allowance of $10,500 per semester. I ask myself, what would be the point of my working anymore? I'll be making bank as a student. In fact, I'll be signing the papers for my new Disney timeshare, trading in my Saturn for a brand new M3 BMW Convertible and I've been eyeing these extremely elegant diamond earrings that I think would look marvelous on me while I'm supping at the Captain's dinner on my 7 day, 6 night cruise through the Caribbean. I have no idea why I haven't thought of this before. No wonder so many people enjoy school! They aren't in it for the self improvement of education or increased knowledge on a particular subject, no indeed. They start and stay in school so they never have to return their loan money at a 6% interest rate. If I stay in school until I'm 65, would the federal government really garnish my wages from my social security check? I didn't think so either. It's really quite relieving to finally know the answer to the age old question of what I'm going to do when I grow up. I'm going to stick it to the man by hitting the books and writing papers for the next 38 years. That'll show him.

Please, don't make me do that....

There are few times in life that you get to enjoy the sweet fellowship of friends for an entire weekend. I am about to embark on a 3.5 day/3 night trip to the beach with 4 other girls I went to school with. I am very much looking forward to it, so long as no one gets the bright idea to make me karaoke. I have to admit, this mini vacation reminds me of a particular cruise I took with two of the greatest and adventuresome girls I know! I believe the highlight was when we (more THEM) decided to walk a small ways down what appeared to be side streets through Belize City in order to get to the water taxi company. Immediately I recognized the fact that we were not among tourists, but locals. Most of the time I'm all for vacationing with the locals, but not when on a cruise. I prefer to be surrounded with other sunburned cruise ship tourists, safety in numbers so to say. I feel that the cruise boat would definitely leave if 3 girls were missing, but would maybe re-think it if it were 50. We climb on the boat along with about 20 other people and their luggage to take roughly a 45 minute boat ride to Caye Caulker. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful! While there, though, I had already embraced the fact that the taxi would not come back to get us, and we would have to fly home by ourselves. Is there even an airport in Belize? Thankfully I did not have to figure it out. In the end, the girls were right (and I'm not fond of saying that!). I would have missed out on one of the most fun adventures if I had baulked at the idea of leaving the city limits. For anyone reading this, do not think it means I'm down with karaoke, but it does make me realize that some of the sweetest memories a person can have take place when you are wishing you were somewhere else!

When tea dreams...

The famous quote from Starbucks says, "When coffee dreams, it dreams of chocolate". The phrase invokes visions of my sipping delicious Italian espresso while enjoying a simple piece of rich, dark chocolate. Since this slightly depressing switch of mine to no longer drink coffee, it has me wondering what tea dreams of. I believe the answer is simple, crumpets. I use to like tea and crumpets when my dad would make them for us kids and we would sit all bundled up on the front porch and look out over plot of dirt across the street and watch the sun set. I have since decided that I no longer like crumpets. I think they tend to have fruit in them, perhaps some flaky biscuit that has zero to no sugar in it or a lemon wafer. Such crumpets compliment the delicate, light taste that tea embodies. The problem with this picture is that I am not delicate. I hate to think that it all hearkens back to the days of American settlers, but let me remind people that we are the decedents of British rebels. True Americans embody the bold voice of settlers forging out on their own to claim for themselves the first American dream, freedom. Coffee was the drink that, at first, left a bitter taste in their mouth as they were use to their delicate tea. Soon, however, they toughened. Much like a wonderfully brewed cup of coffee, the American spirit grew strong and hearty. It is that dream that I wish to enjoy. The only that is most complimented with coffee and chocolate.

oh the emptiness...

I'm on my third cup of tea so far this morning and already I am sensing a void. I miss my dark brew. I miss its full-bodied aroma and richness of flavor as it filled me with a sense that there is more in this world, more to live and enjoy. Each morning, it broke down the walls of the mundane to give hope towards there being a world beyond this cubicle. As for tea, a pathetic excuse of a counterpart hot beverage, you are staining my cup, and I abhor you.

Crossin' Over

I was chilling at my local BAM last night, doing some reading, when I came across a book that raved over the benefits of tea. I continued reading, dejected at the thought that this was not about the benefits of massive coffee consumption. The benefits are numerous, too many even to list here on in this post. Thus, I have crossed over to the dark side, and I'm going to begin drinking tea instead of coffee. (insert high pitched female scream akin to a friday night horror flick) Here are my concerns:

1. My soul will cease to be satisfied
2. Caffeine withdrawal
3. Disliking myself for I instinctively dislike tea drinkers
4. I'll have to use the restroom more
5. Unhappiness will overtake me and I will shrivel up and die

I believe these to be valid concerns. I will inform you of any progress that might happen along the way. I'm giving it 30 days to figure out if it really does have all the benefits the book claims it does. If not, I will gleefully return to my coffee drinking days when happiness abounded but my life was marked to be infinitely shorter.

Ghetto Style Ridin'

So the excitement of the evening happened when I was done chillin' with some friends and was walking out to my car. I noticed my car window looked a little funny. Upon closer inspection, I saw that there was a bullet hole in the driver's side window. Yes, it was just a bb bullet, but last time I checked a bullet is still a bullet. It was just one and that was the only damage done, thank goodness. Thanks to the girls I was with, I was helped as to know all the people I should call. I called my insurance agent and the local police, but mind you...I really just wanted to call my mom!! After some recommendations and assistance from Pops tomorrow morning, I will endeavor to take care of this very adult-like hassle. Until I can get it fully fixed though, I plan on cruisin' around with the bass cranked and some hip hop blaring. Complete with bullet hole in the window, I consider it to be some super fly ghetto style ridin'.

Office quote of the day

Ryan: Did this happen on company property?

Michael Scott: It was on company property, with company property. So, double jeopardy, we're fine.

Ryan: I don't think you understand how jeopardy works.

Michael Scott: Oh, I'm sorry. What is, 'we're fine'?

After Thai AND Jeremiah's

A new crush....

You heard it correctly. I have a new crush going on right now, with technology! I love my computer (MacBook 13") and my camera (Canon Powershot SD1000). You put those two together, and it is amazing what can be produced! I brought my computer with me to work today because I was working on a little project, and I feel more at home just knowing my computer is here with me. I know it sounds crazy, but there is a comfort that comes from your own personal computer that no work computer could ever produce. I love this wonderful bit of technology! It bridges gaps between people and distance, bringing the world together one email or video chat at a time. What sweetness :)

More lolcats

Adulthood, when did it happen?

I realized yesterday that I am very much an adult. Here are the latest issues that prove this point.

1. I've started watching my gas gauge every time I drive somewhere just to see how far it decreases. I also hurl insults at all the gas stations along the way.

2. I had a moment of frustration while standing in the meat section of my local grocery store. I felt incredibly "adult" as I stood looking at the $9.56 price tag on 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts. I began muttering how absurd that price is along with the random vague comment of "You've gotta be kidding me" to no one in particular.

3. Instead of seeking to find a perfect job because the world is my oyster, I am thankful for the job I have with the current state of the economy.

4. I turn on CNN and Fox News in the morning when I'm getting ready. 

5. I actually flipped through those mega pamphlets my retirement funds send me as a voting member, wondering if I might find some insight into how to get back my $1200 that I lost this last quarter. 

Let me be honest here, I'm not a fan of being an adult. I seek to fight it as much as possible, but for some reason the cosmos seems to have a stronger pull. Truthfully, I would rather be brushing the hair of My Little Pony while dreaming of how great it will be when I'm older.

Things I fear:

1. All my teeth falling out and swallowing them.

2. Instant dangerous (ie explosive) reaction if two separate cleaning products merge.

3. Contamination of kitchen counter from raw chicken and eggs. (Sidenote: this applies only to the counter because I have no qualms consuming my body weight in raw chocolate chip cookie dough and batter.)

4. Rounding the corner by the back door and a random stranger standing there to greet me.

5. My car breaking down in the middle of a road/intersection.

6. Having some rare blood disease and/or an abscess in my throat (It's possible. I saw it on the discovery channel).

7. Coming home and finding something drastically wrong with one of my kitties. 

8. The discontinuation of my favorite hair care products.

9. Choking while driving. (I have ceased to eat in my car.)

10. False Imprisonment. (I've watched too many movies such as brokedown palace)

Fudge!!

I've officially purchased some fudge from the best fudge shop in all the world, the Parri Family Fudge Shoppe. You can check out their website to place orders, or if you live near me and consider yourself a close enough friend, I will be receiving my order shortly and might have you over for coffee and fudge :) As they say in the Uk, Cheers!

http://www.welshfudge.co.uk/epages/es111041.sf