More Nice Things

and it all started with a big bang, BANG!

2011-10-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

My mom & I loove the tv show "The Big Bang Theory".

It makes me want to move into an apartment so I can have neighbors my age around. Like nerdy science guys that wear coudroy pants, and t-shirts with science and/or obscure popculture references, and blazers over sweatshirts.

Yep- quirky, funny, nerdy-but-loveable neighbors that I can be friends with. And maybe date. But I'd only date the least weird one- the one who recognizes that loving sci-fi movies, comics, role games, etc., makes him a complete dork.

My friend Ashley loves 500 Days of Summer. It reveals that the cool, hipster girl that all the guys idealize is actually a nuerotic mess of a girlfriend.

I say this because I fully realize that it would prob be reeeeally hard for me to be friends with a real-life pack of nerdy 20something professors. It takes everything I have to be present in a convo with someone talking about video games or extreme sci-fi things. We would have very little in common, none of us would be as witty as the Big Bang cast,...but a girl can dream, right? Also, I found out I am not the only girl who has this dream because of this show :)

Jottings

2011-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Here's some long overdue jottings to you, friends:

I graduated this past Friday, the 13th! so great. [just ignore the 4 credits I have left to complete before actually getting my degree]

My birthday is this Saturday, the 21st! also great. [note that this is also supposed to be the day the world ends, according to some loon]

Yep, two milestones in a row landing on arbitrarily deemed "unusual" dates. Weird or completely normal, right?

My little brother had to dig a small shard of glass outta my foot yesterday. I don't think he got it all, so I googled "glass in foot" and the world wide web said I could get an infection. Now every so often I wonder if I will have to get my foot or whole leg amputated. And I'll be an amputee that will give talks to kids in middle school about the dangers of running around without shoes on. Unless the infection gets in to my blood. Then I'd just die. Btw, remind me to tell you how I ended up stepping on glass. It's a doosie.

Some advice: DO NOT SELL YOUR BOOKS TO HALF PRICE BOOKS. You'll bring in like 10 mint condition hard-covers & history monographs, and they will give you 7 measly bucks. Yes, less than $1 per book. Then you will pay the $7 you just got + $12more to buy 3 books you found while browsing in the store you are made to wander in while they appraise the books you brought in to sell.

Tune in next time for a pictorial blog.

there might be a little dust on the bottom...

2011-03-21T00:19:00.000-07:00

Recognize those song lyrics? I hope so, because I think I like that song. I def did when I was like eleven, but now I'm not so sure. It seems like it could be a 1990s country OR soft rock song, and I don't like that kind of musical ambiguity.

Wikipedia let me know it was on some top country chart, but still...

The reason I mention the song is because I found fruit on the bottom yogurt today.
Clearly a strong connection there.
Anyways, I looove fruit on the bottom yogurt. As a kid and adolescent I was obsessed.
In the past few years though, it seems to have come up absent from grocery coolers, no matter where I look.
...Then again, I tend to take after my father who can't find leftovers on an eye-level shelf in the 'fridgerator.

Well Safeway now carries fruit on the bottom yogurt under its Organic label.
Yes, be excited!
I am, which is why I've dedicated roughly a fith of this blog post to write about it.

Tonight, as I watched a film for class that should've ended 50 minutes before it actually did, I checked my gmail to clean out spam from my inbox. And what did I find?

???

An email from my Chinese bff, Vivian!!! [I met Vivian on my trip this past summer. DUH.]
Oh no, I'm about to cry just thinking about her. I teared up 4 times just while reading her letter and writing back.
I miss her so much and love getting to hear from and write to her!

She became my best friend there within the first hour of our arrival to the university.
We didn't have classes together nor did we room together, but we saw each other as often as we could, like 3-5 times a week.
Vivian cared for me like a big sister and was so much fun to hang out with.

Baaaahhh <----- yes, I am crying right now :/

Annnd, the possibility of meeting her again in heaven causes my heart to rejoice :}
No. No, she is not a Christian. But I pray and hold on to hope that someday she will let go of the life she has to live alongside Jesus. I can't even begin to imagine all that God wants to do in her life and through her. I say this because she is already such a hard working and caring person, so to see God use her to further the Kingdom of Heaven on earth would be so crazy cool and beautiful!

So I desperately want to see her again.
I think she wants to visit the U.S. someday; I know she would love it :)
After forming such a friendship & others and experiencing the culture, I would also love to visit China again someday.

Thinking about the relationships I was able to build in and all that I learned about cultures, myself, and God this past summer, I am incredibly excited for my friends going to China in just a few short months!!!

"A girl can't read that sort of thing without her lipstick"

2011-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

As alluded to in one of my recent previous posts, I love the hit show "Parenthood". One of my favorite characters is Amber, played by Mae Whitman (who also starred on ABC family's apparently not-so-hit-show, State of Grace, one of my middle school favs.)

Anyways, on the show Amber is a moody but talented teen who has awesome style that I would like to emulate. Mostly because her style is like the rebellious version of my own, perhaps.

Her, like, signature thing is black eyeliner and red lipstick. So in similar fashion to the lame girl from Mean Girls- you know, the one who says "I saw Cady Heron wearing army pants and flip flpos, so I bought army pants and flip flops"- I used some extra time I had yesterday to paint on the black and dab on some red lipstick I have in my special/weird make-up bag gathering dust under the bathroom sink. It was a fun kind of confidence thing for me, too. I can wear red lipstick if I want to.

So here's a pic I snapped on my compie :) I don't look like a complete clown, huh?

Oh, btw- I did, however, become a giant woman trapped in an office building. Plz look past my growth spurt to still be my friend.

Okie dokes, off to find the perfect shade for my ruby reds so I can dump the tube I have from my 7th grade Halloween costume. Also, I have a paper to finish before 5:30. Happy first Friday, peeps!

Stay gangsta,

J.Rice

Someone plzzz save us, us college kids!

2011-03-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

[Relient K, so good]

I can't make any promises, but due to popular demand I am seriously gonna crack down and blog regularly. Once a week. we'll see how this goes.

I have homework to do before making bread dough and going to class, so this bloggie's coming from something I've already wrote.

The following is a list I compiled over the weekend of things I want to do before graduating...

(in no particular order):

1. take a picture with the Sinclair gas station dinosaur

2. visit the Museum of Northern Az

3. make ice cream from snow

4. have a picnic on the lawn of the Flagstaff courthouse

5. one last Friday invasion of E. Hart's with Jade (which was a weekly occurence our sophmore year)

6. go to Bearizona

7. build a fort city like on Community

8. go to Bedrock, Az and eat gravelberry pie

9. go to Prom (the movie) with Aziel as my "date".

only "couples" can go.

dress up in semi-formal attire... or ballgowns.

10. have a slumber party at a hotel

11. find out if the Monte Vista Hotel serves monte cristo sandwhiches. if they don't, find a place in Flg that does

12. play the best April fools' joke evahhhh

13. visit Locket Meadow- bring glitter lotion, pretend to be a vampire)

14. take a photo of every significant place in Flg/ at NAU for nostalgia's sake

15. play at the park by juvie

16. visit the dove chapel place on the way to the Grand Canyon

17. visit the cemetary by Target

18. have a great birthday bash with my birthday twin, ash b.

Hopefully finances will not be a killer hinderance for these things.

Do you have any suggestions to add to my list? Wanna help me complete some of these? Comment & let me know! :}

Enjoying Today with a little "some day"s

2011-02-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

one of my fav past times with friends is to talk about what our future kiddos, spouses, jobs, marriages, and lives in general might be like.

the convos sound something like this:

AG: my kids will say 'i can't play with youuuu today, i have sailing practice', and they will only wear things from J.crew.
JR: my kids will longboard or rollerblade while wearing bows& mary janes and tiny sweaters over tiny oxford shirts. also, they will love hymns.
CS: my kids will be best friends with each other because they will be weird but i'll tell them they're special everyday.
JF: my kids will ask to read in their prayer languages. or refuse to go to church.
AK: my kids will play in dirt all day and hit all yo' kids.

Perhaps this is what watching parenthood leads to or at least encourages.

Sorry I haven't posted in forevah, I'm sure reading my blog is enjoyable procrastination time for someone out there.

Tonight I got called a catfish by one of my close friends. It's cooler than it sounds- there's some deep meaning to it where being called a catfish is a sweet compliment. It has to do with that thriller movie that came out this past fall.
The one about a man & facebook; not The SocialNetwork, but the other one- Catfish. You know, the one I wanted to see and then forgot about.

Some people won't read blogs unless they have pictures, so here's one from my week:

22 strawberries, 1 1/3 bananas & 1 3/4 apples???
HOW DiD they fit all that fruit into one medium-sized bottle?!

tomorrow I get to go post-Valentine's Day shopping at Targie with Adriane in btwn my lame-o classes. and maybe I'll find the perfect fitting sweatpants with elastic @ the ankles to be cool like my friend Jade. and perfect fitting tshirts like my friend steph b.

Fungi, a Man, and Reclusive Women

2010-12-06T23:18:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I spent an above average amount of time (for myself, probably a below average amount of time for most college students,) working on homework.

While working on online anthropolgy homework, I learned about astounding fungi.
*Disclaimer: this is super sick, so avoid reading the following while eating.

A fungus in the Amazonian forest lays on plants and the forest floor, in waiting.
Once an insect or spider crawls by, the fungus attatches itself to the unfortunate creature.
The fungus sticks to the bug's exoskeleton & dissolves a part of it.
Through this opening, the fungus reaches the insect's insides and eats the non-vital organs.
The spider or whatever remains alive and functioning.
After the non-vital organs have been devoured, the fungus eats a part of the bug's BRAIN.
At this point, the fungus has basically created a SPIDER ZOMBIE (!!!); with the brain piece gone, the bug climbs to a high leaf in the forest canopy.
The fungus eats the rest of the insect and then causes it to explode(!!!), sending the fungus spore things to be dispersed throughout the rainforest to lay in waiting again!

...this same fungus has some sort of chemical in it that supresses the human immune system & therefore makes it a great med for transplant patients (of which my daddy was one,) so that their body does not reject the foriegn organ placed in them.
neat, huh???

During my laborious weekend, I also researched other things on the internet:
-C.S. Lewis. I concluded I do indeed want to read all he ever wrote, or most of his works anyways. [Chronicles of Narn, check-dunzo!]
- the Edies Bealeses, of whom Grey Gardens Documentary was of, as well as the 2009 'Grey Gardens' was based on.

Christmas Without Claymation??!

2010-12-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, my friend Steph B ( http://stephbarber.com )

posted about her home's recently added christmas decor. Now here's my apt's Christmas-itizing...

Yeppers, a tree! Last year my parents finally listened to reason and got this atrificial beauty.

To accompany our dorm tree, my mommy bought a pack of super cute ornaments. But no topper was included in the box!

So...I colored and cut this star and added some ribbon.

Our tree may look massive from this perspective, but it's really a disputable 6 footer

And more handmade decorations! These oragami cranes were created and strung by the lovely Adriane (http://arianecarol.blogspot.com)

TADA! Our cozy tree and crane garland!

P.S.- I'm so glad Adriane and I both have a thing about Christmas trees being in corners

Oh, and sorry about the lame formatting of this blog postie. Hope you are having a very merry Christmas season!

Post-Post Script: For ten pretty good (there are really like 14, but only 10 are worth keeping) free Christmas songs to download, go to target.com /christmas

Sabbath

2010-10-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

sorry about my hiatus from blogging the last few months.

that was super lame of me.

so, sorry 'bout that.

i've been regularly reading your bolgs still, so that's cool, right?

great- we've reconciled :)

moving on...

this is a post i started writing...uhhhh...a month or so ago :(

i wrote it after my second sabbath this school year, about my amazing time i had as God reminded me that He loves me for me, not for what i do.

on my sabbath, i painted with my roommate, sbpj.

sbpj and i kinda just became friends this year while living together so it was cool to get some one-on-one time with her. the following is a terrible photo off my phone of my not so terrible, not so great painting:

the text reads: "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow death a light has dawned"

"Matthew 4:16"

Unfortunately I did a not so fun thing on my Sabbath; I spent over half an hour researching how to disinfect wild bird feathers. My fake grandma had a peacock stay in her back yard for a few months and she gave me some feathers for craft things. I do not want to catch bird flu from my hair accessories! So I tried steam cleaning the feathers with a pan of boiling water. Being as paranoid as I am, I ended up submerging the feathers in the boiling water too (a big NoNo according to my online sources,) but whatever.

Also on my Sabbath, I crafted these hair thingies:

Sorry for the sideways photo- I am too lazy. At least I wrote a new post, huh?

what to do...

2010-09-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

My heart is breaking and I've been on the verge of tears all day today.
Sorry to be a downer, but I have to let you all know.
...at least this isn't over a boy.

It's a broken heart over freshmen, and over my small group.
Last week Jono and I reached out to McConnell with free cupcakes, cookies, frisbees and info about InterVarsity and our Bible study. We met some cool kids, and one girl was seriously excited to hear about our small group!
Last week was also the first large group for IV this year, and eight upperclassmen signed up for the Bible study I'm getting to co-lead this semester. I personally know seven, and they are each incredible; three are girls from my small group last year.
Tonight was the second large group, and one upperclassman signed up.

...no freshmen have actually signed up for our small group.

God rekindled my love for freshmen last semester.
And in the last week I realized how mixed class small groups can provide an incredible and unique communtiy for each member.

I'm still excited for my small group, I just feel with all my heart that God is going to do wonderful things in and through it this year that will change lives.
And I can't believe the amazing group of upperclassmen God is filling the small group up with.

BUT
I'm longing for freshmen to come into the group who may come to know and fall in love with Jesus this year.
...who may grow as missional/active Christians.
...who may become leaders in the global church.
...who may find a community to be a part of for the rest of their college careers.

The more I reflect on it, I somehow get the feeling this is intercessing...?hmmm.
or maybe this is a time of "sticking in the mud" for me?

God loves Las Vegas

2010-09-09T00:55:00.000-07:00

During my first trip to Las Vegas, Nevada I learned a few things:
- how to walk with my chin up (literally, since glancing at the ground meant views of naked women on fliers)
- Michael Buble is a fantastic performer
- Naturally Seven is a cool band
- (most importantly) People are people loved by God no matter what the world labels them.
a list actually formed in my head in the style of 'Horton Hears a Who'
A person's a person...
no matter how poor,
no matter how wealthy,
no matter how dumb,
no matter how smart,
no matter how crazy,
no matter how sane,
no matter how rude,
no matter how polite.
And no matter how broken; ALL people are broken.

Summertime Bloggie

2010-08-16T23:53:00.000-07:00

[I've been meaning to jot this list down here for the last month and a half]

here's a few quick comparrisons between my split summer in China & America

1. China: involuntarily waking up w/ Christy at 4:30am the first few days of orientation

America: getting a total of 12 hours of sleep the 1st 4days of returning; a 2week recovery for jet lag

2. China: evening walks, lunches, and a park trip with my Chinese bff, Vivian

America: weekly emails between Vivian and I. Ooo, and doing random things with my bff in Phoenix

3. China: watching 'Valentine's Day' with my first Chinese roomie, cozied up in 1 bed to see the laptop screen

America: watching 'Eclipse' a month after its release, 3 of us snuggled in the back of a pathfinder to see the drive-in movie screen

4. China: filled with joy while crafting to complete gifts for my Chinese friends

America: happy to spend hours crafting to make birthday gifts& a scrapbook of Chiner

5. China: Sabaths with the American students

America: visits with NAU friends

6. China: avoiding nasty internet cafes filled with cigarette smoke, gamers, and slow computers that hated my gmail account

America: avoiding using my family's slow desktop compy to spend less time in my parents' messy room

7. China: trying to ride a child's 2 wheel swivel board and completely failing at it

America: longboarding to my Phoenician bff's and loving it

8. China: being nervous about giving a presentaion in front of culture class

America: being nervous about giving a Sunday talk/sermon for the youth group

9. China: frying under the sun at the Yellow River

America: trying to tan in the backyard

10. China: splashing around in the Yellow river

America: swimming in our backyard pool

11. China: resisting the urge to eat ice cream every day

America: resisting the urge to eat an avacado or gaucamole every day

12. China: organizing my suitcase

America: organizing my parents' kitchen cabinets and closets

13. China: juggling spending time with two sets of classmates, past &present roomates, and the bff

America: juggling spending time with my family, 3 sets of high school friends, college friends, and the bff

14. China: re-reading Esther and Luke

America: for some reason or another, struggling to re-read Mark a chapter a day

...there are of course a billion others but if you haven't stopped reading this list of mine already I'm sure you're ready to!

Nee How

2010-07-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

...because that's how to pronounce 'hello' in Chinese.

I have returned from Chiner; as most of you know my 6 week trip ended last week.

"How was you trip? What was China for you in one word?" <---that's what I've been asked a lotta times these past several days. I don't find the question annoying like staff said we all probably would in debrief. It's just a little difficult to answer succinctly, especially the 'one word' question. In fact, maybe I do find that question a little frustrating.

And, in case you were wondering, the trip was incredible and hopefully life changing. Yes, I added "hopefully" because it could easily not be. I learned and experienced things that I could use to change the way I think and live, but it would be pretty simple to not apply those things to the rest of my life. Now I understand that I have to CHOOSE to make my China trip a life changing one.

To be 'respectful', I will be sensitive with what I type and post for all of internetland to see. So for the really good stuff, ask me personally and you shall recieve. I just had to acknowledge at least a little of how great God made my trip in this bloggy of mine :)

...ps_ Totally unrelated, but guess what.
Guess.

My laptop died.
Did you guess right?
It won't turn on any more, and instead just flashes it's lights a little and makes the start up noise before shutting itself off. Also, my family just got wi-fi for the house. :/ not so cool.
For now though, I have the luxury of sharing my little bro's spiffy new laptop :)

You're gonna be Pop-U-lar

2010-05-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

Since I've started my blog I sometimes wonder what makes a blog famous.

need an example?

Julie & Julia, duh. I won't explain the concept of the movie/ book. Another example can be found in the semi-recent episode of House guest starring the girl who played 'Donna' on That 70's Show, when she blogs while almost dying and people around the world she doesn't even know read about her life. Open another browser if you wanna do some research.

Anyways, I've composed a list of what I imagine it takes to become a person with a world-renown blog. Here you go:

1. Having a theme/ explicit purpose for the blog; preferably one that the readers can read to apply in their lives. I.e., crafty how-to's, photography displays, humorous observations about life (kids these days can't get enough of those sites like MLIA or whatever it is,) and political discussion blogs people will want to read to form an opinion and sound smart about some issue.

_I just learned about that last kind on Thursday, when my professor read a Phoenician blogger's post on the new legislation passed in our little old state of Arizona. In this instance of a politics-oriented blog one must be extremely careful to not end up sounding like some crazy person blabbering on in a way that no one wants to read. That wouldn't make you popular, but immensely unpopular.

2. Already being famous. People love reading whatever Lady Gaga or Dennis Quaid feel about other celebrities and paparazzi.

_Disclaimer: I have absolutely no idea if those two peeps have blogs, I just wrote the names of whoever popped into my head first.

3. Having a wonderfully unique layout and/or graphics. You know, making one's own instead of using the templates given by the blog site. (I am much too technologically challenged to figure out how to do this.)

4. Having crazy cool writing skillz.

If you are reading this blog now, you are well aware my bloggy meets absolutely none of these requirements. So my blog will remain uncool and not famous. But, it's because of this I urge you to read my blog anyway; isn't it usually when people do the uncoolest things that they become the coolest people? I think that's the widely accepted hipster theory.

so, reading my blog= being a hipster

...have a certain disdain for hipsters? that means you're holding onto self hatred, on account of the above scientific findings

basically, you're generally delightful

2010-04-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

My Aunt Inspires Me

{This is my beautiful Auntie and my cousin Jakey- don't let the facial hair fool you, i am older than him. I love them }

her hardwork helps provide for her family and spills into every aspect of her life.
...she is a midwestern mom working a factory job. her and my uncle get up at 4:30am each weekday to drive to their jobs and manage to live life after working all day rather than collapsing in exhaustion like i think i would in that circumstance.

my aunt is incredibly kind and loving to everyone.
...she uses her resources well, often gently encouraging others to act in service for one another.
example: her neighbors, a retired pastor & his wife had their 50th anniversay this summer. auntie found out they wouldn't be celebrating and asked if she could organize a party for them. she made it a potluck and invited everyone to a backyard bbq at her home in honor of the elderly couple. i cried after my mommy told me the story; for some reason this story oozes with love and compassion when i think of it.
...to me, she exemplifies the overlooked phenomenon of midwestern hospitality. she can be a bit rural rough, not afraid to invade someone's "personal space" in order to connect with them, be friendly, and show genuine love.

i'm not sure if my auntie truly loves Jesus and trusts in the righteous God; at times this makes me sob. whenever we talk about Christianity, she seems to go very broad with responses. i don't see how someone so loving, compassionate, kind, and understanding doesn't believe in the Jesus that gave us examples of this behavior.
...she has been hurt by the Church. my uncle and her have told me they would become members of a church if all the ones they've gone to didn't require/ enforce a specific tithe, with the idea that the decision should be made by the individual. still, she is supportive and proud of my walk with Jesus.

ps_ i will be on a plane to China in 48 days!

it's the little things...

2010-03-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

here are some "little things" that have been big to me in the last coupla weeks:

-dance party with my mom to lady gaga's 'bad romance' during our california roadtrip

-my little brother taking me to his favorite place in phoenix to look at the stars and sparkling north valley from a neighborhood mountain top

-driving through phoenix with the sun roof open with my bro

-warm, loving smiles and grilled sandwhiches in a friend's backyard

-my fake grandma telling me stories of her childhood

-a conversation about marriage and love with two friends i care deeply for

-singing 'i'll fly away' at this week's large group

-being told my teeth are distractingly white

-going to a fake senior portrait shoot around flag

-a 20minute jillian michaels shred workout this morning (thought i would die at the time, but now soo glad i did it!)

-a boy reading the Bible and wanting to put God as the focus of his life; witnessing this is in my small group

-wearing my roomate's cool leather jacket

-studying the roles of mary& martha in the Bible during the sermon at my phoenix home church

...the list could go on and on, but i'll stop there :}

TODAY IS MARCH 23RD!!!

2010-03-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

"uh-oh."
that's probably what all of you are thinking, because -after logging this date in your calendars a month ago- you know that March 23rd was set to be the 'deadline' of Adriane and I each dating the boys we hahah...fancy. And, (with me as a giant blabber-mouth who writes a blog) you figure I woulda posted if this came to fruition. You know me too well; indeed, neither of us are now coupled with the certain someones we had in mind. Disappointing? A little.

BUT! Yes, a big but, because there was a stipulation in our arrangement with funny little Morgan: for every weekend we were each gone as well as most of spring break, we got a coupla extra days added since Adriane and I would not be seeing these particular gentlemen. (This clause doesn't actually make sense since it's not like we see them everyday we're in Flag but I think Morgan just wanted the extra padding for the deadline.)I think March 30th is the date we are bumping the deadline to. So, no flowers yet but these two fellas only have about one more week...updates to come next week then :]

rewarded with 5 minutes of uninterrupted blogging.

2010-03-09T22:24:00.001-08:00

i just finished my journal entry for Spanish class; it's not a course about the language but about the country's history. anyways, the weekly journal entries are hard for me to write so i've decided to reward myself by writing a new bloggie before 'worshing' the piles of dirty dishes in the sink...

while reading on, listen to the Eric Burton and the Animals' song San Fransiscan Nights for the full effect

it's 3ish days before spring break. obviously, i'm supah excited :) i'll be in no. cal. sunday through thursday with my mama and fake grandmother.

...just my mom and I; I haven't seen my fake g-ma in like 5 years so none of our pics together are digital :(
we'll be in San Jose at fake Grandma Enis's house enjoying her city and garden for a coupla days and in San Fransisco for a coupla days.

in San Fransisco I plan on:

-walking along fisherman's wharf, Pier 39

-visiting the wax museum (looked for pictures of when I went in high school and posed next to almost every wax figure, but realized they were taken on a disposeable and now sit in a family album in Phoenix)

-stopping in at Ghirardhelli Chocolate Factory

-touring WWII ships like the USS Jeremiah O'Brian

-maybe getting to visit Alcatraz, oo-lala

-admiring the ocean

-visiting my dad's early childhood home north of the city

-walking through China town, looking at things like ducks hanging in windows and pharmacies in which shark fins sit in proudly displayed jars (again, too bad I don't have access to the pics of my trip in high school!)

my packing list for this California trip contains things like:
-nautical themed clothing& accessories
-good walking shoes

-camera with lotsa batt'ries

-ipod to repeatedly listen to the aforementioned Animals song and my other classic Cali music like Jack's Mannequin and the Beach Boys

button, button, who's got the button?!

2010-03-08T22:07:00.001-08:00

ever heard the worship song that goes,
"You give and take away, You give and take away.
my heart will chose to say, Lord blessed is Your name" ?
...well i've been singing it for years and years but have a new appreciation of the words.

lately, God's been been teaching me to be grateful things I already had.
examples:

*having a button on my winter coat. i have other coats, but this one i got last year is my absolute favorite.

while playing in the snow, the button fell off and it took me over a month of forgetting to sew it back on. now i appreciate being able to close my coat to better keep me warm :)

*my wallet. yep, remember when i mentioned i had lost my wallet? four days later i found it on the dashboard of my car! already having cancelled my bank cards, it was nice not to have to go get a new driver's license and to still have an old navy gift card. these were posessions i already had and yet was newly thankful for. i realized that they're still a luxury to be thankful for; i don't really need them but life is easier with bank cards, AAA, a driver's license and a coupla bucks in cash.

*my bike. i know, you're thinking "really jennifer, you're gonna talk about your bike againnn?" yes, yes i am. it's just supah exciting to have the mode of fun transportation back!
it's something i took for granted; it was free and i was like 'well everyone on campus has a bike, it's nothing to be very thankful for now that i've had it for a few months.' totally wrong.

*other things like hot water from the kitchen sink and NOT having my car blow smoke at me through the ac vents.

it really doesn't matter how these things ended up outta my life for a while. God restored them to me in a way that makes me discover how blessed i am with even the little things and that i really don't have to depend on having posessions, there not mine anyway.

*****i feel this could be preparing my heart a little for when i return home from 6weeks in China this July, shocked with gratitude for what God has already provided me with and seeing all that i can live without!

a happy note :)

2010-02-24T22:52:00.000-08:00

* this evening, my bike was returned to me! i just happened to see it leaning against the wall i left it at before it was---uh, borrowed without asking. i wonder about the person who took it and returned it; was that their intention the whole time? where did they go once they had my bike? were they too racked by guilt to keep it? what has murray (my bicycle,) been up to these last few days?
not that i really care too much, i'm just happy to be a girl with a bike again!

* in one month from yesterday i'll probably being recieving flowers from my dear friend morgan. morgan is convinced that my roommate and i will be dating two specific boys we know and ,uhhumm, like. i would not mind dating this certain someone sometime soon, but won't be shocked to find that come march 23rd i'll be handed a lovely bouquet by morgan because he hasn't asked me out.
though, if morgan was right i'll owe her some flowers, and that's money i wouldn't mind spending!

now for less girly (?) blogging, here's what i'm obsessed with right now:
_songs:
- You and I, Ingrid Michaelson
- Folding Chair, Regina Spector
{i've been listening to those 1st two back to back over &over &over again!}
- Walking the Dog, Fun
- Tune Out and On Your Porch, both by The Format
- Haven't Met You Yet, Michael Buble
_blogging maybe
_serving others by cooking and baking for them
_$5 mustard yellow cardigan from target, which my roomie adriane also owns and loves
_the R.L Stien book my friend christie told me to read
_Helen Keller's autobiography
_telling everyone my bicycle is back & riding it around

ps....

2010-02-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

JUST A GIRL WITHOUT A BIKE...

_I just lost my wallet last night, with all important cards in it except for the replacement school id i got last week. There is also the small possibility it was stolen since our 'livingroom' door was unlocked and open when I woke up this morning. BUT one thing I earned from this is how loving and generous the women from my NorthPoint Bible study are! :)

_My bike was stolen. Yep, the one I got for free that I tied a metal shower basket to with zip ties... here's a picture of a happier time:

I should have not forgotten to lock it up over the weekend, but some mean person should also not have taken it. It was a ghetto bike, but it was MY ghetto bike!

_I got my roommate hooked on one of my fav shows, Dead Like Me. guess that's what you get when you make fun of the tv i watch ;)

_Release 2010 is going on and it's so exciting! my prayer: let God's love be known throughout this campus and reach over with abundance to Africa... In Jesus' name, Amen!

_two of the funniest pranks have been pulled on me by Andrew James, Ashley Nicole, Jessie Mae, and Sam Brown in the last month. including but not limited to: pecans in my pillow cases, drawers,& clothes. my giant stuffed animal duck drawn over the shower curtain rod. sick rob pattinson poster stuck above my bed. knick-knacks from my desk stuck upside down beneath its shelf.

_I hate knowing that I used to be so much better at writing than I am now; sorry if this bloggie is a bit lame/painful to read...

knock, knock, knocking on heaven's doorrr

2010-02-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

just about one week ago God revealed something pretty cool to me; this is about the 3rd draft of this post about that Sunday....

Four of my friends and I [looked for a picture of all of us together but one doesn't exist] drove down to Phoenix last(?) Saturday for a short vacay in the sun, complete with an overnight visit to Andy Liem's Gammy and attening service at a charasmatic ("Of, relating to, or being a type of Christianity that emphasizes personal religious experience and divinely inspired powers, as of healing, prophecy, and the gift of tongues", according to thefreedictionary.com,) church that we had heard about.

I definitely believe the Holy Spirirt manifests itself in those ways- actually, I know that. BUT, I still had never been to such a churchI am from a conservative, Lutheran-ish church and clapping my hands during worship is a big step for me....so for our visit to Heaven's Place (the name of the church,) I was excited, anxious, and nervous!

We entered the one room, pale yellow church a few minutes after service had begun. Two women were at the front, leading worship with their singing and a keyboard. A man with a spider and its web tatooed on his face welcomed us in with "God bless you's" , a handshake, and a warm smile as a woman did the same with a pat on the back. So we were a little more at ease by the welcoming hearts saturating the small space (or, at least I was.)

Most everything was new to me- massive hand clapping, unstoppable laughter from the incredible woman pastor from South Africa, lotsa hand raising, worship through the repetition of the words "bubble, double, bubble, bubble, double..." (you get the point,) prophesying (when the pastor prophesied over me i cried...), casting out demons and spirits, and pastoral prayer for individuals after the sermon!

Half way through the service God made me see beauty in this place; these people have a love for Jesus just like me. Their ways of worship, prayer, and teaching are beautiful because they are reaching out to God and completely open to the Holy Spirit. It was like attending church in a language you recognize but don't speak fluently; not knowing enough to really keep up, just enough to understand the jist of what's going on...

Super Bowl weekend

2010-02-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

[i actually started writing this out last night so it falls under the scheduling category of "Sunday: Nice Things", as in something random i just had to post]

no more than 15min after i arrive home, my mama finds me sobbing on the floor of our kitchen.
i have to spill my guts to her.

*rewind: friday night i walk into the house after my 2hr drive from school. my puppy dog jumps on me, tail wagging, tongue out. my mom is sitting on the living room couch and is quieter than usual but happy to see me. my dad warned me that this had been a rough week for her.

i begin noticing the old newspapers littering the room. on my way to the restroom i see the kitchen dirty with old plates and a coupla pizza boxes on the counter.

returning to the living room i find that my dad is home, now sitting with my mom. just as i begin looking forward to one of my mom's yummy home cooked meals, the 'rents ask me what i want from arby's. great, fast food- something no one in my family needs any more of.

tearing up, i slip away to the kitchen. this house seems to be reflecting what i feared my family's trapped by: personal apathy. a real mess. depression. shame.

my heart breaks, praying and longing for my parents and brother to be healed by Jesus.

i also feel guilt for being able to escape this, living a few hours away in my nice clean dorm surrounded by friends, having Jesus to help me through everything.

so i tell my mom why i'm crying. she reminds me that the house is a mess and she isn't feeling well because she had major knee surgery last week.
so she hasn't just given up on...everything. relief streams through me- the situation isn't so bleak.

**fast forward to saturday afternoon: my dad and i are driving through Maryvale- the ghetto neighborhood where we both grew up- on the way to visit more family. he always gets nostalgic around here.

so i had to ask:
*did my 'Catholic' grandma actually go to church?
dad: she did- she did all those sacrements. but no, not after she got married. [my heart sinks]
me: oh.
dad: but she did pray every night. and your grandpa didn't like churches, but i know he believed in God. and he was always kind to others, he would do anything for a complete stranger. and us kids went to Sunday school sometimes, with our friends and we chose whether we wanted to go. but i just wanted to play....i wonder what church i'll be going to, you know, when you become a minister.
me: speechless...........

"As in water face reflects face,
So a man's heart reveals the man" Proverbs 27:19

God knows people's hearts; this comforts me. He provides hope, and after the dark weekend my hope for my family has been renewed.

"I wish I was at an Arby's 'cause there's better food and cooler people there! "

2010-02-03T23:20:00.000-08:00

this week's movie review...

Baby Mama [if you couldn't guess from the quote]
verdict: i love it.
one of my favorite movies ever- i could watch it like twice a week for the rest of my life and never get bored with it! (uh-oh, i also said that about School of Rock in the 10th grade and i now can't bare to watch it more than twice a year.) but really, this movie is sooo funny! nearly every line could serve as a great 'one liner'...i think. and i love the fashion. and i even love the storyline... :}

suggestion: watch the movie with friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon after church and lunch! aside from the initial viewing in theatres, it's perhaps my new favorite way to watch a film ;)

warning: for thursday movie reviews i'll probably rarely do an actual review of a new release. either personal favorites or movies that i hated. why would i bother to write a lukewarm review? pointless, so i won't.

*side note? : maybe it's because it's late and i'm exhausted or maybe it's cause i'm obsessed, but i think a movie based on the hit show Glee sounds fantastic. no, after typing that i think not. not at all. i just miss Glee and was desperate for a way to express that in tonight's post...sorry for being a foo'.

the 2 shows i want on dvd: Glee. Roseanne.

2010-01-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

12:30am, Saturday. just barely, I am following my new schedule!
I'm amused by what's on my bookshelf & maybe you will be too---so here's an itemized list:

_1 bobble head Jesus

_2 miniature popes (Papa Juan Pablos)

_1 miniature Santo Francisco

_1 plastic dinosaur (think 'Sarah' from Land Before Time) from my church's middle school lock-in I helped chaperone

_1 tube Burt's Bees chapstick, pomegranate flavored

_1 small Niagra Falls snow globe

_1 rock painted by one of my sg girls from last year

_1 box of unicorn bandages, "made with real unicorn tears for extra healing power"[it says so right on the box]

_1 school photo of my cousin Allie in a pretty frame

_1 "I <3 Jim" from The Office sticky note pad

_1 Pirates of the Carribean sticky note pad

_1 Reese's tin (filled w/ things for another list)

_1 'sort-n-save bank'

_1 bottle of Eucerin lotion

_1 desk organizer drawers with things like boring papers, batteries and other things that don't deserve a list

_a miniature cupid that was the 'toy prize' out of the afore-mentioned tin of unicorn bandages

_oh yeah, and various books& magazines, none of which are actually for any of my classes...

shhheduuule

2010-01-21T01:11:00.000-08:00

i've been torn up about what to write about for my bloggie lately; i know a theme isn't a requirement, but they seem very nice and i've decided i want one.

...but to pin down just one topic, really? i'd rather not.
while making a trip to one of the finest bakeries in flag i mentioned my conundrum to my bff, roomie, and fellow blogger & blog reader adriane. like always, she had the best solution: a day-of-the-week topic like her older sister implements for her blog! of course, i love it :)
so here's the schedule for you, my avid readers:

Mondays: Pranks
Tuesdays: What's on the desk of a reforming hoarder?
Wednesdays: Women I admire most
Thursdays: Movie Review
Fridays: Photos with Minimal Captions
Saturdays: Lists
Sundays: Nice Things

Frasier's transitional labels are like fb photo album names

2010-01-19T23:20:00.000-08:00

-well executed pranks
~texting 2 friends last night to tell them classes were cancelled due to snow. one began planning a movie marathon & the other supposedly just skipped classes. but is it really my fault if peeps don't check their email to confirm such things?? (...but if you know me, you could guess that i still do feel a bit bad)
~making 5 of my friends, and then all those present at the small group leaders' mtng who notice my presence, think i got a nose ring.
~convincing a friend i got "HUSTLA" tattooed across my bicept (or the area in which my bicept would be if i had real muscles)
~taking an in-shell-walnut out of my friend's cupboard, cracking it open & then placing all pieces back onto his shelf. then, i drew small animal-like footprints next to the nut reminants and smudging them slightly to look more real. later he told me he didn't fall for it for a second, but i suspect otherwise.
~changing my roomie's fb status...though that prank was actually terribly executed, but whatevs
~writing a fake grocery list at a friend's house...lame, but i got a laugh out of it

"I used to like to play with my Ken and Barbie dolls. Ken was my favorite. Then one Christmas I got them a camper and all they wanted to do was hang out in it by themselves. So I wasn't too upset when they took that wrong turn and went over the cliff."
_Vada Sultenfus, My Girl

I got to watch possibly my all-time favorite movie, My Girl on my lazy afternoon this week and rekindled my love for it. Ever since I can remember I've loved pretty much everything about the movie, and at the age of 10 I planned naming my possible future daughter 'Vada' after the main character....it's pretty sick I know, but isn't it the slightest bit cool?

So, I want to hear from YOU: Am I setting my possible future child up for failure if I name her Vada Jane -----?
seriously, leave a comment & let me know :}

I don't make New Year's resolutions but...

2010-01-12T22:43:00.000-08:00

I have just never understood the hype about New Year's resolutions. I'm all for them since they are usually made because people become inspired to change their life for the better.
a fresh start.
okay, I get it, I do. BUT why limit one's self to January 1st each year?? if you wanna change, do it NOW; whenever that might be!
and this January 1st as I laid on my grandparent's orange and brown 70s couch I realized something. I don't understand why people are obsessed with the fresh start a New Year gives them when there's a better one out there. Jesus. Yes, I said it. So I sound like a crazy, judgemental-of-others, know-it-all Christian but I don't mean to be like that. Maybe I'll elaborate more on this idea of mine in a future bloggie...

All that being said I've done some reflecting, watched some movies, and read some books in the last month and so- for the first time in my life- I'm making some New Year resolutions. Hypocrite? perhaps, but at least I'll admit it, right?

~eat healthier, and eat much less meat: i don't think i can handle becoming a vegetarian, but after watching Food, Inc I just need to do something about my awful dietary habbits!

~be a better friend: there are people in my life I absolutely love but- for some reason or another, mostly pure laziness- either don't keep in contact with or don't make the effort to hang out with nearly enough. this is going to change; I already have a list of names of such peeps.

~be more involved in mentoring my Bible study girls& try to help them extract their missional side a bit more: I absolutely love the girls in my small group and need to work much harder at working out schedules to see them on a regular basis outsida the Bible study. Also, to encourage and work with them more to be more missional- like working to add new ppl to our small group's 'core group'.

~don't slack off in classes like I have for the last year and a half: freshman year I was on the dean's list, now I'm just scraping through. I need to remember going to college is an opportunity and gift. I want Colossians 3:23-24 ("Whatever you do, do with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...It is the Lord Christ you are serving.") to inspire me with this task.

~update my bloggie more often: I love reading others blogs... I've had plenty of complaints from friends frustrated with my lack of blogging.

feel free to help keep me accountable : )

would you rather...?

2009-12-09T00:46:00.000-08:00

I would rather wash 100 plates and bowls than 30 forks, spoons, knives or utensil.
but I have lots of styrofoam plates and only metal silverware.

I would rather take 7 100-question multiple choice tests than write a 4 page essay.
but I am majoring in history and not geography.

I would rather bake, cook, clean, and make gifts for people all day than go to school.
but I am a college student and not Mrs. Clause.

I would rather be sleeping right now than writing this bloggie.
but I can't get to sleep and just now realized I should go read my Bible.

Nightie-night

sh-sugar town

2009-11-22T20:00:00.001-08:00

I've become pretty much obsessed with my sock monkey Christmas pj's from Target that my mama gave me last December, wearing them almost every night. They are flannel with a button up top complete with pockets and also have Christmas trees around them...totally dorky, but i love 'em!

So, when I went into Target last week and saw their flannel pajama sets on display, I was ecstatic! I can't decide the ones I would like the most this Christmas: eskimo girls that look straight outta It's a Small World, owl covered, or puppies with presents and bows...

:) well, now I know what to put on my Christmas list along with a new phone

Papa

2009-11-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had a really awesome dream. Like maybe even the second best dream of my life!

I was wading around in the ocean.
I look around, and some of my family is there- my mom, brother, and two grandpas...others like maybe my dad but I can't remember.
Suddenly I realize that my Grandpa Buster has gone too far out and is about to drown.
I'm the closest one to him, so I swam over and got him to shore.
As we stood on the beach he said "Thank you so much, Jenn-ay" (no lie, my Papa Buster's Arkansas accent has always sounded a bit like Forest Gump.)
I was overwhelmed by happiness- my Grandpa Buster started developing alzheimer's about 10 years ago; it's been at least 5 years since he's called me by my name without having to be told who I am.
So, the rest of the dream I just sobbed with joy while my Grandpa hugged me. [good thing my roommates are gone, cause I've started crying as I'm retelling this]

I've never really known my grandpa that well at all; my grandma (his wife) died about 15 years ago, he always had a big sense of humor but I remember him being more quiet. I feel like this man I know now who doesn't know me isn't really my grandfather, but more like a shadow sometimes mimicking my Grandpa Buster's kindness and humor. His wife was 'Catholic' (but I don't ever remember her going to church) and I don't think he knew/ knows Jesus.

It is something with I struggle with- these last years of his life seem like he's being cheated out of the chance to love the God Who made and loves him, Jesus Who died for him, and being with the Holy Spirit...but I know that he had also been given 70ish years to accept salvation. I'm left wondering why this happens, where my Papa really is, and where he is going once he dies. Through this though, I know I have to place more faith in my God that is so much bigger than me.

photography? photography.

2009-10-05T00:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since high school, I've wanted to try photography. I can't get over how pictures can display beauty through someone's unique perspective-I always wanted to show others a new way to look at something through photographs I had taken. I just assumed that photography was easy- just view and snap. Not much thought, more feeling out what you want to take a picture of. In the last couple of years, I've realized how wrong I was.

Two weeks ago my amazing friend Ashley offered herself as a professor for a sorta Photgraphy101 class for Jessie, Christie, Andrew, and I!

Our first week, we learned about composition, and we were given our first assignment: focus on compostion while taking pictures of red subjects. In true Flagstaff style our class+Adriane met beneath the shade of some trees on north campus to share and critique our photographs. I LOVED everyone's photos- it was so neat to see what subjects they chose and how they captured them! Overall, I was pretty proud of my final products...so here they are:

Obviously I had the honor of 'working with' my incredible and beautiful roomie, Adriane. As of our last class meeting, Adriane has joined as a student and I can't wait to see what her photos will look like!

*warning: when getting your pics printed, the store you go to may cut off the edges of your photos. I had to learn this the hard way :[ and haven't yet found out how to prevent this unfortunate occurance

beddie-time blog

2009-09-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's 11:05 Sunday night and I am sick- not just sick as in coo', but cold virus kind too. I should be resting but I don't wanna. I wanna write, right now.
*****Halfway thru writing this, I realize it's pretty much a journaling of my wkend. If nothing else, read the parts proceeding the astriks, they're the realll important stuff! *note: pictures hopefully up tomorrow

So today's bloggie will be about my weekend, which started Thursday at 5:15 after my last class for the week. I came home and waited around for one of my freshman year besties to arrive for birthday celebrations to commence for her in our room. What I thought would be a pleasant evening hanging out and watching a movie ended up being a 20ish minute visit before her and my roomate drove off into the sunset to get Taco Bell...I was a little confused but figured whatever-- it's her birthday and if that's what she wants to do, ain't no whipped cream off my sundae.

So once 7:30 rolled around Adriane and I headed off to IV large group.

*****One of my bffs/mentor, Ashley, spoke and it was great- her humor & heart for God and NAU students shone through as she talked about listening for and recognizing God's voice by discussing what Jesus talks about in John 10:1-21. She spoke truth and explained how it should be applied to our lives specifically. I really can't believe I get to be friends with such a cool kid!
From large group I got to longboard on over to Starbucks, the post-large group hang out. This week I got to hang out with some favs while sitting on the newly added patio around an extended table as my newest bff, Jon Watson, smoked his cancer-loving pipe (that I love and despise at the same time.)

Thursday night was also a planned sleepover at my amazing friend Jessie's apt, where 10 girls slept over after 'the boy' left. There was fun girl talk and I even got the privilege of being J.Fo's bed-buddy. After 5& 1/2 hrs of sleep I awoke to "I woke up wishing I was dead" coming from Jessie's phone but loved it. Slowly everyone ended up in the bedroom, beginning with Ashley-the-early-riser. She tried convincing me to cancel all my wkend plans to head down to Tuscon with her and half my other close friends but I just felt like I couldn't.

*****That morning I had choco-chip pancakes and eggs with some of the most beautiful women you could ever hope to meet :}

Friday was a lunch date with the roomies at the OG, followed by shopping at Old Navy. Friday night was another girls' night with Adriane and 2 of my favorite sophmores, complete with a viewing of "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". Loved it!

Saturday my roomates shunned me, I had to watch a ridiculous movie for my Rel. class, but Saturday night was truly wonderful! *****Homemade spaghetti sauce, bread, and spaghetti with some amazing "Flagstaff family"...Aziel said the Tuscon ppl were really missing out and I realized I really did need this Flagstaff weekend. After dinner we went to my 1st NAU hockey game and I loved it. Then back to our room for pazookie and "Hitch". Jon Watson and Jessica S. (who I haven't seen all yr!) both came :)

Today: After 5ish hours of sleep, went to my NorthPoint, had lunch with a ton of random NP peeps and then got to have TCBY with the other members of the trio from last yr+ Adriane.

***********May your next weekend be as magical as this one has been for me**************

*bloggies to watch out for next (and by next I mean actually soon): my Illinois Roadtrip, the Movement, my first Bible studies of this year

Because Sometimes Giving Into Peer Pressure Is a Good Thing

2009-04-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

***warning: i just found out how to add more than one photo to a post, so i may have went a little overboard

well, you asked me to craft a new blog, so here it is

[and by "you" i mean my lone reader/ follower, adriane]

and since all the cool kids make up neat lists on their bloggies, i wanna make one too:
My 2009 Summah To Do Fun List~

*Chapter Camp *

last year was incredible...i think i could actually write an autobiographical, teen best seller trilogy about it: the journey there, my experiences at chapter camp, and my life post chapter camp '08. hmmmm...i like the sound of this- good thing i have a blog as a sorta public idea notebook!

so yeah, i can't wait to see how God will work this time :}

*Disneyland ??? *

this year you get into the happiest place on earth for free on your birthday, and i really wanna be riding 'it's a small world' (without hearing Christmas carols) on may 21st this year!

so my dear friend ashley and i began dreaming up a trip to the park for our birthday, but with scheduling conflicts that got thrown out the window by the end of last semester....

then more recently my pal timmy got my hopes up when he volunteered to go with me. we even started really planning things out, but tim can be lame and the trip too expensive...

so now i am trying to convince my mommy to take me to disneyland as a birthday present and heartwarming mother-daughter trip. i love spending time with my mommy and still think the trip would be fun, but i am preparing myself for the strong probability of not hanging out with mickey, the world famous mouse, this cumpleanos...

*chillaxin with my family*

i am a homebody- like i really enjoy just spending a friday night at home watching a movie with my mommy, daddy, and little brudda as much as going out with friends.

*interning at my church back home in phoenix, Chaparral Christian Church*

i really love my church, have grown up there (starting in 5th grade,) and i can't wait to get to serve even more there. i don't actually know waht i'll be doing as an "intern", but i'm hoping to get to work with the youth group(jr. and sr. high) and get to sit in on some teachers'/ leaders' meetings maybe!

*lots of babysitting jobs*

since my internship won't be paid and will prob take up most of my day, i'm hoping for some paid babysitting opportunities to make some spending $$$

*visiting friends in flag*

at least a couple weekends outta the summer i want to be able to come up and hang out with my friends staying flagstaff

friends like ashley and stephanie, once they return from their world travels, and friends like brookie-ookie, and friends like timmy daniel...and hopefully adriane and i can come visit at the same time

*finally getting to meet my youngest cousin*

Sedona Adams was born last april and i still haven't got to see her in person. plus, the visit to colorado will mean getting to see uncles and aunts i haven't seen since last may and even my high school graduation party!

*visiting with high school friends*

we have grown apart since i gradutated, but i still love hanging out when a couple of us are home

*vbs*

yep, i love being a "teacher" or "helper" at CCC's vbs. i may not love getting up at 7am for a week or trying to clean out corn starch- h2o goop from carpet and giant tubs, but i absolutely love the little kiddos that come :]

*kids' fine arts camp*

apparently CCC also wants to have this for the vbs-age kids. i love arts and crafts, so count me in!

*being a counselor kids camp in sedona*

i look forward to this as much as chapter camp. CCC rents out a beautiful (but practically spider and skunk infested,) camp ground for a week for 2nd-6th graders to come to. a lot of work and waking up by 7, but it's incedible to just hang out with these guys, and i especially love worshiping with the kids

*getting tan*

hard to believe considering that i'm now whiter than casper, but when i was little people thought i was a sun-bleached blonde, blue-eyed mexican child because i was so tan

*longboarding as much as possible!*

despite the soul-crushing heat of phx

*completing my summer reading list and movie list*

you'll just have to tune in later to find out what's on those :}

....now i know why they make lists on these things, it's a fun mental organizational activity!

LOVE

2009-01-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

i have decided that i love love.
[warning, i shall be using the word 'love' a lot in this bloggie]

i used to think/ worry about whether or not i'd ever fall in love with some amazing guy, and i still do sometimes. but God is definitely helped me realize that i don't need to stress over that. i think that's why i've come to love and appreciate other kinds of love. i haven't ever been 'in love' before but it's important to remember that falling in love with a guy isn't the only kinda love.

i love Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit ( i still don't quite understand the trinity thing, but i know i love it/them?)

i love my family and friends.

i love nature (...well, until it gets gross, then it's just sick.)

-the list really goes on and on, just like i hope your list of loves would-

....anyways....

i really wanna love to love; i already love the people in my life like family, friends, and people that aren't my friends yet but are so incredible that i wanna make 'em my friends. but i wanna love all people, and that's not always easy. it's never easy. i love all the blessings God has filled my life with. but i wanna love the hardships too, since i have seen the pattern emerge from my own life, the lives of others, and the Bible that God always manages to use those hardships in incredible ways.

lately when i read my Bible, i come across all these amazing passages about true, beautiful love. and really with anything i read or see, i'm always drawn to words or images expressing love. i made a collage on the cover of my planner over winter break, and without realizing it, i put the word LOVE right in the middle; i want it to be a conversation starter. i want people to look at it and not just automatically think that i'm in love with some boy.

hmmm, i don't know if i've just been writing in circles or not. or if i even made my point. if i did just loop this thing around to a point where you can't find any conclusions, please don't hold it against me- remember, this is only my second bloggie.

adios, amigos :}

startin' out......

2009-01-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

there is still some snow outside so i thought this would be a nice photo to begin my first bloggie with (though i took this over a 1yr ago & is a placeapproximately 1700miles from where i sit)***

how appropriate- i put on my ipod and the first lyrics are "startin' out" in the format's song, 'time bomb'. i wonder if i'm allowed to reference something like a band name or song or whatever in one of these bloggie things. hmm, i just really hope that's not some sort of copyright infringement or something.

so, yes, if you can't already tell, this is my first blog.

get used to the lower case, i'm usually to lazy to push the shift button. it's hard when you only use 2 fingers to type. oh, and i'm pretty bad with seperating thoughts into paragraphs. then again, this isn't some kinda assignment and you don't have to read my bloggie, so if you hate it just stop reading. right...now.

if you don't hate it enough to have already stopped reading, thanks i guess :)

yep, i'm also a smiley/ expression inserter. i like it- just picture those expressions on my face, and it's just like i'm talking to you. lo siento if you hate that though (lo siento=sorry, en espanol)

oh that's another thing- i like to randomly use spanish, i feel obliged to professora hernandez to incorporate it into my life- i don't want to feel like those 4yrs of spanish classes in high school were a complete waste...so i will translate my spanish when i use it.

aaahahaha, ha. still reading? thanks for being so dedicated to my blog, friend.

i promise my future posts will be much more compelling or more profound or more interesting or funnier or something...wait, i shouldn't make that kinda promise. instead, let's just say 'i HOPE my future posts will be better'... oh look, by hanging in there you even got four upper case letters!

*so long for now, to you my friend- until we meet again :}
(that's courtesy of 'out of the box'- still afraid of copyright infringement or plagerism or whatever)