Sunday, April 10, 2005

What a match!


Happy 23rd Wedding Anniversary to my parents. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Feliz cumpleanos a mi.

Yes, it is, once again, my birthday today. I'm 21, completely legal. Although my celebrations are slightly different from the vast majority of ex-minors....

Instead of buying myself my first beer (which, when I do, will be a Guinness)I decided to spoil myself by ordering a little light reading. Don't all girls want writings of a 12th century monk for the big 21?

Ah well, if anybody is feeling in the birthday spirit and wants to gift me with one of the other things on my wish list, go right ahead. I'm really hoping for those Chant cds....

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Lessons from the book of Ruth

Mom's don't meddle, they act in God's plan.

Sometimes you've got to get your hands dirty.

Excellence is meeting, and surpassing, the required characteristics.

Men can be almost as crafty as women.

If you had sack of grain, a cloak, and a sandal....I'd marry you.

Often we just can't see where we fit in to God's plan and all we can do is obey.

Character: now that's hot!

If business deals today resulted in you having to get a new pair of shoes, Fortune 500 would be a women's magazine.

Monday, March 14, 2005

My Redeemer Lives

When I am reading through the Bible, I often stumble across certain words or phrases that stick out to me for no apparent reason. A lot of the time, these are words that we use without really thinking about why or what they mean, yet they are part of our Christian vocabulary and we rarely stop to question them. I like to stop and dig in, words are chosen for a purpose and I want to know what that purpose is. So this past week, when it was my night to share with the group, I took them on a little adventure, the same expedition I share with you now.

I've been reading through Ruth with one of the girls in my Bible study, and a word that kept popping out at me was "redeemer" and since then I've been chewing over the connection between Boaz as Ruth's redeemer, and Christ as ours. What was it about Ruth that needed to be redeemed? She was a widow. Whenever widows are mentioned in the Word, they are grouped with the poor, the needy. In 1 Kings 17:22 we meet the widow who has nothing but a little flour and some oil that she is set to use to prepare a last meal for her and her son. In 2 Kings 4, the widow is being pursued by creditors and has nothings but a jar of oil. In Luke 21, the widow who offers 2 small copper coins is said to have offered more than any of the others for she gave all she had. So widows were poor. Loss of a husband meant loss of income. A widow could not provide for herself, she was helpless, desperate.

In Genesis 38 we find the story of Tamar. Her first husband died so she married his brother in hopes that he might continue the line. (The story takes a turn for the worse soon after, but the practice is all I need to reference.)

This is the practice we see in Ruth. Ruth and Naomi have both become widows, they have no income. Ruth goes to the field to glean from the harvest with the rest of the poor. Boaz is able to provide for Ruth. He marries her to "redeem" her, to restore her and "raise up the name of the deceased." So how does that apply to us?

Boaz could redeem Ruth because he was a relative, even called a "closest relative" (Ruth 2:20) which can also be translated "redeemer." We have been adopted into God's family and are even called fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17).

Our original relationship, the one we were intended to share with God, died in Adam's sin. We are widows. We are spiritually bankrupt and have no means of providing for ourselves. But Christ, Christ was sent into this world to reconcile--bring back into close relationship--all things. He was sent to redeem us, to restore our inheritance in God's kingdom, to bring glory to the name of the Father.

One of the great ideas behind this whole "redeemer" thing, is that redeemers had a choice. In Ruth 4, the closer relative had a choice as to whether he wanted to redeem Ruth or not, he chose not to. But Christ came with that sole purpose. It was His choice.

Like I said, this is just something I've been chewing on for a few days...

Happy Pi Day.

Yes, I am a nerd. No, it's not the same "Pi" in my title.

Some sites for you to visit.

Is your birthday in Pi? Mine is, position 1134202.

Read a history of Pi.

And then take the quiz.

Or check out Pi to 1,000,000 places.

Friday, March 04, 2005

The time has come

My little friends,
to talk of other things.
Of shores and trips and packing bags
Of week-long break and Spring!
And why I'm off to Florida
And whether we'll get to swing.
Calloo-Callay
No work, hurray!
We're cabbages and kings!

Yes sir. I am off to Stuart, Florida for this the week of Spring Break. It's one of the Nav trips we run every year and we'll be staying at a church and working on homes for Habitat for Humanity.

I will be missing my babies up in Chester, but I am really looking forward to this week.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Do you enjoy the distortion?

So I'm an Earthsuit fan. (Apparently they are no longer "Earthsuit" but that doesn't really matter.) It's really hard to describe or classify them. Although it made sense, for some reason, when I learned they were from New Orleans.

One of my particular favorites of theirs is Sky Flashings:
Who keeps the balance in suspended skies
Supporting Earth with inward thrust
Let the audience refocus eyes
On all sky flashings in front of us

Who's seen in the midst of unsealing skies
It's revelation that all can see
And yet our hearts remain hushed inside
Mindless of fantasia we enjoy for free.

It takes a miracle, kaleidoscope superior
Spinning vortex, bleeding shades of night to day
Sovereign pictures center stage
Genius of the cosmic craze
Days and nights keep on and on
God abroad in blended song
In our sky flashings

Who can deny this pure design
Emanating views never seen
Revealing art to mortal minds
Entranced in our phantasmic dreams

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Disappearing Act

I know you are probably wondering what's happened to me the past couple of weeks. I could say that I decided to give up posting for Lent, but that's evidently not the case. Nor have I given up on the whole blog thing and just decided to let my page slowly wear away into the mysterious expanse of the internet. The simple truth is, I've been absolutely swamped. I've barely been able to keep my head above water these past couple of weeks, and really don't have time between now and Spring Break (1.5 weeks away) either. I'm just refusing to do work tonight. Or anything more than reading at any rate.

I've been thinking recently of how distant I've become in so many of my relationships. I remember growing up, how every time we moved I would swear it was the time that I was going to keep up correspondence with those friends I was leaving behind. If I ever did, it slowly lessoned. Each letter was more delayed than the last. And then they just stopped completely. I've been noticing with friendships I have now. It has taken a lot of determination to keep involved with some people. As hard as it is sometimes here in town, it's been even more so with people who live in other cities, and other states.

Lets run through the list. I haven't seen most of my maternal relatives for 12 years. My maternal grandparents came up to visit occasionally, but the last time they came was probably 4 or 5 years ago. My paternal grandfather came up to visit a couple of summers ago, but I haven't seen my paternal grandmother or my uncles for, again, 12 years. I think they (my grandmother and at least one of my uncles) are planning to come up sometime this spring, which is tremendously exciting.

I do keep in touch with my parents. I didn't get to call home too much last year, but this year I've been calling at least once a week, often more. I think it's because I fear drifting away so much. I don't want to have the relationship with them that my parents have with their families. My dad hears from his family maybe 3 times a year, total. Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

One of the things that really bugs me is what has become of my brother and me. We spent years in the same house and couldn't really stand each other. But now, I haven't seen him in 3 years, and I rarely get to speak with him. When I do hear what is going on with him, it's usually relayed through my parents.

I've been fighting. I've been writing letters. I've been determined to know how people in my family are doing. Is this just how it is? We fall to the point of the obligatory holiday phone call? You know, all this technology is supposed to be making communication easier...I don't think we are using it to its full potential.



And on a side note: A little too ironic: Blogger spell check doesn't recognize "blog" as a proper word. Neither does it recognize Blogger. You think they'd fix that.

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Some things should just stay dead

Supposedly, if you hang on to something long enough it will come back into style. With all the retro/vintage fashion waves that have been about recently I've been excited to see many 40s and 50s inspired looks. I've even liked some of the 60s fabrics and sometimes the 70s funk that has shown up.
The one thing I dread. The thing that sparks convulsive twitching as I see it creeping back into our closets is the return of the 80s. Maybe it's because I lived through part of the decade and don't want to admit that I'm old enough for something I've worn to be "back in style." Maybe it's because it's the only "retro" decade that I've actually seen in person and could actually witness how bad things were at the time. Whatever it is, I'm fighting.
So I just about died yesterday when I saw a girl on campus in a black off-the-shoulder shirt, a white skirt, and black Spandex shorts underneath. She even had black sneakers to complete the outfit. If her hair wasn't so normal, I swear she could have passed for Cyndi Lauper. Except she wasn't looking for fun. Oh no, she was spotted well before lunch time. This was day-wear.

Monday, January 24, 2005

Heard in passing:

Guy 1: So did you have a good time?
Guy 2: According to reports, I had a blast.

I've never seen the appeal of drinking yourself out of consciousness.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Just thought I'd share.

So I've been doing some "spring semester" cleaning and ran across some things I had written long ago and just about forgot I had. This one I wrote in high school:

I'm so tired of waiting
Waiting to hear Your word
Waiting to feel Your pow'r
Waiting to see you move

Where's Your perfect timing?
Wouldn't now be good?
Clearly life's not following my plan.

Still I'm clinging to all Your promises
'Cause I've read all about the hope You give
Lord, remind me of Your faithfulness
Let Your grace be enough.
Not by my will, Lord
So let Thy will be done.

Where is all this going?
Where would You have me go?
What would You have me do?
Who would You have me know?

Still, I stand in waiting.
Here I am, send me.
Lord, I long to follow where you lead.

So I'm clinging to all Your promises
'Cause I know all about the hope You give.
Keep reminding me of You faithfulness
And Your grace is more than enough.
Not by my will, Lord.
So let Thy will be done.


In case you couldn't tell, those are supposed to be song lyrics. I never thought the tune itself was very good, but that is another story.

The point, I think, is that I still get impatient about the future. It's not that I want to see the whole map (control-freak that I am), but sometimes knowing where the next turn is would be grand. I guess that is what trusting God, having faith is all about. All I know is the final destination and it's all up to God when I get there and what roads I take on the way. Forget being a co-pilot, I'm sitting in the back more or less along for the ride. Shoot, crank the music and let's stop off at some of those green pastures every now and again and I'm good to go.

Right, that metaphor is far from perfect. I know it doesn't really address work done along the way, like offering pedestrians a ride and such. But it says what I want it to say. And - gosh darn it - it's my metaphor and I'll leave it incomplete if I want to.

Where was I? Oh yeah, God's perfect planning. I was singing a song the other night (Abba Father by Shaun Groves) and part of it is:

In my weakness, You protect me.
When my heart strays, You correct me.



and I was reminded of how much God has protected/corrected me and how often I don't really see all that He has done/is doing until I see it in retrospect.

[I was going to insert here, as an example, a long story about this guy I knew in high school and how God kept me from what would have been a messy and impossible relationship, but I felt cheesy and annoying when I was writing it (not that it has really stopped me before) so I decided to spare you. You don't know how grateful you should be. Really. I mean, chocolates and thank-you bouquets might be in order...]

What is winter with no snow?

Yep, it snowed here in Blacksburg today. And actually stuck a little bit. That means today was a good day.

And to start the semester off properly, a run-down of my course-load:
Genetics: Not much to say on this one. Except my teacher is Turkish.
Habitat Ecology: A study of habitat classifications. Most likely going to be my best class this semester.
Statistics: No comment.
Population Dynamics and Estimation: All math. It should be interesting though.
Habitat Evaluation: One big group project. All semester long.
Wildlife Field Techniques: This class meets 4 times this semester. And then I have a 10 day field work in August.

It's going to be quite the semester.

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Back in the 'Burg

Contrary to popular belief, I have not disappeared from the face of the earth. I'm back at school (have been for 30 hours perhaps) and will resume normal posting schedules shortly.

Friday, December 17, 2004

Whew

It feels great to be done with the semester. Added to this is the knowledge that I absolutely rocked a couple of my exams (especially my history one) and the fact that my apartment is finally clean again (after a couple of crazy weeks). So I'm wandering around in a bit of euphoria right now.

I end with a quote from my history prof. said during our exam:

Great exams are never finished...they're abandoned.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Enjoy


Some pictures from my trip to West Virginia a few weeks ago. Posted by Hello

 Posted by Hello
I think this one is my favorite. Posted by Hello

Monday, December 13, 2004

Wassailing, wassailing all over the town
Our cup it is white, and our ale it is brown.
Our cup it is made from the fine ashen tree,
and so is our ale of the finest barley.


The VT Nav Christmas party was Saturday. Among other things, I wound up taking some Wassail and it was a hit. While most people had never heard of wassail, or had heard the word (as in "here we go a-wassailing...") but had no clue what wassail was. People were anxious to try the curiosity and the wassail went fast. I should have made at least a double batch.

For those of you who don't know what Wassail is, I refer you here or here, rather than try to explain it myself.

I will, however, share with you my family's recipe (non-alcoholic, of course):

1 Gallon apple cider
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice
2 tsp ground nutmeg
6 oz frozen orange juice
6 oz frozen lemonade
1 C brown sugar
short cinnamon sticks (a few for the pot, or one for each person's mug)

In covered 6 qt sauce pot, over low heat, simmer 2 C cider, cloves, allspice, nutmeg for 10 min. Add remaining apple cider, undiluted lemonade and orange juice, brown sugar. Heat until hot, no boiling.

For effect: Float baked apples (cored, baked @ 350 for 25 min.) and sprinkle with sugar.

Enjoy.

Where the heart is.

This past weekend the VT Navs were visited by some people involved with the Navigator ministry in Japan. The country coordinator, the head-guy from Shizouka, a VT alum and friend who are ministering in Sendai and some students. It was really great getting to hang out with them, learn about what need there is and get an update on what God is doing in Japan. There was, of course, encouragement for us to get more involved. Many VTNavs have been to Japan on short trips before and the need for young people to minister in Japan was emphasized a few times.

So driving home from one of the meetings my friend asked me the question of the week: "So have you thought about Japan?"

I have---and I haven't.

Right now I am just searching for some guidance. I feel like I'm back in my senior year of high school...trying to decide what my next step will be, trying to figure out what my future might entail, and really not having a clue of what is going on.

From the practical side, I can't really afford to do much. I know that if God wants me to go somewhere, He will provide the means. At the same time I'm thinking of the tens of thousands of dollars in debt I am (happens when you are paying for school with loans), and the fact that I haven't ever had a paying job (only volunteered) and don't have much experience (except some volunteering) relating to my major. My parents really want me to get a job this summer or at least a paid internship, so I want to honor them as well.

But the real reason is I just don't feel called there. I love hearing from the missionaries, being able to pray for them, and supporting them in any way I can, but my heart is not in Japan. It is like Chester. I spent the summer ministering there. I love the kids, I love the missionaries, I love the people, I even like living there (it was certainly home by the end of the summer). I know that I could live and work in Chester and be happy...but my heart isn't there. I don't feel called to work there, and I know that if I chose to be there, it would be me rather than God choosing.

So then my problem, and my real struggle, is: I have no clue where my heart is and I believe for ministry to be fruitful and glorifying to God, your heart should be in it. I suppose that it is something I may find out through trial and error. For now, I know that I love to serve, directly. I like to do things for people, I like to have my home open to people and be a constant hostess. I have a heart for worship. Judging from the feedback on this year's Christmas party, I apparently have the ability to administer and organize. (Perhaps I should rephrase that and say that I have the ability to break down a task and delegate the pieces.)

I know bits and pieces, but I've been looking at options for this summer and I have just hit a wall. I can't imagine what trouble I will have when I look for something to do after I graduate. I have another year and a half (Spring '06!!!) before that decision needs to be made, though.

Between now and then, I want to focus on searching out my spiritual gifts and learning where my heart lies, where God would have me, just a better sense of His purpose for my life.

Those sound an awful lot like resolutions. Well, it is Advent, the "Christian New Year."

Thursday, December 09, 2004

Wouldn't trade Christmas...

I do love Christmas, the whole Christmas season...It has something to do with all the traditions I've grown up with. Christmas is big in my family. It helps that my father never really grew up, I don't think my mom did either. Oh yeah, we have fun.

Today was great. I got a 94 on my history paper. I may not be the best student, and I am nowhere near 4.0, but I know how to write a rocking history paper without breaking a sweat. My prof's comments on my paper included "Wow, what a set of endnotes."

I got two new Christmas cds to add to my selection. One is all Bing Crosby, the other all Frank Sinatra. I could have gotten more, they had Mel Torme, Johnny Mathis, and all sorts of wonderful other crooners. I had to be a little careful with my money.

Meanwhile, I think Good King Wenceslas may just be one of my new favorite carols. Although the Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra duet on The Christmas Song absolutely rocks.
I can't decide whether this disturbs me or not.

UPDATE: Apparently some people were a tad more upset.

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Schedule for the day

10:10--Forest Ecology Class: work through 2 equations, bubble in teacher evaluation
11:00-1:00--Chill in coffee-shop working on laptop, sipping hot cocoa, and eating pumpkin cheesecake
1:00--meet with Prof and beg for one more point added to my grade
1:25--Technical Writing Class: eat pizza, lots of pizza
2:30--Law Class: eat candy and fill out teacher evalutation

I do love the last days of the semester....