50 Things From the Past Decade of my life. (He's Been Faithful)

This is stolen from Holly - I was ruther inspired by her post on FB, and I am going to attempt my own list. Especially since,... In one week I am turning 26! So from the tail end of my 15th year until now, here goes!

1. I played the piccolo in pep band, and really enjoyed "Stars and Stripes Forever" because of the piccolo solo (soli, but there was only myself on the picc!)

2. My family and I traveled to Maine and took a boat ride and saw seals basking in the sun.

3. My younger cousin was the first of the girl cousins to get married and now has three children.

4. I went to Spain for a weekish with some peeps from Spanish class. The only Spanish I really used was at Subway (the food chain)

5. I had three different dishes featuring octopus while in Spain.

6. I gave flute lessons to a younger student.

7. I played a solo in Solo and Ensemble and did ... decently =)

8. I was really into classical music in high school.

9. I had a few crushes, but none of the guys I liked were mutually interested...

10. I may have broken a few hearts by having high standards.

11. I still haven't kissed anyone...

12. I worked at Red Hot Inn and did basically everything possible while there.

13. God gave me a burden for the people I worked with at Red Hot.

14. I filled up several prayer journals while in high school, under Pastor John's influence, and rediscovering them a month ago was one of the best things to have happened this year.

15. I went to Homecoming and had one of the most fun, amazing nights ever (thanks, Chris!) along with being told I looked beautiful by a boy before I left

16. I participated in Bible Quizzing and learned tons and got out of my comfort zone.

17. I attended Reborne Rangers at Lake Ann Camp and really saw God pull a group of 60ish youngsters together for His glory.

18. I discussed entomology with God while at Reborne Rangers and heard Him telling me that I could be a lightbulb for Him while studying entomology.

19. Because of entomology, I applied to MSU, and MSU alone. ...

20. I was accepted into MSU (Michigan state) and started classes in the fall of 2002.

21. In high school, Christee and I met almost every day before school in Mr. Lameyer's room to pray. It was amazing. I miss that.

22. Also in HS, I stuck with the same small group at West Cannon (after switching churches) for three years. God used those girls to bring me closer to Him. (Sex is good, sex is great, sex can wait!)

23. I went to Teen Leadership Conference (again, in HS) and God spent a lot of time convicting me about boys...

24. God brought me into a great group of college students on campus.

25. I met one of my best friends at MSU, and Kelli's stuck with me ever sense!

26. Kel and I were BOTH devastated by a male . . . but God used it for our good.

27. (Through that,) I learned that forgiveness is not instant, but it is possible.

28. In college, I learned about the importance of discipleship and accountability.

29. I worked in the cafeteria in Brody Hall, which is like the largest non-military cafeteria or something.

30. I made lots of friends in the cafeteria, and got away with a lot. . . ;)

31. I switched to student maintenance and God gave me a burden and mission field for/with those boys.

32. I discovered the importance of keeping old friends "back home" while making new ones.

33. God pointed out Hebrews 12:3 to me on a Therefore summer retreat when we were up near Mackinaw City, and brought me out of a spiritually dry spell.

34. I changed churches in the last semester of college and started attending a really small church, along with Joey, who started college the semester I was finishing up.

35. I watched almost all of my close friends get married, and the majority of "everyone else" got married as well. I remain single.

36. I can view my singleness as a blessing, and am learning to take advantage of this time for His glory.

37. I served with ACMNP (A Christian Ministry in the National Parks) during the summer of 2008 and made like a gazillion friends, learned about the tourist industry, and hiked the badlands.

38. I biked the Mah Dah Hey trail for 5 or so miles. And walked my bike through the Little Missouri River - It came up to my waist or so...

39. I had a real, salaried job, if only for a year.

40. I taught Spanish to students that could have cared less about Spanish, but saw so many improvements because of God's grace and my attempts to listen to broken, hurting hearts.

41. I learned to love my students more than myself, and spent countless hours crying, praying, and making up my own text, tests, lessons, and games.

42. I learned the answer to the ultimate question. ;)

43. I've learned through trial and error that even though Skype, email, cell phones, and snail mail exist, nothing beats talking in person, even though snail mail comes in at a close second.

44. I've come to really like snuggling with people.

45. I started my Master's degree... one of the benefits of being single.

46. I was invited to a Bible study "Down the Road" by a friend and have been stretched beyond my imagination and made some amazing new friends.

47. I participated in the Journibles guinea pig test group :)

48. I stood up as bridesmaid in two of my friends' weddings (three this spring)

49. I get to watch almost everyone else have babies, and I am still... single, and my womb is still... empty; however, I know God is faithful, and what He has planned for me is far greater than anything I can type or imagine.

50. I am still learning to trust Him everyday, but like the song says, "every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before," and the more time I spend in the word, the more I want to only spend time with Him.

important trifles

I have been modifying my vocabulary - reading King James' English helps much, as does watching videos of intellectuals... It's always fun to circumnavigate (iron sharpens iron / friends sharpen friends!) until a definition is created.
:-D

Here are some words I am working with lately, followed by their definitions.

See if you can match them!


1. misogyny a. to shed rays of light upon; illuminate; to illumine intellectually or spiritually

2. ineffable b. The act of taking; reception

3. susception c. mournful, dismal, or gloomy, esp. in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner; Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.

4. discharge d. highly distinguished; renowned; famous; glorious; luminous; bright

5. irradiate(d) / irradiating e. hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women.

6. illustrious f. Still trying to find a good definition for this one, as www.dictionary.com says it's not a word but quite a few peoples have used it ...

7. infallacy g. to pour forth,emit; to relieve of obligation, responsibility; to remove or send forth.

8. lugubrious h. incapable of being expressed or described in words

for the answers, hit up the bottom of the page.

not yet

not yet

almost

soon

ANSWERS:

1.e 2. h 3. b 4. g 5. a 6. d 7. f 8. c

Not that it really matters, but:

We all know your name. We all know your birthday, what color your eyes are, what your favorite food is. I’m not going to ask those dumb questions. Instead…

--Any names your parents were thinking about that you would prefer?
IDK, my bff Rose?

--If you had to pick one outfit that you currently own to wear for the rest of your life, what would it consist of?
jeans and a shirt, with a sweatshirt, knee socks, and flip flops in case it's warm. Also, shorts. because i am a Michigander at heart, and I change clothes a LOT.

--What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?
My heart will live on ... well, I'll get a new body and spend the rest of forever with the One Who Breathes Stars and became human to take the consequences of my sin ... :- )

--What TV show have you seen every episode of?
Mr. Bean (it's only one season!) and Crossing Jordan and Gilmore Girls.

--What movie can you quote every line to?
no? I can quote a good number of line-age from A Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy grail, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Also, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

--What bands have you seen in concert?
Five Iron Frenzy, Bleach, Holland, Sara Groves, Bebo Norman, GoFish, Fernando Ortega (<3!) MercyMe, Monk & Neagle

--What bands would you like to see in concert?
Brian Regan (haha), TSO, Shane and Shane,

--If you had the money to retire anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Retire? erm,... out west in the winter, Michigan in the summer. and most of the winter. Depending on my ligaments. :-p

--Is there a piece of jewelry or something similar that if you lost, you would feel naked?
sometimes my ring. or chapstick.

--What is one thing [appearance-wise or other] you would change about yourself?
my vision, but that'll change someday :)

--One thing you would change about your best friend?
Nothing!

--Everyone remembers their first birthday party that involved friends. Describe yours.
we popped balloons with our bottoms. it was fun :)

--What do you think is the perfect age and why?
every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before =)

--If you could go back in time and change your first kiss, would you?
no. because... it hasn't happened.

--How many times have you said “I love you” to someone of the opposite sex [romantically] and meant it?
zero! (in my head, though, fifteen million! ha. )

--How many times have you said it and not meant it?
That would be zero.

--Which member of your family has the biggest influence on your life?
Me mum.

--If you won a $1,000 shopping spree to one store, what store would you want it to be?
TJ MAxx

--Which is your favorite comic book movie [The Hulk, Spiderman, Ironman, etc]?
Ironman. =-)

--What do you think this phrase means: “I am drearily bloodletting this bedwetting cosmonaut”?
That Russian is SICK!

--If you could go back in time and relive one memory – relive it, not change it – what memory would it be?
TWIRP with Chris, Brian, and Teresa. That was pretty neato.

--How old were you when you learned how to ride a bike?
I think my friend Amy was in 2nd or 3rd grade, and she was a grade ahead of me. She taught me some stuff...

--Who taught you?
see prior Q

--When you go to the movies, do you like to get candy or popcorn?
i only like popcorn on occasion at the movies... :-p I bring M&Ms, or sometimes buy nachos.

-Describe the first real party you ever went to [i.e. first party with alcohol].
Wow... shallow ;) Us church kids partied hard without substances.

--If you’ve never been to one, explain why not.
Also, see prior Q's A.

--Did/do you like high school? Why or why not?
a little. Pep band, great teachers, Spanish class...

--Do you have ONE best friend, who stands out among all the others, that’s been there for you seemingly forever?
Christee n Kelli

--If so, who is it?
^^^^

--If not, do you prefer having just a group of good friends, or would you like to have that one best friend?
yes

--Do you prefer the sound of electric, acoustic, or steel guitar?
depends on the song. I like me some country, some men's voices, and some hard rock.

--Have you ever read the Bible – even just a little part of it?
Yes :) And the more I read, the thrstier I get! :)

--Have you ever read the Koran?
Nopers

--What was the best pet you’ve ever had?
Dolly! (*Giant African Millipede)

--Out of all the states you’ve visited/lived in, which is your favorite?
Michigan, because I spent a large portion of life here. ... and there's humidity. Which is good for me. : )

--Do you enjoy jigsaw puzzles?
Yes!

--If you were allowed one murder without punishment, would you do it?
I'm a depraved creature, let's not say I haven't thought about it. :- (

--Where do you keep your wallet when you’re out and about?
everything. Unless Max (my friends' kiddo) goes through it and looks at stuff inside ;) Then it's in his hands :-p haha.

--Have you ever seen a ghost?
Boone's Restaurant in TC, yes! :- o or my camera exposure. hahaha.

--How about seen things happen that you think were caused by a ghost?
tv!

--Did you have Beanie Babies as a kid?
a few. ... And got a few when i was older. Well, it didn't really Happen until I was in at least junior high lols.

--Did you have tag protectors for their tags, or did you just rip the tags off?
yes, but i didn't really care. lol.

--Do you prefer stripes or polka dots?
both, but mostly polka dots. onthings, not clothing =-)

--What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?
I like them all equally. haha... erm, my luggage? kitchen gadgets? :- )

--Which of your birthdays was the most memorable?
My 20th, I think it was - The last LOTR was in theaters and I saw it with a bunch of peeps. :) And wore my new boots that made me taller :)

--Name one song you can play on an instrument – any instrument.
A Lot of Stuff on my flutie

--Who taught you to play that song?
a book. a few of them. :)

--Out of all the teachers you’ve had, who had the biggest influence on you?
Mr. Lameyer and Señorita Rigueiro

--Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle?
on a minibike. ... i drove.

--How about a moped?
nopers!

--When you were little, what was your favorite Disney movie?
Maybe Beauty and the Beast or Little Mermaid?

--What’s your favorite Disney movie now?
Beauty and the Beast!

--On the opposite sex, do you prefer muscles, average size, or scrawny bodies?
a few muscles, not the creepy kind, and a big heart.

--What’s the best gift you’ve ever received from a significant other?
waiting for me ? :-p

--What’s your favorite kind of chips?
BBQ, or baked something. Or carrots. :-p

--That you know of, do you have any famous ancestors?
John (Quincy) Adams

--Did you ever beg your parents for a pony?
who knows...

--Would you rather be blind or deaf?
deaf, because... I love seeing what I can see, and I have terrible vision as it is... alright, that sounds just plain weird.

--Is there someone you’ve been enemies with since you were little, and it’s never changed despite growing up and becoming more mature?
no.

--What laundry soap do you think smells the best?
that one

--Do you prefer Spongebob or Patrick?
neither. eww. ewww. ewwww.

--If you’re currently dating someone, would you be ready to elope with them right now if they asked?
not

--If you’re not dating someone, can you think of one person that you would elope with right now if they asked?
no. I want a real wedding. with all my girlies at my side.

--Who do you think is the hottest actor/actress in Hollywood right now?
Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I heart accents!

--Do you watch The Office?
yes, mainly online because we hath not television.

--If you don’t, have you at least seen one episode?
:)

--If you haven’t, are you aware that you should be brutally punished?
hahaha

--What’s the stupidest TV show on the air right now?
Deal or No Deal

--Have you ever written a song or a poem?
poems spewed forth rapidly from mine heart in high school...

--If you have, have you ever written a song or a poem for someone?
yes. For a homeless guy, for aborted babies, etc.

--Last but not least, type some funny or inspiring lyrics as a closing:
She sees love where everyone else would see weeds,

dandelions - You see flowers in these weeds =-) (Five Iron Frenzy)

Upside-Down French Toast (with coffee!)

(from Menus for Entertaining, (C) 1960)

Suggested as a "second-wind breakfast / second breakfast" for 2 or 4;

Menu:
1. UPSIDE-DOWN FRENCH TOAST

2. COFFEE OR TEA*

*Use cold water when brewing coffee - it has fewer impurities, according to the Coffee Brewing Institute.

Upside-Down French Toast

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. crushed pineapple

1 egg

3/4 c. milk

1/8 tsp. salt

4 slices bread

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch square baking pan.

3. Into the butter stir 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained of almost all its syrup.

4. Spread this mixture evenly over bottom of pan.

5. In a bowl beat together 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

6. Soak 4 slices bread in milk mixture until soft, then lay over the pineapple and brown sugar in the pan.

7. Bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned, and cool 1 minute before inverting on a heated serving platter.

way old new Christmas cards!

I just found this neat idea - and a great way to get rid of clutter HERE. :)

(re-using old [Christmas or other] cards to make cute, new ones!)

props!

*also, I shall post some newer-completed-project pictures soon. :-)

way old new Christmas cards!

I just found this neat idea - and a great way to get rid of clutter HERE. :)

(re-using old [Christmas or other] cards to make cute, new ones!)

props!

*also, I shall post some newer-completed-project pictures soon. :-)

bits and pieces

I am going through my old papers and tossing them into the recycle; however, I want to save some of the thoughts and words I found therein. Some of them are my own, others are pieces of sermons heard while on the road and may or may not have original authors' names applied (unintentionally, of course, because highway driving is only conducive to so much writing before accidental lane-changes ;) )So this may seem very bits-and-pieces, but that's what it is. Mayhap it shall inspire conversation to the furthering of sanctification; if that is so, God be praised!

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."

~Does that mean Christ promotes sin?
~~It becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go & bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you." - John 15:16

In the very act of believing, you are experiencing God's begetting. {Left to yourself and your deadness, you will not believe!} -Piper

ANTINOMIANISM: (Antinomianism comes from two Greek words: antimeans against and nomos means law. So antinomianism means against the law, against God's moral law. It means lawlessness.)

"I want to live all You died for me to be" -Ray Boltz

Labor is easy to those of a cheerful spirit.

twins in community

A friend recently gave me a book to read. (Not very many people these days hand me a book to read; usually, they suggest books, but this person gave me the book). . . I am reading it, and finding it very interesting and enlightening, and very applicable in light of life as of late. Here is an excerpt, an example given in chapter 2:

"Imagine a young couple, Bob and Mary, who are involved in a local congregation. Mary gives birth to twins. Bob and Mary are now facing the prospect of trying to cope with babies who constantly need feeding and changing. In the first model, juggling the church ball alongside the new family responsibilities becomes impossible. Bob and Mary decide they will have to forget being involved in church activities on anything more than a minimal level for quite some time. So they make a unilateral decision to absent themselves from much of church life.

"In the alternative model, it is not only Bob and Mary's issue when the babies are born. It is an issue for the whole church. The congregation takes on some of the responsibility because their identity and life is that of persons-in-community. So perhaps a couple of people go around early each morning to bathe the babies so Bob and Mary can have some time together over breakfast. Or someone offers to take Bob to work for a few months so that on the way Bob can sleep or read his Bible, or they can pray together because Bob is not getting much chance to do these things at home. Bob and Mary may not be as involve in the church meetings, but they are more involved then ever inthe life of the community." (from the chapter entitled "Why Community?" in the book Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this li'l bit, or pass the book your direction when I'm finished =) Holla.

Lady of Reckless Abandonment

Mel and I are going through "Lady in Waiting" (by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones). It's possibly my fifth time reading the book, and high time I shared with someone else what I've been reading. Lady in Waiting (can I dispense with the quotation marks after using them once? please?) is a very challenging book for singles (even for guys!).

The very first chapter is entitled, "Lady of Reckless Abandonment." Two women are memorialized in this chapter - Ruth, and the sobbing, perfume-smearing woman of the New Testament.

Some thought-provoking quotes from this chapter are:
(quoted from another book, "Learning to Be A Woman") - "A woman is not born a woman. Nor does she become one when she marries a man, bears a child and does their dirty linen, not even when she joins a women's liberation movement. A woman becomes a woman when she becomes what God wants her to be."

..."happy indeed are those people, married or single, who have discovered that happiness is not found in marriage but in a right relationship with God."

Then, the authors mention the Woman with the Alabaster Box. "She... not only anointed Jesus for burial, but gave her all to a heavenly Bridegroom." (Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:37, Matthew 26:13)

"How do you know if you have broken your alabaster box at the feet of Jesus? Such a decision will be reflected in reckless abandonment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ."

"Take your alabaster box, with your body, soul, and dreams, and entrust them to Jesus. when He is your Lord, you can joyfully walk in the path of life that He has for you."

The authors then mention Ruth as a prime example of a woman who recklessly abandoned herself to follow the Lord. Just recently widowed, she stuck it out with her mother-in-law to be an encouragement to her and followed the Lord she had recently "met." She left Moab **

**(called the "washbasin," / "washpot" (Ps. 60:8)(108:9)

and went to Bethlehem ("house of bread").

The authors commend Ruth's move as being beneficial to her spiritual growth; "even today there exist 'Moabites' who will undermine your growth if you spend too much time with them. Sometimes mediocre Christians resist the zeal and commitment of a dedicated single woman. Realizing that one's friends drive you either toward or away from God, you may need to find a 'new people' who will encourage your growth and not hinder it."

he who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. pr. 13:20

"you mirror those who influence you. . . when a woman stops growing spiritually, the lack of progress can often be traced back to a friendship that undermined her commitment to Jesus."

do not be deceived. bad company corrupts good morals. (i cor. 15:33).

"your best friends should be cheering you on in your commitment to Jesus."

let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (heb 10:24)

"like Ruth, look for something that will stimulate your growth in the Lord."

Sometimes this may mean moving to a different city, or state, or country. If you are in a desert currently, and growth is hard to "find," it may be time to move on to a new location, or find a different place to serve - one where you can be a spur and be spurred.

I have found that baby steps come in very handy here. It is crucial (at least, right now for myself!) that I surround myself with believers and focus on Scripture. I am memorizing Romans (and some other passages!) to keep my heart where it ought to be - focused on Christ, not this or that man! Carrying around notecards with verses written out is a great example of a baby step in keeping my heart focused on the Lord, and an excellent motivation to keep me excited on this "reckless" journey. :)

Also, more often i am seeing - in the various books I am reading - an undertone of this: Are you content to offer Jesus that which cost you nothing? ... "are you influencing those around you to consider a life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ"

I know I have been "influenced" by others - or rather, spurred, if you like the Hebrews terminology. I have been really enjoying being back in Michigan, simply because of the fellowship I find much closer now, less than an hour away! Being part of the earth-wide Body is also an encouragement, as many of my friends are migrating to distant shores, and the following quote I have taken as my "challenge" for the next few days (to start!)

Does your commitment to Jesus cause those around you to seriously consider whether Jesus is Lord of their lives?...

and the final chapter the authors give is this, and you can ask me how this is going:
Choose right now to put mediocrity behind you; courageously determine to pursue Jesus with your whole heart, soul, and mind. As a single woman, this is the perfect moment to establish a radical relationship with Jesus and remove any tokenism from your Christian walk.

:) All this I leave with you, readers, because I desire to challenge you with my "challenges" as well! May God grant you the wisdom to read between my lines and hear what He has to say on the matter!

200 stolen (from Mr. C) questions

200. My Middle Name Is:
Elaine

199. I was born:
December 17, 1983 @ Blodgett Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan (at 11:09am)

198. I am:
an adopted child of the living God, a student, a teacher, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an auntie to all my friends' babies, and learning something new (or several things!) daily...

197. My cell phone is:
capable of sending random blank text messages to certain people (rather then messages with crucial information that i think i was sending...)

196. My eye color is:
greenish-hazel

195. My shoe size is:
women's: 10.5 or 11 men's: 9ish (because i have wide feet. LAME! )

194. My ringtone is:
Big House by Audio A. I recorded it from the computer... speakers ;)

193. My height is:
5 feet, 4 and three quarters inches. given I am barefoot and not slouching.

192. I am allergic to:
kitties (if they are unclean or hair-shedders - but i still likes them!), tree pollen (as I discovered in Arizona! boo.), ragweed, and men. I think I may also be allergic to romance novels that have nothing to do with Christ... *shudders*

190. I live in:
a house with my family (for now) in my old bedroom since I was about 15...

189. The last book I read:
finished? "Betrayal" by Jeanette Windle. VERY GOOD. :-) Currently reading? Several... ;)

188. My bed is:
blankety. lots of blankets. I sleep like a taterpiller...

187. Are you happy with your life?
yes :)

186. Last person to send you a text message:
amyconklin!

185. Ever smoked a cigarette:
only those pretend candy ones that get dust everywhere. haha.

184. AIM or MSN or Yahoo:
google chat, skype, and aim. depending if someone is on any of those and wants to trade voices or letters...

183. Do you email:
of course, but i PREFER hand-written snail....

182. How is the weather today:
moist. and there are leaves all over the ground everywhere. it is neato-keen.

181. Do you have your wisdom teeth:
in my mouth? no.... in a box? ....yes. haha.

180. Ever been to Disney Land:
no... and i could have gone, too! hmmm... someday maybe when i grow up i will go.

179. My favorite holiday is:
Resurrection Sunday!

178. The perfect date:
I've always been partial to anything in May. that's usually when things start acting all green (at least in mitchigin...) OH ... the other kind of date, I would say - is a leader who has done his research and planned something Spontaneous that is adaptable to change depending on weather and mood. bua haha. possibly involves throwing o shooting things, or playing with Play-Doh.

177. The last three cds I bought:
Shai Linne's Storiez and Atonement, and Philip LaRue, I think.

176. Last song that made you cry:
a lot of LaRue's songs make me cry. not really.

175. Who is your favorite cousin?
Lesley and Melissa are my close-in-age cousings. . . :) and we grew up relatively close. Melissa's really far away up in Ishpeming now. boo...

174. Who is your favorite road trip bud?
Lester!

173. Who are you IMing right now?
Ryan was clarifying his confusion about Skype. . . a few minutes ago.

172. Who's the last myspace page you looked at?
I have not a clue. I only get on THERE about once every three months.

171. If you could have a baby at the same time as someone else, who would it be?
if I coul PICK? Kelli or Christee, or someone that is near to my age in the same city that can tolerate me, but at this rate, it's going to be Quentin's wife... hahaha.

170. What did you do yesterday?
made Christee go mall-walkin' with me, crocheted some christmas presents, watched "The Visitor" and "17 again" and got frustrated with the prophet Isaiah.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
142. Love at first sight?
yes... I love to love on people. hehe.

141. Luck?
y charms? yes. they are tasty. Luck, though, is a "no."

140. Fate?
only in plays.

139. God?
yes, and someday everyone willll...

138. Aliens?
i AM one...

137. Heaven?
yes . . .

136. Hell?
yes. :(

135. Ghosts?
sure

134. Horoscopes?
re: believe = put trust in, A = no.

133. Soul mates?
my shoes and socks usually match. Hopefully if God has a man for me, he plans on sticking around. Therefore he has to be my left foot. . .

WHICH IS BETTER:

129. Hugs or Kisses?
depends on my mood. Hugs are good for comfortation, kisses are good to share love. I love getting kisses at church (even though I'm still getting used to it! hehe)

127. Phone or Online?
in.. person. seriously, why is this not an option. boo.

126. Red Heads or Black Hair?
I um... don't get it. I like everyone that has a head, whether it is hairy or not.

125. Blondes or Brunettes?
i like both. . .

124. Hot or Cold?
i am warm-blooded, i like cold drinks, and i like hot drinks too.

123. Summer or winter?
fall! sweatshirts = amazing!

122. Sun or Rain?
lots of sun with a body of water in the distance. And then a thunderstorm.

121. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate times infinity!!

120. Night or Morning?
morning when i feel productive, night when i am frisky.

119. Oranges or Apples?
apples with a book

118. Curly or straight hair?
mine is teh best - it can be both, depending on humidity and curling irons (as a straightener). i like people that aren't ashamed of their hair (or lack thereof)

LAST TIME I:

101. Saw someone I hadn't seen in a while?
all the time, ha.

100. Cried in front of someone:
a few weeks ago i think. i cry easier these days. meh!

99. Grew:
apparently some time in college. haha.

90. Who is the ditsiest person you know:
i don't know.

89. Who makes you laugh the most:
many people. God has blessed me with many silly friends. hehe.

87. The last movie you saw:
The Visitor *SEE IT.

82. The thing I don't understand:
calculus and women.

80. The most unsatisfactory answer I've ever received:
well i am a selfish human bean so to me, many answers are unsatisfactory, but by far the worst is "I can't..." from a student who obviously CAN. (boo)

79. The things I plan on doing this summer are:
taking classes, finding places to do practicum, hopefully driving to see some new babies slash old people (on road trips!), finding a job (because schools aren't open in the summer for subbing, usually...)

74. The thing I'm looking forward to most:
That Day.

73. The thing I'm not looking forward to doing:
grace and truth types of confrontation. The truth part is harder for me to "get out."

72. Today:
could be it!

71. This summer:
past? was GREAT. future? ihavenoidea!

70. This week:
is almost over! He is risen!

62. The person who knows the most about me:
Jesus. and then maybe my Christee and Kelli. or Tracie...

61. The person who can read me the best is:
Mel is a reader. boo!

60. The most difficult thing to do is:
let guys lead in friendships, especially when they are still learning (as am i). meh!

54. First time you had a crush:
like 5th grade. grrr.

52. Last time someone said what you were thinking:
Connie before Bible study when we were chillaxin. haha.

51. What is your dream job:
teeeechur n mummy

49. First job:
babysitting, delivering the Advance. Then Red Hot inn (meh!)

46. I hope:
on occasion, to be married some day with a dozen wee things

45. The best smell in the world is:
men's cologne when a man walks by (haha). Or turkey.

44. The person that makes me cry the most:
God

35. Florida or Hawaii:
Mexico?

33. My favorite piece of clothing:
jeans!! (boo teachers having to look "professional!" )

32. My favorite sport is:
to watch - basketball. to play - carpetball. haha.

30. My friends are:
also family. :)

29. My computer:
gets dusty.

28. The school I go to:
right now is "Grand canyon university" - back then, was MSU..

22. The all-time best movie is:
Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version that is 6 hours longish)

21. The all-time best thing in the world is:
the incarnation of Christ.

20. Last thing you ate:
maybe some moon toast.

19. The most annoying thing ever is:
the sound of chewing ...

18. The most annoying person you know is:
that one person. haha. i don't know.

17. I lose all respect for people who:
give up too soon.

16. The movies I have cried at are:
Life is Beautiful, Up, The Notebook, The Passion of the Christ, Flicka. haha. I don't usually cry at movies.

15. Last phone call:
me mum

14. TV shows you watch:
on tv? nothing. on my computer because we have no channels on our tv? Teh Office, Parks and Rec, Grey's Anatomy, 30 Rock. . .

13. Last friend you hung out with:
Christee Marlene Vosburg

12. I want to be:
a mom! haha. or... able to understand Isaiah.

11. The worst pain I ever felt:
maybe when my wisdom teeth were out, but that was actually kind of fun.

9. My room is:
kinda grungy looking. the paint color is.. very Joey.

8. My favorite celebrity is:
I like Brian Regan and Adrian Brody and Mr. Bean. haha.

7. My top person on MySpace:
i don't know. i don't go!

6. My favorite color is:
green lately, and Blue (and navy blue more lately).

5. My weakness is:
thinking

3. Who broke your heart:
me; also, a few people that want nothing to do with Jesus.

2. Things that make you feel great are:
me mum and little brothers! music! revelation! crochet! learning languages! socks! hoodies! the smell of fire! caffeine!

1. If I could do one thing to change the world, it would be...
Crochet on trees. and signposts. haha... or be more genuine about who He is.

Isaiah is annoying me at the present. . .

I've spent so much time reading narratives and epistles lately that jumping back into the Prophetic Books (on my way through the Bible again) are being a difficult mental transition. Meh! So and therefore, I shall not "move on" until I get what's "goin' on..." Or something. But really, indepthly reading books like Romans/ Galatians and the chronicles and Paul's letters is good, but as far as staying on top of those books and continuing my progression through the old testament, ... it's going to be tricky to segregate and integrate my thoughts where necessary. *sigh*. . .

I'd love to discuss the objects of my reading with you all sometime... really! in person, on skype, on googlechat, on aim, with a cup of caffeination, with water, on a walk, in a box, with a fox, ... erm, yeah. But seriously. Being a teacher has taught me so much ... more on that later. My heart needs some logos.

eharmony

Today I subbed for a class of fifth-graders. Overall, they were amazing kids, even if a large number of the school was out sick; However, there was one thing that... I have to share. Because it was one of those times that - as a teacher - laughing at the moment is unacceptable. Such as this.

The students are sitting at their desks, working on copying a Hallowe'en Poem onto a piece of paper. Sam finishes early, and starts pestering other students. I walk over to see if I can find something for you to do.

Sam: "Mrs. Johnson, are you married?" (It's either hit or miss with my name (no pun intended)... I only stress "MISS" (not Ms. or Mrs.) on occasion)...

me: nope.

Sam: "are you single?"

me: yup

Sam: "have you ever dated anyone?"

me: yup (if one can count a junior high romance...)

Sam: "You should go on eharmony."

me: hmmm... Are you ready to work on your newspaper project now? [while internally dying of laughter]

...a few minutes later, one of the girls confided in me "Miss Johnson, Sam wasn't being very nice earlier. He said you should go on eharmony..."

[commence internal laughing]

me: Well, it's ok... mumblemumble...

He DELIGHTED in me.

This morning I woke up - an hour early - super refreshed from not-that-much sleep, and the remnants of my dream stayed with me for the majority of the day.

Jud Kratzer - a friend from college: one of the brave older souls who lived in the dorms with mostly freshman, full of wisdom and humor, and knowledge of fishtype things, who married an amazing woman and dashed off to the great northeast...

was in my dream. He gave me some sage advice, although I'm not even sure how he got in my dream...

And somehow we were talking about how people express themselves differently (perhaps this is because I find it extremely hard to put myself / my thoughts into spoken word at times, as most of my close-ies know. . .

And he said something along the lines of "you're more poetical than logical..."

which was weird, but it makes sense to me, in a way. It's so hard to just "out with it" in conversation sometimes, especially as is the American non-patient way of life and needs answers NOW. I like to think before i speak, and when people are impatient, I end up saying stupid things that never needed to be saying. I've been learning again the importance of shutting up - not all the time, like in high school - but when necessary.

And it's good. . .

But then I woke up with a verse dancing through my head:

He delivered me because He delighted in me. (psalm 18.19b)

And even though I've, well, delighted in this tidbit of a verse before, it was amazing to wake up to it. God is so so so amazing. And beyond my understanding. So I am not even going to attempt to expound - but I'd love your comments! (on blogger or on the FB)! :)

walking (on the path of) the gospel

Getting into God’s Stride: from My Utmost (October 12th) for His Highest, Updated Edition

“Enoch walked with God …” (Genesis 5:24).

The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35–37 and 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him—it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited.

It is difficult to get into stride with God, because as soon as we start walking with Him we find that His pace has surpassed us before we have even taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways. It was said of Jesus—“He will not fail nor be discouraged …” (Isaiah 42:4) because He never worked from His own individual standpoint, but always worked from the standpoint of His Father. And we must learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than oneness with Him. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don’t give up because the pain is intense right now—get on with it, and before long you will find that you have a new vision and a new purpose."

Of course, as a human, we tend to forget. . .

But God knew this, and gave us some neat verses to remind us: Among which is my favorite (though convicting) passagette in Hebrews:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. ²We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven. ³Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don’t become weary and give up. ⁴After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

⁵And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said,

“My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you,

and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you.

⁶ For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes those he accepts as his children.”

⁷As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? ⁸If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all. ⁹Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?

¹⁰For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

¹²So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. ¹³Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong. - Hebrews 12:1-12 New Living Translation (I know, new wording! But sometimes it's good to see/hear/read the Old Words in a new voice....
In other words, tonight was good. Very good. A smaller group of people gathered at Rob and Connie's for the Therefore Bible Study, and overall it was very encouraging. The topic? Circumcision and confusing people, to start. Wherever His chosen gather, though, there is just ... something. What a gift, this fellowship: true fellowship is only able to happen when two or more people let God "in" on their conversation (in the Olde English "conversation" = way of life; and in the modern-day useage of "conversation" = discussion, talkin, et cetera.)

And the last little bit - though not so Little - of Galatians 2 is a great reminder that it's not Us who has to worry, who has to be good all the time, who has to do the Living.

If one can say, "I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. . . I am crucified with Christ,
Nevertheless I live (apparently a kindergärtner can spell this word because it is a compound word made from (at least) three (3) words!) ... it is Christ who lives in me, then

yet not I, BUT Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh i live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, & gave Himself for me...

And we worry. ...

God forbid that we should so easily cast Him aside from our meditations and ponderings.
Make our hearts clean, Abba, so we can carry Your Word in our souls more effectively.

*Meditate on what Jesus says, everything that Jesus says...

"Meditate on what Jesus says, everything that Jesus says...

Do you really know the words of the Lord?

The words that He spoke to and by His apostles?

Do you really know Jesus by His inspired word?

There is danger that you will begin to worship an imaginary Christ, not the Christ who says the things that are written, but a Christ of your own imagination, a harsh Christ who has not the meekness of Jesus, or a permissive Christ who is not the Holy One of God. It is so easy for us to invent another Christ and fail to be in subjection to the true Lord. But what joy it is to come to Jesus!

It is far from true that we have to choose between a dead book and a living Lord; the very reverse is true. Only in the living Book, alive by the power of the Holy Spirit who inspired it and who illumines it, only by the power of the living Book, read, preached, and shared, only by that living word of the Lord do we now come to the Lord of the Word, the living Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has spoken to the fathers through the prophets, has spoken at last by His son."

from Our Savior God: Studies on Man, Christ, and the Atonement Ed. by J. M. Boice
Selection from page 77, authored by Edmund P. Clowney, in the section entitled "The Unchanging Christ"

my answer

"i will say this: the Gospel may be simple in that it is possible for one to give a slight definition in X number of words, and therefore easy to "remember" but outside of word count, it is (un)fathomably ridiculously mysteriously whoa."

The above won me the "I'm learning to use logic better award" from Mr. Derek Anderson (ha ha ha ha), who unwittingly provoked me to think for myself and was patient enough with me as I grappled with attempting to understand his logic regarding the Gospel.

I am still learning, and don't plan to stop any time soon, and ever so grateful for the brothers and sisters He has given me to spur me onward in the faith. Thank you, Jesus!

How do you memorize very long lists?

Anyone who's ever read any of the letter's written by Paul knows that he uses lists quite often. (This may be partly hyperbolic, and you may have no idea to what I am referring, but Paul the apostle ... well, he employs the use of lists quite often).

So my question to you is,

what is your strategy for memorizing lists? Do you have one?

Here are a few I have tried slash am willing to try (as generously donated to me from Dennis, Joey, Derek, and Emily.

1. ACRONYM
This is basically something you will remember the rest of your life, whether you want to or not: "IP-MAT" (the five phases of mitosis: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telephase).

Also: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge ...

2. Song Transitions

"Sing it to a tune that gets stuck in your head"
Example? "This is the song that never ends..."

3. Write it out, over and over and over
Repetition is the key to learning, however, this wouldn't work while driving (for most people). . . ;)

4. Walk really fast and read it out loud.

Or march, and read in sync with your steps

5. Rap it out.
Just go gansta for a few minutes and come up with a slammin' rhythm. It helps to have a younger sibling interested in percussion... *him, her, he, or she...

6. Group according to various parts / factors. Then, memorize the groups.
You can group depending on punctuation, (commas, semi-colons) or possibly on opposites / related words.

Cutting a list into ma.na.gea.ble pieces is what our brains do naturally: look at phone numbers! 1-(234)-567-8910 they "break down" into bits of 3s and 4s.

So, my question is to you, how would you group / list the following List of Grossness, as it shall be referred to from here outward? Would you use one of the above methods, or do you have something that's "tried and true?" I'm anxious excited to hear your suggestions!

²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ³²Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

*from Romans Chapter 1, KJV. . .

My Bucket List of Resolutions as a 20-something:

My Bucket List of Resolutions as a 20-something:

short term: years 25 to 30, ‘Til He Returns / or Calls Me Home:

GOALS FOR MY 25^TH THROUGH 30^TH YEARS (in no particular order)

• Delight in my Lord daily, not getting discouraged when I fail or things don’t “go my way.”

I’ve learned a lot this past year already about the importance of finding my delight solely in Him; surrounding myself with believers, and immersing myself in His word only adds to the beauty I see in His sacrificial, gracious love us-ward.

• Learn OT Greek

On my way, actually! I found a book on sale, and I’ve got the alphabeta down ;) and can read words… Now, on to grammar, vocabulary, and everything else!

• Keep praying for and writing to Ol’ Whoever He May Be, and wait patiently for the Lord to smack him upside the head and get his booty over here… I mean, Wait on the Lord for His choice. ;)

Since at least elementary school I’ve wanted to get married, like most females, but it wasn’t until high school that I realized I need to be praying for him, even if I have no idea he is, or if I am even one of those that “end up married.” Praying for him helps keep my heart in check, and my eyes on the one who made me as the true Lover of my face. Saving my kisses for him also keeps my mind away from dwellation on things of the flesh.

• Start an actual group for people (not just women) to learn to crochet: as ministry, outreach, and fellowship: Check

God has blessed my desire and passion with this already, and the Tabitha Club has been a lot of fun and a great way to connect with women of all ages! I’ve also been able to teach several people the basics of crochet!

• See the Grand Canyon - again: Check.

I went on a day trip this spring (2009) after spending the night in Flagstaff at a coworker’s house, and it was amazing. Next time, though, I am taking someone with me. Big things like that are much better shared!

• Lose 40 lbs.

I’ve somehow made ten disappear, but I would like the rest to just leave, as well.

• Get a master's degree and my teacher’s certificate

Some people may not hold much to getting online degrees, but this is the path I’ve chosen (for now), and I’m on my way to getting it done! I’m single, 25, and the only thing tying me down is the need to get a teaching certificate so I can get an actual Teaching Job wherever He can best use me!

• Run a marathon. Or something similar to a long distance

This will help me beat my body into submission, because I don’t want to be a pear on my 30^th birthday. Hehe.

• Shoot something besides skeet

I want to get a hunter’s license and shoot something. And say “I shot a something” and not just be telling tall tales. I am working on getting into a hunter’s safety class to get this one started J

• Write a book

I’ve started numerous books, but for some reason cannot get past the first few chapters. Disciplining myself with daily and weekly writing goals will help me hone my writing skills. Hence, part of why I blog…

• Be a better listener and a better questioner

I want to learn how to listen better because so many people come to me for advice (yikes!) and yet I still somehow let myself get distracted by the things of this world rather then dropping what I deem necessary to give myself to the people that trust me with their souls. I also want to learn to be better at asking questions that make sense, especially if no one else is doing the asking in a group of people.

• Spoil my nieces and nephews

…But in a good way. I want to use the time God’s given me to bear my friends’ burdens, helping out where I can and when I can, and encouraging them in being the best mums and dads they can. Even though I’m not a parent, I can ease their burdens by listening, visiting, sending packages, and washing dishes.

• Be more consistent with my written correspondence

I enjoy writing letters and notes to people, but so often I let other things get in the way; Getting things in the mail besides bills can be the highlight of a terrible day, and I love being able to be a tiny part of a smile on someone’s face. J I can understand Paul when he said, “I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

• Memorize the book of Romans.

I’m a little more than 1/32 done! I started awhile ago, but left off before I went to North Dakota

• Study Navajo and Arabic, and keep up with my Spanish and Russian

I love languages, and how they work; I have a few books I would love to work on while I “have time,” I would like to learn at least the basics – phonics, grammatical structure,

• Go to Turkmenistan, or at least South America

I might not make it to Central Asia (monetarily) in five years, but eventually I would love to go there. Call me nuts, but ever since I did my 10/40 window project on that country in my senior year of high school, that country has held a special place in my heart. That is also part of why I took Russian…
And if an opportunity arises, I’d love to go to a country in SA or CA, specifically somewhere in the Andes where there are indigenous peoples. We could crochet together.

• Have my “own place” again…

There’s nothing wrong with living at home, but it’s harder to have people over spontaneously to feed them or randomly workout, or just to have secret conversations about all things under the sun,… Basically, I just want my own place for ministry purposes, and a place to keep books

• Go to a few more National Parks – namely, Yellowstone, Glacier, Arches, and revisit Theodore Roosevelt (North and South Units!) And also perhaps visit Alaska.

I love that God put so much detail into the world He formed, and the few national parks I’ve been to have opened my eyes to how Big He is. I also just miss the sky.

• Make my own version of Edwards’ Resolutions: hence, this list.

He was younger than I when he resolved such-and-such, and having something in writing will keep me accountable. Also, anyone reading this must needs feel freely obligated to ask me how things are progressing in the various bullets J

how interesting, indeed

Today I feel like being lightly-fluffy, and tomorrow may be the opposite. So I am posting a survey I lifted from Laurie's facebook page :)

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Dark Chocolate Chex Mix. or water.

2. Where was your profile picture taken?
in my driveway.

3. Can you play Guitar Hero?
Slightly. All my flute playing has paid off ;)

4. Name someone who made you laugh today?
Quentin. He opened the door and went into hysterics when he saw what I was wearing. Apparently, a purple sweatshirt = hilarity in and of itself. And all this after I told mum that he would have this exact reaction.

5. How late did you stay up last night and why?
about midnight. I went to sleep after that. It ...may have been later or earlier.

6. If you could move somewhere else, would you?
the west, the north, somewhere where there is sky, and take my family with me so they could see the world.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks?
ask me after I'm married. Maybe THEN i can say yes. HA . . .

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you?
my mom. or Christa/Crystie/Michelle/Shelly/Nicole. all those crazies.

9. Do you believe ex's can be friends? like X and X? they look like headless stick people.

10. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?
it's my caffeine terror. when i drink it i stay up later and forget why i am awake...

11. When was the last time you cried really hard?
driving back from WI

12. Who took your profile picture?

me

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of?

probably christine's wedding videos ;)

14. Was yesterday better than today?
about the same betterness

15. Can you live a day without TV?
only several . ..

16.Are you upset about anything?
not too much upsets me, but i have a big heart sometimes that gets me blumbly.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?

humans were created to be relational. so therefore and yes.

18. Are you a bad influence?
no, contrary to popular belief. I don't smoke, chew, or ... yeah.

19. Night out or night in?

i like both, depending on the weather, time of year, and people.

20. What items could you not go without during the day?
chapstick. water. the Bible. a pen. lotion.

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
apparently i am a bad friend...

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say?
Hey.

23. How do you feel about your life right now?
i want to be like a tree, planted by the water, trustin in the Father to help me grow!

24. Do you hate anyone?
no, but i am supposed to.... kjvesquely. ;)

25. If we were to look in your Facebook inbox, what would we find?
lots of group emails.

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
i do not do drugs.

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
i dunna remember !

28. What song is stuck in your head?
nothing right now, except some softy piano from Fernando Ortega :) Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus!

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?
someone with coffee and an adventure planned.

30. Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50?
would be nice... we shall see. I'm waiting for kids, first. lol.

31. Name something you have to do tomorrow?
write a paper!

32. Do you think too much or too little?
i think almost all the time. not as much when i am unconscious, as far as i know...; 0 )