burningDESIRE

Jesus v. religion

2012-01-11T21:50:00.004-05:00

i saw a friend post this on facebook. i love it when people use creativity & art to speak the truth. this video/poem reminds me of this statement i found on a shirt i bought a few years ago, it says, "Christianity is not a religion, religion is humans trying to work their way to God. Christianity is God coming to men and women through a relationship with Jesus Christ."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY God bless!

laughs vs. lies

2012-01-04T20:37:00.001-05:00

have you ever heard a song and bobbed your head to it? only to find out that the words you thought were not what they actually were? for instance, i just heard a song on pandora that had really fun, upbeat, foot tapping music and when i took a second glance at the title, i was awakened to the fact that the word, "laughs", that i was hearing was actually "lies". how. disappointing. i hate it when music artists do this to me. :/

now i don't know if i just have really bad hearing or the enunciating of the artist was not clear or the music drowned out the word a bit or what. what i do know, though, is i'm really sad because now i don't like the song anymore. :/

yes. i DO know that "laughs" & "lies" do not sound the least bit alike when said separately now. but at the time, you have got to trust me....i was easily fooled.

"how are you?" "good"

2011-09-06T17:37:00.001-04:00

sometimes when people ask me, "how are you?" i try to answer as honestly as possible. for instance, if i'm really tired i respond, "pretty tired, but i'm hanging in there". so today when i was at work, a client says, "hi kim! how was your day?" i say, "my day was a little crazy but it's going well thank you" :) later on, a co-worker of mine asks me, "so besides your day being a little crazy, how are you?" all i could muster up for a response was, "good". really kim? after a moment's pause and a sigh all i could say was "good"? the one-word-generic-answer that everyone uses. even when they're honestly doing well or when they're not. the one thing i did not want to fall into--the thoughtless, generic, i-don't-have-time-to-talk-because-i-have-to-get-back-to-work, answer----"good". but frankly, things were good! i wasn't lying. i wasn't deliberately being vague. my life has just finally reached that point where nothing exciting or new has happened or is coming up. things were....well, good. sure, this could be a post that screams, "you're over-reacting, kim! don't make a big deal out of this!" but i honestly want to be upfront and real with people. especially when they take the time out of their day to find out how i'm doing. they didn't have to make small talk, but they did and because of that the least i could do is respond sincerely. the courtesy and consideration of communication among people is very important. i feel like people are so rude or impersonal these days, its really sad!

WARNING::rabbit-trail::
yesterday i was shopping with some friends in noho, i didn't buy much. just one cute owl coaster. and the cashier asks me, "would you like your receipt printed or emailed to you?" my friend & i were surprised. we even giggled at the idea, "wait, what? you email receipts now?" he says, "yeah, it makes returns really easy now". wow, our culture has become so electronically run that we can't even return something face to face anymore--sure convenience is a huge issue. but i meet some of the neatest people when i go out of my comfort zone.

OKAY, back to my previous thought::

so, if you see me get irritated when i am talking with someone who is so engrossed in their phone or computer more than me, to the point that our conversation is made up of several one word answers and desperately asked open-ended questions. sure, the timing could be off, they could be in a non-talkative mood, or they just want to get rid of me (haha), but my point is, when i ask, "how are you" or someone else asks me that, a thoughtful and genuine response would be nice once in a while. because frankly, its because i would really like to know HOW YOU'RE DOING. :)

sorta freaky, but i should have expected it

2011-06-27T11:37:00.003-04:00

so. God is good. i know that, you know that.

but this morning as i woke up i began to pray for a lot of people in my life. people with good news and exciting adventures, people who are struggling, tired, weak, and people whose lives i have no idea what is going on, but were placed on my heart.

i have been reading this book, how to hear from God by joyce meyer. and it seems, that God continuously provides the Word, truth, and practical thinking at the times that i need to hear it the most. its strange, its like He knows that i needed to hear it! ;) haha well, duh. He's God. He's cool like that.

i also found that God uses every day life examples and materialistic items as tools to get an analogy and point across. i've been struggling with transitions in my life. transition from college life to home life. having the freedom in making a decision and only affecting myself where now, other people are involved. and relationship transitions. from having available access to people to talk with, laugh with, and basically be silly with are suddenly hours away and i have to rely on the means of technology to stay in contact (except for the fact that i like to write letters and hope that i can recruit some people to the idea of pen-paling).

i've had to face the fact that life changes and moves on and adjustments need to be made. that i'm NOT alone and i AM special. i do have friends regardless of our differences in age, careers, stage of life, and interests. in Christ there is hope. hope that His perfect and unfailing love will pierce the inner beings of those who are hurting, aching, and see no possible outcome to their current situations. i am not defined by my job or abilities. i am more than that and there is more of myself that will be revealed. job or no job, i need to be thankful in all things....

...hence. the portion of the book that i want to mention. the section is labeled as "Thankfulness Opens Our Receivers". its a lengthy excerpt, but bear with me:

God's general will for us is to 'thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the revealer and mediator of that will]' (1 thess5:18). we don't need to worry about whether it is God's will that we go to the mission field until we have learned to obey His will right where we are.

thankfulness keeps our ears open to hear God. the Bible says we are to thank God in everything, not for everything, but in everything. that means that no matter what is going on in our life, we are not to complain, murmur, grumble, or find fault. God doesn't want to hear us whine because whining is evidence that we have no faith in His ability to make things better.

...people who grumble and complain from daylight until dark never hear God, because to hear Him they must quit complaining!

so...i'm done complaining. i am thankful for the things unseen. i know there is something greater at the other end of the tunnel, and i'm excited! i'm excited for this new phase in my life, my new job that i'll get, and the new people i meet! thank you Jesus :)

God is awesome...

2010-09-28T19:30:00.002-04:00

"for My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
::isaiah55:8::

the following is taken from the KINGDOM DYNAMICS section in my bible:

God reminds us that His ways and thoughts are unfathomably beyond ours. it's good to remember that when we are interceding---for the lost, or for seemingly impossible situations. in that light, also remember:
light is more powerful than darkness
truth is stronger than error
there's more grace in God's heart than sin in men's hearts
there's more power in the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin than there is power of satanic forces to tempt men to sin
there's more power in one drop of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus to cleanse men's hearts from the stain of sin than there is in the accumulated filth of men's sin since adam and eve
be encouraged today! the Lord is more than faithful!

believers are salt & light

2010-09-27T09:49:00.004-04:00

13 "you are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 you are the light of the world. a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
::matthew5:13-16::

i'm not going to let my little light shine because i don't have a little light, i have the light of my Lord & Savior in me! i choose to be a light and to be used for His glory! What are you going to do?

ecclesiastes3:14,15

2010-09-24T14:50:00.003-04:00

i know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. and God does it so that men will [reverently] fear Him [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is]. that which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and God seeks that which has passed by [so that history repeats itself].
::amplified version::

God's word is true & perfect all day & everyday!!! a life of worship is what i desire. not only in dance or song, but also in action & love, to manifest the greatness of who He is!

rather than doing homework right now [i'll get to it, don't worry, the Lord always makes a way] i chose to spend time with my mighty creator! by getting in the word and listening to worship music and singing from my heart. the album that i'm listening to right now is Rick Pino & Kari Jobe: Throneroom: LIVE Acoustic Prophetic Worship. you should get it. its goooood.

proverbs31*woman

2010-09-09T12:09:00.002-04:00

the virtuous wife:

...25 strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 she opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 she watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." 30 charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS:
a virtuous woman not only cares physically for her home, but she is also a "watchman: over the emotional and spiritual condition of her family [v. 27]...she works willingly with her hands, two kinds of which are mentioned in prov. 31: kaph, symbolizing upturned hands extended in prayer [v. 13], and yad, ministering or serving hands [v. 20]. confident in the God to whom she prays, the effective woman knows she has eternal significance.

in the name of jEsUs

2010-07-21T18:07:00.002-04:00

i'm promoting a cd: will reagan & the united pursuit band [in the night season]

mostly because it blesses me so much, and the lyrics are great. tracks 6 & 7 stick out to me today..i listened to it in the car & felt the need to share. :)

break every chain::track6:: here's a youtube vid for it! check it 'oot! ;)

letting go

2010-04-26T23:17:00.001-04:00

my very very dear friend, sharee, shared with me some word/encouragement that God gave her for me. it included this video that really connected with what i've been going through...it's so true, "it's not mine!!!"

may God bless you!

treasure chest

2010-04-19T22:21:00.001-04:00

wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. matthew2:11

<3

a nazarite people

2010-04-10T15:04:00.004-04:00

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=wall&story_fbid=109706925729696&id=771470388#!/notes/damien-paul-lachapelle/the-nazarite-anointing-rick-pino/416618141653

lord, i want to live a life of no compromises unto you!

** damien posted this and i thought that i would share it!

before...

2010-04-07T20:04:00.003-04:00

before i start stressing out and getting nervous about getting my stuff done for tomorrow, i'm going to realign my priorities and get in the Word and put my Mighty God first! Pray with him, talk with him, worship & sing to him, rest in his presence... get closer and capture his heart the way that he's captured mine! i'm listening to ben woodward right now, the song "satisfy my heart" and i just love it so much! the music, the flow, the presence, the hunger & desire, and the love. oohhhh the love. Lord, just satisfy my heart! better yet, let me satisfy yours!

check this out for the specific lyrics that i've been repeating over and over again on my itunes: http://kimberlycumo.tumblr.com/post/504321365/satisfy-my-heart

our Christian dance team on campus [S.T.E.P.S] had our first 'performance' tonight! whoo hoo! we did it, and made it out alive! lol ---just being a little dramatic. ;) the first of 3 more... i really pray that we had an impact on those youth tonight. the words, the use of dance to worship and glorify God, and the fellowship. we really need to grab the youth, teach 'em, let them see Him, know Him, and continue to always, ALWAYS pray for them. there is constant turmoil and attacks on the minds of our generation...we need protection and wisdom. thank you Lord!

oh geeze... if you don't have it, you might as well buy this cd [http://www.ihop.org/Shop/Sections/Items/Item.aspx?item_id=1000011421]. i'm now on track 5: spontaneous worship #2

"..i just can't get away from your love! no matter where i go, i just can't get away from your love, no matter where i go...jesus!...this is my love song i sing to you, over and over again, this is only for you, this is the one thing i desire, i wanna love you, i just want to love you...."

God bless!

Jesus loves you.

2010-04-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c54t-RwpLlM

passion

2010-03-30T17:53:00.002-04:00

i'm trying to decide if i can/should watch the passion of the Christ on thursday with the girls. hm, prayer is definitely in order here, and time management...what is it, 3hrs long?

i've been wanting to learn more & go deeper on the whole meaning of easter, better yet, resurrection day. i have some studying to do, and am trying to hear if this is something i could do in addition.

small group/bible study went really well today. thanks for all of your hard work sharee! ;) despite the small breakdown moment i had. lol i think i was just getting overwhelmed with things and just didn't know how to handle it the best. we will definitely do that game again.

it's been raining ALL day today, and super duper windy. but, i thank the Lord that i'm alive and that i have a safe&warm place to stay tonight.

oh yeah, and i almost ran into a wall & the post of a traffic sign..yay me.

God bless!

jesus culture-obsession

2010-03-28T13:09:00.001-04:00

my sister and i were able to choreograph to this song this last dance show! praise God! :)

keep smiling!

2010-03-27T15:15:00.002-04:00

...the joy of the Lord is your strength. [nehemiah8:10]

#5. today i will do something to help me maintain a high level of joy...take a walk...get some fresh air...laugh with a friend...sing a song...accept a compliment...help somebody...be a blessing...get some exercise...eat something delicious...meditate on the Word...do something fun...praise the Lord...be good to myself...let go of a grudge...learn something new...play...change my thinking.

AYITN

let's see. i've already completed the following: get some fresh air, laugh with a friend[and sister], be a blessing, get some exercise [does dancing around in the room in your comfy clothes count?!], eat something delicious, meditate on the Word, do something fun [snuggled with manders for a moment in time..], praise the Lord [i'm thankful to be alive!], let go of a grudge, change my thinking.

it's only 3:30pm on saturday. i definitely have time to do the rest on the list, and then SOME! i can take a walk, sing a song, accept a compliment, help somebody, be good to myself [hm, how about instead of saying that i 'need' a pedicure, i actually give myself one?], learn something new, and play!! i have also worked on some reading for homework, got some rest, listened to some groovy tunes... i'm on a roll!!! woo hoo!

the joy of the Lord is my strength.

today was a strange day...

2010-03-22T19:54:00.005-04:00

a strange day indeed. good. but strange. i felt like i was gone for forever. let's see here, this is what i did today: left my house at 6:40 am, rode in the car for 2 hrs, arrived at school, went to work, then came back to my room and did hw bc my first class was cancelled, lunch, 2hr painting class (i'm starting my self portrait assignment--whoo hoo!), went to my second class of they day (which is usually my third), then went to cvs with my group members, my classmate's car keys got locked in the car, waited for aaa, had dinner at friendly's while waiting for aaa, came back to school, went online (fb, blogs, email, etc), had my "little sister" come over for a little bit, and then i had to unpack, do homework, talk to donald, read in the word, and then go to bed at a decent hour. whew! all the while, having the weather be cloudy and gloomy... hmph. what happened to the gorgeous weather from this weekend!!!

God is sooooo good. i really really don't know what my life would be like without him! *selah (which means 'think about that') on this for a bit:

*AYITN: A YEAR IN THE NOW by BISHOP JIM SWILLEY

"be somebody"

in a word, what i'm saying is, grow up. you're Kingdom subjects. now live like it. live out your God-created identity. live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you -matt5:48 MESSAGE

1. today i will live in the now! i will live in the now because i am fearfully and wonderfully made...i am His workmanship...i am the righteousness of God in Christ...i am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath...i am bought with a price... i AM somebody!

2. today i will refuse to believe anything about myself that this is contrary to what God believes about me. i will not regard any word spoken about me that does not confirm what God says about me. i will agree with God and His will for my life, even if it seems illogical and impractical to do so.

3. today i will carry myself in a way that demonstrates my godly self-confidence. i will speak well of myself without bragging or being offensive to others. i will show that i believe in myself, without thinking more highly of myself than i ought to think. i will love my neighbor as i love myself today.

4. today i will not waste my time on unimportant and trivial things--the "beggarly elements of the world." i will forsake t he temptation to give in to silly pettiness and will pursue great ideas and noble thoughts. i will conduct my affairs with a flair fro grandeur and loftiness without becoming pretentious and out of touch with reality.

5. today i will feel neither superior nor inferior to anyone else.

6. today i will remember that i am who God says that i am...i have what God says that i have...and i can do what God says that i can do!

7. today i will walk like a winner and lose my loser mentality. i am a champion, a king, an overcomer. i have favor, creativity, confidence, the Mind of Christ, prosperity, success, supernatural ability, and uncommon favor. anything can happen today, and my expectation of faith will attract the positive to my life. if God is for me, who can be against me?! no matter what others have said to me or about me--no matter what i have said about myself--today is a new day of self-realization for me. today i AM SOMEBODY, and today i will live in the now!

Father, help me to remember today that you have enabled me to be somebody! in Jesus' name, amen.

may you ALL have the peace of God on you tonight as you sleep and the strength you need in the morning. i hope this is encouraging for you all!

when you put God first, everything will fall right into place. i'm expecting new and great things for tomorrow and this week! Thank You Lord!

surprise

2010-03-19T14:47:00.001-04:00

surprise!!!! i have one more blog!!! check it ooooout! http://kimberlycumo.tumblr.com/

spring break

2010-03-05T14:56:00.001-05:00

anddddd... spring breaks starts.......... whenever my ride comes. lol which is very soon! i hope you all have a safe, productive, and wonderful week! :)

thuper-duper-excited

2010-03-04T17:17:00.002-05:00

i am soooo excited for spring break! not only to relax, but to get closer with God in prayer & reading as well as fellowshiping, relaxing, seeing friends, and doing lots of reading [both leisure and academic]!!! and it is supposed to be sunny for the majority of the week which means, i could probably go exploring sometime with my camera! [which i haven't done in a long time]

today was pretty busy, i've been on the go from one thing to another since this morning. but after tonight's mandatory guest speaker lecture-thing for one of my classes ending around nine, i should be able to finish some homework and go to bed early! after dinner, before the guest speaker lecture-thing, i'm going to work on my landscaping paintings!!! sooo excited, i'm really digging this assignment, especially because it's not the typical landscape view that i chose. i'll put up pictures on my picture blog eventually, i'm still trying to catch up with pictures from last semester.

i also got the nicholas sparks book, dear john, in the mail today! yay for mail!! :) looking forward to reading that over break as well. okie, i guess that's it for now, until next time, God Bless!!! xo

papyrus cards

2010-03-03T21:14:00.002-05:00

legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. the hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation. ~PAPYRUS

i saw this on a piece of paper on the back of a card that i bought for a friend. i thought i'd share it with you all!!!

happy sunday

2010-02-28T14:49:00.002-05:00

donald texted me "happy sunday" today. i giggled, because i don't usually hear that phrase. but you know what?? why not wish someone a happy sunday? so, here it goes,

HAPPY SUNDAY!

God bless!

m&m's song

2010-02-22T16:31:00.002-05:00

today in one of my classes, we were preparing activities for when we travel to our practicum sites, and one of the activities involved m&m's. this song came up. :) now i want some good ol' m&m's!

love doesn't have to be shared once a year

2010-02-15T19:33:00.002-05:00

happy belated valentine's day!!! i hope you all were able to rest and feel the love of Christ on you yesterday [and everyday for that matter!!] :) i've never been a huge fan of valentine's day. but i don't disagree with the idea of it. i think it is important to share/let a person know how you care about them but with many holidays these days, it tends to turn into another marketing opportunity. :/ give me a good meal, spend some quality time with me, and praise the Lord, and well, that's sufficient enough for me!!!

i love the way you love me

2010-02-11T15:33:00.001-05:00

chris mcclarney. listen and praise Jesus with all of your heart!!!! amanda's boyfriend told us about him, i am definitely buying this on itunes!

http://www.myspace.com/gracecenter

hairssss cut

2010-02-09T20:55:00.003-05:00

ugh! i need a haircut sooooo bad! especially my bangs! i'm trying to grow it out, but it's hard when i have a day when i'm just entirely fed up with how my hair is behaving and then desire to attack it with scissors... hmph. just a few more days until friday. friday = going home = hair cut. :)

im listening to ben woodward's cd [how we love you]. check out this video!

danceEnSeMbLe2009~2010

2010-02-05T23:00:00.003-05:00

so, tonight was the first night for our show, "we're dancing"!!! anddddd.... it was a success! God definitely gets the glory, because if he wasn't there, i DO. NOT. KNOW. how it would've come together. my twin, amanda, & i choreographed two dances and helped choreograph one. in total i was in 6 dances. i definitely have bittersweet feelings on this right now because i'm happy the show is finally here, but i am going to miss seeing the girlies every week. :/ anywhooooo, thank you lord for your strength, peace, love, & faithfullness! now, i am washing up and going to get some sleep for tomorrow's TWO [2] performances {one in the afternoon @ 2, and the other @8pm}.

may the ALMIGHTY Lord bless you this night!

philippians4:6

2010-02-02T13:06:00.002-05:00

do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to
God ~amplified bible

[A YEAR IN THE NOW: bishop jim swilley]

john4:23,24

2010-02-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

it's who you are and the way you live that count before God. your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. that's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself-SPIRIT. those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. ~the message bible

i really really really....

2010-01-31T22:47:00.003-05:00

want to get in the groove of this blogger thing. i just never seem to be consistent!! and it seriously doesn't make me happy. i started this thing to make myself me more open, expressive, try new things, verbalize(or write down to be more accurate) my feelings and life, to share the things of God in my life. i just seem to only do a day or two, but then i either don't take the time to really WRITE OUT my thoughts or i become lazy and just skip a day on purpose. hmph. :(

maybe i need to make it a scheduled-in part of my day kind-of-thing. perhaps so it can make me have the mentality that i HAVE to write something, and then maybe soon enough it'll become a habit, and then become natural. hm, we shall see!

church this morning was EXACTLY what i needed today. of course, God is a genius and already knows these things, regardless, it was definitely what i needed to hear and experience considering the type of week i had.

my dance performance is this weekend-eeks!! [this friday and saturday] this afternoon before dinner amanda&i&my friend katie rehearsed one of the dances and it went really well. we got to clarify and learn/teach eachother. i'm in 6 dances this year-three of which i help choreograph. whew! God will most definitely be my strength this week during tech and dress rehearsals. i will really have to buckle down and get serious in keeping my priorities straight!

another thing i did today: talked to one of my lovely besties, lizzy! we had originally wanted to do yahoo!messenger and use the web cam/video chat, but for some reason it wasn't working on her end. but amanda&i still were able to talk to her through speaker phone for a good 40 min! :D she was the one that went abroad to denmark and other various countries last semester.

omg, speaking about traveling, i love that all of my friends have gone to amazing places in their lives! [i am some what jealous, but i know someday, somehow i will get my chance] my other friend, nancy is going to canada for the olympics on sunday! she is participating in a program that is somewhat related to the school she is attending, and so she will be working there for two weeks, how sweet is that?!

i was also able to get together with my "littles" tonight. here at school, we have what are called "little" & "big" sisters. freshmen&jrs are paired up, and stay 'sisters' until the end of the school career & beyond! we drank tea/hot chocolate, giggled, & watched the usa tv show, psych, of which i love!

okay, it's 10:58pm. i have work and classes tomorrow, and have not accomplished anything academic this weekend [due to numerous issues/events--that i will discuss at a later time] in any sense... God is good. like really really good. i'm going to do some reading in a book called hope's edge by frances moore lappe & anna lappe for my "women changing the world" class and pray before snuggling up with my teddy bear and wrapping myself in my blankets.

gOdBleSs!

it's only tuesday

2010-01-26T12:53:00.003-05:00

i am ready for a nap.... a nice long nap. a nap that doesn't need the alarm clock. hmph...it's only tuesday. :(

although i'm tired, i know that the Lord is my strength!!! and that i can do all things in Christ!

okay, off to lunch now, then class, back to the room to clean it and do some reading/catching up on work, dinner, and DANCE REHEARSALS!!

may the mighty Lord Jesus Christ bless you all today!

new year new semester

2010-01-24T19:45:00.002-05:00

okay, so it's 2010!!! whoo hoo!!!

i have completed my first week of classes on friday and ONLY have 12 more weeks. yay.... lol

but seriously, i think it's going to be a good semester. i am taking 5 classes and also working about 10.5 hrs a week. i am only in one art class this time around though [painting], which is somewhat saddening, but yet i'm excited about because i've never really done it before. painting is a great way to relax! i did some painting in my 2-D design class in the fall but i don't think it really counts, that class actually stressed me out! lol

God is sooooo good!!! i can't even start to say what he's been doing in my life as well as my friends. all i know is that i'm expecting and willing to be an open vessel to be used for his purpose! i'll leave you with this verse as i clean my room and get into my pj's [yes, it is 8pm], before working on my first painting hw assignment and do some reading.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

GOD BLESS!

<3

2010-01-07T13:09:00.000-05:00

God is love & God loves you.

brrrr

2010-01-03T23:15:00.002-05:00

bRrRr!!!

boy has it been cold these last few days! thank you LORD i have warm clothes, food, and shelter! you always provide!!

KEEP warm!

happynewyear

2010-01-02T13:33:00.002-05:00

HAPPY nEw YEAR bloggers!!!

God has so much he wants us to be a part of this year. i am very excited. this year is really going to be a year of pushing through and moving towards a manifestation of HIM! i pray that health and happiness be with you all in two*thousand*ten and i hope you will continue to press on in Him and get a closer and more intimate relationship with our Savior & Lord, Jesus!

God*bLeSs!!!

merry*christmas

2009-12-26T11:00:00.002-05:00

MERRY {belated} CHRISTMAS!!!

i know that i wasn't on, but i hope that all of you had a wonderful, loving, and blessed time with friends & family. Jesus is the reason for this time, but the important part to remember is that, yes he was born, but he also lived, died, and ROSE AGAIN! he is just so awesome, our natural minds cannot possibly comprehend all of it. again, i hope & pray that God continues to bless you for the rest of the year, and for everyday following. make sure you pray, trust, and build a relationship with Him. that is what he desires. he loves us so much! THANK you Jesus!

Blessings!

christmas shopping

2009-12-18T23:39:00.002-05:00

i went shopping with the sisters today and joined up with my boyfriend, donald at the mall tonight. we went to get some last minute gifts. the mall was pretty crazy, but not horrible. i'm so thankful that God has made it possible for my family to not be a part of the chaos that Christmas and Christmas shopping brings! understanding the real meaning behind Christmas and praying for God's mighty peace & love with friends & family is so much better than any materialistic thing!

God Bless!!!

HOME

2009-12-17T07:50:00.002-05:00

the semester is done, and so I'M COMING HOME TODAY!!!!!

thank you GOD for making it possible for me to survive the semester! ;D

luke9:62

2009-12-07T10:55:00.002-05:00

Jesus said, "no procrastination. no backward looks. you can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. seize the day." the message bible

:: the following statements are taken from the book A YEAR IN THE NOW: a dynamic devotional dedicated to the daily discover of destiny by bishop jim swilley. ::

*today i will live in the now! i will live in the now because i have realized how important my time is and how necessary it is for me to stop WASTING it!

*today is a day full of opportunity and promise...

*...i will not be lazy...i will not put off until tomorrow what i should go ahead and do today...

*today i will trust that God will stop me before i take a wrong step, because i have prayed over my path...

grace of god

2009-12-03T18:46:00.002-05:00

by the grace of God, i am awake right now. i was working on a research paper/project all night last night---i went to bed at 1:30am and then woke up at 5:30am to finish. I did in the nick of time! phew!

prayer really does work! i was focused, and kept my peace, and my mind on HIM this morning and was able to complete the assignment. PRAISE GOD!

now, the agenda for tonight: read articles for a presentation tomorrow, go to the campus' international holiday party for a little bit, and then do more reading, then go to an 'un-birthday' house program, and finish the night with Christmas music, tea, warm clothes, and an early bedtime!

GoD bLeSs!

christmas*music

2009-12-02T11:29:00.003-05:00

right now i'm listening to josh groban's NOEL cd. and lovin' it.

i just took a very nice 40 min nap... mmmm boy did i feel comfortable in that bed under those warm&snuggly blankets! but now back to work---i have two research papers&presentations to do and one quiz to study for by friday. Lord, you are my strength!!!

i encourage you all to seek the Lord's peace in this day! put on the mind of CHRIST!

bLeSsInGs!

december1st!

2009-12-01T08:32:00.003-05:00

HAPPY DECEMBER 1ST!!!!

i really, REALLY cannot believe that it is already the month of december. this year and semester has flown by! i love the fall season, and i love the winter season up until new years... after that...well, it could go. ;)

i pray that all of you will get the peace of god on you this month. that you remember the true reason behind christmas, and that you experience the love of god through your friends and family!!!!

GoD bLeSs!!!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, it's SNOWING! how appropriate is that huh?

t-day follow-up

2009-11-30T09:24:00.002-05:00

hello all! i hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving with friends and family!!! i sure did. :) it was a wonderful, restful, and fun weekend.

now, it's BACK TO WORK for 2.5 more weeks until the end of the semester! EEKS! pray for me!

GoD bLeSs!!!

thanksgiving break

2009-11-24T16:36:00.003-05:00

i'm getting ready to pack so my sister and i can go home for THANKSGIVING break!!! it has been a long week and 2 days and finally, at last, i can enjoy the company of friends and family at home. :) may God bless you ALL a wonderful and love-filled thanksgiving day! <3

pottery

2009-11-22T19:45:00.005-05:00

i'm pretty sure i just found a new love/therapy/hobby today. pottery. yep! that's it!!! today is one of my best friend's 21st birthday and we went to take a pottery lesson near my college. she came to visit since she is home already for thanksgiving break! it was such a nice time! and i learned so much!

it is a tiny bit expensive, but i'm sure that i'll use it as a treat to myself every now and then---for some "me-time". :)))

Good morning

2009-11-19T07:29:00.004-05:00

I'm back, and want to say "GOOOOOOOD MORNING!" May the Lord bless you this day! I know he is our strength and our provider in everything!

I've been expected to finish a number of papers and projects these last few days, as well as in the coming weeks---hm, who woulda thought??---and will only rely on HIM to give me the endurance.

Put your minds on Jesus today and make sure you hand over your concerns and worries, because frankly, he can do more with them than we can!!

I missed you ALL!

mondays

2009-06-22T19:45:00.002-04:00

usually mondays are not my best days. not that things go wrong, but nothing fun or interesting happens. it's just....well.... blah.

but! today, amanda and our good friend damien went out to starbucks to relax and talk and do whatever. he ordered coffee {as usual} and amanda and i ordered vanilla bean frappachinos. we have this little thing where he always tries to convince us to drink coffee---iced or hot. he LOVES it, i love the smell, but can't do the drink itself. i have just never been attracted to drinking it. plus we are trying to prove to our friends that we can survive without it. we have already been through high school and already two years of college without coffee. so far, it is just a fun game we do with each other.

after time of talking about God & goofing around we headed off to 99Restaurant to get some foodage. there we ordered a TON of food and laugh our heads off. the place was not very busy and we were able to really enjoy ourselves. we all were also able to order something out of the ordinary or out of our comfort zone.

i don't know how many of you know about the card game NERTZ but amazingly enough damien pulled out the decks of cards and we played multiple game after we were done eating and payed. our waitress was really nice and said that we could stay as long as we wanted! nertz is similar to solitare, but not. you can check this website out too if you want. it is a really fun game, and everyone {at just about EVERY single get together} plays it----for hours at a time! http://www.ehow.com/how_4464530_play-card-game-nertz.html.

overall we had a wonderful time fellowshiping and being with friends.

it was probably the coolest mondays in a long time! :)

jake hamilton & jesus culture

2009-06-18T12:43:00.006-04:00

my good friend gave my sister & i a jake hamilton cd {from jesus culture}, and i have fallen in love with it! thank you lord for willing vessels to shout your name and state your promises in our lives! we need to prophecy to this place--this place in time, this place of worship in which we go, & in our hearts. WE CAN SHAPE HISTORY!!! WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD!

THANK YOU LORD!!!

here are more videos from youtube! Enjoy!

God Bless!

{pray until Jesus comes to this world, and have his word manifested in this earth!}

rain rain

2009-06-18T12:26:00.004-04:00

"rain rain, go away, come back another day!"

indeed, it has been raining a whole lot lately! it does not even feel like summer. however, i was never a fan for super hot unbearable heat either. :/ the thunderstorms a few days ago, i did love though! i love thunderstorms. they are so powerful and the rain always puts me to sleep. i don't like it when a thunderstorm is during the day---especially when there is a chance that the power might go out. thus another pro to night-thunderstorms! lol

God is always faithful! he continues to work in me, my family & friends. my mother and i have had some misunderstandings, but were able to get through them, and i believe that we are at a better place now. a lack of communication with someone i truly look up to and want to be with is never good. i think some of the problems were created because i was trying to take care of things by "myself". which is never a good start: 1) i should always turn to God 2) my mother & father are definitely sources of support and wisdom. they are always here for me. so, i learned a lesson yesterday, seek God first in the mornings & throughout the day and never be afraid to talk to those God put in my life. even if the issue is small or big, there are always ways in dealing with the situations. :)

i also truly thank God for my friends, my BFF's, my "girls" ;D they have & always will be available for me as well. and i will continue to pray for them and come to them as well with my thoughts & needs. they truly are my besties. <3>

ok, im ready for lunch now. one thing about summer that could be a good thing or bad thing: leftovers. they never seem to go away! LOL

GOD BLESS! <3

photo blog

2009-06-10T14:08:00.001-04:00

due to my laziness during the month of may, i am posting many pictures on my other blog. if you have the time and want to check them out you most certainly can! :)

hm, lets see, a picture can say 1,000 words, then that means i should be all set with the scarcity of posts on this blog right??!! :)

God Bless!

this week is going to be rainy and gloomy, but with God, his light in&through us will always SHINE! <3>

beautiful weekend

2009-06-07T22:05:00.001-04:00

thank you lord for a wonderful, beautiful, warm, sunny, eventful, weekend with friends & family. you continue to bless us and love us. thank you..... <3

my 21st!

2009-06-07T22:02:00.001-04:00

amanda & i turned 21 on may 17, 2009. it was a very quaint family get together with wonderful lasagna, cake & a movie. the day before we had our 3 very close friends for many years over for a party. :D

the next day we went for our renewed licenses! whoot! and they came out good! LOL

WE'RE 21!!!!!

live GodFilled music

2009-06-04T15:19:00.001-04:00

this is a christian radio station for the Pioneer Valley that my pastor and great brother in Christ run. they offer music and talks to share the word and love and passion of Jesus! check it out!

http://connecticutriverconcerts.com/Home.php this is the home page

http://www.connecticutriverconcerts.com/live.html this is for the music

a morning walk

2009-06-04T09:21:00.002-04:00

my mom & i went on a walk this morning. it took me a while to wake up before we left (thus making us leave at 8:30am rather than 8). but once we got moving, stretched, and started to go to our destination, we had some nice encouraging conversation. most of it was for my mom, with her wanting to become healthier and happier. i have been wanting to get my flexibility back (esp because i lost a lot of it when i came to college with the decrease amount of dancing i was involved in) as well as toning up and becoming healthier as well. so basically, we conversed and decided to walk everyday, at least, and then on mon.s, tues, & fri.s we will walk 2x a day. wed & thurs we have prayer and church in the evening, thus making those days our "resting days" so to speak. but our goal is to start small, to get accustomed, and begin to build new habits and a new way of thinking and living. this way when we start more rigourous activities (because eventually our bodies will get accostomed to the previous workout regime) we will "want" to work out, and love it at the same time! we were very positive, and i was very thankful and excited for the future of this summer.

Lord, i pray that you will help us to stay focused, and keep our thoughts on you as we take care of our bodies, and your "vessels". <3>

God Bless!

another rainy, gloomy, sleepy day

2009-05-28T10:21:00.003-04:00

i have so much to do! i wanted to start walking/jogging/running each day to get my exercise in for the summer, but it has been raining an awful lot lately. :( i also wanted to continue to work on my room, but i got a small cold so that delayed me a few days where rest & liquids were much needed {i am much better now}.

i just want it to be nice!

i am also in desperate need for exploring too!

stuff

2009-05-24T20:37:00.003-04:00

i have been going through a lot lately. it is kinda hard to elaborate/share (maybe for another time?), but God is indeed working in me/through me. i have unfortunately been unmotivated to write this past month (ahh!!!! sorry!!!). i am pushing on in my walk in God more than ever now, and would so love some prayers from you. because as "two or more are gathered.....God is in the midst" right??!!! why can't we gather on the internet eh?? i surely missed you a lot. i just didn't know where to start or how to write out what was going on in my life. part of it was laziness i must admit. :( i promise though, i WILL be writing more in the future. God touched my heart with this blog, and i will come back to it.

some quick updated news:
1)i have finished finals and my semester with a 3.675 GPA. yay! THANK YOU LORD! :D
2)i have moved back home (since may 1) and have yet to fully "move into my room". aka: unpack/clean.... lol i'm getting there! i have been doing a lot of "purging" of everything old! very cleansing! :)
3)i am taking one summer class (art history), for the month of july. i am a little nervous but excited for it. i was not able to take the photography one though because it was full :(
4)my sister & i now have 2 CARS!!! my uncle and cousin were able to bless us with it. however, it is a standard, so we have to learn how to drive it. mom took me out last night for a quick drive, oh boy... lord help me! lol
5)i have been playing volleyball every week! whoo hoo! every tuesday night (and sometimes the weekend) local churches get together and play. it has been a great networking system, and since i love the game, it is indeed a win-win situation :)

more stuff to come... thank you ALL for everything, even if all you do is read my posts, i really hope something i have put up has encouraged you in any way.

<3>

Harmony

2009-05-02T21:46:00.000-04:00

AHH!

2009-04-27T14:21:00.003-04:00

ahh! i'm so sorry guys! i haven't been on in forever! so much has happened these last few weeks. a lot having to do with school ending on FRIDAY! whoo-hoo! the weather has been absolutely gorgeous, and .... hot. :O i have three finals and a research paper this week, and simply can not wait until they are over and i can enjoy my summer!

i will fill you all in later..... have a gorgeous week!!!!

GOD BLESS <3

sound of music in train station

2009-04-15T18:21:00.000-04:00

Sound of Music Train Station @ Yahoo! Video

"easter"

2009-04-10T08:40:00.001-04:00

may you ALL have a blessed and God filled RESURRECTION DAY!!!!!

<3>

strength in you

2009-04-08T13:34:00.003-04:00

lord, give me the strength and peace i need to continue on these last few weeks!

yesterday i had a wonderful time at the new tribe bible study at RPI. we read john 12. at one point we were really able to do more sharing than analyzing and picking apart of the word. i really enjoyed that. it was good to hear and be encouraged by my peers on what they have gone through and what they are learning in their relationship with God.

many more projects left to go before summer! i am slowly but surely checking them off my list, but not nearly fast enough. :o/ i took my stats test today and i had a rough time. the material made sense to me but i knew that i had to go in and take my time. in addition to that, i had all the information i was studying jumble up in my brain the minute i put my notes away. it was very nerve-racking! i started to freak out a bit, so i took some deep breathes, moved onto another problem, and tried to focus. i almost got to the point where i felt like i couldn't breathe and was on the verge of hyperventilating. i've never been in a position like that before! it was scary. but i believe my prayer before i took my test and while i was studying allowed me to in the end do the most i could do. there is always more room for studying, and i should've payed attention to my time the night before a little better, but i do believe God helped me not bomb it! thank you Jesus!

i'm off to a lacrosse game where i'm working at RPI, and right now it is flurrying!! AHH! at least it is better than pouring rain for 2+ hours like on monday.

please keep me in prayer, and all other students, for the end of the semester is always stressful. it is definitely something that should not distract us from God!!!

"i can do all things in you Lord!!" <3

muuuuusic

2009-04-04T20:30:00.002-04:00

i found this as an advertisement on my facebook. it is really good..

Another great artist i was introduced to by a friend from my church is nina landis. i wasn't able to find this song on youtube but you can go to this site and look for the "greatest weapon" song to the right of the page. it is short but so powerful and awesome. i can play it over and over all night. it is so calming and true ----- { http://www.myspace.com/ninalandismusic}. feel free to look at the other songs too!

here is one

waiting

2009-04-01T14:09:00.005-04:00

psalm 27:14
14 wait on the Lord;
be of good courage,
and He shall strengthen your heart;
wait, i say, on the Lord!

the meaning of "wait" here isn't a lazy, passive waiting, but rather an active stepping back, handing over our current issues to God, and wait for his will to come to pass through us! His timing is perfect! i love it whenever i start to get stressed, or get a little unhappy with how things are going in my life, and the minute i change my mindset and focus on Jesus i get stronger. stronger in him and stronger in my faith. waiting for something only makes it better when it finally arrives! that's why i want to wait on God's timing and not my own because i always want something premature or too late. but God is so good! he'll make us wait for him to speak, seek him out, and in the meantime we get a stronger love connection with him. whatever God has in store for me--whether it be what classes i take at school, where i live next year, what job{s} i get over the summer, who my friends are, my future boyfriend and then husband, etc.--i know it will be great. and frankly, i'm not in any hurry. i'm going to lean back, study his word, get to know him more through prayer, and well....simply wait.

<3>

one step further

2009-03-30T14:12:00.004-04:00

one step further.one step further to a different career, year at sage, and in my walk with God.

i handed in the papers for dropping chemistry, registering for the two classes i wasn't able to register for before, and changing my major TODAY!!!!!

WHEW!

thank you Jesus! so much weight is off my shoulders now. no longer do i have to put my energy and time into worrying about the small stuff, but now i can look forward to finishing up the semester with my projects that are due. :)

amanda & i also went to resident life to pick up our lottery numbers for housing next year. unfortunately we did not get the low numbers we wanted. i got 128 and amanda 130. they said it was supposed to be random... we don't think so. :( also, things are being done MUCH differently than last year. we do not have nearly that many residents that are going to be rising juniors this year---the numbers are so high because the college decided to include the communters in the lottery. WHAT?! no, i don't think that is fair. last year there was paperwork and due dates that were necessary to fill out in order to be a commuter and this year they are just going to put residents that have no choice but to live on campus with the commuters? i'm not trying to sound mean, but its not right. they should have residents pick their housing first and foremost and then allow commuters the chance to look for rooms. usually commuters stay commuters, and if they were to decide to live on campus most of the time the move during spring semesters. residents already have to fight tooth & nail for rooms and compete against eachother, and when we get really high numbers in the lottery system, thrown in with all of the commuter students, it makes it even more difficult to find adaquate rooms. it is also going to waste a lot of time when we go to pick the rooms on the designated dates because there are going to be a whole lot of empty spaces with commuters that decide to NOT live on campus? yes you should open the opportunity to live on campus to commuters. they deserve the same chances, but not in a way that would make things harder on the residents. most residents live on campus because they cannot commute back and forth to their homes. we don't have that choice, so we should be given our normal chances to get housing like previous years and still open up the field for commuters once all the residents have chosen their houses. there has been a HUGE increase in students for next year attending this "small" women's college. i really don't know how the college is going to handle it. i'm almost afraid that they are going to run out of rooms!!!! this is probably the reason as to why i'm a little upset. i don't want to end up without a room because of a commuter who decided to live on campus last minute! :( a few of our friends have high numbers as well and are equally confused and upset as to the changed system from last year. but i guess the only thing we can do {and what amanda&i have already done once} is to pray and think positively. God will make a way!! he always does!

enough of my ranting... have a great night!

God bless

a barbecue and obnoxiously loud friends

2009-03-28T23:16:00.002-04:00

tonight amanda, jill, & i went up to RPI {the college up the hill from us} and visited our friends. we try to see each other whenever we can, but it has been very busy and we did not have the chance since winter break. a VERY long time considering we are only 10 min away from eachother.

regardless, we decided to hang out this weekend. most of the time we don't have specific plans but to just hang out and see what happens.

so that's what we did!!

when our friend nick picked the three of us up and when we arrived to their apartment/dorm outside on the lawn were all of the inside living room furniture! everyone was lounging away in the sun, chatting, and having a good time.

so we were hanging out for a bit, decided that we wanted a barbecue {thus meaning a field trip to price chopper later}, and in the meantime before dinner threw around the football and frisbee.

my friend harsha said something that was very true! something that means a lot to me. he mentioned that what is so funny is that just by throwing a ball back and forth between a few people can be so much fun and so fulfilling! you pass it on to someone else, wait patiently for it to come back to you {not knowing exactly when}, and when it eventually makes its way back to your waiting hands, you get so excited! i love just being relaxed, knowing that you have no current worries to take care of, enjoy the sun, and throwing a football around with some great friends!

most of these "friends" are guys. its funny... sage is an all women's college, and RPI {rensselaer polytecnic institue} is co-ed but practically an all men's college {approx. a 3/7 girl to guy ratio}. therefore, whenever we need a "testosterone" fix {which happens once in a while because girls can definitely become overwhelming..... fast!} we try to get to see them. we do have a few girl friends that go there, and i personally think that we help them out by giving them an "estrogen" fix! LOL

nonetheless, as we enjoy eachother's company, the guys DO become loud, overreactive, & obnoxious... fast! and yet... i love every bit of it. <3

award: fabulous

2009-03-28T23:13:00.002-04:00

i have been blessed and honored to be picked as one of five fabulous blogs for this award by Jen

in order to receive it i have to do two things:

1. confess five things to which I am addicted, and 2. pass the award on to five other fabulous blogs.

so first, here are my five addictions...

five addictions:

1. God

2. taking pictures---it seriously relaxes me. i love it!!!

3. people watching

4. thinking about the future

5. wearing comfy clothes & cuddle with fuzzy things & drink peppermint tea.

now here is the tough part. the following five fabulous blogs are:

Recovering the Satellites: even though she hasn't posted in a while, she has a perfect reason and i have no doubt that she will make it up to us! ;D {nance i'm only writing this because i know you'll read it <3}>

Beautifully Broken: a beautiful blog full of dedication in everything!

Learning to be a Wife: a great blog that inspires me although i am no wheres to getting married yet! :)

A glimpse into my thoughts...: a blog that is full of love and truth. thanks for sharing everything that you do!

Life with Logan: this blog is just so cute and i fully enjoy seeing the love a mother has for her child!

now i hope you all will pass this award on to five additional fabulous blogs, and don't forget to tell us your five addictions!

<3>

sunny days

2009-03-28T15:07:00.001-04:00

sunny days are a comin'!!!! i'm so excited! today my roommate jill&i went out to the park on campus and did some homework, relaxed, and observed how life is when the snow is gone! <3>

may you ALL have wonderful God blessed SUNNY DAYS!

bored

2009-03-27T23:25:00.005-04:00

per usual, i was looking out the window and thought that i'd get a few pictures of the string that is attached to my shade. :o/ eh, i like it! :)

thank you bl<3ggers!

2009-03-27T09:22:00.004-04:00

thank you all for your concerns, prayers, suggestions, and advice. i am feeling a lot better, almost completely normal!! i took two naps yesterday, kept warm in socks and a sweatshirt, took only two cold tablets, drank water, ate some soup at dinner {although not much because the school likes to pour buckets of salt in it---did not end up finishing}, drank cranberry juice {Jen, I would have taken your advice on the echinacea, etc. but i had no means on getting to a store plus i was feeling a lot better as the day went on yesterday}, and most importantly i read in the word and prayed again!!!

this is the fastest a cold has ever "started to emerge" and disappear without going through it's course. that's exactly it, it is God's course, not the cold's! :D i still need to blow my nose and a tiny bit stiff, but i'm not letting it bother me one bit because i plan on playing 3 hours of the amazingly fun game of volleyball at RPI {college up the hill} for a 24hr tournament for the illiteracy cause. amanda & i are very excited. we are being picked up @1:30pm so i'll be praying that everything will go smoothly and there would be NO injuries whatsoever!

<3

eck

2009-03-26T09:34:00.007-04:00

i went to bed after a few hours of feeling like the beginning of a cold is emerging. i already prayed over myself for healing and strength, went to bed when i no longer needed to stay up {i wouldn't really call it early, but i guess it was} at about 11:45pm. i've been drinking some more fluids {water, cranberry juice, orange juice}, disinfecting the room, and trying to stay optimistic. i'm going to take another quick nap before my class at 11 today {actually my English class is going to be online today not in the classroom} so that will help with the occasional blowing of the nose. :P please pray for me because i really can not afford to get sick. i am so close to the end, and need to trust in God that this thing is only temporary and believe that it won't affect my life.

<3> in Christ

a long day coming to an end

2009-03-25T21:40:00.004-04:00

so today was incredibly long, fast, intense, calming, busy, relaxed, & well, interesting.

1)8AM: i took an extremely insane chem test
2) 9AM: relaxed & read in the bible
3) 10AM: today, march 25, 2009 our school's new president was announced. i got to go to the ceremony for one of my classes.
4) 11AM: stats was probably the longest 1hr 20min ever!
5) 1230PM:i didn't have time to get a real lunch because i had an appointment with my adviser to look at my portfolio----a bagel and cheetos.
6) 1245PM: i had my meeting with my adviser/will be professor and she approved my portfolio for the major----I'M IN, I'M IN!!! :D :D :D :D :D
7) 120PM: i went to the chem lab review session before lab @ 2pm and talked with the TA about me dropping out of chem.
8) 125PM: i went to student services to get the add/drop form and the change of major form
9) 130PM: went to my chem professor's office to have him sign the paper---i finally dropped chem!
10)135PM: went back to the library to let everyone know that i will not be in lab or the class anymore
11)145PM: back in the room for 2 hrs----shared the news with some friends&amanda and took a nap
12)400PM: went to work until 530pm. did some research on the computer while in the front desk office of the recreation building (where the gym is) for my english research paper
13)530PM: went back to the room instead of directly to dinner like i usually do every wednesday
14)535PM: went up to the room, dropped off my bag, went BACK to the dining hall (1min away from where i work)
15)630PM: back to the room, did some important emails.
16)700PM: went to a guest lecturer who is a photojournalist looking at the effects of immigration on the women of mexico left behind by husbands. i went to this for extra credit for one of my classes. it was really informative, i like it a lot. :)
18)820PM: it went longer than expected, and i left after the first half and questions
19)830PM: back to the room and watching students come in and out of all the dorms for tours because of the room lottery coming up---choosing housing for next year.
20)840PM: talked to mom & dad on the phone. found out that amanda&my car is fixed!! well, a big part of it is. :)
21)920PM--present: relaxing, blogging, and finishing up my interview paper for my cultural perspective class.

whew!!!

Well, that was my day in a nut shell. Thank you lord for providing strength and blessings all day! <3>

things temporary

2009-03-24T09:33:00.012-04:00

a lot has happened to me since my last post. most of it has been me learning to be open to hear and listen to what others have to say, and most importantly what God is saying or wants to say. with the semester rapidly drawing near, there are soo many projects and papers that i have to accomplish in a very little time. i know that lately i have been writing about a lot of my academics, but really, right now, that is basically all that is happening in my life. besides going to church at terra nova here in ny, talking with friends about so many various topics (some academic)... i can really only focus on a few things at once.

one piece of news is that i get to see my new adviser tomorrow and show her my portfolio!!! whoo hoo! i'm so excited. once i'm there, i will talk to her about actually signing me off to the CAT Art major (Creative Arts in Therapy in Art), registering for the 2 classes i wasn't able to register for (because i had to be in the major and i wasn't yet), and.... to see if i can withdraw from chem. :( for about a week now, i have been really debating about doing this. should i stick it out (i hate not finishing something i started) or should i drop it because technically i don't need it for my new major and i already have the sciences requirements with my previous 4 other science classes from this past semester and last year. i wasn't doing as well as i wanted in that class. i would study, get some help, go to every class, but somehow the exams (we've only had 2 quizzes, 1 exam, & 1 lab exam---not many grades at all) are totally different than the notes that we take. :( granted, i could have spent 5 hours studying all the time, but i have other classes to take care of as well! if chem were my only class to take this semester, i would most likely have an A (well hopefully). however, as all students know, we have to prioritize EVERYTHING! so i decided that with the help of my parents, sister, & friends i will withdraw from chemistry. it will bring up my gpa, because i don't need it for my new major, and i will be able to have a lot less stress and can work harder on my other classes.

i talked to my mom & dad on sunday night about this whole chemistry decision, and for a little over an hour i was switching back and forth between parents. but i talked to my mom the most and she said some things that were really encouraging to me. i don't know how many of you experience this, but my mom tends to ask me questions or talk to me and figures out exactly what i'm feeling or am burdened with-----not only is it because she is a mom, but that she has the Holy Spirit in her too!

long story short (we WERE talking for more than an hour lol), she basically pin pointed the fact that i was feeling a bit like a failure--like i was letting my parents down. mind you, i didn't tell my parents that i was having trouble with the second semester of chemistry right away because i had just gotten a letter saying that i was on the dean's list for last semester and with this negative news, it would just damper everything good. so she asked me, "do you feel like a failure?" and that is when i started to cry because all the stress was building up in me and i was trying to not think about the poor grade. basically i knew what i was feeling, but didn't have a name to it. it wasn't like i felt entirely like a failure but rather i let myself and parents down because i know they want me to do so well in school. so my mom explained some things to me.
1) i'm not a failure
2) God does not think i'm a failure
3)my parents do not think i'm a failure
&
4) don't i ever think that again! LOL
at this point i know she is 100% true and that somehow i was starting to believe this lie and amidst all the studies, it was the perfect timing for these thoughts to sneak in---a time where my guard was down, and i wasn't praying a whole lot about things concerning school. she also mentioned that as a student you do everything you can to get in enough studying before a test---stay up late, wake up early, study right before the exam before class starts. if i spend SO MUCH time and effort in studying for a class or test that ultimately is so temporary and significant to the things God wants me to do, why can't i stay up late with reading the word and have it be the last thing i read for the day, wake up early to get my morning God "fix", or pray right before the class starts??
BAM!
duh!!! once again, i learn that the Holy Spirit and mom make an amazing team. haha.
so, ever since this talk with my mom, i have been determined to do things differently. i have been improving a lot, but oh boy, do i still have a long way to go! but don't we all?? like previous posts, i want Jesus to be in my every thought, all the time! i want to treat him like he is THE MOST IMPORTANT person in my life. school, work, assignments, etc... it is all temporary in the eyes of God. Yes, i should work hard in school, but it should never be something that takes time away from being with him.

i have been reading in the bible lately, and for a few days, i'm going back and forth between a few scriptures.

psalm 71: 1-3, 7-8
1 in you, o Lord, i put my trust; let me never be put to shame.
2 deliver me in your righteousness, and
cause me to escape;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
3 be my strong refuge,
to which i may resort continually;
you have given the commandment to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

7 i have become as a wonder to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 let my mouth be filled with your praise
and with your glory all the day.

psalm 55: 22
22 cast your burden on the Lord,
and He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to
be moved.

psalm 37: 3-5
3 trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land, and feed on His
faithfulness.
4 delight yourself also in the Lord,
and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 commit your way to the Lord,
trust also in Him,
and he shall bring it to pass

**new spirit filled life bible

i also wanted to share with you some songs that i have heard before, but just mean so much to me. last night, amanda& i went to val&annie's room and were talking and reading the word. towards the end, before we left to go to bed, amanda shared some youtube videos with val. these songs are EXACTLY what my feelings and stance on my relationship with God right now is. i hope that they will bless you as much as they continue to encourage and bless me. Thank You Jesus! <3>

<3>

issues

2009-03-14T16:29:00.004-04:00

i was wondering if anyone could help me. maybe give me some advice? i've tried to get a play list on my page, but it won't actually play music for me. please let me know if it is or is not working for you. i feel like it won't play when you click the button... :o/

also, i was able to get the rest of my supplies for my portfolio this week/weekend and am excited. i have to finish up 3 paintings & then i'll be done! yay! however, right now, because of my excitement and zeal for the future i don't want to do anything for my classes i'm currently taking this semester. i get used to being home& right when i am accustomed, i have to pack up & move out...again. :( but there is good news, i only have 6 weeks left before finals& i'll be coming home for my 4 month summer on may2nd!! whoo hoo! i just need to focus, pray, and work hard for these last couple of weeks because they are going to fly by like crazy!

ps. spring break has sadly come to an end, and i have been privileged to capture some awesome pictures and am super duper excited to put them up once i get back to school. so make sure you check them out soon on my other blog!

oh ya!! i also got new specks for my beautiful blue eyes and a longggggg overdue upgrade for my cell phone. amanda {my twin sis} & i now each have individual phones and no longer have to share which is a good thing. we've been sharing the same phone since 10th grd. i think that we would probably continue to share it for a longer period of time, but there has been some complaints of fuzzy&crackly sounds when we talk. so this convinced us to leave the antique behind and go for something a bit more updated. there is a time& a season for everything, and i guess it was time to move on and start new. :D

We have decided to donate the phone for soldiers across seas to use.

<33>

have no fear! i'm still here!

2009-03-11T22:08:00.004-04:00

hey everybody! i'm just checking in because i haven't been on in about a week. right now i am on my spring break and have been at home, church, friends' houses, playing volleyball with some churches, etc. & having a blast during all of it. :) i am also pretty busy with make-up readings {ewwww} that i want to get done for my classes&also stuff in order to get ahead {ewwww again..}.

with this new direction for my life and my major, i am in the midst of getting together an art&photography portfolio to hand in upon my arrival back to ny. once i get this done, i can be officially signed off as a CAT {creative arts in therapy} art major!! :D :D :D :D

for this portfolio, i have been asked to get about 10 pieces together. i have done two sketches so far, i am choosing four photos {which is MUCH harder than i thought}, and hope to do another sketch and three paintings by the end of the week! ah! i am excited though, and still feel like this is something God wants for me. i am ambitious&am happy to say that already my creative juices are a-flowin'! --whoot!

thank you lord!

as a side note, i'd like to share that today {as i was taking a shower}, i was able to really pray about some issues that were on my mind&heart for a long time. some hurts, some misunderstandings/confusions, and even for some unforgiveness i had. i started off just praying&thanking the lord for the wonderful day i was able to enjoy. from there, i was able to pray and actually TALK to God. now you have to understand, usually i pray very short prayers here and there every now and then throughout the day and such. i have never really prayed in the shower before, or at least for longer than 2 minutes while in there. for a while now, i have been yearning to really conversate with Jesus, and to treat him as my best friend that he REALLY IS and to go and give up my burdens to him. it was a really nice feeling or rather encouragement that the things that i have been praying about are in fact capable to be taken care of! hm, would you think about that...God really taking our fears and concerns and all we have to do is give them over to him! so easy, and yet, we as humans continue to make things so darn difficult!

<3>

but, to finish up, i was able to express the many issues on my heart concerning some things that were causing some unforgiveness towards 1-2 people. it is usually easy for me to brush things off my shoulders and let go, but this particular situation has been with me for a few months, and when i was able to leave the routine way of approaching prayer, i was released and able to move on. God still has to help me to fully move on, but i believe that i have made a right turn in the right direction. :)

<3

jason upton- in the beginning

2009-03-05T12:13:00.004-05:00

"In the beginning God saw everything when love went wandering into the night.

Was I first or last?
Was I second best?
These questions quickly pass into the light.

At the waters edge I see As your spirit speaks to me: Call to me and I will answer you, I’ll give you peace, a peace you have not known on your own.

When my vision died you opened my eyes to something that I had never seen. I have touched your hands and you have called me friend, but doubting never ends until I believe.

At the waters edge I see As your spirit speaks to me: Call to me and I will answer you, I’ll give you peace, a peace you have not known on your own."

-Jason Upton

*************************

i couldn't find a better video for this song on youtube. but it is on itunes. the name of the song is In the Beginning Pt. 1 from the cd 1200 Feet Below Sea Level. this song has been on my heart for the last two days. i've just been playing it over&over all morning today. love it.

thank you lord for letting us call onto you! father, you have promised us peace and love... thank you for always being in the midst. i want to be your little girl. i want to come to you in times of need. i want to be intimate and talk with you about every aspect of my life. i don't want to leave you out anymore. i want a heart of worship for you--a way of life. i want&need to seek you and be in your presence. i love you Jesus.

to-do lists

2009-03-02T09:03:00.006-05:00

oh the joys to being alive in this day & age. so many ideas, so many expectations, so many things...to do.

making a list helps a person get organized. it allows a person to see what he/she has to accomplish in preparation for upcoming events&assignments. a to-do list is a source of stress relief because you tend to not forget what is due when you visually see the notes&check things off as they get completed----well unless you forget to write something on the list, and that is another point for another time. perhaps i can write a post on forgetfulness. i should put that on my to-do list. ;P

i said that lists can help with relieving stress because you can see the lists of demands&commitments you previously are assigned to or agreed to complete. however, once that list goes from short to medium to long to longish to very long, well, forget about relieving stress, you have so much stuff to do by then! you don't have time to think about other things.

i made a to-do list last night. a list of assignments&exams due that i have to get done before Friday afternoon when i go home for spring break. it was sorta long, but not too bad because i only focused on one week of work, rather than a month or so {which i know will be stressful to even look at---one week at a time, one week at a time}. so, i wrote out my list of things to do, and included everything i presently need to accomplish as well as some "catch up stuff" because it is quite common that i get behind by a chapter or so of reading in one of my classes. from there, with everything included, i grabbed my highlighter and thought "i should highlight my priorities, so i can break things up and not get overwhelmed". great idea right? of course, except when everything on the list is highlighted except for two. :/

then, i came back from chemistry about 20 min ago, and was informed that i have a lab exam on wed {as well as everything else in the entire universe}, one more thing to add to the list!

oh wait, don't let a sigh of relief yet, we're not done yet! i forgot to add my day2 midterm for sociology that is on friday. awesome.

i talked to amanda&my other roommate jill last night letting them know that obviously we all have things to do this week {projects, papers, exams, etc} and to not worry when the room is super quiet and we are not all happy-go lucky. we are just going to really have to focus so we won't snap at eachother. be more considerate, and quiet than usual as well. help out whenever we could.

i also said that i'm going to be pretty stressed today because i have to write two papers today. i asked amanda if she could help me calm down if i get a little wired {you see, i already get nervous and anxious when i have to write one paper & writing two, well, is new to me}. she said something that i was pretty ashamed of not thinking of first before i opened my mouth. she mentioned, "well, God will help you first you know"... well durr! of course he will!!! i wanted to hit myself in the head. i need to go to him first before anyone else. he is my peace&comforter, which is exactly what i need for this chaotic week.

::thank you lord for always being there for me when i need you. both in good times & bad. i pray for peace, rest&comfort in the times that i get anxious today. my life is in your hands. i want to do well, make you my proud daddy. i don't want to let you down. i will work hard&try to stay focused. i am so thankful that you hold me when i need to be held, and smile at me as my eyes get lower... whenever i need it. i love you Jesus::

don't worry blog, i'm not letting you down

2009-03-01T14:26:00.006-05:00

lately i've been going about my days like normal. wake up, shower, go to class, come back from class, eat, etc.

but every now and then, more often now than before, i have been thinking&praying about a lot of stuff. all kinds of things pertaining to my life now&for the future.

i feel like i am sorta in a rut with my blogging--but not. :/ i have never been a huge writer, but i liked to do it sometimes. ever since i started writing posts, as i go about my day, certain thoughts&situations come my way that cause me to ponder. "i should write this on my blog! this would be so cool!" usually pops into my head multiple times a day. but, by the time i get to my room, so many distractions have already beat me to the computer and either, i don't feel motivated to write anymore, or i forget what it was that i originally wanted to write about. then there are those times where i do remember what i wanted to write about, but have no idea as to how to go about it! therefore making me feel very disorganized {which i hate}, and somehow letting down my blog. :/ i know that this isn't true, but somehow i got the impression that when a person has a journal or diary or blog {which can also be seen as a virtual diary}, they tend to write in it frequently. writing everyday isn't practical for me but if an idea or thought comes, why stop it right? i never see the point in ceasing something if it is working out fine for the time being.

i created this blog so i could share {all} my thoughts openly&freely. it seems easier to share your life with strangers than with people you know. you are connected some way on the internet. not the same way with those whom i care about here at school, church, or home, but yet, we are still somewhat bonded by an invisible string. bloggers want to share who they are, to meet new people& basically display whatever they have a desire for. my sudden urge to write came from a need to get in a closer relationship with God. i needed to share what has been instilled in me. i have been poured with God's love&spirit&word for a long time, and finally needed an outlet. it is so vital to release what is inside of you. God uses us as his go-between---but only when we are willing to work for him. when we agree to whole-heartedly be a vessel for him to work through us, that is when his will is able to be fulfilled. obviously we can't do everything, but i can see people as his little-helpers.

this is why i have this blog. to write what is on my heart, what God puts on my heart, as well as some babbling that just needs to be done. :)

i guess this is all i wanted to share about today. not quite sure if it made any sense, or if it had any relavance or influence on anyone but nonetheless, it was something i needed to blog.

oh ya, i haven't done any work today either. yay for me!! :/

a much needed visit

2009-02-28T19:27:00.002-05:00

my very dear friend nancy, came to visit amanda & i at school this weekend. she came yesterday afternoon, slept over, and left later today.

it was definitely a "much needed visit".

i love her so much. one of the most beloved aspects of our friendship {with my other besties as well}, is that we can have a great time.....doing nothing! just sitting with eachother, laughing/giggling, talking, relaxing, and being just what God created us to be. that is when the most precious bonds are formed.

thank you nancy for making an effort to come to troy! we love & appreciate you!

however, because she left much later than planned, i did not get any school work done. therefore, tomorrow will be a "much needed library visit". ;P

<3>

a new path: thankyoujesus!

2009-02-22T19:43:00.016-05:00

this will most likely be my longest post ever.. for this particular time in my life at least. i really didn't know how to explain everything i wanted to say. so i thought that the beginning would be a good place to start. :)

junior year of high school we all had to start thinking about college. where to go and what to go for. i seemed to enjoy my science classes, liked sports, and heard that the medical field is a good place to go for jobs. after some thought i decided to go to school for physical therapy.

after i chose to go to school in troy, new york, i needed to pick a major for my undergraduate degree {you can't have physical therapy as a major--it is only part of grad school}. i chose health sciences. i figured it would hit all the right areas needed to prepare me for work after graduation.

freshman year began. classes started. the fun goes a-rollin'. right? sorta.

i liked my psych class, english, women of the world {figures--a gen ed course for a woman's college}, etc. i hated anatomy. yes, some of the content was interesting, but the book was horrible, the lab was horrible, cats in lab were horrible {yes, we had to dissect cats}, and the tests were time consuming to study for and tough. i worked hard, but just couldn't understand the material in time for the exams. it seemed that i would always learn the information after the exam was over. :/

sophomore year arrives. i'm going on my normal day-day schedule: chemistry, psych classes, nutrition, orthopedic evaluation, etc. i'm getting really stressed about next year and grad school. i had wanted to re-do anatomy next year, not because i failed but because i wasn't happy with my grade and a do-over would help my with my gpa. so as i met with my adviser in october. i talked to her a little bit of what i wanted to do. what to swap for next semester's schedule, what to do and when. i also spoke of leaving the advanced PT program {3+3} and going to the 4+3 PT program instead. she told me that that was an easy adjustment to make.

i didn't want to take a million science classes and not fully appreciate or enjoy the college experience. i am going to a liberal arts school, and am currently not receiving a variety of classes. i wanted to be able to do dance as well as the other arts & photography.

however, as i continued to think, read&prepare for my upcoming years here, i just felt so uneasy in my spirit. i knew that i could do the work. i'm not incapable. it was just that i was afraid of being behind my class and not being able to get a job afterward. i also couldn't see myself as a physical therapist. originally, i thought i did. working in an office for sports rehab and/or with athletes was my plan. the more i tried to picture my future, and the more i prayed that God would show me an answer, the more i couldn't see myself as a physical therapist.

so, i went to those who meant a lot to me: family&friends. they all said that i work hard, explain information&material very well, and relate to people. some said i would make a good physical therapist.

winter break comes. yay! no classes for a whole month! after some much needed r&r, i needed to buy books again & get ready for spring semester.

i was on the computer at home, ordering books with my mom. i remember this vividly. then, as we were looking through the online catalog of the college's bookstore, i started to get stressed out. was this really what i wanted to continue in? should i even bother going on with a health science major? again, an uneasiness in my inner self&spirit arose. i started to cry with an unknowing of what to do. my mom&i talked about it, and she had told me to make an appointment with a local physical therapist who knows our family friends pretty well. needless to say, the appointment didn't end up happening. but she did say to me before, "did you ever pray about this?"

by this she meant my major. did God ever want me to do physical therapy? i wasn't sure because i never truly asked.

my sister&i return back to school. i go about my daily schedule, and am trying to stay positive&work hard. with the dance show coming up, work, and studies... things got very busy&hectic--very fast.

for a while now, i don't precisely know how long, i have been dealing with a lot of stress, uneasiness&confusion concerning my future&major while here at school. so, once again, i start thinking about my options. i prayed and talked it out with my friends.

the ball got rolling on wednesday of last week. i was coming back from the gym with my friend and we were talking about my worries&concerns. i told her about how i was afraid that i wouldn't be a good physical therapist, get a job, or be happy. i told her that the reason why i kept health sciences as an option for my major was because i took a few classes that really inspired&excited me about health&wellness. healing from the inside out. the whole body&mind--not just the scientific levels of a person.

my choices went like this:
*health sciences/PT
*health sciences/PT with photography classes jr&sr year
*health sciences NO PT {i could do this, but i will eventually need a specialty later on anyways}
*creative arts & therapy with a dance concentration {i liked dance, but would really like to use it as a personal outlet--plus my sister has that major}
*creative arts & therapy with a visual arts concentration
*creative arts & therapy with a visual arts concentration & integrated photography classes.
---hm, that last one sounded reaaaalllllyyyyyyyy good.

last week on thursday i was in my friends' room and we talked for HOURS {not just on this subject} but it was where i brainstormed, shared, confessed&sought counsel. in the end....

...a decision was made.

i have decided to change my major from health sciences/pt to CAT visual arts&photography!!!! :D

immediately following, i felt total peace, rest&clarity. i am positive that god had his hand on the situation. after my declaration, my friend val told me that about two months ago, she had this feeling that physical therapy wasn't really meant for me. that it wasn't what i was supposed to do. it didn't fit. THANK YOU JESUS! what a confirmation!

i am actually happy&excited for school again! i wrote my adviser an email, and am now on a brand new road! a new road that i am sure god will have his hand on once again. i will continue to seek him out and pray that he will continue to teach me to be quiet and rest in his peace&love&wisdom.

this new aspired journey will be one of creativity, love & a willingness to allow God to move through me. my vision is to help heal those hurt from the inside out through art and God's almighty love.

<3>

LOSTgeneration

2009-02-18T22:28:00.002-05:00

i got this in an email. it is totally amazing! you need to watch it in its entirety. this video definitely hits home at the end.

busy*bee

2009-02-17T15:52:00.003-05:00

i've been a very busy bee lately. lots of studying, reading, working, and of course checking my emails--multiple times. ::whoops::

my mom always told me that when you are studying, you should take periodic short breaks to clear your head and so you don't become antsy.

well, the key is to take those breaks after some significant amount of studying first.

::whoops:: again, oh well.

i have a chem test tomorrow at 8am and am not too excited for it. hopefully i will go in with a clear head and a calm heart. no point in taking a test when you are so worried you can not focus--might as well not study for hours before hand!

i am aiming at going to bed tonight at a reasonable hour-- please God, let me get some much needed rest tonight.

sorry that this post was short. i suppose i was using it as my "break".

i'll be back later--tonight--tomorrow--sometime in the future.

God bless you! <3>

:: philippians4:13
i can do all things through Christ who strenthens me ::

premio dardos award

2009-02-14T19:18:00.003-05:00

"With the Premio Dardos is to recognize the values that each blogger uses to transmit cultural values, ethical, literary, personal, etc.. that, in short, demonstrate their creativity through the thought that is alive and remains intact from their letters, between his words. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for a job that adds value to the Web."

i have been honored to have been mentioned on Jen's blog My Moments for this award. so, as the rules go, in order to collect the award, i need to pass this on to fifteen other bloggers' blogs. i am not quite sure if i'll be able to reach the needed number, but will try. i am still learning the members of this blogging community and enjoying it very much.

thanks again for this recognition. :) it reassures me that the motivation that caused me to create my two blogs in the first place is fulfilling itself. i am making a difference, somehow, somewhere...even if it is the smallest bit. thank you all for making the opportunity for me to share myself openly! i look forward to getting to know more of you through all of your blogs! <3

1. The Unobtrusives is a very unique, and different blog. Viviane puts a new perspective on different aspects of everyday life.

2. Beautifully Broken, by Emily is so enjoyable. she expresses her love of Jesus in ways that only continue to inspire me to continue in my own walk in Christ.

3. Chase Images is a gorgeous blog with great photos and personality. i enjoy it immensely.

4. Dare 2 Dig Deeper is another blog by Emily.

5. It Takes Skill To Trip On Flat Ground is a blog i came upon a while ago, and like to visit.

6. Thankful Paul's blog JESUS AND THE ATHEIST is a blog where, the first post i read made me so excited and thankful that there was someone sharing their testimony in Christ. thank you for your determination and love for Jesus.

7. I learned about Jessica's blog Photography by Jessica through Jen {My Moments}. I love looking at her photos and seeing the love she pours into her family and friends.

8. Nancy, is one of my best friends. she is so determined, passionate, and full of life. I am happy that she takes the time to write so much about what she thinks is important to her. i love you! visit her blog Recovering the Satellites if you want to take an everyday meaning of a word, song or phrase and see it from a different perspective!

9. Jonna's blog, SHE in China is an interesting blog. with stories of traveling and life in another country. she is helping me stay focused in my aspirations as a traveler for the future.

10. Katherine's blog, katherine lou is a different blog than some of the others. she is very much into fashion as well as photography and shares lovely parts of her life.

11. teh cheese stands alone is a new blog i just recently started to follow, and already is funny and interesting to read. i feel like whatever Krista writes about, i have either thought about doing or have done it. very ironic.

12. Wonderfully Made! is another new blog i am visiting and is pretty artistic and creative. i am starting to get my creative juices flowing for gifts for friends and family by looking here.

unfortunately, i don't have quite 15 blogs to mention for this award, but i personally think the number is just a goal and not a requirement. thanks to all you bloggers for touching my life in little ways and for upgrading my blogging community{family}. :D

<3

speak the word

2009-02-10T16:04:00.002-05:00

Unsettled hearts
Promise what they cant deliver
Bring me the wine
And the cold night air to clear my head
Gray matter memory house
Master of this trembling flesh
Steady still my doubts
Let me speak the word that precedes bliss
Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

Love love love love love love love love

Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

Love love love love love love love love

Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

These weakened knees
Have not touched ground or pew in ages
I haven't bowed my head
I offer thanks to any God or to ask for favors
But watch me now
I'm falling down
Praying
To speak the word that precedes bliss
To speak the word
To speak the word

Love love love love love love love love

Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

Love love love love love love love love

Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

Let me speak the word
Let me speak the word

written by Tracy L Chapman

check out my other blog!

2009-02-09T19:26:00.003-05:00

i put up pictures from this weekend! please check out my other blog to see them. i'm trying out picasa and trying to understand how to use it. hopefully it works! :D

thank you lordy-lord

2009-02-07T11:37:00.002-05:00

the show went wonderfully last night! yay! the lighting went smoothly {transitions and communication between pieces}, music, and the audience was great! let's hope today's after noon show as well as tonight's goes just as well or better! :D

yearn- shane&shane

2009-02-06T15:44:00.002-05:00

dancing&performing

2009-02-06T12:11:00.006-05:00

ok, so this weekend {starting tonight!} is our college's dance ensemble dance performance. there will be dancing {duh}, and smiles, and hopefully some good lighting.

hopefully some lighting??

usually the week of the show we rehearse in the theater every night from about 6-11 pm. very tiring and long. luckily we only stayed in the theater once until 11 and that was for the first of the three runs of the show, during two days of dress rehearsal. mon&tue were tech days {mon-first half of the show, tues-second half of the show}. this is where we figure out lighting, colors, cues of when to stop the music, turn up the lights, or change the color of the lights during your dance piece. mon&tues went smoothly and very well.

however, our first dress rehearsal {wed--where we run the show back to back for more practice} the cues were off, the lights wouldn't brighten, and basically all the dancers had to dance in either darkness or very VERY minimal lighting. we tried to fix it for the next dress rehearsal {thurs} but the same thing happened. so our lights guy has to manually turn on the colors and lights throughout every dance during the entire show!

it seems as though our equipment in the drama dept is very old {borderline ancient}. the computers take in {some} cues programmed to it, but are unable to display it through the lighting. hence, the reason why our lighting person needs to do it manually. a more difficult job for him, but much appreciated!

other than the lighting, and some mix-ups on a dance, all three dress rehersals went very well! we were very happy and proud with everyone's cooperation. :) now that tonight is the actual show {eeks!} i am hopeful and eager to see how it will come together. i am sure that it will turn out great. dancers love to dance&perform. that is exactly what i want the audience to notice from me---the fact that i love to dance.

yes, it gets tiresome. it takes away time from studying and going to sleep early, but i really do like it. there is def drama every now and then {not a big fan of drama}, but it seems as if everyone tries to move on, which is very good.

i am a little anxious this weekend, not necessarily because of the show but because of my papers, quiz, and readings due mon,tue&wed. i am sure God will allow me to get everything i need to get done, done--as he has done it for me in the past. he let me go into studying with a clear head, and a focused mind--soooo vital!

so God bless you in your weekend plans. this has been a very long week for me and i am excited that it is almost over, but before that occurs there is going to be...lots of dancing! :)

the fourth annual bloggers (silent) poetry reading

2009-02-02T09:42:00.004-05:00

i thank you God for most this amazing by E. E. Cummings

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
wich is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

:: i read on someone's blog that today is the fourth annual bloggers (silent) poetry reading. I wanted to participate, so i am posting this poem i found ::

living in another era

2009-02-01T18:59:00.006-05:00

i'm listening to the BecomingJane soundtrack and because i really, really love the movie as well as Pride&Prejudice, sometimes i wonder what it would be like to live in that time period---or era.

the clothes, the parties, the arts---reading, writing, painting, playing music.

the search for the ideal husband to bring you happiness and love. the suitors asking your father for permission for your hand in marriage. the flowers, ribbons&dresses the girls wear--aside from the lack of oxygen from the corsets----all so romantic.

however, even though these assets of the times seem so luxurious (even if the characters in the particular movies were lower class---the commitment and determination to use what they already have is honorable), everybody had to work so hard to get what they needed or wanted.

to represent the family name as much as these people did during these times is respectable--probably much better use of your time than watching tv or partying so much that you bring disgrace to yourself or even family because you can't even remember the friend that took care of you the night before. and to even keep your family name up high in that era is difficult. if a daughter was not married off in time for no apparent reason, the family would become the topic of conversation amongst the town.

on other thought--- maybe i wouldn't like to live in another era. i think i'll just keep the daydreaming of JaneAustin characters just that---daydreaming.

oh well.... being able to learn 5 languages, having your own library of amazing novels in your house, and a gorgeous man begging to marry you would be kinda cool though.

<3>

jason upton- fly

2009-01-31T20:49:00.002-05:00

simply AMAZING! jason upton singing this song, and an angel later on accompanies him-- so chilling&beautiful!!

here you go nance!

stephen roach-deeper

2009-01-31T16:42:00.001-05:00

i encourage you all to really listen to these words---this song&video are so powerful!

god's almighty timing

2009-01-31T11:49:00.003-05:00

I'm going to school for physical therapy. I am infatuated&intrigued by photography and traveling, yet I have done very little traveling {out of the country only a few times--Canada} and am a complete novice at photo taking. I want to learn so bad, and am basically teaching myself through trial and error.

basically, i have so many interests going on in me that it is hard to figure out which one i should focus on for now. however, to solve this problem, i can just go to God right? of course! but as per usual, with everything else going on {school, work...} it is hard. i am slowly but surely making more time for God, and yet still just a wee-bit impatient for answers when i ask questions. but the lord is faithful.. and he will let me know.

he has already let me know that the "timing" was wrong when two of my friends,sister&i wanted to plan a trip to Ireland! it was going to be my&amanda's first trip over seas. our friend lizzy went to england and our other friend nancy has been to ireland,scotland,italy,spain,alaska {nancy, if you are reading this and i missed anything, let me know! lol} we were so excited. but from the get-go i knew that i needed to seek God out for his wisdom and timing. i would pray for discernment and that he would let us know if we should continue to pursue this trip any more or wait for a later date. and surely enough, he had let us know.

so right now, i'm praying again-- Lord, please let us know if 'next' august is your timing. i want to go forth in the things that are of your timing. i pray for finances and peace in this situation. and Lord let me know that i am on the right track with you. i love you.

not the greatest picture---but a reminder for us to continue to pray about this desire in our hearts.

josh groban tells a joke

2009-01-30T14:43:00.000-05:00

i love him!

anaheim ballet --dancers

2009-01-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

great music, skill, and dedication....

i have been dancing for 10 years now, and did about 7 years of ballet but unfortunately i was not able to reach this level of athleticism. dance is indeed a sport.

swing kids --part3

2009-01-30T14:27:00.001-05:00

norah jones- sunrise

2009-01-30T14:19:00.000-05:00

brandon heath "give me your eyes"

2009-01-29T20:41:00.002-05:00

lux aeterna -- electric guitar

2009-01-29T20:41:00.001-05:00

lux aeterna by clint mansell

2009-01-29T20:39:00.000-05:00