Great Expectations

Why do we expect things? Why do we believe that everyone and everything should be ready and available for our use? Is that helping anyone? Isn't it selfish?

These kinds of expectations can pull people apart. Make some feel used, unloved, or replaceable. Or just hurt.

Why do we do this to each other?

Honestly, I have not a clue...

Graduate School

Too many schools...
How am I supposed to pick one...
Maybe I should put all the options into a hat and pull out 5, apply, and wait.
But what if one of those is not THE place?

Now I realize that I am starting my graduate school search a smidgen early, but I also know that it is going to take a while to figure out which schools are the best, which have the program I want, if their location will work, what kind of scores I have to have, etc.

And as freaked out as I want to get at times, I am unable to get THAT worked up about it. Maybe it's just for now, maybe not. But God has proven to me with my current school that He will show me where I am supposed to be! He made it quite obvious and He will do it again!

Trust. That is all I can do for now.
--well that and research :)

Addicted to Pictures!

I am an addict!
I love pictures!
Not just the picture in and of itself but the whole process!

The camera
the storage
the adjustments
the sharing
the memories
the stories
the laughter
the people
the lighting
the prints
the scrapping...

How every photograph tells some sort of story, whether it be explicit or self-implied.

A Snickers and Some Lemon Iced Tea...

So while at work I had the sudden craving for a snickers and some Arizona Lemon Iced Tea! And since they reside at the BMU just feet (ok maybe yards) from my office I decided to take a gander in that direction on my break. After picking up my treats I went and sat in the sun :)

Now this may all seem petty and simply silly, and it is! However, I realized just how fortunate I am to be able to go to the nearest little market and buy whatever my little hearts desire is at that moment. We are not oppressed people, wondering if we will even make it to the next street corner without fainting away. How blessed we are!

What amazes me is how much things have changed on this Earth. Granted I was not alive hundreds of years ago so I am simply speculating, but when you consider the dark times of the Great Depression and how every person was hoping and praying their next meal would actually fill their stomachs, we have it pretty darn good! I do realize that there are still those who question this, but the ratio has greatly declined (as far as I understand it). This is an extreme examples of course, but I simply want to point out that we are fortunate to live in this time, right here, right now!

Appreciate being able to have that snickers or lemon iced tea, for you never know when it all might be taken away.

Staples and Paper and Tape... Oh My!!

So the last day and a half at work I have been going through our supply closet and organizing the heck out of it! Needless to say it was a DISASTER before and during this process! If you don't believe me see for yourself:



I must say I am quite surprised at the amount of STUFF just thrown in there, but granted it has been accumulating these supplies for the last several (maybe more than several) YEARS!! But I gotta give it to the people who have been in this office - they sure know how to keep some cool stuff! You wouldn't believe the number of old and odd things that I found! For instance: typewriter cartridges, an embosser for labels, TONS of floppy disks, fax post-its, and sooo much more!!

However, through perseverance, a little dust, and a few paper cuts it is now a BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZED cupboard! I love it! I discovered though, that there are now at least three other cupboards to finish as well, but the Lord has blessed me with work! Plus, those ones shouldn't be nearly as bad (content wise)!


Well now that that is done, it is time to surplus all the 'semi-cool' stuff I found that we have no need for whatsoever!

The Hunger Games

My wonderful roommate is 'forcing' me to read this book called "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins :). We made a deal that if she reads my little two book series, I will read hers. Seems fair enough!

Well I have started this book and (though I don't necessarily want to admit it) am quite enjoying it and am curious about what shall happen. The book is about this region of districts and they have this event every year (the hunger games) to remind the people of their uprising and how the Capitol now has the power. Two young people from each district are chosen in a drawing and they will then fight the other 22 to the death.

Needless to say I was not very interested in reading about young teenagers killing each other, but it has made me realize just how grateful I am that I do not live in a country or region that is controlled by such horrific circumstances! We have fought, in some ways just like these people, for freedom, for the ability to walk without fear. It truly amazes me how far we have come, but also how far we still need to go. Yes we have abolished slavery and won voting rights for women and safe working conditions - and only by the GRACE of GOD may we be able to continue to gain an equal playing field with our neighbor.

Yet it saddens me that there is still soo much hatred in the world and that people do fear walking outside of their houses because of the evil in this world! And with every lost soul, Satin is rejoicing at his triumph! At our own ability to walk away from mercy, love, and grace. We give into our own self doubt, making it that much easier for Satin to sneak his slimy hands right into our lives! DON'T LET HIM DO THAT TO YOU!!!

I want to give you a piece of hope! Jesus Christ has fought and will always fight for your life and wants you! I realize that not everyone will believe this and I respect that with all my being. But for those of you searching for someone to rely on, someone who will take the weight of the world off your shoulders - Jesus has applied for the job! I am not saying that life will get magically better, that there will be no suffering in your life ever, or that things will be easy. I am saying that you will have a Heavenly Father looking out for you, guiding you through life, and holding you when you are ready to give up! HE LOVES YOU!! More than you may ever know...

Love Letters

This morning I was reading this AWESOME book called "Lady in Waiting"! It is all about developing your love relationship with Jesus Christ while you are single and have the time and focus. It is so encouraging and I just love being reminded that my Heavenly Bridegroom will always be my first love!

The section I was reading reminded me of a song, Love Letters by Londa Larmond:

I read a story
'Bout a woman who'd fallen in sin
He came along and gave her life again
And just like that woman
I have sometimes gone astray
But through His words I see
How much He cares for me

(Chorus)
He left me a love letter
To let me know that I'm the one He's thinking of
This book of letters
And He's exactly what my heart is dreaming of
His love letters
I get to thinkin' and my heart is satisfied
I love His love letters
And when I read, it helps me make it through the night

Even when my heart's forsaken
And I feel all alone
I find His words
Calm my restless soul
Realizing that my trials
Come to make me strong
He keeps me safe from harm
I'm wrapped up in His arms

(Chorus)

A letter from the heart
I was His from the start
He held me near
Wiped away my ftears
I love, I love His letters
Wriging me to say
I love you anyway
He wrote

Sweetest words
I've ever known
Sweeter than the honeycomb, honeycomb
This book of love letters are mine
Sweetest word
I've ever known
Sweeter than the honeycomb, honeycomb
I love His love letters
Oh, and when I read it
Helps me make it through the night

I just love the idea that God has written us these love letters - and that they are meant to speak straight to our hearts! Take hope in His love!

The Art of Committment

In my Bible Study we have been working through the Song of Solomon. One of the MOST AMAZING books of the Bible I have ever been aware of!! It is all about relationships and how God intends for one to look like. How to hold off the desires of the flesh until marriage, how to fight clean, and how to continue to romance your partner years into your marriage. I have been soo blessed by this study and have been working on applying all the things we talk about to my life.

Last night we began the last section on the Art of Commitment. The overall idea is that marriage is a covenant not meant to be broken - EVER!! (granted there are two circumstances, adultery and abandonment, that if executed could constitute a divorce) One of my favorite stories Tommy Nelson (the guy who does the series in the videos) is one of a man who on the day after he is married goes out and buys two burial plots and headstones because he intends with his whole being to be committed to that woman until they are in that grave together!

There is so much controversy over marriage right now and whether or not our state or country for that matter should allow same-sex marriage. One of my friends posted this and I thought it was quite interesting: "So let me get this straight: Larry King is getting his 8th divorce, Elizabeth Taylor is getting married for the 9th time, Britney Spears had a 55 hour marriage. Jesse James, Tiger Woods, and how many other high ranking politicians had affairs outside of marriage. Yet the idea of same-sex marriage is going to destroy the sanctity of marriage? Really??"

I think she has somewhat of a valid point - I am not saying I support same-sex marriage, or otherwise, but I am saying that our culture has made marriage this 'serve me' system and that people think that if it doesn't do that there is an escape clause!! People believe that if they are not being served enough, or their needs aren't being met, then it is alright to bail or look elsewhere. When really marriage is meant to be a partnership - where each person gives of themselves to their spouse. It is a self-less commitment to another person, knowing that there are going to be those times when you don't feel like loving the other person but you do because that is what you have vowed to do!

Marriage is precious - so see it that way! Know that it is a life-long journey that will have its mountains and its valleys. But that a marriage focused on the Lord will be greater than you will ever know! Not to say that hardships won't come, but that leaning on Him will make those hard times easier to get through.

Here We Go...

Well this is the first day of my new blog! What it will bring I have no idea! But what I do know is that it will be filled with memories and blessings, hardships and journeys, moments of life.

The sun is peaking out and it is warming up! Summer is just on the horizon! And with that comes some pretty awesome times with friends and family!

Well I cannot think of anything more creative to say... so I will wrap up here!

Return to God - He will save you!