Lately I have been trying some new music. The music it self is not new and I have heard it before so I guess a more correct phrase would be I have rediscovered some music. I found a jazz station that I am really loving. It is a nice break from the Christmas music on every other station. The jazz still sounds holiday-ish but I don't have to listen to the somewhat repetitive lyrics.
Next term I am taking Music Appreciation which should be pretty basic music stuff I already know but it sure beats other art credits that I could have taken. My book arrived yesterday and I became completely engrossed in a chapter about Frederic Chopin. If you don't know who he is, Google him. This book also came with a few CDs, so being the overachieving student I am (Ha!) I put it in and let my ears feast away. Chopin's piano playing ability rocked my socks off. That was some great stuff. So great that it is currently on repeat as I blog.
Long story short, music is an integral part of our every day lives and has the power infects us. So, take sometime to enjoy music. Don't just hear it, but truly listen.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Random Ramblings
Sometimes I just think and think and think. I get so lost in thought that I can loose track of well, everything. It is almost like an entire world that I get lost in for a long while sometimes. It almost reminds me of how Alice gets lost in Wonderland. What I think about varies greatly, but often is about my future and where life will go.
On Thanksgiving it was brought to my attention that I am not a very approachable person and often times come off as prude. I was not offended when a friend told me this. I had kind of knew this but no on else had ever pointed it out to me. So, since last month that is what I often think about. I have never intended to come off this way. While I am lost in thought, I find my self trying to find solutions on how to become less prude or unapproachable.
Well now that you have a nice little glimpse into the deep thinking's of my mind, let's change gears. Friday marks the last day of my first term of college! I am quite excited to be done. This break is much needed but I find myself filling up with quite a lengthy to-do list. I have also looked back on where I was a year ago and boy have I evolved as a person.
I have this job where I tutor 4 elementary aged girls. Sometimes I enjoy it and sometimes I dread it. The other day, I was helping one of the girls write a report about famous poet, Sara Teasdale. I came across this poem and really enjoyed it. So here I am passing it along to you (whoever 'you' is). Ha!
On Thanksgiving it was brought to my attention that I am not a very approachable person and often times come off as prude. I was not offended when a friend told me this. I had kind of knew this but no on else had ever pointed it out to me. So, since last month that is what I often think about. I have never intended to come off this way. While I am lost in thought, I find my self trying to find solutions on how to become less prude or unapproachable.
Well now that you have a nice little glimpse into the deep thinking's of my mind, let's change gears. Friday marks the last day of my first term of college! I am quite excited to be done. This break is much needed but I find myself filling up with quite a lengthy to-do list. I have also looked back on where I was a year ago and boy have I evolved as a person.
I have this job where I tutor 4 elementary aged girls. Sometimes I enjoy it and sometimes I dread it. The other day, I was helping one of the girls write a report about famous poet, Sara Teasdale. I came across this poem and really enjoyed it. So here I am passing it along to you (whoever 'you' is). Ha!
I went out at night alone;
The young blood flowing beyond the sea
Seemed to have drenched my spirit’s wings—
I bore my sorrow heavily.
But when I lifted up my head
From shadows shaken on the snow,
I saw Orion in the east
Burn steadily as long ago.
From windows in my father’s house,
Dreaming my dreams on winter nights,
I watched Orion as a girl
Above another city’s lights.
Years go, dreams go, and youth goes too,
The world’s heart breaks beneath its wars,
All things are changed, save in the east
The faithful beauty of the stars.
***Just to confirm that I think A LOT, I look a personality test that I was instructed to take for psychology and I scored 93% when it came to thinking! So there, it is in my DNA to think a lot.
***Just to confirm that I think A LOT, I look a personality test that I was instructed to take for psychology and I scored 93% when it came to thinking! So there, it is in my DNA to think a lot.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
In the Spirit
This lovely afternoon my small group went out and we got 2 Christmas trees! It was a lot of fun. Briana got one for her house and we(Rachael, Katy and myself) got one. It was also Katy's first time at Branches! She seemed to love it and said, "Church was, (thinking) FUN today!" That was really great to hear. It was also the first week of the Christmas series that I helped plan so it was super cool to see how it turned out. It is good to be alive and continue to grow in Christ this Holiday season.
The Branches set! It totally looks awesome. I am so thankful for a wonderfully awesome church! And that both of my roommates are coming with me!
Small Group at the remote tree farm. A fun spontaneous outing.
New ornaments looking lovely on our new coffee table.
The finished product :) Complete with a tree skirt! (I have never had one of those before)
Monday, November 22, 2010
November Nonsense
Day 1 of Hood to Coast training. It was a good run and we (Rachael and I) even saw a rainbow! It was hard but training has gotten better! I love cold weather running. It sure beats 90 degree weather!
If you look close at the picture above, there is a rainbow!
Post Day 1 Picture! I like to tell myself that nothing is worse than that first day of training.
A nice moment captured by Rachael. I felt yucky!
Days 2 and 3 were runs in Scappoose! I love running there instead of Beaverton because there is far less traffic to deal with and a lot of gorgeous views to take in! We also got to run with 2 other girls from small group which I feel makes time go by a lot faster.
Day 3 Picture of Paige and Rachael.
Training Day 4
Today (Training Day 4) was a mental run. I knew I could do it, it was just a matter of actually getting out the door. Rachael is a big help. She motivates me to get out there a Just Do It! (All credits to Nike for that line.) After the run today, I felt great and happy that I got out there and got it done.
**On a different note: Rachael got baptized on Sunday! It was a glorious day! I got to get in the pool with her and be right along side of her as she made public her decision to follow Christ. It was a day that I had hoped and prayed would come for a long time. God continues to amaze me with the things he can do.
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " ~ Matthew 19:26
Days 2 and 3 were runs in Scappoose! I love running there instead of Beaverton because there is far less traffic to deal with and a lot of gorgeous views to take in! We also got to run with 2 other girls from small group which I feel makes time go by a lot faster.
Day 3 Picture of Paige and Rachael.
Training Day 4
Today (Training Day 4) was a mental run. I knew I could do it, it was just a matter of actually getting out the door. Rachael is a big help. She motivates me to get out there a Just Do It! (All credits to Nike for that line.) After the run today, I felt great and happy that I got out there and got it done.
**On a different note: Rachael got baptized on Sunday! It was a glorious day! I got to get in the pool with her and be right along side of her as she made public her decision to follow Christ. It was a day that I had hoped and prayed would come for a long time. God continues to amaze me with the things he can do.
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " ~ Matthew 19:26
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thankful Thinking
In the spirit of 'Tryin New Things,' tomorrow marks my first day of Hood to Coast training. For all of those that don't know what Hood to Coast is, I advise you to google it. For all of those that do know what it is, you probably think I am crazy. And for those of you that know what it is and also know me, you must think it is impossible for me to accomplish. I hope to prove you all wrong.
279 days away. 279 days to train for the longest relay in the world. It all starts tomorrow. My running schedule right now starts out with just running for 20 minutes but by the end of February I should be around 5.5 to 6 miles. I am hoping that all of this is not to much to ask of my very out of shape body. But I also hope this prevents the ever looming 'freshman 15.'
Since this is November and Thanksgiving is one week from today, I should probably list a few things I am thankful for. So here it goes: God's provision (He is the best! The way he works when you just decide to give Him total control of your life will just blow you away), my roommates (I can get very lonely at times because I am not having the whole 'dorm experience', but my housemates are really a blessing!), my family (I have only not lived with them for about 3 months now but the more I am away from them, the more I really appreciate all they have done for me), Branches Church! (if you haven't ever heard of this church, go check out their website brancheschurch.com), my young/still hopefully agile body (this way I can accomplish my goal stated at the top of this post). And there you have it...my thankful list.
And finally since pictures make blogs a whole lot more interesting here are a few...
From back when I could actually complete a 5k at a reasonable time.
That would be me and my great friend/roommate/Christ follower!!! Yep, I said it....Christ follower. Another thing that I am probably most thankful for this November!
279 days away. 279 days to train for the longest relay in the world. It all starts tomorrow. My running schedule right now starts out with just running for 20 minutes but by the end of February I should be around 5.5 to 6 miles. I am hoping that all of this is not to much to ask of my very out of shape body. But I also hope this prevents the ever looming 'freshman 15.'
Since this is November and Thanksgiving is one week from today, I should probably list a few things I am thankful for. So here it goes: God's provision (He is the best! The way he works when you just decide to give Him total control of your life will just blow you away), my roommates (I can get very lonely at times because I am not having the whole 'dorm experience', but my housemates are really a blessing!), my family (I have only not lived with them for about 3 months now but the more I am away from them, the more I really appreciate all they have done for me), Branches Church! (if you haven't ever heard of this church, go check out their website brancheschurch.com), my young/still hopefully agile body (this way I can accomplish my goal stated at the top of this post). And there you have it...my thankful list.
And finally since pictures make blogs a whole lot more interesting here are a few...
That would be me and my great friend/roommate/Christ follower!!! Yep, I said it....Christ follower. Another thing that I am probably most thankful for this November!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Excited Living
November 7, 2010 is a day that I will remember for a long time! My best friend told me that today at church she prayed and asked God into her life. I have prayed for a long time to see this happen. I remember in 7th grade at lunch I used to talk to her about God, church, the meaning of life, and other "deep things" hoping one day she would have the same joy about life that I had because I have God in my life.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!" -2 Corinthians 5:17
Tonight I walked into her room and she was reading a bible that I got her. This made my heart happy! She then proceeded to ask me a lot of questions, some of which I did not know the answers to. She is pushing me to go deeper and find out these things. I love this! And I most definitely love what God is doing in her life and in mine!
I am so EXCITED that I just want to go dance around in my street in the rain and yell about the great things that God can do.
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”-Matthew 19:26
I love life right now! Small group is amazing and my best friend is now a Christ Follower! I can now die a happy person.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!" -2 Corinthians 5:17
Tonight I walked into her room and she was reading a bible that I got her. This made my heart happy! She then proceeded to ask me a lot of questions, some of which I did not know the answers to. She is pushing me to go deeper and find out these things. I love this! And I most definitely love what God is doing in her life and in mine!
I am so EXCITED that I just want to go dance around in my street in the rain and yell about the great things that God can do.
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”-Matthew 19:26
I love life right now! Small group is amazing and my best friend is now a Christ Follower! I can now die a happy person.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Blogging Beginings
Lately I have read some pretty inspiring blogs. Obliviously inspiring enough for me to start one of my own. I actually 'signed up' (if that is what you call it) to start blogging this summer but I never actually posted anything. So here I am, 2 months in to college, writing my first blog ever.
My how much has changed in the last few months of life. I have learned so much about people. I learned that I can think that I had someone memorized, I knew all their secrets. Just when I got to the point where I was pretty sure there is nothing new to find out about someone, they blind side smacked me in the face with something I never expected. In that moment I had to choose how I was going to react. Was I going to judge? Freak out? Or was I going to respond in love? This situation has become a big learning and growing experience for me. It has caused me to take inventory of who I say I am.
In the past few months I have also gotten a lot more involved in church. I love my church! I don't just say that as a "Yay! I am a christian, look at me going to church." I really mean it. I have learned a lot from the people that I have interacted with about personalities. I find it very interesting to step back and observe. I think you can learn a lot about people just by watching them.
Since this post has taken a turn for the random here is a random fact and the new thing I am tryin: I am hosting my first ever small group tomorrow night! I have wanted a small group to be apart of for a while now but the ones that seemed to be for me didn't work with my schedule or I was just too nervous to try one. So, I decided to get together a few other girls that didn't have a small group and now here we are on the eve before our first one! I also really started it because I want to be a good influence on my roommates. They are both not Christ followers but I have faith that fact will change. I know that if they see this weekly gathering of people excited about what God is doing in their lives, they too will want get involved. That is my prayer at least.
Instead of doing my homework today, I prepared for Small Group. I made journals for everyone, wrote a plan and studied a lot about what I am going to do. I even made a logo(if you can even call it that). It is not my best work but it is what came out of designing today.
I think it is time to put a stop to the random 'blogging' (wow, that really is a wired term that I am not used to using.) I will write next time I try something new.
My how much has changed in the last few months of life. I have learned so much about people. I learned that I can think that I had someone memorized, I knew all their secrets. Just when I got to the point where I was pretty sure there is nothing new to find out about someone, they blind side smacked me in the face with something I never expected. In that moment I had to choose how I was going to react. Was I going to judge? Freak out? Or was I going to respond in love? This situation has become a big learning and growing experience for me. It has caused me to take inventory of who I say I am.
In the past few months I have also gotten a lot more involved in church. I love my church! I don't just say that as a "Yay! I am a christian, look at me going to church." I really mean it. I have learned a lot from the people that I have interacted with about personalities. I find it very interesting to step back and observe. I think you can learn a lot about people just by watching them.
Since this post has taken a turn for the random here is a random fact and the new thing I am tryin: I am hosting my first ever small group tomorrow night! I have wanted a small group to be apart of for a while now but the ones that seemed to be for me didn't work with my schedule or I was just too nervous to try one. So, I decided to get together a few other girls that didn't have a small group and now here we are on the eve before our first one! I also really started it because I want to be a good influence on my roommates. They are both not Christ followers but I have faith that fact will change. I know that if they see this weekly gathering of people excited about what God is doing in their lives, they too will want get involved. That is my prayer at least.
Instead of doing my homework today, I prepared for Small Group. I made journals for everyone, wrote a plan and studied a lot about what I am going to do. I even made a logo(if you can even call it that). It is not my best work but it is what came out of designing today.
I think it is time to put a stop to the random 'blogging' (wow, that really is a wired term that I am not used to using.) I will write next time I try something new.
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