Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A Funny for the day...

How far would you go...

To protect the environment...how far would you go? Certainly we need to take care of our resources. Make sure that people are safe and the environment is safe, but how far would you go to make sure everything' okay? Would you sue the city over fireworks?



One man is...he's attempting to stop 4th of July fireworks over Lake Union in Seattle until he state shows that gathering that many people together is safe for viewers, the park and surrounding wildlife. He's claiming that the city failed to conduct a review in accordance to the State Environmental Policy Act befor permitting the annual event.

Seattle city officials maintain that the once-a-year civic event is what the state had in mnd when it exempted certain activities from these revie requirements and there are already conditions on the event' private contractor sonothing happens that might release any contmination this weekend.

The event is an annual event held at Gas Works park on the north end of the lake. It was a toxic clean up site becuse the park was once the site of a coal-to-gas plant.

With the fact that Ivars pulled out of 4th of July celebrations out here earlier this year, the timing for his petition isn't exactly the best. WaMu Family 4th, now Chase Family 4th, is the only fireworks celebration that will take place inside Seattle city limits this year. Many people attend this free event and it certainly would be a shame for this event to not take place.

The Lake City man does have a point though. Because it is built on a former industrial site, the soil and groundwater on the site was contaminated. The 1971 Master Plan called for "cleaning and greening" the site through bio-phyto-remediation. There are no known areas of surface soil contamination remaining on the site today, although tar occasionally still oozes from some locations within the site and is isolated and removed.
Toxic sites are not something to be messed with...boats aren't allowed to launch from the park because the soil has hazerdous substances in it. Nonetheless...it would be a shame to lose this wonderful event. But I would think that the welfware of its viewers should stand higher than the lighting of fireworks once a year.

Bad Habits

Things I want to stop doing...
  • Swearing - It's not exactly a good habit, while most people won't mind...I still view it as a bad habit.
  • Biting my nails - A TERRIBLE habit! I've been doing it for years and it's awful.
  • Being Critical - Sometimes it's frustrating to work with people who don't take all things into account or pause for a moment to think through what may be going on. It's not fair for me to get upset because I can often do the same thing to someone else.
  • Judgemental - Yes, I judge you...and I'm sorry. It's just something I have to work on.
  • Procrastislacker - I'm lazy sometimes...I put things off. Not exactly a good thing to do.
  • Lazy See above ^_^

Just a few of my bad habits...I'm sure there's more. I can't name them all though; the page would be full. :-P

Monday, June 29, 2009

Where did my heart go, part two.

There's a post from earlier about my heart and how I had this disconnect between my head and what I know...and the feelings I have for what I believe. I'm not exactly a person who shows all their emotions and often masks them from other people. To me it's often easier this way.

Anyway, I'm not sure what entirely put me on this path to being happy (I am right now and I started having feelings again for what I believe). I've questioned just about everyone I trust. By trust I mean someone who I know won't change their opinion of me at the end of the day because of my doubts, unbelief...failures...skepticism...the things that maybe I don't want to be known for for the rest of my life. I can't say that all of them know me well either...some I've just met...some I've never met in person, but decided to ask based on their blogs. Each person gave me a different answer...things to think about.

But I realized while I was searching, that the only reason I was searching was so that I could feel good again. Isn't that a little selfish? My search was all about me and how I was feeling. It had nothing to do with God and my desire to love Him. It was my desire to feel good about myself. All of a sudden things cleared up for me. I'm not saying I have an easier time praying or reading my Bible. I'm by far one of the worst disciplined people you'll meet when it comes to doing daily things to grow in my belief. Nonetheless...things made sense when I started approaching them as God would...not as myself and my selfish desires and intentions, but as God would in turning the other cheek, forgiving those who have wronged me and consistently showing love to everyone around me.

My heart is starting to come back in bits and pieces. There's still some healing to do...I still have a hard time handing God the reigns because I have a hard time trusting that things will be okay. It's a daily struggle...I've certainly been blessed these past 5 years, but I've also had some of my biggest struggles. Struggles with family, my
"To be a Christian one must take up his cross, with all its belief in God, trusting those around me...and recognizing that suffering refines us. it refines us to make us better. difficulties and agonizing and tension-packed content, and carry it until that very cross leaves its mark upon us and redeems us to that more excellent way which comes only
through suffering." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

I like this quote. He's saying that the hardships and the things that we suffer redeem us and make us better. I'm not entirely sure how we're refined and I'm not saying I enjoy it. I hate pain. I hate hurting...it's hard to see someone you care about destroy their life and not have the power to intervene. I often am sitting on the sidelines watching...and it pains me so much. Why do these things have to happen? Why do people get killed for no good reason? Why do people do drugs? Why do people get terminal diseases? Why do people get made fun of for their race?

This life isn't fair. I want it to be...I want it to be fair so badly. but this life isn't. Nor will it be. This is what we have and we do our best to make it better. This is why I often have a disconnect. i want a better life for everyone. I don't want there to be poverty. I don't want people to not have medical care. but it happens...in a country that consumes the majority of the world's resources...we can't get every one universal healthcare, food for everyone who's hungry and shelter for those who have no homes. We don't bind up wounds or take care of the Widow and the orphan. But as a country, we have the resources to do so....WHY is it not better then?! Why is it so hard to come together and take care of each other? Why is it hard for Americans to live in community with each other and trust that their neighbors and their friends will come through for them when needed?

This is my disconnect and my frustration with God and with people. Things don't work perfectly and it's frustrating. It eats me up inside that I know that this is the way the world works, but my heart won't accept it. Or that God is who He says He is and He loves everyone...but still people suffer.

My heart has a hard time following. I will always have a disconnect. But I started having a love for God that I haven't known in years.

This is one of my more random posts...I do apologize for it turning into a rant at the end.

LAWL


Image


What is it about our self-image that makes us desire approval from everyone around us? As much as I'd like to think that I don't care about what people think about me, it's probably not totally true. I'm not exactly a WYSIWYG person...in that I'm complex and I'll surprise you.

When I let people down I take it hard too. I try so hard to make people happy or proud of me that I'm often afraid that if and when I do fail that people will only see me for the failure and not as the person I truly am. It doesn't leave room for mistakes and it's a tough place to be.

It makes me realize I have some work ahead of me. My brother usually reminds me that that I shouldnt care. He always says "Fuck 'em all, Karen. It doesn't matter what they think about you. You should want their approval. Do things for yourself and do things that make you happy."

It's a correct statement to a point...Do the things that make me happy. If I do that...it's almost like giving me free reign to not care about other people's feelings or well-being.

Sometimes I get tired of bending over backwards for people...yes, I'm a people pleaser to the core. I will do what it takes to make sure people are happy and taken care of. It's important to me...but I'm sure there's a limit somewhere...there's a limit to what I can do. And yet the image I project of myself is that of a person who's happy to do whatever...when at times I'm really not happy. In fact, I'm a grumpy little b. Dare I let people know how I really feel? Would that really help the situation or my dilemma?

Sunday, June 28, 2009

My Brain, Your Brain...


We're all wired differently. Who knew? No, this isn't a gender difference, this is an individual person to person difference. Yes, men are wired differently than women. While each person's brain has specific sections that perform different functions, within each section the neurons that control those functions in say the Occipital lobe will be in different places. Neurosurgens have to map each person's brain before performing surgery. You never know where something will be. Kind of like Forest Gumps' box of chocolates.

The brain is a fascinating thing...there will always be something new to learn or discover about this organ. Based on the diagram above, there are four primary lobes.
  1. Frontal - concious thought, reasoning
  2. Parietal - integrates sensory information
  3. Occipital - sense of sight
  4. Temporal - senses of smell and sound, as well as processing of complex stimuli like faces and scenes
In addition to this, you have the cerebellum that sits below all of this (the ugly pink thing in the diagram) that controls sensory input with motion.

The brain is also divided into hemispheres (left and right) that also have a variety of functions under their control. You've probably heard people described as being either left brained or right brained. Often referring to whether or not a person is abstract and artistic versus analytical and scientific; logic if you will.

Within all of these lobes you have chemicals firing between nerves. Neuroscience studies these neurochemicals to find out what on earth they do. Often, brain chemistry is associated with depression; two transmitters implicated in depression are serotonin and norepinephrine. Scientists think a deficiency in serotonin may cause the sleep problems, irritability, and anxiety associated with depression. Likewise, a decreased amount of norepinephrine, which regulates alertness and arousal, may contribute to the fatigue and depressed mood of the illness.

The ones I remember learning about in Psychology were:

  1. Serotonin - has a number of important functions that are difficult to describe in a unified way, including regulation of mood, sleep/wake cycles, and body temperature. It is released during sunny weather, and also when eating chocolate or taking Ecstasy (MDMA).
  2. Norepinephrine - As a stress hormone, norepinephrine affects parts of the brain where attention and responding actions are controlled, such as the Fight or Flight response.
  3. Dopamine - has a number of important functions in the brain. It plays a critical role in the reward system, but dysfunction of the dopamine system is also implicated in Parkinson's Disease and schizophrenia
Abusal of drugs, such as cocaine, and other illigal substances has a huge impact on these poor little neurotransmitters. Nonetheless, it's fascinating to see how these all function together to make our bodies work.

How is it that something so small (approximately 3 lbs, the surface area of your skin is 3 times that!) in weight can have so much control? This thing controls hormones, your ability to reason and think, the ability to recognize faces, brush your teeth, walk, memorize quotes, talk to your friends, appreciate beauty, love and hate and so much more.

Even when this tiny thing is damaged, the brain can compensate. It rewires itself. Right now it's probably rewiring itself because each time you learn something new it makes a new connection. Cool, huh?!? There are people who can survive with just one half of their brain. Granted it takes time for the brain to relearn these functions, but it does.

Did you know that when a child is born the number of connections is the same as an adult brain? By the time the child is 3 that number has doubled or tripled! However, by the time the child is 8 the brain has pruned its connections and their brain is back to "normal." The process is repeated again at puberty till we're well into our adult years.

How complex and amazing is this 3lb organ! I could study it all day and night....learn about psychology and take anatomy classes and never understand the full potential of this magnificent creation.

Friday, June 26, 2009

The Forgotten War

The Korean war officially began 59 years ago yesterday. It's always interesting to hear about wars and see the history. It's incredibly sad to see that so many people died. If you look at the numbers, I believe more people died fighting in the Korean War than the Vietnam War.

What's a shame about this war is that it's often referred to as the Forgotten War on this side of the ocean. It came soon after World War II and wasn't publicized like the Vietnam War. Both of my grandpa's were in the service at this time. If you don't know your history well, here's a lesson for you:
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean offensive started from four locations
across the 38th parallel into South Korea. In 41 days the South Korean and
American forces would be driven back into the Pusan perimeter, just a few miles
from the southern shore of the tip of South Korea. In August reinforcements from
the Eighth Army and Marine Corps would arrive.

By the end of September the Eighth Army would break out of the Pusan
perimeter while Infantry and Marine Corps landed at Inchon and liberated Seoul,
the capital of South Korea.

Three months later Marines, forward details from the Army and other
British, French, Turkish, South Korean and other United Nations forces would
stand at the Yalu River, the border between Korea and China, thinking the war
was nearly over. Soon after reaching the border, a force of 300,000
Chinese troops who had moved into North Korea during the UN advance and
concealed themselves in the mountainous terrain, attacked the UN forces from the
rear. The UN forces would soon be fighting their way back to the coast to be
taken off by the Navy or to secure positions in the south. The next 2½ years of
the conflict would become trench warfare or battles for hilltops fought back and
forth across the 38th parallel.
The Korean War lasted for three years and ended in a truce of sorts. This is why that small peninsula halfway around the world has a DMZ and is still divided. It's an unfortunate outcome...considering that many North Koreans perish each year due to starvation. People there aren't allowed the same freedoms we have here in the States.

Both of my grandpas have different experiences from their time in the service. My mom's dad was in the army and saw a lot more action fighting in the first year and half of the war than my dad's father who was in the navy on an aircraft carrier for the second half. According to him he didn't see any action...just helped launch planes.

This war has particularly special meaning to me because I'm adopted from South Korea. If it hadn't been for U.N. forces interveening and the U.S. sending as many people as they did, I may have never made it here to my family. I'm grateful for those who served and for those who continue to serve. Without you a lot of things wouldn't be possible. Sure, there are mistakes and people get hurt who shouldn't be hurt, but there is also a lot of good when someone or a group stands up for someone that can't protect themselves. The War Memorial in Washington D.C. is particulary impressive.

"OUR NATION HONORS HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND A COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND A PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET"

Hopefully oneday, Korea will be united as one single country...that there won't be this need to have a DMZ and soldiers patrolling boarders. That there wouldn't be news of North Korea doing nuclear tests and launching missles. While they may be idle threats and maybe the country can't do much damage to the US, it's still sad.

Website Updates

I'm not a huge fan of doing website updates. For one, I'm not a coder. Secondly, it's tedious work and takes a long time. Third, creating a website in 'design' view doesn't count. The reason I say this is because everytime I edit a site in design view or someone else in my department, we have to sift through a pretty large amount of 'crap' code to figure out what's going on and what's supposed to happen with the code.

Kudos to you who are coders and know what on earth is going on. I wish I were one of you...because then I wouldn't F-up so many web pages time after time.

If you're interested in seeing what I'm referring to, go here: http://www.spu.edu/orgs/staff-council and you'll witness my awesome and incredibly great work. :-P

Oh yeah...I have my own site as well. It's just that I used iLife to make it. I didn't even bother with the code.

Beauty and the Mess

This is an update on what I'm playing in my iTunes library. Man, I do love my music!

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

What do your friends think of you? She Loves Everybody - Chester French - That may in fact be true, but not in the same vein as this song's lyrics.

If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say? Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root - I guess I'm trying to tell you it's good now leave me alone? GTFO?

How would you describe yourself? Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - Journey - Hahaha, So true! I'm a cuddler...it can't be helped. I love physical affection.

What do you like in a guy/girl? Try Me - O.A.R. - I'm not sure what this implies about me...

How do you feel today? When the World Ends - Dave Matthews Band - When the world ends...hopefully it's not today.

What is your life's purpose? I Fought the Law - The Clash - I'm not a lawbreaker...i'm a very well-behaved individual.

What is your motto? Stars and Boulevards - Augustana - Read the lyrics, then you'll understand

What do you think about very often? Peace of Mind - Boston - Peace of mind is awesome...I would love to put my mind at rest at the end of each day.

What is 2 + 2? Searching - Blackalicious

What do you think of your best friend? Darling Nikki - Foo Fighters cover - Such a dirty song...it's not what I think about when I think of my best friend.

What do you think of the person you like? Fire and Heights - Matisyahu - My love will rip a hole in the ceiling, yup it's probably true...when I like someone I'm sure it'll be like that.

What is your life story? Better Than - The John Butler Trio - Enjoying what I have...There is something better, but contentment with my posessions in this life is a good thing.

What do you want to be when you grow up? New Beginnings - Finch - It's always something new

What do you think of when you see the person you like? You Can't Stop The Beat - Hairspray (Movie Soundtrack) - Oh yeah! Heart pounding; I just want to jump on him.

What will you dance to at your wedding? Why Don't We Do It in the Road - Dana Fuchs (Across the Universe) - Please no...I'm not an exhibitionist here...

What will they play at your funeral? Screaming Infidelities - Dashboard Confessional - MAN I HOPE NOT!

What is your hobby/interest? One Headlight - The Wallflowers - Sad song...

What is your biggest fear? Away from Me - Evanescence

What is your biggest secret? Heaven - Los Lonely Boys - Probably true, if you read my last post, I don't talk a lot about this...

What do you think of your friends? All you Need is Love - The Beatles - I love everybody...didn't you see my first song?

What will you post this as? Beauty and the Mess - Nickel Creek

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Community

What does it mean to be a community? Especially as it relates to those around you? What about as a church body?

"Communis comes from a combination of the Latin prefix com- (which means "together") and the word munis probably originally derived from the Etruscan word munis- (meaning "to have the charge of"). Traditionally a "community" has been defined as a group of interacting people living in a common location. The word is often used to refer to a group that is organized around common values and social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household. The word can also refer to the national community or global community." (Wikipedia)

Community is obviously important to us humans. No one wants to be alone no matter what their religious beliefs. At the end of the day, no one wants to go home to an empty house or to not be around friends. Those who think they do are kidding themselves.

I've been invited to join a church plant who's primary focus is going to be missions in the city and community as a body and with those in the surrounding neighborhood. A lot of churches reinforce community among their believers, but sometimes there are closed doors. We as people create these doors because we prefer to socialize with those who are most similar to ourselves. Similar to our education, similar in our upbringing and similar in our beliefs. How hard it is to break this mold and be surrounded by people who aren't like ourselves.

I can't remember the last time I openly talked to a non-believer friend about my faith. I've done mission work, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't see that as an important aspect of my faith, but the reality of me stepping out of my comfort zone, confronting someone else or doing something that may rub the other the wrong way is not exciting to me. It's something I'll avoid if possible. I don't enjoy talking about my faith sometimes....writing about it is one thing (I have time to figure out what I want to say and collect my thoughts), talking about it doesn't always give me that freedom. I often prefer to show people what I believe by doing something. Anyway, when it comes to talking about our faith there is a level of trust that must be achieved. This is only built when we're in relationship with one another. This relationship is the community...the common bond. When we care about each other we start listening, caring and heaven forbid, sharing our secrets. We open up to others in ways we never thought possible. At least, that's my experience.

I often hold onto things and hide my grievances with God from other people. I hide my sins and I hide who I truly am at times. I'm a sinner...I do bad things, I can hurt other people and I let people down. But we all do that. We're all beautiful letdowns and I say Beautiful because that's what we all are. We're beauitful in the sense of being created in His Image and as God said in Genesis, He was pleased with creation! He didn't just say it was good, but VERY GOOD! Building up that trust takes a lot of time...this I know. It's taken years for some of my closest friends to really know me. I don't open up easily about my personal life. There are some things I could talk about till the cows come home and others I refuse to share. But those things I refuse to share often become burdens that I carry alone. I do it alone. That's not how it should be and it's hard to get away from that model. The community, your friends, the people you trust are and should be capable of sharing the burden. This is how we're designed. That is the life God meant for us.

What keeps us then from being that? What keeps us from sharing? Fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the consequences. Fear of people being disappointed. Fear of rejection. How then can this be overcome? Is the answer through community? Relationships with each other? Will that make me trust you more? Will that make you trust me more?

E-Card

Not sure what it is about e-cards, but people sure love to send them. This one is actually from one of my coworkers. He attended the UW here in Seattle and apparently, you can send these little postcard things as an alumni to other people.

He was kind enough to offer me som dating advice. Obviously trying to help me find a good nerdy date ;-)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

LOLCAT

























My first LOLCAT! Winslow is interested in the Rum & Coke. He's probably mostly in it for the ice and the condensed water on the outside of the glass. Strange little guy...licks the sink faucet and the outside of my glasses when I'm using them.

MintPad

I kind of want to play with one...

It lets you blog, chat, draw, take pictures...it's the an iphone I suppose. I think it's about the size of a handheld mirror.

Draw on your pictures, make videos...surf the web. All the things you'd do except for talk on the phone. :) It's only available in Korea right now, so I'll have to wait... :(




Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Seth's B-day Pictures




Seth Turned 25...and he likes the Simpler Times. ^_^ (Trader Joes Lager - not bad)

Pictures
















State to pay for teens education

A Special Education student in Oregon is getting his private education funded by the state because under a Federal Law, school districts have to reimburse students or families for education costs when public schools don't have services that address or fulfill the student's needs. The Disabilities Education Act states that special ed students are entitled to a free and appropriate public education.

This is quite the interesting article. I'm not sure that I'm totally okay with the decision. As much as I am a fan of special needs students getting a proper education and the tools to succeed...should the state really pay out 65K for a teen's private education? The Public Schools are lacking in a lot of ways...and you have to wonder if teh school really is lacking or if the family just wants the private education so their child doesn't have to go to a public school.

Public schools definitely have a bad reputation because often they're poorly funded or lacking in the things private schools have. Often a monetary issue. For Example, Idaho is often lacking items in the technology sector. A lot of that equipment is out-dated and does not properly equip anyone (employee or student) to succeed elsewhere. It's an unfortunate thing that this is product of all these laws meant to make education available to everyone.

I can't say I'd be okay with my tax dollars going for it. Education is strange.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Zoo

I went to the zoo this weekend. It was great to take my camera out and take pictures on a sunny day. Jon came with me and it worked out better this time that both of us had our own camera. Before, we used to share one and that definitely didn't work well now that I think back on previous outings.

Anyway, Pictures to come!

Same with Seth's 25th Birthday. Pictures to come...and its own entry. :-P

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Adoption

Why is it people just automatically assume that someone who's been adopted is different? That somehow, that person isn't really family or loved the same because there's a lack of genetic connection?

Growing up I was always asked what it was like to be adopted. To be honest, it made me mad. Why would you assume it's different? I have two parents who love me. I have two brothers who love me. I have extended family that loves me. What makes that different from any child born into a family? My mom and dad both look at me as though I am theirs...full of love. Why is there so much stigma.

I was talking to a friend of mine last night and she mentioned that one of our mutual friend's has an adopted sister. She made it sound like this girl was different...not that she wasn't part of the family, but like a lower level sibling or something. That may not have been her intention at all, but somehow...I feel like she could never accept a child not born of her own womb as her own. She'd still love the child, but would not accept the child in the same way. Bullshit. It's not like spouses are genetically related to each of us...and yet we love them with all of our hearts like we can't ever imagine life without them. Yes, the realtionship between a spouse versus a parent and child are different...but why do people think the love is different?

IT'S THE SAME! For those of you who are wondering. There is no difference.

Studies have repeatedly shown that to a parent or to a family there's no difference. Sure, adopted kids have issues...who doesn't have issues? Adopted children often struggle with the feeling of abandonment...that our birthparents didn't want us or love us. In truth, our birth parents loved us enough to realize that they couldn't care of us the way we needed to be cared for and loved. In steps the couple who can...the couple who wants to love and care for a child they themselves couldn't have. In my parents' case, it's because my mom couldn't physically have children. What a blessing. I'm sure we have caused my parents quite a few headaches through the years. Health problems, us not being treated fairly (people are actually still quite racist in the U.S. whether they realize it or not) or whatever other issue came up. Sometimes I hate talking about adoption to women...mostly women because they feel like there's this bond between a mother after she's had a child. I'm sure there's a bond...there's also a bond between my mother and I that will never be broken. Go figure.

So tell me...where's the difference? Is it the fact that I don't look like my mom? Because I sure as heck sound like my mom. In fact I have the same vocal pitch that my mom has, the same awful, loud laugh of my father's and the same dry humor that my dad has. I have all the quirks of my parents as well as all the wonderful traits. Is my family any different from yours? Probably not. We have similar family issues...but our family is close and we're all we have. I wouldn't change things for the world and I know my parents wouldn't have their family or life any other way.

Adoption comes with its own set of issues. I'm not naive enough to think that things are perfect. But what family is perfect and what parent does things the right way? What child is ever what a parent would expect? That doesn't change the fact that families are families no matter how they're brought together. Adoption. Remarriage. By Birth.

Where did my heart go...?

Have you ever felt this disconnect between your heart and your brain when it comes to religion and a belief in God?

It's something I'm experiencing, but am not sure how to deal with. I think my heart should be happy or that I should feel differently than I do. I feel skeptical. There have been events that make me doubt the fact that God takes care me and cares about my future even though I know in my head and think these things are true...my heart is like...but wait, you've been let down before. It's like I'm clutching these bags that hold everything about me and everything that's important to me and am unwilling to let go of them for fear that the contents will fall out or be dropped/trampled.

I just finished reading Blue Like Jazz and at the end he writes about haivng feelings for Jesus and how important they are. I'm fairly certain I don't have this "I fell in love with Jesus" feeling, but I want it and I think I should have that feeling. I keep reading books and going along, but I'm not sure where to look or what would help? I've prayed before and been open, yelling over the hurt I have or crying because of some painful memory. But I sometimes wonder if something's wrong. Have you ever felt like that?

This is the question of the day...and I've received a few responses...

Like some of the other mysteries of the universe, I'm willing to accept the mysteries of His work and try to have faith that the good and bad parts of my life are not meaningless.

Try praying for faith.

Pray for guidance.

Then live accordingly.

And another...

I honestly believe that if we start to do things that we know we should do, spiritual life follows and it generally always happens in community that's been my experience. I don't know if you are able to memorize stuff easily, but highly encourage you to memorize scripture. Ephesians chapter 1 is a super good chapter to memorize and listen to sermons by John Piper, his passion is contagious.

All of this to say...this is not an easy question to answer. Sometimes life needs a simple answer for a complicated question. For example, the fact that we actually are limited and have finite knowledge of who God is. I often find myself putting him into this box; a box of descriptions of how I see Him. This doesn't even begin to encompass who He is and I will never fully understand each and every situation in this life. But I guess, that doesn't or hasn't kept me from asking. :-P Maybe it's because the fruit of those experiences won't be seen til later in life. I do honestly believe in a sovreign God. A God who can turn each and every experience into something beautiful...but my poor little brain can't understand it even though it wants to.

The simple answer isn't necessarily giving up hope for understanding these things, but then to do as you wrote. Continue to question and then live the life God has designed and meant for me.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Leave it to the Birds...


The poor bird...stuck in a man hole cover the size of a quarter. I think my coworkers said this bird was the size of a softball too. Hmmm...no wonder it didn't fit.

Unfortunate things in life...

It's an unforunate realization when you find out the clothes that you're wearing are slightly see-thru. Especially when you have the rest of the day to go...it's only lunch time now. Guess that means I'm stuck. I had no idea the dress I was wearing was that thin...sigh. Now I know better.

I've also realized that there are certain things I just don't want to know about people. Things that I don't need to hear and things that aren't going to improve a friendship...only make it weird. And I mean weird in a weird way...not a bad way.

Things like infections...those can be kept to yourself. Infections like UTI's...STD's...if i'm not sleeping with you or going to sleep with you, I really don't need to know. If it's not life-threatening or something that's going to affect me (something I would need to know about) or something extremely funny, please don't tell me. Just know...it's not that I like you less...it's just that you kind of weirded me out. I know these things happen to everyone at some point.

Barfing is one thing...a funny barfing story though...another thing :) Like the time I got sick and my parents were hosting a BBQ and had everyone come over. I was in bed sick and all of my parents friend's children opened my bedroom door to stare at me. Since i'm blind as a bat without contacts, it was hard to see, I just knew I wanted to be sick, so I loudly said, please leave...i'm about to throw up. Unfortunately I think they saw me. : Or the time in preschool when I drank too much apple juice and graham crackers and spewed things up...I still can't drink apple juice without having a gag reflex.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Best Email Today


Today I received the Best HelpDesk Request EVARR!

Read Below:

name: megatron jarman
message: sorry, i need help logging into the black banner and i understand that you need to have a user name and password. i've looked all around the website, but i couldn't figure out how to create the username/password. could someone either write me back or call me please?

MEGATRON NEEDS UR HALPS!