The Window Through Which We Look

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.The next morning while they are eating breakfast,
the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside."That laundry is not very clean", she said."She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see anice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."
The husband said, "I got up early this morning andcleaned our windows."
And so it is with life. What we see when watching othersdepends on the purity of the window through which we look



Just wanted to share that with you. I got it in an email and I found that I struggle so much with being so judgmental... :) Hope it blesses you like it did for me

Twi-Nerds

so the Twilight midnight premiere is tonight! Yes, it has been so long awaited and I am sooo excited. Amy, Randi, and I (the three OBSESSIVE fanpires) made t-shirts for the premiere and we took pictures of them last night. I'm sure more will be taken while we are waiting in line! I am sooo stinking excited... oh, and side note. I just wanted to continue to brag about how I only paid $15.10 for gas to get here. Awesome huh??

I left my Twilight book at home in hopes that it will convert some of my family to be Twi-Hards. I'm still working on Chylo as well. I am so excited that I am finally a hardcore enough fan to be able to wear a t-shirt to the premiere. I hope everyone is in awe of our awesome HOME

MADE shirts...Anyway, Randi is on the left and Amy is on the right. If you haven't read the book, then I strongly encourage you to. I can honestly it changed me... from a lovery dovery perspective I now result to a pile of mush any time something romantic is said... but from a negative aspect you will probably never be satisfied with a "realistic" man because NO ONE will ever compare to how Edward treats Bella in the book. Lots of tears will be shed and I promise, you will be ADDICTED from the first page! :)

So I went home on Monday. I was so so so excited to go home but it felt like such a short trip. On the plus side, I got to see my family, and have a heart-to-heart with my sister on the drive home, Heather got to see my campus and enjoy a FREE heavenly serving of Golden Spoon, I got to see the Williams family, finally got to be amazed by the Bass Pro Shop (total man mall) and then I saw Role Models (which was so funny), ANNNND to top it off, the drive home wasn't nearly as bad or boring as I had anticipated! :) Let me brag one more time about how I only spent $15.10 to get here (gas wise). The only bad thing I can say about the trip was that it was sooo short but I come home in a mere 5 days anyway! :) Anyway. I hope you all are having a fabulous day! Mine is going okay. I should probably get back to my english paper. I will update more soon! Woot!

Be blessed

God is good all the time and all the time God is good

Let me just begin by saying today has been a wonderful day. I really opened up to one of my friends just about struggles in life and it is such a blessing to be able to go to other women of faith and help carry each other's burdens. It's crazy to me how feminine relationships changed... when and where did this take place... and most importantly, why???

As women, only we can relate fully to each other's problems, so my question is, if that is true, why do most women spend their time gossiping about each other and picking at each other's flaws?? I mean, heaven forbid we treat each other as God intended and life each other up in His spirit. Just a thought...
Anyway, I'm looking outside of the window right now, and I'm definitely going to miss the sight of the mountains here. Maybe one day I will be able to post a picture. =)

So things are getting better however. So praise the Lord. I can't wait to be home for thanksgiving break and then 2 weeks later, to be home for Christmas.

I'm thinking about taking a swimming class at MJC next semester... maybe pottery and/or sign language??

God is good. Be blessed and extend grace to as many as you can! ;)

People I Miss:

costumes, candy apples, cakes, cookies, crazy bowling, and phase 10?

I can't believe it's November already! It's still hot as Haites over here but at least last night we were graced with a thunder/lightning storm with rain! :) It was definitely a blessing as I woke up this morning and my allergies were a lot better than what they had been.

So let me just also say that I am so stinking blessed to have Mrs. Hoekstra as my academic advisor. I hadn't been doing too hot in school.. mostly from embarassment from being so behind academically. I mean when you don't know the difference between an epistle/apostle/disciple then you know something is a little off for you -- especially when you are of a reformed denomination. So she has been helping me stay motivated and we decided to meet weekly to just help keep me accountable. I'll admit... it's not particularly what I WANT to do, but I can assure you that it will help. I just need to accept the grace and try hard to not let her, my other teachers or myself down. I really want to succeed and she is defintely paving the way with God as our leader.

Halloween...err Reformation Day wasn't quite what I expected. Halloween eve was actually funner. We had a pumpkin carving/caramel apple making party. Deb and I took initiative and ran the caramel apple table the whole night.. Deb never ceased to remind people the proper instructions on how to make the perfect apple. :) It was a good night.

Halloween was okay as well... However, the night was mainly geared toward the professor's kids. I got to hold Dr. Mac's lil boy Canon.. He was an adorable Lion. He's about 2 now and I wish I would have taken a picture but I have no camera. We became friends that night. That precious moment and Deb and I's costumes combined made the night not quite a total waste. Deb wore all black and pinned random socks and laundry sheets to herself and she went as static cling. I wore a baby blue sweatsuit with cotton balls glued in strateguc spots. I carried a water bottle and was "partly cloudy with a chance of showers". Our costumes were voted most creative... and super cheap!

Last night we started Kellie's birthday bash. We went bowling for two hours which was extremely fun. Deb and I bonded by making fun of couples who strain themselves to be close but also want to maintain the image of having a Godly relationship. Also, I learned that in bowling you want a high score... It is defintely not like golf (right guys?). I can't say I won any games... in fact I can't say I had any skill. I managed to get not one but TWO bowling balls stuck in the gutter of the right hand side. It was embarassing but a night we wont forget none the less. We then proceeded to go to "Bleekers" house for some good conversation, cookies, cakes, and a game of phase 10 (which I sucked at as well btw). It was a fun night

So I have been reading this book Twilight. I strongly recommend it, however, if you are a young adult I'm going to warn you that you will turn to a pile of mush whenever the name Edward is mentioned. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (actually today) and I am so stoked! I think this quite possibly could be my favorite book series. :)

I should get some sleep! I will update more later

This Has Been One Heck of a Weekend

It's parent's weekend! Well, actually, the craziness started on Friday. It's so fun to have parent's everywhere, peers showing off what they have accomplished (or maybe haven't) all around, so many smiles... And yet there I was in the cafe or in class the weekend. My parent's unfortunately weren't able to come and neither was my best friend. This weekend is great, as long as you have family or friend's visiting. If you are like me, and have no one to share this weekend with and you work in the cafe, it's miserable. It was nice sharing the misery with Deb and Veeps however... They could all relate. This weekend just made life a little depressing here and all of us "loners" agree that we are counting down until Thanksgiving break. I know I certainly am. On Friday I got a nice letter from my "little sister". It was exactly what I needed. She made me laugh and want to cry... It was just a little taste of home. I also got the cutest homemade card from my mom. She has a myspace now and that makes it a lot easier to talk with her... and I got her hooked on card making. =)
It's now 11:35 p.m. I'm just so tired physically but mentally, my brain is going HAYWIRE!!! I can't even think about sleeping right now. I have worked two shifts a day all weekend and basically, tomorrow (my day of "rest") is looking to be the same. I just need a break from life. Each day I just can't help but look forward to NOT coming back. The people here are great, don't get me wrong. It's just the academics aren't my thing... I'm not getting it at all. Even though I try so very hard to... It's not happening. This evening at dinner I had a conversation with another student here about some theology... Totally got knocked to my knees. I just feel like so many people here have the wrong mentality about Christ and what it means to take up your cross for Him. I just feel that they definitely have the accountability part down to a T, but the grace being extended out is a little lacking. I feel like the rebel girl and that I'm constantly judged. I don't know what Reformed means exactly... but I know that how I feel about it is probably not the way God intended his children to be like
It's just stressful. Keep the prayers up... only one month til Thanksgiving. I'm going to scream...

L.A. Philharmonic

So this past Saturday, aka yesterday, I went on a lil field trip to the L.A. Philharmonic concert in the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It was AMAZING to say the least.

I was a bit skeptical at first considering I have NO knowledge of classical musicians and I didn't really have a true appeciation for it before either.

However, it was AMAZING! We literally had the best seats in the house possible. First ad second rows RIGHT BEHIND THE ORCHESTRA! We were facing the director which was really cool. We could see all his movements and facial expressions as well as look down upon the whole orchestra. We were so close that we all felt the boom of the drums! They played 3 songs, one called Fireworks by Stravinsky. It was a wonderful piece to start the evening. The next song was my favorite. This excellent pianist came out and sat down in front of a gorgeous grand piano and continued on to play Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23. It was amazing how beautifully his hands glided over the piano. He was so quick and precise with each note. It didnt seem humanly possible to play like that. We listened to the whole ballet of The Firebird next. It was a whole 45 minutes long but went by so fast!

We went to Johnny Rockets for dinner. It was a good time full of tons of laughs. The waiter even personalized my ketchup cup for me! I asked for a joker face and I think he did quite a job!

It's things like this that make me love Providence. What other school is going to pay for you to do such amazing things! =)

I came home that night and topped it off with a night of card - making ad office episodes with the girls! <3>

Well there's not much more to say except be blessed and take every oppritunity and experience as it comes!I have one more 4w to go on. We're going to the Creation museum and IMAX theatre to compare evolution and creationism, which if you know me you know that Christian apologetics is my passion in life... I love learning about neat stuff like that you know?

I still feel slighttly checked out of life right now. Parent's weekend is coming up in 1 week and my parents aren't going to be able to make it out here. My friend, Bekah (shown in top picture) was trying to arrange for a surprise visit by another friend that very weekend but it doesnt look like it is going to turn out. Which is okay, I'm trying to think positively about the weekend but I am very afraid it might make me more homesick and even more checked out of life here. Pray for me! =/

Well anyways. I hope you all have a fabulous sabbath. It's nap time for me!



be blessed

Getting Homesick

As of right now I am lacking all motivation I once had. It's kinda scary when you get "senioritus" even before midterms even occur.

To be honest, I don't really know where I fit in and I think this is common for the most part. It's just discouraging right now ya know?

Lately a TON has been going on. My birthday was on the 29th and it was fabulous! I am now 20 years old... No longer a teenager.. WOW! My birthday basically consisted of card making, cupcakes, and gifts/cards from ALL the girls in Hesed Hall. Jen made me delish cupcakes and I got some wonderful presents. Chylo sent me a care package that made me cry hyterically in a good way (made me miss home so much) and my mom sent me a bunch of fun stuff! =) Deb, V.P. and I especially appreciate the blow horns my mom sent, I'm sure the rest of the hall could not agree. Oops.

This weekend I get to go to a concert at Disneyland. Not too sure what it's all about. All I know is it is a "philharmonic concert." Yeah... no clue.

This morning we had care groups. It was amazing to open up to some people here and finally see everyone else's struggles and let out my own. =) Jen is our leader and I have come to love her so so much so I'm so excited what this year entails for us all

Today, I am wearing some cute earrings Bekah got for me =). Other than that, not much going on. Love you all and be blesses!

Ackward Moments?

So I don't know what a first blog usually consists of. To be honest, I think first blogs are ackward. It's the same ackwardness when you are meeting someone and saying bye. You never know what to say, what is really important to say, and how to end it in the best way possible. So for the sake of me not wanting to feel ackward, I'm skipping the introduction.... You'll find out more about me, hopefully, just by reading and following along.


So, my friend Julia (I call her Veepsie just because I can =) ) inspired me to pick blogging back up again. I used to blog like HARDCORE on xanga... but that was back in the junior high days. I like to think I have graduated onto a more "mature" if you will, style of blogging. This site seemed mature enough (if you know me, I'm sure you're laughing... I'm never really referred to as mature... or immature for that matter. Just somewhere in between but most likely a bit more on the immature side... okay I'm rambling.)

Anyways. As of right now I am going to college down in Southern California. So far, I love it. A nice 6 hours drive from home, and did I mention my roommate is totally k.a. (it's abbrheviated.... figure it out...) I met another really cool girl, Julia (aka Veepsie), who is now my "hair stylist". These two, so far are most likely my fave girls ever. They kinda help get me through hard times just cause they are so funny! =) I think our room is by far the coolest ever.

But I am eating my wonderful vanilla yogurt and granola as I am in spanish. I feel kinda weird typing in silence so I'm cutting this off short. I'll update later...

No ackward goodbyes here. Be blessed