Blogging Hiatus

Yes, that's right. This is my last post until some time this coming weekend. I have, from the looks of it, an incredibly difficult test on Friday, covering a crazy amount of information. Frankly, my grade depends on this test. Therefore, I will be taking a break from my almost nightly blogs.

Think of me as I pour over books, notes, and study sheets. I will return feeling much relieved that this test is over!

Adios~

Chipotlé

One word—yum.

So, Chipotlé gave every employee at the college several coupons for free food. I had never been to Chipotlé... I know, shocking, but I just haven't been with the right people at the right time.

So, I dragged my cuz and my bro because they are both big fans. It was amazing! I am hooked!

Then we went to Starbucks for some coffee since it is quite nippy outside these fall evenings. Our next stop was to my brothers apartment, which he is moving out of tomorrow, but I had never been there. It was a good evening.

I am content.

Weekend Update with Yours Truly

So, this was THE BIG weekend at work. We had our biannual board meeting, homecoming and all the festivities involved with that, and we had several ceremonies concerning new buildings on campus.

It was a long weekend and very tiring, but for the first time, I felt like I was really making a difference. I saw the fruit of hard labor! Things went very well, and I really enjoyed myself. We had a big dinner with incredible vocal talent—amazing! Sometimes I am so amazed at the talent that God has lavished on his children.

Other than the incredible music and the amazing things that are happening on campus, the highlight of my weekend was the golf cart that I got to cruise around in on campus. I had a ball with it! : ) It is amazing how the small things make me so excited!

After the homecoming parade today, I went to a play that my professor, Dr. Edsall wrote called, Making Sausage. It was based around the classic play El Cid. It was awesome. It included Dr. Edsall's amazing sense of humor. It was such a nice reprieve from a busy weekend. It was a phenominal experience!

After that, I went to Wal-Mart where I splurged and purchased Colbie Caillat's CD, Coco. It is superb. Beautiful vocals, relaxed guitars, flawless harmonies....I give it two thumbs up!

Now I am home. I have caught up on my English reading (Milton-sonnets & selections of Paradise Lost), played a game with my folks, talked with my best friend Misty, and did my devos... it is now time to settle down and get a good nights sleep! Tomorrow is church. It is my week off from playing the piano (I get to sleep in—sorta). I am hoping to get a hair cut, and then my cuz, my bro, and myself are going out to Chipotle for dinner. Then I need to read to get ahead in my English readings so that I can start studying for our BIG test on Friday. Gulp!

James

So, tonight during my devotional time, I started reading James... I've been reading from The Message which is a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson that I really love when I want to get right to the heart of the matter of what God is saying. Tonight this part struck me...

"If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it." James 1:5

Maybe it is because of a professor I've had in college that I love this verse. You know how some instructors welcome questions and make you feel like an equal when asking them? Well, this prof asks for questions, but I feel like the answer is given condescendingly... I don't think this person means to do it, but it makes the class feel inferior—we are inferior—but it makes asking questions very difficult for me because I hate feeling stupid.

Sometimes, I am afraid that I don't want to pray because I am afraid that God will treat me like this prof.... I know that God is superior, but the fact that I can ask for anything and know that he won't make me feel inferior is such a comfort!! Maybe this all sounds shallow, but it means a lot right now with my situation in life with work & school. I feel so inferior most of the time. It's nice to know that I have a haven, a rock that I can turn to at any time.

Thieves and Murderers

Interesting heading? I know. Today in Brit Lit we were continuing our studies of the metaphysical poets. For the most part, I haven't been very impressed with the poetry. In fact, a lot of it is so vulgar that it makes me blush. However, today we were reading the poems of George Herbert. I'll be honest, the man was rather crazy looking—incredibly skinny, long, pointy nose, and hair that looked like it could use a good relaxer; however, his heart for the Father is unmistakeable. Here is an example:

Redemption

-

Having been tenant long to a rich lord,

Not thriving, I resolvéd to be bold,

And make a suit unto him, to afford

A new small-rented lease, and cancel th' old.

-

In heaven at his manor I him sought:

They told me there that he was lately gone

About some land which he had dearly bought

Long since on earth, to take possession.

-

I straight returned, and knowing his great birth,

Sought him accrodingly in great resorts—

In cities, theaters, gardens, parks, and courts:

At length, I heard a ragged noise and mirth

-

Of thieves and murderers; there I him espied,

Who straight, "Your suit is granted," said, and died.

...

There was a moment in class where I felt so touched by the words this man wrote...but so frustrated because I felt like I couldn't express that in class. There are times when I really wish that I were in a setting that allowed me to do so. However, I am very thankful for the opportunity to have a free education.

...

Here is something I was working on... just some random lines

...

Thieves & Murderers

~

I thought I would find You on a hillside

With a church in the backdrop;

I thought I would find You on a hillside

Making small talk with the crowd;

I thought I would find You on a hillside

Preaching sermons, kissing babies—

~

Then I saw You on a hillside

With the church, Your beloved;

Then I saw You on a hillside

With the outcasts, the broken;

Then I saw You on a hillside

Laying Your life down—

Thieves and murderers surrounding You—

All of us denying You—

How can I tell You that I love You?

I love You.

Thankfulness

1.) A dad who will pose in the Wendy's cutout for kicks and giggles

2.) Being done with my English paper

3.) Random emails from old friends

4.) Lessons learned from Adventures in Odyssey even now

5.) Long naps on Sunday afternoon

Crazy Times

So life has been crazy, thus my lack of blogging activity! I have made it halfway through the semester, which means that one of my PE classes is finished! One down two to go. Today I have been laboring over a paper for my British Literature class. I really didn't like any of the topic choices. We just covered quite a bit of Shakespeare. I will admit, I'm not a huge fan. Is that sacreligious for an English major to say? I just think that it is all a bit of an overkill. So, my topic is about the aspects of loyalty within King Lear. Not too bad since I had a paper on King Lear last semester. Enough about Shakespeare.

Since I last blogged I have helped out with two weddings, taken a weekend vacation to my best friend's, gone to two concerts, spent time with my cuz and watched her orchestra live, and survived some crazy times at work. Where to begin...

So, I gave mom and dad Bebo Norman tickets for their anniversary, and of course, I tagged along with them. I was very excited because Shane & Shane was also touring with him. It was an amazing concert. It was more like one small, intimate worship service. Then, last week, our church hosted Phil Keaggy. Incredible. The man is a guitar beast. And I mean that in the nicest way possible! :)

My cuz (and really good friend) is in an orchestra that is pretty amazing. I drove to see her and to watch the concert. It was amazing. They did Beethoven's 5th Symphony and Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, and a piece I had never heard: Margaret Brouwer's Century Song. It was amazing!

My friend Jodie got married at the beginning of October. It was really great spending time with her and our friends! Then my best friend's brother got married just last weekend.

Anyhoo, things at work have really picked up for me, which is good. I feel like I have more responsibility.

Well, I might have missed some details, but King Lear is calling my name!

p.s. I have been reading my YWAM journal, and it reminded to be more thankful... here are a few things:

1.) Playing Euchre with old and new friends

2.) The feeling of knowing that all your homework is done, and the whole world is at your fingertips

3.) The Office, when Michael makes me laugh out loud

4.) The new Jars of Clay CD (check out the song Shipwrecked)

5.) The crisp fall weather, and the beauty that it brings