Post of Little Consequence

but music with a message of importance-

I like.

It's the last week. The days are passing and outside of the multitude of boxes and empty drawers and closets, life remains seemingly the same. Each day is different, yet they all seem in reflection mushed together in similiarity.

ooh. thought not mentioned before. parts of this post as well as a poem were printed in the homeschool diploma program's magazine I belong to/receive. It brought a smile to see something I wrote chosen... brightened my day.

From Today's Dose of PSDs

"Let the general [federal] government be reduced to foreign concerns only, and let our afairs be disentangled from those of all other nations, except as to commerce, which the merchants will manage better the more they are left free to manage for themselves, and our general government may be reduced to a very simple organization, and a very unexpensive one-- a few plan duties performed by a few servants." -Jefferson, 1800

What a stark contrast that holds in comparison to the government we live under today.

Invisible

The videos here gave me goosebumps.

Oddly enough I found the site through the Mac homepage. The guys who made the original video use Mac computers and were featured :P

Cherish

The week we closed on the new house, we spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the house as family. Dad's workers were painting. Amid attempting to keep David's desire to help actually profitable, choosing, checking and creating paint colors, and multiple here or there distractions, I knew school had to get done. I made my way around the house, finding a spot that remained quiet for an increment of time until I relocated somewhere else. It was a good time. It was an odd feeling spending all day at the new house to come home, park in the driveway, open the garage door and walking into this house to watch some TV or finish school, send some emails, talk about the new house and go to bed.

This week's had a different face.
The whole family has been at the new house but me for this first half. I've spent the days at this house on my own with only the quiet as company. Occasionally blasting music, making a batch of cornbread muffins, delighting in my surroundings. Thinking about family birthday parties, the time I had my birthday in August just because I liked the idea. the running circles through the halls, the playing dress up for all the neighbors to see in the summer in the backyard. lighting Hanukah candles in our homemade menorahs on the fireplace while we had a Christmas tree up. ha. wow. God's grace. being baptized in the pool in the freezing cold September or was it early October even? Filming the boat scene of Princess Bride in a raft in the pool, the night my uncle was saved in the backroom, attempting to play hymns for Bible study in the backroom led by Dad- holy months. the Christmas joy. Remembering the faces of the people who we have had to priviledge to laugh with, pray with, do math with, eat with here. Seasons of life that have past and yet are treasured went through my brain over and over... vignettes. sepia. uncaptured memories... in between pouring over American Narrative History and Chemistry of course.

I dont know what scholarly conclusion to draw from it all. I just know my life has been spent here. The amount of love and time... I hope the love continues and God's work remains within these walls. So much is represented by them for me, for us.

Hmm... maybe sometime soon I'll post about something in life at the moment other than the house, like my birthday. Still have a post from the camping trip in draft... :-P

_
Highly Recommended Movie:Freedom Writers

Three Things

Life this week, specifically today, felt similar to riding on a train with it's brakes out for the count.

I like..

school note- At the end of a rough week, I can still say that my dominant subject [AP USH] is going well are as the rest of my subjects. In English, there's a possibility, to use the teacher's words, I "will die or wish I had by the time it's over," but it hasnt come to that yet. PSATs were an experience; one that I doubt I'll ever forget. What a distinct way to remember the neighborhood as within days we leave it...

Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees,
for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
He displays His glory in Israel.

Ps. 43-4

Oh the Modge Podge that is the Life Described

After a lovely lunch at Eat n Park as well as a stop at the new house, came home. checked the answering machine. I had been sleeping in the car on the way home. I entered the livingroom and laid down on the couch. couldnt help thinking of Mr. H's reference to being a couch potatoe in his message. There wasnt any present opportunity to serve around me, so I figured I was all clear.

;-)

Lying there, still sleepily calm, watching football and then parts of The Natural, I looked around me and thought.

I won't be here a month from now.

A matter of weeks and the way I've performed the simple things in my life up until now will be done in a completely different environment. A completely clean slate. Certain things will be lost, others, so much more relavant to today gained. A place ready for memories to be made within- yet not the home where so many have taken places. Innumerable.

There is going to be a day when we dont come back to this house again.

We will visit our family who live two, four streets away and our neighbors next door. But this house will not be ours. It will no longer hold our things or us; instead someone else will fill it. I'm sure at some point that will cease to seem odd to us, but right now I think we're all unable to grasp it being anything but.

This is post is based upon sentiment, yes. But I know that there are lessons here that are becoming a part of "the fabric of my [and each member of the family's] life" to reference Mr. P.

On the brain
a. the houses. duh.
b. the items I daily discover would be convenient which are located a box, below many others stacked
c. this week's schoolload=much. PSATs are Wednesday. Rejoice in the Lord always...
d. how amazing to be placed all the way out where the new house sits. farther than I'd ever think, yet everything around seems to show that we should be there

Other notes-
cancelation due to a powerline- how bizarre...and pleasing due to the situation
cho mein noodles are ah! a favorite. they were before Saturday, but after Saturday they became even more so
the color of green tea [authentic] is perceived as a nice one by my eyes and brain

I have an ongoing thesis that certain foreign countries have much better food, fashion, cars, and cities than Americans. It seems to come up often when I find myself preferring something not a part or disliking something that is the culture surrounding me. It's accuracy has yet to be decided.

Got this in the mail today.

One week exactly until 16 becomes the age I write down when I sign a form.

I remember meeting several people on the tenth anniversary Sunday while sitting in the third or so row waiting for the after-church festivity to begin...the top ten lists... I remember how much we as a family desired to be a part of the church body specifically after that Sunday, one year ago today. I cant help go over in my mind the large events and zoom into the smaller moments I attempt to recall, all in such a seemingly short time.

The Word of the Day. The Year. of Life itself- Grace.

grace unmeasured vast and free

How True. How Sad

from despair.com; post inspired by wahlah

Murphy & Altrogge

Can you push my glasses up? I'm gonna push em right off your face now sit down and shut up.

She's a dream stealer.

Look at you! You're an idiot!

You seem uptight...

A Tale of Two Cities- What do you think of? Boring

I watched the whole thing through today, with a huge smile on my face and laughter throughout. I've never met either one of them. Watching the videos hits home for me the pain his family and friends must feel; and then I find myself amazed at the even more astounding amount of joy and sustainment by grace in it all by which they move on.

And then I think of all the ways the blog has spoken to me; God's word is living and active.

Pray for Ian.

DashBoard Rocks

All morning in anticipation. Hoping not to be let down by a delivery man deciding to put off until tomorrow. Wondering how accurate tracking numbers are in their estimated delivery time. This just in [be beep be beep] this is the first offical post coming to you via brand new Macbook.

Ah it was like Christmas- savoring the moments when I tore the packing tape off the box which had been placed on the couch- brothers hovering everywhere. "How thin and sleek! What technology exists!" -Mom quote.

The lid was lifted, the marvelously genius magnet closure disconnecting smoothly. The on button. AH! The surge of excitment as the loading screen shows and the Apple logo becomes animated.

I cant believe I actually made a decision and bought the thing [reference Starbucks quote]. I'm still manuvering around the workings. It took me forever to find the volume button and how to copy and paste- which stunned me with its cool factor when I realized. Not having a left click is disconcerting as well as not having a tappad, just the click button registers. I'm lacking in word document software at the moment, but I found just a little while ago a 30 day Microsoft Word free trial that'll tide me over. I've yet to figure out how to adjust the bookmarks.

We all had a grand time being incredibly goofy with photo booth and the isight camera. Good times...laughter is required if you intend to hang onto any level of sanity around here. Well, anywhere honestly.

My only worry at the moment- whether my camera is compatible.

Ah! I went to insert the link to the 'Plague of Indecisiveness' post which included the Starbucks quote and all the editing tools arent visible for posting...not Mac supported? Major bummer. How shall I blog without linkage? Html I suppose...

Separation

An unfamiliar man in a blue car pulled up in front of our house on Sunday. Sitting on the porch enjoying the company of friends I soon stated that I didnt like him. I didnt know him. What I did know was that he was showing interesting in our house, and that I didnt like.

God placed me in a conversation last youth group that prepared me and even enabled me to ask for prayer- that God would now work now in the process of selling our home. Kevin and I were baptized in our pool. My dad and members of our family were saved in the living room. We struggled in not celebrating Christmas and we joyous celebrated in the back room. I see the grace that has been poured out in our family as a whole and in my own heart over buying and growing to love a new house. Now I see an area that is in need of grace- letting go and leaving this one.

Being in the middle, straddling the change is both fun and frustrating. I'm still enveloped in comfort here but get to be adventurous in my anticipation of the new. The phrase "after we've moved" is prevalent in conversation. Patience is involved with that bigtime.

Oh what a good day Sunday was! A talk with a friend also dealing with housestuff reminded me of truth. When God takes something away, it is to replace it with something He knows is of the utmost good. But that something must be taken away for it to be replaced. It's a simple scientific principle- two things cannot occupy the same space. God meets us right where we are and knows our weakness even while we are yet blind to it. That afternoon I faced the man in the blue car. I didnt handle it well; rather dismally actually. But that's the stop in which I am trusting that I will be met and where grace will be poured out.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
-Job 1:21

The Highlights of a "Fortuitous" Dinner

Only two cookies! Usually the cashier is more generous. I opened both...

You should pay for this dinner. Be generous.

You will enjoy razor-sharp spiritual vision today.

Why is it that I always get the tacky fortunes about not forgetting the shrimp, getting my takeout and paying for the food? The second one threw me off slightly after reading the first. Never gotten one quite like it, which causes it to be interesting.

I read an article yesterday in the paper about the benefits of knowing a second language in business fields. It was noted that proficiency in Mandarin Chinese was sought after.

LEARN CHINESE

hun maon- very busy
tung chean- sympathize

Ironic?

:-]

Totally unrelated is this. Flashbacks!

Composed of Numerous Diverse Elements or Facets

Life lately has consisted of a myriad of moments. Myriad can actually mean ten thousand. I never knew that until today. There hasnt really been much of a theme to speak of... I was just in the mood to throw some current happenings out there.

I fell in love with having these yummies with one of my favorite Celestial Seasons teas- tangerine orange zinger. The best thing about Celestial Seasons is the quotes on the bottom of the boxes. I want to go to Ikea just because I think they sell the cookies there & plus Ikea is so much cooler than Giant Eagles any day. I dont like grocery shopping at generic stores very much...

This past weekend held-

• Frisbee [from which I was unusually incredibly sore Sunday night]
  
• YG meeting
• Helping with 3-5 year old children's ministry; I'm gonna stick to nursery
  
• Good conversations after church
  
• Blueberry bagel for lunch
  
• A Sunday afternoon that wasnt what I thought it was going to be, but was a good time with friends. I suppose it was what you'd call spontaneous.
  

Frisbee had to be one of the most conversational games ever. I got such a kick out of blocking Mike. As I typed that I laughed. Caleb rocks.

The me-monster. you you you you you ME!
It's torturous to ask questions and not receive an answer. After thinking about it though, I'm so glad we are given the opportunity to do it.
Whoever made the cupcakes at YG- they were awesome.

So on Sunday fifteen of us go into the bagel place. After somehow surviving ordering the bagels, we sat down at the big table. Two people walking out commented about how we "sure were waking everyone up with liveliness!" We asked if we were being too loud- "no, no."I wasnt aware that people went to a bagel shop to sleep... We all absorbed the comment and continued with laughs and conversation. I think we attempted to be more quiet, but I didnt honestly realize that we were loud to begin with and didnt notice that much difference afterwards. Then this older woman came from behind and put her hand on my shoulder. She told us how much she loved children; she was eighty-eight years old and had been a teacher for forty-some because of that love. She told us how much she was enjoying listening to and being around our happiness and conversation. She said never to loose what we were then enjoying. "God bless." She replied with thank you and said returned the blessing. She hoped that we were all born again...actually, we are! We just came from church. She became so happy and I know I had a huge smile on my face. She parted by saying that she'd see us again someday. Talking with the women in the bagel shop pretty much made my day.

The whole bunch of us went to the thrift store, one of the most random and on the expensive side thrift stores. I'm so very cheap. It's a thrift store and I'm saying it was expensive...I was comparing it to others.

Over the weekend I bought the book that goes along with this as well as two records, two wooden bowls and two turquoise handmade glazed metal platters. When K-dawg goes on a picnic, all he needs is the suit he bought; it doubles as the blanket.

There's been some serious encouragement going around that I've been on all sides of. God has been working still with my heart on the house- I'm now excited- yay! We've all gotten quite sick of arranging the house for listing shots. They're finally done with. Since Sunday night I've been feeling mono-ish. Charles Spurgeon's Morning to Evening has been so good and God's used it several times strongly in the past several weeks.

We have a 7th birthday to celebrate in our house tomorrow =]

Ah, so very many little other things I could share. But my history textbook calls. At this point it's actually screaming.

I watched this video Thursday; It's powerful. [compliments of]