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I am an artist & teacher with a ❤ for visual expression, educational methodology, homesteading, & Jesus. My geek-love is The Joshua and we have three peanut-butters: Caleb, Jack, & Louritta.

Most Loving Thing…

02/14/2005

I listened to part of the Dr. Laura show on the ol’ AM station today and she was having guests call in and answer the question, “What is the most loving thing you’ve seen someone else do?”
So, I got to thinking about what my answer would be. I thought of things that were awesome…but had to reject several things because I didn’t actually see them. Then, I thought of lots of romantic, wonderful things, but they didn’t seem to encapsulate LOVE for me. Then I started thinking about the really self-sacrificial things people do just because they love someone. Here’s my list so far (in no particular order):
1. My parents supporting my brother through school. Wow, that one totally stressed them out. But I just saw them day to day doing everything they could to love him and keep him on the right track and not let him slip through the cracks.
2. My parents were 4-H leaders and some “kids from the other side of the tracks” wanted to come to the camp. A lot of the other parents didn’t want them to come because they thought they’d be a bad influence on the “good” kids. My parents really stood up to these other parents insisting that these kids should be allowed to come. Then they engaged all of the kids at the camp in activities that kind of broke down good-kid/bad-kid boundaries (even if only for a moment). I also watched my parents continually go alongside other parents or kids to be supportive and be an example and be a friend…
3. Hearing Don Postema say that he went to see Mickey Blue Eyes because his kids wanted to see it. *shudders*
4. When I lost my second baby, Josh’s mom called me one day. She didn’t say anything when I picked up the phone and we both just cried together. I felt totally connected to her and her love for me, even though we were in different states. Lots of other people wanted to tell me stuff to make me feel better, but she helped me to just feel loved.
5. When Josh let me get Henson. I was getting depressed, but we couldn’t afford a dog and couldn’t have one where we were living. He got Henson and he’s been my little buddy and running companion ever since. I know that Josh sacrificed a lot for us to make that happen.
6. When we moved from San Jose to Cupertino. Josh’s folks were coming out to visit and I was way stressed about having to entertain them. It wasn’t that way at all. They came and fixed stuff all around our house, helped unpack stuff, bought groceries, cleaned things (including our own apartment). I’ve never had anyone do anything like that for me before. They spent their vacation helping us. For free (…at least I haven’t received a bill yet).

I Want to Be a Morning Person

02/14/2005

It’s true. I want to be the kind of person who gets up and feels rested and connected before starting the day. The difficult thing is that they also have connotations of being no fun at night because they…well, they go to bed at a regular time. That translates into being boring, no fun, “old” and all of those other things I don’t want to be.
So, I’m trying to think about what it means to be a “morning person.” Do I have to be perky? I think being alert is good but being overly chipper is just irritating. I remember that I used to get frustrated because my dad would wake up at like 5:30 (crazy I know) in the morning and get more done before noon than most people did in two days. He’d wake me up by whistling as he assembled shot gun shells or cleaned his gun or made some kind of delicious marinated venison.
But, now that I’m older, I find that the mornings are perhaps the only time a person can get a little peace. It’s also good to make a good start on the day. But, then, what if I start to eat a healthy breakfast!?! I CAN’T DO THAT!!! It would be admitting defeat to being young and caffeinated. I don’t know. I have to figure out some compromises.
Here’s what I’m thinking so far for my change:
1. Go to bed around 10:00 p.m. Get up around 6:00 a.m. (Challenging. Not the going to bed part, that I can do easy. It’s the getting up part that’s hard.)
2. Drink more coffee. I know, I already drink more than human beings should, but it’s something good to look forward to in the morning and gives a little boost.
3. Find alternative to a healthy breakfast.
4. After this daylight savings hoo-haw changes back to normal, take Henson on long, refreshing morning walks. It’s good for both of us!
5. Kick people who pressure me to stay up too late (except on special occasions).

How Stupid/Greedy Can You Be???

02/13/2005

So, I’ve been sluggishly following the Michael Jackson molestation trial. It’s totally bizarre and, I’m sure you would all agree, Jackson just gets freakier and freakier by the minute. When I look at him I try to remember the Jackson of the good ol’ days when he could spin into the ground and turn into a pile of golden coins. *sigh*
Then I got to thinking…WHY would you let your child go to Jackson’s house ever??? I mean, if there was the slightest possiblity that someone was a child molester, you can bet that my child would be completely protected (within my power) from that person. But, there are people that let their kids go over to Jackson’s Neverland for sleepovers. SLEEPOVERS!!!
Are they stupid???
Or are they greedy? The only reason I could possibly think of that would convince a parent to send their kid over there is money. Hey Timmy, go over to Mr. Jackson’s house and get him to molest you, and then the rest of your life (and ours) will be paid for. Here, let me show you some tempting “come hither” looks that you can send his way…he’s sure to trip up. And even if he doesn’t molest you, I’ll keep evidence that you went to his house and we can get a good story together later. Just make sure our facts stay straight.
I don’t know. The whole thing is sickening. I don’t know who to believe. And I somehow feel that, even if Jackson did molest the kids, that the parents should have some kind of consequence for allowing their kid to go over there. Seriously. It just makes me ill.

My Wicked (Transatlantic) Dream

02/07/2005

Along the same lines as Eddie, I thought I’d share my recent dreamland.
I was at this place and I was not allowed to leave until I thought of a real word that started with “Transatlant–.” Well, I thought and thought. The only thing I could come up with was “Transatlanticdentalism.” I knew it wasn’t a word, but came pretty close to some other word. So, wanting to leave this place, I insisted to these people that transatlanticdentalism was SO a word. How else could dentistry be practiced all across the Atlantic? Huh? HUH?
And then I woke up.

The B-I-B-L-E.

01/31/2005

I received my first “adult” Bible from Wyoming United Methodist Church in Wyoming, MN after completing my confirmation classes. It didn’t mean a lot to me then, and it just got slapped on the dusty shelf at home. But, years later, after I became a Christian, the book got opened and drawn in and slept on and dragged with me everywhere. It’s the first Bible I ever read cover to cover. It ventured with me to China and the Philippines and trekked up a couple of mountains with me in Colorado. It has been up to Duluth countless times and has been crammed in my backpack between some other less interesting books.
But, all that use ended up really destroying it. The binding broke and pages started coming unattached. The cardboard cover had a huge bend in it…I actually considered covering it with duct tape on a few occasions. The pages were all folded and marked and several were torn. My fear for it’s survival had me put it on the shelf and only use it as a delicate reference.
Then, the coolest of cool friends teamed up with my husband and surprised me by having it rebound for me. Camille gave me my new Bible, complete with a beautiful soft purple cover, new end pages, and every page pressed! She had my name printed on the front in a beautiful pink and on the side binding, the words “Beloved.” This is seriously the coolest gift!
“Hosea put it well:I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved.” – Romans 9:25
Oh…and kudos to Le Beau Bindery, the place that did it. It was beautifully rebound with amazing quality.

Top 5 Books of the Bible

01/30/2005

Well, I’ve been thinking for three months to get a list of top five favorite books of the Bible. I’ve gone for a good month and a half consistently agreeing with the ones I’ve chosen. I teetered a bit on if I wanted Isaiah or Ecclesiastes for my number 5 slot, but finally decided on Isaiah. The thing I love about Ecclesiastes is that it makes it so clear that nothing I desire will bring me joy except for the REAL joy I experience by living my life in step with my Savior. But, Isaiah finally won out due to historical predictions, cool poetry, and through God’s work in me using chapter 30.
Here’s my Top Five:
5. Isaiah – My favorite prophet. This book has poetry and prophecy combined. And the prophecy is so real…the predictions of Christ’s return are phenomenal and I never would have thought they would have come about so accurately according to what Isaiah predicted so many years before Christ’s existence. It really shows me that God’s plan and story was laid out and moving long before I was alive and that His moving is great and powerful and big! Love: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
4. Proverbs – I love Proverbs because it’s so practical. It gives small, quotable verses and really really practical advice. I think the words of Proverbs probably come to mind the most day to day as I interact with people and live. Proverbs gives a good roadmap to practical Biblical life application. Love: Wisdom’s Call: “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:10-11
3. Exodus – This is where the good stories are of God’s character and faithfulness and love for His people. You’ve got Moses and Pharaoh and the story of how God reveals His glory and saves His people from slavery. Talk about a beautiful and amazing metaphor of what comes later with Christ’s return! Then, God teaches them how to live the free life that He has given. Good stuff that really points to a bigger story. Love: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt , and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…” Exodus 19:4-5a
2. Romans – The whole “I’m a sinner, Jesus died for my sins, give my life to Christ” thing always confused me and seemed really really bizarre. In Romans, Paul just lays out the whole gospel message really smoothly and understandably. I try to read Romans twice a year so I keep it close to heart. Love: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24
1. John – Jesus totally lays the smack down in this. Before I was a Christian, I always envisioned Jesus as this really safe, sweet, politically correct guy. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to follow someone who seemed no different from Gandi or other pacifists. Not that God couldn’t be a pacifist…but I grew up on the Old Testament Bible stories where God shows His righteous anger and all that stuff. The God I knew from the Old Testament didn’t seem to go with the cheesy Jesus they taught about in Church. If Christ was supposed to be God, then you’d think they’d exhibit some similar characteristics. Then I read the book of John and was always shouting out (seriously…shouting), “Whoa!,” “Jesus is AWESOME!,” “Oooo! Sucks to be a Pharisee!” and similar phrases. The first time I read John I thought, “Jesus…now this guy is SO God. And he’s a God I can totally worship.” Good stuff. Love: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Plugger

01/30/2005

Because I’ve been so busy with stuff lately (mainly a new semester at school and my National Board stuff), people have been all worried about if I’m doing okay. The fact is…I’m doing super!
I mean, I have a lot of work to do, but I think that I finally have figured out how to say no to things in advance so I don’t get stressed out. I am the master of saying yes to too many things, then getting all stressed out. I have not reached an all stressed out point yet. Before I entered the National Board stuff, I looked at my schedule and cut out a ton of stuff to make way. So, I stopped doing the large group activities with the Jr. High ministry, I put my Christian Club cohorts in charge of a bunch of stuff (instead of me doing it all), I asked Josh for some extra help on things around the house (he RULES!), I cut my small group back to twice a month, I told the school no when they needed free tech help and wanted me to design postcards for them (also for free). And the list goes on!
So, I’m plugging away on what needs to get done. I’m also really proud that this seems to be the first time in my life where I was realisitic about what I was capable of and adhered to it. Woo hoo! Now, if I can just pass these boards it’ll leave plenty of time for painting and surfing!

Eyelid Fixes

01/25/2005

Over Christmas break Nate Gossett was telling me about how important (& fashionable) eyelid folds are. So much so that products and bizarre make-up techniques are now available to fix the problem. Check this out.
So strange. Cute video though…that lady has a smooth voice!

Tsunami Before/After Link

01/19/2005

A friend sent this link to me. It’s satellite pics of areas hit by the tsunami. You can see what it looked like before, then hit a button to see what it looked like after. There is some serious devastation there. Entire villages…gone.

Oh, The Pain I Endure For Friends

01/15/2005

I heard from a friend that one of my college buddies, Wesley Horton was in some movies. I was like, “HE IS!?! THAT’S SO COOL!!!” So, I found him on imdb.com and was stoked. I saw that he was in Raising Helen and The Princess Diaries 2. Knowing that both of these movies were directed by Garry Marshall, I figured I’d see Hector Elizondo in there somewhere too.
So, I rented the two movies and watched them, despite my Kate Hudson ban. Raising Helen was actually a somewhat tolerable chick flick. And, I got to see Wes say, “I don’t do nude…anymore.” Or something like that. I knew he would like that line. And in The Princess Diaries 2, he was a Footman and knocked the tiara off of the princess. Nice clutz work. Unfortunately, Princess was a pretty crappy movie. The only thing that gave it a bit of credibility was that Anne Hathaway never did a fashion montage. Thank goodness. There was a hair montage…but no fashion one. If there was, I would have had to shut the DVD player off immediately and curse Wes for being in such a hokey movie. But, I did no such thing.
Anyway, I was wondering if Wes is living in California, since those movies look like they were filmed in a L.A. warehouse. But, I don’t know how to contact him. If anyone knows, that’d be cool. Maybe he’d be up for a little surfing in Malibu during an off day or whatever. Maybe he’ll wear his purple glitter sneakers. Heh heh. Good times.

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