tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51556534611214559772024-03-13T10:06:09.048-07:00His Forever AfterAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-32411014579663891002016-10-22T11:39:00.003-07:002016-10-22T11:39:58.443-07:00OctoberIt's been a while. I often think about blogging, but <i>thinking</i> isn't exactly the same as <i>doing</i>, is it?<br />
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I'm on Fall Break right now, and have enjoyed playing the piano, reading just for fun, and spending time with my family and my two 7-month-old orange kittens.<br />
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Fall weather is my favorite. Even though the colors are rather muted this year due to the drought-like conditions we've been having, I still find the trees absolutely <u>amazing</u>. October might just be my favorite month of the year...<br />
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Without further ado, here are a few pictures from the Tennessee Mountains in October :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXAp6d9Bqdg/WAuxHpaiv7I/AAAAAAAAAm4/10iqFCVlTGMl0di3jdyp_MkoQBIQob1DQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXAp6d9Bqdg/WAuxHpaiv7I/AAAAAAAAAm4/10iqFCVlTGMl0di3jdyp_MkoQBIQob1DQCLcB/s400/IMG_2728.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pumpkin Mom and I bought at Wooden's Apple House yesterday. Don't you just love the little curls???</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak leaves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forsythia, one of our outdoor cats. Not one of the new ones I mentioned earlier.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forsythia's sister, Chrysanthemum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my walking buddy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brightest leaves I could find!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chrysanthemum again, looking slightly awkward...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTZYVyRQBvs/WAuxsT_RvTI/AAAAAAAAAnU/f5AE18wrwPMMlMsr6EjzLWRbfXDkZOiHQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTZYVyRQBvs/WAuxsT_RvTI/AAAAAAAAAnU/f5AE18wrwPMMlMsr6EjzLWRbfXDkZOiHQCLcB/s400/IMG_2780.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And last but not least, a leaf.</td></tr>
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-76286148333964356222016-01-23T13:40:00.000-08:002016-01-23T13:42:41.040-08:00Campus in Winter My nose is still cold. The metal on my camera is still cold. But it was so worth it :) I just went outside in the windy-wintry weather to get a few shots of campus - now lightly frosted with snow. Without further ado, here are ten of my favorite shots!<br />
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What's the weather like where you're at right now? Any wintry stuff?<br />
<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-82264515685423090342016-01-20T14:33:00.001-08:002016-01-22T13:00:26.445-08:00The Mandatory Fandom Post...<span class="_Tgc"><b>"Fandom</b> is a term used to refer to a subculture
composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie
with others who share a common interest." (from Wikipedia, because I'm pretty sure it's not a real word . . . yet.)</span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">This post is going to be a bit different than my normal posts. Fandoms are not my life. But it would be a lie to say I don't have my fangirl moments :) And what's a good blog without some pop culture posts every now and again? So without further ado, here are some "mini-reviews" (spoiler free) of some of my current favorite books, movies, and TV shows. </span> <br />
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<u><i><b>BOOKS</b></i></u></div>
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<b><i>The Giver Quartet</i> by Lois Lowry. </b>I had read <i>The Giver</i> before, but for Christmas I got the entire series. It's already been established that I'm a bookworm, but finishing four novels in about a week is pretty impressive even for me. These might possibly be my favorite fiction books ever, along with <i>Lord of the Rings</i>. I'm attracted to artfully crafted literature, and Lowry is an absolute expert at making her words sing. Her books are original, not really fitting into any existing genre, and are just plain beautiful. They are also extremely thoughtful, touching on deep moral, ethical, and philosophical issues. Because of the depth of content, I would suggest the quartet for high-schoolers and up. Oh, and don't just read the first book. <i>Read the entire series. It will blow your mind! </i>At first, the books may seem unconnected, but by the end of the series it all makes sense. These books are brilliant. (The movie, not so much in my opinion. It's fine as a movie, but doesn't do Lowry's works justice).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pictures represent <i>The Giver</i>, <i>Gathering Blue</i>, <i>Messenger</i>, and<i> Son</i>, from top to bottom.</td></tr>
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<b>The <i>Harry Potter</i> Series by J.K. Rowling. </b>I'll be honest, these books/movies were a touchy subject growing up, so I never read them until now. And they aren't my favorite books ever. But judging from the fact that I'm now in the middle of the fifth books (which is nearly 900 pages long), they must be pretty good :) For me, the Harry Potter books have been a bit predictable, the plot lines a little too repetitive, and the characters not dynamic enough. However, Rowling always does throw at least one big surprise at me each book, and I guess that's what keeps me reading them. And at the end of <i>The Goblet of Fire </i>the pages wouldn't turn fast enough as I stayed up late into the night getting through the intense ending! Perhaps the thing I like most about these books is the character of Hermione (pronounced her-<b>my</b>-on-ee). She reminds me a lot of myself (and did I mention she has a cat?). <br />
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<b> <u><i>MOVIES</i></u></b></div>
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<b><i>War Room. </i></b>I really enjoy all the movies made by the Kendrick Brothers. My favorite is still <i>Courageous, </i>but I think they did a great job with their most recent installment: <i>War Room</i>. This isn't a movie you'd watch for entertainment necessarily. But it is quite inspiring/though-provoking on the topic of prayer, which is really what the movie is all about. I saw it once with my parents in the theater, but I'm really wanting to watch it again now that it's on DVD...</div>
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<i><b>Star Wars. </b></i>So, I had friends who wanted to go see <i>The Force Awakens</i> in theaters. This is actually how I get dragged into most fandoms :) The problem? I hadn't seen any of the Star Wars movies in, like, 10 years. I was never a big fan of them, but I thought I'd give them another chance. And this time I really enjoyed them! And then I saw the newest movie in theaters....twice. It's quite good in my opinion. Not super original, but I liked the retro feel of the movie and the fact that they brought the old actors back. BB-8 (the new droid) is awesome, and they created a more complex villain in this episode, which I appreciated. Because of all the Force mumbo-jumbo, the Star Wars movies need to be watched with caution, but the spiritual elements are not sketchy enough to be a big turn off for me. I've had tons of fun watching the entire saga with my brother over Christmas break :)</div>
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<i><u><b>TV</b></u></i></div>
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<b><i>The Flash. </i></b>I was never much of a TV person. The only three TV series I have every really gotten into are <i>Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</i>, BBC's <i>Sherlock</i> (more on that in a minute), and <i>The Flash</i>. My brother showed me the first episode of this DC superhero series at the beginning of Christmas break, and the rest is history. I watched the entire first season over break. Yeah... kind of obsessive, but what's a college student supposed to do when you don't have work or school, and you live 30 minutes from the nearest town? ;) I really, really enjoyed this show. <i>The Flash </i>has all the action, super-powers, and plot twists that one would expect from a superhero show, while being just a bit more . . . human. Sure, some of the relational/emotional drama is a bit cheesy, but I appreciate the fact that it is <i>there</i>. <i>The Flash </i>is also more lighthearted than most comparable shows I've seen. There are some questionable elements that I don't want to ignore, but overall, I think DC did a great job with this one!<br />
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<b><i>Sherlock. </i></b>See? I told you I'd get back to everyone's favorite super-sleuth! Well, maybe not <i>everyone</i>'s favorite, but he certainly is mine! BBC's <i>Sherlock </i>is the first TV series I ever watched all the way through. Granted, it is more like a series of movies than anything (there are only a few episodes, and each is 1 1/2 hours long), but still. <i>Sherlock </i>is just brilliant. The detective and the show named after him. BBC's retelling of Doyle's classic stories is set in modern-day London instead of the 19th-century, which adds a neat dynamic to the show. The episodes all have really great story-lines and character development, and are just extremely well-made. The acting is also superb :) Anyway, this post is getting rather long so I'm gonna resist saying any more here...<br />
TV Reviews: The Flash and Sherlock<br />
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Anyway, that's that!<br />
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And I figured I should also mention that today is the first day of my second semester at Bryan! And... it was a snow day! How crazy is that?<br />
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I have another post planned, and then I will have met my goal for 4 posts in January!<br />
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How are you all coming on your New Year's Resolutions? And do you have any thoughts on the movies, books, etc. I reviewed here? Do you have other you'd add to the list?<br />
<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-19074677372079427912016-01-12T11:55:00.000-08:002016-01-12T11:55:07.426-08:00When Days Become MemoriesSeconds become minutes. Minutes become hours. Hours become days. And inevitably, days become memories.<br />
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2015 has now become a dynamic collection of such memories, and I thought I'd share a few snapshots of those with you!<br />
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<b><i>January 12, 2015, "Stars Upon the Ice"</i></b><br />
"Be still, and know that I am God." Ice. I love ice. It's so clean and clear and cold and beautiful. Whether hanging in frozen droplets from the barbed wire, falling from the sky in intricate crystalettes, or creating wild formation on the fountain in Centennial Park - ice holds a strange attraction for me.<br />
The other day I went out into our woods. It was beautifully worth the windchill of 7 degrees. I could see the water of the tiny trickling creek running and falling under a thin window of ice. And I discovered a pool covered in 2 inches of crystal clear ice.<br />
The truly mesmerizing thing about this pool was that on top of the ice were dozens of 3D white "ice stars." I have no idea how they formed other than that the Brilliant Artist created them there for me to discover.<br />
Somehow I feel so much closer to God out in nature. Perhaps that's why I love the outdoors so much. Even if I don't hear the still small voice, I can be still in the stillness of creation and rest in the knowledge that there is a good God who designed all of this to praise Him.<br />
He is there amidst the silence of the barren trees, the crisp winder air, and the stars upon the ice.<br />
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<i><b>March 13, 2015, "Drawing Worship"</b></i><br />
<b> </b>I've been drawing lately. Drawing pictures; graphite on paper; left hand slightly and inevitably smudging the gray. Coloring. Resurrecting the long-forgotten colored pencils, the old-fashioned pencil sharpener. Buying a box of 64 new Crayola crayons - nostalgia in wax.<br />
<i><b> </b></i>I stay up late, drawing in the lamplight. The life of artistic expression energizes me and enlightens me, helping me see within myself and uncover thoughts, feelings, desires, beliefs.<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i>Because the pictures have meaning. The one with space, tiny earth: God distant. The one with the path, the butterflies: God with me. Like words on lines and notes on clefs, pictures, too, can convey meaning.<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i>Can I use art and music to spend time with Abba? Can creativity be worship? Can I read and pray . . . and write? and sing? and play? and dance? and draw? Can this all equally be worship?<br />
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<i><b>May 27, 2015, "21"</b></i><br />
<b> </b>21. Forever 21? No. Only for a season. A few hundred fleeting days to embrace. Enjoy. Live. Breathe. Smile. Count. Notice. Love. Serve. Sacrifice. Change. Adapt. Hold. Be. And perhaps the last on is most important . . .<br />
<i><b> </b></i>21 is a gift. Another year of living in this world to be the unique me God designed. Be a part of creation. And most of all just be God's beloved daughter. He paid the adoption fee with His perfect blood. I am His forever.<br />
<i><b> </b></i>21 has come so fast. I don't want to mourn the inevitable passing of time. I want to experience God in each new day. Every day, every year I live is a gift.<br />
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<i><b>June 2, 2015, "Night Beauty"</b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i>Night is beautiful. I look out my window and don't see a world of dead emptiness or fear. Well, maybe a little fear . . . but also living beauty.<br />
<i><b> </b></i>Moon. Perfect found, implanting white on my retinas. Brilliant reflected light of the sun.<br />
<i><b> </b></i>Faint stars peeking out from between gray wisps of lunar-lit cloud.<br />
<i><b> </b></i>Fireflies making the black treeline glitter green.<br />
<i><b> </b></i>Night is beautiful.<br />
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<i><b>November 12, 2015, "Elements of Life"</b></i><br />
Today was filled with the stuff of life.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><b></b>Tiredness and stomach ache. Blue sky and breeze and dryness in my nose. Classes and homework and stress and Netflix. Peanut butter, and Dove chocolate, and grilled cheese. Finishing Avatar for a class project. Feeling like we botched choir dress rehearsal under the scrutiny<i><b> </b></i>of glaring lights and blaring orchestra and the conductor's baton. Worry for tomorrow and wondering whether my paper will be turned in on time and if my dress will be hemmed.<br />
These are the elements of life. Life is crazy, and chaotic, and beautiful. I just want to be able to stop the spinning for a moment and rest in the beauty of life. <br />
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-89202412388468475262016-01-07T18:21:00.000-08:002016-01-07T18:21:11.761-08:00Hopes for a New Year<b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<b>RESOLU'TION, <i>n</i>. : Fixed purpose or determination of mind; as a <i>resolution</i> to reform our lives; a <i>resolution</i> to undertake an expedition. </b>(from the 1828 Webster dictionary, as are all other definitions in this post. Is it ultra-nerdy to have a favorite dictionary???)<br />
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It's a new year. I started a new journal, and, as tends to happen around January, I've thought about my hopes, dreams, goals, and expectation for my life. I know that no magic happens with the turning of a calendar from December to January. There is nothing <i>fundamentally</i> different about 2016. But human minds need landmarks, and New Year stands significant and proud as one of the most important human landmarks.<br />
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A time to put the past in the past and work towards an ideal future.<br />
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Me? I don't really do resolutions. I know from experience that New Year's resolutions have an annoying tendency to fail and frustrate, and so I left them behind several years ago. But goals? Hopes? I have plenty of those.<br />
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<b>GOAL, <i>n</i>. : The end or final purpose; the end to which a design tends, or which a person aims yo reach or accomplish.</b><br />
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<b>HOPE, <i>n</i>. : A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. <i>Hope</i> differs from <i>wish</i> and <i>desire</i> in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. <i>Hope</i> therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas <i>wish</i> and <i>desire</i> may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.</b><br />
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In 2016, I hope to finish reading every word in my Bible. I have read some books in my Bible recently, but it has been too long since I've read to get the big picture. So, to avoid overwhelming myself, I'm just planning my reading one month at a time. My pace will probably be less than perfect, but that's OK. The important thing is the doing - the reading - not necessarily the finishing.<br />
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I also hope to blog more! That said, my goal for January is to write four posts. Here is the first one! Again, I don't want to get discouraged if I don't meet my quota. It's the writing that counts, regardless of word count.<br />
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I hope to work again next summer. The goal? A job at least remotely related to my major and my career goals :)<br />
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What kind of year will 2016 be? Only God truly knows. But I can feel that it too, like 2015, will be full and important - a significant landmark. How could it not be?<br />
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"You have made known to me the path of life;</div>
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You will fill me with joy in Your presence,</div>
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with eternal pleasures at Your right hand"</div>
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~Psalm 16:11, NIV </div>
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<i>What are some of your resolutions, hopes, and goals for 2016? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear from you! Also, any thoughts on the new look of my blog?</i><br />
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-14337968651454041162015-11-17T18:48:00.001-08:002015-11-17T18:48:29.984-08:00College Day (a.k.a. WayTooMuchStuffedIntoOneDayAndIsThisEvenPossibleAndINeedCoffeeAndCongratsIfYouActuallyReadThisTitle...)You want to know what I've been up to today? Probably not. But you know what? I'm gonna write it anyway, because it's kinda crazy...<br />
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1) Got up and got ready and ate breakfast in the cafeteria. Chocolate chip muffins have a way of starting a stressful, busy day out on a pleasant note :)<br />
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2) Research Design and Methodology. Sound intimidating? Yeah, sort of is, but I've really learned a lot from this class... I'm actually considering entering a research contest of sorts, but we'll see if that happens!<br />
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3) Christian Life Formation. Today the speaker talked about an American Christian response to Islamic fascism. Nope, I definitely don't have the time or mental/emotional capacity to go into that right now, though I'd suggest it is a subject we really don't need to ignore...<br />
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4) Social Psychology. In which we proceed to debate whether or not Milgram's obedience studies explain Nazi behavior during the Holocaust. Yep, today was full of deep topics.<br />
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5) Lunch! Finally, a short reprieve from being productive. Unless of course eating is productive, and I'm pretty sure it is seeing as we need food to live... :)<br />
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6) Back to my dorm to prepare a lesson for a kids/teens Bible club and practice choir music.<br />
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7) Choir. Can you spell C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S???? I realize, it is not Thanksgiving yet, but I can't help it! Practicing Christmas music just gets me excited for the holidays!<br />
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8) Finished preparing my lesson, and headed off to the Bible club.<br />
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9) Bible club! I actually need to insert something here. Have you ever noticed how God uses sort of random things to speak to your heart? I was teaching about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As a church kid, I basically thought I knew this story inside out and couldn't possibly get something else out of it. But God's Word is not static, it is "living and active." While preparing and teaching, and asking the kids to name some idols in their lives (idols can be anything that take the place of God in our hearts), I realized that I have some idolatry in my life that needs to be dealt with. That sounds so bad, but it's true. With crazy days like the one I am currently relating, and a desire to achieve academically, I have pretty much neglected my time with God the past couple weeks. For simplicity's sake, I'll call my idols School and Schedule. Well School and Schedule are both good, I think we'd all agree. There's nothing inherently wrong with other common idols either. The problem is when they cross over the line from "good thing" to "idol." I'm not going to go into tons of detail here, but how do we invest our talents, gifts, and personalities - without making things or concepts take the place of God in our hearts? Food for thought.<br />
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10) Not done yet! Went to an abstract writing workshop. In research writing, and abstract is basically a short summary of an article that goes at the beginning. <br />
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11) Was going to watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to unwind (my favorite TV show), but the TV room was taken. Which is probably a good thing based on the revelation I had during Bible club. Now I have time to spend some time with God at the end of this crazy day, and process what He's been teaching me.<br />
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College is weird and crazy and busy and full of coffee. But you know what? It's also pretty great. I know the term "learning experience" is becoming really cliche, but it pretty much sums up what college life has been for me.<br />
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Goodnight!<br />
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-33255406598104170622015-10-07T06:33:00.000-07:002015-10-07T06:33:04.289-07:00(Don't) Smile! Jesus Loves You! The title caught your eye? Good. That's kind of the point. Yes, Jesus DOES love you, and no, I'm not trying to be heretical or start a cult or anything. Jesus loves you more than life itself! He loves you so much He died for you! Let's clear that up right off. But that doesn't mean you have to smile. I promise, I'm gonna explain my opinion on this... (and I'll probably step on some toes, but I feel like we need to talk about this).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Remember this?)</td></tr>
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Let's have an honest conversation about what it means to be human. I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a Christian, while simultaneously being human. Too often when people come to Jesus, they try to leave their humanity behind. Guys, we still live in a broken world, and like it or not, we're still broken people. Yes, we are redeemed and set free and adopted as sons and daughters of God.... but we are NOT perfect.<br />
And I think that's the way it's supposed to be this side of heaven.<br />
After living in Christian communities my entire life, a question that has been weighing on my mind is: <i>Is it OK to not be OK? </i><br />
Think about that.<br />
When you are having a bad day, a bad week, a bad <i>year</i>, do you feel comfortable NOT being OK in Christian circles? Sometimes I don't.<br />
I think a lot of times it's easier to be <i>not OK </i>outside of the body of Christ... and that's not OK.<br />
I usually try to be a pleasant person, but I do have bad days. Sometimes I feel sad, lonely, depressed, anxious, or scared. That's called "being human." But there have been times when I have let myself show my negative emotions, and then people are like, "Smile!" "Don't look so down!" "Cheer up!" What kind of a message are we sending when we tell our brothers and sisters in Christ to "just smile" when they're having a bad day? The message I get is that it's not OK to not be OK. That we should always be happy, bubbly people. That negative emotions are something to be ashamed of and hide. That it might even be <i>sinful </i>to experience such emotions.<br />
<i> But that's just not true.</i><br />
<i> </i>Being human means experiencing the whole gamut of emotions! Let's not forget: even Jesus <i>outwardly experienced negative emotions</i>. He did not try to hide His anger or sadness. And Jesus is PERFECT. Shouldn't this tell us something? Shouldn't the body of Christ, of ALL places, be a safe zone for experiencing and expressing <i>any </i>emotions? The good, the bad, and the ugly?<br />
<i> In the church, are we free to be human?</i><br />
<i> </i>I want to be a person that people feel comfortable just being open, honest, and real with. And I want to set an example by being open, honest, and real. I want to share the message that yes, Jesus loves you, but that doesn't mean you have to smile. Jesus loves you when you cry, tremble in fear, or tense up in anger just as much as when you smile, sigh in contentment, or laugh 'till your sides hurt (which I did the other night, and it felt so good!). It's awesome to be happy! But when we set happiness up on a pedestal and hide all the other emotions, we are missing out on a lot of what it means to be human.<br />
Have you seen <i>Inside Out</i>? Pixar has a knack for creating stories that are quite insightful. With <i>Inside Out</i>, I think this is especially so. As a psychology major, I really appreciate the research that obviously went into the movie. As a person (and a Christian), I appreciate the honesty. A big message in that movie is that all emotions (including sadness, disgust, and fear) play an important part in making us who we are. We NEED to experience the full range of emotions! It's a very refreshing movie (and very clean, and also quite funny!).<br />
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Anyway, I guess by all this I just want Christians to think about the atmosphere we create. Is it an atmosphere where we feel like we always have to smile? Or is it an atmosphere where we feel free to be open, honest, and real?<br />
I'm still trying to process all of this myself, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Please leave a comment, even if you aren't on Blogger (you can comment without an account. I think you just choose "anonymous" and leave your name in the post somewhere if you want me to have it :)<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
~AMBER<br />
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-65114544752937564822015-10-03T17:47:00.000-07:002015-10-03T17:47:58.454-07:00Spirit Week 2015! This weekend is homecoming weekend here at Bryan College. It's pretty exciting and different with all of the special events, the visiting alumni, and the weather-related plan changes! This rain just is not wanting to let up! Isn't October supposed to by DRY??? Anyways, that's what's going on at the moment. Homecoming and rain. But despite the inclement weather, the past few days have been super-fun! Why? Because the week before homecoming is "spirit week," in which each day has a different theme... and we are encouraged to dress up! Anybody who knows me knows this is RIGHT down my alley. Needless to say, I had a great time coming up with and wearing different costumes :) And as promised, here is a post with pictures! So enjoy, and I'll have some more serious, in-depth posts soon (but a college student's got to have some fun, right???). Without further ado...<br />
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<u><b>'MERICA MONDAY</b></u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mandatory cowgirl selfie...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Karis P. Actually, she took most of these photos :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<u><b>FANDOM TUESDAY</b></u></div>
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(Probably our most creative day...) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Velma, Shaggy, Daphne, and Fred</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then The Doctor showed up...</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXc7LEW2YU0/VhByqUUy_UI/AAAAAAAAAg0/Uq7pzQ4Cthc/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXc7LEW2YU0/VhByqUUy_UI/AAAAAAAAAg0/Uq7pzQ4Cthc/s320/DSC_0105.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<u><b>SUPERHERO WEDNESDAY</b></u></div>
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(I had a really hard time narrowing these photos down!) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYTvY2cjScM/VhByrzNZylI/AAAAAAAAAfM/2B7RhmMQYDQ/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYTvY2cjScM/VhByrzNZylI/AAAAAAAAAfM/2B7RhmMQYDQ/s320/DSC_0189.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the same cosplay (Scarlet Witch) that I wore to the premiere of Age of Ultron.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBek_nBm6O4/VhBytTv6b9I/AAAAAAAAAfs/p9b8Pi7ksgA/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBek_nBm6O4/VhBytTv6b9I/AAAAAAAAAfs/p9b8Pi7ksgA/s320/DSC_0221.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my roomie! She did an awesome casual Black Widow cosplay!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7RegFoZWvWI/VhBytAhYEaI/AAAAAAAAAf4/p1JyfSOtOA8/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7RegFoZWvWI/VhBytAhYEaI/AAAAAAAAAf4/p1JyfSOtOA8/s320/DSC_0213.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Hawkeye, Black Widow, The Hulk, Scarlet Witch, and Captain America</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wf2omwUODps/VhBysDWNiDI/AAAAAAAAAfU/xIzjD3b9e5M/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wf2omwUODps/VhBysDWNiDI/AAAAAAAAAfU/xIzjD3b9e5M/s320/DSC_0208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avengers assemble!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46jBkeI8ip8/VhBys7QrKKI/AAAAAAAAAfg/DLuHXKvFXs8/s1600/DSC_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46jBkeI8ip8/VhBys7QrKKI/AAAAAAAAAfg/DLuHXKvFXs8/s320/DSC_0211.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avengers act crazy!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<u><b>THROWBACK THURSDAY</b></u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lhblVEuWM-s/VhBywI1-H9I/AAAAAAAAAgk/fy2CA_6MOwA/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lhblVEuWM-s/VhBywI1-H9I/AAAAAAAAAgk/fy2CA_6MOwA/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the choir room with poodle skirts! There were several 50s people around campus...</td></tr>
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<b><u>BRYAN LION DAY</u></b></div>
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(I only got this one picture, and it's not that great... but I was on the red carpet!)</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A--ctQM4DHk/VhByqTMiiYI/AAAAAAAAAes/xeslCGpnWlM/s1600/12071638_10206870703520126_758763637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A--ctQM4DHk/VhByqTMiiYI/AAAAAAAAAes/xeslCGpnWlM/s320/12071638_10206870703520126_758763637_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had a red carpet premiere of "Hamlet's Ghost," which was super-fun to be a part of!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So that's that, and if you'd like to see my roommate's posts on spirit week, check out her blog at <a href="http://karisatcollege.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Karis at College</a> :)</div>
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<span id="goog_34787362"></span><span id="goog_34787363"></span><br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-2763022543057226412015-09-30T18:38:00.002-07:002015-09-30T18:38:58.460-07:00AACC World Conference 2015: A Brief Recap Thanks to all the people who read my post last week! If you read it, you will know that I spent several days in Nashville at a Christian Psychology conference, the "AACC" to be exact. AACC stands for the "American Association of Christian Counselors," and it is basically THE biggest conference for Christian psychologists - in the world I believe! Anyway, it was a WONDERFUL opportunity to get to go! So here goes a short recap, along with several pictures...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LGjJ03J7X4Y/VgxcpSIrgpI/AAAAAAAAAeA/KAwNY5R09Kw/s1600/wc2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LGjJ03J7X4Y/VgxcpSIrgpI/AAAAAAAAAeA/KAwNY5R09Kw/s320/wc2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The theme of the conference was "Be Strong," and it featured several great plenary speakers including (but not limited to) Mike Huckabee, Ed Stetzer, and Joni Eareckson Tada.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTwT2hQJr9A/Vgxco5vBLuI/AAAAAAAAAeM/wTuk7RUPf14/s1600/12081335_10206856518885519_1332825074_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTwT2hQJr9A/Vgxco5vBLuI/AAAAAAAAAeM/wTuk7RUPf14/s320/12081335_10206856518885519_1332825074_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
During some sessions, the auditorium was packed with something like 7,000 people!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zxrwj3YEm84/VgxcoVl1YzI/AAAAAAAAAeE/NFeCgtRd1FE/s1600/12076133_10206856630928320_2095650237_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zxrwj3YEm84/VgxcoVl1YzI/AAAAAAAAAeE/NFeCgtRd1FE/s320/12076133_10206856630928320_2095650237_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I just felt so "official" at this conference, being one of only a few undergrads there (relatively speaking). I'm used to people thinking I'm in high school. I'm NOT used to people thinking that I'm a grad student or professional counselor! Just goes to show that people's perceptions depend a lot on the situation (Social Psyc. in action, guys!).<br />
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My fellow Bryan students and I had a great time hanging out together in the amazing Opryland Hotel!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pX2vIoAklCk/VgxcpANsI6I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/4oWI_-Ha7bE/s1600/gaylord-opryland-resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pX2vIoAklCk/VgxcpANsI6I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/4oWI_-Ha7bE/s320/gaylord-opryland-resort.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes. When I say "amazing," I mean AMAZING! This is all INSIDE the hotel! Along with the huge exhibit hall (where I collected tons of freebies!) and auditorium, there were lots and lots and lots of smaller conference rooms where we went to our individually-chosen tracks. I chose a couple sessions on play therapy, one on addiction, one that evaluated Christian counseling in general, one on single women, and one on "reclaiming conversation in a digital world." The last was probably my favorite just because it was SO applicable!<br />
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It was truly awesome to get to know my classmates and professors better during this conference :)<br />
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That's last week in a nutshell! But FYI, I was mostly recapping the high points of the conference. There were also things I didn't like or didn't agree with, and being around so many people for such and extended period of time was emotionally and physically taxing. But I am SO thankful I had this opportunity! And who knows? Maybe I'll go back as a grad student in a couple of years...<br />
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~Amber<br />
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P.S. - Keep an eye out for "spirit week" costume pix this weekend!<br />
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Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-21274908074417207142015-09-23T19:41:00.003-07:002015-09-23T19:41:48.281-07:00Greetings from Nashville! Yep, I am currently in Nashville, which happens to be one of my favorite cities!<br />
Why am I in Nashville in the heat of the semester, you ask? Well, there is a national psychology conference going on this week (American Association of Christian Counselors or AACC) that us psychology majors were encouraged to go to... and I decided to go! <br />
Tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday, I will be at the conference attending lots of sessions (some of the sessions will include all 7,000 attendees, and some elective smaller sessions) and enjoying my time at the Opryland Hotel. I was able to ride up with a couple of friends, and am staying at a friends house! <br />
This shall be an adventure...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rIpazd2KgYc/VgNiqw0qg7I/AAAAAAAAAck/rTv1tFQydw4/s1600/12037780_10206823027768262_427645377_o%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rIpazd2KgYc/VgNiqw0qg7I/AAAAAAAAAck/rTv1tFQydw4/s320/12037780_10206823027768262_427645377_o%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random selfie as we left campus...</td></tr>
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Here's a short rundown of what else has been going on this past week!<br />
<ul>
<li>Getting over a cold. Yeah. No fun. But when living on a campus with several hundred other people, its pretty much inevitable, no matter HOW much vitamin C you take!</li>
<li>Reading <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles. </i>Because one can't read scholarly stuff all the time, can they? A girl's gotta have her chocolate and Sherlock Holmes. Just sayin'.</li>
<li>Doing schoolwork. And more schoolwork. And MORE schoolwork! Yes, I am definitely in the thick of the semester. On the plus side, two big exams are DONE!!!</li>
<li>Getting ready for our first women's choir performance. Coming up a week from Sunday! Yikes...</li>
<li>And coming up to Nashville!</li>
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Here's the website of the conference I'm going to, for those who are interested: <a href="http://www.worldconference.net/" target="_blank">http://www.worldconference.net/</a></div>
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Stay tuned for an update this weekend!<br />
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Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-22575803148986573192015-09-15T18:05:00.001-07:002015-09-15T18:05:55.636-07:00In Which I Start Blogging About Life at Bryan College... Yep. I am now a student at <i>Bryan College</i>. Not Moody anymore. But Bryan. Two great schools (SO thankful for the time I had at MBI, by the way :), and I guess I was destined to spend half of my undergrad career at each one of them! I've been meaning to start blogging about it for a while now, but I'm guessing most of my readers already know how crazy and hectic and overwhelming the first few weeks at college (or at a NEW college) can be.<br />
Orientation (which I'm convinced is designed to overwhelm all of the incoming freshmen so that when classes start they actually don't seem too bad). <br />
New major (FINALLY feeling very settled in and excited about my field of study: psychology!). <br />
New professors. <br />
New friends. <br />
Having a roommate for the first time (who happens to be one of my best friends in this world!). <br />
Finding my way around a new campus. <br />
Finding a good rhythm that allows for some social life and sleep along with serious studying (I'm still in the process of this one, guys...).<br />
Anyway, basically my life is crazy (something I finally came to terms with this past summer), but I'm OK with that. Sometimes it's good crazy, sometimes bad crazy, and sometimes just plain confusing crazy. Thankfully, I seem to bee in a "good crazy" stage right now :)<br />
Yikes! I just realized how many parenthesis I used in this post so far! Oh well. I'm just trying to fit a lot of information in a little space I suppose. I shall resist making this post a mile long and including EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. I can already hear the collective sigh of relief from my readers ;) But before I sign off, here are some of the major elements of my week here at Bryan!<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Classes.</b> I'm currently taking Critical Survey of Worldviews, Christian Life Formation, Concepts of Physical Fitness, Social Psychology, History and Systems of Psychology, and Research Design and Methodology.</li>
<li><b>Women's Chorus. </b>I wanted to be part of this choir from the start, but almost didn't get to participate because of a schedule conflict. But God worked that out for me unexpectedly!</li>
<li><b>Children's Ministry. </b>Since I'm going to school in my hometown, I'm able to keep helping out at a local children's Bible club I've been a part of for the past three years. One of the highlights of my week :)</li>
<li><b>Spending Time With Family and Friends. </b>New friends, old friends, and my wonderful family! I'm only thirty minutes from my home (which is awesome), and my brother and his girlfriend are right here on campus!</li>
<li><b>Walking. </b>Walking to classes. Walking to chapel. Walking to the cafeteria. Walking to the dorm. Walking to the parking lots across campus. Walking BACK to class... basically I feel like a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.</li>
<li><b>Spending Time With God. </b>Guys, it would be a lie to say it's easy to keep up with personal devotions at college. It's not. But it is so important! No, I have not been super faithful about spending time with God, but I have been more motivated since discovering shereadstruth.com. I would suggest it for all women, but especially college students. Just go look it up :)</li>
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And that's a wrap!</div>
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I hope to be posting on here again by next week. Hopefully with pictures! </div>
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~AMBER</div>
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-941483609392348222015-08-12T18:14:00.001-07:002015-08-12T18:14:44.037-07:00Photoshoot With the Brother I have someone I'd like to thank for the most recent photos I've posted on my blog (including the new title photo)... my brother, Caleb. Big shout out to him, and not just for the pictures! I love my brother, and can honestly say that he's always been one of my best friends :)<br />
Anyway. I thought I'd share a few more photos from that shoot on here! I'm in the process (the early brainstorming stages) of a couple more extensive posts (one with some of my artwork, one on being an introvert, and one on a certain popular book series I've just now got around to reading... we'll see if I find time before college starts in just 10 short days!), but enjoy these photos in the meantime!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt_lTy7ORiw/VcvthVnTxlI/AAAAAAAAAbA/lWHOeo6j2mY/s1600/IMG_1609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt_lTy7ORiw/VcvthVnTxlI/AAAAAAAAAbA/lWHOeo6j2mY/s320/IMG_1609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the guy who went along with my whim... "let's go do a photoshoot!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Am081pYrVrg/VcvtYfNek-I/AAAAAAAAAao/tsCIUuaMbGw/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Am081pYrVrg/VcvtYfNek-I/AAAAAAAAAao/tsCIUuaMbGw/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Guitarist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVgveBZu5pE/VcvtYx9WoWI/AAAAAAAAAas/ZZu9ZGo50b4/s1600/IMG_1563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVgveBZu5pE/VcvtYx9WoWI/AAAAAAAAAas/ZZu9ZGo50b4/s320/IMG_1563.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perspective</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IP2vbPx91pI/VcvtZt7P02I/AAAAAAAAAa0/-QUiopE7qJ8/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IP2vbPx91pI/VcvtZt7P02I/AAAAAAAAAa0/-QUiopE7qJ8/s320/IMG_1559.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a bit of editing...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JWFJuNJ0zQ/VcvtkTSCuTI/AAAAAAAAAbM/GaL582fn6RI/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JWFJuNJ0zQ/VcvtkTSCuTI/AAAAAAAAAbM/GaL582fn6RI/s320/IMG_1596.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now for the ones Caleb took. This one is in need of some Photoshop magic for one very obvious reason: I forgot to take the lens cap off of my old film camera!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VtMypuOA5nA/VcvtnYKF3XI/AAAAAAAAAbU/tMHBQ34yPQo/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VtMypuOA5nA/VcvtnYKF3XI/AAAAAAAAAbU/tMHBQ34yPQo/s320/IMG_1590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lens cap is (thankfully) less noticeable here :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOtnS0Si9Y4/VcvtdWGO1ZI/AAAAAAAAAa8/YBFzNSNOGs0/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOtnS0Si9Y4/VcvtdWGO1ZI/AAAAAAAAAa8/YBFzNSNOGs0/s320/IMG_1583.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the lighting on this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xUXsohHOPg/Vcvt0-eiW5I/AAAAAAAAAbs/F8EkYD1KArw/s1600/IMG_1660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xUXsohHOPg/Vcvt0-eiW5I/AAAAAAAAAbs/F8EkYD1KArw/s320/IMG_1660.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And lets finish off with some more cool perspective!</td></tr>
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Well, I guess it's obvious, but photography is one of my hobbies :) Along with playing the piano, reading books, drawing, listening to music, eating chocolate, and watching movies! Well, hopefully this weekend I'll get my next post up. Have a wonderful week!<br />
<br />
~AMBERAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-37779301147062370982015-08-02T11:33:00.001-07:002015-08-02T11:33:35.415-07:00Forever After <br />
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Where should I even start?<br />
Should I start by explaining why I spent only one semester in Chicago? Why I chose to come back to Tennessee instead of finishing my degree in Chicago? How this year's spring semester (online again) went? My summer job as a carhop at Sonic? The latest fandoms I've been unwittingly drawn into? Taking CLEP tests (I passed biology and am taking Spanish on Tuesday!)? How I've counted over 400 gifts in the tradition of Ann Voskamp? Or maybe I should start by writing a review of the latest book I've been reading, <i>Quiet </i>by Susan Cain? Or my decision to change my major to psychology and transfer to Bryan College? Or photos, or artwork, or....<br />
Yes, it has been a crazy few months. Why would you ask?<br />
For those who are interested, this is Amber, from the no-longer-existent <i>Amber on the Mountain</i>. I have been turning the idea of re-starting my blog over and over in my head for months, but I wanted to start with a semi-clean slate. As you can see, this is actually the same blog, just with a different title and web address (but all the old posts still exist :).<br />
I guess the best place to start is to tell you <i>why</i> I chose to restart blogging in the first place. There a couple of reasons, actually.<br />
First, I need a place to share. For those of you familiar with the Myers-Briggs personality index, I am an ISFJ (a descriptor I will allow to be used for myself, even though I hate the idea of dividing people into neat little labeled categories... but that deserves its own post... suffice it to say I am using the MBTI label for simplicity's sake but do not <i>fully</i> agree with it). One characteristic of ISFJ's is a keen awareness of their own feelings and those of others, but they are unlikely to share their rich inner lives with those around them (see a full description at <a href="http://www.personalitypage.com/ISFJ.html" target="_blank">Personality Page</a>). Sharing my personal thoughts, feelings, and beliefs has always been a struggle for me... but I am a human, not an island. And as I find it much easier to express myself in non-vocal ways, one reason I am re-starting my blog is so that I have an outlet to share. Not just thoughts, but music, photos, artwork, and stories as well. Things I enjoy but usually keep to myself.<br />
Second, I hope that God will use my fingers to type something that will encourage somebody else. I don't want to blog simply for personal enrichment. I have a journal for that! But I have always wanted to use my life to help other people (as simplistic as that may sound), and this blog just might be a small way I can do that.<br />
There are other reasons, but they mostly fall under those two :)<br />
Oh! And before I sign off, I wanted to quickly explain my blog title and description! His Forever After. While I liked <i>Amber on the Mountain </i>(the name of a book I read as a little girl), the truth is that I will not always be on "the mountain," either physically or spiritually. But you know what is eternally true about me? I am His. I belong to Jesus and I always will. NOTHING can change that (Rom. 8:38-39)! Plus, I've always loved the analogy between a fairytale and my spiritual journey. You know what? Let me just copy down what I journaled this morning instead of thinking this up all over again...<br />
"In Christ, don't the hard things work to make the life beautiful? One cannot reach happily ever after without first slaying the dragon. And one cannot slay the dragon without first encountering the dragon. Between the once upon a time and happily ever after there is inevitably pain. But there<i> is </i>a happily ever after for those in Christ. And along with the dragons, there is the unconditional love of the King. There is grace even in the battle."<br />
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~AmberAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-2805027086699873322014-10-27T21:18:00.001-07:002014-10-27T21:18:52.299-07:00A Short Update This past week has been very eventful, including (but not limited to) taking calls for a radio event (2 hours of feeling very professional + a free t-shirt = score!), going out to Union Station to serve and pray with the homeless (probably going back tomorrow), having Miss United States as a special guest at the place I tutor, exploring yet another new neighborhood in Chicago (the one I've been going to church in the past 4 weeks), preparing for my first speech (which is tomorrow!), and getting the awesome, God-planned opportunity to witness to 2 different people on the "L"! The last thing I totally credit to the Holy Spirit, because I was terrified and would not have spoken up if it wasn't for His strength and prompting. I love talking about Jesus, but starting conversations with strangers does not come easily for me... I thank Him for using my friends and I to plant seeds despite our apprehensions :)<br />
Those were some of the highlights... there were also definite down points, but I don't feel like writing about them right now, so I won't!<br />
OK, so I guess this is about as good as this post is gonna get, because I'm sitting here getting sleepier and sleepier... There is so much I want to write about, and I have a couple of posts started that I really want to finish, but it'll just have to wait.<br />
To my friends and family back in Tennessee, my project of building a teleporter has met with some unexpected delays, hopefully soon to be remedied... If worse comes to worse, there are only 52 days until Christmas break! But who's counting? ;)<br />
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Random Quote of the Day:<br />
[In John 21:22] "Jesus is explaining that when He calls you for a specific purpose, you don't have to worry about what anyone else is doing. Don't begin listening to the lies of the evil one that you should be vitally interested in what is being said about you. Do not even start down the path of worrying about what anybody else is doing in their ministry. Jesus is saying, 'I am your God! I am your Savior! I am your Creator! I am bigger than any Devil who suggests that his word is more profound and truthful than mine! My child, simply keep your eyes on my perfect and loving will for your life." ~Ben Gutierrez and Dave Earley, p. 251 (in <u>Ministry Is...</u>, published by B&H, 2010)<br />
Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-37281722582678823132014-10-18T21:03:00.002-07:002014-10-18T21:03:43.646-07:00Another Long Rambling Post - Read It If You Dare (It's got pictures)! Exactly two months ago today I set of on a grand adventure.<br />
Exactly two months from today I will be back in Tennessee! <br />
Therefore, the semester is halfway over!That's hard to believe. In some ways, it feels like I've been here forever, and in other ways I can't believe how fast time is flying...<br />
As much as I love being here - as much as I love the city lights, my Bible classes, my floor, the library, the coffee shop, and all the wonderful opportunities Chicago has to offer - I can't wait spend Christmas at home with my family. Skype is great, but it is no substitute for physically being with the people you love. I can't wait to play my piano, hang out with Dad, go to Target with Mom and eat hotdogs, stay up late with my brother looking at funny pictures on Facebook, go to the final Hobbit premiere with some of the most awesome people on the planet, go to my church, see the kids and teens from Bible club, cuddle my darling kitty-cat Clarabelle, and take a break from the busyness of college life in general. Anyways, I'm excited about December!<br />
While I'm thinking about December, here's a random flashback to LAST December, mostly because I just like making collages on Ribbet.com...<br />
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Now for what has been happening here the past week!<br />
On Sunday, a friend and I grabbed our cameras and headed out for a fun afternoon in Lincoln Park. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll just show you several thousand words worth of pictures instead of telling you all about it (thanks Kimberlee for some of the pictures!): <br />
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Monday and Tuesday were regular school days, followed by MISSIONS CONFERENCE for the rest of the week! It was wonderful. Way, way, WAY more intense in every way than I expected it would be, but so, so, SO great! I was challenged, convicted, renewed, and inspired to dream big dreams for God.<br />
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I want to live in full surrender to His plans for my life - wherever He may lead me.<br />
I want to live my life fully devoted to loving Him, loving others, and making an impact in my Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and furthest corners of the world (Acts 1:8)!<br />
Life with God is an adventure, and one day I'll be able to look back over the story of my life and see how God's fingerprints are on every word, every page, every chapter. In the happy parts, in the exciting parts, in the anxious parts, in the sad and lonely parts, in the easy parts and the hard parts, God is the author of my life story. Wow! I just can't explain how awesome it is to know that God, who loves me and is more powerful than anything ever, is with me always. He is with me in the Appalachian Mountains. He is with me on the 7th floor of a dorm in Chicago. He is with me on the city streets. He will be with me wherever in the world I end up after a graduate, and ten years from then, and ten years from then. Really grasping that truth somehow takes away all fear of the unknown. Whatever God calls me to do, no matter how difficult or even impossible it may seem, He is with me, and that's enough.<br />
I've said this before, but life with God is an epic adventure! If you're reading this, embrace the adventure. Move where God leads no matter how much fear tries to stop you and no matter how unlikely His leading seems. I never in a million years would have dreamed myself here. But God did. And despite the hardships, I wouldn't change it for the world!<br />
Give God the pen of your life's story, and embrace the adventure He writes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(This has been your essential Tolkien reference of the day. You're welcome :) </td></tr>
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-80220691321854300312014-10-10T18:48:00.000-07:002014-10-10T18:48:12.997-07:00Campus in Fall If you know me at all (or if you read my last post), you'll know that I LOVE FALL!!! So today, after classes I decided to walk around campus and just take some pictures (something I haven't done in a long time). In the course of about 10 minutes I accumulated about 60 photos that were SO hard to narrow down to just a few to post on here! Soon some girls from my floor and I are going to have a photoshoot with us actually IN the pictures, but for now enjoy the photos of trees, buildings, a squirrel, and random inanimate objects :) Leave a comment to let me know which pix are your favorite! <br />
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And now for the random lyrics of the day:<br />
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Come ye sinners, poor and needy,<br />
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;<br />
Jesus ready stands to save you,<br />
Full of pity, love, and pow'r.<br />
<br />
I will arise and go to Jesus,<br />
He will embrace me in His arms;<br />
In the arms of my dear Savior,<br />
O there are ten thousand charms.<br />
<br />
Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome,<br />
God's free bounty glorify;<br />
True belief and true repentance,<br />
Ev'ry grace that brings you nigh.<br />
<br />
Come ye weary, heavy laden,<br />
Lost and ruined by the fall;<br />
If you tarry till you're better,<br />
You will never come at all.<br />
<br />
Let not conscience make you linger,<br />
Nor of fitness fondly dream;<br />
All the fitness He requireth<br />
Is to feel your need of Him.<br />
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~"Come, Ye Sinners" by Joseph Hart <br />
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And here's the song, in case you want to listen to it!<br />
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-7372402962512942882014-10-05T15:33:00.002-07:002014-10-05T15:33:58.917-07:00Happy October! Let's see here... what's happened since last weekend? Well, I turned in two papers - a book report on <i>The Case for Christ</i> by Lee Strobel (a really, really good book!) and a summary of my research thus far on 2 Cor. 5:18-21 (which will theoretically turn into a 15-page exegetical paper by the end of the semester). It feels great to turn stuff in! I also went to Little India and had Indian food for the first time for a friend's birthday, played piano more than usual, did some shopping in an area called Old Town (where I bought a really pretty scarf at a resale shop), Skyped my family twice, bought a new book at Lifeway (<i>Before Amen</i> by Max Lucado), cleaned my room (finally), tried out a new church, got free nuggets from Chick-Fil-A, and have been once again amazed at just how fast time can fly!<br />
IT'S OCTOBER!!!! October may possibly be my favorite month of the year. I love Fall! The weather here has been crazy-unpredictable (going from 80 to the 30s in the matter of a few days), but beautiful. Granted, it is a different kind of beauty than the mountains of Tennessee; where I'm sure the leaves are starting to turn every shade of yellows, oranges, purples, and reds; but there is beauty here nonetheless. Right now I can see yellow treetops blowing in the wind between red brick buildings and the CTA track, all under a whitish-gray sky.<br />
Some things coming up this month include Missions Conference, Fall break, answering phones for a Moody Radio event, and giving my first speech! But what I'm really looking forward to is looking back on October and seeing how I grew in my relationship with Jesus. A week or so ago, I decided to dedicate more time than usual to intentional prayer this month. Every morning, every evening, and a longer period of time every Sunday spent talking with my Heavenly Father. I have realized how easy it is to let the demands of schoolwork, ministries, church, friendships, music, etc. (all super-good things, by the way) cause me to neglect my relationship with my Best Friend. Relationships require intentionality. And this definitely includes the Christian's relationship with Christ! Anyway....<br />
This has been your random-blog-post-of-the-week-by-Amber, and hopefully next week I'll have pictures :)<br />
HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!! :D :D :D<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody wrote this quote on the SDR (Student Dining Room) menu, and I thought it was just too perfect :)</td></tr>
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-54189734390160374852014-09-28T20:32:00.002-07:002014-09-28T20:32:52.504-07:00Of Fun Times and Spiritual Growth... I feel like I should put this disclaimer (is that the correct word?) right up front: this is going to be a rather disconnected and rambling post. I have not posted in quite some time (what's new?) and SOOOO much has happened in my life since I last posted that I could probably write ten posts to cover it all. Seriously. But that would be pretty much impossible to accomplish along with staying on top of schoolwork, ministry, time with God, practicing piano, and church; not to mention a social life! So I shall ATTEMPT to summarize :) Here it goes!<br />
The past week has been full of fun things like a skit/improv show, getting a free cupcake, playing my favorite Hobbit songs on the piano, trying Thai food for the first time, and dressing up to go to a super-fancy restaurant for dessert (Ghirardelli cheesecake = YUM!). I also went on a prayer walk with the Student Missions Fellowship in an awesome Mexican neighborhood called "La Villita" or "Little Village". It. Was. Amazing. I absolutely fell in love with that area in the course of a couple hours! Hopefully I'll be spending more time in La Villita in the future (possibly Practical Christian Ministry next year?).<br />
And of course I've been doing school. A lot! Usually it's quite enjoyable, and always I learn so much and am amazed at just how much information our brains can process! I'm so glad God gave us the capacity to learn :)<br />
Besides being a fun and informative season of life, I have found this past month to be the most challenging, convicting, and growth-inducing period of my 20 years so far. To save time and also share with you a snapshot of what God has been doing in my personal life, I'm going to do something I normally don't do and copy a few passages from my journal on here....<br />
9-8-14: "Trial and error. Learn from your mistakes. The best way to learn your way around is to get lost a few times. You'll never know until you try. Same basic thought, different ways to word it. I think college is definitely a time to take risks, try new things, and be adventurous. College in and of itself is a risk! And as with any risk, there are many chances to fail. But when you fall off a horse (which I have twice, by the way...literally) what do you do? Get back on! You can't let the failures get you down. Life goes on, and sometimes the greatest adventures happen when things don't go as planned! Bottom line? I can't be afraid of failure. There is something freeing in knowing it's OK to not be perfect. To not get it right every single time. To know that life goes on when I fail to meet standards set by myself or others..."<br />
9-17-14: "Today I was brought face-to-face multiple times with the raw humanity of every person. Nobody is just a statistic or a stereotype or a first impression. Nobody is an emotionless drone immune to the brokenness of our world. Nobody is the sum of all their successes...or failures. Nobody is completely devoid of the ability to do evil or good. Nobody doesn't need unconditional, genuine love. Every person is unique, yet we are united by an unbreakable bond of similarities. We're all human."<br />
9-24-14: "You know what hit me really hard today? I AM often ashamed of the gospel of the Gospel of Christ. Why? I have no idea! That's what's so frustrating! When I'm alone with the Lord I love Him more than anything and commit my life to His service. But when I'm out in the world it's a different story... If I were God, I would have written me off as a hopeless case a LONG time ago! (Reason #5,876 I'm glad I'm not God! :)"<br />
9-23-14: "Jesus You are so merciful. Thank You for Your incomprehensible mercy and grace! I love You!"<br />
So that was really long, and if you read it all the way through, kudos to you! I hope you've been encouraged in some way by reading this post. And if you're reading this as a brother or sister in Christ, I would love it if you could be praying for me (message me or comment and I'd love to be praying for you as well)! I am LOVING it here, but that doesn't make things easy. Most of all, pray that God would give me boldness in sharing the Gospel every single day, both in my words and in the way I live. Speaking of prayer, here's my random quote of the day:<br />
"Sometimes we think we are too busy to pray. That also is a great mistake, for praying is a saving of time. . . . God can multiply our ability to make use of time. If we give the Lord his due we shall have enough for all necessary purposes. In this matter keep first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Your other engagements will run smoothly if you do not forget your engagement with God" (Charles Spurgeon, qtd. in "Ministry Is..." by Earley & Gutierrez).<br />
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Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-31551519273365563362014-09-15T20:08:00.001-07:002014-09-15T20:08:55.868-07:00Scavenger Hunts, Disney Shows, and Homework- OH MY! Have you ever given a doughnut to a police officer? Started a spontaneous aerobics class in a public park? Gone to a Disney Princess show with a group of college girls? Created an annotated bibliography for an exegetical paper for hermeneutics? Neither had I, until this weekend :)<br />
This is not going to be a long post, but I thought I'd share a little about what's been going on these past few days in Chicago.<br />
Saturday: I went on a city-wide photo/video scavenger hunt with some peeps from my floor and our brother floor. Hence the first two questions in my first paragraph. Here are a few other items on the list- "Play ring around the rosy around the bean," "Go into Chick-fil-a and ask for a hamburger," and "Perform air band concert in front of Hard Rock Cafe." Needless to say, it was a totally normal evening (or not!). <br />
Sunday: The day started by visiting a new church (pray for me during the church-hunting phase of being here). I enjoyed it, but don't know yet if it will be my "home" church. Then I came back to campus and cooked! I have missed cooking so much! Oh, I need to share this story really quickly. About a week ago, I went to the campus post office and there was a really big heavy package. I opened it up, and it was all sorts of cooking stuff! Jars of homemade soup starters, mix for cake-in-a-mug, cream cheese frosting, cooking spray, potatoes, and more! Thanks Mom and Dad for such a thoughtful gift :) THEN. Disney on Ice. Need I say more? It was so much fun! I'll try to have some pictures soon...<br />
Today: Basically just school. But that's not a bad thing! I am loving learning about church history, methods of evangelism, how to give a speech, and how to study the Bible. I'm just glad that I've had lots of opportunities to balance the rather intense schoolwork with spontaneous fun stuff!<br />
Anyway.... That's what's been going on lately. Next on the list? Sleep :) Zzzzzz.....<br />
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Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-73206565535583841332014-09-13T08:27:00.000-07:002014-09-13T08:27:21.118-07:00Greetings from the Windy City! Two years ago (when I graduated high school) if you had told me I would end up going to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, I probably would have laughed. I definitely wouldn't have believed you! "Me? The self-declared mountain girl move away from everything I know and love to go to college in one of the biggest cities in our country? Ha!" (MBI had actually been suggested to me before, and I wrote it off without even considering it). Well, I believe God has a sense of humor, because, guess what? I've been here for over three weeks now! And, though the journey that led me here over the past two years was definitely not easy and I didn't understand what God was doing, I wouldn't change it for the world. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21, NIV).<br />
I love my school. That's not to say that I haven't dealt with some pretty intense homesickness, or that everything's been just peachy, but I know without a doubt I'm where God wants me and this has been the greatest, most exciting, most challenging and thrilling adventure of my life thus far! I don't have time to go into detail on everything that's happened since August 20th, or all the amazing friends I've made, or how much I love all of my classes, but suffice it to say, as I said earlier, I love my school :)<br />
So I realize I have not been in the world of blogging since being here, but I'm going to try to do at least a short post at least once a week from here on out. We'll see how it goes! Here are a few pix, then I need to go study...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nail party with the girls on my floor :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqgh3NYYebI/VBRfzAirm3I/AAAAAAAAARs/iVS-v-M9PFQ/s1600/Blog%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqgh3NYYebI/VBRfzAirm3I/AAAAAAAAARs/iVS-v-M9PFQ/s1600/Blog%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cloud Gate, AKA The Bean</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EImKXrsfaXs/VBRf0CSaSgI/AAAAAAAAAR4/waJSk8xiqLs/s1600/Blog%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EImKXrsfaXs/VBRf0CSaSgI/AAAAAAAAAR4/waJSk8xiqLs/s1600/Blog%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found the pianos!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9_cAwaa1Qw/VBRf0yEez4I/AAAAAAAAASE/DHzA7RlcbN8/s1600/Blog%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9_cAwaa1Qw/VBRf0yEez4I/AAAAAAAAASE/DHzA7RlcbN8/s1600/Blog%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studying in the student center...</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34oOU-bFkOs/VBRf1QI0eyI/AAAAAAAAASI/eSDJVhfyFKk/s1600/Blog%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34oOU-bFkOs/VBRf1QI0eyI/AAAAAAAAASI/eSDJVhfyFKk/s1600/Blog%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campus at night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgMvm5fgmUg/VBRf11BctCI/AAAAAAAAASU/57Ap91ZBPyg/s1600/Blog%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgMvm5fgmUg/VBRf11BctCI/AAAAAAAAASU/57Ap91ZBPyg/s1600/Blog%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campus during the day with a random vintage effect...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3M4_sGXtiA/VBRf2_IKiZI/AAAAAAAAASg/ZKs42QZGt1Y/s1600/Blog%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3M4_sGXtiA/VBRf2_IKiZI/AAAAAAAAASg/ZKs42QZGt1Y/s1600/Blog%2B7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studying essentials</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SDQtxkQBhJ8/VBRf2_QzBNI/AAAAAAAAASc/5PwkYtJRJbk/s1600/Blog%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SDQtxkQBhJ8/VBRf2_QzBNI/AAAAAAAAASc/5PwkYtJRJbk/s1600/Blog%2B8.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some random area of Chicago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-25530043743922296432014-07-25T06:57:00.000-07:002014-07-25T06:57:13.327-07:00Why I'm Happy I'm a Christian There are SO MANY reasons I'm happy to be a child of the One True King, but here are just a few of them that I jotted down in my journal the other day:<br />
<ol>
<li>I don't have any reason to fear death of eternity. I'm heaven-bound!</li>
<li>My sins and failures are not held against me. Because of Jesus, I am forgiven!</li>
<li>My life has a reason, a purpose, meaning, and a destiny!</li>
<li>I am a child of the One True King... a beloved daughter and a princess of the Kingdom.</li>
<li>The Holy Spirit, GOD IN ME, is my constant convicter, corrector, comforter, and companion...but NOT condemner. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1, ESV).</li>
<li>My joy, peace, and security do not depend on my outward circumstances, buy my inward Hope.</li>
<li>I have the incredible honor and privilege to tell others how they, too, can experience all of the above and MORE if they choose Jesus! (OK, I just realized that sounds like a cheesy telemarketer line... "But wait! There's more!" :) ) I am an ambassador for Him.</li>
</ol>
And I know I've shared these verses before, but they are super-important, so I'm sharing them again :) Really think about the words...<br />
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:17-21, ESV).<br />
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-16363723064557046442014-07-22T09:20:00.000-07:002014-07-22T09:20:42.966-07:00"Firm in Faith" As I wait for pictures from Peru (my camera liked the Andes Mountains so much that it decided to stay there permanently, so I have to wait for pix from the rest of the team), I thought I may as well start blogging about other random things. Nearly every morning (typically during devos) I think of all these posts I want to write... and then I don't do it. So today I'm doing it!<br />
I've been studying Isaiah lately, which (contrary to popular belief) is not a boring book to read at all! It is really fascinating! Man, there are so many good things in that book, you'll probably be seeing more posts on Isaiah in the near future :)<br />
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One phrase that really stuck out to me is located in the middle of chapter 7. God is talking through Isaiah to Ahaz, the king of Judah, who is about to be attacked by the combined forces of Syria and Israel (as far as I understand). Ahaz is probably quite nervous at this point, to say the least. But God comforts Him with these words: "Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint" (7:4, ESV). God assures the frightened king that the coming attackers will not be victorious, then ends His speech with a seemingly random admonition. These two short lines really stuck out to me as I read them. While they were written for a specific king facing a specific problem at a specific time, these words from God outline an essential truth that applies to every person everywhere:<br />
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"If you are not firm in faith,</div>
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you will not be firm at all" (7:9).</div>
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Now the word "faith" is thrown around constantly in Christian circles, though I don't think we always grasp the full meaning of what it means to be "firm in faith". I'll try not to make this post super-long, but real faith needs a bit of defining. I suppose the best thing to start with is the object of our faith. And this is actually the most important part of understanding what it means to be firm in faith! JESUS; the God who created the world; the only One who is perfectly holy and sinless; our Savior who loves us so much that He DIED to save us; the Risen King who defeated the power of death, sin, Satan, hell, and fear... JESUS is the object of our faith! Is He not worthy of 100% of our trust? He is the only unchanging being. He is our ANCHOR.<br />
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Even if everything around us changes, lets us down, or fades away, Jesus will always remain. When we stop trusting in temporary things (money, comfort, our own ability, other people, earthly treasures, etc.) then we are free to trust 100% in Jesus. When that happens, when we are firm in faith, then our happiness, peace, joy, and security will not depend at all on our circumstances. I don't know about you, but I want to have that kind of faith!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All this reminds me of a song...</span></span></div>
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<br />
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Anyway, thanks for listening to my rambling on about what I'm studying, and I hope you'll dig into the Word for yourself! It's sort of ironic, but I'm actually teaching on "Fear vs. Faith" tonight at the children's ministry I work with. The lesson is based on Numbers 13-14... go read it if you want to read a story about ten guys who were definitely not firm in faith... and two who were :)</div>
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Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-55674752924016627342014-07-08T11:18:00.000-07:002014-07-08T11:18:56.148-07:00Leibster Award! So apparently there is this thing called a Liebster Award. From what I understand, bloggers without a ton of followers can be nominated, and it helps them get "discovered"... or something like that. ;)<br />
Anyway, I've seen some of my friends posting about it, and thought, "well, there's no way I'm getting nominated for that, because I think I'm below amateur on the non-existent 'blog experience scale'." But, low and behold, my friend Reyna at <a href="http://apeaceofthepast.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Peace of the Past</a> (awesome blog, by the way, be sure to check it out!) nominated me!!!! Thanks so much, Reyna, that pretty much made my day :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5o751jg0ww/U7wWE1HC9fI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/kiz_5mvj-Io/s1600/liebster-award_zps25247864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5o751jg0ww/U7wWE1HC9fI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/kiz_5mvj-Io/s1600/liebster-award_zps25247864.jpg" /></a></div>
Here's how it works:<br />
* Link back to the person who nominated you (Done, notice the link in my previous paragraph.)<br />
* List 11 facts about yourself.<br />
* Answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you.<br />
* Nominate 9 bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers.<br />
* Ask them 11 questions.<br />
* Let them know about the nomination!<br />
<br />
So here go 11 random facts about me!<br />
<ol>
<li>If you've kept up with my blog at all, you'll already know this, but I AM A BOOKWORM! Want proof? My mom and I went to this huge used bookstore yesterday, traded in a bunch of old books, and ended up getting 26 new (to us, anyway) books and movies for 18$!!!! And this made me WAY more excited than it should have :)</li>
</ol>
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGUop9ABoKU/U7wZGCeUbxI/AAAAAAAAAPc/78XORVdBHgg/s1600/Bookses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGUop9ABoKU/U7wZGCeUbxI/AAAAAAAAAPc/78XORVdBHgg/s1600/Bookses.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<ol></ol>
2. I am a missions/children's ministry student at Moody Bible Institute (going up to Chicago this fall!!!)<br />
3. I am about to try <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/yellow-squash-casserole/" target="_blank">this</a> recipe as a way to utilize our overly-abundant supply of summer squash...<br />
4. Two places I would love to go one day are Norway (pleasure purposes) and India (mission trip).<br />
5. I really love coffee way too much for my own good ;)<br />
6. Recently, I have had a huge interest in keeping up with world missions, Christian world news, the persecuted church, and unreached people groups. Here are a few sites I hope you'll check out, as I think staying informed helps us, as followers of Jesus, know how to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world (as well as those who do not yet believe):<br />
* <a href="https://www.opendoorsusa.org/">https://www.opendoorsusa.org/</a><br />
* <a href="http://joshuaproject.net/" target="_blank">http://joshuaproject.net/ </a><br />
* <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/">http://www.worldmag.com/</a><br />
7. My favorite flavor combination is chocolate and peanut butter :)<br />
8. Target is my favorite store EVER!<br />
9. I love playing the piano, and some of my current favorite songs to play are I See Fire (by Ed Sheeran, from the end credits of Desolation of Smaug), Song Without Words by Felix Mendelssohn, and It's a Small World (the classic Disney song, arrangement found in <a href="http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Disney-Songs-for-Classical-Piano-sheet-music/18751912?d=sem_SFD&popup=false&pcrid=32232094942&pdv=c&mkwid=mFRRHnBf&gclid=CjwKEAjwre6dBRC94d-Gma7g3wcSJACNatZee6Rxbge-lNdcSQXb2dcJQ2U9mqieM3QuAmzZIwQH0xoCsIjw_wcB" target="_blank">this</a> book).<br />
10. Here is one of my favorite Bible passages:<br />
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:17-21, NIV)<br />
11. I just recently watched most of the Disney princess movies for the first time! <br />
<br />
And here are the 11 questions Reyna asked me!<br />
<ol>
<li><i>"Do you have a favorite classic hymn? If so, what is it?" </i>Ah, I have too many to decide! However, since that's not really a valid answer, my most recent favorite is How Firm a Foundation :)</li>
<li><i>"What is your favorite way to eat potatoes?" </i>Well... I must say that I love Peruvian french fries. I know, it's sort of odd that Peru serves lots of french fries, but hey! They're good!</li>
<li><i>"What do you consider to be the most fascinating time period in history?" </i>Probably medieval :) Even though nothing much happened for over a thousand years.... </li>
<li><i>"Which time period would you like best to live in?" </i>While I pretty much want to live in whatever time period I'm reading about at any given time, I'd have to say that overall I'm glad God placed me where He did, when He did!</li>
<li><i>"Have you ever worn a hoopskirt?" </i>A costume one, yes :) It was at a medieval feast with my homeschool buddies! </li>
<li><i>"What might one find you doing on a rainy afternoon?" </i>Most likely reading, playing games with my family, doing something random in town, or watching movies...</li>
<li><i>"How many bookshelves do you have, if any?" </i>I have two in my room, but they're overflowing, so you'll find random stacks of books here and there :)</li>
<li><i>"Do you prefer a laptop or a desktop?" </i>Laptop, definitely! Love the portable-ness!</li>
<li><i>"What's the desktop on your computer right now?" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-DBclQJ2ZU/U7wt659eVPI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Dy4MwS4BPYQ/s1600/Peru+Collage+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-DBclQJ2ZU/U7wt659eVPI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Dy4MwS4BPYQ/s1600/Peru+Collage+2012.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
</i> </li>
<li> <i>"Do you like to write with a pen or a pencil?" </i>Well, being
left-handed, I have the choice of either having ink dots all over the
side of my hand, or graphite smudge. I choose the latter.</li>
<li><i>"What was the last song you sang?" </i>I remember singing some Air1 song while cleaning my room this morning, but I don't remember what it was...</li>
</ol>
And now for my nominees (let's see if I can come up with 9! Some of them may have already been nominated):<br />
<ul>
<li> Beth at <a href="http://adventuresofanelvenprincess.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Adventures of an Elven Princess</a></li>
<li>Karis at <a href="http://thehorsenextdoormya.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Horse Nextdoor</a></li>
<li>Vanessa at <a href="http://belovedandunashamed.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Bit of Everything</a></li>
<li>Hailey at <a href="http://cominglikechrist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Coming Like Christ</a></li>
<li>Michaela at <a href="http://adventuresofakingsdaughter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Adventures of a King's Daughter</a></li>
<li>Sandra at <a href="http://sandradoolittle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MountainTop Blessings</a></li>
<li>Hmmm.... I can't think of any more at the moment....</li>
</ul>
And finally, here are my 11 questions for YOU!:<br />
<ol>
<li>What book/s are you currently reading?</li>
<li>Have you ever been on a mission trip, or multiple trips? If so, where? If not, where would you go on one if you could?</li>
<li>If you HAD to choose a favorite book of the Bible, what would it be?</li>
<li>What is your opinion on funky colors of nail polish?</li>
<li>Have you ever seen the same movie in theaters more than once? If so, which one/s?</li>
<li>What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?</li>
<li>What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done?</li>
<li>Have you taken a selfie in the past week?</li>
<li>Are you a Duck Dynasty fan?</li>
<li>What is your favorite fruit?</li>
<li>And finally, do you play any instruments? Which one/s?</li>
</ol>
So, that's that! Hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />
Just so y'all know, I WILL be posting very soon about Peru! I'm just waiting until after our team presents the trip to our church to avoid "spoilers" :)<br />
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<br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-86804690034511349502014-06-06T17:32:00.001-07:002014-06-06T17:32:45.065-07:00Third Time's a Charm! (A.K.A. Returning to Peru) When I was a little girl and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, sometimes I would say a vet, or an astronaut, or something like that. Doesn't every kid want to be those things at some point in time? But there was one response I would give to that question that I simply can't explain.<br />
"When I grow up, I want to be a missionary in Peru."<br />
What? Where in the world did that come from? Brazil would have been a more logical destination, given that my dad grew up there and half of my extended family still lives there. I had literally no connections to Peru. Maybe I wanted to go there because of the llamas at first, IDK. Looking back, however, I think the reason goes a lot deeper than that. <br />
Some of my favorite verses are found in Psalm 37:3-7:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Ps-37-3" id="en-NIV-14454">"Trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> and do good;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-3">dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.</span></span><span class="text Ps-37-4" id="en-NIV-14455"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-4" id="en-NIV-14455"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Take delight in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-4">and he will give you the desires of your heart.</span></span> </div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="text Ps-37-5" id="en-NIV-14456"><sup> </sup>Commit your way to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-5">trust in him and he will do this:</span></span><span class="text Ps-37-6" id="en-NIV-14457"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-6" id="en-NIV-14457"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-6">your vindication like the noonday sun.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-37-7" id="en-NIV-14458"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Be still before the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-7">and wait patiently for him" (NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> Now, I don't think these verses mean that God is like a genie, giving us everything we desire all the time. I desire chocolate most of the time, but that doesn't mean that God's going to make it miraculously appear in front of me :) I think it may mean that God gives us certain special desires- deep, unexplainable ones- and He will fulfill them in His time and in His way!</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> I ended up going to Peru for about 2 weeks in 2010 with my dad:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fe9cxoTIe9w/U5IyLGMUmhI/AAAAAAAAAOU/fM5sCt0BKNM/s1600/Peru+Collage+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fe9cxoTIe9w/U5IyLGMUmhI/AAAAAAAAAOU/fM5sCt0BKNM/s1600/Peru+Collage+2010.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
And again in 2012 with my whole family:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSkBZROrM7w/U5IyM4gFjRI/AAAAAAAAAOc/FoWGFuHJ1z4/s1600/Peru+Collage+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSkBZROrM7w/U5IyM4gFjRI/AAAAAAAAAOc/FoWGFuHJ1z4/s1600/Peru+Collage+2012.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> </span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7">AND IN THREE DAYS I'M GOING BACK FOR A THIRD TIME!!!!! :D :D :D So. Stinkin'. Excited! God has opened the door once more for me to go to the country I love so much. Here are a few random points/prayer requests about the 2014 trip:</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> * Praise that God provided the rest of our team's financial support in the past week!</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> * Caleb and I (the only one's from our family going this time) will be able to meet the little girl our family sponsors! Her name is Fabiana :)</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> * There is a lot of work still to be done, for me anyway (I put the PRO in procrastination sometimes!). Pray that all will get done in an unstressful way...</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> * Our team will be doing evangelistic outreach along with Peruvian youth group for a couple days, something we have not done in the past.</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"> * Pray that we will be selflessly devoted to God's will, ready to change lives and be changed!</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"><br /></span></span>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7">ALL GLORY TO GOD!</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7">Be back on the 21st!</span></span></div>
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Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5155653461121455977.post-34430250882199251332014-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:002014-06-01T11:44:46.459-07:00Dreaming of a Cosplay... I love dressing up. Always have. In fact, my hope chest is full of random costumes instead of keepsakes for my future life. So going to the first two Hobbit premieres in costume was right down my alley! And as long as my school schedule has me home for Christmas break by the 17th of December this year, I will be going to the final midnight premiere along with my awesome cosplaying friends!<br />
Here we are at the first movie:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-TSz_d7o9Q/U4txGXGR2qI/AAAAAAAAAN0/f8GK1p5Aj_0/s1600/10313092_636067689806312_792156160956135880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-TSz_d7o9Q/U4txGXGR2qI/AAAAAAAAAN0/f8GK1p5Aj_0/s1600/10313092_636067689806312_792156160956135880_n.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
And after the second:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UrfZBNV_Czw/U4txtkkwHuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/RVQ4m8w_g5c/s1600/IMG_7117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UrfZBNV_Czw/U4txtkkwHuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/RVQ4m8w_g5c/s1600/IMG_7117.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
For the third, I'll more than likely borrow one of my friends' old costumes (notice that's what I did for the second one) because I'm just not much of a seamstress :) But... I like drawing, and I like dreaming, so I sketched out some quick designs yesterday of a dress I would like to make if I could actually convince myself to start sewing (which is super-unlikely, by the way). The basic design is practically identical to the blue elvish dress seen above. Then I came up with three variations based off of Eowyn's white dress in LOTR, and Aurora's dresses in Maleficent (the designs are very similar). Note: these sketches were thrown together in about 30 min., and the variations were simply drawn on top of copies of the basic drawing... so excuse any imperfections :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LquBuFgt1LQ/U4tzbr9cUwI/AAAAAAAAAOE/S47eEEzZl2c/s1600/Cosplay+Sketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LquBuFgt1LQ/U4tzbr9cUwI/AAAAAAAAAOE/S47eEEzZl2c/s1600/Cosplay+Sketches.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Let me know which one is your favorite!<br />
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COMING SOON: A post on my upcoming mission trip to Peru! (Which I'm getting super-stoked about!!!)<br />
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<span id="goog_956197157"></span><span id="goog_956197158"></span><br />Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12536040098883034302noreply@blogger.com3