A Little Rambling

Today is just a day for being late. Late for my blog, and late for my first class of a new semester! I'm back at ASU, and parking without a permit is a nightmare. The joys of being a transfer student continue! But enough about the stressful things, and onto things I'm thankful for. 21. actually finding a spot to park - twice. 22. not getting a parking citation when my parking meter expired 23. having classes that won't be so boring and/or easy I doodle and nap my way through them 24. sitting next to at least one friendly person 25. getting to spend time with my twin this weekend 26. having fun making a sugary mess while frosting cookies 27. a pocket full of quarters 28. a plan to thwart ASU's plan for me & class piano 29. finding more packing boxes today 30. my wonderful mother and father 31. mom letting me word-vomit to her on the phone 32. dad installing my new stereo 33. dad giving me some extra gas in the tank 34. sister's encouraging texts ...

So, Monday came and went and I forgot to do the next installment of my "Multitudes on Mondays" growing list of 1000 things I am thankful for or blessed by. But I'm improving - I'm only a day late, instead of a couple weeks (or months!) To continue on... 9. a steady job 10. really enjoying that job! 11. only having one piano in my studio instead of the old broken one taking up space 12. a friend who hung my mirror in my studio 13. tuition for the semester being paid...and having more than $2 left to my name! 14. time in my schedule this semester to keep hiking 3 days a week 15. a text at 2:30 am from a friend across the world 16. ham and avocado sandwiches 17. movie night with Amy 18. did I mention my amazing parents? 19. free shipping on a textbook 20. a good audition yesterday for a new choir

Really, I don't like coming up with post names, but I DO like the word oodles. It's a new year! (in case you live under a rock and didn't know) 2011 is here. I was thinking about the new year in church yesterday as we talked about how it's a chance to start over fresh, a time to fix the things I've been doing wrong and begin anew. While pondering this, I found myself wondering, why just now? Why does the new year make such a big difference, when the beauty of grace is that God gives us a chance to start over any time we ask. His forgiveness blots out our sins and gives us a clean heart once again, over and over again, not just on January 1st. And that is one thing I am very thankful for. While looking around a friend 's blogs, I noticed this - "multitudes on mondays" or "one thousand gifts." It's a blogging idea devoted to counting one's blessings and happinesses, and I thought I'd join in, as a reminder of all the things G...

Oh my. I am a terrible blogger. Last post in September?! Oh dear. Well, life is continuing on. Finished my semester of community college (or at least, I will be finished if my professor figures out how to get our final online...more than 3 hours late, currently...) and have been accepted into ASU's music education program. !!!! That's HUGEly exciting for me. :) :) :) I'm also in the process of buying a house, also hugely exciting! Only a little while left in the apartment. But I'll almost miss this place, as it looks so cute for Christmas. Being me, I've got my lights up and I now have 2 trees! With the lights, decorations, candles, and Christmas music, it's just delightful. And while that may not be what Christmas is all about, it sure is a lot of fun! So yeah, not a whole lot important to say, but I'm trying to get back into the habit of doing this. So, back to waiting for my final to be posted and enjoying the rain in the meantime!

I don't know that I can actually say all that much about this - she pretty much says it all. But I want to be like this woman - I want to 'blaze through the world' as she does, not ashamed in the slightest of the God I serve, and His Gospel, because I know it is the only reason I am alive, and the only reason for living. This is a challenge, ladies and gentlemen, and not one quietly delivered. There is passion in this woman, and it is infectious. Listen to her, learn from her, and then act . I can't find the whole video except on facebook, where I originally saw it, so I hope this link works for all of you. I know it's 16 minutes long, but believe me, it's worth watching - and I don't even like speeches! Gianna Jessen , 9/8/08, Australia

Psalm 143 , ESV + Laura Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! I know that you always hear me, Lord, but sometimes it's hard to remember. In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. I know that I would not be able to stand before Your judgment were it not for the blood of Your Son. Even then I am sometimes ashamed to stand before You. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. Appalled at my own deeds, and the way I allow the enemy to torment me with dark thoughts. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I remember all the times before that You have fulfilled Your promises, and wonder why I ever doubt? I stretch out my hands to you; desperately my ...

For some reason, I have this theory - if a thing is too popular, it can't really be good. I make my judgment and then avoid whatever it is I have deemed 'too trendy.' And, as often as not, I end up looking into it anyways and changing my mind a year or five later. Some notable examples: 1. Harry Potter - mom made us listen to her read it, and fell I fell in love with it. Opinion changed. 2. Facebook - opinion obviously changed. Not that that means it is good. 3. LOST - after 2 seasons, Ashley got me to watch one episode, and I was hooked. But not hooked enough to make it past season 4 on Hulu. 4. Christian school - everyone at church was going to PC, and I went to Apollo. Lasted one year, then I was begging to be at Northwest. Fast forward to college, a huge chunk of my friends are doing Southwestern, Grand Canyon, Point Loma, Cal Baptist, etc etc etc. I choose ASU...and where did I end up? 5. Twilight - okay, just kidding. Never did jump on that bandwagon...