This Day In History...

April 8, 2008. Bound to be a memorable day, don't you think? It's been awhile since the last update, so, in my attempt to be a faithful blogger...here I am, on this aspicious day. What's been going on? Well, thanks for asking...

-I've start my Master's Degree. It's really amazing, a lot of work, and, well, mind-boggling. We start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) which means creation and all the current scientific theories that surround it. Yes, lots and lots of science and big bang theory and evolution and attempts to understand scientifically what happened oh-so long ago. Let's just say, it's all a bit over my head, but I am enjoying it.-Today, the second book in the Penderwick series hits bookshelves across the nation. SO.EXCITED.ABOUT.THIS.BOOK. After joining goodreads and having all these bookshelves to organize what I've read, I realize I read A LOT of children's/ya books. Not that I care, I just noticed it. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to relive their childhood...-Thirdly, the Ways leave for China. Today. So wonderful. I wish you all fare-thee-well and 'Bu De Bu Ai'.-Fourthly, Ruth and Eric leave for China tomorrow. Coincidence? I think not. What are the odds of two of my favorite families being in China at the same time? Let's just say, I'll be watching the nightly news a little more closely with them over there to see what international incident they create.

-Fifthly, I am not leaving for China. Today or tomorrow. Let's move on...

-Sixthly, Cara tagged me on her blog to show my purse and it's contents. Cara, I haven't done it yet, but I will. I have no excuse other than the fact that it seems like a lot of work to me to take a picture, download it, and post it. No, not kidding.

I think that's all here. I'm going to enjoy a wonderful lunch with my hubby and the Ways, Boba date with Brittany and the thrift store, and then lots of evolution and Hebrew. Peace out ya'll.

Patrick's Rune

"At Tara in this fateful hour,
I place all Heaven with its power,
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness,
All these I place by God's almightly help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness!"

Adapted from St. Patrick's original Lorica and used in 'A Swiftly Tiliting Planet" by Madeline L'Engle. (By the way, this book is wonderful and you should go read it. Now.)

Ummm, how amazing is this? Why don't we pray like this anymore? This is a battle cry! This is something I expect Aragorn to shout as he rushes the gates at Mordor, or King Peter as he and Prince Caspian descend on evil King Miraz. Heck, even Harry could shout this as he faces Voldemort.

But no, this is no clever script written for the latest Hollywood blockbuster. It is the prayer of one Saint.

A prayer in the midst of our battle.

Happy Birthday Baby!

27 years ago today, a very important person was born...MY JON! Hip hip, hooray!

Isn't he cute?

Jon and I have had quite the adventure, and we've only known each other for about 4 years! Together, we've traveled through, lived in, and wandered over 10 countries. We've eaten goat and ridden in the back of dump trucks in Haiti, climbed Mayan ruins in Guatemala, bargianed for goods in Turkey's bazaars, cheered our Olympic team to victory in Athens, and had more adventures than one can remember or recount. He's always been there to love me, support me, laugh with me (or at me!), and simply be there for me when I needed it most.

Jon is an amazing photographer, a wonderful and creative architect, an almost ridiculously hard worker, a generous and faithful believer in Christ, and one of the most adventurous spirits I know. He's enriched my life in so many ways, and I'm completely blessed by him daily. He constantly surprises me.

I hope you have a wonderful day babe! Thanks for always making my days wonderful. I love you!

Springtime, yellow, and vampires...

When in the world did it become March? March of 2008 no less. Man, this year is just flying by. Whenever I hear a year somewhere in the late 90's (i.e. 1997) I think, "Oh, not too bad, just a few years ago." A few? Ahem. 11 years! What in the world. I just wanted to get that off my chest.

Besides the fact that this year is flying by, can I say how psyched I am it's spring? Okay, not officialy spring, but spring enough in spirit. Seriously, this is great. I'm even in spring mode in the house, winter-proofing it from anything dark, heavy, or too warm. Let's let the sun shine in. And in honor of this early springness, I'm currently way into yellow. Have you driven around lately? It's so GREEN! And with yellow flowers, EVERYWHERE! Oh man, this is my kind of life. Know what else is green that's amazing? Go check this out. So good.

Okay, enough rambling. Onto a point. Have you checked out www.goodreads.com? Um, it's amazing. It's like myspace for book worms, and it's completly wonderful. I think everyone needs to sign up. So go check it out. And for fun, let's do a bit of a blog poll. Favorite 5 Books...go! (In no particular order...)
1. The Kite Runner
2. Mark of the Lion Series
3. The Poisonwood Bible
4. The Alchemist
5. So tough...ummm. Ummmm. Wow. Okay, I'm going with the Twilight Series. But I do feel bad for leaving out... oh what the heck, top 6.
6. The Chronicles of Narnia. Wow, HP not anywhere on that list. Am I feeling okay?

Meet the Cullens...

There are no words for how excited I am...

The Way I See It #270

Taste is subjective. Taste is democratic. Taste is powerful. Taste -- the combination of texture, aroma, temperature, aesthetic and environment-- is also a window into someone else's life or culture. Be confident in your taste, but remain curious and expose yourself to new tastes. Allow your taste to constantly evolve and grow -- while keeping and cherishing the memories that taste creates.
--Marcus Samuelsson, Chef, co-owner of Restaurant Aquavit and author of The Soul of a New Cuisine.

In other exciting news, I finished Exodus (and Galatians...) and am on to Leviticus.

In OTHER exciting news...I GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL! Woo hoo! I'll be starting in April with my Master of the Arts in International Development. SO.EXCITED.

All you need is...

L.O.V.E.

Well, Happy Valentines Day to you all. As the most commercialized of all holidays (in my opinion), let's go the heart of the matter, shall we?

Love. It's pretty stinkin' good. And I'm not just talking about the lovey-dovey, grow old together, his and her matching towels, kind of love. I mean all kinds of love. The ancient Greeks had 4 words for love, that's how important it was to them. (For a good explanation on these, read The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. Brilliant.) Anyway, love.

God's love is so amazing. I know that's so cliche to say, but really think about it. He's constantly been reminding me of his love and forgiveness lately, that even though I'm wreched, he still loves me. Really loves me. Died for me because He loves me. And even though I'm aware of this fact, I forget it, or don't act on it, or ignore it. And guess what? He still loves me! I know, so wierd. But quite wonderful. I think we should focus on this kind of love most of all.

But he's given us other kinds of love, so here's my shout out to them.
-Jon. You really do make me smile everyday. I'm continually blessed by you as you grow, encourage, challenge, and even make fun of me. Although you could let up on that last one...I wouldn't mind. :) I love you, babe.
-My friends. Sigh. I truly do have the best friends in the world. I can't shout out to all of you, but you know who you are. You each challenge a different part of me, and continually strive to make me a better person. You really are the best people around.
(Okay, here's where the list gets less series...)
-My love for reading. Silly, yes. But oh so series. My latest obesession? The Twilight Series. I'm so in love with them it's almost embaressing. Almost.
-Milk Tea. Don't judge. You know you love it, too.
-Hairspray. I had no idea a movie could make me laugh more each time I watch it.
-Sun. I'm a fall, rainy, weather type of girl. But living in So. Cal for so long apparently made me like the sun a bit. It's nice having it around now.
-Green, what a great color.

I'm sure there's more, but that's enough for now. Instead of talking about those things, I should experience them...so, in honor of love, do something you love today. Get Starbucks, go to the beach, eat Thai food (or peanut butter and jelly in Michael's case...), read Harry Potter. Just do something. Have a great, LOVELY, day.