A gift

My mom's mom passed away when she was 8 years old on December 5. This was tragic. But let me tell you how amazing our Creator is. After we had moved from Colorado to Rancho Cordova, California, my parents met an amazing couple, Don and Faye, that would become like parents to them and grandparents to their 4 children.

I remember wanting sucking my thumb forever because it was so comforting. Grandma Faye and Grandpa Don wanted to help me stop. They said that when I decided that I wanted to be a "big girl," they would take me out for a "big girl" dinner. I think I was 8 and my younger sister Kendra was promised the same incentive. Well, Kendra stopped first and so I had to soon follow.

They would come to our musicals, visit at the holidays and invite us over for Sweedish hot dogs. What was swedish about them you ask? I don't know but I remember that the ketchup and mustard were never in bottles but in glass bowls with small spoons to spread.

They, for the past 50 years, have been actively living out their faith in Sweden and parts of Africa and Saudi Arabia. Talk about some amazing stories. I love listening to their stories. It's funny because she is a outspoken, confident woman and my grandpa is intelligent, mild mannered and composed. Their interactions are humorous and a pleasure to be around.
When I graduated from high school, they gave me this:

It is from Saudi Arabia and one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.
This couple has loved my family and been there for my parents when their parents were sick or passing away. They've helped me to get to other countries so that I can have my own stories to tell. Grandpa and Grandma is what they've been.

My dad has been undergoing so traumatic nerve problems because he has a herniated disk in his neck. He is going to have to have surgery and they are going to take a piece of bone from somewhere on his body to help the disk- or something like that. It could go well, mediocre or he could be paralyzed for life. His surgery is on December 5. My mom and I were talking last night about how this day is a sad one, and why is it that his surgery has to be the same day, even though it is years later.

Well I know a little more about what love is. He redeems us beyond what our situations are. Love suffers long and He is always cheering on life and peace. So I am going to let love take care of my dad. Love has given us my grandparents Don and Faye for just one example about how much he cares. Love will take care of us and we will love back because He's done the lovin' first.

Something true...

I have been doing research for Dr. Shoup for that last year and a half, reading many books, journals and periodicals. In my time reading these things and learning to ghost write for him, I usually am interested in the material but rarely inspired. Well, today I was creating a power point presentation on the Four Principles of Enduring Success by Christian Stadler from the Harvard Business Review.

I came across this quote and it has inspired great perseverace for my senior recital. Take a gander and chew on this for a while:

"To people who have never reached a national or international level of competition, it may appear that excellence is simply the result of practicing daily for years or even decades. However, living in a cave does not make you a geologist. Not all practice makes perfect. You need a particular kind of practice—deliberate practice—to develop expertise. When most people practice, they focus on the things they already know how to do. Deliberate practice is different. It entails considerable, specific, and sustained efforts to do something you can’t do well—or even at all. Research across domains shows that it is only by working at what you can’t do that you turn into the expert you want to become."

Stumbled upon this one...

14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:14

Sometimes my emotions get the best of me. You know the feeings of guilt after you have realized a mistake and you wish that it could be taken back or disappear? A couple of weeks ago I was in this predicament and I wish that I had found this point of truth then. The beautiful point is that when God allowed Jesus Christ to pay the retribution for sins on the cross with his unblemished blood, He satisfied His own need for reparation and I am the beneficiary of that painful sacrifice. It was not done for me, but for the Father's satisfaction. The reason why I try not be a liar, a cheat, a coward aren't just because getting caught womps, but that those things breed death. gobs of death. Rather than allowing my conscience to become infested with these mistakes, serving the living God means choosing life over death. Confession sets these acts to the freedom of forgiveness. This is life. Community brings these up through accountability. This is life. And greatest of all, the Holy Spirit's lively voice becomes louder than all other competitors; truth empowers the servant. ahhh. So this is Life.

I <3 mom

My mom is the best. I know you might think that yours is, but mine tops all moms. My mom inspires me to care about people and love them even when it is not easy. She shares everything she has and inclusively loves each of her children. She spoils us and takes care of us, even when we are adults. My mom brings life and happiness to those around her. I just thought I'd let you know how great she is.

and she's pretty hot...

I can't sleep...

Ever have one those disheveled days and wonder what it is that is so unsettling? I don't know what it is but today but that description cetainly provides accuracy to my thoughts and feelings. My heart feels unkept but I don't know what it is that it needs. Last night I cried for some time to my best friend matt about how I don't see how I can work as a receptionist for much longer, but we really need the money just to get by. There is something about art, innovating, and culture that awakens me. Something that minimum wage and secretarial duties cause me to search for the previous.
So I decided to see what other people are creating by reading their blogs. I was pleasantly encouraged by my dear friend Leah. I can finally say it world: "Leah and Rob are pregant!" I have been so excited about this one and waiting for everyone to know. She had an eloquent way of announcing her happy news that I must recommend you immediately go and read here blog at http://leahmarievis.blogspot.com/
Thanks friend :)

Mr. Tricky Prof.

So Thursdays are my long days. I work from 8-5 at the School of Education and then I attend Intro to Linguistics from 6 to 10:30pm. Last week was my first class and it was an unusual "first class."
So I walk cutting it close to start time after engulfing some dinner and sit down at 5:57. I gaze around the room and notice that there are about 25 women and 2 men. Oh Cal Baptist. One, sitting behind me, is already falling asleep and the other looks middle aged with a receding hairline and a gold watch a chain. Oh yeah, he's 1990's cool, I comment to myself, kind of like this guy:

People begin to start talking, "hi, how are you, oh you want to be a teacher too?" and then the epic topic of conversation moves to b***s-ing their way through the papers. Then Mr. 90's gold chain says, "Have any of you looked through the book? It looks easy. Man, I could teach this

Actually, I am going to teach this."

Mr. '90's gold chain and receding hairline is my linguistics teacher. ha ha.

and He showed up...

Since the Holy Spirit dwells within those who yield to Jesus Christ, do you ever wonder when He is going to move and shake us up? It is on the days when there are visable aclaimations of the personal interaction between the spirit of God and His bride that refuel me. I don't know what it was about the worship we offered up on 7/8, but Sandals seemed to be stirred in a way that reflects kingdom activity. Upon further thought, is it really that He showed up, or did we just finally notice the sin that had so easily entaglled us?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12

During worship I could not stop from repeating this in the moments I was not being the awesome back-up singer I am. Outward sin is noticed by all but the inward sin in my own heart matters just as much. Hmmm...caught red handed...and it feels good...