Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
A Beginner
These are a couple of the pictures I got before my camera died. They are all from Monday...
Robotic Days
This morning, my stuffed nose and I woke up and wanted to be back asleep. I got ready, made it to the car, and wondered to myself, "am I alive?" This morning was one of those mornings where you wonder if you're actually living your life or if you're just super thankful you jumped in the car before it started driving off to where you're supposed to go next.
All day, everyone at school (which wasn't very many of us) wanted to just give up and take an easy day coupon. We had come back from the trip week and wanted some time to continue the phwam-i-ness of the recovery. A couple of us are sick. In retrospect, our van was more like a germ breeder on wheels than a transporter of children to and from a nice trip.
Anyways...stuffy nose and I have something to tell you.
I got a phone! My own bonified, able to send and receive calls, complete with keypad to get my fingers busy texting cell phone! I've experienced the weird non-recognition of my new ringtone. What about the jump in my heart when I get the little beep that I received a text? Ah...the joys of robotic life.
But this cell phone. I don't know what to think about this, but it's one of those things that makes me feel like a qualified human being. I may have said this in the not-so-distant past, but things like running, cleaning the kitchen, playing piano, and holding babies make me feel competent.
All day, everyone at school (which wasn't very many of us) wanted to just give up and take an easy day coupon. We had come back from the trip week and wanted some time to continue the phwam-i-ness of the recovery. A couple of us are sick. In retrospect, our van was more like a germ breeder on wheels than a transporter of children to and from a nice trip.
Anyways...stuffy nose and I have something to tell you.
I got a phone! My own bonified, able to send and receive calls, complete with keypad to get my fingers busy texting cell phone! I've experienced the weird non-recognition of my new ringtone. What about the jump in my heart when I get the little beep that I received a text? Ah...the joys of robotic life.
But this cell phone. I don't know what to think about this, but it's one of those things that makes me feel like a qualified human being. I may have said this in the not-so-distant past, but things like running, cleaning the kitchen, playing piano, and holding babies make me feel competent.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Alright
There are a lot of things I'd like to change. Like, I wish I didn't need contacts. And the death of my retainers would be nice. I wish I could play a few more crazy pieces on the piano and remember them all forever. Perfect eyebrows would be nice. Why does a Starbucks cost $4?
But when it really comes down to it, things are great the way they are. We can be content exactly where God has us. And logically, it really doesn't make any difference whether or not I have to spend a couple extra minutes cleaning my contacts. We are really alright.
But when it really comes down to it, things are great the way they are. We can be content exactly where God has us. And logically, it really doesn't make any difference whether or not I have to spend a couple extra minutes cleaning my contacts. We are really alright.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
I'm back from Minneapolis! It was quite the time. From getting lost on the way there to the amazing YWAM base in the boonies surrounding Minneapolis to the box-throwing physical labor to getting picked up and thrown in a pool to playing with the little babies at the Marie Sandvik Center to shopping the largest mall in the country (and getting some pretty cute stuff)...it was a jolly-great time.
I don't have pictures to show you at the moment, because my camera ran out of batteries and instead of using my spending money on batteries, I used someone else's camera and will get the pictures on Monday. Wow. I sound really cheap.
We did a whole bunch of stuff on the trip. We helped out doing cleaning and box moving at a couple places, and we packaged food for starving children around the world (we packaged enough food in our 2 hours there to feed a few kids for a whole year). We played with little kids and talked with elderly people, and we fed and prayed for the homeless.
So, the missions trip is over. Three weeks more of school. The formal is next Friday...then I have a performance at Merit on the 29th...graduation and the SAT on the 7th...some days of horseback-riding, Lord-willing, at Frans...then the ACT on the 14th...then off to Kansas City!! I very much hope to keep this blog updated through it all, but if I don't, I hope you understand that instead of writing a blog I am probably practicing piano or sleeping or drinking orange juice...something else to keep myself sane. No, really, I like having a super full schedule with lots to do...makes me feel fulfilled and makes me crave chocolate chip cookies all at the same time.
I don't have pictures to show you at the moment, because my camera ran out of batteries and instead of using my spending money on batteries, I used someone else's camera and will get the pictures on Monday. Wow. I sound really cheap.
We did a whole bunch of stuff on the trip. We helped out doing cleaning and box moving at a couple places, and we packaged food for starving children around the world (we packaged enough food in our 2 hours there to feed a few kids for a whole year). We played with little kids and talked with elderly people, and we fed and prayed for the homeless.
So, the missions trip is over. Three weeks more of school. The formal is next Friday...then I have a performance at Merit on the 29th...graduation and the SAT on the 7th...some days of horseback-riding, Lord-willing, at Frans...then the ACT on the 14th...then off to Kansas City!! I very much hope to keep this blog updated through it all, but if I don't, I hope you understand that instead of writing a blog I am probably practicing piano or sleeping or drinking orange juice...something else to keep myself sane. No, really, I like having a super full schedule with lots to do...makes me feel fulfilled and makes me crave chocolate chip cookies all at the same time.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Woes of Endothermic Reactions...or was it Exothermic?
today was a pretty good day until Chemistry class. It was good after Chemistry class, come to think of it. In fact, it was good for most of Chemistry class too. Most meaning all of the class except those thirty seconds where I cried out of frustration.
Exothermic and endothermic reactions. It's so hard to understand what specifically the computer is asking about or what answer it is asking for. After trying to wrap my brain around the concept and trying some more, feeling every second like I was in danger of getting a migraine just from thinking too hard, I finally gave up, moaned "Mr. Pan!" (in memory of my former science teacher), and buried my eyes in my elbow lain plaintifully on the desk. I tried to cry to relieve all the stress of the work my brain had just been pushing and pushing at, without much success...but the crying didn't work very well anyways.
Chemistry class: I enter the purple gateway, sit in solace at my computer, and blast Tim Reimherr, Misty Edwards, or some sort of fancy classical music that makes all my friends want to run out of the room the moment they come in.
Chemistry class on the computer. Priceless.
Exothermic and endothermic reactions. It's so hard to understand what specifically the computer is asking about or what answer it is asking for. After trying to wrap my brain around the concept and trying some more, feeling every second like I was in danger of getting a migraine just from thinking too hard, I finally gave up, moaned "Mr. Pan!" (in memory of my former science teacher), and buried my eyes in my elbow lain plaintifully on the desk. I tried to cry to relieve all the stress of the work my brain had just been pushing and pushing at, without much success...but the crying didn't work very well anyways.
Chemistry class: I enter the purple gateway, sit in solace at my computer, and blast Tim Reimherr, Misty Edwards, or some sort of fancy classical music that makes all my friends want to run out of the room the moment they come in.
Chemistry class on the computer. Priceless.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
One of those moments
Do you have those moments where it hits you: "I am so not Jesus." Those moments where your pride gets rolled over by a steamroller. Yeah, those ones.
It is so difficult for me to lay down my reputation and truly trust Jesus to defend me. It's a lot easier to lay it down when you don't feel a need to defend it, such as in a prayer time. But when you get down and dirty with your pride...that's icky.
There's a point where you can see two choices before you: keep fighting for yourself, or be humble and decide not to try to prove to the other person that you're right. In reality, it's like choosing whether to put on a wedding dress or a potato sack. The humility will produce incredible beauty, thus turning the tables and taking what is low and making it the most stunning gown you've ever seen. The other option you have is to parade around in a potato sack of pride, pretending that you're looking terrific while instead you're looking gross (and probably stinking too). Today, though, I was left crying out to Jesus that I simply don't know how to be humble. My impulse is to add "yuck" to that last statement...but at the same time I'm reminded that being Jesus' prize is a journey. We don't have to arrive all at once.
There are times when He wants to take us gently by the hand and take us little step by little step, but we pull away and try to convince Him that, no, actually, we should be going...um...WAY faster than this, and, um, haven't you seen my goals of being absolutely holy and perfect in every way? Can we just get there a little faster please? I think it's this way...
No, no, no. His goals are so perfect -- even when they are two baby steps in a day. We may want to run a marathon at least twice each morning and three times each afternoon...but maybe He wants to take us gently through one situation where we gain a little patience instead. Or maybe He has a surprise of His love for us in the sunshine that comes in our window when we wake up. Maybe "I love you" really is the message He wants to send me. Sometimes I ask Jesus what I need to know for the day ahead of me and I hear "that I love you". I then promptly half-dismiss it with a semi-scolding tone, replying "there must be something else.." Nope. Maybe in some moments He just wants to tell us He loves us.
Security in Christ should be our goal. Knowing that we are so significant in Him, it doesn't matter what anybody else sees. When we feel like we're being accused, we should be able to be totally at peace that Jesus is our Overseer: if we're wrong, He'll tell us and help us fix it; if we're being treated injustly, it's His job to take care of it. But oh, is it hard to leave it to Him. I've been in situations where I've had to face that up-front the last few days. Maybe Jesus is trying to teach me something...
It is so difficult for me to lay down my reputation and truly trust Jesus to defend me. It's a lot easier to lay it down when you don't feel a need to defend it, such as in a prayer time. But when you get down and dirty with your pride...that's icky.
There's a point where you can see two choices before you: keep fighting for yourself, or be humble and decide not to try to prove to the other person that you're right. In reality, it's like choosing whether to put on a wedding dress or a potato sack. The humility will produce incredible beauty, thus turning the tables and taking what is low and making it the most stunning gown you've ever seen. The other option you have is to parade around in a potato sack of pride, pretending that you're looking terrific while instead you're looking gross (and probably stinking too). Today, though, I was left crying out to Jesus that I simply don't know how to be humble. My impulse is to add "yuck" to that last statement...but at the same time I'm reminded that being Jesus' prize is a journey. We don't have to arrive all at once.
There are times when He wants to take us gently by the hand and take us little step by little step, but we pull away and try to convince Him that, no, actually, we should be going...um...WAY faster than this, and, um, haven't you seen my goals of being absolutely holy and perfect in every way? Can we just get there a little faster please? I think it's this way...
No, no, no. His goals are so perfect -- even when they are two baby steps in a day. We may want to run a marathon at least twice each morning and three times each afternoon...but maybe He wants to take us gently through one situation where we gain a little patience instead. Or maybe He has a surprise of His love for us in the sunshine that comes in our window when we wake up. Maybe "I love you" really is the message He wants to send me. Sometimes I ask Jesus what I need to know for the day ahead of me and I hear "that I love you". I then promptly half-dismiss it with a semi-scolding tone, replying "there must be something else.." Nope. Maybe in some moments He just wants to tell us He loves us.
Security in Christ should be our goal. Knowing that we are so significant in Him, it doesn't matter what anybody else sees. When we feel like we're being accused, we should be able to be totally at peace that Jesus is our Overseer: if we're wrong, He'll tell us and help us fix it; if we're being treated injustly, it's His job to take care of it. But oh, is it hard to leave it to Him. I've been in situations where I've had to face that up-front the last few days. Maybe Jesus is trying to teach me something...
Monday, April 28, 2008
I am His
by Tim Reimherr
My heart is stirred by a noble theme
Bringing blessed words unto my King
Giving up my love as a sweet offering
Oh, the Beauty of This Man
For the sake of love, He left His Father's throne
Searching for a bride, bone of His bone
Such a humble kiss, to make my dust His own
Oh the Beauty of This Man
Jesus, I love You
I give You all my worship
Jesus, I love You
Your Name is wonderful
See His hands, His head, His feet, and His side
They bear the marks of wrath, a pure sacrifice
To secure my love, by giving up His life
Oh, the Beauty of this Man
She, now faint with love, beckons Him to come
Establish righteousness as God's risen Son
On that glorious day, she'll marry her Fair One
Oh, the Beauty of this Man
Jesus, I love You
I give You all my worship
Jesus, I love You
Your Name is wonderful
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Nope. No title comes to mind.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
April 13th?? Way too long. But I have a way to defend myself. 1) There is one of the most beautiful, fascinating, beautiful, intelligent, beautiful, and enthralling (and did I say beautiful) ladies residing at my house right now. Amy has taken up all of my time. 2) Well, she's taken up most of my time: the time that wasn't spent on my term paper.
How about pictures to make you a happy anna-blog reader once again? Some of the cutest dresses EVER:
I LOVE this black and white one
I LOVE this black and white one
I think this dress is so pretty!
The official formal dress! Wahoo!
The ever-stunning Amy
So, yes, I got a formal dress. That was totally blog-worthy. It happened whole week ago, though, and these pages still haven't heard it. Ach.
Here's something that is more forward looking (as opposed to back-tracking as a two-week overdue post should do): my schedule. Argh! So busy... I wish I could just upload a little calendar. Let's spell it out:
May 3: Take the SAT
Final day of Merit. Perform with Merit Singers and Concert Choir.
May 4: Merit Graduation. Solo in song with Merit Singers
May 10: Piano recital. Huge Huge Huge Huge HUGE. Can I even tell you how I excited I am for it and how major it feels? It could be my last one! :(
May 12-16: Minneapolis missions trip.
May 20: Tickets to the symphony. (I know that's a purely recreational activity, but it's still on the schedule)
May 23: The formal! (Also recreational...but still...takes a lot of work)
June 5: Last day of school
June 7: Take the SAT Subject Tests
Graduation -- maybe have a piece ready to perform in duet with Amy on violin
June 14: Take the ACT
Then: Leave for Kansas City, probably.
Ummm....tiring.
Now, I need to go be with Amy and have a fun, relaxing rest of a Sunday. Let the craziness (fun craziness, albeit) begin!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
I wish I could have been there.
The London marathon today was interesting. First there were the Masai.
And then this guy. He was on the U.S. news as the 101 yr. old man who drinks eight pints of beer and smokes 14 times a day, yet ran the race in just under 10 yr. Hmmm... now that I read that article, though, I'm slightly more incredulous.
the Bagel
Strangely enough, the food that I feel worst about eating is...duh duh duh...a bagel!
Haven't you heard those stories about how a doughnut is better for you than a bagel, all the fat, all the carbs, la da da...?? But a good bagel, ah, a good bagel is wonderful. As I consume that thick round of goodness, I can't shake the suspicion that it's helping me becoming my own thick round of...something. You'd think the cookies or the ice cream would be the great indulgences of life, but, no, it's a bagel.
And it's not even a chocolate bagel.
Haven't you heard those stories about how a doughnut is better for you than a bagel, all the fat, all the carbs, la da da...?? But a good bagel, ah, a good bagel is wonderful. As I consume that thick round of goodness, I can't shake the suspicion that it's helping me becoming my own thick round of...something. You'd think the cookies or the ice cream would be the great indulgences of life, but, no, it's a bagel.
And it's not even a chocolate bagel.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Heavenly
As stereotypical as this may seem, this has got to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music. Ever.
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