So French.

Lately, I have been feeling So French.

For dinner I had a little nicoise salad
and
I can't wait to read my French Twist book series as soon as I am done with finals :)

Guittard's

Bittersweet

















Saturday was a bittersweet day.

I went to FPU's commencement.
Watching my former classmates of 2010 commence their final day at FPU, I felt a mix of excitement, pride, sadness, and longing.
For although I was extremely proud of my friends and classmates, I so badly longed to have continued my time at FPU. I told myself that that wasn't entirely true because although I missed my friends and the social and spiritual aspects of FPU that I do not have any longer at my new school, I strongly appreciate God's redirection of my college plans. I know that I am right where God wants me, going to Fresno State. I am at my school for a reason. Whether it is to shine a light in my classes, at my job, or in the various interactions I have at school. However, it's still hard to see many of my friends complete a part of life that I am not done with. This is also not entirely true though. I am so glad that I chose to transfer because I am really satisfied in the major I am completing, the level of education I am receiving, and the courses I am taking. FPU definitely has limitations in class size and offered courses and I now that had I remained at FPU, I would probably be somewhat dissatisfied with my courses. Although I definitely do not agree with all of the messages I receive at my school, the morals some of my coworkers hold to, or even understand the ethical logic many at State have, I know God guided me to the right place. I am truly learning many things, I am learning academically while learning about life, love, God, and society.

Phew. I am getting a little lengthy, so to close, I agree that although Saturday was bittersweet, strawberries dipped in a mixture of bittersweet and semisweet chocolate are wonderfully complementary.

two weeks' notice

I had to find quotes from  Two Weeks' Notice so I decided to share a few of my favorites:

What do you think of this? Too ornate? Or do you think it's... beltacular.

That is not true. I did call Slurpee Heaven. They didn't want you. Heard you had attitude. Said you weren't "Slurpee" material.

And did you tell Billy you loved him? Did you say, 'Billy, I love you'?

People just don't *go* in Volvos.


I think about you in the shower...not in a good way, but in an I'm-so-distracted-I-can't-remember-if-I-washed-my-hair kinda way - so I'll wash my hair twice! So I have a hole in my stomach, I'm running out of shampoo and today is the first day in my life that I did not give a thousand percent on the job. And I hate that feeling.

Come over for some strawberry ice-cream.
Oh, you have Tofutti! You heard what the doctor said, your cholesterol is over 300! You're... basically a solid.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

So you're leaving with your antacids and floss

Our hair we may toss

But we are at a loss...

Because you are the world's best boss. 

 

Lucy: Hi, Mr. Wong, it's Lucy Kelson. I need one No. 13, two No. 7's...
George: [walking back and forth] I can't believe how small this apartment is, it's actually shocking!

Lucy: I need three No. 8's, no garlic...
George: It's a very good thing your parents went to the movies, we'd never have squeezed in!
Lucy: I need one No. 7 and...
George: You realize, I can actually move from one side of this apartment to the other in 6 seconds. Watch this,
[steps off]
George: one...
Lucy Kelson: ...and a No. 11, please. No, actually, this is for two. 

magic

bubbles in her hair.....

At the hospital the other day, one of the specialists used bubbles to calm and distract a child. He was getting really worked up over little things that weren't painful so she went and grabbed her bubbles.
Blowing them around the room, he stopped screaming and started watching the bubbles float around with tears silently coursing down his cheeks.
When she left the room, I realized that she had bubbles in her hair. The type of bubbles she was using were they ones that are somewhat plastic-y and don't really dissolve after you pop them.
But in that moment, God used something as simple, mesmerizing, and tantalizing as bubbles to provide hope, encouragement, and peace to a little, scared boy.
Oh my, what a scene it was.


Have you ever stopped to think about how magical bubbles are?

Seriously though.

For kids around the ages of 2 to 5, bubbles are simply magical.
Captivating.
Inspiring.
Delightful.

It is simply amazing to watch kids delight in, squeal, run, and simply go crazy when you blow bubbles.
Seriously, there is no better feeling.

(Maybe besides that awesome dream that you have right before you wake up. And then when you wake up, you go back to sleep to 'finish' it :)

a hard goodbye

Last week was a sad one.
My boss (one of the two) is leaving and moving another state away so she will no longer be my boss.
I honestly never expected to find an on-campus job after transferring to State. When I finally realized one day that I could tutor again, I was amazed at my sheer stupidity of not realizing this sooner.
After applying and interviewing, I easily got the job and started working right away.
Although it took a long time for me to meet my coworkers and to feel at home, my new bosses made this transition really easy.
Without even realizing it, I became really familiar and close with Ashley, the female of my two supervisors. She, just like the other, William, is very inviting, welcoming, and willing to answer any questions and address any problems. I have learned so much from Ashley, not just about my job as a writing tutor, but about tutoring in general, about myself, and about life.
It sounds a little silly now. Almost like a eulogy.
But, no, I really have learned a lot from Ashley and I will definitely feel her loss next semester at work.
After her going away party, I thought of a line from one of my favorite movies....
...Cause you're the world's ...best......boss.



Goodbye Ashley.





A rolling stone gathers no moss...
So you're leaving with your antacids and floss...
Our hair we may toss...
But we are at a loss...
.....Because you are the world's best boss.
  Two Weeks' Notice

It's all understood....

I learned how to play the intro to this song a few years ago, but I have not worked on it much since then. Yesterday I couldn't get the song out of my head so I decided to work on my technical skills and see if I could learn the tricky chords for the verses and chorus. After some work, it wasn't all that bad, and you can actually hear what song I'm playing! :)  It helped that I knew some of the chords from a different song (although it took me forever to realize it :)   Then, I tried teaching myself the chords for The Kingdom by Bethany Dillon, and once again, it sounds pretty good now! Yay for having free time, an empty apartment to get loud and noisy in, and for remembering things I learned long ago! Yay for muscle memory! (Yep, I learned at least one new thing in my Children's Music class :)



It's All Understood -Jack Johnson
Everyone laughed at her joke
As if they'd never even heard it before
And maybe they were truly amused
But every word that she spoke was a bore
And maybe it's because they had seen
The previews on the TV screen
Well this part is good and that's well understood
So you should laugh if you know what I mean

But it's all relative
Even if you don't understand
Well it's all understood
Especially when you don't understand
Then it's all just because
Even if we don't understand
Then lets all just believe

Everyone knows what went down
Because the news was spread all over town
And fact is only what you believe
And fact and fiction work as a team
It's almost always fiction in the end
That content begins to bend
When context is never the same

And it's all relative
Even if we don't understand
And that's well understood
Especially when we don't understand
Then it's all just because
Even if we don't understand
Then lets all just believe

I was reading a book
Or maybe it was a magazine
Suggestions on where to place faith
Suggestions on what to believe
But I read somewhere
That you've got to beware
You can't believe anything you read
But the good Book is good
And that's well understood
So don't even question
If you know what I mean

But it's all relative
Even if you don't understand
Well it's all understood
Especially when you don't understand
And it's all just because
Even if we don't understand
Then lets all just believe

But there you go once again
You missed the point and then you point
Your fingers at me
And say that I said not to believe
I believe
I guess
I guess it's all relative




The Kingdom   -Bethany Dillon
It tapped me on the shoulder today when I got home
I saw everything collecting dust
It made me hope there was something more
I pour over pages, desperate to find out why
The cripple at your table has what I'm longing to find

Teach me how to hum it
Because I don't know the words yet

Help me see the light
I'm reaching through the fight
Yahweh, show me the Kingdom
Arms open wide
Death swallowed up by life
Yahweh, show me the Kingdom

Why are some women barren
While the wicked's house is full
The stories never seem to end
Give me evidence I'm not alone
You said the weak would be lifted up
But maybe just not yet
So while I wait in this flesh and blood
I'll learn to lean in

Help me see the light
I'm reaching through the fight
Yahweh, show me the Kingdom
Arms open wide
Death swallowed up by life
Yahweh, show me the Kingdom

Lessons from Luke.....

While I have been reading in Luke over the past few months, many verses, passages, and lessons have resonated in me.
Here are a few from my reading this morning:

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
      Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."           

-Luke 9:18-27

>Who do I say Christ is? What role does He have in my life? And how is He in my life?
Do I actually depend on Him, take up my cross, and live each day not for myself but for Christ?
I'm ashamed to admit, that oftentimes, I do not. There are moments when I clearly choose to follow Christ or follow my own ways. However, there are other times when I realize my depravity, my evident lack of control over my life, and I repent and turn to Christ. However, this does not happen nearly as often as it should. Rather, the first part does happen, without repentance and change soon following. In those moments, I discover my reality, yet I choose to do the very thing I hate, which is to follow myself, while turning away from Christ.



About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

 -Luke 9:28-36

>How often do we act just like Peter? It's pretty interesting that the author includes that he didn't know what he was saying. How often am I unaware of what I say to God? How often do I realize what I am actually asking of Him; or what I feel that I need; or what I think should happen in life?
This has definitely opened my eyes to be more aware and conscientious of my communication with God.
To know what I am saying to Him, what I ask of Him, and when I am talking to Him and don't even realize it. (Like when I blame things on Him, without actually calling Him out by name.)


An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."
 "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

-Luke 9:46-50

>Jesus' example of demonstrating obedience through the acceptance of children definitely stands out in my mind. My involvement and career path of working with children allows me to understand this metaphor more readily. However, I do not say this to boast that by working with children I am greater than say, an accountant, chef, or engineer. Certainly not! That would definitely be missing the point. However, I am truly grateful for this metaphor for I it speaks volumes in my life. Not only do I interact with, teach, comfort, and guide children on a daily basis at the hospital, but I realize the sacrifices one must make to do so with children. By putting myself last and the child's needs first, I am learning to see past the scars, wounds, and earthly entrapments that have damaged many children. I am learning to see past the color of someone's skin, their hair (or lack thereof), the machines and tubes connected to their body, and to see past the family and emotional baggage that weigh many of them down. In learning these things, I am becoming more aware, more accepting, and more open. By broadening my perspective, assumptions, and knowledge, I have learned to give more, expect less, and receive anything and everything from different types of people. While working on myself, I have allowed God to shine through me; asking for guidance, direction, and opportunities, I have reached out, given, and been rewarded and taught in return. I have learned that when you give with open hands, you will have things taken away, just as you will be given to in return. Before, I was unaware, afraid, and wary of this. However, by choosing to give of myself and not to take from others, I believe that I have 'taken up my cross,' accepted the 'least of these,' and I have learned to know what I say to God, the three main lessons I have garnered from these passages.
Thank you God for your faithfulness, your mercy, forgiving nature, grace, and your provisions. Thank you for learning, awareness, becoming open, and for realizations.
I need thee, oh I need thee. Every hour I need thee.