Thursday, November 25, 2010
Family...
Thanksgiving Day:
I spent my Thanksgiving with my dad's family - most of his 13 brothers and sisters (he is the oldest of 14) were present at our Thanksgiving Day dinner, and I was just so amazed at how many people have blessed my life. There were so many generations of adults, kids and their (even younger) kids...all gathered to give thanks and celebrate the gift of each other. There were MANY people squished (comfortably of course) into my Aunt Mary and Uncle Paul's house today. We had a great many turkeys and hams to go around, along with all the fixin's. :) We also witnessed a hilarious spectacle of a Christmas Gift exchange where my Aunt Monica voted that we "steal the crap" out of the presents that were passed around. All the kids got their own gifts and the adults spent about an hour or so trading the various gifts until all were happy with the outcome.
This is not uncommon for the Cherniawski's on Thanksgiving, and although it's been a few years since we've had such a tremendous celebration together. This year it was welcomed with the same love and care that has always blessed me as I was a child, and a teenager, and now as a young adult, I appreciate it all the more. Thank you to all my family who made this year particularly memorable.
My Grandmother: Laura Betty
(affectionately known to her grand kids as "G-Ma")
This week my family will be celebrating my grandma's 80th birthday. Not that I am old, but from an early age, I remember looking up to my grandma as someone to aspire to. She didn't accomplish the "normal" things in life like many other people, she never finished college, she was never wealthy (monetarily), but she is someone who has spunk and generosity. She was and still is always very open to sharing what she has - it might not be a lot, but if she has something, it's yours. Often she will share a game of scrabble or cards with anyone who is willing to play. And then proceed to beat them at whatever game is before them...but that's besides the point. ;) She also raised fourteen beautiful kids who are all amazing in their own ways.
She is also a woman of faith - I am often amazed at her faithfulness after all she has been through in her life. Then I realize that it is because of her faith that she was able to make it through those things, and not just give up on life, but keep trekking through. She is a woman who is a leader to many, but a quiet, humble one. I will be happy to become half the woman she is. Thank you Grandma for all of your love and support. Happy Birthday!
Well Wishes:
To everyone reading, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend full of celebration and love of friends and family! Be happy, celebratory, joyful and peaceful!
C-Bear
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Known
I have recently...or not so recently discovered a new favorite musical artist. Now, as a person who owns a ridiculous amount of music (you don't even want to know the amounts I have spent on i-Tunes), this is a dangerous, but also thought-provoking thing. I seem to "go through" music quite quickly. I will buy a song, listen to it for a few weeks, then discard it for awhile until I decide to pick it up again and listen to it - and the sequence begins again.
I have done this with many artists - mostly main streaming musical geniuses - who come up with sometimes beautiful (and mostly just catchy) music that grabs my attention and keeps it for a bit. Every once in awhile I will keep an artist or two that I rarely get sick of...such as Jimmy Eat World, Ray LaMontagne, Alanis Morisette, and Ryan Adams...just to name a few. I have found another!! But she's not from the "normal" hemisphere of music that attracts my attention...but from the Christian music scene.
Crazy as it may seem to some, there are a few artists out there who are Christian and can make good music. It seems to be a rarity in my life that I actually enjoy ALL of the music from one artist, but for now, I have been blessed and found just that. Not only have I enjoyed this artists music, but her sense of the Lord is magnificent. She seems to get at the heart of many things that are going on in my life...not only musically (through the instruments), but lyrically as well.
I tend to be one of those people who cannot listen to the music and not hear the words - actually the words of most songs scream at me - whether good or bad. I don't know if this is because I just enjoy words and the way people form sentences...especially in music, or if it's the way I was raised with my mother being particularly fond of and talented in the musical sector of life? In other words, it speaks to me.
So, getting down to the nitty-gritty:
The name of the artist is Audrey Assad - I don't know too much about her background except that she is somehow friends with my friend Andrea, who initiated this musical relationship with my soul. Thank you Andrea!!
I have been so blessed over the past four months, seriously going to her album and just playing it whenever. I have played it for some of the women I meet with, for girls on retreat, for whoever wants to listen because it's just that awesome. She has a sound similar to Ingrid Michaelson or Joni Mitchell, but has very strong, beautiful analogies in her music. Here's a sample of some of the picturesque lyrics that have really touched my soul:
Known by Audrey Assad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the dew falls on the blade
You have touched all this fragile frame
And as a mother knows her baby's face
You know me, You know me
As the summer air within my chest
I have breathed You deep down into my breast
And as You know the hairs upon my head
Every thought and every word I've said
Every thought and every word I've said
Refrain:
Savior, You have known me as I am
Healer, You have known me as I was
As I will be in the morning, in the evening
You have known me, yeah, You know me
Oh, and as the exhilaration of autumn's bite
Oh, You have brought these tired bones to brilliant life
And as the swallow knows, she knows the sky
This is how it is with You and I
Oh, this is how it is with You and I
From the fall of my heart to the resurrection of my soul
You know me, God, and You know my ways
In my rising and my sitting down
You see me as I am, oh, see me as I am
And as a lover knows his beloved's heart
All the shapes and curves of her even in the dark
Oh, You have formed one in my inward parts
And You know me, You know me, yes
Savior, You, You have known me as I am
Oh, healer, You have known me as I was
As I will be in the morning, in the evening
You have known
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This song has particularly been touching my heart I think because the Lord wants this of me. It has also directly correlated with many of the things I have been hearing at various functions through work and my community. Such as on Friday I attended a prayer meeting with over 100 college students - we packed out a church in downtown Ann Arbor, MI - and we just praised the Lord and heard truth! One of the things the speaker was talking about was seeing God as a PERSON, not an idea. And I thought about that for awhile.
"Am I seeing God as an idea rather than a person to hold a conversation with? Am I treating God as an object to talk to or am I allowing him to speak to me while I listen? Am I allowing the Lord into every area of my life or am I controlling some and only giving over what I know will work? Am I allowing the Lord to know me freely, or am I closing him out of some of the most formational years of my life?"
As these questions ran through my head, I realized that I try to allow the Lord to speak to me, but only when I want him to. This would include times of daily prayer. Times I have set aside in my day to look to God for guidance, wisdom, grace and anything else he wants to throw my way. But other than these "planned" times, I don't always allow the Lord to speak to me. I don't freely ask him into my daily activities and schedule. I sometimes plain ignore him...and I know that needs to change.
Being the person who is in control of their own life is not what God wants for me (or honestly, for anyone). If I am to fully call myself a follower, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, I need to also allow myself to be led by him. Not in just the times I want, but in the times I need and in the times that are going well. The Lord is calling to me and I am just beginning to answer this call - and seeing how stubborn I really am, it's gonna take awhile.
The bottom line is: I want to be known by the King of Kings and I want him to know me. I want to be open with him and him with me. I want to do whatever he wants me to do - because that's true love. When I can look to Him and see the beautiful plan he has for me and say, "Yes!" with a resounding voice, and I will know that I have at least accomplished that which he has set before me now: the ability to see myself as he sees me. Beautiful, grace-filled and his Daughter.
Thanks for keeping with me this far - it was a long post today, but it's how life goes. :)
C-Bear
I have done this with many artists - mostly main streaming musical geniuses - who come up with sometimes beautiful (and mostly just catchy) music that grabs my attention and keeps it for a bit. Every once in awhile I will keep an artist or two that I rarely get sick of...such as Jimmy Eat World, Ray LaMontagne, Alanis Morisette, and Ryan Adams...just to name a few. I have found another!! But she's not from the "normal" hemisphere of music that attracts my attention...but from the Christian music scene.
Crazy as it may seem to some, there are a few artists out there who are Christian and can make good music. It seems to be a rarity in my life that I actually enjoy ALL of the music from one artist, but for now, I have been blessed and found just that. Not only have I enjoyed this artists music, but her sense of the Lord is magnificent. She seems to get at the heart of many things that are going on in my life...not only musically (through the instruments), but lyrically as well.
I tend to be one of those people who cannot listen to the music and not hear the words - actually the words of most songs scream at me - whether good or bad. I don't know if this is because I just enjoy words and the way people form sentences...especially in music, or if it's the way I was raised with my mother being particularly fond of and talented in the musical sector of life? In other words, it speaks to me.
So, getting down to the nitty-gritty:
The name of the artist is Audrey Assad - I don't know too much about her background except that she is somehow friends with my friend Andrea, who initiated this musical relationship with my soul. Thank you Andrea!!
I have been so blessed over the past four months, seriously going to her album and just playing it whenever. I have played it for some of the women I meet with, for girls on retreat, for whoever wants to listen because it's just that awesome. She has a sound similar to Ingrid Michaelson or Joni Mitchell, but has very strong, beautiful analogies in her music. Here's a sample of some of the picturesque lyrics that have really touched my soul:
Known by Audrey Assad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the dew falls on the blade
You have touched all this fragile frame
And as a mother knows her baby's face
You know me, You know me
As the summer air within my chest
I have breathed You deep down into my breast
And as You know the hairs upon my head
Every thought and every word I've said
Every thought and every word I've said
Refrain:
Savior, You have known me as I am
Healer, You have known me as I was
As I will be in the morning, in the evening
You have known me, yeah, You know me
Oh, and as the exhilaration of autumn's bite
Oh, You have brought these tired bones to brilliant life
And as the swallow knows, she knows the sky
This is how it is with You and I
Oh, this is how it is with You and I
From the fall of my heart to the resurrection of my soul
You know me, God, and You know my ways
In my rising and my sitting down
You see me as I am, oh, see me as I am
And as a lover knows his beloved's heart
All the shapes and curves of her even in the dark
Oh, You have formed one in my inward parts
And You know me, You know me, yes
Savior, You, You have known me as I am
Oh, healer, You have known me as I was
As I will be in the morning, in the evening
You have known
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This song has particularly been touching my heart I think because the Lord wants this of me. It has also directly correlated with many of the things I have been hearing at various functions through work and my community. Such as on Friday I attended a prayer meeting with over 100 college students - we packed out a church in downtown Ann Arbor, MI - and we just praised the Lord and heard truth! One of the things the speaker was talking about was seeing God as a PERSON, not an idea. And I thought about that for awhile.
"Am I seeing God as an idea rather than a person to hold a conversation with? Am I treating God as an object to talk to or am I allowing him to speak to me while I listen? Am I allowing the Lord into every area of my life or am I controlling some and only giving over what I know will work? Am I allowing the Lord to know me freely, or am I closing him out of some of the most formational years of my life?"
As these questions ran through my head, I realized that I try to allow the Lord to speak to me, but only when I want him to. This would include times of daily prayer. Times I have set aside in my day to look to God for guidance, wisdom, grace and anything else he wants to throw my way. But other than these "planned" times, I don't always allow the Lord to speak to me. I don't freely ask him into my daily activities and schedule. I sometimes plain ignore him...and I know that needs to change.
Being the person who is in control of their own life is not what God wants for me (or honestly, for anyone). If I am to fully call myself a follower, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, I need to also allow myself to be led by him. Not in just the times I want, but in the times I need and in the times that are going well. The Lord is calling to me and I am just beginning to answer this call - and seeing how stubborn I really am, it's gonna take awhile.
The bottom line is: I want to be known by the King of Kings and I want him to know me. I want to be open with him and him with me. I want to do whatever he wants me to do - because that's true love. When I can look to Him and see the beautiful plan he has for me and say, "Yes!" with a resounding voice, and I will know that I have at least accomplished that which he has set before me now: the ability to see myself as he sees me. Beautiful, grace-filled and his Daughter.
Thanks for keeping with me this far - it was a long post today, but it's how life goes. :)
C-Bear
Monday, November 8, 2010
Smells like...
Autumn!
I love the weather right now! Crisp, cool air, smells of pumpkins and wood-burning stoves, walking with the wind in my face, delicious foods, fine friends and lots to celebrate! Life seems more and more amazing each time I think about it. Walking the boys to school in the morning has been quite a pleasurable time, it wakes me up and gets me thinking about what I will be doing that day.
This weekend was excellent - it began on Friday evening with the UCoffee house at the Common Cup, I actually performed (It was quite nerve-wracking, but I got over it about an hour after the act was over)!! Also, I had the unique pleasure of being able to check out the Fleetwood Diner for the first time ever. Enjoying the company of many great friends is becoming a precious gift and I cherish those moments with them.
Saturday was a beautiful time of relaxing with my "extended" family (the ones I live with), and getting ready for a great day with two of my best friends. Spent some quality time with J. and S.!! (who came up from L-Town later on to attend the Lady Danville/Ben Folds concert in Detroit) Both of which were amazing - I will do it again and again as long as they come to Michigan. Thanks once again to Ben Folds for expanding my horizons and teaching me about new music I wouldn't have discovered on my own! S. and I had some lovely conversations and were able to just have a fantastic time. To add to the beauty of the night, we also went Dancing! - something which I have been "craving" (as some might call it) for a long time. It brought back some great memories and I was really blessed by it. As life goes along and I get older, I tend to appreciate these moments more and more. With S. moving soon, these times will become a lot less easy to come by and I am just so grateful to be able to enjoy it while we can.
Sunday was also quite wonderful with lots of relaxing and celebration - the day ended in front of a fantastic fire, while a good friend read from the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Just enough time to kick back and begin the week.
Optimistic about many things - I press on into what we call life and I will look to the One who created me, reveling in the present, enjoying the past and looking with hope and expectation toward the future.
I love the weather right now! Crisp, cool air, smells of pumpkins and wood-burning stoves, walking with the wind in my face, delicious foods, fine friends and lots to celebrate! Life seems more and more amazing each time I think about it. Walking the boys to school in the morning has been quite a pleasurable time, it wakes me up and gets me thinking about what I will be doing that day.
This weekend was excellent - it began on Friday evening with the UCoffee house at the Common Cup, I actually performed (It was quite nerve-wracking, but I got over it about an hour after the act was over)!! Also, I had the unique pleasure of being able to check out the Fleetwood Diner for the first time ever. Enjoying the company of many great friends is becoming a precious gift and I cherish those moments with them.
Saturday was a beautiful time of relaxing with my "extended" family (the ones I live with), and getting ready for a great day with two of my best friends. Spent some quality time with J. and S.!! (who came up from L-Town later on to attend the Lady Danville/Ben Folds concert in Detroit) Both of which were amazing - I will do it again and again as long as they come to Michigan. Thanks once again to Ben Folds for expanding my horizons and teaching me about new music I wouldn't have discovered on my own! S. and I had some lovely conversations and were able to just have a fantastic time. To add to the beauty of the night, we also went Dancing! - something which I have been "craving" (as some might call it) for a long time. It brought back some great memories and I was really blessed by it. As life goes along and I get older, I tend to appreciate these moments more and more. With S. moving soon, these times will become a lot less easy to come by and I am just so grateful to be able to enjoy it while we can.
Sunday was also quite wonderful with lots of relaxing and celebration - the day ended in front of a fantastic fire, while a good friend read from the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Just enough time to kick back and begin the week.
Optimistic about many things - I press on into what we call life and I will look to the One who created me, reveling in the present, enjoying the past and looking with hope and expectation toward the future.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Life is Beautiful!
Life (past):
Recently jaded by a series of unfortunate events...well not really jaded, I just experienced some weird things all at once, I realized once again how truly blessed I am in my life. A couple things that happened:
My car got dented by an unknown driver who didn't leave their info, I got hassled by a Canadian border patrol woman, my computer decided to stop working (it would turn on, but the screen wouldn't register - it is now in the repair shop for the next month)...these are just the major things. It was a little odd, but I realized that I am blessed. There aren't too many things that I can really attribute to these things except I think I was experiencing a little bit of attack - but I do realize that not everyone has the amazing life I have.
Just a couple of blessings that have been "plaguing" my life: I have the best friends ever. I spent a good deal of time with some of my newest friends last weekend in Toronto - a beautiful city I would recommend to anyone who loves the hustle and bustle of the big city. I was able to hold two different babies for a total of 5 hours last week (I love kids)!! I was blessed to be able to keep my voice for the whole weekend while leading worship. I have some of the most amazing brothers, both my siblings and spiritual brothers - I have received some of the most encouraging affirmation and complimentary notes, emails, and conversations (and even a ticket to a concert of one of my favorite artists!) over the past few months - it's really amazing! Thanks guys! I have some of the best girl friends as well - they really listen, laugh, share, dream and put me back in place when needed. I am extremely happy to know you and be a part of your lives.
Life Today:
I woke up this morning - regular day - got the kids ready for school (I nanny for a family in town) and the little boys were trying to escape breakfast by not drinking all of their milk. They really wanted some candy, but I told them that that wouldn't happen until they had the rest of their cereal. (At some point I was labeled as "the worst babysitter ever" - lol). It was kind of hilarious. I just have to laugh at moments like that - and I know that I can't even imagine living another life. Right now in this moment is where I want to be.
Life (Future):
I got tickets to one of my favorite artists concert for tomorrow!!! Ben Folds! I can't wait. My BFF will be joining me for some fun times in Detroit. Awesome! I am so excited! I am also just looking forward to a weekend home with friends and people I love. This will be the first in awhile and probably the last in awhile. I will be spending most of it behind a computer screen applying for schools, but beyond that, I am ready to accept and enjoy it.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Ann Arbor in the morning
I woke up this morning to the hustle and bustle that only a Saturday morning could bring. But it's not just any Saturday morning, it's game day! That's right, MSU vs. UM today at the Big House. My favorite part of today so far was going for a walk in downtown and seeing all the mixing of Green/White and Maize/Blue. It was a beautiful thing to see. On my walk, I went past the UM Marching Band practicing at Elbel Field on Hill Street, and past a group of UM Clad fans...but the best part of this was there was a lone Spartan fan in that crowd of Maize. I had to laugh a little because he looked so out of place, but in a way, no matter the win or lose, there are friends on both sides of the board sharing this game day. And it's beautiful out here...70 degrees and sunny!!
One more thing to add - congratulations to the Red Wings on their win against the Anaheim Ducks last night! Great way to begin hockey season!!
So to whoever wins or loses, cheers. Go Green! :)
One more thing to add - congratulations to the Red Wings on their win against the Anaheim Ducks last night! Great way to begin hockey season!!
So to whoever wins or loses, cheers. Go Green! :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Chase this!
So last week I was sitting by the beach (as noted in a previous posting), and I realized something. Have you ever watched a sunset and seen the clouds slowly disappear from the sky? But they don't really disappear. They are chasing the sunset. I know that there is probably scientific reasoning behind all of this and someone who is schooled in that could probably run circles around me in explaining it, but I would like to think that something or Someone else is involved.
For me, to look at those clouds meant to think about what it's like to follow the Lord. We seek after him all day and when we think we're at our lowest points in life, we chase after him even more. We hope to find him in a deeper, more full way, and we do - but we also get to see the beauty in our lives more because of it. Sunset provides for one of the most gorgeous times of day during the late summer and early autumn. I love the beauty and mystery and joy it provides to me...it's also my absolute favorite activity of the summer.
That particular evening, I was also able to just stare into a star-scattered sky and was able to see the Milky Way. I love the night sky and find it very beautiful and fun to watch. As one of my future hobbies, I give star-gazing an A++. It's so neat!
That's it for now. Signing out.
For me, to look at those clouds meant to think about what it's like to follow the Lord. We seek after him all day and when we think we're at our lowest points in life, we chase after him even more. We hope to find him in a deeper, more full way, and we do - but we also get to see the beauty in our lives more because of it. Sunset provides for one of the most gorgeous times of day during the late summer and early autumn. I love the beauty and mystery and joy it provides to me...it's also my absolute favorite activity of the summer.
That particular evening, I was also able to just stare into a star-scattered sky and was able to see the Milky Way. I love the night sky and find it very beautiful and fun to watch. As one of my future hobbies, I give star-gazing an A++. It's so neat!
That's it for now. Signing out.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Mustard Seed What?
My Thoughts On Matters of Faith...
Today I attended a talk about Faith, Hope and Love. The speaker gave a lot of really great points on all three, but I was concerned about the Faith point and had some questions about it...What is faith really...can we measure faith or get a grasp on what it really is?
I began questioning these things particularly for a friend who's going through a rough time. What does it mean when we are holding onto faith but it doesn't seem like we are "clearing" the rough situation that we are in right now? The speaker pointed out that sometimes God allows us to go through these rough patches in life in order to be brought to a higher understanding and knowledge of what faith is. But because of our situation we are so bogged down in the here and now. He compared it to Peter walking on water. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water, but he faltered. In this, Christ was able to raise him up to a greater faith by picking him up. In my mind, another analogy could be like water-skiing. You get dragged through the water so much when you first learn, but once you are up, it is a beautiful thing. You are raised higher because you had to be dragged through the water first, but if you didn't allow yourself to go through that pain (and for us beginners, it's painful!), you wouldn't ever know what it's like to feel the exhilaration of standing up.
I also asked about the scripture about the faith of a mustard seed...what's that all about? I was thinking that when Christ said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains..." how can you measure faith? It's not really a thing to be measured, but it was explained to me in a way that was understandable: The mustard seed is just the example of how with our small amount of faith, the Lord can do big things. It's really our faith going up to the Lord and him taking it and making it whole and creating something beautiful...what a great concept! Those are my profound words of the evening...
On Community...
Just kidding...I guess a lot has been going on in my life lately. I gave a talk to almost 100 college students last night on community. Not a particular community, just community in general...living life in a community, what that means. I have some expanded thoughts on this so I thought I would share them here...20 minutes is just too little time to go into all the details of how I got to that 20 minute talk. :)
In a community, you are identifying yourself as part of a group, but also creating a way of life together. I identify myself as a part of University Christian Outreach, but also I have found a way of community through my church and other organizations. I find community life among my co-workers. We are all aiming at one thing - growing in relationship with Jesus Christ and leading others to know him. Our sense of community is tight because of that...and we just get along really well because of it all.
Why do we need community in our lives? Well, it provides a place where we can grow and be stretched. We need accountability (I know some people hate this word, but it's true) and a place to be able to grow, share, open ourselves up to being vulnerable. I have a philosophy that you don't ever really get to know someone fully until you have experienced or shared a difficulty in your life with them. I'm not saying we should be weeping and pouring our hearts out inappropriately (in fact, I ask you to refrain from that), but be open to the Holy Spirit working in your life to find places to share with people.
I realized through a talk I listened to recently that we aren't vulnerable...or we tend to shy away from it because of the fall. It makes sense doesn't it? We can't reveal our life to others comfortably because the only place we were able to do this was in the Garden of Eden. So revealing all is out of the question...and the only person who really knows all and will one day show all is the Lord, Jesus Christ. We won't ever be able to share everything we've ever experienced with anyone because we don't have the capacity for it. But Jesus does. He know and wants us to share with him...He himself is a community with the Father and the Spirit! Whoa. God in the Trinity is our only reason for being here on earth. God could have stopped at Adam and thought, "You know what? I think I'm just gonna give this a test run. If he does horribly, we'll start over." But he didn't. He went on to create Eve and thus make a community at the very beginning of Creation. We are so blessed now because of it!
Another reason for us to consider finding community within our lives is that we, as human beings, learn best when we can and are challenged by people who are different from us!! We need people who are different and challenging to us because it helps us to grow and learn how to relate to many different types of people. It gives us greater opportunities to love our neighbors (and sometimes our enemies). Take hold of these moments!
Real Christian Men/Women call each other onto greater holiness best through community. I would encourage any of you reading to consider the way that society...especially media entices us to be independent. Why? What's the point and how is that going to help? "oh, I'm hurting, so I'm going to isolate myself even more...harden myself to any possibility of intimacy in friendships or relationships..." BAD IDEA PANTS!!! What's up with all this. If we were made to be independent, God wouldn't have made the other 7 Billion people who are living on this planet!! Go out, find some good friends, and get to know people!!
Maybe more on this topic later...
Onto other things...
Last weekend I was joined by 130+ college students and UCO staff in Hillsdale, MI for our annual Fan Into Flame retreat. Basically a Life in the Spirit Seminar condensed into a weekend, it made for a great time of prayer and seeing the Lord work. It was absolutely lovely and very restful. I didn't lose my voice at the retreat...as I have on many others.
After the FIF, I went to South Haven, MI with a group of friends and enjoyed a beautiful sunset with a bonfire and s'mores and a watching of the Disney hit, Beauty and the Beast. It's amazing that the movie that scared me so much as a child still scares me, not the part with the wolves, but the part where the Beast is transformed into the prince...how did they get that animation out of the Beast? How did they pick those features? Keep him as the Beast please!!! He looked better that way! We also were able to enjoy a walk down by the lighthouse and a great 2nd Disney movie, 101 Dalmatians. I approve of the animation in this movie...especially Anita. She had some stellar outfits that I wish I had in my wardrobe! 10 points for great outfits!
Michigan plays MSU this weekend. I am praying that with my faith and MSU's wonderful record so far, we can squish the Maize & Blue into something green. :)
I spent part of the day at Borders bookstore. It's amazing how places like that can suck me in...I love books!! It was a wonderful afternoon though, just being able to learn about how many books on faith are available and just how much I don't know. I am looking for a really great daily devotional with some meat to it, so if anyone has suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated. I bought a good looking book about Women of the Bible and am looking forward to going through that in the next few weeks.
Finally, I just need to share that my play list right now is awesome. It has a beautiful combination of Ingrid Michaelson, Erin McCarley, Audrey Assad (I'm addicted to her music right now!), James Morrison, Regina Spektor and more...it's a really good playlist. :) If you haven't heard it, listen to Ingrid Michaelson's single: Parachute. I guess Ingrid wrote it and Cheryl Cole performed it first, but then Ingrid decided to bring it back for herself. It's funky and I love it!
Whew! Peace Out!
Monday, October 4, 2010
New Blog!
I decided it was time to make a new beginning. I would like to blog a little bit more...I think I just needed to find some direction in this area of my life. I really enjoy writing about random things that come up in my life...now I think I know what and how. We'll see how this works.
I posted some of my favorite old blogs from my other site (which has since been shut down), and have moved everything here...I think. I probably missed something...but I guess that's what is good about starting over.
I have been learning a lot about myself and my life lately, such as, I really enjoy staying up late, I really love the taste, smell and comfort of a good cup of coffee, and I really enjoy journaling my thoughts. There are few things in life that make me happier. Good friends and family time are a must and prayer makes my life revolve properly. A good schedule is also essential to the "long-run" of my life. Yoga is also very beneficial.
A group of my co-workers and I spent a good part of the weekend holding a retreat called "Fan into Flame" for 100 or so college students. It was held in the back-woods of Hillsdale, MI. A very beautiful camp there hosted us and we experienced a very faith-filled weekend of prayer and God working. After this, some of us went to the west coast of Michigan to enjoy a lovely day off near Lake Michigan. It was a lovely day - movies, food, music, friends, a bonfire, and an all-around comfy, fun time. I learn and re-learn many things often, one of these is that I have wonderful friends who are beautiful and full of the love of Christ and I would not trade them for anything. Thank you Jesus!
In other news, I have a new niece who was born at the beginning of September, Ramona Claire (named after me)! She is beautiful and healthy and I am traveling to see her as much as I can with my crazy schedule. I am hoping to see her this weekend and spend some quality time with her loveliness! Family is such a gift and I am blessed by them so much.
Since it's way too late for me to even be awake, I'm signing off for the night, but hopefully there will be more to come soon.
I posted some of my favorite old blogs from my other site (which has since been shut down), and have moved everything here...I think. I probably missed something...but I guess that's what is good about starting over.
I have been learning a lot about myself and my life lately, such as, I really enjoy staying up late, I really love the taste, smell and comfort of a good cup of coffee, and I really enjoy journaling my thoughts. There are few things in life that make me happier. Good friends and family time are a must and prayer makes my life revolve properly. A good schedule is also essential to the "long-run" of my life. Yoga is also very beneficial.
A group of my co-workers and I spent a good part of the weekend holding a retreat called "Fan into Flame" for 100 or so college students. It was held in the back-woods of Hillsdale, MI. A very beautiful camp there hosted us and we experienced a very faith-filled weekend of prayer and God working. After this, some of us went to the west coast of Michigan to enjoy a lovely day off near Lake Michigan. It was a lovely day - movies, food, music, friends, a bonfire, and an all-around comfy, fun time. I learn and re-learn many things often, one of these is that I have wonderful friends who are beautiful and full of the love of Christ and I would not trade them for anything. Thank you Jesus!
In other news, I have a new niece who was born at the beginning of September, Ramona Claire (named after me)! She is beautiful and healthy and I am traveling to see her as much as I can with my crazy schedule. I am hoping to see her this weekend and spend some quality time with her loveliness! Family is such a gift and I am blessed by them so much.
Since it's way too late for me to even be awake, I'm signing off for the night, but hopefully there will be more to come soon.
Old Blog Posts
Just another day…
•February 4, 2010 •I was thinking today about service and how my service can affect the service of others…
Now, I realize that my life is service right now, serving in UCO through WOL and SOS, I can say a number of things about service and what service in my life has done and changed me. But really, service is more than just us. It’s more about what’s going on in the here and now and it looks forward toward eternity. Service isn’t just about helping someone with something, it’s about making changes in the lives of people who may not have experienced those changes otherwise. There are many people who serve me and do great things and have changed me and my thoughts without knowing. I guess my “worldview” has opened up to a great number of things I wouldn’t know without the service of others. Yet, sometimes I find myself turning back in and focusing on me. It’s really not about me. I want to change myself to be focused out on someone else. Even if it’s just one person, even if my life were to serve one person, it would be worth it.
I once read a quote from Mother Theresa that said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”. I think this is so true! This week I found myself looking back at myself and not looking out and focusing on the love of others and love for others…this week was a long, hard week because of that. I realized that my love for me cannot go anywhere, but my love for others and for Christ can bring joy, hope and peace. I was not a happy person, and in pondering why, I realized that I was being selfish, I am looking now to Jesus Christ, the one who saves me and learning more about love from the one who cares.
In other news, if you have not heard of Anjelah Johnson, you should totally check her out in the “Bon Qui Qui at King Burger” on Youtube.
Now, I realize that my life is service right now, serving in UCO through WOL and SOS, I can say a number of things about service and what service in my life has done and changed me. But really, service is more than just us. It’s more about what’s going on in the here and now and it looks forward toward eternity. Service isn’t just about helping someone with something, it’s about making changes in the lives of people who may not have experienced those changes otherwise. There are many people who serve me and do great things and have changed me and my thoughts without knowing. I guess my “worldview” has opened up to a great number of things I wouldn’t know without the service of others. Yet, sometimes I find myself turning back in and focusing on me. It’s really not about me. I want to change myself to be focused out on someone else. Even if it’s just one person, even if my life were to serve one person, it would be worth it.
I once read a quote from Mother Theresa that said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”. I think this is so true! This week I found myself looking back at myself and not looking out and focusing on the love of others and love for others…this week was a long, hard week because of that. I realized that my love for me cannot go anywhere, but my love for others and for Christ can bring joy, hope and peace. I was not a happy person, and in pondering why, I realized that I was being selfish, I am looking now to Jesus Christ, the one who saves me and learning more about love from the one who cares.
In other news, if you have not heard of Anjelah Johnson, you should totally check her out in the “Bon Qui Qui at King Burger” on Youtube.
Life is short – love now!
•October 22, 2009 •Recently I experienced the death of my Uncle Tom, my mother’s brother. He was a wonderful and talented man and I’m glad that he is in a better place, but it is hard to not have him here. I think the hardest thing will be not having him around during the holidays. It was a hard weekend with my family in from out of town and seeing them for the first time in many years. It was not hard seeing them, just emotionally a lot to take in.
Coming from a large family (my mom is one of 17 kids and my dad is the oldest of 14), I have a lot of experience with life and death. I have been going to weddings, funerals and baptisms for many many years and when another one comes around, it’s a wonderful thing, but also sad in some ways. It’s a new beginning in all of the circumstances, but can bring happiness or sadness or both in the situation at hand. Weddings bring joy to both of the families involved (most of the time), but also brings a time of mourning the loss of singleness for the couple involved. As a fairly independent woman, I believe this will something that will happen to me when I marry. I will be very excited of course, but as with entering any new stage of life, you are saying goodbye to an old one – one that you often know well and love. That is one form of happiness and sadness. In a funeral, the obvious sadness is the loss of a dear friend, companion, or relative. But there is often also joy to know that they are experiencing something better than we can imagine. So many funerals are sad, but also come with a sense of joy and celebration of this person’s life. And the last is a birth/baptism. This is the ultimate example of new life…because that is ultimately what it is. For the parents, welcoming a child into their lives is very joyful, but also brings a new phase of “mourning” in a way of who they were before that child existed. It is a very exciting time, but also a time of letting go of more of themselves to give all to this new person.
Love life now. It doesn’t matter if you’re married, single, grieving, joyful…etc. Live life to the fullest right now. Sitting around and wishing that something would happen does not make your life more full, it makes it more lonely. So go out there, get some friends, find a new hobby, revive or begin a spiritual life. It helps to know who you are and to love wherever you are.
A few years ago I was in a job that I didn’t enjoy in a town I didn’t like. In fact, I dreaded going to work everyday and wished that I didn’t need to. Soon after I realized this, I found a job that I now have and I love it, in a different town that I love! I am using my talents and skills that come naturally to me and I enjoy it. This is how we are made – with certain gifts and abilities and if we aren’t using them, we are wasting them. Find what you love and do it, and do it well!
Lately, life has been fascinating. I didn’t end up going to Cedar Point, as I got sick that weekend. And my trip to PA was canceled because of our death in the family. It wasn’t an all around bad thing though. I ended up enjoying some time alone (something I haven’t had in awhile). It was very good. I also got to experience the love of a lot of close friends and they really blessed me while I was grieving and made me laugh (another wonderful thing to have in life – awesome friends who make you laugh!).
I am really looking forward to two trips coming up soon: New Hampshire (with my family for Thanksgiving) and Florida (with my brother for Christmas). I am very excited about both, and I think they will be excellent for me, but I know it will also be a little difficult (as this is one of my first Christmas’ away from home). And also a trip to Joe Louis Arena to see the Red Wings play!! I am sooo excited for this especially!
Off to find myself a jersey now (not a hot pink one) – don’t worry – I will stick to the team colors.
Coming from a large family (my mom is one of 17 kids and my dad is the oldest of 14), I have a lot of experience with life and death. I have been going to weddings, funerals and baptisms for many many years and when another one comes around, it’s a wonderful thing, but also sad in some ways. It’s a new beginning in all of the circumstances, but can bring happiness or sadness or both in the situation at hand. Weddings bring joy to both of the families involved (most of the time), but also brings a time of mourning the loss of singleness for the couple involved. As a fairly independent woman, I believe this will something that will happen to me when I marry. I will be very excited of course, but as with entering any new stage of life, you are saying goodbye to an old one – one that you often know well and love. That is one form of happiness and sadness. In a funeral, the obvious sadness is the loss of a dear friend, companion, or relative. But there is often also joy to know that they are experiencing something better than we can imagine. So many funerals are sad, but also come with a sense of joy and celebration of this person’s life. And the last is a birth/baptism. This is the ultimate example of new life…because that is ultimately what it is. For the parents, welcoming a child into their lives is very joyful, but also brings a new phase of “mourning” in a way of who they were before that child existed. It is a very exciting time, but also a time of letting go of more of themselves to give all to this new person.
Love life now. It doesn’t matter if you’re married, single, grieving, joyful…etc. Live life to the fullest right now. Sitting around and wishing that something would happen does not make your life more full, it makes it more lonely. So go out there, get some friends, find a new hobby, revive or begin a spiritual life. It helps to know who you are and to love wherever you are.
A few years ago I was in a job that I didn’t enjoy in a town I didn’t like. In fact, I dreaded going to work everyday and wished that I didn’t need to. Soon after I realized this, I found a job that I now have and I love it, in a different town that I love! I am using my talents and skills that come naturally to me and I enjoy it. This is how we are made – with certain gifts and abilities and if we aren’t using them, we are wasting them. Find what you love and do it, and do it well!
Lately, life has been fascinating. I didn’t end up going to Cedar Point, as I got sick that weekend. And my trip to PA was canceled because of our death in the family. It wasn’t an all around bad thing though. I ended up enjoying some time alone (something I haven’t had in awhile). It was very good. I also got to experience the love of a lot of close friends and they really blessed me while I was grieving and made me laugh (another wonderful thing to have in life – awesome friends who make you laugh!).
I am really looking forward to two trips coming up soon: New Hampshire (with my family for Thanksgiving) and Florida (with my brother for Christmas). I am very excited about both, and I think they will be excellent for me, but I know it will also be a little difficult (as this is one of my first Christmas’ away from home). And also a trip to Joe Louis Arena to see the Red Wings play!! I am sooo excited for this especially!
Off to find myself a jersey now (not a hot pink one) – don’t worry – I will stick to the team colors.
Jesus walks…and miracles do happen.
•September 29, 2009 •So this weekend was probably one of the first times that I feel like I’m on the right track with the Lord, I mean I’ve had a relationship with him for awhile now, but I think this is a different type of “life” I am experiencing. It’s like a plug on a machine that was half-way into the wall and has now been fully plugged in, before it didn’t have a full source of electricity and would sometimes go in and out, but now it’s fully charged. I feel like a tree which has experienced winter and is now ready for spring, with buds beginning to bloom – looking up into the sky with new life and a new season approaching. I am on fire. I am alive. Ever since I asked the Lord to completely take over my life, the scripture and words from God have been more alive to me. I am so excited!!
Even though I don’t agree with Kanye West most of the time, his lyrics from “Jesus Walks” came out at me:
“God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down (Jesus Walks)
The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now (Jesus Walks…)”
This is where I was situated in my heart before being prayed over this weekend. I knew the devil was breaking me down in many ways and I pray now to have the strength to not get to the place where my feet might fail me. Another song has been going through my mind also – “Child of God” by Vineyard Music:
“With every breath, with every part, from what is seen to the deepest part, I offer all that I’ve come to be – to know your love fathering me. Father, you’re all I need! My soul’s sufficiency, my strength when I am weak, the Love that carries me. Your arms enfold me until I am only a Child of God. With every step on this journey’s walk and wisdom’s song that the soul has sought – I give myself unreservedly to know your love enfolding me. Father you’re all I need! – My soul’s sufficiency, my strength when I am weak, the Love that carries me. Your arms enfold me until I am only a Child of God.”
Those are my spiritual thoughts for the evening – morning. Again, I am writing (as I always do) very, very early in the morning before going to bed. Now onto some practical life things…
Life is great here in the little town of Ann Arbor. It’s great to be more fully situated and to know who my friends are and what I am doing in my life (with my job, with my friends, with my free time…etc.) I have a great many little trips planned for the future and look forward to taking them. I hope to head down to PA to visit the Shay Family as well as out to NH and Flordia to visit my brothers and their families. I also hope to get down to TX for the first time in my life and visit my good friend Rachel. But while I’m here, I have people who love me and with whom I love to hang out.
I am also looking forward to Cedar Point next week, Autumn just beginning, the Red Wings game coming up in a month, Fall Walks with Julie and Mary F., Bonfires, friends and fun. Life is good and I’m just so excited to be living it. Ann Arbor brings me so much life and I think it’s partially the city and partially the knowledge and reality that God really wants me here. PTL!!
I need to go to bed now as it is 2am EST. Thanks for reading once again.
Even though I don’t agree with Kanye West most of the time, his lyrics from “Jesus Walks” came out at me:
“God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down (Jesus Walks)
The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now (Jesus Walks…)”
This is where I was situated in my heart before being prayed over this weekend. I knew the devil was breaking me down in many ways and I pray now to have the strength to not get to the place where my feet might fail me. Another song has been going through my mind also – “Child of God” by Vineyard Music:
“With every breath, with every part, from what is seen to the deepest part, I offer all that I’ve come to be – to know your love fathering me. Father, you’re all I need! My soul’s sufficiency, my strength when I am weak, the Love that carries me. Your arms enfold me until I am only a Child of God. With every step on this journey’s walk and wisdom’s song that the soul has sought – I give myself unreservedly to know your love enfolding me. Father you’re all I need! – My soul’s sufficiency, my strength when I am weak, the Love that carries me. Your arms enfold me until I am only a Child of God.”
Those are my spiritual thoughts for the evening – morning. Again, I am writing (as I always do) very, very early in the morning before going to bed. Now onto some practical life things…
Life is great here in the little town of Ann Arbor. It’s great to be more fully situated and to know who my friends are and what I am doing in my life (with my job, with my friends, with my free time…etc.) I have a great many little trips planned for the future and look forward to taking them. I hope to head down to PA to visit the Shay Family as well as out to NH and Flordia to visit my brothers and their families. I also hope to get down to TX for the first time in my life and visit my good friend Rachel. But while I’m here, I have people who love me and with whom I love to hang out.
I am also looking forward to Cedar Point next week, Autumn just beginning, the Red Wings game coming up in a month, Fall Walks with Julie and Mary F., Bonfires, friends and fun. Life is good and I’m just so excited to be living it. Ann Arbor brings me so much life and I think it’s partially the city and partially the knowledge and reality that God really wants me here. PTL!!
I need to go to bed now as it is 2am EST. Thanks for reading once again.
For the Love of Summer…
•August 25, 2009 •It’s been FOR-EV-ER. As you can see I am not much of a writer. I would love to be and totally enjoy writing – I just forget!!
So I have officially finished my first year as a UCO staffer in Ann Arbor, MI. Very exciting and very sad at the same time. A new year means a new set of staff (mostly) and I will miss working with my old friends. I am excited for the new ones though, don’t get me wrong!!!
My summer began with a conference and ended with a conference (not the same one) and I will be beginning my 2nd year tomorrow. The beginning of the summer brought about a lot of fun and joy. I was asked to help with an International Women’s Conference at the beginning of May – which I totally loved! and then went straight from there into working with the students who decided to stick around for part of the summer and dedicate some of their time to building relationships (including their one with God). It made for a great beginning to the summer.
I was also helping with the development of something my co-workers like to call “Project Hawaii” – a wonderful plan to build up some of our sister outreaches across North America. This was a work in progress and it took a couple months to complete it (I think some finishing touches are still happening now).
My brother also got married – Christian Alexander and Sonya Ann joined together in Holy Matrimony on June 20. It was a wonderful wedding. The music was AWESOME! I sang – my sis played cello – my lil bro joined us on the violin. Try singing “Holy Matrimony” in a high voice – yeah, not easy is it? haha…
So that was May and June, on top of all that I also moved, took some roadtrips out to see friends in Grand Rapids and Lansing, attended 4 weddings besides my brother’s and had an overall packed time!!
July came about and brought with it a whole different can of jellybeans called the COA. It is now over and great, but wow…CRAZINESS!! I began prep for COA sometime in late May, but in July I really dove in and began working on it. I ended up helping with one of our three tracks on “Discipleship”. I was also the key administrator for this, so it was quite the project. But August 9-18 came and flew by with no major bumps. It was a great time and I look forward to working on it next year.
I also went for a long visit to see my brother Stefan, his wife Katie and their two boys Luke and Jude. Luke is almost 4 and Jude is 18 months. They are the cutest, most beautiful kids I have ever met with the biggest smiles!! I loved hanging out with them and road-tripping with my little brother John Paul as well. I hope to spend a good bit of time out there next year, but we will see what life brings! By the way, Jude is my Godson and honestly, no one can rival him. His nickname is “Judo” because “Judee” is too feminine and the former just works for him. He’s so full of energy!!
I just arrived back home tonight from a weekend in Minnesota visiting some close friends. It is a wonderful place and if you haven’t visited you should – and if you have, you should go back and take a walk down Grand. It’s just beautiful!!
SO it’s been a great summer- long and good, but packed!! One of these days I will learn to slow down. No really, I swear! Goodbye for now. Keep me posted on your lives!
So I have officially finished my first year as a UCO staffer in Ann Arbor, MI. Very exciting and very sad at the same time. A new year means a new set of staff (mostly) and I will miss working with my old friends. I am excited for the new ones though, don’t get me wrong!!!
My summer began with a conference and ended with a conference (not the same one) and I will be beginning my 2nd year tomorrow. The beginning of the summer brought about a lot of fun and joy. I was asked to help with an International Women’s Conference at the beginning of May – which I totally loved! and then went straight from there into working with the students who decided to stick around for part of the summer and dedicate some of their time to building relationships (including their one with God). It made for a great beginning to the summer.
I was also helping with the development of something my co-workers like to call “Project Hawaii” – a wonderful plan to build up some of our sister outreaches across North America. This was a work in progress and it took a couple months to complete it (I think some finishing touches are still happening now).
My brother also got married – Christian Alexander and Sonya Ann joined together in Holy Matrimony on June 20. It was a wonderful wedding. The music was AWESOME!
I sang – my sis played cello – my lil bro joined us on the violin. Try singing “Holy Matrimony” in a high voice – yeah, not easy is it? haha…So that was May and June, on top of all that I also moved, took some roadtrips out to see friends in Grand Rapids and Lansing, attended 4 weddings besides my brother’s and had an overall packed time!!
July came about and brought with it a whole different can of jellybeans called the COA. It is now over and great, but wow…CRAZINESS!! I began prep for COA sometime in late May, but in July I really dove in and began working on it. I ended up helping with one of our three tracks on “Discipleship”. I was also the key administrator for this, so it was quite the project. But August 9-18 came and flew by with no major bumps. It was a great time and I look forward to working on it next year.
I also went for a long visit to see my brother Stefan, his wife Katie and their two boys Luke and Jude. Luke is almost 4 and Jude is 18 months. They are the cutest, most beautiful kids I have ever met with the biggest smiles!! I loved hanging out with them and road-tripping with my little brother John Paul as well. I hope to spend a good bit of time out there next year, but we will see what life brings! By the way, Jude is my Godson and honestly, no one can rival him. His nickname is “Judo” because “Judee” is too feminine and the former just works for him. He’s so full of energy!!
I just arrived back home tonight from a weekend in Minnesota visiting some close friends. It is a wonderful place and if you haven’t visited you should – and if you have, you should go back and take a walk down Grand. It’s just beautiful!!
SO it’s been a great summer- long and good, but packed!! One of these days I will learn to slow down. No really, I swear! Goodbye for now. Keep me posted on your lives!
Life of the Night…
•February 17, 2009 •It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything – mostly because I’ve just been soo busy with life. It’s funny how it’s busy, and how much I spend looking at a screen – probably not the best thing. Lately I was speaking with a friend about some stuff and he had his computer screen on in front of him and every six minutes a little screen popped up notating that it was taking a pause. When I asked him what it was, he said his computer takes a break every six minutes for eight seconds to give his eyes and hands a rest; every hour, it takes an eight minute break and he needs to get up and do something else (like stretches which are so nicely placed in front of him on his screen). It’s not a bad idea.
As you can probably tell, I am writing this late at night – the time when I get the most stuff done. I’m sitting in the student union at the University of Michigan and have heard conversations about God, Homosexuality, Biology, food and other things just filling the air around me for the past 3 hours. Getting work done here is interesting. It brings me back to the days of studying in the MSU Union until all hours of the morning. And despite the lack of a Biggby (Beaner’s) Coffee Shop – I am kind of partial to the atmosphere. It’s almost therapeutic.
The last couple months have been full of late night ponderings. With Christmas, Winter Conference (an Annual Event hosted by Kairos [UCO/SPO]), and getting back into the swing of working and dealing with life’s issues, it has been a hard time for me to sleep. Lately I have been lying in bed late at night with the next day’s work in my head, or certain music taking up residence. Kinda fun for the first 20 minutes, then I realize I actually need to sleep at night – and then the trouble begins.
Earlier today I was conversing with a friend and she brought up the point about how life is so busy and sleep gets in the way of what we need to do. True, but at the same time, any logical person knows that sleep is part of the way we survive life and most of us don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. Why are we so afraid/annoyed/irritated to go to sleep and yet have a difficult time waking up? Hmm…as my mom would say, “Pondering minds would like to know.”
This past Saturday a couple of friends and I spent some time with one of our girlfriends who lives a good distance from my apartment. On the trip home, my roommate and I discovered we had a flat tire – and spent the next 3 hours fixing the problem and getting towed. (The problem wasn’t fixed that night, only momentarily resolved by the tow-truck pulling the car to our complex) It was a night of frustration, but also of some fun conversations that I might not have had. My roommate may not have been too happy with the situation (as it was her car) – but it was not too bad looking back on it…and I am still catching up to that sleep that I lost.
These are the blubberings of my mind for the night. I need to get out of here and go to bed now – I’m off to Florida in a few days and don’t want to be sleeping during my entire vacation.
As you can probably tell, I am writing this late at night – the time when I get the most stuff done. I’m sitting in the student union at the University of Michigan and have heard conversations about God, Homosexuality, Biology, food and other things just filling the air around me for the past 3 hours. Getting work done here is interesting. It brings me back to the days of studying in the MSU Union until all hours of the morning. And despite the lack of a Biggby (Beaner’s) Coffee Shop – I am kind of partial to the atmosphere. It’s almost therapeutic.
The last couple months have been full of late night ponderings. With Christmas, Winter Conference (an Annual Event hosted by Kairos [UCO/SPO]), and getting back into the swing of working and dealing with life’s issues, it has been a hard time for me to sleep. Lately I have been lying in bed late at night with the next day’s work in my head, or certain music taking up residence. Kinda fun for the first 20 minutes, then I realize I actually need to sleep at night – and then the trouble begins.
Earlier today I was conversing with a friend and she brought up the point about how life is so busy and sleep gets in the way of what we need to do. True, but at the same time, any logical person knows that sleep is part of the way we survive life and most of us don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. Why are we so afraid/annoyed/irritated to go to sleep and yet have a difficult time waking up? Hmm…as my mom would say, “Pondering minds would like to know.”
This past Saturday a couple of friends and I spent some time with one of our girlfriends who lives a good distance from my apartment. On the trip home, my roommate and I discovered we had a flat tire – and spent the next 3 hours fixing the problem and getting towed. (The problem wasn’t fixed that night, only momentarily resolved by the tow-truck pulling the car to our complex) It was a night of frustration, but also of some fun conversations that I might not have had. My roommate may not have been too happy with the situation (as it was her car) – but it was not too bad looking back on it…and I am still catching up to that sleep that I lost.
These are the blubberings of my mind for the night. I need to get out of here and go to bed now – I’m off to Florida in a few days and don’t want to be sleeping during my entire vacation.
What’s in a name?
•November 7, 2008 •So lately God has been teaching me a lot about myself. One of the biggest challenges I have gone through since moving to Ann Arbor is that I have had to find my identity in Christ, not in who I thought I was (i.e. popular, with many friends, known by many, community kid…etc.). I have had to place my total trust in Him. Not a bad thing, but definitely something I haven’t experienced at this level.
A funny thing was when I got here, I seemed to forget the actuality of how many friends I did have here – which made me have to lean on Christ more! Before beginning work with UCO, I was finding myself out by the pool in my apartment complex, by myself just contemplating life. Times have changed from that stage I was at 13 weeks ago. I am now busier than ever, but the Lord is still training my mind and heart and I am more content with Him now than I ever was before.
Recently I was invited to visit a local evanglical church of a friend who’s dad was preaching that Sunday. The topic of the sermon was our name – finding our identity in Christ. This was right on for me, but being who I am kind of thought, “Lord, didn’t we already touch on this subject a bit? What are you trying to say?” Nonetheless, I was intrigued. The preacher was speaking about how when we were named, our names meant something, and they still do. Our names define us and can become our “idol” in a way, because of the pride we carry in our lives.
Later that evening, I had been invited to have dinner with some friends. It was more of a sharing group than anything – very pleasant, but I was new and didn’t really know if I had a place there. When one of the girls began sharing about how God values our names and how we were named what we were for a reason, I began getting chills. The Lord was trying to work in me and I was beginning to shrug Him off a bit – then he brought me back to reality. I felt Him saying to me, “I know you, before you were born I knew your name and your purpose – why can’t you believe that your name has something to do with your life. It defines you. Figure out what it means and you will figure out your purpose.”
For myself, I have always prided myself with coming from a big family that many people knew. Moving to Ann Arbor, I have not had this experience as none of my were known in the area as well as they were in my hometown. I have been slowly gaining my own identity here as a “pretty-cool” person, but first of all, I hope to be known as a daughter of God. But when I realized that God was teaching me so much more. Something that goes deeper, that I will probably continue learning for the rest of my life – the purpose for my life.
So I went home and looked up what my name means:
Claire – Famous/Brilliant Light
Marie – “Wished-For Child”, “Beloved”, “Full of Grace”
Monica – “The Advisor”
Cherniawski – Of/In the Black Forest
A cool name if you ask me. Monica wasn’t given to me at birth, but as a Confirmation name in the Catholic Church. In my family, traditionally, we have “unofficially” added it next to our middle name. It totally fits as one of my spiritual gifts is pastoring/guiding. Way cool.
As for what else is going on in my life, it’s been interesting because it seems like anyone who is anyone is either beginning a relationship or getting engaged. Crazy, I know. But it seems true. A little discouraging, but enlightening at the same time. I’ve realized that although it would be nice to be in a relationship right now, it’s not necessary for me. And somehow, rejoicing with other people is a lot less stressful. I’m now up to 9 weddings next summer…and counting. whoa! That is a LOT of weddings. But hooray for good Christian families and relationships too!
A funny thing was when I got here, I seemed to forget the actuality of how many friends I did have here – which made me have to lean on Christ more! Before beginning work with UCO, I was finding myself out by the pool in my apartment complex, by myself just contemplating life. Times have changed from that stage I was at 13 weeks ago. I am now busier than ever, but the Lord is still training my mind and heart and I am more content with Him now than I ever was before.
Recently I was invited to visit a local evanglical church of a friend who’s dad was preaching that Sunday. The topic of the sermon was our name – finding our identity in Christ. This was right on for me, but being who I am kind of thought, “Lord, didn’t we already touch on this subject a bit? What are you trying to say?” Nonetheless, I was intrigued. The preacher was speaking about how when we were named, our names meant something, and they still do. Our names define us and can become our “idol” in a way, because of the pride we carry in our lives.
Later that evening, I had been invited to have dinner with some friends. It was more of a sharing group than anything – very pleasant, but I was new and didn’t really know if I had a place there. When one of the girls began sharing about how God values our names and how we were named what we were for a reason, I began getting chills. The Lord was trying to work in me and I was beginning to shrug Him off a bit – then he brought me back to reality. I felt Him saying to me, “I know you, before you were born I knew your name and your purpose – why can’t you believe that your name has something to do with your life. It defines you. Figure out what it means and you will figure out your purpose.”
For myself, I have always prided myself with coming from a big family that many people knew. Moving to Ann Arbor, I have not had this experience as none of my were known in the area as well as they were in my hometown. I have been slowly gaining my own identity here as a “pretty-cool” person, but first of all, I hope to be known as a daughter of God. But when I realized that God was teaching me so much more. Something that goes deeper, that I will probably continue learning for the rest of my life – the purpose for my life.
So I went home and looked up what my name means:
Claire – Famous/Brilliant Light
Marie – “Wished-For Child”, “Beloved”, “Full of Grace”
Monica – “The Advisor”
Cherniawski – Of/In the Black Forest
A cool name if you ask me. Monica wasn’t given to me at birth, but as a Confirmation name in the Catholic Church. In my family, traditionally, we have “unofficially” added it next to our middle name. It totally fits as one of my spiritual gifts is pastoring/guiding. Way cool.
As for what else is going on in my life, it’s been interesting because it seems like anyone who is anyone is either beginning a relationship or getting engaged. Crazy, I know. But it seems true. A little discouraging, but enlightening at the same time. I’ve realized that although it would be nice to be in a relationship right now, it’s not necessary for me. And somehow, rejoicing with other people is a lot less stressful. I’m now up to 9 weddings next summer…and counting. whoa! That is a LOT of weddings. But hooray for good Christian families and relationships too!
When God writes your story…
•July 25, 2008 • He definitely knows what he’s talking about!I was recently in a Prayer Meeting near Michigan State University Campus and I came across the re-discovered realization that God knows me. He knows what I’m talking about and who I am. He knows when I need a word from him and when I need to be radiating his peace. He knows the turmoil in my life and the rollercoaster ride that I experience.
This week has been quite busy because of my moving and summer camp coming up. After that I will be attending Campus Outreach Academy also – So I’m looking to a busy next few weeks and the Lord knows that. Last night I picked up my bible after a dear friend encouraged me to turn to the Lord more and the scripture I opened up to was: Isaiah 49:4- 18 and it talks about how the Lord is our strength when we think we’re fighting for nothing. Also, that he will restore us. It’s amazing how much the Lord can restore and renew me through just one scripture passage. Wow!
Please keep me in your prayers these next couple weeks as I begin my new job and close out another chapter in my life.
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