Tuesday, December 16, 2008

how firm a foundation

As much as I love some of the new worship songs I have song lately (Hillsong and all that), I love to revisit old hymns so much.

The words seem to carry so much weight for me.

They are so beautiful.

  1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
    Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
    What more can He say than to you He hath said—
    To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
  2. “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
    For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
    I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
    Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
  3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
    The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
    For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
    And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
  4. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
    My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
    The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
    Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
  5. “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
    I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
    That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
    I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
What a firm foundation we have in Christ!

Monday, November 24, 2008

photos

My roommates... we finally did a photoshoot


Sam kept telling Lydia and me to open our eyes. That's just how we smile.


Me, Lydia, Priscilla, and Allie


Sam's new place... it has limish green carpet. In every room. It looks more olive at night... it's a huge apt. (first floor of a big old house)

The bedroom



The 2nd bedroom (Sam made a cardboard box fort for Mo)

The bathroom. very small.

The sunroom. I like it.


The kitchen. We already painted it. Now it's all white (not half wood with yellow trim)

The fireplace!

The dining room. Not so much dining going on yet.

The living room. I got a real nice couch on craigslist.

We're going to have a party at Sam's after winter break and YOU are invited!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

changes

It's been a while again.
My life this semester has been busy. More than busy.
I wake up at 6 and I have student teaching every morning at Chesterbrook Academy
It's beginning to get to cold to ride my bike there every day.
I love it though. The kids are great. They are so young (3 yrs), so it's definitely different, but great. I wish I could post pictures of them. Just picture the cutest three year olds ever.

Anyway, the rest of my days are filled with classes and homework. It's definitely the busiest I have ever been in my life. It's been hard to keep up any sort of relationships outside of Sam and my roommates (who I see often enough that I can't help keeping up with).

Speaking of roommates, I LOVE MY HOUSE. It has been awesome to finally have a home here on campus. And it's beautiful. I will post some pictures soon. It's great to live with girls that I know are there for me when I need them. We're all really busy, but it's still great.

Some other big news is that Sam got a job in Danville, IL. It's about 30 min. from champaign-urbana. Sam will be working as a pricing analyst for KIK, a company that creates household products for companies like Proctor and Gamble, Clorox, etc.

It will be a big change, to say the least.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

wow


I haven't written on here in forever. I don't even know where to start. This summer I've basically been a mom for 40hrs a week to three kids who are 5, 7, and 9. I have two dogs and a blue Honda Odyssey mini-van. It's been fun but also taught me a lot about patience (and how I don't have enough). I'm sure it will be easier when I have my own kids, but some days it is just so hard. Then they will go and make me something special, tell me they love me, or give me hugs and kisses, and all the frustration I had with them is suddenly gone.
I'm actually going to miss them a lot. It's sad to think that I only have about a week left with them.


Also, as you know, Sam and I are getting married! That's sort of taken over my free time, since I've been trying to figure out a lot of details before I go back to school. Here are a couple pictures of it...
I know, it looks lame how my hand is up and stuff, but we wanted the ring to be in the picture... Also, I'm pretty sure I'm shining a flashlight on it. That was not intentional :)
That was supposed to be a heart made from candles, but it ended up being a blob. :)

I'm moving into a house with some girlfriends in a couple weeks and I'm excited. It will be nice to have our own place...

Sorry this was a lame post, but I'll get back into the swing of things soon!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

ENFP

So, I took the Myers Brigg test... i'm ENFP (extroverted, iNtuitive, feeling, perceiving)

read on and see if you think this sounds like me...

ENFP Strengths

• Most ENFPs will exhibit the following strengths with regards to relationships issues:

• Good communication skills

• Very perceptive about people's thought and motives

• Motivational, inspirational; bring out the best in others

• Warmly affectionate and affirming

• Fun to be with - lively sense of humor, dramatic, energetic, optimistic

• Strive for "win-win" situations

• Driven to meet other's needs

• Usually loyal and dedicated


ENFP Weaknesses

• Most ENFPs will exhibit the following weaknesses with regards to relationship issues:

• Their enthusiasm may lead them to be unrealistic

• Uninterested in dealing with "mundane" matters such as cleaning, paying bills, etc.

• Extreme dislike of conflict

• Extreme dislike of criticism

• Don't pay attention to their own needs

• Constant quest for the perfect relationship may make them change relationships frequently

• May become bored easily

• Have difficulty scolding or punishing others


ENFPs are initiators of change who are keenly perceptive of possibilities, and who energize and stimulate through their contagious enthusiasm. They prefer the start-up phase of a project or relationship, and are tireless in the pursuit of new-found interests. ENFPs are able to anticipate the needs of others and to offer them needed help and appreciation. They bring zest, joy, liveliness, and fun to all aspects of their lives. They are at their best in situations that are fluid and changing, and that allow them to express their creativity and use their charisma.

Living

ENFP children are 'into everything.' Their natural curiosity results in children for whom questions were invented. They often spend long periods of time devising new and original --- but not necessarily practical --- languages, plays, and scenarios. Many ENFPs enjoy drawing, writing, playacting, and dreaming. They are often chosen as leaders because of their persuasive enthusiasm and their energy for new and different ways of developing things.

ENFP teenagers are agreeable, sociable, outgoing people who like to imagine themselves in the future. They spend many hours wondering and discussing with friends whom they will marry, where they will live, what their children will be like, and what work they will do. They leave no option or possibility unexplored and find it difficult to see themselves in any single job or career.

Because they see endless possibilities, to select one possibility appears to the ENFP to be too narrow a focus. They hate to be boxed into a career for life and therefore hesitate and resist making decisions. Often when a decision is made, ENFPs will still leave a number of options open or change their minds as they encounter new information.

Even in their everyday activities, ENFPs often search for the new and the novel. If there is a logical route to work and ENFP has been driving that way continually, he or she will likely tire of it and look for other routes.

Adult ENFPs maintain characteristics that might be considered youthful, such as enthusiasm, curiosity, and a zestful outlook on life. As a result, people often enjoy being with them. Many times they are young-in-spirit as they age, perhaps because of their temperament.

Learning

ENFPs often learn best through a variety of means, such as observing, reading, and listening to and interacting with others. They enjoy the search for new ideas and possibilities, and will put in the time necessary to master subjects they find interesting. One strength is their enthusiasm for the process of discovery. They enjoy survey courses, comparative studies, and disciplines in which there is much to research and explore. They do not like classes that are too structured, that consist only of lectures, and that allow no room for their imagination. They may get caught up in the learning process and consequently need strict deadlines to bring a project to completion.

ENFPs prefer a learning environment in which the teacher takes personal interest in them, in which there is an opportunity to talk about ideas with their peers, and in which there is a chance to ask questions and develop new ideas.

A motto that might describe the ENFP as a learner is "There's always another way or another answer."

Working

Most ENFPs will say they are organized, but others might not see them that way. Their desire to be open to the moment tends to outweigh their need to be organized. Usually ENFP work space is arranged haphazardly, with work materials and personal momentos scattered about. In terms of the management of time, ENFPs find it particularly difficult to estimate accurately how long an activity will take. Because people's needs are more important than schedules, ENFPs are often late and characteristically full of apologies for their tardiness.

ENFPs prefer occupations that reflect their ideals and that promote harmonious relationships with others. They tend to be attracted to occupations with a service orientation. ENFPs usually find a place in their work life for creativity. They particularly enjoy people-oriented work in which they are able to combine things in new and different ways to benefit humanity. Flexibility and autonomy are important to ENFPs, who may bolt from organizations in which this is not attainable.

Leading

ENFPs are energetic and enthusiastic leaders who are likely to take charge when a new endeavor needs a visionary spokesperson. ENFPs are values-oriented people who become champions of causes and services relating to human needs and dreams. Their leadership style is one of soliciting and recognizing others' contributions 4and of evaluating the personal needs of their followers. ENFPs are often charismatic leaders who are able to help people see the possibilities beyond themselves and their current realities. They function as catalysts.

Leisure

ENFPs often have a difficult time separating their work from their leisure. Because they like to have fun while they work and usually arrange their work lives to meet this need, the boundaries between their work and their leisure may not be as clear as they might be for some other types.

Because of their continual search for new things to experience, it is rare for ENFPs to become heavily involved in a single activity; their appetite for involvement is too great. Generally, ENFPs are on the lookout for new things and may come across what is "trendy" before others. They tend to participate early on in those new activities.

ENFPs like travel and reading because these activities open experiences of other times and places. Their reading often brings quiet and reflection time, as well as new material for their dreams. Their travels afford them opportunities to experience different people and cultures.

Loving

For ENFPs, loving is an almost constant state. They are generally involved or in love with someone or something new. ENFPs may have originated the quotation "All the world loves a lover." When falling in love, they explore all the new possibilities in the relationship, and the new person is studied in every way. The ENFP tends to idealize his or her current relationship and will often say that their current one is "the best ever."

It might be argued that each type, when first in love, resembles a garden-variety ENFP, because ENFPs normally behave like people in love. Some of the cultural cliches about falling in love - such as "Falling in love with love," "Head over heels in love," "Love is blind," "All the world loves a lover," and "Throw caution to the wind" - seem to apply to the ENFP. This same boundless affection can be showered upon friends, co-workers, and others. People often feel unconditionally loved by ENFPs, but over time many of these relationships dissipate, as in "When I'm not near the ones I love, I love the ones I'm near."

ENFPs as Friends

ENFPs are warm and sociable people who are keenly in tune with other people's feelings and perspectives. They are energetic and fun to be with. They are very affirming, and get great satisfaction from supporting and lifting up others. They are idealists who seek authenticity in their personal relationships. ENFPs are valued by their peers and confidantes as warm, supportive, giving people.

In the workplace or other casual relationship environments, the ENFP is likely to get along well with almost all other types of people. ENFPs are genuinely interested in people, and are highly perceptive about them, to the point where they're able to understand and relate to all of the personality types with relative ease. They like to see the best in others, and are likely to bring out the best in others. While they are generally accepting of most all people, ENFPs with strong Feeling preferences may have a difficult time understanding people with very strong Thinking preferences who do not respond to the ENFP's enthusiastic warmth. ENFPs will stay open-minded about what they consider a "rejection" by the Thinker, until the situation has repeated itself a few times, in which case ENFPs may shut themselves entirely against the Thinker.

ENFPs may also feel threatened by individuals with strong Judging preferences. With a tendency to take any criticism personally, ENFPs may find themselves irritated or emotional when the Judger expresses a negative opinion, believing somehow that the Judger is expressing disapproval or disappointment in the ENFP.

For close friendships, ENFPs are especially drawn to other iNtuitive Feeling types, and to other Extraverts who are also enthusiastic about life. Like the other iNtuitive Feeling types, the ENFP needs authenticity and depth in their close relationships. They're likely to have friends from all walks of life who they feel close to and care about, but will have only a few very close friends with similar ideals to their own. The ENFP also tends to value the company of iNtuitive Thinkers.


Monday, April 21, 2008

Dear Abby couldn't even answer these...

Letters to Dear Abby (not printed in newspapers)

DEAR ABBY: A couple of women moved in across the hall from me. These two women go everywhere together and I've One is a middle-aged gym teacher and the other is a social worker in her mid-twenties. never seen a man go into their apartment or come out. Do you think they could be Lebanese? -- Curious.

DEAR ABBY: I have a man I never could trust. Why, he cheats so much I'm not even sure this baby I'm carrying is his.

DEAR ABBY: I am a twenty-three-year-old liberated woman who has been on the pill for two years. It's getting expensive and I think my boyfriend should share half the cost, but I don't know him well enough to discuss money with him.

DEAR ABBY: I suspected that my husband had been fooling around, and when I confronted him with the evidence he denied everything and said it would never happen again.

DEAR ABBY: Will you please rush me the name of a reliable illegitimate doctor?

DEAR ABBY: Our son writes that he is taking Judo. Why would a boy who was raised in a good Christian home turn against his own?

DEAR ABBY: I joined the Navy to see the world. I've seen it. Now, how do I get out?

DEAR ABBY: My forty-year-old son has been paying a psychiatrist $50 an hour every week for two-and-a-half years. He must be crazy.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Jose Luis & joy

In 8th grade or freshman year of high school I started sponsoring Jose Luis. He was 3 or 4 years old, now he is 11!
It started as something a bunch of us were going to do as a bible study or small group, but after collecting money once or twice it just dead-ended. So my mom took him on as an additional sponsor child. I still wrote and received the letters, but just didn't pay all the money. Since then, I've started to sponsor him on my own.

It was cool to see how a Compassion program is run when I went to Ecuador this past summer. It's definitely an organization that is doing a lot of good. They care for the physical, spiritual and educational needs of the kids.
Some of the best stories are those of Compassion Sponsor children who overcome their situation and then go on to sponsor their own child someday (go to below link and look at photo essays)

http://www.compassion.com/child-advocacy/default.htm

God needs to continue to break my heart for these kids. I see poverty on tv or get a letter from world vision or something and sometimes it's just easier to turn the channel or become used to it. Lord, don't let us continue in lives that are ignorant of the brokenness in your world!

One of my favorite parts, though, is the photo essay that shows the JOY that these people share in the midst of it all.

"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you — I, whom you have redeemed" (Psalm 71:23).

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (Psalm 30:11).

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalm 126:5).

[Said, a resident of Banda Aceh, lost all eight members of his family in the tsunami, including his parents, his wife, his two children and his siblings. In the midst of this tragedy, Said has found hope for the future in his new taxi business.]