Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.
And make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like noonday.
Be still before the Lord; wait for Him."
Psalm 37:4-7
Monday, October 15, 2012
Good (but hard to live by at times) words!!
"Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.
And make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like noonday.
Be still before the Lord; wait for Him."
Psalm 37:4-7
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.
And make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like noonday.
Be still before the Lord; wait for Him."
Psalm 37:4-7
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
"Clink, clink"- - - what a welcome sound my wrist makes!
In 3 days, I get to go home! Well, to my "second" home of York, PA. Last year, for Fall Break, 2 of my best friends from college, came down to visit. From the moment they met me at school on Thursday night to when they left on Sunday evening, we had non-stop fun from ziplining to having a Thirty-One party to doing a ghost tour and First Fridayin downtown Greensboro!
When I went to York for part of my Spring Break, Ashley, Monika, and Ashley's Mom gave me a beautiful birthday bracelet that I wear almost every day. In class on Monday night, I signed the word, "language", which consists of bringing both hands, in the "L" shape, from the center and wriggling it out to your sides in both directions. As I wriggled my left wrist, I heard the clink, clink of my charms on the bracelet the girls gave me last March.
Below, you can see the beautiful Pandora bracelet from my friends.
This bracelet goes beyond keeping my best friends with me wherever I go but also has overcome obstacles and attempts at getting lost. In the summer, my barely 4 month old Pandora bracelet got run over in driveway as I was about to depart for the Women's Retreat Weekend in Outer Banks. You see, a few times between March and July, the bracelet had not properly clasped together and stayed on my wrist but the few times it happened, I simply picked up the bracelet and put it back on without thinking twice about it. Well, when it happened at 5am in the dark driveway that summer morning, I hadn't realized it had fallen off until after it was accidentally run over....square on the clasp. There was no saving it but I thought all would be okay once I got to Outer Banks where I would just get a replacement bracelet at a jewelry shop and heck, why not get some kind of charm to remember the retreat and OBX by while I was at it?!
I was in for a shock when I did some internet searching for the closest Pandaora retailer in OBX. I had NO idea how much the charms and the bracelets themselves cost!! I also saw in my online search that since the bracelet was under a year old, I might be able to get a replacement due to warranty..IF I could prove the damage wasn't due to carelessness.
A few days after the retreat weekend, I went to a store in Greensboro to see about getting a replacement. It took some finagling but I walked out of there with my new bracelet...whew! I thought that would be the end of my bracelet issues and promised if I were to have other issues with the clasp on the new bracelet, that I would let them know rather than waiting until something seriously damaging happens to the bracelet.
A few months ago, while I rushed to the gym after school one night, I quickly changed into my workout clothes and dropped them into a heap near where I did Zumba with my friends, including the jewelry that I gingerly placed on top of the clothing. In my haste, I hadn't thought to grab my gym bag from my car, just the gym clothes to change into so that was my first mistake. Then, on the way out, I was in deep conversation with my friend, and didn't realize until we got to the parking lot that I had forgotten to close the bracelet and 2 of the dangling charms had fallen off the cord! We backtracked and actually did find the "Friends Forever" butterfly charm on the gym floor but thought we had lost the Shamrock charm for good. As a last ditch attempt, I asked the boys working the front desk to keep an eye out for it while cleaning up that night. I didn't really expect for the shamrock to be located but thankfully, it was and I was I able to get the charm the next night!!
So, I went back to that Pandora retailer in Greensboro a few days later and promptly bought a clip to ensure the charms would not fall off any more should I inadvertently not clasp the bracelet closed when not wearing it. So far so good in not misplacing or running over the bracelet any more!!
When I went to York for part of my Spring Break, Ashley, Monika, and Ashley's Mom gave me a beautiful birthday bracelet that I wear almost every day. In class on Monday night, I signed the word, "language", which consists of bringing both hands, in the "L" shape, from the center and wriggling it out to your sides in both directions. As I wriggled my left wrist, I heard the clink, clink of my charms on the bracelet the girls gave me last March.
Below, you can see the beautiful Pandora bracelet from my friends.
This bracelet goes beyond keeping my best friends with me wherever I go but also has overcome obstacles and attempts at getting lost. In the summer, my barely 4 month old Pandora bracelet got run over in driveway as I was about to depart for the Women's Retreat Weekend in Outer Banks. You see, a few times between March and July, the bracelet had not properly clasped together and stayed on my wrist but the few times it happened, I simply picked up the bracelet and put it back on without thinking twice about it. Well, when it happened at 5am in the dark driveway that summer morning, I hadn't realized it had fallen off until after it was accidentally run over....square on the clasp. There was no saving it but I thought all would be okay once I got to Outer Banks where I would just get a replacement bracelet at a jewelry shop and heck, why not get some kind of charm to remember the retreat and OBX by while I was at it?!
I was in for a shock when I did some internet searching for the closest Pandaora retailer in OBX. I had NO idea how much the charms and the bracelets themselves cost!! I also saw in my online search that since the bracelet was under a year old, I might be able to get a replacement due to warranty..IF I could prove the damage wasn't due to carelessness.
A few days after the retreat weekend, I went to a store in Greensboro to see about getting a replacement. It took some finagling but I walked out of there with my new bracelet...whew! I thought that would be the end of my bracelet issues and promised if I were to have other issues with the clasp on the new bracelet, that I would let them know rather than waiting until something seriously damaging happens to the bracelet.
A few months ago, while I rushed to the gym after school one night, I quickly changed into my workout clothes and dropped them into a heap near where I did Zumba with my friends, including the jewelry that I gingerly placed on top of the clothing. In my haste, I hadn't thought to grab my gym bag from my car, just the gym clothes to change into so that was my first mistake. Then, on the way out, I was in deep conversation with my friend, and didn't realize until we got to the parking lot that I had forgotten to close the bracelet and 2 of the dangling charms had fallen off the cord! We backtracked and actually did find the "Friends Forever" butterfly charm on the gym floor but thought we had lost the Shamrock charm for good. As a last ditch attempt, I asked the boys working the front desk to keep an eye out for it while cleaning up that night. I didn't really expect for the shamrock to be located but thankfully, it was and I was I able to get the charm the next night!!
So, I went back to that Pandora retailer in Greensboro a few days later and promptly bought a clip to ensure the charms would not fall off any more should I inadvertently not clasp the bracelet closed when not wearing it. So far so good in not misplacing or running over the bracelet any more!!
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| Can't wait to have some fun with these gals this weekend! |
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Snoozin' through Sunday evening
Sometimes I'm jealous of my dog. Yes, tonight, while I read nine readings for the class I'm teaching....yes, nine!, he was curled up on the couch and sleeping away the evening...using me as a cushion, or twisting himself up and getting tangled with my feet, or even at some points, perching atop the couch where my head would have been had I been sitting upright (sometimes I think he thinks he's a cat). The funniest position tonight though, was when he got up, stretched out his little legs, and with a shake and wriggle, proceeded to walk up me, as if he were balancing himself on a tightrope, narrowly missing the flash drive, to circle around twice, shake himself again, before squeezing down between my shoulder and the cushion. Have you ever tried to read and type with a dog wedged firmly by and on your shoulder? I didn't mind though since tonight is the first cool fall night of the season and his little body provided warmth and heat as I read the homework I had assigned to my students. I'm lucky to have such a loving cuddlebug for a pup!
Should I stay or should I go?
Lately, the song, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?", has been playing in my head. Other than being a catchy little tune, I think it's in part due to my wondering just what the future holds. In a year and a half, who knows where I will be??!! Life is a blank canvas just waiting to be painted on...will I move to a new city and live a hectic life of energy and bustle? Will I go to a rural area where the pace of life is a bit slower or will I return home and pick up where I left off in York/Harrisburg area??
Even if I did return home, things will be different....and for someone who doesn't do well with change, that's worrisome to me. I can't help but wonder about the unknown...even as I strive to live in the present.
Will I be a professor at a university? Will I go back to LIU #12? Will do trainings out of Harrisburg? Will I do research or strictly teach? All this preparation over the last 3 years, soon to be 4, and there are so many confounding variables. I look forward to settling down in wherever I end up in 19 short months. Should I stay in the South, stay at home or should I go somewhere new!??
I do love to travel & explore new places....almost as much as I love my home state of PA. So, I suppose no matter where I go, I will do okay. Dusty Shamrock will be there as well as the love my family and friends!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Fall is the BEST time of year!
Today I...
saw changing colored leaves falling on the road...
breathed in the scent of campfire...
felt the slightest coolness to the air...
learned that West York's homecoming is next weekend when I'll be in town...
realized that I will need to take my annual fall portrait with Dusty Shamrock...
and felt extreme joy over the fact that the BEST time of year is here.......I looooove Fall!
saw changing colored leaves falling on the road...
breathed in the scent of campfire...
felt the slightest coolness to the air...
learned that West York's homecoming is next weekend when I'll be in town...
realized that I will need to take my annual fall portrait with Dusty Shamrock...
and felt extreme joy over the fact that the BEST time of year is here.......I looooove Fall!
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| First Fall together back in 2007! |
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| Fall 2008 |
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| We didn't know it but it was our last Fall in Pennsylvania in Fall 2009 |
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| First Fall in North Carolina...definitely a LOT warmer...in Fall 2010 |
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| Halfway through the PhD program in Fall 2011 |
Being Still
For those of you who personally know me, you know that I'm always go, go, and goooooooooooooooing! You'll rarely find me sitting and doing nothing as there is always a paper to be written, a book to be read, a child to play with, a dog to walk, chores to be done, or a car to be driven.
However, last night and today I did something that forced me to be still. Greensboro is in the middle of conducting 40 Days for Life in which at least two people stand in front of an abortion clinic and peacefully pray for the end of abortion and for healing. Not to get political or into a debate on here but I'm sharing with you that I gave 2 hours of my time to 40 Days last night and today through this blog posting. This afternoon, amidst the brightly shining sun and softly blowing breeze, I prayed the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet with a friend. We finished about 20 minutes early and concluded our hour with silent prayer. I did okay with this for about 10 minutes but then my wind started wandering. It's so rare that I am forced to be still and not be focusing on doing something else.
As I struggled to keep my mind on prayer, I thought of my first exposure to abortion. The earliest experience I can recall is watching Tami on the Real World on MTV going through it. At that time, it was groundbreaking reality tv to show a woman going through and dealing with abortion on air. I was too young to realize all the psychological ramifications.....
I then thought of my beautiful niece and nephews, here in NC and in Philly, and how I would miss them so if I didn't have them in my life. We have had all made mistakes, and will continue to make mistakes, but the innocent love and peace in an infant's or child's face is so joyful that you can't help but smile when around them....even when they are fighting, not sharing, crying, keeping you up at night...hah! Life is such a beautiful gift...who are we, as human beings, to say that we can determine when and where life should be extinguished? I'm not talking about just abortion here but in general in terms of controlling and dictating what happens...when a murderer takes the life of a victim, when we sentence people to death for a crime committed, when we go to war and kill people to solve a problem, when we seek short term pleasure over long term gratification?
This line of thinking then led me to think about something I read the other day about keeping your eyes on God and letting the rest fall away...Psalm 37 talks about the wicked ways of others and how you should not cling to possessions or materials but seek truth and set your feet on straight paths. I know that I personally struggle with letting go, forgiving myself, and letting God be in control so need to continue working on this in my life. In the meantime, it helps to have awesome friends who remind me through their calls & conversations that we're not in this alone and that we all get by with a little help from our friends!
As I drove home this afternoon, I heard Kim Kalman, a Catholic singer songwriter friend from Outer Banks, sing, "Carry Me". Click here for a snippet of this beautiful song. I thought of how much I love my niece and nephews and how much my parents love me...and really beyond that of how God loves each of us so much more than all of that love we feel toward others put together. How lucky are we to have such a loving Father who only wants what's best for us...even if we can't see it just yet!? So, with the help of our friends & family, let's allow ourselves to be carried and realize we're not alone! Enjoy this recent video of Kim performing a "living room concert" singing one of my favorite songs. I can hardly wait to hear her sing it at my NC church in January!!!!
However, last night and today I did something that forced me to be still. Greensboro is in the middle of conducting 40 Days for Life in which at least two people stand in front of an abortion clinic and peacefully pray for the end of abortion and for healing. Not to get political or into a debate on here but I'm sharing with you that I gave 2 hours of my time to 40 Days last night and today through this blog posting. This afternoon, amidst the brightly shining sun and softly blowing breeze, I prayed the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet with a friend. We finished about 20 minutes early and concluded our hour with silent prayer. I did okay with this for about 10 minutes but then my wind started wandering. It's so rare that I am forced to be still and not be focusing on doing something else.
As I struggled to keep my mind on prayer, I thought of my first exposure to abortion. The earliest experience I can recall is watching Tami on the Real World on MTV going through it. At that time, it was groundbreaking reality tv to show a woman going through and dealing with abortion on air. I was too young to realize all the psychological ramifications.....
I then thought of my beautiful niece and nephews, here in NC and in Philly, and how I would miss them so if I didn't have them in my life. We have had all made mistakes, and will continue to make mistakes, but the innocent love and peace in an infant's or child's face is so joyful that you can't help but smile when around them....even when they are fighting, not sharing, crying, keeping you up at night...hah! Life is such a beautiful gift...who are we, as human beings, to say that we can determine when and where life should be extinguished? I'm not talking about just abortion here but in general in terms of controlling and dictating what happens...when a murderer takes the life of a victim, when we sentence people to death for a crime committed, when we go to war and kill people to solve a problem, when we seek short term pleasure over long term gratification?
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| Not so sure about going to teeball practice...! |
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| He's so proud that he can run around and (try to) keep up with his big brother & sister now! |
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| Innocent happiness....happy just because...! |
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| Tuckered out from the Blessing of the Animals, Mr. Turtle and she took a snooze on the way home...what a honor it is to be entrusted to care for these little ones!! |
This line of thinking then led me to think about something I read the other day about keeping your eyes on God and letting the rest fall away...Psalm 37 talks about the wicked ways of others and how you should not cling to possessions or materials but seek truth and set your feet on straight paths. I know that I personally struggle with letting go, forgiving myself, and letting God be in control so need to continue working on this in my life. In the meantime, it helps to have awesome friends who remind me through their calls & conversations that we're not in this alone and that we all get by with a little help from our friends!
As I drove home this afternoon, I heard Kim Kalman, a Catholic singer songwriter friend from Outer Banks, sing, "Carry Me". Click here for a snippet of this beautiful song. I thought of how much I love my niece and nephews and how much my parents love me...and really beyond that of how God loves each of us so much more than all of that love we feel toward others put together. How lucky are we to have such a loving Father who only wants what's best for us...even if we can't see it just yet!? So, with the help of our friends & family, let's allow ourselves to be carried and realize we're not alone! Enjoy this recent video of Kim performing a "living room concert" singing one of my favorite songs. I can hardly wait to hear her sing it at my NC church in January!!!!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Stuck but (slowly) moving forward too...
Do you ever feel stuck? Like everything and everyone around you goes forward while you are stuck where you are? Sometimes it seems like social media and email can be a blessing and a curse to me. It can joyously keep you connected with long distance family and friends yet it can also be the source of distraction and realizing how others are achieving their dreams while you are still chasing yours. In my case, I'm plodding away on the schoolwork and projects..sometimes just trying to keep my head above the water each day, but I do know that it will pay off in the long run. However, having that knowledge doesn't always ease the feelings of sort of living life on pause while those around me experience major life changes such as new jobs, births of children, getting married, celebrating anniversaries, etc. Sure, there have been fun times and exciting events but I usually have to do those at the cost of falling behind in work and losing more sleep so those fun times are not as frequent as I would like for them to be. So, as my five minute break from schoolwork draws to a close and I work toward yet another night of doing schoolwork til 2am, I have a smile on my face from the happy memories of what October used to mean for me in my "old" life and when staying up til 2am meant I was out and about having a blast with my pals....Strawberry Balls, nights out in downtown Harrisburg, bumping into Subway/IUP boys, Halloweekends at Cedar Point, and of course Halloween parties! I look forward to making new memories once I finish school and am at wherever my next location is! I also look forward to the fun that lies in wait in YoPa one week from tonight!!! Fall Break can't get here soon enough!!
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| One of my friends posted this on Facebook as I was writing this blog...how fitting! |
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