driving home from work today i was completely immersed in tranquility. can't quite explain it, just a peaceful resonance in my soul. all i know is MY GOD IS GOOD. and oh sooo gracious. i hadn't even spoken to my Lord at all at this point in the day, yet, He soaked my soul in his goodness by sending such a peace into my spirit that i was smiling by myself in my car from my workplace to my driveway.
i was reminded about how much of a prodigy Bethany Dillon is in the songwriting realm, after listening to her first album from start to finish for the upteenth time today on my drive home. she wrote most of the songs, and at the fragile age of 15! incredible. an album that most definitely hasn't lost it's luster.
also, on my way home i passed a vehicle with the bumper sticker "God bless every person of every nation". how completely true that statement is. it is all too often that we lose sight of the importance of praying for more than just our nation! there are struggling nations in need of our prayers, and how completely crucial it is that we are diligent in our pursuit of their deliverance!
i'm headed to rome (georgia) for a wedding this weekend. i'm thrilled to be making the trip to see a friend from duluth get married! we met at camp all american in duluth and have kept in contact since, and it is such an honor to have been invited into the presence of she and her soon to be husband to watch them be united by marraige!! both of them are such radiant reflectors of the love of Christ and i am so very excited for the both of them.
tomorrow is my last day of work at the learning center. as sad as i am about leaving all of my kiddos, i am thrilled about spending the next several weeks spending lots of time with jewel and ella....my two little obsessions, both of which have been in my pre-k class at the learning center. they have become like family to me and i'm just tickled to have the opportunity to strengthen the bond i have with the two of them!
currently, on this lovely thursday evening, i am cleaning out my summer closet, trying to consolidate my possessions to make for an easier move to duluth in the fall. the more seamless the transition, the better.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
grammatical error
although i am almost certain it is unconventional to post corrections to journal entries and blogs, i have to apologize (mostly because of the prevalence of OCD in my life) for a spelling error in my first entry. "shutters" should most definitely have been written as "shudders", since i was referring to a bodily response rather than an exterior decorative addition to a house. was this post entirely unnecessary? probably. but am i completely saturated with a need to spell words as they should be spelled, yes.
that is all.
that is all.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
book reviews..
having extra time on my hands these past few weeks has allowed me to read some books that aren't mandated by the university or required by professors. thus far, i have read 'redeeming love' by francine rivers, 'eat pray love' by elizabeth gilbert, and am in the midst of finishing 'reviving ophelia' by mary pipher.
i've been told by many of my girlfriends that 'redeeming love' is a fabulous book. i must say i was rather disappointed in it overall. it may have been the expectations that i had for it that made it a less enjoyable read, or perhaps it just wasn't well suited for me. the book is based on the book of hosea. a lovely story, about a young and aimless girl who becomes resistant to true love and is eventually swept away by a man who is able to show her what unconditional love is. call me unromantic, but i thought it was a bit cheesy. interesting premise, and significant biblical references to add relevance, but not as amazing as i had thought it might be.
on to 'eat pray love'...i reallllly enjoyed this book. written by a woman who has journeyed across countries, and isn't afraid to use self-deprecating humor to convey her true thoughts and opinions. such a candid perspective makes the book relatable and hard to put down for long periods of time.
although i haven't finished 'reviving ophelia', it is safe to say that this book has made it on my list of favorites. a must read!! addresses the media and its impact on adolescent girls, their decision making, and their wavering self esteem that results. not only is this book informative, it is also rare in its form of approach to searching for reasons behind the 'collapse' of teenage girls in society. this book doesn't necessarily point to problems in a girl's upbringing, or blame self-destructive behaviors on a lack of some sort of trait. rather, pipher reveals just how influential the media is on females in america. furthermore, 'reviving ophelia' illustrates the downfall of our culture, the american beauty obsession, perfectionism, and how we can fight this epidemic and nurture teenage girls into become strong and independent females who focus less on outer appearance and more on their passions!!! phenomenal book!
i've been told by many of my girlfriends that 'redeeming love' is a fabulous book. i must say i was rather disappointed in it overall. it may have been the expectations that i had for it that made it a less enjoyable read, or perhaps it just wasn't well suited for me. the book is based on the book of hosea. a lovely story, about a young and aimless girl who becomes resistant to true love and is eventually swept away by a man who is able to show her what unconditional love is. call me unromantic, but i thought it was a bit cheesy. interesting premise, and significant biblical references to add relevance, but not as amazing as i had thought it might be.
on to 'eat pray love'...i reallllly enjoyed this book. written by a woman who has journeyed across countries, and isn't afraid to use self-deprecating humor to convey her true thoughts and opinions. such a candid perspective makes the book relatable and hard to put down for long periods of time.
although i haven't finished 'reviving ophelia', it is safe to say that this book has made it on my list of favorites. a must read!! addresses the media and its impact on adolescent girls, their decision making, and their wavering self esteem that results. not only is this book informative, it is also rare in its form of approach to searching for reasons behind the 'collapse' of teenage girls in society. this book doesn't necessarily point to problems in a girl's upbringing, or blame self-destructive behaviors on a lack of some sort of trait. rather, pipher reveals just how influential the media is on females in america. furthermore, 'reviving ophelia' illustrates the downfall of our culture, the american beauty obsession, perfectionism, and how we can fight this epidemic and nurture teenage girls into become strong and independent females who focus less on outer appearance and more on their passions!!! phenomenal book!
Monday, June 9, 2008
me...a blogger?
at a cursory glance, this whole blogging business has always seemed a bit complex for an individual like myself, who shutters at the very mention of technological terms. but, we shall see. this might just be fun!
it is officially summer, the evidence is in the oven-like weather. love the fact that the sun will assist in keeping my skin from blending into white walls, although, don't enjoy the sweltering heat. it's almost comical that my kids (not MY kids, but my students in my preschool class) are now begging to stay indoors and play at the learning centers in the classroom...instead of running wild on the playground.
i just graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last month with a bachelor of science in psychology, and a bachelor of science in criminal justice. unlike my friends who have graduated and are getting ready to establish themselves in the career world, i am now preparing myself for grad school....because heaven knows you cannot find a job suitable for survival and fulfillment with degrees in the aforementioned fields without some furtherance of education. why oh why didn't i choose something like marketing? ohh well. grad school it is. or law school. who knows?! i'm taking a year off to spend time resting in one of my favorite cities: atlanta, ga. atlanta is great...not only for it's incredible shopping and adorable coffee shops, but also for the fact that it is only a couple of hours from chattanooga, which is where i have hailed from for 22 years. this little sabattical of mine will hopefully provide some rest and some time to breathe.
off to bed. got to have plenty of rest to greet my four and five year olds with excitement in the am!
it is officially summer, the evidence is in the oven-like weather. love the fact that the sun will assist in keeping my skin from blending into white walls, although, don't enjoy the sweltering heat. it's almost comical that my kids (not MY kids, but my students in my preschool class) are now begging to stay indoors and play at the learning centers in the classroom...instead of running wild on the playground.
i just graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last month with a bachelor of science in psychology, and a bachelor of science in criminal justice. unlike my friends who have graduated and are getting ready to establish themselves in the career world, i am now preparing myself for grad school....because heaven knows you cannot find a job suitable for survival and fulfillment with degrees in the aforementioned fields without some furtherance of education. why oh why didn't i choose something like marketing? ohh well. grad school it is. or law school. who knows?! i'm taking a year off to spend time resting in one of my favorite cities: atlanta, ga. atlanta is great...not only for it's incredible shopping and adorable coffee shops, but also for the fact that it is only a couple of hours from chattanooga, which is where i have hailed from for 22 years. this little sabattical of mine will hopefully provide some rest and some time to breathe.
off to bed. got to have plenty of rest to greet my four and five year olds with excitement in the am!
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