A First Time For Everything

I'm home. And home means a ton of food, bizarre (hilarious) conversations at the dinner table, and opportunities for domestication.


I stuffed a turkey today.

Merry Christmas!

-C

Starting Somewhere

I totally believe in second chances. There's just something rewarding about fixing things up and breathing new life into them. Even in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, this silly notion remains in the back of my head that someday (when I'm out of college) I'll start my own business selling modern, one-of-a-kind pieces of reupholstered furniture.

(I guess the first step would be learning how to reupholster furniture.....hmmm).

Well! You know what they say: "Ya gotta start somewhere."

Here's my first humble attempt at a leather office chair my roommate found by the dumpster the other night. One small step at a time.

-C

A Cozy Little Reminder

for those of us whose hands are always cold.


letterpress note by Carissa Potter

the End

At 4:20 I was putting the final touches on a research paper that was due at 5. At 4:25 I grabbed my coat and walked ran out the door of my apartment. At 4:30 I went to the office at my apartment complex to print it off, but the printer was broken. At 4:50 I was at Towns attempting to print it off there, but the printer was faculty only. At 4:53 I was running across the street to DeMoss to print it off at the library, but every computer was occupied. At 4:54 I was groveling. At 4:55 someone finally let me use their computer. At 4:56 I was stapling my paper together. At 4:57 I was running back across the street to Towns and pulled a muscle going up the stairs while humming the theme song to Rocky in my head (not kidding). At 4:58 I turned in my paper. Dr. Croteau lauged at me until 5. He was still laughing as I limped down the hall.


I am so glad this semester is over.

-C

Quarter-life Crisis

I feel defeated.

By Joe, that's exactly what it is. Defeat! I've been sitting around trying to hash out whatever it is I'm feeling into a blog post or through music to figure it out, and there it is. Defeat.

School. Relationships. Life in general. It's all a sad country song really.

Okay, so I exaggerate.
It's really not that bad.

And that's the thing. Life is not bad. Not at all. Minus the fact that I am having some serious quarter-life crisis. I've contemplated all day long on whether or not to change my concentration or not, but alas I've decided to stick with Biblical Studies (much to my demise). I just want out of college. I am so done. Stick a fork in me. Done, I say.

I want to learn how to cook and sew really well. Hone some decent song-writing skills, learn some German and then move to Germany for a few years. I want to host house dinners and help plant a church. Learn how to play the piano, record an EP, go on tour. Buy a great camera and take pictures, draw pictures, paint pictures, and then hang them all up in beautiful clusters and collages all over my home. I want to travel. Join the peace corps. Join the army. Anything but stay in college.

All I know is that this is the part where we forget about me ever wanting to get my Masters and phD...
I didn't really mean it.

Quarter-life crisis.
Done and done.

-C

The Aftermath

Breathing.

I'm sitting here in my darling apartment, curled up on the couch in mom's quilt. Pumpkin-spice and cinnamon are filling the air and Jack is purring in his sleep above my shoulders. I will also bravely mention that there is a beautiful concoction of Cran-Apple, White-Cran-Peach, and 'a little something special' at my left.

Breathing.

There are a million things racing through my head. It's an endless cycle of Merry-Go-Round goin' on in there and I don't think I'll be running out of quarters any time soon. When was the last time anyone actually ever wanted to run out of quarters?  

I wish life were simpler, but as I have already established: I'm breathing.
Barely breathing.

I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to sort through things. The aftermath of the craziest two weeks (and the lamest semester of my life) begins now. There was a lot harbored up in there.


-C

Jack Gets a Bath

Last evening I gave Jack a bath. In all of my years of growing up with cats, I have never had to give any one of them a bath. I mean, cats usually take care of that themselves, ya know?

Well, paint got busted out again last evening here at 508 and Mr. Lewis decided to jump in it.

I think he actually liked it, which just gives me one more reason to believe that he may genuinely think he's a dog. I'm okay with that.



-C

My Favorite Kids

The first blog I ever posted was about the day I took these kids for a walk with a triple stroller.

We almost didn't make it home. I was (and am) that out of shape.



Needless to say, they've grown like weeds.
I miss them and their mom very, very much.

(I love that Isaac's rocking J. Crew suede MacAlister's...love.)

It was the truest blessing to have been your nanny, Galati kids!
I love you all.

-Chels

Let Men Be Men

Ladies. Don't be chasing men. It only encourages them to act more like women and it makes you look stupid. I love you. But for real.

-C

character calls forth character

Socrates taught Plato. Plato taught Aristotle. Aristotle taught Alexander the Great, way back when he was just Alexander the Average. But Alexander became great through association with the great man. This is how it works. We become like the people we are around. And not because of what they say. But because of what we see them do. - Morris

Character calls forth character. 

-Goethe

'Gabriele'

So, you might know my friend Gabriele by now. We met in Germany on my mission trip last spring and it's been sisterly love ever since. She got married on September 4th of this year and ended up moving four hours away from her family to be with her husband in Wolfsburg. She's 20.

She writes me often about how much she misses her family and her church. It's not easy picking up and having to start over.

I woke up yesterday morning commenting on how much I loved how cold it was in the house. I had a few hours before class, so I sat down and wrote these two verses:

Weight

I feel it in my bones

the early morning cold

Life

looks like a steamy breath

one second I can see it

then it's gone

Then I wanted to try something different and write in third person. Whoa. What a concept. So I just changed the "I's" to "she's" and it was done.

Now the only question was: who was "she"?

I've been in both 1 Timothy and the Book of Ruth lately, so immediately I thought of a virtuous woman. So I decided to write the song in light of how Ruth lost her husband, yet still left Moab to follow Naomi and God to Bethlehem. It couldn't have been an easy thing to do, not knowing what awaited her on the other side.

then your world falls away

and you're in another place

Far away from home

with a strength not of your own

I tried writing a few verse's pertaining to fields and gleaning, but it just wasn't "settling." So I waited a while before picking my pen and guitar back up.

I got a message from Gabi over facebook in the meantime and as soon as I read her message, I knew that the song was about her; everything pertaining to her having to move away and start all over. Thus enters "don't give up now, Gabriele." I wrote the second verse about Gabi's willingness to submit to her husband Daniel, ultimately to God.

Beauty
non-domineering
the bending of a branch in the wind
she'll go where He goes

Then something really unexpected happened:

Today I went to class, and in the middle of the lecture I started writing these random lyrics that ended up being the second chorus. By the end of that chorus, the song took a completely different turn. All of a sudden it hit me that this was a song about my friend Ashlee as well. All of a sudden, I'm waking up on a November morning in Ashlee's shoes and finding my 5-week old son not breathing; I'm walking around aimlessly in Target remembering how my son was with me the last time I was there, and four months later I'm moving to Tampa with my family of three, when it should have been my family of four. So I continued to write the rest of the song specifically with her in mind: adding to the second verse, the second chorus and creating the third and final chorus.

Time
there's never enough
unswerving devotion
and saddening goodbyes

Common day, common scene
but now you're remembering
everything as it once was
Gabriele, don't give up now

....

there's a day
when you will see
all the answers to your questioning
the fruit to your suffering
Gabriele, don't give up now


when the shadows begin to fade
will you kindly reiterate
the smile upon your face
Gabriele, don't give up now
don't give up now

When I checked facebook later today I saw that today was her birthday. Talk about providence.

It's obviously still Gabi's song, just as it is a song about Ruth and Ashlee. It's the song of anyone who has ever let the Lord uproot them and trusted Him in the process. Each one of their stories played a huge part in writing this song and in ministering to me by revealing such a beautiful image of our ever faithful and sovereign God. I'm blessed to have so many examples of Ruth in my life.

Everything we do in obedience to God, no matter how small, is significant.
- John Piper

God always has a way of leading His children to higher ground. He will always guide us. He will always be our common place and our strength. Always urging us on. Always urging us to not give up. Always hiding a smile behind what seems to be a frowning providence.

Gabi and Ashlee,
Thank you for being courageous.
-C

Listen to and see the lyrics for 'Gabriele' here.

Jack in a Box

The Upside

Some upsides of being sick:

1) It's an ab work-out.
2) My forty hour week just turned into a six hour week.
3) My Thursday evening is now cleared for band practice.

That's about all I got.

-C

I Think We're Growing Up...

Cones, Creepin' and College

I ran over an orange cone in the parking lot last night as I was leaving work. I had no idea it was under my car until it flew out while I was on Enterprise and into a construction zone where it 'just-so-happened' to sit itself straight back up in line with all the other orange cones. Needless to say, it worked out well.

On my way back to work this afternoon, that same cone was on the side of road, sitting on top some sort of electrical unit, displaying its road marks proudly. So okay: it didn't work out as well as I had thought.

I felt somewhat shameful.

Somewhat.

The new job is going very well. I only work 20 hours this week which is split up into three 4-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift. Much to my surprise, I find myself actually enjoying talking to people over the phone - especially when they have British accents. I may or may not have shown some creeper-status symptoms by remembering the name of the British man I spoke with this evening. He ordered an Italian wool Ludlow three-button suit jacket with center vent (size 36) and matching Italian wool Ludlow pant (size 31/32, uncuffed) in heather charcoal.

Ah! I know, I know...so I remembered more than just his name....(he lives in New York City......on Broadway......and he needed his suit over-nighted because he was 'leaving the country'. I might have waived his shipping & handling).

 I have a good memory is all. That's all I'm getting at. No Sleepless in Seattle here. Or facebook stalking.
He's probably super lame anyhow.

Moving on.

I had the chance to have a meeting with one of my Bible professors this morning whom I highly, highly admire. We talked about a ton of different things: Greek, hermeneutics, 1 Timothy 2:15, gender roles, teaching, ministry, the differences between 'boys', 'guys', and 'men', dating/courting (oh, semantics), and possible seminary choices (I'm leaning towards Southeastern, but we'll see).

Oh, yeah. We talked about my research paper too.
I'm excited to write it. Yeah. I said it. Excited.

Maybe I can do this whole college thing afterall.

Until next time,
-C


My Recommended Reading for you this week:
Ascertaining Women’s God-Ordained Roles:
An Interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:15
by Andreas Köstenberger

kbye.

A Short Summary and Tautology

I bombed a Greek exam and failed to turn in a book report.
I also adopted a kitten and worked 30 hours.

My future is growing dim; I can see it fading before my very own eyes. I'm one step closer to becoming that lonely, undesirable, crazy cat lady who buys cashmere for her cat: incompetent when it comes to sustaining any kind of relationship, let alone a romantic one because she flunked out of college and ended up in a call-center 50 hours a week for the rest of her sad, pathetic, feline ridden life.

So, okay: I over-exaggerate.
I also use rhetorical tautology a lot.

I'm exhausted.

-C

My German Friends Again

Daniel and Gabriele's Wedding Pictures.

Teresa Ann Design

My mom is one of the most talented and crafty people I know. She always made me the most adorable clothes growing up (dresses with puff sleeves, please and thank you) and when puff sleeves weren't cool anymore, she'd recreate my favorite red carpet dresses for me to wear to homecoming and prom. My bed adorns a handmade quilt she made me years ago out of all the scraps of fabric left over from those childhood dresses (again: handquilted). She knits and crochets the most adorable baby clothes, blankets, and accessories, and lately she's been creating these gorgeous aprons.

SO!

I can't let my mother's talents be confined within the four walls of her house anymore, and with Christmas coming up, it's the perfect time to start taking her talents to the cyber world (trust me, handmade goods are always a hit). I'm still not entirely sure how to do that exactly, but I figured I'd start here.

 

Introducing Teresa Cline's amazingness...
 

 

 

-C

The Rebound

Dad called me last night to tell me that the cat he got me for my 10th birthday has been gone since Tuesday evening.

Listen: the last thing I want is for you to think that I'm some sort of crazy cat lady, but I really, really, really loved that cat.

She was my pillow for every single heartbreak I've ever had, and she always knew when I was sick or upset. Every time I'd come home from Lynchburg, I'd pull up the driveway, get out of my car and she'd come running towards me so excited, hardly being able to get out a significant meow.

I knew she didn't have much longer left, but I just hate the thought that she's just out there laying in the woods somewhere. After 12 years, I wish we could've at least buried her. My poor girl.

:(

So now that I've proven how pathetic I am, I might as well embrace it and introduce you to the rebound I adopted today:

I named him Jack after C.S. Lewis, but I fancy that I'll be calling him "Mr. Lewis" a lot as well.

He can't come home with us until they neuter him, so we'll be picking him up on Thursday. I'll probably visit him every day until then.

Like I said. Pathetic.


-C

sad

I know that a lot of people aren't "cat" people, in fact, I'm not even really a "cat" person myself...but...


Oh, gosh....


Alright.
So my cat died. And I'm super sad about it. There. I said it.

-C

Sunday, Monday, I'm Going to Bed

The weekend is over and I didn't accomplish a thing (academically at least).

Leading worship at Brentwood yesterday went awesome and being in the middle wasn't as terrifying as I thought it was going to be. It was a blast and my hat even fell off during 'You'll Come' in the 10:45 service. What can I say? We like to rock out hard. I have a ton more to say about this, but I'm too exhausted to do so. Another time I suppose.

Today was a really long day: philosophy test on epistemology, Greek class on 2nd and 1st declension (gag me), two lectures back to back from both Andreas and Marni Kostenberger, and then over to Martha and Beth's for some homemade soup and chit chat.

All in all, it's been a pretty normal past couple of days. The apartment, to no surprise, looks completely different now. A trip to the Goodwill, Michaels, and Lowes were involved.

Oh, and Mom called today to tell me that Dad was in the hospital; I still don't know what for, so if you could, please say a quick prayer for him. My family and I would greatly appreciate it!

I'm going to bed now,
 -C

Lipstick and Leading Worship

For a lot going on, there's not really a lot going on.
It's all pretty typical, really.

Oh, except for the fact that I wear lipstick now - and yesterday, get this: I even wore eyeshadow.
I know.

If I keep this up, soon enough I'll be racin' around Lynchburg in a pink Cadillac sporting who knows what else on my face. Shimmer? Blush? God forbid shimmery blush.

A slippery slope, that make-up.

I've gotta say though, it does make me feel a little older: a little more dignified and put together. Who knew lipstick could do such a thing? I'll tell ya who - Mary Kay Ash: and look where it got her. Genius, genius woman.

::

So I've been leading worship for Dr. Rose's Evangelism class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's made up of 500+ freshmen girls. Fun, right?

Yesterday we sang 'You'll Come' and then went into a few choruses of 'What a Savior'. It was a beautiful 4 minutes. Simply beautiful. The girls were so encouraging before and after I got up to lead worship and a handful came up one by one to let me know how much they appreciated me leading. I've gotta tell you: that really meant a lot to me, so thank you girls.

I think it encouraged me for a couple reasons:

1. Everyone except for those on the front row have no idea what I actually sound like, so when they're thanking me for leading worship, that's exactly what they're thanking me for. They're not saying "thanks for having such a pretty voice". There's no sound system in the classroom besides one microphone, and I've found it to be best used by being held up to the guitar. The most important thing is that they can all hear the music, because without the microphone up to the guitar, I can be playing as loud as possible and the girls on the left and right, middle and back, still can't hear. Not leading vocally makes it semi-difficult if the girls aren't familiar with the melody of the song, but I always encourage the girls who are familiar to sing it out loud so the rest of the class can follow along with them. So far, they've been familiar with the songs (B. Sharp was kind enough to hook me up with Campus Bands' repertoire so I know which songs are being led on campus), and the entire class has become the voice. My voice on the other hand, is usually gone afterwards because I'm literally yelling direction and encouragement in between verses and transitions, but it's so. much. fun.

2. Leading worship isn't really "my thing" - meaning, it doesn't come naturally. Aside from teaching God's Word, it intimidates me more than anything. Sure, I can sing - but singing doesn't equate leading worship. This has been such an interesting learning process in leading: because of the circumstances, I don't necessarily have to sing word for word, therefore, my focus has been more on the actual leading. God is always so brilliant in how He chooses to teach us and grow us. I love it...

...and He's always right on time.

I walked into band practice last evening, swatting off stink bugs as I opened the door, said my usual hellos, and made my way up to the right side of the stage as usual. I sat down my guitar case, got Taylor out, and went to set her on my guitar stand, except there was already a guitar on it: Nic's guitar. I looked at it kind of funny for a second or two, and then headed to the left side of the stage, where I automatically assumed I would be...but there stood Ben, with his amp and guitar.

"Wait. Does that...mean...?"

Yes, it does.
I look to my immediate right, one squinty eye, face all scrunched up, and there stood my empty guitar stand. In the middle of the stage.

I don't know why Nic refuses to tell me these things beforehand.

-C

A Change in Direction

Evan: Heyyyy! What's up?!?!
Me: Oh, you know...just trying to register things.
Evan: oh dear! Isn't that really hard and confusing?
Me: yyyep.

Most of the time, I try really hard to make these blogs somewhat entertaining. You know: light-hearted and interesting to read. Funny that I care so much because I didn't get a single 'A' on any of my papers for English 202 or American Literature. It took everything in me not to drop those classes and "take them later". Yeah, you know what I mean. Wink, wink.

I feel as if my blog is in a bit of a conundrum.

I started it when I was 20 years-old with the intention of documenting everything preceding my move to Lynchburg: counting down the days, dealing with financial aid, getting my hair chopped off, packing up, moving in, etc.

The purpose of course changed once I got here: I wasn't anticipating it anymore, I was living it. I kinda quit writing as much when I finally got here: most in part because I'm in college and there are a million other things to do like homework (ahem...cough, cough). Before I knew it I was moving off campus and into my own apartment, taking summer classes, serving at Brentwood, dating someone, changing my major, working at the bookstore, not working at the bookstore, not dating someone, not doing homework but instead choosing to write yet again, another pointless post.

Things just, change.

I mean, I even blog about domestics from time to time. Things definitely change. I just wish my posts weren't all so sporadic. I want some sort of direction, but alas, life is sporadic: constantly getting stirred up and shaken around. 'Registering things' is really just a matter of refocusing. My blog is really just about being here in Lynchburg and that can obviously mean a ton of different things at any given moment of time; thus, the need to take a breath and 'register things'.

Whew.

Now that I'm back to being a religion major and back to being single, my blog will yet again, start sounding different. There are new people to introduce you to and new experiences to share. I'll try my darndest to make it all sound as cohesive, as purposeful and as interesting as possible. Not that you probably care either way, but as with everything we do or take on: I'd like it to matter.

I'm here ultimately because Christ led me here. Even though life here continues to keep changing, that much hasn't changed. I know that wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, and whoever I'm becoming, Christ is there.

So: we're going to continue on into a new semester then. I really hope I get a job, all A's, and a puppy.

...Talk about sporadic.

-C

Gabriele

I'd like to call her my best friend even though we've only spent about a total of four days together. She got married this past Saturday and it absolutely killed me that I couldn't be there in Germany for her on her big day. She's the most beautiful, most genuine and most God-fearing young woman I've ever gotten the privilege to meet and she's such a blessing to my life even half way across the world.

Congratulations Mrs. Diener!

-C

Legitimate Fellowship

"Love is helping people toward the greatest beauty, the highest value, the deepest satisfaction, the most lasting joy, the biggest reward, the most wonderful friendship and the most over-whelming worship; love is helping people toward God." -John Piper

I've been finding out how truly blessed I am by the people God has put in my life.

I love Lynchburg.

In Order to Have Something to Give

What if I got a job for the soul purpose of having something to give?

If that were my main motivation in getting and working a job while attending school full-time, I'd make it work. I'm way less apt to work hard if it's merely for myself, but to have the face of a child without food, or education, or family ingrained on my mind - or a woman enslaved in the sex industry ingrained on my heart - a higher sense of urgency would come into play.

Just a thought.

-C

As Clever as You Can

Every time I open a New Post page, it's because I feel like I have something worthwhile to say, but then when I finally get to that blank page, I....well, blank. It's incredibly annoying.

[Insert C.S. Lewis quote here instead].

Just kidding. I'll try.

I'll go ahead and warn you now that for the rest of the semester you'll most likely be reading a lot of quotes from Mr. Clive Staples (probably due to the very reliable habit I've formed at blanking out and having nothing worthwhile of my own to say). I'm required to read through his entire Signature Classics in my Philosophy class these next four months: so much fun. I'm a week in and already my brain is chock full and I'm finding it hard to let it all "marinate" so-to-speak. We read a couple chapters every night, and every couple chapters is enough to keep me thinking for a solid few days, if not an entire week. As if my mind isn't blown away by Lewis enough, the fact that I get graded for reading his books tears it into imperceptible shreds.

"The proper motto is not 'Be good, sweet maid and let who can be clever,'

but 'Be good, sweet maid, and don't forget that this involves being as clever as you can.'"

-C.S. Lewis

Another class that's blowing my mind right now is my hermeneutics class. I'll never read the Bible or listen to a sermon the same way again. I'm sure what I'm learning will show up in some of my blogs in the future, but for now it's more than I can even fathom to explain.

The more I learn the more I realize I know practically nothing. I feel very much like a child, and while to keep the heart of a child is one thing, obtaining a "grown-up's head" is another: but of course it is best to have both and to try, to best of our ability, to keep it an even race between our heart and our head. In Mere Christianity, Lewis reminds us that Christ tells us to not only be "as harmless as doves", but also to be "as wise as serpents." Our hearts and minds were created to work in tandem, not for one to be neglected and the other to be held superior. Sometimes I think I lack the ability for either one, but if it all begins with a fear of the Lord, therefore to have a teachable spirit as most children ought to have (because I definitely know of some children who have anything but a teachable spirit) - then I'll begin there. And excuse me, but holy crap (!) do I want that to spur me onwards to sharpen whatever intelligence I'm capable of: to be as clever as I can while being as compassionate as I can. We should all want that, lest always be limited and bound into a slavery of sorts: neither knowing the love or the knowledge that we're capable of knowing. What is worser still? Hindering others from knowing it in the same instance, by way of our ignorance in never disciplining ourselves to learn what we can. This is where the kicker comes in for me personally; my children will only know as much about the Lord and His Word and theology and in pursuing righteousness as I do.

...and that gives me a little more incentive as well.

"Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened: one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself."

-C.S. Lewis

Told you I'd be quoting him a lot.

-C

failures forgiven

"We may, indeed, be sure that perfect chastity - like perfect charity - will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection."

-C.S. Lewis

A Great Problem to Have

It's currently 5:35am and the crickets are chirping in tandem with these dreadful AC units that keep kicking on and off at an extremely high decimal. You'd think one would cancel the other out, but nope. I can hear them both. Very well.

I taught myself the Greek Alphabet this morning and I've already been to work and back (sadly I have to go back in at 7:30 and I'm debating on whether or not they'll even realize if I show up again because it'd be worth staying home if they didn't). I'm thinking some C.S. Lewis is up next, or maybe just some good 'ole Genesis, but hopefully I'll fall asleep before I get to choose either.

So how did week one go? Well, for a lack of a better answer, week one has simply left me exhausted (i.e. I just spelled "exhausted" a-c-h-a-u-s-t-e-d and made the past tense of "spell" into "spelt") and I could really use a Sabbath right about now.

Aside from work and classes, Aaron and I got to go to the Snow Shack for a dreamsicle flavored snow cone topped with marshmallow sauce yesterday (which is quickly becoming a custom of ours; I'm sure you're scratching your head as to why). After being sick last week and being so busy this week, something so simple as being able to sit down at a picnic table and relax in his company for a short while was incredible. We had band practice afterward, which, went well, but my voice was pretty out of sorts, which actually means it was REALLY out of sorts. Understandable I suppose considering my tonsils and throat were covered in blisters this time last week but come on, who's making excuses?

I'm just thankful I got sick LAST week.

Side tracking a little bit, but I don't think I ever mentioned what classes I'm taking this semester - so for those of you at home who are interested (ahem, Granddad), the schedule looks like this:

Genesis (BIBL 410)
Philosophy (PHIL 201)
Ancient Greek (GREK 201)
Methods of Teaching the Bible (CHMN 4-something)
Hermeneutics (BIBL 48-something)

The classes are great, but making it to them on time is another story because:

1) It takes me a good 15 minutes to find a place to park because, as a friend of mine has put it, Liberty has a vision to build anything and everything besides more parking,
2) I push my way through flocks of freshman to get on a bus (yes, I totally cut in line and I'm 100% unrepentant about it), or
3) I end up deciding to book it across campus on my own two feet with only 15 minutes to spare in between classes. My asthma is hating me for that one.

During the midst of all of that frustration, I'm dumbfounded because even when I'm struggling to get from North to Towns in time for class, I'm realizing all the while that it's a wonderful problem to have. I'm grateful that the Lord can cut through all of the noise and allow me see what an incredible blessing it is to be in college at all let alone be here. Even when I have to wake up at 3:30am to go to work, it's a great problem to have. Most of the time. ;)

The same concept is even convicting me as I sit in my air conditioned apartment, exhausted, and being pushed to the edge of insanity due to these stupid crickets and the AC units roaring on and off like a freight train. God still cuts through the noise and reminds me that "It's a great problem to have."

I guess I'd have to agree with Him and say that yeah; it's a very great problem to have.

-C

Semester Two

Tomorrow is the first day of my second semester here at Liberty. It’ll be quite different from the first, considering that it’s a new season and I have a new major - amongst plenty of other things.

I’ll try to keep this short because if I want to survive tomorrow I’m gonna have to. My day begins in six and a half hours (that’s right: 3:30am) for work. I get off at 11 and then I’ll have to jet to class to be there by 11:25 – which, I don’t foresee happening. I have four classes back to back from there on out and I’ll finally be able to leave campus and come home at 3:45. Holy Crap. The only thing that could possibly make it any worse is if I had to wear a size 2XL “Yes I Can Help You Shirt.”

Heh. Scratch that.
Already happening.

Of course I’m being a little dramatic, but it’s warranted. I have no idea how this week is going to pan out, but with the uncertainty comes a whole lot of excitement.

-C

A Must-Read

This Momentary Marriage
John Piper

mason jar soap dispenser

My friend Sarah absolutely loves mason jars. She used them in her wedding and ended up giving us twenty-four of them to take home with us last weekend. We gave twelve to Aaron and then kept twelve, and aside from using them as drink glasses I thought I'd get creative. I hadn't bought a soap dispenser for the bathroom yet - I just haven't been able to justify buying a collection of bathroom counter items that cost around around $10 an item (I'm talking about your soap dispenser, soap dish, toothbrush holder, tumblers..etc.). It can get expensive! Here's an alternative that you can put together yourself without having to go to the store. Yep. That's right people. I'm talking FREE.

More Ch-Ch-Changes.

SO!

I cook Cajun food now, which I guess was bound to happen at one point or another since I have a boyfriend who grew up in Louisiana... (and because if I didn't, my roommate would dominate for the title of best cook in apartment 508. Mmm. Not acceptable).

...And I apparently make Cajun casseroles out of the leftovers:

Essentially I just took what was left over from our Crawfish boil (Potatoes, Smoked Sausage, Corn, all boiled with Old Bay seasoning) and threw it in a casserole dish. I didn't put any of the leftover Crawfish in there because I wanted to marinate them to make Etouffe for another time (which I have a recipe for) and so not to waste good Crawfish on my first casserole experiment. 

After cutting up the potatoes, sausage, and corn, I cut up one small white onion and a green pepper from my dad's garden, added some elbow macaroni, Cream of Celery, Cream of Chicken and some milk. I put a little more Cajun seasoning in there with some Onion Power and garlic and then gave it a generous helping of Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Aaron and I ate it tonight for dinner. As you can see, we pretty much killed it. It was actually amazing, but I guess you can't really go wrong with casseroles. Especially when they're Cajun.

Another change that has my feet hurting all the time is my new job at the Liberty Bookstore. It's actually great, and although it can be tedious sometimes, I don't have to wear a uniform and I don't come home smelling like fried food. Another plus is that I'm surrounded by books, and I get a 25% discount on textbooks for class and 35% off anything on the top floor, including their books, merchandise, and Starbucks coffee :)

It's super exhausting and my body isn't quite used to the 4 a.m. wake up call yet (I work morning shifts which begin at 5 a.m.), but I love it because I get to leave at 10 am and I have the rest of the day to just chill.



Working there has also led me to make another change...

...and that would be my major.

I ended up switching my major back to a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion and I couldn't be anymore excited about the change. Working at the bookstore and seeing all of the amazing books I'd be reading if I were a Religion major made me really bummed, so I ended up switching a couple days ago. I did some math and figured out that it'd take me three years to graduate if I were to stick with the Music degree (I need SIX semesters of choir! Absurd). I have 76 credits so far, which puts me at Junior status. There's no way I'm staying three years just to take choir. Heck. No.


So that's about all that's going on here in Lynchburg. I'll be working six days this upcoming week, but I get tomorrow off, which means I'm heading home to Harrisonburg to see my Aletheia Family. It's been forever.

I miss them.

-C

Something in the Water.

Good thing: I checked my Liberty e-mail this morning and found out that I got offered that temporary job at the bookstore for the month of August and for the first week of September.

Bad thing: The e-mail was sent on the 26th of July and it is now August 4th. Orientation was the 31st. Fail.

Good thing: Brooke Fraser's new single "Something in the Water."

Bad thing: I now have to demonstrate an insane amount of patience waiting for her album to drop on October 12th. Even worse, I just realized that I probably won't even be able to afford it since I didn't check my e-mail. Check your e-mail, people.

Good thing: Martha's cooking.

Bad thing: She doesn't live with me.

Good thing: Conway Family Reunion this weekend in Clearfield, PA.

Bad thing: I'll keep it to myself, although it may have something to do with not seeing my boyfriend for five days. Lamesauce. Go ahead, make jokes.

-C

The Past Week

It usually hits me in the mornings when I wake up - that overwhelming ache to be near Him. I tend to lay in bed for as long as possible, contemplating what the day holds as I muster a little prayer that somehow, by the time I lay my head back down that evening, I'd be a little closer to Jesus than I was when I woke up.

I found myself bawling a little while ago as I was praying simply because I was praying. It could be because I'm a girl and we're just classified criers, but it could also mean that I'm beginning to recognize all the more that I'm only reconciled to Him by Him, even in moments like this. It's not of myself, not any ounce of it. Lord knows I can't do anything by myself, not even pray to Him without the pressing, prodding, and provoking of the Spirit. How often I take Him, His blessings, and His pure grace for granted. How thankful I am that He remembers that we're just dust.

For He knows how weak we are; 

He remembers we are only dust.
Psalm 103:14 (NLV)

Life in Black and White

Byrd-Lady is here - and by here I mean, home.

We've been kind of kidding around for a while that once she moved in we would start our own blog entitled, "Life in Black and White." It could have something to do with the fact that she's black and I'm white (but who really notices that kind of a thing?), but the funny thing is, is that the differences go so much further than race.

Exhibit A:

                       Byrd's side of the closet.           My side of the closet.

  Exhibit B:

                               On her browser.              On my browser.






....Okay, so maybe it does have to do with race.


-C

A Recap of Spring 2010 in "PIC-tures"

Waiting

"If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come."

  — C.S. Lewis

The "Big-Girl" in Me

  Keeping house is pretty much one of my favorite things to do. I've gotta say that having my own apartment has unleashed the big-girl in me. I just sat down and made myself a budget, the dishes are clean, the counter is wiped down, the bathtub has been scrubbed, and the carpet is vacuumed (or should I say, "Swivel-Swept").

    There is left-over chicken casserole in the fridge and a grocery list written out (I'm thinking Fried Rice is in the works next). I've taken my vitamins every morning for the past week and a half and I drink Acai Berry Juice for kicks. Now, if I could just start exercising, we'd be good to go. Uh-huh.

    Overall, I'm starting to feel so much healthier and so much happier these days. Jesus gets the credit for it all. Thank You, Abba for providing so generously. You're beyond amazing.

-C

Anthropologie

Cape Charles

Look, Mom! (And Granddad!)

	Subject	Course	Section	Course Title		Final Grade
	WRSP	104	001	Harmonic Practices & Theory II		A

Dear Germany,

I miss you, terribly.

-C

Just a Hello

The apartment is coming together slowly, but surely. I've spent the past two days painting the place; all but the sun room, kitchen, and the bedroom. I've had to tell myself over and over again that Rome wasn't built in a day and not even that, but they had way more money than I do. It has yet to become everything I've been envisioning, but for a broke college kid, it's not looking too shabby either. It'll get there. Patience, Chelsea Cline. Patience.