I never realized how much snow is a part of me. I love the fresh crispness of the air. The sound of crunching as you walk through it. the way it flys at and then over your windshield when you're driving, the feeling of laying down in it, how it's icy when packed, but so stisfying to make footprints in fresh clean snow.
I know there are downsides to winter, the salt from the roads collecting on your car, the gray slushiness after many cars have driven on the road, the icyness, the bitter cold that makes you shake all the way through,
but all in all, I am glad to be able to experience snow again. It feels like this is what I have been missing the past two years. I didn't miss it all that much the first year, but the heat just got to me and I think that is one of the major factors in me coming home is just that the heat felt un bearable most of the times.
Although I am cold most of the time and have a hard time getting warm unless rediculously bundled up, I don't mind it. not really :-)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
the court of law!
So friday all day I was at the oakland county court. I was selected for jury duty, and wouldn't you know it, my name was literally the FIRST name called, first thing, along with 30 other people, but then when we got to the court room, they picked 13 people, and I thought... ok, I won't be picked for this case, but after dismissing a couple people, they needed one last person, and guess what? it was me!
anyway, It was definitly a new experience for me, but I am glad I went. IT was funny, though, when the judge and attorneys were asking questions of the jurors, they asked me what my occupation was.... I said "ministry" they asked what knid and I told them with Campus Crusade reaching out to College students. They asked if I could judge the case impartially and I said I could, and then the attorney of the defense asked his client if they should keep me on or not. I thought that was pretty entertaining. I am only 24 but doing "ministry" and being a "christian" although I am sure at least half the jury line would probably claim to be christian anyway, but the fact that I do it as a profession raises more eyebrows.
anyway, they decided to keep me, and I sat through the case. It was interesting, because I wanted to make sure I was keeping an unbiased opinion. The person was being charged of possesing Cocaine with the intent to deliver/sell. It was nice because at lunch I was reading "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller (fabulous book!) and the chapter I was on was about morals coincidentally enough, and he was talking about how people focus so much on gay and abortion issues politically, but they mostly talk about God and his vengence and whatnot, but don't mention Jesus.... I think this is becuase they know Jesus would love on all people, regardless if they support abortion or Gay rights or hav had an abortion or are gay. He loved on the woman at the well who had many husbands didn't he? he loved the lepers and outcasts of society, so why would he love the gays and abortionists?
anyway, it got me to thinking I shouldn't automatically think this guy bad because he was found with cocaine and herione stuff, but I should feel sorry for him that the devil has twisted up his mind so bad, that he thinks he needs these things. So the second half of the trial a saw in a new light, and I wanted to give my opinion fairly, but I couldn't really see how this guy was innocent. Thankfully enough for me, all the other jurors unanimously agreed he was guilty....
so now I am trying not to judge people by who they hang out with, or what they do, but try to see them through Jesus' eyes ( I know I have heard this so many times) but it really came to light on friday, since I actually was helping to make a judgement.
anyway, It was definitly a new experience for me, but I am glad I went. IT was funny, though, when the judge and attorneys were asking questions of the jurors, they asked me what my occupation was.... I said "ministry" they asked what knid and I told them with Campus Crusade reaching out to College students. They asked if I could judge the case impartially and I said I could, and then the attorney of the defense asked his client if they should keep me on or not. I thought that was pretty entertaining. I am only 24 but doing "ministry" and being a "christian" although I am sure at least half the jury line would probably claim to be christian anyway, but the fact that I do it as a profession raises more eyebrows.
anyway, they decided to keep me, and I sat through the case. It was interesting, because I wanted to make sure I was keeping an unbiased opinion. The person was being charged of possesing Cocaine with the intent to deliver/sell. It was nice because at lunch I was reading "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller (fabulous book!) and the chapter I was on was about morals coincidentally enough, and he was talking about how people focus so much on gay and abortion issues politically, but they mostly talk about God and his vengence and whatnot, but don't mention Jesus.... I think this is becuase they know Jesus would love on all people, regardless if they support abortion or Gay rights or hav had an abortion or are gay. He loved on the woman at the well who had many husbands didn't he? he loved the lepers and outcasts of society, so why would he love the gays and abortionists?
anyway, it got me to thinking I shouldn't automatically think this guy bad because he was found with cocaine and herione stuff, but I should feel sorry for him that the devil has twisted up his mind so bad, that he thinks he needs these things. So the second half of the trial a saw in a new light, and I wanted to give my opinion fairly, but I couldn't really see how this guy was innocent. Thankfully enough for me, all the other jurors unanimously agreed he was guilty....
so now I am trying not to judge people by who they hang out with, or what they do, but try to see them through Jesus' eyes ( I know I have heard this so many times) but it really came to light on friday, since I actually was helping to make a judgement.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
snow?
I feel like I should put a picture of snow up, since it has been snowing on and off all day today... not much on the ground though, just falling pretty.
I was going to complain that it really sucks how bad the economy is right now, and my friends that I met at New Staff Training in Orlando have been feeling a lot similar. I hear how things with them have been going, and I realize that it's just that time of year. Everyone is getting hyped up about the holidays. Everything becomes a big ordeal, and no one has time for meeting with people to hear about what God is doing, they all have so many other things to do, and I don't blame them!
I am praying so hard for all those who have or are possibly going to lose their jobs with GM. If you aren't in Michigan... an update... almost everyone in Michigan works for or has family that works for GM, Ford, and Chrysler. So this market is absolutely terrible, and I don't know anyone that is not being affected by what's going on. So my prayers are with you!!!
For me, support is getting difficult. I get it into my head that if I don't do everything just so then I won't get my support in. I think it is all my efforts. I see myself as failing since I am not doing as well as I had hoped I was. but that's the problem. I.
The last paragraph has the word "I" or "me" or "my" 14 times!!!!! 4(-ish) sentances. I am comgin to the point where I need to remember it is Him. He is the one that is doing this. not me. He is taking care of me, and providing for me. What I am asking of Him is mere pocket change, but every single penny feels like a mountain to me. ( Mt 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.")
Thank you so much for all your prayers... specifically, be praying I would get $400 a month in support come in so I can pay for the utilities while my parents go to Florida for the winter. I know God will do everything in His timing not mine, and I am counting on it, it just gets so hard to trust and depend fully on Him for everything. Everywhere I go, everyone tells me that or reminds me of that, and I feel like I hardly need reminding, I am living every day!
My life can be summed up by one word. "Dependent" it's just a matter of who or what I am depending on that makes the difference. when I move from depending on the lord, to my self, that's when I get into trouble. sometimes I wish my life would just fall into place like a fairy tale, but I know God has amazing things in store for me, it's just hard to see the full picture from down here.
I was going to complain that it really sucks how bad the economy is right now, and my friends that I met at New Staff Training in Orlando have been feeling a lot similar. I hear how things with them have been going, and I realize that it's just that time of year. Everyone is getting hyped up about the holidays. Everything becomes a big ordeal, and no one has time for meeting with people to hear about what God is doing, they all have so many other things to do, and I don't blame them!
I am praying so hard for all those who have or are possibly going to lose their jobs with GM. If you aren't in Michigan... an update... almost everyone in Michigan works for or has family that works for GM, Ford, and Chrysler. So this market is absolutely terrible, and I don't know anyone that is not being affected by what's going on. So my prayers are with you!!!
For me, support is getting difficult. I get it into my head that if I don't do everything just so then I won't get my support in. I think it is all my efforts. I see myself as failing since I am not doing as well as I had hoped I was. but that's the problem. I.
The last paragraph has the word "I" or "me" or "my" 14 times!!!!! 4(-ish) sentances. I am comgin to the point where I need to remember it is Him. He is the one that is doing this. not me. He is taking care of me, and providing for me. What I am asking of Him is mere pocket change, but every single penny feels like a mountain to me. ( Mt 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.")
Thank you so much for all your prayers... specifically, be praying I would get $400 a month in support come in so I can pay for the utilities while my parents go to Florida for the winter. I know God will do everything in His timing not mine, and I am counting on it, it just gets so hard to trust and depend fully on Him for everything. Everywhere I go, everyone tells me that or reminds me of that, and I feel like I hardly need reminding, I am living every day!
My life can be summed up by one word. "Dependent" it's just a matter of who or what I am depending on that makes the difference. when I move from depending on the lord, to my self, that's when I get into trouble. sometimes I wish my life would just fall into place like a fairy tale, but I know God has amazing things in store for me, it's just hard to see the full picture from down here.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Memories of Thailand
Today my mom was standing behind her car, and I was going to start it up, but I paused, I stopped, because I thought, I don't want the exhaust to get my mom all dirty!
To tell the story of what happened to make me believe this I will bring you back to a year ago, in Chiang Rai, Thailand:We had just gotten a station wagon so my team of 6 could travel the 3 hour ride back and fourth from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai for our meetings. As we got ready to go one day, Cristen from our team was standing behind the car, getting into the back. As we turned the car on, the exhaust blew out black soot all over Cristen's cream colored pants!!!!
Ever since then, I think we have all been careful not to stand in from of the exhaust pipe, or have been more cautious about who is behind the car.
So that is why I paused when my mom was behind the car, because I didn't want the exhaust to blow black soot all over her :-)
To tell the story of what happened to make me believe this I will bring you back to a year ago, in Chiang Rai, Thailand:We had just gotten a station wagon so my team of 6 could travel the 3 hour ride back and fourth from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai for our meetings. As we got ready to go one day, Cristen from our team was standing behind the car, getting into the back. As we turned the car on, the exhaust blew out black soot all over Cristen's cream colored pants!!!!
Ever since then, I think we have all been careful not to stand in from of the exhaust pipe, or have been more cautious about who is behind the car.
So that is why I paused when my mom was behind the car, because I didn't want the exhaust to blow black soot all over her :-)
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