Coffee Drank

Check, Though not for the last time this vacation I've drank coffee. I alway picked up Abraham Joshua Heschel's Sabbath. Which I learned about in blogger land. I've also been reading through the sermon on the mount savoring the moments in the word. Other than that I've been doing a bit of relaxing and a lot of working. Merry Christmas to all. And a Joyeux Noel to my friends and visiters in Bloggerland.

post its, great for small lists...

So a semester has nearly ended. Ive learned Hebrew and visited Thailand, started a photo blog, and bought a car. I'm looking forward to the Semester break and all the things I think I'll get done.
Top Ten To Do List for January(that will actually happen):
1. Read Books
2. Drink Coffee
3. Visit Naan and Curry
4. Make Grandma's present
5. Clean fish tank
6. Paint Jitters
7. watch Stargate SG-1 season 7
8. write Curriculum
9. organize book shelves
10. finish wall mural

Top Ten Things I ought to do. (but probably won;t happen)
1.Organize files
2. Practice Hebrew
3. Clean Room
4. compile fall school work
5. Finish scarf
6. exercise regularily
7. catch up on correspondance
8. pre-read Justo Gonzalas
9. clean out closet
10. go to dentist

January? Really?

School has started and I'm knee deep in Hebrew. I love studying languages, however this one is definately most challenging. I visited my blog last week and though , "January? really?" So here I am again after an increbibly long hiatus. I'm not going to pledge consististency or play catch up. Lots has happened, but It would take hours to weave into a blog.

So, this week I spent time with an old friend, and the reunion was amazing and revitalizing. It gave me a glimpse of after grad school. Yes there is life after school. I also took my first Hebrew quiz, and now pray that they are all as successful. Today I am now resting. I started the day with pancakes and fresh raspberry syrup and of course a nice cup of coffee. The sky is blue, I've no urgent deadlines today and time to ponder.

I've been reading a lot of documents from the history of the church, which is on the one hand a requirement for class and on the other hand an enjoyment that I'm actually getting class credit for. Ah to sit and read Augustine and not feel as though I'm neglecting studies.

And now I'm off to read a little history and run through Hebrew flash cards.

~The pondering student.

The Path

This picture is the visual of my out of the darkess journey

Out of the Darkness

I am so blessed to have true friends that can encourage me no matter how many oceans separate us. I’ve been struggling to love who I am in Christ and not desire to compare myself to others. It’s uphill, but the climb is growing sweeter. The bittersweet weeks of December and January have melted into a meadow filled with the flowers of courage, refuge, and hope. I cried out and He answered, I am safely home and comforted. Gone is the loneliness that is lies and deception in the forest where sunlight rarely reaches Currently I am somewhere in the meadow looking towards the son. I think life is a series of dark times and light times. The darkest hours of in the deepest part of your soul serve to act as a counterforce for the life that Christ fills with joy. It is because of the climb through the brambles and tangles that the growth is sweet, the air is fresh and the bright hopes of tommorrow are filling the sky.

Seeds, Patience, and a little fruit

So, those who know me, know patience isn't exactly my biggest strength. In fact I struggle with it in so many ways. I hate lines, I dread those recipes that have me doing nothing for extended periods of time. In fact although I can cook gourmet meals, I had to have help cooking Rice a Roni the other night. It may be the San Francisco treat, but the part where you wait for the rice to brown drives me insane. (This is leading somewhere). This last week at church we were given charge of a sweetpea seed. I have cup, seed, soil, and water. It sits on my window sill where it can get light. Now I must wait. There it is the patience. I was looking into it a few minutes ago and wondering, anticipating, hoping to see just a tiny inkling of growth and change. Yet there is nothing. I knew there would be nothing, but yet the hope is still there. So there it is another practice in patience. Still there is a point to the seed as it is an analogy for my spiritual growth. I must be in the right place, surrounded by the right things, and then wait on the evidence of change in my life. That isn't wait on change, but waiting on the fruit.
This last week I learned lessons in leadership and worship as I spend 52 hours with 3 adults and 9 middle school students while attending a youth conference on worship. I look in anticipation to the differences my changes and new outlook will create in my life and eventually in the life of others. So I desire results now. I love the immediate. I'm probably a one marshmallow type of gal, but oh I desire the ability to wait for the two marshmallow option. My mind needs more patience as I grow. Patience as I strive for something more than mediocrity.

The art of slowing

Ortberg says Love and hurrying are mutually incompatible. That hurry can destroy us. So, it seems the thing to do is enter into a practice of waiting patiently and doing, or better yet, being slowly. My pace and list fight against this, but oh the hope.

Just
to
slow.
Yet, how indeed can I just cut things and tasks from my list without retribution? How does one truly go about prioritizing and deleting those things deemed less worthy of my time. Do less. Any yet practice a little solitude and the

freedom
I feel
is
telling.

It's critical for my soul, for shalom, for future, and for joy. To pause long enough to feel the rthymn of the world, which moves at the pace it moves before humanity attempted its jet paced life, breaking the speed of sound, and creating instant worldwide communication.
Stop.
Wait.
Dwell.
Be.
Leave behind. I see how it begins now.
Drive in the slow line, get in the long line, smile at the cute kid, watch the sun set.
Take the time
to smell
the

flowers.

My parents were visiting and I took them to Muir woods. And oh the beauty God has given us. He didn't create on all purpose plant, He created millions of species for us to enjoy. He loves us so much. So here's some of that beauty. The earth displays His majesty for all to see.