Back to School already!

Can't believe that I just came back from school! It'll be a bit hard to get in the groove this time, though. My mind is still on other things like swimming, late nights, and western movies! I might not post too often for the next month, because I have lots of things to deal with right now.

Thanks so much for reading!

8-28-10

My Birthday.

Cobblestone streets, dappled sunlight shining through a canopy of leaves, patterns of rust on a old peice of metal, cars passing by outside your window as you fall asleep, a whole crowd of expectant people, a good laugh with a bunch of friends, a comliment when you least expect it, the surprise that wrapping paper holds, the smell of uncooked brownies, my neighbors :), the texture of a dull pencil on paper, having a day of your own when everyone is happy for you.

That's what I'm thankful for today.
Enjoi.

Listening to God

Daniel 5.5: "The fingers of a human hand appered, writing on the plaster of the wall on the king's palace."

I was reading my Bible last night, always a calm thing to do before bed. I was flipping through one of my favorite sections when I came to a picture of God's hand writing on the King's wall. I read through the whole chapter for probably the 5th time. I enjoyed it, and after I had gone to bed, I started saying my nightly prayers. I thought for a while about the passage I had just read, and how God talked to those people that day.

God talks to us every day. Either through animals, plants, events, etc. It's never going to be as easy as writing on a wall. What we need to do is listen for God's voice in everything.

Sometimes, in the darker parts of my life, when I feel that God is silent, I feel like I'm trying to walk through my life with a blindfold on. I realize in those times, I have to slow down and listen. Stop and try to disipher God's writing for my life.

The writing on the wall ended up telling that king that God was the One Ruler of the universe. The king was to be turned into a beast for 7 years so that he could learn to trust and listen to God.

Nothing that drastic will probably happen to us. (Of course it is possible. :P) But in a way, when we stray from God, the state of sin we enter is like being a beast. Learning our mistakes in sin, we can always learn and come out fighting stronger and ready for what God has for us to do.

Have a nice day, everyone.
Enjoi

Photoshoot

My beautiful friend, Rose D., asked me to take some photos of her to add to her blog. I had a great time, and thought some of the pics came out beautifully! Take a look.

My Heart in God's Hands

For the past few months, I've been in and out of the hospital and around to tons of different doctors. Ever since they realized I was so darn skinny, even though I ate like a cow. (Haha, its true.) Also, the fact that I can bend my thumb backwards to touch my wrist... yeah, that's kinda wierd. I also had to take a ton of scans and alot of blood drawn to see if I had some connective tissue disorder. If I do, indeed have it, then I may have a very strechy aerorta, the main vessel leading from the heart. If doing any vigerous exersize, it could burst, of course leading to death.

At first, I was a little freaked. What's wrong with my heart? When I left school early, or came in late, everyone would always ask and I'd always have to tell them. "Just another thing for my heart..." And then I'd have to explain. Eventually, everyone kept coming up to me saying things like: "What's wrong with your heart?"

Once I accepted the fact that I may or may not have heart problems, I told myself one night at church. "Y'know, nothing's wrong with my heart. My soul, the part of my heart that belongs to God, has nothing wrong with it!" I kept thinking, and more and more, I began feel more confident. Whatever happens, happens. If I die, it was meant to be. If I live, it was meant to be.

Almost a year later, today, actually, I got my results back in the mail. My mom shakily ripped the Children's UPMC envelope open and unfolded the tri folded paper. I looked over her sholder, anxious to see. She let out a sigh and a tear slipped out of her eye. I looked closer and as I went down every test, all I saw was: NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE, NORMAL. I was fine nothing was wrong with my heart. But in a way, nothing ever was.

I had made up my mind before now, that either way, my heart was in God's hands.

8-5-10

The smell of PA fresh cut grass, the way the bass sounds on a wood floor, the steam rising from a fresh cup of black coffee, the way an elderly person looks at you with admiration, the low notes on a baby grand, the way a little kid talks with his mouth filled with chocolate cake, old books on a shelf, a whole store of antiques, big blue eyes, condensation on the outside of a glass, a biscotti and a creamy coffee on a Sunday morning, sunlight shining through colored glass bottles.

That's what I'm thankful for today.
Enjoi

Photography

THis summer has been crazy!
I haven't had much time to take some photos, except the ones that appear already with every post.
Enjoi