4.29.10

Today in English, we read Shel Silverstein poems all day. He is my favorite poet as of right now. I thought I'd share one that made me smile, and maybe a few more throughout the next couple days.
Ps. Today is my half-birthday!

4.22.10

Am I the only girl who is obsessed with all things lace? Well, dream no more, because White Owl is the source for never-ending items of lace galore. Look at these fabulous yellow earrings, for example.

Also, Postcards+Love creates handmade jewelry, including this elegant, white, lace necklace.

I'm so thankful for people who love lace as much as I do. However, they are simultaneously causing me to covet, which is a sin, so I will stop my search for lace....now.

4.21.10.

Words that have made me smile today:

"Thou are the Father of me---not any mood

Can part me from the One, the verily Good. 

--George Macdonald, once again

I think the most special item a person could ever receive is a handwritten letter. I was blessed with an unexpected one today, and it is moments like these I hold onto forever.

4.20.10

"Tis hard for man to rouse his spirit up-- 
It is the human creative agony, 
Though but to hold the heart an empty cup,
Or tighten on the team the rigid rein.
Many will rather lie among the slain

Than creep through narrow ways the light to gain--

Than wake the will, and be born bitterly."

Diary of An Old Soul, George MacDonald

This is one of many daily prayers by George Macdonald, who was "a Scottish novelist, poet, and Christian writer." The words of wisdom for today's date are very applicable for me, so I thought I'd share. It takes an immense amount of strength, hard work, and dedication to surrender my spirit into God's hands. I can try every day, but it is guaranteed that at some point during that day, even if it is only for a second, a pang or flash of discouragement will seep in. I have been having a couple days like that now. Sure, it might be easier just to give up; to put my heart into and empty cup and lie among the slain, letting mistruths and negativity triumph over me. BUT. Here's the thing; light comes through narrow ways, it does not just reveal itself in its entirety wherever it goes. It must be searched for. I recently discovered a new favorite Proverb, from the beginning of Ch.2, that applies to this as well: "and if you call out for insight, and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Giving up on growth is like giving up on hope and light. Hope is what I have, light is what I desire. But I must be seeking them out as the most precious items I will ever behold, like silver and hidden treasure, for they are sacred, and they can only come from God. He will sustain us, we must not forget that. 

On Saturday, a group of us went to the Rivercats baseball game in Downtown Sacramento. I never realized how inviting that area is. I'd love to walk those streets again in the daytime, being able to soak in all the architecture and busyness, and maybe even snap a few [better] photos. 

It was such a fun night, and being able to giggle with my love on a Mexico blanket only added to it. Time to go finish a paper now...

p.s. in case you were worried, my severe injuries from my bike accident are healing nicely, minus one sketchy scab (the love was right, it was suspicious from the beginning) Good day!

Bike Rides.

Today has been quite the adventure. Shell and I decided to head on a bike ride. Little did we know how involved it would turn out to be.
First, we embark on real bikes. You know, the bikes that real bikers use. The ones who wear full-body spandex. We are not real bikers. We disregarded this small setback and continued on anyways.
We made it to our destination rather flawlessly, emerging ourselves amongst the wind and cars.
Then we rested, enjoy some tasty fruit concoctions, and began the trek back.
The wind had started to pick up, and my weak and fragile straw fidora couldn't take the heat. It blew off my head and traveled with great speed backwards.
Luckily, we were in a parking lot, and only one car had to stop for me. That car saved my little hat.
Our spirits weren't dampened yet, though, and we kept on pedaling. The ride was beautiful!
But then...
There was a left turn to make. A wide left turn. A left turn only real bikers could make and succeed. Since it bears repeating again, just so everyone is reminded, I am not a real biker.  I begin to turn this skinny tire, foot-pedal strap, low handle-bar, real-biker bike, but I overestimate the precise angle in which I need to conquer in order to be okay.
For future reference, don't overestimate your angles while biking.
At this point, I know I am going to crash. I have come to peace with it. It is now just a matter of time, milliseconds really, and wondering if it will hurt.
It does. I faintly hear Shell squealing, "Sevs! Sevs, oh no! Sevs?!"
That thin, black tire met with the uninviting curb, and crash. There I went. I left my eyes open, that way my subconscious would have some entertainment as well. I saw green coming straight to me, or through me rather, and felt the bike and its finicky foot-pedal-straps let me free. My face became friends with the shrubs, my legs friends with the branches. Shell was stifling laughter.
Then we both laughed.
Then we realized the chain on the real biker's bike had gotten off-track. (If it was really that legitimate to begin with, shouldn't it have been sturdy enough to withstand one, simple nosedive?) Shell, being the strong woman she is, fixed it though, after we had walked for awhile. Our fingers became laced with grease, but at this point, grease wasn't a major concern. We mounted those bikes once more, but not before we were told by two bystanders that we were in the middle of a swarm of bees.
True story.
We rode faster.
And finally, to Jessup we returned.
I think it's safe to say as this point that we are now real bikers.

Next time, I'd rather just have a nice bike like this. It doesn't intimidate me. 

Late.

Late night, late post, late late. (Why do words always look and sound weird after they are repeated a certain number of times?)
School is busy—but surprisingly, I am handling it just fine. I have an English paper draft due tomorrow, and I am researching Kate Chopin, one of the most revolutionary female writers to date. It always saddens me when people who create unconventional works for their time do not get any recognition until well after their deaths. But I suppose that's why they're considered classics now! My schedule is set for next year, along with an online summer course, and again, it's busy, but I am really looking forward to the challenge. I've realized this is such a prime time in my life, and there are so many beautiful opportunities waiting for me each day to grow and become more of the person I am striving to be. When I think about school that way too, it excites me to an inexplicable degree. I am at such a wonderful school with professors who truly know how to teach, and if I'm not taking every advantage of that, then what am I doing? Learning is so appealing, so engaging. Why not accept the challenge?
There is exactly one month until school is over, and 3 and a half weeks until the love heads overseas. Summer will be another lovely chance for growth, and I am already looking forward to it. (And I'll get to blog way more!) With that, here's to the last month of my first year of college...boy how the time flies.

edit: Here are the wonderful texts who have been my closest companions these last few days. Kate was a beaut.

p.s...No visual-aid tonight...I'll have to save that for when I have more time to explore on my hands... when your eye begins twitching with great fervor, it's probably a sign that it is time for sleep. Sweet dreams.

April showers DO bring May flowers!

Here is an amazing artist I found via Etsy. Her profile is here. I saw the oil painting [so rich in texture and color, I might add] of flowers and thought...oh this is perfect. The sun has reappeared today from the rain and gloom of yesterday. Enjoy.

Meanwhile, I am getting packed, enjoying a banana as I type, and preparing to head back to school. Spring break has been ideal, but it is time to get back to work. [Not before a little reunion with my love though, and his grandmother's cooking for that matter.] 

Happy Easter!

   
I have finally returned to the world of blogging; I didn't fully realize how time-consuming it really is. Today is the perfect day to catch up, though, because it is my last day of break and also Easter, meaning I have pictures. I'm still figuring out the whole technical aspect to blogging, like sizing pictures (I like them large!) and making everything look good. So hopefully once I get a hang of all that, this blog will look somewhat "put together." Easter today was wonderful, my parents and I went to my Dad's parents' house. Cousins, delicious food, and laughs. I am blessed, and Jesus is Risen.