Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Here's to Hindsight...
We'll raise our glasses
To puzzle pieces
And the way they fit together
That we never saw til now
Here's to questions
That meet their answers
In the bright light of hindsight
It will all come clear somehow
......
And all todays uncertainties
And all of my impatience
Will just be flecks of color
In the picture that He's painting
- Tara Leigh Cobble
To puzzle pieces
And the way they fit together
That we never saw til now
Here's to questions
That meet their answers
In the bright light of hindsight
It will all come clear somehow
......
And all todays uncertainties
And all of my impatience
Will just be flecks of color
In the picture that He's painting
- Tara Leigh Cobble
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
I got out of work early today, how glorious! Now to finish my paper on Fools Rush In so that tomorrow night I can enjoy my par-tay! I am so excited! :)
P.S. I love how portable my Mac is - I can take it anywhere and it doesn't weigh 100 pounds and the battery will last for hours. I love it. I highly recommend it!
P.S.S. I submitted my Teach for America application this afternoon! And now I wait....
P.S. I love how portable my Mac is - I can take it anywhere and it doesn't weigh 100 pounds and the battery will last for hours. I love it. I highly recommend it!
P.S.S. I submitted my Teach for America application this afternoon! And now I wait....
Monday, February 11, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
I recently realized some things about life.
I tend to get frustrated when things in life don't go how I think they should, be it classes, relationships, jobs, future, etc. (Ok, that is not a new realization...) But the thing is, how boring would life be if I always knew what I wanted and always got it? As cliche as this sounds, God knows best. He sees the big picture even when I can't. I think I know what would be best for my life, what I would most like to do next year, but it seems that every time I get my heart set on something, it ends up not happening. God always changes what I think is best and always turns into something better.
So why do I stress? I don't know. But let's be honest, who doesn't want things to go their way? What I need to do is just wait. I am sick of that being the message that I get from God, but at least He's talking, eh? Trusting is so difficult for me - I would like to be able to do something about things that stress me out, but I just have to trust that my life is in God's hands and He only has my best interest in mind. I can feel broken, but we heal and grow after a break, so I should learn what I can and even be grateful that God cares enough about me to allow opportunities for growth.
Working at Triune every Sunday has worked in me an appreciation for all that I have. I get stressed about finances and future, but when I go there and see people who literally have nothing, I am reminded of how blessed I am. The things that stress me out are not the most important things in life, and I get to stress about them because I already have so many of my needs met. I ought to be grateful that I have too many options for next year that I don't know how to choose one. I ought to be grateful that I have such amazing friends that I want to burst into tears at the thought of leaving them. I ought to be grateful that I have the ability to love instead of never allowing myself to care deeply for anyone because I am afraid. I ought to be grateful that I am loved enough to have so many people wanting to celebrate my graduation instead of stressing about the logistics of having so many people here at the craziest time of the year.
I need to refocus my priorities and concentrate on the good things in life, on all the blessings that I take for granted. And I need to trust that the Lord will work everything out in His time and for my good. Not just for my good, but for the greatest good of everyone as well.
Just some thoughts about the more abstract things in life.
I tend to get frustrated when things in life don't go how I think they should, be it classes, relationships, jobs, future, etc. (Ok, that is not a new realization...) But the thing is, how boring would life be if I always knew what I wanted and always got it? As cliche as this sounds, God knows best. He sees the big picture even when I can't. I think I know what would be best for my life, what I would most like to do next year, but it seems that every time I get my heart set on something, it ends up not happening. God always changes what I think is best and always turns into something better.
So why do I stress? I don't know. But let's be honest, who doesn't want things to go their way? What I need to do is just wait. I am sick of that being the message that I get from God, but at least He's talking, eh? Trusting is so difficult for me - I would like to be able to do something about things that stress me out, but I just have to trust that my life is in God's hands and He only has my best interest in mind. I can feel broken, but we heal and grow after a break, so I should learn what I can and even be grateful that God cares enough about me to allow opportunities for growth.
Working at Triune every Sunday has worked in me an appreciation for all that I have. I get stressed about finances and future, but when I go there and see people who literally have nothing, I am reminded of how blessed I am. The things that stress me out are not the most important things in life, and I get to stress about them because I already have so many of my needs met. I ought to be grateful that I have too many options for next year that I don't know how to choose one. I ought to be grateful that I have such amazing friends that I want to burst into tears at the thought of leaving them. I ought to be grateful that I have the ability to love instead of never allowing myself to care deeply for anyone because I am afraid. I ought to be grateful that I am loved enough to have so many people wanting to celebrate my graduation instead of stressing about the logistics of having so many people here at the craziest time of the year.
I need to refocus my priorities and concentrate on the good things in life, on all the blessings that I take for granted. And I need to trust that the Lord will work everything out in His time and for my good. Not just for my good, but for the greatest good of everyone as well.
Just some thoughts about the more abstract things in life.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Brief update on my life:
- I spend way too much time playing Facebook Scrabble (Scrabulous)
- My new favorite show is "Flight of the Conchords"
- My grad school applications are complete
- I cannot wait for my 8 o'clock class to be over
- I get to write a term paper on "The Office" and one on "Fools Rush In"
- After this term I will be finished with all my Communications classes
- The Mosteller/Futrell wedding in Raleigh is in one month
- I now am certified to drive a 15-passenger van for Furman (yay drunk bus!!)
- I have amazing friends and am having a fantastic senior year :)
- I think I am going to cry at graduation...
- I spend way too much time playing Facebook Scrabble (Scrabulous)
- My new favorite show is "Flight of the Conchords"
- My grad school applications are complete
- I cannot wait for my 8 o'clock class to be over
- I get to write a term paper on "The Office" and one on "Fools Rush In"
- After this term I will be finished with all my Communications classes
- The Mosteller/Futrell wedding in Raleigh is in one month
- I now am certified to drive a 15-passenger van for Furman (yay drunk bus!!)
- I have amazing friends and am having a fantastic senior year :)
- I think I am going to cry at graduation...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A Blog on Blogs
I just recently discovered the glory of reading other people's blogs. Not people I know, but blogs about life and God and culture and politics - blogs by people who write them like columns in a newspaper. My favorites are the ones by the editors of relevantmagazine.com. I also enjoy their book and music reviews. Alright, I pretty much just like all the articles and blogs. I wish I could write like that: witty yet insightful, relevant, and educated. I just stick to good quotes, my train of thought, and end of the year reflections. But I would recommend this website - I have wasted many an hour just reading those articles and blogs.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Annual End-of-the-Year Survey
2007 in 40 Questions
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? A lot of things, but here are a few highlights – studied abroad, worked in a hospital, got drunk, applied to graduate school, celebrated Christmas in Canada, Tuesday night trivia at Connelly’s, learned to be content with not knowing where my life is going, met some incredible new people, first kiss, had my car at school, drove to Kingsport by myself!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? My resolutions never really seem to materialize – I think I need to write them down.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope.
5. What countries did you visit? Italy and Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Patience, trust, and a clue about what my future holds
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory? January 7, February 17, my birthday celebration, October 31
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Learning to forgive a few people.
9. What was your biggest failure? Continuing to hold grudges, not being truthful.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a few colds.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My lightweight North Face fleece for Italy – I wear it all the time.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Annie, Whitney, Kristin
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I hate this question and refuse to answer it.
14. Where did most of your money go? School, keeping myself clothed, fed, and living at school.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Christmas at Tate :)
16. What song/album will always remind you of 2007? Colbie Caillat “Coco;” Earth, Wind, and Fire “Greatest Hits;” Maroon 5 “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long;” Rascal Flatts “Still Feels Good”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i) Happier or Sadder? Strangely enough, about the same. ii) Older or Wiser? Hopefully both older and wiser. iii) Thinner or Fatter? Same iv) Richer or Poorer? Same, with more college loans; therefore my net worth is lower.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Being carefree and honest, reading for pleasure, controlling my words
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Being dishonest, not trusting, worrying about things outside of my control, being angry
20. How will you be spending Christmas of 2008? I hope to be at home with my family, but I have no idea.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007? Yeah, I think I did.
23. How did you start 2007? I spent New Year’s Eve with Mom and Deborah at home.
24. What was your favorite TV program? The Office!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Actually, no, and I don’t hate anyone that I hated last year. :) Be proud of me!
26. What was the best book you read? This is always such a difficult question. I just finished Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller, which was fantastic, but I also loved A Walk in the Woods and all the other Bill Bryson books I read.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Earth, Wind, and Fire; Colbie Caillat
28. What did you want and get? Materialistically, I got the coat I wanted for Christmas, my car at school, the internship I wanted for the summer, and good grades. But on a more meaningful note, I realized how blessed I am to have the friends that I do. In every group of friends in which I find myself, I am surrounded by incredible people who I love and who love me – what more could I want?
29. What did you want and not get? I don’t like to focus on this – the year is over and it’s time to start anew and not pine over what was lost and unattained.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? “Enchanted” or “P.S. I Love You”
31. What did you do on your birthday? On my actual birthday I had dinner with my parents, but when I got back to school, my friends threw a surprise party for me at Wild Wings, and after that I went to My Tie with Jimmy Hawkins. What a night…
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Several things, but they didn’t happen, so it doesn’t matter because I can’t change them now.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Whatever I like and can find on sale.
34. What kept you sane? Annie, my Mom, Evan, Whitney, and Kristin
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most? I am and will forever be in love with Will Smith.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? I am trying to do a bit of research for the upcoming Presidential elections, but I really have no idea what issues are most important.
37. Who did you miss? Necole in Australia, my family at home, Chris in Iraq
38. Who was the best new person you met? This is my favorite question; therefore, I have to say more than one person. First of all, David Prentice! We met in Italy and I thought that there was no way we would be friends, but alas, David, Joe, and Kelly and I were inseparable, until Kelly left us. Haha… But I had a fantastic time with them in Italy and even though I don’t ever see him or really talk to him as much as I would like, I consider him to be one of my greatest friends. We really got to know each other well in that season of life and I will treasure those memories. I hope that we will be able to keep in touch even after we all go our separate ways. Also, Jimmy Hawkins – he kept me sane in EVM and we also had some great times outside of our chapel responsibilities. :) I am going to miss him!! And how could I forget Ally Parker?! Working with her for two hours every day made my job not only bearable but also enjoyable - once she gets back from foreign study in Europe, we are going to have an amazing end of senior year!!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Always be honest. You’d think I would have learned this by now, eh? Well, I got it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“I will be still in the arms of my Savior
You calm my soul as you sing over me
All of your goodness follows me forever
I will live under your wing
You are good to me
You are good to me
All your love fills my soul
And my heart will always know
God, you are good to me”
- “Good to Me” by The Desperation Band
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? A lot of things, but here are a few highlights – studied abroad, worked in a hospital, got drunk, applied to graduate school, celebrated Christmas in Canada, Tuesday night trivia at Connelly’s, learned to be content with not knowing where my life is going, met some incredible new people, first kiss, had my car at school, drove to Kingsport by myself!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? My resolutions never really seem to materialize – I think I need to write them down.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope.
5. What countries did you visit? Italy and Canada.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Patience, trust, and a clue about what my future holds
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory? January 7, February 17, my birthday celebration, October 31
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Learning to forgive a few people.
9. What was your biggest failure? Continuing to hold grudges, not being truthful.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a few colds.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My lightweight North Face fleece for Italy – I wear it all the time.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Annie, Whitney, Kristin
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I hate this question and refuse to answer it.
14. Where did most of your money go? School, keeping myself clothed, fed, and living at school.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Christmas at Tate :)
16. What song/album will always remind you of 2007? Colbie Caillat “Coco;” Earth, Wind, and Fire “Greatest Hits;” Maroon 5 “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long;” Rascal Flatts “Still Feels Good”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i) Happier or Sadder? Strangely enough, about the same. ii) Older or Wiser? Hopefully both older and wiser. iii) Thinner or Fatter? Same iv) Richer or Poorer? Same, with more college loans; therefore my net worth is lower.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Being carefree and honest, reading for pleasure, controlling my words
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Being dishonest, not trusting, worrying about things outside of my control, being angry
20. How will you be spending Christmas of 2008? I hope to be at home with my family, but I have no idea.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007? Yeah, I think I did.
23. How did you start 2007? I spent New Year’s Eve with Mom and Deborah at home.
24. What was your favorite TV program? The Office!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Actually, no, and I don’t hate anyone that I hated last year. :) Be proud of me!
26. What was the best book you read? This is always such a difficult question. I just finished Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller, which was fantastic, but I also loved A Walk in the Woods and all the other Bill Bryson books I read.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Earth, Wind, and Fire; Colbie Caillat
28. What did you want and get? Materialistically, I got the coat I wanted for Christmas, my car at school, the internship I wanted for the summer, and good grades. But on a more meaningful note, I realized how blessed I am to have the friends that I do. In every group of friends in which I find myself, I am surrounded by incredible people who I love and who love me – what more could I want?
29. What did you want and not get? I don’t like to focus on this – the year is over and it’s time to start anew and not pine over what was lost and unattained.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? “Enchanted” or “P.S. I Love You”
31. What did you do on your birthday? On my actual birthday I had dinner with my parents, but when I got back to school, my friends threw a surprise party for me at Wild Wings, and after that I went to My Tie with Jimmy Hawkins. What a night…
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Several things, but they didn’t happen, so it doesn’t matter because I can’t change them now.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Whatever I like and can find on sale.
34. What kept you sane? Annie, my Mom, Evan, Whitney, and Kristin
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most? I am and will forever be in love with Will Smith.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? I am trying to do a bit of research for the upcoming Presidential elections, but I really have no idea what issues are most important.
37. Who did you miss? Necole in Australia, my family at home, Chris in Iraq
38. Who was the best new person you met? This is my favorite question; therefore, I have to say more than one person. First of all, David Prentice! We met in Italy and I thought that there was no way we would be friends, but alas, David, Joe, and Kelly and I were inseparable, until Kelly left us. Haha… But I had a fantastic time with them in Italy and even though I don’t ever see him or really talk to him as much as I would like, I consider him to be one of my greatest friends. We really got to know each other well in that season of life and I will treasure those memories. I hope that we will be able to keep in touch even after we all go our separate ways. Also, Jimmy Hawkins – he kept me sane in EVM and we also had some great times outside of our chapel responsibilities. :) I am going to miss him!! And how could I forget Ally Parker?! Working with her for two hours every day made my job not only bearable but also enjoyable - once she gets back from foreign study in Europe, we are going to have an amazing end of senior year!!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Always be honest. You’d think I would have learned this by now, eh? Well, I got it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“I will be still in the arms of my Savior
You calm my soul as you sing over me
All of your goodness follows me forever
I will live under your wing
You are good to me
You are good to me
All your love fills my soul
And my heart will always know
God, you are good to me”
- “Good to Me” by The Desperation Band
Monday, December 17, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
A Poem
I read this bit of a poem by the Greek writer, Aeschylus, in Bobby Kennedy's speech for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s eulogy, and I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I hope you all find it as inspiring as I have.
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
- Aeschylus
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
- Aeschylus
Friday, November 16, 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
We read this in a speech today in my American Public Address class, and I just thought these were fantastic quotes from Elizabeth Cady Stanton's speech entitled "The Solitude of Self."
"In youth our most bitter disappointments, our brightest hopes and ambitions are known only to ourselves; even our friendship and love we never fully share with another; there is something of every passion in every situation we conceal. Even so in our triumphs and defeats. The successful candidate for the Presidency and his opponent each have a solitude peculiarly his own, and good form forbids either to speak of his pleasure or regret. The solitude of the king on his throne and the prisoner in his cell differs in character and degree, but it is solitude nevertheless."
"From the mountain tops of Judea long ago, a heavenly voice bade his disciples, 'Bear ye one another's burdens,' but humanity has not yet risen to that point of self-sacrifice; and if ever so willing, how few the burdens are that one soul can bear for another! In the highways of Palestine; in prayer and fasting on the solitary mountain-top; in the Garden of Gethsemane; before the judgment seat of Pilate; betrayed by one of his trusted disciples at his last supper; in his agonies on the cross, even Jesus of Nazareth, in those last sad days on earth, felt the awful solitude of self. Deserted by man, in agony he cries, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' And so it ever must be in the conflicting scenes of life, in the long, weary march, each one walks alone. We may have many friends, love, kindness, sympathy and charity, to smooth our pathway in everyday life, but in the tragedies and triumphs of human experience, each mortal stands alone."
"In youth our most bitter disappointments, our brightest hopes and ambitions are known only to ourselves; even our friendship and love we never fully share with another; there is something of every passion in every situation we conceal. Even so in our triumphs and defeats. The successful candidate for the Presidency and his opponent each have a solitude peculiarly his own, and good form forbids either to speak of his pleasure or regret. The solitude of the king on his throne and the prisoner in his cell differs in character and degree, but it is solitude nevertheless."
"From the mountain tops of Judea long ago, a heavenly voice bade his disciples, 'Bear ye one another's burdens,' but humanity has not yet risen to that point of self-sacrifice; and if ever so willing, how few the burdens are that one soul can bear for another! In the highways of Palestine; in prayer and fasting on the solitary mountain-top; in the Garden of Gethsemane; before the judgment seat of Pilate; betrayed by one of his trusted disciples at his last supper; in his agonies on the cross, even Jesus of Nazareth, in those last sad days on earth, felt the awful solitude of self. Deserted by man, in agony he cries, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' And so it ever must be in the conflicting scenes of life, in the long, weary march, each one walks alone. We may have many friends, love, kindness, sympathy and charity, to smooth our pathway in everyday life, but in the tragedies and triumphs of human experience, each mortal stands alone."
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
I am finally better - still taking an antibiotic though.
This next weekend is fall break - I cannot wait! I am going to Raleigh with Esther and Jonathan, specifically so that I can visit Duke Divinity School. Can you believe that I am already looking at graduate schools?! Freaks me out....
I am enjoying this year, though I miss some people who are no longer here - and at the same time, could do without some people who are still here. :) Making the most of it all though, and having fun.
I miss my family and can't wait until Thanksgiving when I get to see them again! Oh, and I guess I will see Deborah the week before when she comes to visit. :)
Friends at Furman are good, though sometimes I feel like all the drama that I put everyone through the past couple years is circling back and now I am the one providing support in times of crisis, whether or not I fully understand why things are so hard for some people. Good practice for a chaplain, eh? No, I am actually glad to be the one helping out now rather than having to depend on others for so much as I have in the past. I felt like a burden in the past and now I am the one who can help lessen the loads of the people who helped me shoulder my burdens. That was almost poetic...
This next weekend is fall break - I cannot wait! I am going to Raleigh with Esther and Jonathan, specifically so that I can visit Duke Divinity School. Can you believe that I am already looking at graduate schools?! Freaks me out....
I am enjoying this year, though I miss some people who are no longer here - and at the same time, could do without some people who are still here. :) Making the most of it all though, and having fun.
I miss my family and can't wait until Thanksgiving when I get to see them again! Oh, and I guess I will see Deborah the week before when she comes to visit. :)
Friends at Furman are good, though sometimes I feel like all the drama that I put everyone through the past couple years is circling back and now I am the one providing support in times of crisis, whether or not I fully understand why things are so hard for some people. Good practice for a chaplain, eh? No, I am actually glad to be the one helping out now rather than having to depend on others for so much as I have in the past. I felt like a burden in the past and now I am the one who can help lessen the loads of the people who helped me shoulder my burdens. That was almost poetic...
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Weekends at Furman
Well, I have been at Furman for 3 weekends now. The first two were super fun and very memorable, first with dear Andrew Ross and the following weekend, my surprise birthday party! Yes, I have incredible friends. And I am glad to finally celebrate being 21. :)
This weekend, however, I am sick, sick, sick!! :( I have been sick since Tuesday, and though I do feel better since then, I am still far from well. And I am super bummed, because I had to leave the football game early, and now, here I sit in my apartment, watching the food network by myself when I could be out to several different places with my friends. Ugh.... Being sick is so inconvenient. I just hope I don't miss anything super fun... I will have to make up for this lost weekend another time. Ok, back to Iron Chef and painting my nails.
This weekend, however, I am sick, sick, sick!! :( I have been sick since Tuesday, and though I do feel better since then, I am still far from well. And I am super bummed, because I had to leave the football game early, and now, here I sit in my apartment, watching the food network by myself when I could be out to several different places with my friends. Ugh.... Being sick is so inconvenient. I just hope I don't miss anything super fun... I will have to make up for this lost weekend another time. Ok, back to Iron Chef and painting my nails.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Andrew Ross came this past weekend. :) It's only been 2 years since we have seen each other! Good times, good times... And I will be going up to Fredericksburg, VA at some point this year for sure. And Jonathan and Esther's wedding is going to be fantastic!
So far I have been really happy here at school. I hope this attitude is maintained throughout the year!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Back in the Bubble
Yes, I am back at Furman. Today was our first day of classes, and I realized that because my classes don't end until 4 or 4:15 every day, each day is going to be long. My Personal Finance class was only long enough to get a syllabus because my professor wasn't there today; however, that allowed me time to finish my 84 pages of reading I was assigned for American Public Address for the first day of class. That class is going to be a lot of work, but perhaps I will learn something useful. Tomorrow will be my first day of my Senior Seminar in religion, so I have no comments on that yet - except we have some pretty boring looking books for that one. It's weird to be back here - I feel like I have been sitting in class my whole life. And to think that I am considering another 3 years of this.... I just have to get back into a routine and my last year here will fly by. My apartment is great and seeing my friends after 3 months has been fantastic. I hope to make the most of the last 9 months we all have together. And the financial aid office still sucks. :)
Today my day-by-day calendar said "Count your blessings." It made me smile and hum a special little tune. :)
Today my day-by-day calendar said "Count your blessings." It made me smile and hum a special little tune. :)
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