Minn nafn er Karat

her chevrolet broke down

2007-12-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

_8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
_luke 2

this is amazing to me.
i say it. a lot of the time. but it is very true. and it is very amazing.

please smell the flowers they are in my mind

2007-12-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

i just really love friends
all of them
every single one of the kids
ohman. i really love being able to live. especially for Christ.
and friends help me desire to do this. and they make me laugh. different ones in different ways.
this is just a lame post
so lame
but i love friends and christ and everything that comes with it and today.
i really love kelly's cranberry bliss bars.

photo credit jenny james

we would walk and not say anything.but because we like it that way sometimes

2007-12-14T18:33:00.000-08:00

ive been amazed at how God loves all people. God does not just love polo wearing khaki and puma kids. he loves all of them.
and i need to. i dont need to love what the people are doing, thats not what i am saying. im not saying i am going to love that people are crack addicts. but that they are made in God's image i need to love them. its so easy sometimes to say "oh ya, i love all people." but when we go into the store and some loud kid swears at you its hard to be able to react the right way. our natural inclination is to be angered. or whatever your response is that is not god glorifying.
sometimes it is hard for me to reach out to people. people that to me arent ones that i would just go up to and talk to about sweaters and the moon and coffee and God. and God is slowly showing me. that with his help i can learn to reach out to people i can learn to love them. the more extreme folks, and the kids that are around me regularly that i can invest in.
i think that God is amazing that he loves us. we sin and we yell at eachother and fight over little things like smarties or big things like relationship issues. and he sitll loves us and extends his mercy to us. and His son he gave His son.

photocredit.matthew wahl.

whyd you have to steal my heart(i didnt mean to go berserk)

2007-12-10T14:35:00.001-08:00

guys. its christmas.
aoiudoifuojldkjflkj.
christmas is amazing.

christ being born is so hard to grasp. i just love him so much. and he came here on earth and that is so amazing.
but no your holiday sweater isnt. its just bad.
i think someone should start a trend. bring back holiday sweaters for the kids. im not cool enough. but someone should.

merry christmas guys. think about christ.

decataur or a round of applause for your step-mother!

2007-12-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

Though the fig tree should not blossom,nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
_habakkuk 3.17-19
i dont know guys. i just think. i really love this.
it is on my board.

2007-11-28T19:51:00.001-08:00

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

these scriptures are crazy. reading them while listening to npr morning jazz.
i think that i will listen to jazz in heaven. i think jesus will listen to it with meand we will talk about these scriptures.
because they are so good.

sketch credit. connie jimenez.

youll just have to

2007-11-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

its true
it snowed in el dusto
its real snow.
and it was cold. and its true. and then we did the tree last night.
als you and your ornament are going on.
really bad photos of me though. i cant get one of the kids off. sothere are two. sorry.

holden carries cases

2007-11-22T08:59:00.001-08:00

its thanksgiving.
you probably know that. because canadians have americans telling them, and americans know already and i dont have foreign country friends, or friends that live in space shuttles.
happy thanksgiving.
i think thatits pretty crazy how blessed we are when we think about it.
also, it is cold and cloudy today which is extra points because thanksgiving is supposed to be like that.
im thankful for
the gospel
the church
family who desires to serve god and helps me desire this.
friends who appreciate proud humour, and love glorifying god.
thrift stores
america
cameras
cooking
scripture.

that was a random list. but its morning and im not so much a
HEYYY GUYSSS. ITS MORNING LETS HAVE A DANCE PARTY
girl. but im happy. and its thanksgiving. and if you are one of the sczebels, warnocks, the evan kid, olearys, wilkins, dams, calabellos, jess, or tina.
i love you.

fish are safe

2007-11-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

I have a problem with commercials.
Thanksgiving, Christmas commercials right now.
The people are more attractive.
Their white teeth show more when they smile more.
Everyone gets along.
And wow, the food looks like Martha Stewart just happened to drop by and help prepare and present it.
Buy our turkey gravy, and you too can be hot , happy, and an accomplished cook.
Everything is perfect. and its all plastic.
And the thing is, both the folks acting in the commercials, and the folks sitting on their couches eating potato chips watching the commercial know it.
No holiday is perfect. I dont like the potatoes this year.
Or the kids are all crabby.
Its not perfect.

Commercials make you want to have your holiday perfect. so you buy the turkey broth. but when you wake up in the morning, youre not amazingly good looking, and you burn your toast.which puts out the hot, and accomplished cook thing, and consequently it makes you unhappy. I think sometimes, I can think about life like this. I see something i like in the world, something that promises me happiness and when i try to get it, it doesnt work. And i feel like bunk.
Of course it doesnt work. Maybe the eyeliner doesnt run down, and i am happy because i no longer look like a racoon. or chipmunk. but 7 minutes later, and i am going to be unhappy with something else.
Material things are not the things that bring us true happiness. I have to find happiness in Christ. Happiness that im not consumed in fire. That God loves us enough to send His son to die for us. Im saved. I could go on and say that in every post.
im not in hell
im saved.
Christ died for me.
holler. thats amazing.
and i should. stop looking at the commercials kara. theyre dumb. and no youre not going to look really good if you buy their products. Start looking at the cross. and the gift of mercy god has given you.
and why would you waste 37 seconds watching a plastic thanksgiving dinner anyways.

note: yes holiday commercials still give me the whole fuzzy stomach feeling. i was just trying to explain something. but my stomach is warm.

nils bjortgen

2007-11-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

pray for kay.
shes the best

50x fantaisk.

2007-11-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

lack of post.

heart it races

2007-11-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
_ROMANS 5

This is one of my favorites. It just makes me realize. I did not deserve to be saved. I deserve to be burning up in hell. And Christ died for me and because of this i am saved from God's wrath that i deserved to have poured on me.
Ahhh, this one is so good. (the scripture.)

abraham lincoln

2007-10-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

corn maze on saturday was fun stuff
they seriously have the best corn ever and churros
CHURRRROOOSOSSS
but it was good. the cotton feilds are all in bloom and we picked some and i made a boquet of cotton
and i raced J
and we got so lost but just kept singing
sing hoooo for the life of a bear sing hoooo for the expedition
we went throughthis part where the corn stalks were all falling together, and it cut my fingers but it was just little cuts and courtney and i were playing safari.

and the photo has nothing to do with corn mazes it just has memories.
of choking and pennies and worms and are you dying.

with you. today.

2007-10-23T18:19:00.001-07:00

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever one sows that will he also reap. The one who sows to his own flesh will reap from the flesh corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap eternal life. And do not let us grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
So
then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

_Galatians 7 thru 10
memorization.

bones in hands

2007-10-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
psalm 4

scriptures and random pictures. ahhh that rhymes. im not happy it ryhmes. im a poet
and i didnt even know it.

puff pastries

2007-10-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

take a long drive with me
on california one
on california one

theres more. but not now.
i really dont think you should be riding any commercials tomorrow.

myname is maxmillian

2007-10-06T20:35:00.001-07:00

Sometimes

words

are

not

enough
_L.S.

cacti. for you.

2007-10-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

this morning i read some of a book written by Steve Wilkins.
Face to Face.
In it, he writes about how friends are not a privilege or luxury. They are a necessity. We were not created to dwell in solitude away from people and away from accountability and human contact. We were created to be friends to one another.
When Adam was created God did not say. "He is good alone." He said " It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper for him" and he created Eve.
It is not good for man to be alone.
Friendship is something that is vital in our lives, and not only simple friendships but godly friendships that are daily being cultivated and bringing glory to God.

somehow i didnt like the tast

2007-09-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
1 peter 3.4

yes, i can work on this.

spanakopita

2007-09-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

kara jenny mich michal alcantar's life for the past few days.
lauren liana and i had a party. we did breeds on our heeeads.
i love the old testament. its crazy. ireallydoloveit.
i got a really good facial, and some new face stuff.
i made spanakopita for the first time and it came out.
alex ate something i cooked. now on to josh and joe.
ive seen Gods amazing faithfulness and mercy in my life.
getting something in the mail is a terribly lovely thing.
i found old f.scott fitzgerald books in the office, theyre like.worn and fringed
i listened to eric simmons NA messages. i recommend them.
i cant do anything apart form the grace of God
i apparently made two people happy with letters. which made me happy.

song of the week
no cars go

GIVE ME THAT

2007-09-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

i still say that
pronunciate is a word

reduced sodium

2007-09-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
_James

i dont think so. but you can if you want to...

2007-09-09T15:21:00.001-07:00

I love letters.
I got one today.

lets make a pie. because we have apples and time.

2007-09-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

This has sort of been my song of the month.
Its a good one.
Jeremy White remix version.

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

i just need to ask you a few questions...

2007-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today i wish for fall.
and having a walk with a skinny scarf and my claire hat.( i realized i had another claire hat here too. so now i have two.)plus also, i might break out "arriba".
and i would be drinking a pumpkin spice latte. with a shot of espresso.
we dont really have much of a fall here. unless you go down into the valley and theres all the trees with colours, and you can pretend youlive there.
but my neighborhood is too new for large trees.
"i am the lorax
i speak for the trees, for the trees have no voice."
but its kinda sad, the trees we have in our park, theyre tilted from the wind storms they go to one side.
but, when its fall, i will go in the valley, and have a walk, with some coffee.
you can come if you want

"well, hes pretty special himself."

2007-08-31T16:31:00.001-07:00

the other day at the hospital, we passed Britt's old room.
It was crazy, we were walking past her room with her.
It was so evident to me God's faithfulness and grace. I remember sitting in there, room 612 thinking," i know someday she'll be okay. but that seems so far away. "
and then she was in there, standing perfect on her feet, her legs fine, and her burns almost completely gone.
crazy.
and remembering being in a hospital bed, with an IV hooked up to my hand, and water pumping into my body.and not being able to keep anything down.
and God was there , and with Britt, and hes been with mom. ALWAYS faithful, showing me how little faith i have at times. I try to take care of things myself, when all i need to do is trust Him, because He has it all in His hands, all together.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the clouds._ Psalm 36.5

i love toast. with jam.

2007-08-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

so i read Tina's post about summer being over.
and yes, it is pretty much over.

but its been a really great one. good, realllllly good.

"IM A CACTUS! IM A EAT YOU!!" -tina and myself, running down the street
'is the campus closed?" "yes ma'am. SIR!" -the utep security lady, to ricky.

" i got a tomato, and it was perfect, and then got a cucumber and was like WHOA." -joshua

"kara, are you having a badittude?" -als

"i know what it is, i just cant explain it..." "its BUTTER." "God help this generation." - mom and dad sczebel, and kara (a)

"i know how we can do crunches! HOLD MY LEGS!" -lauren, kara, and ali in the pool

" you have to be very patient with toast. because you want the butter to be all nice and melt. but you cant be TOO patient, because then itll burn. i like toast kara." -evan

" ARRRRRIBA! AY AY AY!! " " we are NOT with her." - als tina and kara (a)

" uma tubbs!"

"kara, hold my hand!" "TINA!!" kara (a) and tina watching gladiator.

flan

mich

whistler

downtown shoot

dr suess

not enough quotes but it would take forever to type.

no to you, but yes to you on the left.

2007-08-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.

read this today. ( im not saying GO READ THIS, imsaying that i read it (past tense)ha)

like the moona and the junea and the springa

2007-08-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in the O'Leary's pool, I was Ming-Ming the wonderpet and i saved, along with my colleague Tuck a baby crane and a baby dolphin. Mr. Swordfish also assisted us.
I was also Van Gogh, who created a masterpeice along with a small companion who had a habit of getting paint on my face,and on the silk seat cushions. Thankfully, our paint was washable.
I went home with cholorine in my hair paint on my face, and sunscreen smell.

Today I was Prunella or Tonto and i was the Lone Ranger's companion, who had lazer JFK sunglasses. The Lone Ranger and I ventured across the desert to get to CIRCLE K RANCH. It took two days, and we had to stop at the General Store a few times for mini vanilla wafers and milk.
My horse's name was Frederick.

the picture is what als's room looked like the day before we left.
scary, and a lack of other photos.

now dont say that

2007-08-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

okay,so today i am getting ready in my room and turn on the radio.
and an advertisement comes on.
" GET READY FOR THE ROCK AND ROLL MARIACHI FESTIVAL! MUSIC, FOOD, AND RIDES. THATS RIGHT THE ROCK AND ROLL MARIACHI FESTIVAL!"
yeah....

i still dont know whether it horrifies me, or amuses me. i think its a combination of both.
horrifingly amusing.

only in el paso.

thats MEIN pop

2007-08-01T11:09:00.003-07:00

Proverbs 31_30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

this is what i want to be.

you walk funny.

2007-07-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

im in texas again.
its good to be back, and to see my family, lauren came with mom and the girls to pick me up, and it was great to see all their sweet faces.

i cannot believe how blessed i am. i just got back from an amazing trip to see those stellar people the sczebels, and i came here to see my family, my church, my friends.
God has blessed me with the most faithful people surrounding me. Friends and family who are honest with me, and who will bring correction and encouragement. The kind that tell you that your outfit that day is hideous and it looks like i just got out of bed, but that can also bring evidences of grace to you.I've done nothing todeserve these blessings, and the incredible blessing of salvation.
God is so good. Even when things arent going exactly the way i want them to, He is so good. And im off so much better than i deserve.
It just blows my head. Im here, a sinner who deserves to burn in hell forever, and I'm saved from that. He saved me, and im going to spend eternity worshipping Him, and ill never leave.

I cant thank God enough.

And i just want to say thank you to my friends. You are great, and a huge blessing in my life.
I cant wait to see everyone here, and read books with lisps.
And Als, Josh, Joe, Kara, Tina, Seaniqua, Jess.love you. I miss you all a ton. Thanks for the memories.
Smile.

HOLLER.

for some reason, the picture upload isnt working. man.

YOU!YOU!

2007-07-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

well, i am here.
10 o'clock i walked out of the baggage claim and got three of the biggest hugs.
and right now im sitting on the porch, watching sam on his bike, and it is incredibly hot. like, WOW its hot.

i love it here.

miss wiggin

2007-07-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Last nite we watched Miss Potter.
great movie.

It feels sort of like a lighter version on Finding Neverland (ricky.)

I dont know if I'm just biased because she is Beatrix Potter, and i love beatrix potter.
I grew up reading her books, i had animated films of Jemima Puddleduck and Peter Rabbit and i watched them more times than was probably good for me.
So it brought back a lot of memories. Asking Mom for bread, and milk, and blueberries for dinner, so i could be like Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail.
It was great. I had dad read them to me so many times, over and over. I think my favorite was the one about the hedgehog. But i cant remember the storys name.
Go read some Beatrix Potter, because its great.

I'll probably get greif for this post.

4 days.

and i saw the oysters walking.

2007-06-22T18:21:00.005-07:00

'When we love someone,we study them. We find their likes and dislikes.Whats his favorite movie? What is her favorite quote? This is what we do with God, we need to study Him, honour Him with things that He loves, and cease doing what displeases Him.
We wouldnt go up to someone we love and slap their face.
But when we think " i know im not supposed to do this. Its displeasing to God...but...what harm is it really going to do?" Its slapping His precious face.
We need to study Him constantly, always looking for ways to please Him, and fighting temptation.
Colossians 1: 10 "... so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

wrapping paper

2007-06-12T20:32:00.001-07:00

July 11.
And im smiling.

the doctor's perscription

2007-06-01T19:07:00.003-07:00

i have an insane fear of these_
bees
wasps
yellow jackets ( not the clothing. yellow jackets are ducky?)
and anything with a stinger.

ask the people down here.
the word for fear of wasps is spheksophobia.

2007-05-27T12:25:00.011-07:00

this is probably going to make no sense.
but.. anyways.

the other day it occured to me that we live in an extremely impatient, demanding culture.
i was trying to hook up the ipod the other day in the car. all i wanted to do was listen to some memory songs.
and the signal was staticy. my first reaction was to be like "gosh. i just want some music! let me have my signal now."
then i kinda realized...
how typical of our culture.
i want what i want.
ani want it NOW.
and dont you dare try to get in my way.
we want everything immediately. i want my food fast, i want my computer to start now, i want my coffee,i want you to talk to me now.
i want this. and i want that other thing too.

we seem to have no patience anymore. i was reading a book the other day full of old letters two people had written eachother.
letters. they had patience.
they took the time to write down their thoughts, and took their time to receive it.
even with gchat and e-mail. dont get me wrong. i love being able to talk to the people that mean a lot to me then. i wouldnt know what was going on in their lives as much. but still.
I want to take time to do things.
Why dont any of us write letters anymore? Why dont we enjoy waiting for things. But so much of life is waiting. Patience is definetly something i need to work on.
sigh.
i know this isnt really making sense. but, just enjoy waiting sometimes.
Listen to the static on the radio. and like it.
Write a letter to someone.and wait for the reply.

( the picture is of somewhere in London. mom and dad took it.)

ah yes.

2007-05-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness, watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to him i owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

For nothing good have I
Whereby thy grace to claim
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed i find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone

LISTEN TO TRUTH.

beauty and the beast.

2007-04-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

so i was thinking today, about little things that i love.
like, you know, when you see something or get just something relatively simple that makes you smile.

so heres seven. because seven is never a number that is not usually recognized. and i liiiike it.

_1 sitting outside by my pool in the sun. ahhh. fabulous.
_2 mario badescu summer shine lotion. (its amazing.)
_3 crying in girlie movies. and not being asleep. hahaha.
_4 great hugs.
_5 talking on the phone with canadians. and j.
_6 short single soy chai lattes.
_7 smiling.

and also cheek gloss.

also, i was thinking about little things i do NOT like.
like...

_1 'nuff said. i HIGHLY dislike when people say that.
_2 abbreviations during ichat conversations. LOL ROFL BBL TTYL.
_3 people scraping their forks across their teeth while eating. aaack.
_4 people saying creme brulee comes from a box.
_5 junk food.
_6 decaf chai.
_7 cheek pinching people.

theres other things of course. sorry for the lonnnng times between posts.
haha.haha.

and....
thats it.

_WE SHOULD GET JERSEYS CAUSE WE MAKE A GOOD TEAM BUT YOURS WOULD LOOK BETTER THAN MINE CAUSE YOURE OUT OF MY LEAGUE

mario badescu.

2007-04-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

favorite quotes. smile.

im impossible to forget, but im hard to remember. _elizabethtown

its been a very revealing ten seconds. _stranger than fiction

you have bewitched me, body and soul. and i love, i love, i love you. _pride and prejudice

you're kinda great claire. amazing, actually. _drew
oh, i dont need an ice cream cone._claire
its not an ice cream cone... whats an ice cream cone?_drew
you know, heres a little something to make you happy, something sweet that'll melt in five minutes. _claire
_elizabethtown

I can't help thinking that at some point someone is going to produce a piglet and we'll all have to chase it. _caroline bingley/pride and prejudice.

Have you ever seen an orchid; how it floats in the water, so delicate and beautiful? When a woman gets an orchid; it's, well she feels like she's floating on a cloud of infinite possibility... _the perfect man. hahahahahahaha.

As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true. And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick. _stranger than fiction

Shake me up, Judy! _bleak house.

Gaston: This is the day your dreams come true.
Belle: What do you know about my dreams, Gaston?
Gaston: Plenty! Here, picture this... a rustic hunting lodge... my latest kill roasting on the fire... and my little wife, massaging my feet... while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs... we'll have six or seven.
Belle: Dogs?
Gaston: No, Belle! Strapping boys, like me!
Belle: Imagine that.
Gaston: And do you know who that little wife will be?
Belle: Let me think...
Gaston: You, Belle!
Belle: Gaston... I-I'm speechless... I really don't know what to say...
Gaston: Say you'll marry me!
Belle: I'm very sorry, Gaston... but... but I just don't deserve you! _beauty and the beast

Mr. Darcy: How are you this evening, my dear?
Elizabeth Bennet: Very well. Only, I wish you would not call me "my dear."
Mr. Darcy: Why?
Elizabeth Bennet: Because it's what my father calls my mother whenever he's cross about something.
Mr. Darcy: Well, what endearments am I allowed?
Elizabeth Bennet: Well, let me think..."Lizzie" for everyday, "my pearl" for Sundays, and "Goddess Divine," but only on special occasions.
Mr. Darcy: And what am I to call you when I'm cross? "Mrs. Darcy?"
Elizabeth Bennet: No, you may only call me "Mrs. Darcy" when you are completely, perfectly and incandescently happy.
Mr. Darcy: And how are you this evening... Mrs. Darcy? Mrs. Darcy... Mrs. Darcy... Mrs. Darcy.

i love these movies. especially beauty and the beast...
sigh.

love.love.love.love.

2007-04-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

Psalms 61:1-3

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.
-Jerry Bridges.

God is AMAZING. His grace is sustaining.
His mercies are new every single day of our lives. His love is deeper and more powerful than anything we know. He is everlasting.

i love thee more than hot chocolate.

2007-04-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of ths surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.

i never tire of this quote.
i love the movie, but the book is so much better.

my song is love.

2007-03-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

i really love 'cool food'. like proscuitto, and blueberry viniagrette reduction. or creme brulee with orange zest and mint.

we (ricky, liana, nathan, and i) are going to bring cool food out.

hey, try some pellegrino. that mountain dew in your hand isnt lookin so stellar.

and i saw sparks.

2007-03-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Algy: Do you mean you couldn't love me if I had a different name?
Cecily: But what name?
Algy: Well... Algy, for instance.
Cecily: I might respect you, Earnest, I might admire your character, but I feel that I could never give you my undivided attention.

Gwendolyn: In matters of utmost importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.

Jack: How you can sit there eating muffins when we're in this terrible trouble, I can't make out! It seems to me to be perfectly heartless...
Algy: I can hardly eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs.

Algy: But why does your aunt call you her uncle?
[Reading cigarette case]
Algy: "From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack." There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can't quite make out.

ah.. a few of my favorite quotes from The Importance of Being Earnest. You should go read it, then listen to " Lady Come Down." its super fun.

funfunfun sunsunsun

2007-03-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

theres been a lot of sun around here lately.
and really warm like around 78 degrees.
and i have a slight tan, which makes me smile.

ok, this is so lame.

vintage slim fit.

2007-03-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

This the situation: Your friend seems angry.

You wonder if they’re really angry or if you’re misreading them.

Should you say something to them? You have that internal dialogue of “No, it’s not a big deal.” “Maybe I’m just judging them.” “I feel like I should really say something.”

In these moments, what do you do? How do you share something that could be corrective? And how do you do it graciously?

Just so we’re on the same page, in a previous post we defined correction like this. Correction is when someone shares a thought or question related to a statement, action, or attitude that was potentially sinful, unhelpful or unwise.

Galatians 6:1-2 says “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

I love these verses. Your friend is caught. You have the ability to help. When you do help, do it gently. You are helping to restore them to a vibrant walk with God. And watch out, don't get proud as though you do not have the potential to sin in similar ways—watch yourself that you don't get tempted as well.

Then there is a great command: Carry each others burdens. We have a command from God to carry each others burdens. Which means, at times, that we bear burdens by sharing correction.

How do we do this? If a friend is caught in a sin, we do everything we can to gently restore. In other words, we gently correct. Did you know you signed up for this when you were called by Christ? Jesus has enlisted you in taking care of his people. You really are your brothers’ and sisters’ keeper. You should be correcting your friends and carrying their burdens. It’s grace to them.

So how do you gently correct? Well, I can't say that I am an expert in this—I have made plenty of mistakes. I have learned a lot about what not to do. I have also picked up how to correct from wiser and godlier men like C.J. Mahaney, Kenneth Maresco (who has been my mentor for many years) and Bob Kauflin (who leads worship at my church).

This is some of what I have learned. If you see something you think you should share with a friend that is corrective, start by asking your own heart some questions. You may not be objective in this especially when something has been done against you personally.

These are some questions I have found helpful:
1. Am I sharing my thought with them because I am personally offended or personally irritated?
2. Am I sharing my thought with them out of self-righteous judgment? This is especially applicable to issues of preference and issues of conscience.
3. Am I sharing my thought out of impatience because I am tired of the way it affects me or others?
4. Am I coming with conclusions or questions? (Read Chapter 10 of Charity and its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards if you want to read more about this.)

If you find sin in your own heart as you answer these questions, then repent before you share any corrective thought.

[One side note: Don’t believe the lie that if you’re sinning in your heart you’re disqualified from sharing what you have to say. If you waited until you were not self-righteous, impatient, or personally offended by the other person’s sin before you correct them you’d be waiting a long time.]

Here are other questions to ask: Is the issue a pattern? And how well do you know the person?

I think it’s a general point of wisdom that we should share thoughts with people if the issue is a pattern, not just a one time thing. Now, this could be different if you are very close friends and there is a level of trust in the relationship that can handle it. I know that there are a few friends I have who I have enlisted to help me battle my sins and I have told them very clearly, “I want you to share all your thoughts about me and my marriage and my parenting.” I don't want them to wait for patterns. But I have a deep relationship with these men and they know me, my sin patterns, and the idols of my heart very well.

Another issue of wisdom is to be careful sharing thoughts with people you don't know. If you don't have a friendship with the person, then it is probably not wise to share corrective thoughts with them. Trust God that they have people in their life to help them. However, when you become a member of a local church, you are committing your life to caring for and encouraging that community of believers. This means that there may be times when God calls you to correct somebody you don't know very well. I think these instances may arise if the person’s sin is very pronounced and public.

Part 2 continues…later…

( i got this from the new attitude site, and i thought it was really helpful and pretty super.)
*jenny james

sunny. with a high of 75.

2007-03-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
and Grace will lead us home.

When we've been here ten thousand years
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
then when we've first begun.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

"... Although my memory is fading, i remember two things. One, I am a great sinner, and two, Christ is a great saviour."
- John Newton, from "Amazing Grace."

woopdeedoo

2007-03-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

all i want to do is put on my mascara.
thats it.
and turns out to be a mess.
here is how it goes...
Kara curls her eyelashes, then takes out her tube of mascara (which is great), brushes on a few strokes, goes to put it back in the tube...
and somehow, ha, it goes down my finger, down my hand
and the stinkin mascara gets all over me!

so i go, wash my hand, and go back to do the other eye
and the same thing happens.
it does this EVERY SINGLE DAY.
and i have no idea why.
i think it has a mind of its own.

sigh.

anyways, i was just frustrated with my lovely little tube of mascara so i felt like this.

haha,
click.

photo credit beth.

Swell.

2007-02-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Kara asked me if I would 'guest' post for her.... of course I said yes! So here are my thoughts about my bestest friend.

Kara is a wonderful. There isn't just one word to sum her up.... she is caring, thoughtful, others focused, sweet, humble, I could go on and on. Kara is a faithful reminder in my life that God is gracious and is constantly giving me far more then I deserve. She is a active participant in my life, which she will tell you can be quite the task. The countless times she reminds me again, and again of my sin or an area I was seeking growth. She encourages me and points me back the Savior and the cross EVERY time. She is quick to be the first one to apologize and seek forgiveness after a disagreement. (we have quite a few... there couldn't be two more different people...!) She is a example in so many ways. I often feel like I have so much to learn from her. Her passion for Christ and his church is inspiring. She serves selflessly where ever needed. Kara is a amazing girl and and a better friend. I thank God for Kara and often wonder why in the world God put her in my life, I certainly don't deserve her.

Love you kars.

Als

*And I just feel a need to voice the fact that Kara is my full time friend until she is like 35. So guys you don't even try.

loverly.

2007-02-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

im officially on here now, instead of xanga.
woo-hoo! ( als, that isnt WOOT!)

ah i am happy.
*click*