becca and anna
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
it starts at the manger
we hear the same christmas story year after year and somehow the miracle of God incarnate doesn't seem so miraculous anymore. what a shame. we fail to remember that our God, who is infinite, humbled himself and was born as a finite being of his own creation. yet our celebration of christmas is not simply for Jesus' birth, but what His birth meant for the world."But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." Galatians 4:4-5
Jesus was born as a man, though still God, to fulfill the law perfectly (because we can't) so that we may be united to Him by faith. He suffered the death of a sinner, but He never sinned. He paid our debt of sin for us so that we may be clothed in His righteousness. but salvation doesn't come to everyone just because of Jesus' birth. it comes from true repentance from sin and faith that Jesus' death on the cross paid fully for your sins.
we celebrate Jesus' birth because it was the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise. it starts at the manger, but we must look to the cross for salvation.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark the herald angels sing"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing"
Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Merry Christmas!!
Monday, December 19, 2005
five cheers for the grade report...
well, i managed to once again pull off a 4.0 average for the semester (honors art history, honors econ, print media, interior design, and color and comp). i was guessing that chances were good that i would end up with at least one b.
now if i could only get enough hours for next semester so that i am at least a full time student, i'd be happy.
now if i could only get enough hours for next semester so that i am at least a full time student, i'd be happy.
Friday, December 16, 2005
home is where...
this morning, all that was exposed to the cold winter air of my bedroom was my little nose. the rest of me, underneath a heap of down and cotton comforters, sheets, sweatshirt, flannel pjs and socks (yes, socks my dear), was cozy warm in my bed, sound asleep. but all at once, the sweet smell of holiday baking (specifically chocolate fudge) swept through my frosty bedroom and was so strong, i could have been licking it out of the pot in the kitchen downstairs. it was as if i had drank a whole pot of coffee (though you know i don't drink coffee). i sprang out of bed, but in my nightly apparel, the winter cold didn't phase me. perhaps the smell was just too overpowering for me to notice the immediate frostbite setting in. (i kid, of course)
and then i realized, it was just a dream. no, not really. sorry for the confusion, i was just joking. it was no dream. i'm at home, typing away next to to the familiar canadian hemlock outside the window and am only up right now because of the smell of rocky road fudge penetrating my bedroom. ah, its christmas break. i've been dreaming of this morning for so many months now, its hard to believe its actually here. but i never would have thought of waking up to deliciousness, so that was a rather nice touch.
i'm sure you realize what christmas break means. it means the semester is over, and what a crazy semester it was. the storm of finals has come and gone, though mine was more like a sun shower compared to everyone else. i took two finals before thanksgiving break. i had my critique for my project wednesday before finals, my final monday was 15 minutes long, and i studied so long for my art history final that it was a breeze yesterday. i even got out a day early.
yesterday, everyone had to make their way to their finals in the driving rain. sometimes, you just wish winter existed in georgia. i swear, it must have been about 34 degrees outside and we had blizzard worthy rain. anyway, the tree branches were laced in ice and it was raining so hard that, if you didn't look to hard for it, it simply looked like a beautiful frosty morning. icicles dangled from the eves and street signs...all that was missing were two degrees of coldness, or we would have had a winter wonderland for me to walk in.
i packed my car by myself, which was quite a feat because the rolley cart with five heavy bags on it kept rolling downhill toward the trashcans rather than toward my car. it had a mind of its own. either that or the laws of physics just take over sometimes. i actually got to load the car when the rain had paused momentarily...thank God. traffic was terrible (or terrific, as the christmas songs kept trying to tell me), but the drive was beautiful with the ice on all the trees.
i stopped by tech for a few hours to visit becca. we shopped around for a bit and met up with some girls at the california pizza kitchen. christina made friends with the waiter by speaking to him in spanish. on the way out of the parking deck, becca rolled the window down to put the ticket in the machine...turns out that the window was permanently stuck halfway down. let me remind you. yes, its december. yes, it was icy out. yes, i had to drive for 45 minutes with the windows down going 80 miles an hour on the way home. i fluffed my scarf around my neck, zipped up my coat, popped up the collar, cranked up the heat, and braced myself for the drive home (of course, the heat didn't stay in the car, but it helped warm my bare hands a little). i made it home on the verge of becoming a popsicle.
my good friend from camp, amy, called later in the evening, which was so wonderful because i hadn't talked to her since the beginning of august. but now i'm home...one of the best parts being that jonathan is back home in georgia and is only about an hours drive from me. i'm going to enjoy this three week break.
and then i realized, it was just a dream. no, not really. sorry for the confusion, i was just joking. it was no dream. i'm at home, typing away next to to the familiar canadian hemlock outside the window and am only up right now because of the smell of rocky road fudge penetrating my bedroom. ah, its christmas break. i've been dreaming of this morning for so many months now, its hard to believe its actually here. but i never would have thought of waking up to deliciousness, so that was a rather nice touch.
i'm sure you realize what christmas break means. it means the semester is over, and what a crazy semester it was. the storm of finals has come and gone, though mine was more like a sun shower compared to everyone else. i took two finals before thanksgiving break. i had my critique for my project wednesday before finals, my final monday was 15 minutes long, and i studied so long for my art history final that it was a breeze yesterday. i even got out a day early.
yesterday, everyone had to make their way to their finals in the driving rain. sometimes, you just wish winter existed in georgia. i swear, it must have been about 34 degrees outside and we had blizzard worthy rain. anyway, the tree branches were laced in ice and it was raining so hard that, if you didn't look to hard for it, it simply looked like a beautiful frosty morning. icicles dangled from the eves and street signs...all that was missing were two degrees of coldness, or we would have had a winter wonderland for me to walk in.
i packed my car by myself, which was quite a feat because the rolley cart with five heavy bags on it kept rolling downhill toward the trashcans rather than toward my car. it had a mind of its own. either that or the laws of physics just take over sometimes. i actually got to load the car when the rain had paused momentarily...thank God. traffic was terrible (or terrific, as the christmas songs kept trying to tell me), but the drive was beautiful with the ice on all the trees.
i stopped by tech for a few hours to visit becca. we shopped around for a bit and met up with some girls at the california pizza kitchen. christina made friends with the waiter by speaking to him in spanish. on the way out of the parking deck, becca rolled the window down to put the ticket in the machine...turns out that the window was permanently stuck halfway down. let me remind you. yes, its december. yes, it was icy out. yes, i had to drive for 45 minutes with the windows down going 80 miles an hour on the way home. i fluffed my scarf around my neck, zipped up my coat, popped up the collar, cranked up the heat, and braced myself for the drive home (of course, the heat didn't stay in the car, but it helped warm my bare hands a little). i made it home on the verge of becoming a popsicle.
my good friend from camp, amy, called later in the evening, which was so wonderful because i hadn't talked to her since the beginning of august. but now i'm home...one of the best parts being that jonathan is back home in georgia and is only about an hours drive from me. i'm going to enjoy this three week break.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
from stepping stones to milestones
my last day of class had just wrapped up. i anxiously made my way back to my dorm to pack up the last few things before a group of us would leave for the jingle jam concert in atlanta, which i would leave early to drive to the airport for a 10:50 pm flight to louisville. i should have known that the cold, misty rain would serve as a bad omen to my thursday evening plans.
in georgia, it was merely cold, misty rain. thats because in georgia, there's really no such thing as winter. but outside of the georgia greenhouse bubble, a wave of snow and ice storms was at large. unbeknownst to me, i sat down at my computer to check out my prospect 10:50 departure to louisville to discover that the flight, which had at least 5 seats open the last time i checked, was now oversold by about 7. for a standby passenger, this is not good news. not only that, but the flight before it was oversold as well. practically everything was oversold. why, you ask? because earlier flights were cancelled because of weather.
with this knowledge, i called up my dad and scrambled to figure out a substitute route. the only wide open flight was at 5:30 pm into lexington. i checked the clock...it was three hours until takeoff. seeing this as my only option to get to louisville in time for jonathan's graduation, i hastily decided to bail out on my concert going experience with regrets that i wouldn't be able to spend time with becca and best friends. but all the same, with the prospect of getting to spend an extra evening with jonathan, it wasn't a bad alternative at all.
i didn't leave athens until 3, and the expected hour and 15 minute drive ended up taking two because, of course, atlanta traffic always manages to become congested as soon as you're in a hurry. its just one of those frustrating facts of life. so anyway, i arrived at the airport at 5 sharp only to discover at the kiosk that i hadn't been transferred to the lexington flight. anyone who has been to the atlanta airport knows how bad airport security is. i had 25 minutes to get to my gate before the scheduled departure time and i was busy trying to get listed. panic sets in and i resort to just printing off the louisville ticket to make my way through security. ten minutes until takeoff, my dad calls me to let me know that the flight is full. great. all that panic for nothing. and i would have made it.
so the destination turned back to louisville, 7:15. i set up my camp at the gate. i was a little uncomfortable with the creepy old man who seemed to have his camera phone angled in my direction. with the capability to discretely take pictures at practically any time, i'm thinking that camera phones aren't quite so wonderful when they end up in the hands of the wrong people. noting this, i got up and settled down in a row a good distance away from him, directly behind him to avoid what i suspected. i'm really glad i did.
not too long after my two hour wait had commenced, the flight was pushed back to 8:30.
then 8:45. then 9:15. then 9:45. then 10:05. then 10:20. then 10:35. finally, 10:45. i sat in the airport for almost six hours, the threat of not making it out that night lingered over my head. rather than spending the evening with my boyfriend or friends, i was stuck in the terminal. i made use of time by plunking away at my economics paper, but not really accomplishing anything. it was such a relief when i found out that i had, indeed, made it onto the cleared list...i was louisville bound.
i was honored with the privilege of sitting next to the lavatory and flight attendant in the back of the plane. honestly, i'm not complaining...i just think its funny. it was just after midnight when the plane landed...it had been the longest approach i think i've ever experienced. jonathan was patiently waiting for me at the top of the escalators upon my arrival. he is so handsome.
we stepped out into the parking deck and the cold kentucky air bit my nose. it sure was a lot colder than georgia. a few flurries were still floating around as we left the airport. earlier that day, it had snowed an inch or two and then turned to rain. this wonderful winter combo created lots of ice. jonathan had to catch me a few times when i slipped on the ice...heels don't exactly serve as the best snow boots or ice skates. i finally met jonathan's roommate, bradley, which was really good because i had heard so much about him and even had a few conversations with him. he's a really awesome guy. 
my alarm went off all too early friday morning. i quickly got ready and jonathan dropped his brother and me off at the chapel to meet up with his parents. the ceremony was lovely and i really enjoyed the message the president gave to the graduates. i was a picture taking fool, since i was the only one that had brought a camera to record jonathan's graduation moments. he walked across the stage to receive his masters of divinity degree... what a huge accomplishment.
after his graduation, we wandered toward the cafeteria to meet his friend jenny, but she ended up not being there. jonathan went to turn in his graduation attire and then we all went to longhorn, which just so happened to be my second time ever, both within the week. thats kinda funny. but anyway, they ended up overcooking two of our steaks, so they took up the tab on them, as well as two huge desserts and a cup of coffee. how nice of them.
we went straight back to his apartment and jonathan, his dad, and brother all worked hard to move almost all of jonathan's things out of his apartment. his mom and i got to talk for a little while, which was very nice. after his parents left, jonathan and i met up with his best friend, eric, and his wife, michelle. we inhaled dinner at chilie's to make it in time for the 10:05 showing of chronicles of narnia. one of the best movies of my life. i loved it because i had grown up reading those books and it played out on the big screen much like how i imagined it. i am excited that it didn't downplay the christian values and ideas that c.s. lewis had so beautifully created in his tale. they were so clear and the cinematography was well done. basically, i loved it. we went back to jonathan's apartment and hung out with his friends, adam and the amandas. i don't understand how people drink coffee at 2 am and then go to sleep.
saturday was a sleep in day. by the time we got up, it was pretty late. we headed over to an outdoor mall and just window-shopped, purchasing nothing more than a hot caramel apple cider and a peppermint mocha to keep warm. eric and michelle cooked a really nice turkey dinner for us and it was delicious. afterwards, jonathan and i went to another married couple's apartment (jiri and casey), which was very entertaining.
on sunday, we got up early again to go to church. then we headed over to the cheesecake factory, which was a very special occasion because every other time jonathan had attempted to go, his plans had been thwarted. i was glad to share the goodness of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake with a first timer :).
the time to leave for the airport came sooner than i would have liked. we stalled long enough to be pressed for time. the story of my life. jonathan and i said goodbye at the "only ticketed passengers allowed beyond this point" sign. the security process left me with a bundle of coat, scarf, ticket, license, laptop computer, and case in my arms as i hurried through the airport. the airport-wide announcement for me to quickly make my way to the gate for immediate departure picked me up from a trot to as much of a sprint i could muster in heels. i'm sure i looked so stupid. i managed to make it just in time. its funny how on my way there, i sat in the airport for six hours and on the way back, i ran onto the plane. this time, i got to sit on the very last row of the plane, right next to the engine. its sweet hum soothed me into a deep sleep the whole way home.
i miss jonathan.
in georgia, it was merely cold, misty rain. thats because in georgia, there's really no such thing as winter. but outside of the georgia greenhouse bubble, a wave of snow and ice storms was at large. unbeknownst to me, i sat down at my computer to check out my prospect 10:50 departure to louisville to discover that the flight, which had at least 5 seats open the last time i checked, was now oversold by about 7. for a standby passenger, this is not good news. not only that, but the flight before it was oversold as well. practically everything was oversold. why, you ask? because earlier flights were cancelled because of weather.
with this knowledge, i called up my dad and scrambled to figure out a substitute route. the only wide open flight was at 5:30 pm into lexington. i checked the clock...it was three hours until takeoff. seeing this as my only option to get to louisville in time for jonathan's graduation, i hastily decided to bail out on my concert going experience with regrets that i wouldn't be able to spend time with becca and best friends. but all the same, with the prospect of getting to spend an extra evening with jonathan, it wasn't a bad alternative at all.
i didn't leave athens until 3, and the expected hour and 15 minute drive ended up taking two because, of course, atlanta traffic always manages to become congested as soon as you're in a hurry. its just one of those frustrating facts of life. so anyway, i arrived at the airport at 5 sharp only to discover at the kiosk that i hadn't been transferred to the lexington flight. anyone who has been to the atlanta airport knows how bad airport security is. i had 25 minutes to get to my gate before the scheduled departure time and i was busy trying to get listed. panic sets in and i resort to just printing off the louisville ticket to make my way through security. ten minutes until takeoff, my dad calls me to let me know that the flight is full. great. all that panic for nothing. and i would have made it.
so the destination turned back to louisville, 7:15. i set up my camp at the gate. i was a little uncomfortable with the creepy old man who seemed to have his camera phone angled in my direction. with the capability to discretely take pictures at practically any time, i'm thinking that camera phones aren't quite so wonderful when they end up in the hands of the wrong people. noting this, i got up and settled down in a row a good distance away from him, directly behind him to avoid what i suspected. i'm really glad i did.
not too long after my two hour wait had commenced, the flight was pushed back to 8:30.
then 8:45. then 9:15. then 9:45. then 10:05. then 10:20. then 10:35. finally, 10:45. i sat in the airport for almost six hours, the threat of not making it out that night lingered over my head. rather than spending the evening with my boyfriend or friends, i was stuck in the terminal. i made use of time by plunking away at my economics paper, but not really accomplishing anything. it was such a relief when i found out that i had, indeed, made it onto the cleared list...i was louisville bound.
i was honored with the privilege of sitting next to the lavatory and flight attendant in the back of the plane. honestly, i'm not complaining...i just think its funny. it was just after midnight when the plane landed...it had been the longest approach i think i've ever experienced. jonathan was patiently waiting for me at the top of the escalators upon my arrival. he is so handsome.
we stepped out into the parking deck and the cold kentucky air bit my nose. it sure was a lot colder than georgia. a few flurries were still floating around as we left the airport. earlier that day, it had snowed an inch or two and then turned to rain. this wonderful winter combo created lots of ice. jonathan had to catch me a few times when i slipped on the ice...heels don't exactly serve as the best snow boots or ice skates. i finally met jonathan's roommate, bradley, which was really good because i had heard so much about him and even had a few conversations with him. he's a really awesome guy. 
my alarm went off all too early friday morning. i quickly got ready and jonathan dropped his brother and me off at the chapel to meet up with his parents. the ceremony was lovely and i really enjoyed the message the president gave to the graduates. i was a picture taking fool, since i was the only one that had brought a camera to record jonathan's graduation moments. he walked across the stage to receive his masters of divinity degree... what a huge accomplishment.
after his graduation, we wandered toward the cafeteria to meet his friend jenny, but she ended up not being there. jonathan went to turn in his graduation attire and then we all went to longhorn, which just so happened to be my second time ever, both within the week. thats kinda funny. but anyway, they ended up overcooking two of our steaks, so they took up the tab on them, as well as two huge desserts and a cup of coffee. how nice of them.
we went straight back to his apartment and jonathan, his dad, and brother all worked hard to move almost all of jonathan's things out of his apartment. his mom and i got to talk for a little while, which was very nice. after his parents left, jonathan and i met up with his best friend, eric, and his wife, michelle. we inhaled dinner at chilie's to make it in time for the 10:05 showing of chronicles of narnia. one of the best movies of my life. i loved it because i had grown up reading those books and it played out on the big screen much like how i imagined it. i am excited that it didn't downplay the christian values and ideas that c.s. lewis had so beautifully created in his tale. they were so clear and the cinematography was well done. basically, i loved it. we went back to jonathan's apartment and hung out with his friends, adam and the amandas. i don't understand how people drink coffee at 2 am and then go to sleep.saturday was a sleep in day. by the time we got up, it was pretty late. we headed over to an outdoor mall and just window-shopped, purchasing nothing more than a hot caramel apple cider and a peppermint mocha to keep warm. eric and michelle cooked a really nice turkey dinner for us and it was delicious. afterwards, jonathan and i went to another married couple's apartment (jiri and casey), which was very entertaining.
on sunday, we got up early again to go to church. then we headed over to the cheesecake factory, which was a very special occasion because every other time jonathan had attempted to go, his plans had been thwarted. i was glad to share the goodness of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake with a first timer :).
the time to leave for the airport came sooner than i would have liked. we stalled long enough to be pressed for time. the story of my life. jonathan and i said goodbye at the "only ticketed passengers allowed beyond this point" sign. the security process left me with a bundle of coat, scarf, ticket, license, laptop computer, and case in my arms as i hurried through the airport. the airport-wide announcement for me to quickly make my way to the gate for immediate departure picked me up from a trot to as much of a sprint i could muster in heels. i'm sure i looked so stupid. i managed to make it just in time. its funny how on my way there, i sat in the airport for six hours and on the way back, i ran onto the plane. this time, i got to sit on the very last row of the plane, right next to the engine. its sweet hum soothed me into a deep sleep the whole way home.
i miss jonathan.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
happy and crappy 41
this week's happy...yay for:
- the first month of a wonderful relationship
- megan's birthday!
- having only three days of classes
- having my schedule work out so that i only had two classes monday and wednesday
- those classes not even starting until 11:15
- eating dinner with mom and dad
- french toast
- clementines
- finishing my art project
- the last days of classes!
- getting most of my paper done before the weekend
- making it onto the airplane
- visiting jonathan in louisville
- great acheivements, such as attaining a masters degree
- quality time
- chronicles of narnia
- meeting people
- delicious cheesecakes
- my incredible boyfriend, jonathan
this week's crappy...nay for:
- worrying
- having to give presentations
- rainy, cold weather
- having to drive in rainy, cold weather
- atlanta traffic when you're in a hurry
- barely missing a flight
- sitting in the airport for six hours
- missing the jingle jam concert
- having to leave jonathan
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
happy and crappy 40
this week's happy...yay for:
- christmas decorations
- christmas music
- chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream
- candy canes
- a chance to make an "a" in econ!
- winning sec championships!
- visiting meg at work
- ending up getting a free meal...
- night and weekend minutes
this week's crappy...nay for:
- having an 8 page paper to write and a whole book to read
- no alias on thursday
- only working out twice all last week
- cockroaches...again!
- certain realizations
- decisions some people make
Friday, December 02, 2005
another one bites the shoe
what could be better to break me out of my posting slump than another cockroach episode? well, i'm sure there could be better things but i can't really think of any right now.
this story isn't much different from the others: its late at night, i'm on the phone, and i used the same grassy shoe. and i got 'em!
where do these things come from??
this story isn't much different from the others: its late at night, i'm on the phone, and i used the same grassy shoe. and i got 'em!
where do these things come from??
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