It's Time...

...and now is as good of a time as any...
to introduce my new and shiny blog. 


I've been anticipating the switch for quite some time,
especially with the changes that will ensue of possibly
moving to France, applying to grad school, graduating from
college, etc.

Since I've started this blog, I've got countless encouragement
and feedback, with over 400+ views per month and subscribers
from all over the world. I am truly humbled. Thank you.

So naturally, that means that this site will no longer be updated....

I'm pretty sure that you already figured that one out...
And because I love my followers and because I don't
want to lose a single one of you, please update your
google readers or whatever to:

www.lesmesaventures.com

And be sure to come visit me, leave comments or just say hello!
It's just the same stuff, just a different/better/awesome-er platform.

So-Cal Steak

So I thought that I'd share with you guys a little recipe that I've been a wee bit obsessed with. And honestly... what's not to like? It has beef, cilantro, onions, fajita spices... yum. And I'm not over-emphasizing that I truly love it... because I've prepared this dish at least three times in the past three weeks. And I've been on a bit of a protein kick lately because I've been amping up my workouts at the gym, taking an intensive spin class that totally wipes me out. Needless to say, my usual diet of 85% vegetables wasn't making the cut. I needed meat. Red meat. Steak.

Yeah. Obsessed.

So... I was going to call this recipe "Mexican Steak" but that's a little misleading because there's nothing inherently Mexican about it. So... I'm calling it So-Cal Steak because it's a little bit of the LA foodie style, heavily influenced by all the Latino/a residents. Sound fair? Thought so.

The Ingredients:
1/2 lb - 1 lb Steak. Sliced thin and without the fat.
Fresh chopped cilantro (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 white onion, finely chopped
Fajita seasoning (I got it in a packet in the soup aisle at Ralphs)
2-3 tbsp oil (to mix with the seasoning

Instructions:
Mix the steak, cilantro, and onions in a bowl. Make sure it's evenly distributed.
In a separate small bowl, mix the fajita seasonings with the oil. It should be a bit thicker, but not like a stiff paste. Once the dressing is to your desired consistency, mix it with the meat mix. The reason that you want the marinade to be a bit thicker is because you want it to coat the meat, not just "sit there".  Make sure to mix well and get all the meat coated. Cover the bowl and let it sit in the fridge for 2-24 hours, depending on the time. The longer the better, the marinade can get in and really saturate it.

Once you're finished marinating it, pre-heat a skillet on the stovetop for a few minutes. Drop the meat in and cook on medium heat until done. Easy.

And if you're serious about this recipe, there's a bonus step. After all the meat is cooked, remove it from the pan, leaving the juices behind. (Yes, there will be liquid left in the pan). At this point, don't take the pan off the heat, instead add a few slices of raw onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the onions are slightly cooked and the liquid has begun to thicken. Add to the cooked meat. Double yum.

But if you're especially protein starved, like I was today, you can chop up about a tbsp of fresh cilantro, add it to the bottom of a clean bowl. Then, poach two eggs and add on top of the fresh cilantro. It'll weaken the "attack" of the herb, without losing potency. Top with some salt and pepper. Serve alongside the steak. Voila. Steak and eggs, California style. And if this is a dinner entrée, add a glass of red wine and you're good to go.

Yum. Dig in! (I have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. Score!)

But in other news, my teeth are free from their wire-y cages. Meaning, my braces are gone! Hooray!
Wanna see a picture? I'll assume that the answer is "yes"....

So there you have it. Steak and pearly whites. Perfect evening, if I do say so myself. 

Tomorrow

So tomorrow marks a big day for me. Really. It's been something that I've
been longing for during practically my whole academic career at UCLA.

I'm getting my braces off tomorrow.


Ohhhh, I am excited. I even promised my orthodontist that I'd bake him
brownies as a "reward" for letting me take my braces off before June. I
think my bribery worked. And true to my word, he's getting a pan of
double chocolate caramel brownies.

For some reason, I feel almost like I have stockholm syndrome or
something. The braces are coming off but I have the suspicion that
tomorrow will bring a touch of nostalgia, a little bit of emotion. It's been
over a year and a half since they were put on. And, as odd as it sounds, we've
been through a lot together. Walking into that office tomorrow, I'm a whole
other person. I've grown up in so many different ways, it's really amazing.

So before I try to make these braces into an allegorical allusion for my life,
I'll just end with this: I am so excited.

El Teide

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Absolutely incredible. Breath-taking!

Center

So convicted by this song. I'm posting some of the lyrics (with emphasis) because they basically speak for themselves. Have yourself a listen and be blessed! 
- - - - - - - 
You’re the center of the universe
Everything was made in You Jesus
Breath of every living thing
Everyone was made for You

You hold everything together
You hold everything together

Chorus:
Christ be the center of our lives
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives

We lift our eyes to heaven
We wrap our lives around your Word
We lift our eyes to heaven, to You. 


Charlie Hall - "Center"

(p.s. I found a way to eliminate the "video" part of the YouTube link when I embed it into my blog posts. So just click and hear the song! Cool, huh?!?!)

Bon Courage

So I was talking with one of my French professors yesterday. He asked me how my quarter was going, what my future plans were, etc. I proceeded to tell him about how I'm writing a lot and actually had to drop my French literature class because my schedule was too hectic. After all, I'm trying to finish classes for my major. He knew that I applied for the French program, etc etc. I told him how I was waitlisted. So we had a good five to ten minute conversation (en français, mind you) about all of these crazy and overwhelming plans for the future.

Anyway, as we were parting, he said to me "bon courage". Typically in French, this means something like "good luck". But in the French language, there's two different ways of saying "good luck". It's either bon chance, which means "good fortune/luck" or it's bon courage. The phrase bon courage emphasizes, obviously, the idea of perseverance and courage. I had always knew what the phrase meant but it really struck me as we parted.

According to the French/English dictionary that's my bedside companion, the word "courage" in French is essentially the same word in English: courage, bravery. But surprisingly, it also means energy. So the essence of the phrase bon courage is to have strength to do the task at hand, to be brave in difficult times.  So that's exactly what I'm going to do. Encouraging, oui?

Bon courage à tous! 

The Spoken Word

This is amazing. Not only is she an excellent poetic artist, but an incredible public speaker. It's a wee bit long but really inspiring! I've always loved SLAM poetry and spoken word poetry, so it is a special treat to see the backstory and how Kay gets her inspiration.

(p.s. you might not be able to see the video on Google Reader or whatever. If not, just click through to the actual blog site! Thanks!)

Hidden In My Heart

I cannot tell you how comforting scripture is. Really. No matter what my issue or state of life, the Bible is always sufficient to calm my soul and remind me of the hope in the gospel. When I read the Bible, I know that Christ's sacrifice has made me blameless before God, with all the righteousness of Jesus.
So obviously, I like theologically based music. There's something wonderful about being able to express my religious beliefs within the context of song. I'm a firm believer that my soul has its own way of "singing" before the Lord, as new age-y as that may seem. And in the Bible, the Lord is blessed when people lift up their voices and offer their instruments in worship to Him.

And when I came across this CD, I was so so thankful. Actual scriptural verses set to amazingly soothing lullaby tunes. Although it's intended for children, I find that I'm getting a lot of benefit from it. Honestly, theology is theology. It doesn't matter if you're 3 or 50, the gospel and the Bible consistently have the same message. Can a grownup lady learn new things from a CD intended for children? Absolutely.

So don't be weirded out because it's intended for children. The music is really well done. I never would have guessed that it was originally made for kids! So adults, have no fear! I highly highly highly recommend getting your hands on a copy. It's just Bible verses set to music, no crazy stuff. Pure and simple. It brings me right back to the Bible, where I need to be in the first place. 

Buy a CD or a digital copy off the website - HERE.

Rolling In The Deep

Ohhh... he has such a smooth voice. The perfect Tuesday treat!


John Legend - "Rolling In The Deep" (Adele Cover)

Public Service Announcement

MY BRACES COME OFF IN TEN DAYS.
THAT'S TEN FINGERS. TWO HANDS.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL.


That is all. Carry on.

Sufficient

(Found this quote somewhere the recesses of my blogroll. Awesome, right?)

When your hope is in the Lord,
when you are getting inner sense of well-being and security from Him,
When He is the reason you continue even when things are hard,
Then you are building your life on something that is reliable and sure.
When you are waiting on the Lord,
you have placed your hope in the One
who is the ultimate source of everything that’s wise, good, and true.
When you wait for the Lord,
you are placing your safety in the hands of the One whose power is immeasurable.
When you wait for the Lord,
you are getting your comfort from the One whose love is boundless.
When you wait for the Lord,
you can be secure in the reality that He rules over all things.
When you wait for the Lord,
you can live with confidence because you know
that every one of His promises is true.
When you wait for the Lord,
you can be hopeful even in weakness because you know
that His grace is sufficient.”
- Paul David Tripp

(Reblogged from here)

All I Have

You know, it's funny how God has a sense of timing. It's pretty darn perfect. As I wrote yesterday, I had been waitlisted for the French program and was feeling really bummed and a bit frustrated about it. I wasn't distraught or upset, just that the "wind" had been taken out of my sails.

As it turned out, I had music team practice that evening. And for those of you who don't know, I usually sing for UCLA GOC in our times of worship, which is a huge blessing. I love serving them! And God, in his great providence, has us singing this song for Friday night. It just flattened me as I looked over the lyrics and sang them through with the team. I've heard it before, but the lyrics took on a new dimension as I pondered the state of my life right now, facing the end of undergrad with the unknown prospects of being an "adult". It's a bit scary, right?


"All I Have Is Christ" - Sovereign Grace Music

Now I'm not the most "emotional" person, meaning that I don't cry on cue, but this song definitely makes me tear up. The reason? All I have is Christ. He's my sole possession, the ultimate prize. Everything else just pales in comparison to him. Nothing really matters. Not grades, not GRE's, not grad schools, not moving overseas, nothing. Now, that's not to say that I don't put my best effort out. I do! But my focus needs to be a little more eternally focused.

So this goes above and beyond me, if my God has the ability to provide for my salvation, He can surely provide for me right now. Like the song says, "All I know is grace". Indeed!

France

So... I've gotten some sort of a response from the program that I applied to.

Waitlisted.

That word hit me like a bullet in the chest as I sat in Jimmy's Coffee Shop with my friends. I was expecting either a "yes" or a "no". Not a "maybe". That was exactly the response that I was hoping to avoid. But I'm learning that my expectations and the Lord's plans aren't always on the same plane. That is, my hopes and dreams are drastically different than what is good for me.

So what do I do? I wait some more. I put my trust that the Lord will give me an answer in his timing. All good and perfect things come from His hands, so that's where my faith is and that's where my hope lies.

Prime!

Okay. I've mentioned before that I love a good deal. Really, I do.
But this goes above and beyond.

Amazon Prime. 

What is Amazon Prime? It's a service (usually priced at $80 per year)
that gives the user free 2-day shipping and zero fees on just about any
purchase. It saves both time and money, two precious commodities.
And for someone who buys her textbooks online and makes a lot of
miscellaneous purchases through Amazon, Prime seems too good to be
true.

But it gets better. Oh... it really does. Now, I've mentioned this to a few
of my friends, but I thought I'd just make a general public service announcement.
Amazon Prime is free for college students. Yes. I'm not kidding.
All you have to do is have a working and active college (.edu) email
address and tell them your major. It's as easy as that! The free "trial" period
lasts for a year. But I'm pretty sure that you can "renew" if necessary.

So if you're a student at any university, big or small, you can e-shop to your
hearts' content! Enjoy!

Click the link to get started!
(And if you're not a student, but a parent, there's Amazon Mom. It offers basically the same thing!!)

Tory Burch

Ah... Spring is in the air and that means that I get to wear soft floaty dresses at any given point. And the best part? There doesn't need to be an occasion, just a whim! I was browsing Tory Burch's web site and came across this little treasure, a piece that totally inspired me.

It's light, crisp, effortless, and chic. What more could a girl want? Although the price point is a little steep for my budget, I'm definitely taking the inspiration in mind when I choose some other pieces for my spring wardrobe! 

What are you wearing this spring season? Talk to me, people! 

And yet...

Yup. Charter member right here. Sometimes, being a Godly lady isn't easy. Lemme tell ya. 

Turkey Meatloaf Cups

So... I really love to cook. No, seriously. The other thing that I love? A great deal. And yesterday, both of those things collided. I was at Ralphs and saw Jennie-O brand ground turkey (extra lean!) on sale, buy one get one free. I froze one 1lb package for later and decided to experiment a little bit with the other one.

As a college student, I love quick and easy meals. My schedule is up and down, changing at any moment. And honestly, the majority of my time is spent in study. But it's always helpful to have something "ready" to eat, especially after I come home from the gym and am famished! So, I decided to try and add some lean meats to the equation. I never really bought ground meat of any kind before, especially because I had no idea what to do with it!

But like I said, I couldn't pass up a deal. So I stumbled upon this recipe today and decided to make some "meatloaf" cups for lunch, saving a few for dinners or breakfasts. And true to form, I substituted and omitted ingredients due to what I had in my pantry/fridge. I didn't add red pepper, couscous, or worcestershire sauce. Instead, I added about 1/2 cup of rolled oats, for texture and consistency. I also decided to make these "French" meatloaf cups by adding "Herbes de Provence" seasoning.

To serve, I'm planning on adding some dijon mustard to add the final kick of flavor! Here's the "real" recipe but don't feel afraid to mix it up and experiment. Maybe next time, I'll try making a Mexican version of this, with taco seasoning and cilantro. Yum! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 cups coarsely chopped zucchini
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped onions
• 1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 pound extra lean ground turkey
• 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, or as needed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray 20 muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Place zucchini, onions, and red bell pepper into a food processor, and pulse several times until finely chopped but not liquefied. Place the vegetables into a bowl, and mix in ground turkey, couscous, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard until thoroughly combined. Fill each prepared muffin cup about 3/4 full. Top each cup with about 1 teaspoon of barbecue sauce.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until juices run clear, about 25 minutes. Internal temperature of a muffin measured by an instant-read meat thermometer should be at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Spring Break Recap

Sooo... I've been a little MIA for a few days. Blame finals, spring break, whatever. But I'm back now. And I know that a few of you are curious as to how my time in sunny Florida went. The short story is that it was so great. The weather was a perfect 80ish degrees and we couldn't have asked for a better time. However, I somehow managed to get a head cold and sore throat. But that didn't stop me from fully enjoying my time in DISNEY. 

Okay, this isn't Disney... Hogwarts, actually...

My accomplice, the lovely Emily.

Returning to LA LA Land

So after a relaxing and beautiful week, I'm feeling slightly more ready to return back to UCLA. Spring quarter is going to be tough, no lies. It's the final push before graduation. ALSO, I find out about the French program some time in April, hopefully earlier rather than later. So I'll keep all of you guys posted! 

Grace Upon Grace

These lyrics have been my theme and my comfort in the past few days. 

The song is titled "Through The Precious Blood" by Sovereign Grace Music

and it pretty much describes my mental process at the moment.

Take a listen and enjoy! 

You have ordained every breath we take. 

  In pleasure or pain, there is no mistake. 

  Gladness and grief, both are in Your hand 

  And sufferings brief carry out Your plan. 

  And our fleeting sorrows 

  When some bright tomorrow 

  We’ll see You with our eyes, and 

   

Chorus:

 Grace upon grace flows down, flows down 

 Grace upon grace flows down, flows down 

  Through the precious blood of Christ   

Father of lights, Giver of all grace 

  Your mercies crown our lives all our days 

  River of Life, quench our thirsty souls 

  For no true delight does Your love withhold 

  And in every season 

  We are satisfied 

  For just one reason 

  Christ was crucified.

  

All good gifts, every good thing  

  Comes to us freely, so freely. 

  All good gifts, every good thing 

  Comes to us freely, so freely 

  Through the precious blood 

  Through the precious blood 

Tunes for Finals

Just some music for the nerds and those who are nerds at heart. Currently, it's the soundtrack to my 20th century British poetry class. Oh Joy.


Lucy Schwartz - "Gone Away"


Relient K - "The Lining is Silver"


Laura Veirs - "July Flame"

Nerds

...in the nerdery, with our calculators. Erm. Books. I definitely mean books. 

Unfortunately, this also means business. Okay. I probably should clarify what

I'm trying to say to you guys. As it turns out, I'll probably be reading a 

1,500 page biography for my thesis. 

Yes. I'll repeat that. One thousand and five hundred pages. Helloooo

spring break. The good news? I'll be in sunny Florida with my friend Emily,

away from school and chaos. So, hopefully I'll get some serious reading done and

perhaps work on a tan. 

Oh. You want to know what I'll be reading... 

This. James Boswell's Life of Johnson. And this isn't my first time reading it either. Well, I already read the abridged version for a class (taught by the professor overseeing my thesis now) but for the academic sake of my thesis, I really need to read the original. The unabridged version. The monster. Well... I can't say that I'm not a little bit excited. I mean, I'm doing serious academic work, the kind that I really enjoy and get all rah-rah about. 

And I've just about finished a paper for my 19th-20th century British Poetry class, so... that's a big relief. I've also got a pretty decent handle on my thesis abstract (a.k.a. what I'll be writing about). It's not set in stone or really established, but I'll share more on the blog as I write and discuss my topic more with my advisor. Suffice it to say, I'm pretty excited. Scratch that, I'm totally stoked. I feel that the Lord has put this opportunity in my life and I'm in the right place, with the right people. I'm milking my UCLA experience for all its got. At the end of my last quarter, I'll be exhausted and academically spent. But I really think that I need to grab ahold of all the gifts that I have and use them to the best of my ability. 

What can you guys do? Please be praying for me. Spring 2011 will be a really chaotic time for me, academically. This is my final push before graduation. And I firmly believe that if the Lord chooses to send me to grad school, this quarter will decide a lot of things for my academic future. But in any case, I'm just doing the best work that I can and trusting in the Lord the best way I know how. I do know that my time at UCLA is limited and that I need to soak it all up. No matter what happens to me next year, I know that I'll miss being a student and taking a bajillion English classes. For real you guys, that's what hurts the most about graduating. All the new English newbies will be taking amazing classes that the department hasn't offered before. No fair. 

And as an aside, I have something totally random and off-the-cuff to share with you guys. (But let's be honest... isn't that the whole point of a blog? Sorry. That's a topic for another post.) This will totally and forever peg me as a grammar/syntax nerd but I'm really enjoying the fact that I can write in passive voice on my blog. Too much formal writing, not enough fragments and dangling modifiers. 

Okay. I'm pretty much done with blogging for the evening. My brain is fried. I'm pretty sure that you guys can tell. Oops. 

Also, has anybody caught on to the fact that since I posted that I was in finals, I've been posting rather regularly...? I'll blame the stress. It drives a girl to blog and to make an excessive amount of fruit smoothies. Just sayin'. 

Funnel Mill

As many of you guys know, I'm in the last weeks of my Winter quarter. This obviously means that I'm writing paper upon paper. English majors don't really take too many "tests". In order for me to do work efficiently and effectively, I need to be in a quiet place, away from the comfort of my own home/bed. I used to really like the library, but it got pretty noisy with all the late night crammers.

So, I've resorted to scouting out the most serene coffee shops. Last quarter, I wrote my 18 page long behemoth of a paper at a Peet's Coffee in Brentwood, which had light classical music and NO students. That meant no distractions and I didn't have to fight for a table with an outlet nearby. However, Brentwood is a pretty swanky area. This means that many many celebrities come into that area for restaurants/shopping. Even Heidi Klum lives in the area. And the last time I was at Peet's... Halle Berry was at the restaurant next door, causing the place to be swarmed with paparazzi. Needless to say, it was an exciting atmosphere, but not a good one for getting serious work done.

My roomie, Anita, suggested Funnel Mill Coffee as an alternative place to study. From the way that she described it, it almost seemed too good to be true. Free parking, gourmet coffee, and even a NO CELL PHONE policy. So we decided to go and get some studying/writing done today. Let's just put it this way, it completely met and exceeded my expectations for a study spot.

First of all, let's begin with the COFFEE. I have never ever seen coffee brewed this way before. It was like watching a science lab. They brew the coffee through what is called a "Siphon". It's too complicated to describe so I'm posting a few pictures so that you have some sort of idea what I'm talking about.

Crazy, right? It's a Bunsen burner that forces the water through the grinds and filters it. Totally like a chemistry lab. While the way that they brew it is unique, the quality of coffee is off the charts good. Now, I'm not a big coffee buff in any way, shape, or form but I could definitely appreciate the unique flavor and quality of what I was tasting. I got the vanilla cream coffee, which came with vanilla infused creamer, as well as vanilla sugar. It was like 12-14 oz of coffee for around $3.75, which isn't too bad for the work that went into it and the obvious quality difference. What an experience! 

The second thing that I LOVED about this spot was how quiet it was. Like I mentioned before, they had a no cellphone policy. This place was meant for people to work in. And they set up their atmosphere to facilitate that. Soft classical music in the background, comfy chairs and tables... even outlets at every. single. seat. You had to search high and low for one spot in that place that didn't have access to electricity. It was awesome. Funnel Mill definitely caters to people just like me, who like quiet study spaces and coffee with attitude. 

Definitely check out their website and if you're in Santa Monica, stop over for an amazing experience! I'll definitely be going there again and again! 

My Sentiments Exactly

Lately, I've been feeling just. like. this.
Rhut-Roh...



Bjork - It's Oh So Quiet
Lyrics HERE

Aston

It's not a huge secret that I love a good cover. There's something about interpreting a song in your own way that's just super interesting to me. Lately, I've been really impressed by some classical covers of popular pop songs. I know, this sounds a little genre-bending. And it is.

But honestly, some melodic structures within some of these songs are actually strong and complex. And hearing them in a classical way puts this aspect right in front of you. Some people are off-put by all the hard hitting beats and slick electronic hooks. I get that, I really do. But sometimes, it takes a good cover to initiate appreciation for something that you wouldn't normally listen to.

Enter a group, named Aston. From Australia, this creative team has created a lucrative career out of "re-doing" pop music in a classical setting. It's really really well done and they are excellent musicians. For reals. We're talking talent.  To showcase what I consider their finer work, I've posted two covers. One is by Adele (who is by no means pop, but jazzy soul) and La Roux, who is by definition electronica pop. Enjoy and let me know which one you like the best!

This is the La Roux original, titled Bulletproof. Get a feel for the song first, then listen to the cover. See how different they are? The same song, but totally different sentiments!






And here's the original Adele song, titled Someone Like You. Both versions are so beautiful! That voice! I die.

Blast From The Past

So, my Dad just sent me an email with something that I wrote on the computer when I was about 8 years old. Apparently, it was for some sort of class assignment. I had to interview someone and I chose my Dad. But I couldn't resist sharing it with you guys. 

And to be honest, not much has changed. Well, except for the whole "I want to be an artist" and "I have Guinea Pigs" deal. Cute, huh? And I still love my dad just like this. He's great. And he recently celebrated a birthday. So this post is in honor of him. Dad, you're one of my most precious blessings.                                      
                                                                

My Father
My dad was born in Allentown Hospital. He was special, yes sirree! When he was one he fell down the stairs alot but he never got hurt. Once he call "Mommy!" then fell down the stairs. He was so dizzy!
He had three brothers, Lee, Ray and Jimmy. He was the third child. It was fun! He lived in the city. They played ball in the alley. He had to walk one mile to his bus stop. He loved his second grade teacher. He wanted to marry her!
He loved science and music. Science was his favorite subject. He did not like art. It didn't suit him. His favorite game was marbles. GI Joe was his favorite toy. He had chores to do, like brush his teeth, make his bed, set the table and mow the lawn. 
Once he visited Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. He caught his first trout when he went fishing and once his dog at his friend's ice cream right off the cone!
When he was a teenager he moved around alot. It was scary moving to new schools. When he was in High School he was the photographer for the town newspaper. His first job was cleaning floors in a nursing home.
He met his wife (mommy) in church when he was praying for a good wife and the Lord did give him a good wife. She is from Easton, Pennsylvania. He has four children, Jessica, John, Ann and Rachel. They are very special to him. Jessica is eight and loves art and is a good speller. John is seven and loves sports and skateboards. Ann is five and likes the Magic School bus. Rachel is four and loves to talk. Daddy prays all of the children will love Jesus.
He now helps people put new computers in their companies. He likes to read his Bible, look at the stars and go fishing. His favorite Bible verse is Galatians 6:14. His favorite song is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." His favorite color is blue. His favorite food is pork and sauerkraut. His favorite candy is Zero bars. His favorite pet is a German Shepherd dog.  His favorite sport is baseball. His favorite flower is a white carnation. 
He would give kids my age advice to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself, ad to listen to your Mom and Dad. 
Daddy takes us to the park sometimes if it is not wet. Sometimes we go swimming in the summer. It is fun being with Daddy. Sometimes we go to the museum. We go to the beach and look for crabs with Dad and Mom. We love them very much.
My Daddy loves Jesus very much. I will never forget that. I love him so much and he loves me. My Daddy calls me Jess Lynn and the Sweet Bear.
We all live in a cozy blue house near woods and near adventures. Sometimes we go in the woods when we have the chance. Our Daddy loves the outdoors. He loves to look at the stars and moon. In fact, he loves the solar system.
You know why I love my Dad? Because he loves me and that is all that matters to me. He always will and I always will.

Jessica Lynn Haldeman was born August 18, 1987 in Abington, Pennsylvania. She is the oldest of three sisters and one brother in her family. Her hobbies are art and reading. She loves Jesus and she might want to be an artist when she grows up. She now lives in a light blue house in Sellersville, Pa. She is now the happy owner of an albino guinea pig who just delivered  two albino babies, named Snowball and Vanilla.

Privilege

The Privilege of Trust. This concept seems almost antithetical, paradoxical. Often, the notion of the believer's trust adheres to something negative. For example, "I'm trusting for God to provide me with a job" or "I'm trusting in the Lord through this trial". Basically, the concept of trust gets a bad rap.

But when you think about it, as I have been lately, the ability to put my hope and trust in the Lord is an absolute blessing. And the fact that my trust rests on an everlasting and reliable God draws my heart near with thanksgiving. Trust is a multifaceted thing. It acts as a way to weather the storms of life in a Godly and healthy way. It provides me with a way to find real, solid joy. Trust also manifests through the happier seasons in my life. This concept reminds me of some verses from the hymn "My Hope is Built":

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.


His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. 


And I'm going to take this golden opportunity to be really transparent with you guys. It's really hard to trust in the Lord sometimes, especially in terms of providing a spouse/family/future. And it's something that I really really want. But it is a gift that only the Lord can give to me. Obviously none of my striving is going to do anything. I have to learn to be content and to be patient as the will of the Lord unfolds day by day.

Some people may think that age 23 is too young to be considering these things. Really? Frankly, I don't see why not. I'm at the age when this really is a question and something to be prayerfully considering. I'm just trying to honor my Savior with my live, just trying to do the best with what I've been given. And that's all we can really do, right?

So that's where the gift of trust comes in. As I move through life's inevitable seasons, some happier than others, I need to remember that my trust in the Lord doesn't act as an obstacle in the pursuit of "happiness" or "fulfillment". It isn't a temporary band-aid or spiritual trite-ism. Trust is real, tangible, and acts as a way to put the faith that I possess into action. And in this way, it's almost a miracle.

More!

I couldn't resist. This is too beautiful not to share...



The Wailin' Jennys - This Is Where

(Good music for studying and reading, yes?)

Busy Season

At UCLA, I'm entering 9th week. For anyone who is familiar with the quarter system, that means that it's getting down to the last 3ish weeks of classes/finals. And it is at this point where I traditionally take a technology hiatus (read: Facebook) until all of my finals are over. I ask a roomie or close friend to change my Facebook passwords until the last day of finals. After I'm all done, I get access to my account.

Tell me to use self control? This is what it looks like, people. I don't think of Facebook as a problem, but rather a distraction. And if I can rid of distractions... you know the drill.

Anyway, this post is just to explain my upcoming radio silence. I may/may not update as I see fit. But don't leave me if I'm not frequently posting. Deal? Okay.

And just to prove that I'm not completely heartless, I thought I'd give you guys a little video to take the edge off this post. This is currently what's stuck in my head. And honestly, it's a beautiful song. I consider it a good thing. Take a listen:



Bon Iver - Blindsided

Evernote

If you have an Apple computer, (and I suspect that many of you do)
there is a free software program that is ama-za-zing. I couldn't help but
post a review/recommendation. It's made my life so much easier. For
reals.

Evernote.

It's basically a note-taking and organizing program. As in, I
create text/video/photo/audio notes and it organizes it for me.
The big deal? It's free and I'm categorizing my plethora of
recipes on it. I can create notes from web clips, drag & drop
photos, and even sync from my iPhone. Another really
cool fact about this program is that it's all backed up online.
So if my hard drive ever decides to head south like it did at
the beginning of the year, I can re-download the program
and all my notes are 100% intact. Pretty awesome, right?

Unfortunately, the program isn't for PC's. But if you
have an Apple platform, it definitely is worth a look.

Check it out! Evernote.com

Monday Tunes

Laura Marling - New Romantic

Love the narrative vocal line. Like listening to a conversation and a song all in one.
And it certainly doesn't hurt that her voice is gorgeous. A very simple and delicate
song.

Food Poisoning

Yup. I got it. Not fun. Spent the day up in bed, with only some flat 7Up as my companion. I cancelled all my appointments and meetings, much to my chagrin. It's just not the most ideal situation, but I'm thanking the Lord in all circumstances.

You want the latest? This is it. Buh-mmer.
Hopefully, I'll be shipshape by Friday.
Join me in prayer, won't ya?

Waiting Game

These days, I feel like I'm caught in some sort of a holding pattern. Some decisions, big ones about my future, are coming up in April. In case you're new to my blog or don't know what I'm talking about, I applied to a job over in France for next year. It's a one year to two year teaching contract within the French school system. Basically, I'll be teaching English.

That being said, I find out if I am accepted into the program/job in April. I know that's around 8+ weeks until I get any sort of answer, but I'm still a little bit on edge. Once I know where I'll be next year, I can make some major decisions about next year, like if I remain in LA or plan a temporary move back home and then overseas. And I'll be really really honest, this decision has been the source of anxiety as I face the end of my time here at UCLA. I feel like there's so many loose ends that I have to tie up here, like leaving my church and friends.

The thought of not being at my church or with my friends out here does make me a little bit sad, but I know that if I'm relocated to France, that the Lord will provide bountifully for me. It's always an issue of faith, I think for me. At this point in my life, I have no control over what happens, as far as this program is concerned. This is a great opportunity for me to trust in the Lord and to lean on His sovereignty in my life. I mean, all that I really can do is live my life to please my Savior.

So please join me in prayer as I look for the future, that I will be wise and will not fall to anxiety or fear. Because fear takes from you, it steals your joy in Christ and makes the blessing of trust feel like a punishment.

Kate Spade

Okay, so I've really been into the stylings of the designer Kate Spade as of late. She has such a unique spin on things, with a little bit of '50's and '60's influence too. I just can't get enough of the sleek tailoring paired with beautiful fabrics and finishes. It's tasteful and grownup clothing for women that isn't frumpy or matronly. And let's be honest, I'm moving into a period of my life when shopping for Forever 21 isn't gonna cut it. As I enter the "adult" world (grad school, job, etc) I realize that my wardrobe needs to be functional, well tailored, and sophisticated.

All too often, I live in jeans, flip flops, and layered tee shirts. It's all well and good while I'm a college kid, but that phase isn't going to last forever. My wardrobe needs to follow. So I've just been inspired by Kate Spade's style as something that I want to try and emulate. I mean, I don't have the financial resources to afford her pieces, as they run around $300 - $400. But I'd like to take that inspiration that she provides and use it for when I buy new pieces of clothing.

Wanna take a look? I thought so...

How cute would this be with a cardigan and pearls?

What a chic dress! 

Visit the website for more!

Kindle

As some of you guys know, I got a Kindle for Christmas. And I really love it. It's portable, light, sleek, and has the capacity to carry over three thousand books. It looks so cute in its apple green leather case (another generous gift from my parents) and I like to carry it with me on campus or to the coffee shop. I've read a few books on it with no problem. In fact, I kinda forget that I'm reading it on an electronic screen.

But I've had a nagging issue with it. Just one. 
It doesn't display real-time page numbers. For example, if I had an actual book and compared it to the same text on a Kindle, the actual page numbers would be different. You see, the Kindle has its own page numbering system. Rather than marking actual pages, it gives the reader the page location relative to the book. Obviously, this is a problem if I'm trying to cite any sort of information in an academic context. I mean, I can't just write on my works cited page that it's "Location 5.482". That's a little ridiculous.
So instead of using my Kindle for any sort of academic reading, I've been just using it for fun. There's some great theology books and other poetical readings that I've been "leafing" through. But I've always wanted the opportunity to read for class via Kindle. I actually read faster and in a less distracted way with the device.

It's a rather strange thing, considering the reaction from the English major community. I was previously riding the fence about the Kindle, wondering if I would actually enjoy it. I've heard that the Kindle was "killing" books and the printed word. I've also heard that it was the "next step" in publication. But to be honest, the form of the book doesn't really matter. And if you think about it, the "book" has evolved so much, from manuscripts and papyrus to stitched together novels. What really should count is the content. Think about it, Chaucer never published in a book form. In fact, he never "published" at all. So why should I look down on books in an electronic form? It's not about the form. It's about the content.

But the main point of this post, the real reason, is that I just got a software upgrade for my Kindle that assigns real-time page numbers to all of the books. That means that I can actually cite pages, saving me money, time, and weight for my books. Imagine. Instead of being weighed down with physical books, I can just carry a Kindle that weighs less than a pound! Basically, it's a huge, awesome and amazing thing. So my qualms with my Kindle have been resolved and I am one happy camper. 

Midterm Music

Music for a study-filled Sunday.
Woo midterms.

The Kosher Market

For all of you Angeleno's out there (you know, residents of Los Angeles...) I have found something truly remarkable. Glatt Kosher Market. Situated on Santa Monica and Colby St, it definitely has plenty of character and spunk. At any given time, it is crowded, full of middle aged Jewish and Persian ladies, their carts full and overflowing. The aisles are cramped and the store is small but it has the best prices for produce that I've ever seen. For example, a large bundle of dill only costs me 65 cents, and most of their vegetable run at under $2 per lb. Basically, it's a GREAT deal for GOOD produce. 

The discount doesn't stop there. It extends to the meat too. I get high quality kosher chicken/beef/turkey for ama-za-zing prices. So much better than Ralphs. And because it's kosher meat, it's very very high quality. But those prices don't seem to get in the way of some funny cultural "translations" that I find, especially in the meat section. Take a look! 

Shnitzel? What is this? Doesn't matter... I bought it anyway. YUM.

This definitely re-defines "cutlets" into "chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs and stars".
I literally laughed out loud.

So... if you ever make your way to Glatt Kosher Market, which is NOT open on Saturdays for obvious reasons, prepare for some cheap produce and a smile on your face.

Girls Gone Wise

I've stumbled upon something really really great. I mean, I've heard about this ministry for a little while now and have been told about the book but never really gave it any serious consideration. But the "Girls Gone Wise" ministry is an awesome resource for girls and women.

Their approach is refreshingly simple and hits straight home, at least for me. A lot of Biblical womanhood sites that I frequent talk about how to love and serve your husband or children. I don't know about you, but I'm not in that position at the moment. Although I love love love sites like GirlTalk, some of their advice doesn't apply to me yet. But that doesn't mean that I can't listen and plan for the future. Sometimes, I just want Biblical advice that sits on my level, that understands the battles that I fight as a single lady and the specific ways in which I am tempted to sin.

The thing that sets "Girls Gone Wise" apart is that it's focused on single/dating young women. It challenges girls' worldview and puts the gospel into perspective with their lives. But the advice and council isn't stuffy and dated, like "boys only like girls who wear dresses" or "Godly girls are always quiet". No, they focus on cultivating a heart for the Lord and to serve the church. Because when your heart is in the right place, your actions follow accordingly. I feel like they're speaking straight to me!

But don't take my word for it... check it out for yourself!

Girls Gone Wise

Vinyl

Yeah. That's right. I am, after several months of dreaming about it, compiling a vinyl collection.

The only problem? I don't exactly have a record player. And besides, it's harder to pick up rare vinyl albums than a player. I can always buy a turntable. But the records... that's the harder thing to find. So I am, in a sense, striking while the iron is hot. But honestly, I have always loved vinyl albums. The sound quality is amazing and there's nothing like actually putting a record on to play. It was one of my favorite things to do as a kid. So, there's a little bit of nostalgia involved.

But here's the "twist" in my collection. I'm trying to get more modern tracks and LP's. For example, I recently bought Iron & Wine's album "Our Endless Numbered Days" and Bon Iver's album "For Emma, Forever Ago". I like the idea of an album as a collective whole, listened to straight through. And not to mention, the artwork on the albums is beautiful when it's blown up LP size. I'm basically buying albums that I already own and love, but would want to listen to on a record.

That doesn't mean that I wouldn't want some classic rock or classical music in my collection! By all means, I grew up on that stuff. It was quite interesting. When I was young, I'd hear/play Bach or Chopin and then listen to the Beatles or Rush. Talk about contrast... but I think that it's made me more musically well rounded, allowing my tastes to be extremely varied.

An example of some other contemporary albums on my list?
The Weepies - By My Thrill
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
Coldplay - Parachutes

...but there's a lot more where that came from

If you had an album that you'd like to see on a record,
which one would it be?

Wednesday Night

The Lonely Forest - "Turn Off This Song (Acoustic)"

This came on the shuffle rotation today on my iPhone. Basically, I load as many songs as will fit on my iPhone and put it on shuffle. That way when I walk to school, I'm always surprised and delighted. Today was no exception. Enjoy!