Relaxation Techniques?

Call me a bit immature, but when I'm stressed out

or in need of serious decompression, I often watch

cheesy child's films. An excellent example would

be "The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking".

As a little kid, I had an unhealthy fascination with

that girl. I mean, she was super strong, independent,

quirky, and always had a trick up her sleeve.

Now that finals are over, I need some serious

relaxation time. This movie seems to be doing

the trick. There is no artistic value in it whatsoever,

just pure sentiment. I fully embrace all of the cheese

factor this spring break. Cheers.

Whew

Finals are over.

I can breathe.

Yes.

Musical Goodness

This song makes my heart hurt,

in a very very good way. Bon Iver is

so darn talented!

Lessons Learned

...let me set the scene for you...

My toilet just overflowed. Everywhere.

I am standing ankle-deep in water, in my bathroom.

There is no end in sight. Paper towels just won't do

for an epic mess like this. Panic begins to set it.

There's just so much water! I'm a girl, we're not

supposed to deal with problems like this! I can't

handle this. Absolutely not. How can this get much

worse? Doesn't God understand that I can't handle

much more? Hasn't He given me enough to deal

with? Really???

As I'm typing this, I'm sitting on my bed. The mess

has been contained. The toilet has been fixed, my

towels are in the washing machine. This crisis has been

dealt with. However, I'm left with a lingering lesson,

something that makes me cringe a little bit.

The Lord never gives me more than what is appropriate.

All of the trials, from the biggest heartbreak to the smallest

situation, are carefully calculated. God isn't sitting up in

heaven, flinging missiles and bombs my way for fun.

No, He is a loving and benevolent God who uses things

that may not be so pleasant to conform us to the image

of Christ.

Can God use an overflowing toilet to bring his

children to a better understanding of their heart

and of their sin? Absolutely. Case and Point.

I'm guilty of accusing God of not knowing what

is in my best interest. I just react when something

happens, rather than weigh it with the mercy that I've

been given. Does the Lord know our weaknesses and

sorrows? Completely. In fact, He knows us better than

we know ourselves.

In the future, when hard times come, I know that my

heart's attitude needs to be that of trust and thanksgiving,

rather than of emotional reaction. Wether it's something

really really big, or as simple as a toilet breaking, I need

to have a correct perspective.

Okay, now that I've shared with you, I need to

get back to studying for finals. Wish me luck!

Watch.

Seriously. How cool is this?

International Woman's Day

Today is IWD, or known as "International Women's Day".

Although I don't label myself as a feminist, I really really

appreciate all the steps of courageous women of the past

that allow me the freedoms that I enjoy today. One of

those is the right to vote. The past presidential election

was my first time as an eligible voter, a privilege that I did

not take lightly. I am always thankful to the Lord that He

allowed me to grow up and live in a country where I am

spoken for.

I've had the ability to travel to South Africa in the 2008. There,

I experienced the realities of a government that don't even

acknowledge its women as full citizens or afford them the

protection that I enjoy in America. It was a very eye opening

experience and definitely changed the way that I perceive

my liberties and blessings in my home country. I am very

very fortunate and I do not take that lightly.

This day, for me, is a reminder of the women all

over the globe who do not have the safety or the assurance

of government protection or even acknowledgement. Today,

I pray for these governments and for these women. I pray

that the Gospel would go forth and that the hearts of these

women would know the true God. I pray that Christ would be

exalted in every corner of the globe. I pray for the state of

Biblical womanhood in America, that it wouldn't be set

aside as a "lesser" issue in the Church or culture.

Happy International Woman's Day!

Maybe Someday...

I love love LOVE floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

I was fortunate enough to have a father with

tons and tons of books. In fact, he has a whole entire

wall of his office covered in books. It was one of my

favorite places in the world to hang out as a child, reading

anything and everything. Someday in the future, far far

away, I'd really really love to have a home library. I'd love

books stacked from floor to ceiling, with everything from

classic lit to cookbooks. Anyway, I saw this image on my

blog feed reader and thought that it was just so lovely.

Who knows? Maybe someday...