This is a poem that I wrote back in high school. Not to brag, but looking back at it after so many years makes me think I may have had some talent! Hope you like it!
Feigned angels in heaven
Laugh as it starts
Tugging at the soul to be let go
Those feelings that latched on
So quick and so seemingly firm
Heaven existed a time ago
While life was invincible,
Love went untouched
Mystery hung about the air
Tempting the feelings held there
Unconcerned with consequences.
A surrender to curiousity
Creates a brief fasade of heaven
Yet conseals the anguish beneath
Perhaps the mystery was better kept
Destined to be revealed in time.
Time.
Timing is undoubtedly elusive
Cheating youths of heaven.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
BBB: Blessed Beyond Belief!
This past weekend was my 22nd birthday which was I privilaged to spend in Sapa, Vietnam with my friends Cana and James, fellow volunteers here in Vietnam. Walking through the untouched, undeveloped, and unbelievable mountains was so humbling! A birthday alone is enough to cause you to praise the hands of the Creator who made you, but our destination left me in sheer awe of the Creator's work! 
Before coming to Vietnam, it was almost as if this side of the world didn't exist! It was so hard to imagine life living outside of the United States. But I'm here and standing on solid ground and it's real! Feels a little too real at times, especially when I think of how far from home I am. Thankfully the Lord has provided an amazing support system for me here! Everyone knows exactly what I am going through and is more than willing to help and lend advice.
Everything has become so clear to me since getting to Vietnam. What is really important? I don't really need a seperate area in my bathroom for the shower, or a thick mattress, or a quiet road, or consistant internet, or even a cool breeze! I'm surviving just fine, and even getting used to it! I know that I could have done none of this on my own. Every step I take here I feel as though I am hanging onto God's hand for dear life, especially when I get on the back of a motorbike!
Standing on top of a mountain looking at God's beautiful creation just made life seem so simple. My goal for my next few months here is to try to keep things simple, and in Vietnam that seems easier! A simple life, grounded in the Lord: sounds like the peace I've been looking for!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Here, I Am Going, Lord!
AHH! I leave in a week! I can't even begin to describe the rollercoaster of emotions that I have been going through lately. Ultimately though, no matter what I'm feeling, I'm still getting on that plane on Sunday night! My personal life has been a little hectic, but I'm really looking forward to getting away from it all and changing things up a bit. I have had every single person tell me that this is such a great opportunity and it's going to change my whole perspective on life. I am really excited about that change and even more excited about moving to St. Louis and starting my new life out on my own when I get home.
Talking to J.P. the other night online really helped calm a lot of fears. I also got to look at some of Carl's photos of the city and classroom. It's a lot more...gray...than I thought it was going to be. I'm actually getting excited about trying out the traffic and the food. Still my only worry is about the plane ride. Didn't help that a plane landed in the Hudson River this weekend!! I am just learning to trust that God has the whole world in His hands, especially my little plane :-) It's been a real comfort to read a few Psalms before I go to bed. It's so hard being away from Concordia and the constant spiritual nurishment that I had there. On the other hand, reading the Bible and worshiping at church seems so much more refreshing when it's not around me 24/7. This Sunday I leave the country for 4 1/2 months and the time of my life!!
Talking to J.P. the other night online really helped calm a lot of fears. I also got to look at some of Carl's photos of the city and classroom. It's a lot more...gray...than I thought it was going to be. I'm actually getting excited about trying out the traffic and the food. Still my only worry is about the plane ride. Didn't help that a plane landed in the Hudson River this weekend!! I am just learning to trust that God has the whole world in His hands, especially my little plane :-) It's been a real comfort to read a few Psalms before I go to bed. It's so hard being away from Concordia and the constant spiritual nurishment that I had there. On the other hand, reading the Bible and worshiping at church seems so much more refreshing when it's not around me 24/7. This Sunday I leave the country for 4 1/2 months and the time of my life!!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Self Esteem Issues
My first post, I'm sorry to say, is a bit of complaining. This past year has just come at me like a ton of bricks. It started with having to change my major at the drop of a hat at the end of my "sophomore" year. The summer was rough, but it really helped me come out of my shell and make some lifetime friends. However once school started it was like there was a non-stop line of obstacles to overcome in class, with friends, and most especially within spiritual life. Not to mention boy issues, which just make things a million times worse. It was like I never got enough time to get used to something because some new and important problem would pop up.
Second semester was such a challenge. David left making our relationship a long distance (and hard) one! I started Physics where I experienced one of the first times that I tried as hard as I could at something and yet continued to fail. I barely made it through and almost failed another class along the way. We also did the Bible Stick Project for spiritual life. Then deciding about Vietnam and my major and everything just threw my entire life into a frenzy.
Summer got a little better. It was so nice to live in the house with Shanna and Laura. I'm so glad I got to know them! However working at ColdStone in Ann Arbor was so stressful. It was difficult to work with people who had a much lower standard of work ethic than I did. Plus poor management just made it frustrating. I was excited to transfer to the one in Rochester Hills, but it's horrible too! Just for different reasons.
Moving back home has been a little stressful. My room has been a disaster and being around my parents all the time adds tension. They were hounding on me to get another job, so I'm now working at both ColdStone and Max and Erma's. I think I might quit ColdStone though. I have never worked in such a cynical environment. I feel like every little thing that I do is nit-picked and I get criticized for everything. I lost so much self esteem over the past year with my major changing and working on a long distance relationship and getting criticized for spiritual life, I just can't handle this for the next 5 months. I will give it maybe another 2 weeks, but if it doesn't change then I'm going to quit and either work for my mom or look for something else.
It's so hard to just trust that things are going to work out. I've never been able to go full ahead without knowing where I am going. I know that Vietnam is going to change my life, but where will it lead? Will I ever get a job? Where am I going to live? Who is going to be there for me? All I know is that I need to keep praying more than ever right now.
Second semester was such a challenge. David left making our relationship a long distance (and hard) one! I started Physics where I experienced one of the first times that I tried as hard as I could at something and yet continued to fail. I barely made it through and almost failed another class along the way. We also did the Bible Stick Project for spiritual life. Then deciding about Vietnam and my major and everything just threw my entire life into a frenzy.
Summer got a little better. It was so nice to live in the house with Shanna and Laura. I'm so glad I got to know them! However working at ColdStone in Ann Arbor was so stressful. It was difficult to work with people who had a much lower standard of work ethic than I did. Plus poor management just made it frustrating. I was excited to transfer to the one in Rochester Hills, but it's horrible too! Just for different reasons.
Moving back home has been a little stressful. My room has been a disaster and being around my parents all the time adds tension. They were hounding on me to get another job, so I'm now working at both ColdStone and Max and Erma's. I think I might quit ColdStone though. I have never worked in such a cynical environment. I feel like every little thing that I do is nit-picked and I get criticized for everything. I lost so much self esteem over the past year with my major changing and working on a long distance relationship and getting criticized for spiritual life, I just can't handle this for the next 5 months. I will give it maybe another 2 weeks, but if it doesn't change then I'm going to quit and either work for my mom or look for something else.
It's so hard to just trust that things are going to work out. I've never been able to go full ahead without knowing where I am going. I know that Vietnam is going to change my life, but where will it lead? Will I ever get a job? Where am I going to live? Who is going to be there for me? All I know is that I need to keep praying more than ever right now.
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