Life of an Old Fashion Girl

2012-02-10T22:33:00.000-08:00

I found this small field of snow drops. It was the first time I have seen real snow drops. I have seen them in photos and plastic snow drops but seeing the real thing was great. I picked a few and brought them back to my room. They now sit next to my computer and brighten my day a little every time I see them.

I wish you will find your own snow drop today to make your day even a little bit better.

Spring has Arrived

2012-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Went out this morning to get a bubble tea. Found the shop closed but I found these flowers on the way back home. Spring is here!!

Playing with Art

2012-02-04T21:53:00.000-08:00

This this just something I did for my art class. I am currently playing with a different style of art then I have ever used before. As well as using charcoal instead of pencil. It is a new experience but I am having lots of fun with it.

Waiting For Snow

2012-01-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

So why am I waiting for snow? Well I have never lived where it snowed and I have heard that it only snows once a year here. Being a California girl I really want to see it when it first starts to come down. And the weather report said it might snow this weekend. Plus it is a THREE DAY WEEKEND!!! I know it has been a while since I posted anything at all. I guess that's what college can do to someone. So what have I been doing... well I just finished putting some scarfs up for sale on etsy. Interested in seeing what I have made? Just go here and look at my items. But here is a picture of my favorite of the scarfs.

I have been crocheting lot lately because it is easy to do during class and the teachers don't mind. I have also been reading alot. This last week I read some of Rousseau's The Social Contract and De Tocqueville's The Old Regime and the French Revolution. This weekend I am planning on reading Mill's Utilitarianism and Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. I hope this weekend is a great weekend for all of you who read this as it is already has started out being for me.

Sorry to invisible.

2011-11-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Okay I know there is not an invisible person reading this.....or maybe there is. But the fact is your invisible to me. I am apologizing for the lack of activity that has been happening on this blog lately. At the beginning of September I moved out of my parents house, out of the state I have always known and now I am living right above the college I am attending. It is nice not having to go far to get to class, but college is still a lot of work when it comes to a school work and trying to have a social life. When you are at a small school like I am, how social you are plays a big deal on your relationship with your classmates and fellow schoolmate. So I will try to post more but I can't promise anything at this point. Please be patient with me.

Thanks

Me against the comet

2011-09-27T19:05:00.001-07:00

Found this comic a couple mouths ago but every time I see it I can't help but think I love the baseball bat idea. I am sure it wouldn't help any but to have the courage and stupidity to stand there and face it head on has something to it that is admirable.

Yippy!!

2011-08-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

I finally have something up for sell on etsy.com I have been planning on getting something up for a while but for one reason or another I haven't been able to until today. If you have time take a look.

A Week at Sam Camp

2011-08-05T23:04:00.000-07:00

Sam Camp? What the heck is that? Well S stands for Science, A for Art, and M for Math(But I like thinking it stands for music because I like music more). It is pretty much a week long summer camp that takes place at a school that is mostly closed. I say mostly because school it self is not going on but daycare is still there(it is there pretty much all year around). Sam Camp is for going into 1st grade all the way to high school. What the junior high school kids and the high school kids do are a complete mystery to me because this was my first year working with Sam Camp and I was with the going into first graders. So what the younger kids get to do is...

Science- during this class they got to do some awesome and fun experiments without the boring writing down what you observed part that you have to do in normal school. This week they made a small car out of cardboard, straws, tape, and foam wheels. Paper airplanes, paper helicopter, slim, and something you look through and you see a rainbow(I forgot what it is called, if you know please comment and tell me). My first graders loved this class but had a hard time keeping their little hands off of the stuff placed in front of them. But who can blame them? I can't, I wanted to join them on some of the projects and make them.

Art- This class was absolutely not what I thought it would be. This class seemed to be a mixture of art, music, and story time. The kids drew, decorated, made rattles out of plastic bottles and rice, danced, marched, sang, and watched the teachers do puppet shows or tell stories. They did so many things that there never seemed to be a moment to breath. My kids had lots of fun, especially when they got to use paints.

Math- Being that I was with first graders I must say this was kept rather simple but at the same time they had creative ways of making the kids do math. Like having a board game where they had to add and subtract. My kids had fun but had a couple of kids who would finish something really fast and bring it to us as if we had ten things for them to do when we only had one or two.

Music- One of my favorite classes this week. But then who wouldn't like a class where there is a teacher who is absolutely awesome. (Not to say the other teachers weren't great but just hang in with me and you will find out why this teacher was great) The young man in charge of music was great with my first graders. Out of no where he would start playing and singing a sad song about a balloon popping or a monster attack or whatever other "sad" thing my kids told him to sing about. By the time he would finish the song all the kids (and myself) would be laughing our heads off and asking for another one. I really wish I had a recording of at least one of those songs. I don't care how short they were. They were fantastic and priceless.

PE- "I know what PE means" said one of my little girls today. "What" I asked. "It means we get to play outside." Although that may not ring true in real school that is what it was this week. It was time the kids spent outside running around and enjoying the sun. My kids had a blast having an adult male chasing after them in a game of tag. For several of them I am sure it is rare for the dad's to play with them as hard as the guys in charge of PE did this week and they loved every moment of it.

Story time- I thought it was awesome how there was a lady reading a story and a man playing a guitar as background music. I mean how often do you see someone making background music right in front of you. Anyways, this time was spent listening to stories be read to them and talking about the different things that happened in the stories. Like one day they read a book that took place in the rain forest and so they talked about the rain forest. Another day it was farm. My kids had a bit of a hard time sitting still for as long as the teacher expected them to but it all turned out well.

So that gives you an idea of what goes on at Sam Camp. Well at least for what went on with the first graders. But as I look back at this week I can't say it is the classes that are the first things to come to my mind. What come to my mind is the time I spent holding a tiny hand that seemed so precious I wish I got to hold it everyday. And how those hands would gently find their way to mine as if it was strange to not be there. I remember the tiny but strong arms that would get wrapped around my legs. The moments I spent trying to break up an argument over who would get to be next to me. The time spent with more then one child in my lap and more trying to get there. The feeling of having my arms wrapped around a child in my lap and the feeling that they fit perfectly there. The time spent playing duck-duck-goose and all the kids who followed me to the mush-pot when I got put there. The time I spent unable to move because of a pile of kids who were on top of me because they were either fighting over my lap or too many of them had followed me to the mush-pot. What I would give to be able to be able to hit replay on all of those moments like one can a movie.

I started out the week expecting to give the kids all I got. And at first I thought I was. I gave them so much that at the end of the day I found myself falling into bed the moment I got home. But by the end of the week I found that I was receiving more from those kids then I could ever give back to them. How could I have ever expected that my chipped cupped with all its holes which starting out the week by steadily pouring out could ever stay full to the point that it was over flowing everyday. There is a song that is called Hallelujah, that was sung by Alexandra Burke on 2008 X Factor, that says....
"Your faith was strong but you needed proof, you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair, she broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the Hallelujah"

Those last words,"and from your lips she drew the Hallelujah". Some how those words seem to ring true for me this week. From the act of being pined to the floor to the point that I could not move an inch by a bunch of first graders to the act of praising God for every moment I spent pined and all the time I spent with multiply children on my lap even when it hurt so much I wasn't sure if I would make it.

I want to encourage anyone who is reading this. If you ever get a chance to give part of yourself to a child, do it. You just might be amazed by just what come from it.

For those of you who want to find out more about Sam Camp, here is their website.

http://samcamp.org

Fig Jam

2011-07-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

So today I made fig jam and found... I probably won't make jam out of figs ever again. The whole long process just is not worth what you get in the end. Or maybe I just don't like figs enough. But I took some pictures. Sorry for the horrible photography.

For those of you who do not know what the inside of a fig looks like.

The bucket of figs... thankfully we didn't have to buy them (we have several fig trees).

The jam when it was first put in the pot.

The jam after it was cooking for about a half hour.

It cooked for much longer and the foam disappeared and the color darkened. Then we placed it in 5 jars. Sealed the jars and was finally finished 2 hours after starting....wait that actually might be 3 hours. Oh well.

Wormworldsaga

2011-07-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

So I found this amazing online graphic novel that I am enjoying. It is everything I like. Mainly it is about adventures of a boy. Only chapter one seems to be out at the moment but still if you have time check it out.
http://www.wormworldsaga.com/

Blessings to You

2011-07-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

"May God grant you always...
A sunbeam to warm you,
a moonbeam to charm you,
a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you.
Laught to cheer you.
Faithful friends near you.
And whenever you pray,
Heaven to hear you."

-An Irish Blessing

Little Hands

2011-07-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Little hands on my back
Soft and warm
Little voice whispering in my ear
Describing things right before me
Oh how that one little person can make something you have seen every year fun and new.
How without trying the warm your heart by them just being near.
I know not the love of a man
But the love of a child
Is very precious to me.

Happy 4th of July (Or Day we beat the British as my friend likes to call it). We had a couple family over to our house to watch the fireworks(we can see them going off all across the city). One of the families has a little girl and I had the honor of giving her a piggy back ride so that she could see better. It always amazes me how one hug from her can always make me feel better. It also sets with me a longing to have a little one of my own but that is a longing that oddly brings me joy to have. I know I have several years to go before I have a child of my own (it might be good if I have a husband....lol). I know I am young and have much still to learn but it is fun to think that someday I will hold a child in my arms and tell myself that that child is my gift from God.

Comic Relief

2011-06-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

A comic strip from my favorite online web comic. Being someone who grew up with one person who could not use a computer for the longest of time I find this one very amusing although I know she would never do this. Whenever someone responds to something in a really strange way because they don't understand something it can be very embarrassing at first but looking back it becomes very funny.
If interest in reading more from the same artist click here.

The clash of wills

2011-06-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

The clash of wills had been going on for a few days and causing to loss sight of those around her. She knew it was time to face it straight on. She went straight for her room and closed the door. She didn't bother to turn on the computer or the stereo. She need it would not help her sort this out.

A few days ago an opportunity to work at a company had presented itself to her. She had gone to an interview and a presentation on the company only to find that even after listening to the 2 hour long presentation she was still confused as to what the company did and what would be expected of her. As she talked to those around her about this opportunity, all she got was warnings to be careful. Every passing hour seemed to built on her confusion. It made her scared but she wanted to give the company a chance to prove itself. The lady that was to be in charge of her was to come to her house to talk to her parents, to make sure they would be okay with her doing this job. The girl hoped she would get more answers the night she was to come.

The night came and the meeting went late into the night. The girl looked to her father after the lady had left. She hoped he would have something to say to help her make her choice. But at that moment he seemed to have to think on. So the girl went to her room to think upon what she knew. She was drawing to the conclusion to say no to working there when the thought struck the girl like lightening. Does God want me there? As she thought on this she realized that in the past year she had been learning things that would help her in this job. It was almost like God had set her up for this very thing. She had been told that God does not ask someone to make a big choice without giving them two or more signs. To her she already had one. So she prayed that if this was the Lord's will that he would give her one more sign to help her confirm that it was truly the Lord's wish.

In the days to come she was often tempted to no wait for the sign but some how she found the strength and so she waited. The day came when she was to go to a meeting at the company. She got dressed in some of her nicest clothes and prayed that God would help her be brave. When she arrived, she entered the room full of people chatting. She immediately felt uncomfortable. She found a place where she could stand and watch those in the room without getting in their way. As she observed them she realized one huge reason why she did not like being there. Everyone one was the same. They weren't the same when it came to looks but how they acted and spoke. The job requires them to make people feel comfortable around them and so they all had been taught how to do that. All of them would use the same words. Get them alone and they are each extremely unique, but put them all in the same room and it seemed like they were nothing but robots saying what they had been programed to say.

This realization made the girl think there is no way God wants me here. I don't belong here among these empty shells. As the meeting started and the girl listened to the things that the employees were being taught. Again the thought I don't belong here. There is no way God wants me here. How could God want me among people who twist words to get what they want? How could he want me among people who make the truth become clouded in fog? As the meeting went on it only confirmed it even more for the girl.

The meeting came to end and it was time to go home. The girl followed the lady who was to be her trainer out to the car (for the girl could not yet drive so she needed a ride). They both climbed in and the lady started up a conversation as she also started the car. As they started in the direction of the girls house, the girl was trying to figure out how to tell the lady that this job was not for her. As she was trying to figure this out her second sign was given to her. It was given to her in the words of the lady that sat right next to her. Lady had barely even finished the sentence when the girl realized God had given her his answer and it wasn't the one she thought she would get or the one she wanted.

Arriving home the girl went to her room to sort out her thoughts. She knew what she was suppose to do but her very nature seemed to scream at her that is did not belong with those people. It took time to sort out her thoughts but even she still has more thoughts to sort. She knows that God wants her there, she doesn't know why. She knows she doesn't belong, maybe that is why. Can she be strong enough to reach out to these people without losing herself? Can she learn to love the robots that are currently plague her? She has more questions then she has answers but the one answer she has is that she may not belong there but the hope of adding to the place where she does belong gives her strength. The journey to her place of belonging looks so long right now but she knows how wonderful it will be once she gets there. May the promise of heaven be such a blessing to you who read this.

Pillow Case

2011-06-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

I was helping my mom make pillows out of squared her kids from school had drawn. I found this one and just could not get over how cute it is.

Moving On

2011-06-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Many have seen me writing in my journal when I arrive early to church. Or they have seen it when I pull it out to write a note to myself of someone's name, number, or just something I just keep forgetting to do. I have gotten comments on it many times and a few of my friends have enjoyed looking through the pages to see pictures which have been drawn or see what I have written. Some may find it strange that I let whoever wants to read it. But I guess to explain that I would have to tell how my journal got started.

My journal began as a journal that was to be shared between friends. I had heard of some friends who instead of writing letters to each other they had a notebook which got passed around between them. Almost the the Sisterhood of the Traveling pants but instead of pants it was a notebook where we could share thoughts and dreams. I thought it was a fantastic idea but it got passed around once and I realized I was the only one of us that wanted to do it. So I just kept writing in it. I would bring it to church and during service my best friend and I would write notes to each other. Eventually as we got older and a little more mature we cut down on the amount of written conversation between us and started using it to keep sermon notes. From that some of my friends got comfortable drawing in the journal and would take it in the middle of class and draw or use it for passing notes. For some reason the teachers never seemed to mind the passing of the journal. So that is how the journal got started.

But you must be thinking that because of the open nature of the journal I can't bare my heart out in it. The truth is I can and I do. What if someone sees something I wrote that was very personal? It doesn't happen very often but it has happened before. It tends to be somewhat embarrassing for me but it also helps me. You see when you pour your heart out many times you hurt others in the process. But when you think that person might read this then it helps you to think twice before you write something. To many times have I heard of someone finding someones journal and it being used as blackmail because of what that person had written. So when I write anything I think of it as someone may never read this but I am still going to write it as if someone will. I choose to be a person who could live life with out regrets, but I am not perfect and sometimes stumble. But I am learning that after a stumble one must learn to lift their head again and not be ashamed of who they are.

My past faults play a huge part in who I am today. I like who I am today, so why wish way the present in the hope to change the past? It is a hard lesson to learn but I am slowly learning it. The journal has helped out a lot in teaching me that lesson. To be able to bare ones soul knowing someone might see it can be hard. But I have found that when ever I have something on my mind and I write it down it helps me to move on to something else. In my life it has helped me to take steps closer to God and to draw closer to those around me.

Dear Janice and Olivia

2011-06-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Janice and Olivia,
I don't know if you will read this but that is not going to stop me from writing this any way. I don't really remember my first impression of you two. I just remember being scared out of my wits being at a new school and wishing really bad that I would be teamed up with the two Asian girls. I don't remember why I wanted to be teamed u with you two. May be it was because I saw how much fun you two were having together or may be it was just because you were Asian... Who knows, I know I don't. But what I do know is I really enjoyed having a locker close to the two of you. Both of you had your ups and downs through out the year and although I could not do much of anything most of the time I was glad you were willing to share them with me. Hanging out with the two of you is time I really cherish.
Both of you know that I really wanted to get away from JL and I don't regret doing that. But I really wish I could have spent more time with the two of you, sharing your ups and down and laughing at all the silly things you two did. Soon I will be moving farther away. But no matter where I go in this world I will still think of the two of you as some of the most cherished friends God has ever brought into my life.

Risa

quote

2011-06-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

"I stopped when I heard the whistle, coach."
"Where were you taking him?"
"To the bus. It was time for him to go home."
From The Blind Side
If you haven't seen this movie yet I strongly suggest it.

Job searching....

2011-05-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

Before....

Oh God... I feel so nervous. I feel like I am about to jump off a cliff. Why an I so nervous? I am about to go to a job fair. The flyer says bring plenty of resumes and dress for an interview. So I have lots of resumes printed out and I am dressed up. I even put make-up on which is not normal. Stupid, right, I am getting all worked up over something so small. I hope I have everything I will need... I keep reminding myself to calm down and take things one at a time as they come. That helps a little... for like a couple of seconds. Well got to go....

After....
Disappointment... That is the perfect word for me at this moment. Pretty much every company was telling us to go apply online. Dress for an interview it said, the people here would care you if you were dressed to go to the gym let alone an interview. The companys there were accepting resumes but they gave me the impression that they would just get tossed in the trash later since they told you to still fill out an application online. Arg, I feel like I totally wasted my day which makes me feel like a piece of trash. I hope the rest of you in this world aren't have as hard of a time trying to find a job as I am.

2011-05-14T20:54:00.000-07:00

"I ended my first book with the words no answer. I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words."
pg. 308 from Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

The Story of the Buried Heart

2011-05-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

There once was a girl who fell in love with a boy. She knew the boy did not see her and she didn’t mind. She was happy to watch over him from afar. But then came a time when she could no longer watch over him. Her tears fell and her heart ached. In an attempt to keep her heart from breaking she buried her heart under a tree. Until there came a time when she could return and reclaim her heart. There her heart grew unnoticed by the boy, although he walked by it everyday.
Years later when the girl had become a woman she returned to reclaim her heart. But when she dug where the heart had been she found she could not take the heart from where it rested. For in the years that had passed the tree her heart was buried beneath had grown and its roots had surrounded the heart. There was no way to retrieve the heart without ripping it. So she left it there and to this day her heart has not been moved by any man although many have tried.

The Wish

2011-05-13T11:54:00.001-07:00

I soar on the back of my dragon who’s strong wings have yet to fail me. I fight in battles for the good of those I love. My sword never leaves my side as I travel the world. My hand is steady as I pull back the string on my bow so that I might have fresh game for supper. I laugh wholeheartedly at whatever pleases me and spar with words when ever I find an opponent worthy. I have climbed mountains and crossed oceans. I fear not what the next day will bring for it is today I live for.
Then my eyes open and I heave a heavy sigh. Before my lays the book that has all I need to know for my final. The wish to enter into the another world with exciting adventure is strong but the reality of the world I am in would be foolish to forget. So I open the book in front of me and with a quiet resolve I choose to be happy with being the boring book worm I am and leave the adventure for a time when life calls for it. Although that doesn’t mean I will keep my mind from straying every now and then like right now……