GodArt's Xanga

Six months

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:57:30 GMT

Be forewarned — this could be a sappy post.

Saturday marked six months of dating Mitch, and on such an occasion as that, he explored with me where we've been during that time, and before it too. At the beginning of the day, he told me that we would be going places we've been before (six total to mark six months) and places we haven't been before.

I'll list them in chronological order, even though we didn't visit them in that order.

We went to Murphy's Ale House in Chattanooga, where he first had the thought of me on New Year's Eve; his parent's house, where we waltzed in his cozy library — the first time he remembers dancing with me; Pocket Wilderness, where we had our first date (complete with rescuing a Collie and talking to its owner, a doomsday Seventh-day Adventist lady); the Episcopal church in downtown Chattanooga, where he asked me if he could be my boyfriend on Good Friday; Rudd Auditorium on the Bryan College campus, where we first held hands while watching "Annie Get Your Gun;" and finally, my back porch, where I first cried in front of him (rather significant, because I don't cry much).

Oh, and with each place we visited, he gave me a colored picture of a flower with a haiku written on it. When we went to the final destination at Bowertopia (his parent's house), he had a real bouquet of each of the flowers he colored.

As for the places we hadn't gone to, we visited McKay, a used books, CDs and DVDs store, where we bought about 15 cheap CDs each (woohoo!). And we also went to the English tea house place, where we had afternoon tea and finger foods for supper.

So, in sum, Mitch + me + his creative genius and romanticism = best date ever.

The end.

Hallways of Memories

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:52:37 GMT

On the first day of school in my town

I cover education for my county's newspaper, and every time I set foot in a school to report on new gym bleachers, new principals or assemblies on conservation, I feel like I'm traveling through a time warp back to my school days. I also feel like Josie from Never Been Kissed when I go to the high school, but that's another story.

I took pictures of elementary school kids filing off the bus for their first day of school, and I remember the anxiety and anticipation I felt at the beginning of each year. I would wander down the long gravel road to the highway and wait for Paula, my bus driver, to pull up. I usually had a token friend to sit with near the front of the bus, and I would giggle and doodle and rest my eyes on the 20-minute descent into Watkins Glen, N.Y., a small valley town of only 2,000 people.

The other day, when I covered band kids previewing their half-time show for parents, I remembered how much I liked band geeks. I wasn't one of them — I was more into the art, drama and choir scene, but they were down-to-earth, nerdy type of people, just like the ones I saw the other day.

In visiting those schools, I don't think what I felt was nostalgic. School was hell sometimes, as most children can attest to. It's funny what sticks out to you through the years. Some memories are crystal clear — like when Adam pointed out that I had a big nose in the eighth grade, or when my best friend sent me secret admirer letters out of jealously.

I was a punk at times too. As a second-grader, I get fed up with a boy in my class, so I opened up his applesauce and put it in his lunch box. When he shook it around (as he typically did), the applesauce and his tears went everywhere. I also got feisty with a boy for making fun of my overweight friend. That sure shut him up.

Technology and trends change, but growing up doesn't. Neither does the human experience. I was a crazy little "Christian" kid, trying to save all my friends and family from the fires of hell. I didn't know how to follow Christ then, and I'm still finding my way today. People, ideas, and Scripture challenge me every day. You mean I'm supposed to love my enemy? Does God really send people to hell for eternity? Do I truly live out the 1 Corinthians 13 model for love?

I don't know how to wrap this up, mostly because I don't know what the conclusion is. It seems like whatever I start writing, I end up with God, not on purpose, but it just happens. I suppose God IS the conclusion.

Update on the little bundle of joy

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:50:28 GMT

I decided not to keep the puppy. I was very tempted to, but it's not the right time for it. However, I had a thought last weekend. My boyfriend's family has a dog that has needed a companion for quite some time, so I suggested that they take her.

Yesterday I drove her up to their place, which is a virtual dog heaven — no leashes, woods, wide open spaces — and Mitch's mom met her ... and fell in love with her instantly. And she gets along great with the older dog, too. So now the little pup has a great home! Hooray! I admit, I was a bit sad waking up today knowing I wouldn't get to play with her every day, but hey, I get to see her grow up, if from a distance. That's good enough for me.

Road tripping at last!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:30:21 GMT

If any of you remember some of my previous posts from a while back, I was considering taking a very long road trip out West this summer, after I quit my job and became a proverbial hippie. Well, since I have reason for staying here (i.e. I like my job now, and I am becoming more and more attached to this area for various reasons), I decided against it for the time being.

However, I am still taking a road trip next month to Colorado and Wyoming, more specifically, the Grand Tetons! I'm taking nine days to go out there with my sister, and I can't wait to see the mountains, and bison and whatever else is out there. Well, I actually don't know much about that area, so I was wondering if any of you could suggest must-see places we should go to or places we should probably skip.

The Grand Tetons

Thus ends an era

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:46:05 GMT

When I pulled into the driveway on Saturday afternoon, my roommate and her brand-new husband were pulling out in their heavily decorated car after having changed out of their wedding clothes. I waved good-bye to them and stepped into my now-empty apartment. An era of rooming with her has passed, and she and I begin on new paths.

It has been a good year with her. We have changed so much, and much has happened. She got back together with her boyfriend, got engaged and married in that time. I got a boyfriend, which hasn't happened in years, and is the best relationship I've ever been in. We've had many, many talks about both guys.

It's a little lonely now without someone there to talk to every night, but I trust God will provide for what I need. Thus begins another era. Hurrah for my newly married friend and new beginnings!

I'm in love! I'm in love! And I don't care who knows it!

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:53:40 GMT

This little puppy showed up at my back door a few days ago, and the neighbors have been feeding her and taking care of her until they can find her a home. She's got a great personality, and I can tell she's going to be big! Would it be irresponsible of me to take her in? I'd love to, but there are considerations (i.e. where I'm going to be living for the foreseeable future, if I can afford her, I've never had a dog before, etc.).

What cautions would you issue (or do you think I should just forget it)?

Hot stuff

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:44 GMT

It seems like I wait around all year for summer, then when it finally gets here, it flies by too quickly before I've had the chance to take it for all it's worth. It's a pity, really. So, how do you take advantage of the summer months? Inquiring minds (mine) want to know!

Hi-tech kids and my old fogey-ness

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:07:08 GMT

Have I been living under a rock?

Last week I was covering an Earth Day program at a local K-8 school. One of the speakers made a comment to a crowd of second-graders, "You all probably don't have cell phones yet, but..." and before he could finish his thought, a cry of protest arose: "We do too!" "How many of you have cell phones then?" Almost all of the children waved their hands in the air. He continued on his spiel about conservation, asking the kids how many TVs they had. "One?" All raised their hands? "Two?" Same response. "Three?" Same. He got up to eight televisions, and about half of the kids had that many.

What in the world?? Maybe I'm starting to sound like my parents, but the fact that 8-year-olds are more immersed in technology than I am saddens me. When I was 8, I played in the woods, used my imagination, wrote stories. Sure, I watched TV, but I wish I hadn't. Our family didn't get the internet until I was 10, and I was 20 before I got my first cell phone.

I'm not doing that to my kids. Why rob them of their childhood for the sake of being technologically astute? Yaggidy.

A Scandalous Freedom

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:09:21 GMT

I'm back (for the moment)! Much has happened since the Lenten season: I got a new boss, who is pretty great, so work is significantly more enjoyable; my oldest sister got married; my roommate got engaged; I'm getting a new roommate when she leaves (my college roomie); and oh, I have an oos (other of significance) now. I'm just waiting around for something horrible to happen. Life seriously can't be this good without a catch.

Anyway, I'm reading a book about grace, "A Scandalous Freedom" by Steve Brown, and my pastor spoke on the subject as well last Sunday. This is an excerpt from the book, which I think is a beautiful picture of what freedom in Christ means:

Abraham Lincoln went to a slave market. There he noted a young, beautiful African-American woman being auctioned off to the highest offer. He bid on her and won. He could see the anger in the young woman's eyes and could imagine what she was thinking, Another white man who will buy me, use me, and then discard me.

As Lincoln walked off with his "property," he turned to the woman and said, "You're free." "Yeah. What does that mean?" she replied. "It means you're free." "Does that mean I can say whatever I want to say?" "Yes," replied Lincoln, smiling, "it means you can say whatever you want to say." "Does it mean," she asked incredulously, "that I can be whatever I want to be?" "Yes, you can be whatever you want to be." "Does it mean," the young woman said hesitantly, "that I can go wherever I want to go?" "Yes, it means you are free and can go wherever you want to go."

"Then," said the young woman with tears welling up in her eyes, "I think I'll go with you."

So that's been on my mind a lot lately. What does spiritual freedom mean?

And on a slightly different note, I read something my pastor gave me which said that many Christians have a misconception that God "accepts me as I am." But really, He "accepts me as Christ is." That stopped me in my tracks. You mean, what I do doesn't affect how God accepts me? It's because of Christ's atoning work that I'm accepted? Well then, I guess that means that no matter what I do, God is still fond of me. Hm. Not that I should sin so grace abounds, but I can't make God mad anymore. Scandalous, no?

FYI

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:48:15 GMT

Okay, so I should let you all know that I'm giving up Facebook, Xanga and any other unnecessary internet browsing for Lent, which begins tomorrow. Of course, Sundays are excluded from fasting and abstinence, so I may get online then.

Father in Heaven,
the light of your truth bestows sight
to the darkness of sinful eyes.
May this season of repentance
bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness
and the gift of Your light.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
~International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)