Perks & Benefits

This might not be one of my job "benefits," but it's undoubtedly a perk and I always benefit from it - 

today is a SNOW DAY!!!

It's our first of the 2007-08 school year and it couldn't have come on a better day. Well, except maybe a Friday. Or a Monday. Or both. 

Whatever, the point is, thank you Jesus! Today's day off gave me extra sleep, and extra time to do a host of random, nagging errands and things that I "have been meaning to do" (but of course haven't). I even had time to make a list* of things I have to do. Annnnnnnnnd that is what I should get back to doing. Maybe I'll get down to the part of my list marked, "Blog with depth." Heehee.

*something I LOVE to do. lists of any kind = satisfying & helpful.

Life Imitates Art?

Have we seen this movie before? I vote we send a team of rag-tag oil drillers up to the satellite and have them blow it up before it gets too close to earth and comes plummeting through our atmosphere in one large, uncontrollable, chunk.

Seriously, my favorite part of the article was:
He would not comment on whether it is possible for the satellite to be perhaps shot down by a missile. He said it would be inappropriate to discuss any specifics at this time.
Did some reporter propose this at the press conference?

My second-favorite part was:
In 2002, officials believe debris from a 7,000-pound science satellite smacked into the Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few thousand miles from where they first predicted it would plummet.
Faithfully proving the skeptical saying, "Close enough for government work."

**Added 1.31.2008:
Things just got crazier. Now we're talking Donnie Darko.

I'm a Bronze Medalist!

Sort of...

My school is pretty awesome. Go Panthers!

Stormy Weather

It is currently 61 degrees Fahrenheit, and there have been a string of thunderstorms pushing through the area all night. The high today was 65.

Did I mention it is January 7?! 

Only in Michigan.

(Which is why you should move here, Em. Or any other friend who might be reading this.)

Resolute in 2008

I was tagged by a friend to share my 2008 resolutions. It's funny that she tagged me because I had been thinking about whether or not I was going to formalize any definite resolutions for myself this year. On the one hand, resolutions can be a list of things we should be doing anyway, but slacked off or gave up on them at some point the last year. On the other hand, a new year can bring out a great desire to start fresh and not be tainted or corrupted by the bad habits that seem to set in unintentionally. 

With all that said, I resolve to:

• Pray Without Ceasing. I want to go deeper, acknowledging Christ in everything I do. I want to "practice the presence of God."

• Read More. My goal is to read 10 books this year, 6 by July 1. (No, not picture books.) I'm starting with this one.

• Regularly Practice Creativity. By disciplining myself to use the skills and the brain God has given me for 1 hour a week, I aim to allow the Holy Spirit time to fill me up and enrich my life via various forms of creativity. 

• Enhance My Understanding of Photography. Though it's possible to learn a lot through practice and experimentation, I think it's time I further my education related to photography. It has intrigued me and I remain interested in pursuing it, to see how I can get better at it and how the Lord can be glorified in it. I'll either take a class or look into some type of apprenticeship.

• Establish a Budget (& Stick to It). I am at a point in my life where I have a regular paying job and have to be a responsible steward of God's money & gifts. I hope to establish a basic living budget and develop a lifestyle of humble living and giving to those in need. You can't take it with you!

In posting my resolutions publicly, I hereby give you, the reader, permission to hold me accountable to my intentions. Please feel free to check on me, keep me in check, call me out, and encourage me as I seek more of Christ's Kingdom in 2008.

Meanwhile, I hope Jesus comes back tomorrow and finds us hard @ work.

P.S. It's a little late now, so I won't be tagging anybody to share their resolutions. The buck stops here.

P.S. I'm Obsessed

With my new fish-eye lens.

Sorry!

Snowy (not Puppy) Surprise

It snowed. And snowed. And snowed.

And by Monday it will be 50 degrees.

We weren't expecting much in the way of inches over the New Year, but it is gorgeous. There is a pristine blanket of snow over everything. My camera loves the contrast and I love the eye candy! Tomorrow morning a friend and I are going to go out on a photojournalism excursion. I can hardly wait (hence this post @ 11:39 p.m.).

As I thought about the forthcoming 30-degree temperature swing and the complete change of the weather, I was really struck by the sweetness of God's surprises. I love the seasons of life He gives us, but the way He surprises us within the expectations of each season is pretty amazing, and all His. As my relationship with Jesus has come to be more real to me - and less about the rules I had chained myself to in the past - it's become apparent that He cannot be put in a box. Just when I think He will be working in one way in my life (and thus start to take the reigns over, "I can take it from here, thanks..."), He throws in a striking surprise. The surprise is a small gift that reminds me of Jesus' sovereignty and personality; it doesn't necessarily mean a change in season has to happen, but an unexpected surprise within that season can penetrate my humanity and create an understanding of His will in any area that I might be lacking.

All this from about a foot of snow.