Spring Spring Spring

Oh how lovely the weather is outside!  It has felt like Springtime for over a week!  I would love for it to stay like this and just not get cold again!
Well, my week was crazy busy as I was writing a Philosophy paper.  I was confusing myself.  I enjoy Philosophy but after writing that paper I know all the more I am not meant to be a philosopher : )  I never thought I was but my mind just doesn't wrap around the complex, out of the box ideas.  Maybe it is because I don't know what they are....well, I may just start reading philosophical stuff other than Plato so that I can learn faster.

I know I have said this before, but I have the world's best roommate!  We have been having an awesome weekend!  We went to Goodwill last night and I discovered that after I went through what I wanted to (in less than 20 minutes) she was just getting started.  However, I did find an awesome pair of boots for $6.50!  I look all over Europe and then come to a Columbia, SC Goodwill and find an awesome pair of boots.  Granted, they are not leather....but they will serve their purpose!


I have said this as well, but I have the best family in the world and I love them all so dearly!  I am expecting a phone call any day now to tell me that my new cousin, Amelie Alexis, is about to be born...or has been born : )

I have an RA interview on Friday of next week and will find out the following Tuesday whether or not I will be a Freshman RA next year.  Between now and then I have many things to do...oh my word. Why am I blogging??? I just remembered something I have to do....!

Good Morning!

It is now the morning. 
1. I could not wait but I really wanted to sleep in.
2. In the span of less than an hour (I am assuming) I had two dreams regarding the results of the RA interviews on Saturday.
3.  Yes, I am awake.  Before 8.
Oh well.  Just two more extra hours to get things done.
This weekend was absolutely lovely!  The TPP get together was so much fun, RA interviews were great, homework that I didn't want to do was done, learned some Church History, saw Judy : ), went to CoTA, ate Indian, and saw many friends!
Now, I must clean, read, and write my very first philosophy paper (if you think about it, you can totally pray for me writing that paper.  I am a little nervous/intimidated.
Alrighty, have a good day and week!

Books

Want to know what makes me so excited?
I have several audiobooks on my iPod!!!

Seriously, hello easy bicycling because I don't have to focus my eyes on words!
I can just let my ears do all the work : )

And, Creative Writing is such an incredible class!
If you are at CIU I suggest taking it the next time it is offered!

Happy Valentines Day!

Oh Happy Valentines Day, my friends!

Really, it is not a terrible holiday at all!  Who can complain when pink and chocolate are a main contribution to the day ; )

I realized the other night that I don't mind not having a Valentine.  Why would we have to go out on Valentines Day night.  Why not three days from now?  It seems so cliche.  So, I am just going to have fun spreading pinkness....except....I forgot about it and didn't do anything.  However, I received quite the interesting Valentine from my Brother Hall...yes, interesting indeed.  I think they had fun making those for everyone.

And, a cool piece of Valentine knowledge so you can really know who St. Valentine might have been : )
http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

Hello Florida : )

The Sunshine State welcomed me yesterday afternoon for the first time in a year and two and a half months.
Jeremy Rife and Lindsey Soon-To-Be-Rife allowed me to ride with them to Orlando so I could visit Daddy and Pennisu!  It has been over a year since I saw Pennisu and almost six months since I saw Daddy.
I arrived yesterday around 3:15 PM and Daddy and I chatted and relaxed.  I then attempted to go for a run which was not too successful as I creeped myself out with not knowing who was around.

Yesterday evening we heading downtown for a quick art show and sushi.  Please, let me tell you about this!  So, Daddy and I drive down to the Grand Bohemian.  We pull in, get out, and I turn and see Daniel Freeman who is working as a valet!  I was so surprised!  I mean, how random to be in Orlando and bump into a guy I haven't seen since Freshman year at CIU!  Yes, I love surprise meetings : ) Next we walked into the hotel and Daddy sees some people he knows.  We say hi....turns out the gentleman designed Universal Studios along with Spielberg.  Wowzers. Ok.  So, then we go into the art show, see more people, look around, there were some nice pieces!  Then Pennisu arrived so I got to finally say hi and see her for the first time in over a year.

As we are about to leave we see a large Ford SUV pull up and a tall brunette gets out.  The only thing was they were recording it.  They record her walking in and checking in.  Turns out....it was Khloe Kardashian (I don't watch the show...but hey)!

So, we got sushi, which was delish and headed back.  I saw Daniel again, said hello, chatted a minute, and then we left.

Today we went to the farmers market!  Always fun!  I love love love Winter Park : ) We also saw the John Lennon art collection that is on tour.  So, that was cool.  Homework occupied part of my afternoon before we sat around the fire pit outside and made s'mores = )

I leave tomorrow but it has been such a great weekend!
Back to school and the regular grind-stone.  Ick.
I'm sure by Tuesday I will be ready : )
Anyway, I'm going to go and do something....grad school scouting and then bed?

Goodnight!

Tick Tick Tick...And a Little Theology

I awoke this morning far too awake for  the early hour that it was.   I managed to rest/sleep until 9:00.
Anyway, I figured, oh, I should get up and work on some things, as I had a deadline tonight.  Well, it turns out the deadline is next week!  Whew!  I am relieved!

Anyway, this weekend was lovely!  I was able to get a lot done and enjoy some time with friends!  Homework is occupying much of my life, but that is fine.  Yesterday was a positively beautiful day.  The sun was shining and it was perfect long sleeves only weather (actually, a T-shirt would have been fine too).  So, I took my blanket outside and read a biography about Louisa May Alcott and talked to my mother on the phone.

Louisa May Alcott is officially my favorite author.  Until I find another who can capture my attention so well and make me so day-dreamy....she has the gold medal!  I love the time period in which she wrote and all the different topics she covered!  I personally love Eight Cousins and A Rose in Bloom!  Oh, and, an Old Fashioned Girl is fabulous!!!

Yesterday I attended my church in Columbia for the first time since being back.  It was nice to see people and to spend time with the college group afterward.
The sermon gave me some thoughts as it was a largely Calvinistic approach since we were discussing Ephesians.  The whole idea of predestination and people having no choice just frustrates me.  I do not know if it is because there is pride in me that doesn't want to give God complete power or if it legitimately seems as if it is wrong.  Yes, I agree that the Holy Spirit prepares hearts to receive Christ, but see, I just said, "receive."  If humans had no choice in the matter we would be robots.  If we have no part in the decision why can we decide to walk away from Christianity?  Would a reformed person say that it is because they were not saved to begin with?  I disagree.  Didn't the prodigal son walk away and then come back?  But then, that would be the perseverance of the saints.  If God forces everyone into relationship with Him does that not take away some of the beauty?  Rather than us wanting to be in a personal relationship with Him, if He makes us then He could force anyone.  Rather, it is so wonderful to realize that the God of the universe loves His creation and wants to have a personal relationship with people and moves on our hearts in such a way that we come to see Him but we still need to say, "I want that."  I remember exactly where I was sitting when I turned to Mama and told her I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart.  I was sitting in the front seat of our car in Pennsylvania and we were on our way to the chiropractor (I think) and I turned her her, as she was driving, and told her I wanted to ask Him to come into my heart.  Correct if I am wrong (please do), but in Revelation 3:20 it talks about Jesus standing at the door and knocking.  If a person will hear His voice and open the door He will go in (and eat with him, etc).  The point is, that seems to be implying that Jesus knocks but we have the option of answering or not.  I may have just misinterpreted that passage but at a quick read over that is what it seems to be implying.
If everything we do is predestined then that means that nothing I do is of myself.  So, when I do something against God did Satan just make me do that?  Jonah had the choice to go to Nineveh.  Then, God sent along a few little reminders that it would be in Jonah's best interest to go unless he wanted everyone on the ship to die with him, but Jonah made the decision to be thrown overboard since he had disobeyed God.  Then God sent the fish and eventually he went on his way to Nineveh.  When we do something that is what God would not want we can do that but God will try and get our attention.  With some He will.  With others, they will continue down their path.  I don't know why, but I have seen and am still seeing people who turned from God as teenagers and have lived in darkness and have done things that God did not want them to do, and now He is getting their attention and things are starting to change.  So, why did God allow them to turn?  Why didn't He just force them to be Christians?
I think I am beginning to bunny trail here so I will just get to the point.  If we are predestined with no choice why can we choose to do so many other things in life?  Is it just that one decision?  Yes, I think predestination has something to do with it because it is definitely in the Bible (especially in Ephesians) but I don't think it is only predestination.  As I have said to some people, after much much thought (and continuing thought) I am in the middle.  I think there are aspects of being chosen and choosing.

Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts from Reformation Theology and yesterday's sermon.
Please feel free to comment and give your thoughts on the subject if you would like!
Below is a sweet video of the song "Behold I stand at the door and knock."

Rain

It's raining outside.
I hear it dripping outside my window.
Between the rain and the after affects of my Creative Writing class I am in such a  mood.
Little Women might be on the agenda.
Or Sense and Sensibility.
Or...well, the list could go on.
I might just read.  We'll see.
My roommate is gone for the weekend and we have Prayer Day on Tuesday.
This means a long weekend with not as much work to do.
That means I will begin working on papers!
Oh. Since it is raining, wellies and my brolly have been my friend : )
Thank you, Mary, Tim, Jude, and Julia!

Procrastinating.....

Ok. Really. I have been fighting the urge to procrastinate and have also been semi-enjoying/enjoying my homework.  Well.  This ended yesterday when I had to read something I didn't want to.  I mean.  I really didn't want to (don't worry, Mama, I did it).  Well, today I am back in the same boat.  But....I reallly need to study Spanish.  But, blogging is more fun.
Well, anyway, below is a song I heard today for the first time.
Enjoy : )