Nov 12, 2004

correction...

I'd like to correct myself on my method of eating Oreos: I twist them apart, eat the "blank" side, and then eat the side with the cream. I had Oreos yesterday and ate them this way without even thinking about it, and then realized I always eat them this way. So I thought it only proper to make this necessary correction. For the record, however, I did happen to eat a peanut butter cup yesterday, as well, and I was correct about my method of peanut butter cup consumption.

That's all I have to say for now. I know you're glad you took the time to read this today!

Nov 11, 2004

latest events...

Well, last night I got three hours of sleep. Actually, slightly less. I had no other option but to wake up and go to my 8:00 class because that was the main one that I had to turn in work for. So I went, and we got out early, so I came home for a nap with the specific intention of sleeping through my 9:30 class and returning to school for my 11:00 class. And that is exactly what I did. And it was terrific. (I would have skipped my 11:00 as well, but I needed the time to do work... that's my Instructional Design class in the Mac lab.) After ID class, I went to photography, where I had a quiz that I'm not really sure how well I did on, followed by me giving a presentation on photographer Keith Carter. The presentation went well. I like the presentations in that class because they're so laid-back (like my teacher) and there's no real rules as to what you have to do. All he wants is for us to inform everyone else of what we have learned about our specific photographer. You would think that with so few "requirements," the presentations would be half-hearted and utterly crappy, but honestly, I think people do better without so many boundaries and parameters. Makes me question conventional teaching methods. We actually had an improptu conversation about this same general topic in my 8:00 class. Very interesting.

So that was school. Then, I got beat by Alex in chess. Alex is in fourth grade. I felt very humbled. For a kid who hates to "work," he sure is smart. It wasn't chance that he won; he totally had a strategy going. I don't do strategies. My brain doesn't work that way. I'm just like, "oh, I'll move this pawn here... and this knight here..." Anyway, I suppose he did have a bit of an advantage because he plays chess on the computer frequently, and I haven't played in years.

Later in the evening, I opted (with the support of two of my roomies) to skip my practicum at the tech center. Long story short, I'm supposed to have 20 hours done this semester, I currently have 0 (mostly the fault of Flagler)... I was going to start my practicum tonight and continue going for the remaining Thursday nights of this semester because Thursdays are my ONLY free nights... but when it came time for me to go tonight, I debated its worth because I also had to write my internship application essay, and as I reasoned, it really makes no difference if I have 6 or 8 hours of the 20 done at the end of the semester. With Christina's (and Krissy's) confident support, I decided to stay home and write my essay. So my essay is done and will be turned in tomorrow morning, and I will soon know if I will be interning at the school I chose. I'm anxious to find that out.

So that is all for now. I think I have written plenty for one day. Buenos noches.
at last...

Finally, a slight reprieve from the chaos! I have completed all the work I am able to complete today. My remaining three assignments (none of which are due immediately) require resources that are not available to me tonight: photography project requires natural light, language analysis requires tomorrow's observation, and instructional design project requires the Mac lab at school and I'm simply not going there at 9pm. So, rather than sitting on my bum and making a total waste of my time, I have decided to post the info I promised to Allie. So without further ado Allison, this is what I spoke on at Fusion two weeks ago.


Good v. Best... choosing to wait

"The good often becomes the enemy of the best in life." (Lady in Waiting)

In our lives we have millions of choices and it is often important that we choose what is BEST rather than settling for what is simply GOOD.

In the field of Psychology, studies have been done involving children and marshmallows. In these studies, a child is placed in a room with a marshmallow on a plate. The child is told that the adult (the researcher) is going to leave the room for a while and if the child DOES NOT eat the marshmallow, he will be rewarded with a second marshmallow when the adult returns and will be allowed to eat both of them. However, if the child eats the first marshmallow, he will not receive a second one. In the child's eyes, one marshmallow is good but two is best. The determining factor is if they can WAIT.

In the book of I Samuel, there are two examples of people who had the option of choosing what seemed good or waiting for what was best. The first is Saul. In chapter 13, Saul was king over Israel, and one of his commanding officers had killed the Philistine governor. In response, the Philistines planned to attack the Israelites. Saul gathered his troops and prepared for battle. When they saw that they were greatly outnumbered by the Philistines, they scattered and took cover. Saul was told to wait for seven days and the priest Samuel would come make offerings to God on their behalf to bring God's blessing on them during this battle. The seventh day came, and there seemed to be no sign of Samuel. Saul decided that offerings needed to be made whether the priest was there or not, so he took it upon himself to perform the offerings. [THIS WAS NOT HIS JOB! HE HAD NO BUSINESS DOING THAT!] Only priests were allowed to perform the offerings. Samuel arrived just as Saul was completing the offerings and condemned him for his actions. Saul's misguided choice to do what he thought seemed good (or good enough) caused him to lose favor with God rather than gain it. He chose not to wait on what was best, but to settle for what seemed good.

Second story: In chapter 1 of I Samuel is the story of Hannah. Hannah was married to a man named Elkanah. Elkanah also had another wife named Peninnah because at the time it was very common for men to have more than one wife. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not. At the time, a woman's worth was determined by her children. For many years Hannah waited and prayed for a child. Peninnah tourmented and taunted her for not having any. In their culture, it would have been completely acceptible for Hannah to have given her maid to her husband and had a child by another woman, but Hannah chose not to do that. She knew that God had put it in her heart to have children, so she continued to wait. At one point in her life, she was at the temple praying. She was very upset and the priest approached her because he thought she was drunk. She explained that she wasn't, that she was just pouring her heart out to God. The priest, realizing her sinceriety, blessed her and told her to go in peace. Shortly after, the answer to her many years of prayer came, and she had a son. In Hannah's situation, it may have seemed good at some points to have a child by another woman, but Hannah held out for what was best--what God had planned for her.

In our lives, sometimes we know what we're waiting for, like the kid with the marshmallow... he knew he was waiting for a second marshmallow. But more often, we DON'T know what is coming... like Saul and Hannah. They were NOT completely sure what was going to happen; they only knew they were instructed to wait.

Acts 1:7 says, "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." God does not guarantee that we will know what He has planned for us. He only tells us to be obedient by waiting. Abraham had to leave where he was living without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

We don't always know what God has planned for us, but we do know that there is something in store. Our obedience through waiting on God is what will bring us to the BEST in life rather than merely the good.

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord."
looking...

"Whatever you're looking for is looking for you, too. The catch, of course, is recognizing it when it pops up in front of you."

Nov 9, 2004

Random Survey Part 2...

Full Name: Megan Michelle Lee
> >1. Been Kissed: Yes
> >2. Eaten an entire thing of oreos? not by myself
> >3. Eaten sushi: no
> >4. Been on stage: Yes
> >5. Ever been dumped: yes & no... It’s complicated
> >6. Has someone been unfaithful to you: eh, we were too young for it to really count... I won’t hold it against him
> >1. Cold or hot: Cold
> >2. Blue or Red: Blue
> >3. Rain or snow: Rain
> >4. Give or receive: Give
> >5. Wool or cotton: Cotton
> >7. Private school or public: graduated from Private, want to teach at Public
> >9. Celsius or Fahrenheit: Fahrenheit
> >10. Spring or fall?: Fall
> >11. History or Science?: Science
> >12. Math or English: definitely English
Opposite Sex
> >1. Do you like someone right now: I think so
> >2. Do they know?: I don't know...
> >3. What do you look for in the opposite sex?: Sense of Humor, Cute Eyes, Love for God
Your Friends
> >1. Who are your funniest friends: Luis & Rob
> >2. Who makes you laugh/smile the most?: probably Nena
> >3. Who Do You e-mail the most: Lately, it would have to be Rob
> >4. Who are your good Friends?: Allison, Krissy, the girls, the Fusion crowd...
> >5. Who's the loudest?: Rob :) Erica
> >6. Who's the shyest?: hhhmmmm... I don't really know any Shy people
> >7. Who do you know the best?: Allison
Within The Last 24 Hours
> >1. Had a serious talk? no
> >2. Hugged someone?? yes
> >3. Gotten along with your parents? always
> >4. Fought with a friend? no
Do You Like To
> >1. Give hugs: absolutely
> >2. Give back rubs: yeah
> >3. Take a walk in the rain: Of course
Which One Of Your Friends
> >1. Is most likely to grow up to be the president? dunno
> >2. Which one knows most about you? Allison in most ways, Krissy in others
> >3. Is most likely to become a comedian? Rob
> >4. Have you known the longest? Allison (21 years)
Have You Ever
> >1. Been to a concert: yes
> >2. Been out of the country: yes
Relationships
> >1. Single or Hooked: single
> >2. Your biggest crush: Adam (friend from high school)
> >3. If you were gonna go out with anyone who would it be?: hhmmmmm... we'll find out.
> >4. Have you ever had an online relationship? No
> >5. What are some things you wish to do in the future with the opposite sex?: Get Married
Others
> >1. What is your worst habit: speaking before considering how it will affect others
> >2. What really makes you mad?: Not a whole lot, but I’d probably have to say inconsiderate people
> >3. What are you scared of?: not much
> >4. Happiest moment: dunno
> >5. Do you swear? No... Hate it.
> >6. When was the last time you showered?: this morning
> >7. What color pants do you have on right now? black
> >8. What are u listening to right now? "Barlow Girls" by Superchick (Erica’s playing it in the other room)
> >9. What was the last thing that you said? "No, I haven’t been able to find them."
> >10. What is your computer desk made of? Glass and metal, but that’s not where i’m sitting now
> >11. What are the last 4 digits in your phone number? 9388
> >12. What was the last thing you ate: quesedillas
> >13. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Gecko green
> >15. How many buddies do you have on your contact list? 40-50... I’m not sure
> >16. How's the weather right now? chilly
> >18. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?: Lisa yesterday
> >19. The nicest thing you find about the opposite sex?: humor, being a good leader
> >20. The nicest present you've gotten this year: my camera that my dad graciously provided for me :)
> >21. How do you eat your Oreo?: I try to change it up a lot... Eat each one differently
> >22. How about peanut butter cup?: one bite at a time, but saving at least ½ of the outer edge of chocolate for the last bite
> >23. What makes you happy?: Music, friends, church, photography
> >24. Fave CD?: currently, probably David Crowder’s Lime CD
> >25. Height: 5'4"
> >26. Do you have glasses? no
> >27. Last CD bought? Hmmm... I think it was Matt Redman "Facedown"
> >28. Have you won any special awards?: nothing terribly important... But I was in one of those cheezy "Who’s who" books in highschool!
> >29. What do you want to be when you grow up?: a mom
> >30. Your future goals: too many to mention
> >31. If you were an animal what would you be?: A sloth... Haha... Or maybe a Leemer cause they look cool
> >23. What will you name your first child?: no sense in putting down an answer b/c my preferences change too often
> >33. What are you scared of most in the world? Being lonely / never finding the right person for me