If you were to discover, one unassuming day, that there were random mint leaves growing in your apartment building's landscaping, and you sporadically or maybe all the time, snipped some of those leaves for your own personal homemade iced tea, and maybe even possibly pulled some shoots up by their roots and then promptly planted them in your own personal pots, watering them and begging them to grow and flourish ....
.... would you feel bad?
Yah.
Me neither.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Unfailing Love
I love Chris Tomlin music. I do. I really, really do. His lyrics are simple, true, and so incredibly powerful. It lifts my spirit and my heart.
I go through seasons of life and will have a favorite song that speaks to my heart. And so I play that song over and over and over.
Currently, my song is "Unfailing Love" by Chris Tomlin.
I'm encouraged when I hear this song and reminded that the God I serve doesn't love me less when I show my ugly side to Him. His love for me never ends, even when I'm grumpy and question His timing or what He's doing in my life. I'm so grateful that my God doesn't change. That He's the same. He loved me when I was yet unborn. When I was 5, and believing for the first time, He loved me then. All throughout the course of my life, His love has never altered or become stronger based on my actions, nor has it lessened also based on my actions. He should be the One that I turn to, turning to Him with a trusting heart, ready to learn, once again, that He never fails me.
I go through seasons of life and will have a favorite song that speaks to my heart. And so I play that song over and over and over.
Currently, my song is "Unfailing Love" by Chris Tomlin.
I'm encouraged when I hear this song and reminded that the God I serve doesn't love me less when I show my ugly side to Him. His love for me never ends, even when I'm grumpy and question His timing or what He's doing in my life. I'm so grateful that my God doesn't change. That He's the same. He loved me when I was yet unborn. When I was 5, and believing for the first time, He loved me then. All throughout the course of my life, His love has never altered or become stronger based on my actions, nor has it lessened also based on my actions. He should be the One that I turn to, turning to Him with a trusting heart, ready to learn, once again, that He never fails me.
You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love
You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
I will praise You
Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love
You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You
And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love
I will praise You
Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love
And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Talk about Inspiring
I happened to turn on Dateline this past Sunday evening. I wanted to sit and knit and needing to something to watch, I happened on to this segment right before it began.
I don't want to give much of an introduction ... but grab a bunch of kleenexs before viewing. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating when I say I had streams of tears pouring out of my eyes.
I wish I had this little guy's energy and enthusiasm for life. He truly is an inspiration.
Part 1
Part 2
I don't want to give much of an introduction ... but grab a bunch of kleenexs before viewing. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating when I say I had streams of tears pouring out of my eyes.
I wish I had this little guy's energy and enthusiasm for life. He truly is an inspiration.
Part 1
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Part 2
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Friday, May 15, 2009
Not quite sure what to title this so I'm going to not title it anything
Wow. 3 weeks can sure fly by. I don't even know where to start in the realm of "catching up". I feel like I don't have much to say except that which would be considered Randomness .... so here I go.
Megan's Random List of the Last 3 Weeks in No Particular Order Because then I couldn't Call it 'Random':
1. Mom came to visit for 4.5 days. It was so great to have her here. I took a day off and we shopped, and shopped, and shopped. I had merchandise credit to spend at my 2 favorite stores and it was one of those times where everything was on sale and I had a 30% coupon at one of them and I majorly lucked out. Majorly. I'm all set for work clothes for the summer. That's the silly thing about living down south ... youhave to get to wear short sleeves for 9 months out of the year. That's a lot more summer clothes in one's closet than I'm used to seeing.
Anyhoo, it was so wonderful to have her here. We laughed. We talked. We ate. We played games. And we got up VERY early on Sunday morning to take her to the airport. Very early. :)
2. We've been house-hunting. And [insert drum-roll] currently have one under contract. I'm so stinking excited about it I can hardly stand it! The inspection is getting done today and if all goes according to plan, we'll close on June 23. Did I mention how stinking excited I am?!?! Cuz I am.
This is the front of it and I'll post more pictures of it later once it's finalized. I know I'm stepping out on a limb by even talking about the house before it's a done deal, but I mean, what's a girl supposed to do when she's excited? Be quiet and hold it in? Not hardly.
My Scenic Design class is going to come in handy. I have every intention of making a "to-scale" floorplan and also doing it of our furniture so I'll know how to arrange it all. I know. I'm a dork. I'm already searching Craigslist for desired upgrade-able items, such as a double-oven, gas cooktop, sink, and the works. Did I mention that I'm excited? Just making sure.
3. What's with all the amazing Season Finales this week? My little heart can't take much more. Honestly. Between me crying at The Biggest Loser Finale and really the whole season in general (was it just me or did Helen look like she needed to gain some weight to make her not look so sickly???, and oh how I wanted Tara to win -- she deserved it in my book) .... and The Office last night (really? really? oh. my. word!!!) .... and then LOST (uhhh ... I'm so confused. so terribly confused!) .... and House .... and 24 -- I'm coming un-glued.
4. It's rained almost every day for the past 3 weeks. Seems to be that it's raining everywhere else to. I'll care more about it in a couple of weeks when I'm IN A HOUSE and can plant flowers and a small garden and mow the grass and all sorts of wonderful things. I'll like it more too, when I can actually hear the rain on the roof above my head and not the late-night rovings of our upstairs neighbors.
5. Yah. They've been in rare-form these past few weeks. I think it's God's way of saying "It's time to move" and I'm not arguing. The other day I thought our ceiling was going to bust. Sounded like it was a drunken brawl (or something) and they were very loudly chasing each other around the living room. Whatever.
6. Kc's 2nd year at TCA is almost finished. Today is "Charlotte's Web" day. The students have been reading the book and are coming to class dressed as a character from the story. My dear sweet husband walked out the front door in brown pants and a brown polo -- he's going as the manure pile.
Let me just let that sink in. I didn't type that incorrectly.
No wonder his 3rd graders love him.
I asked him if he was changing before meeting the inspector at the house this morning or if he really was going to show up looking like crap. HA! :)
7. Work has been crazy busy. We are down an employee as of a month ago and my days no longer look like this:
but are rather filled with assignments and the like. I'm not complaining in the least, I enjoy being productive and working hard. I'm just busier now and not as much time to goof-off on the internet. Sadness.
8. When mom was here at the end of April, she brought along with her knitting needles and yarn and informed me I needed to learn to knit. (See ... she really is opposed to all my cross-stitching .. . I wasn't lying!) And, I've been quite the little knitter! The only bad thing is she left too soon after teaching me and I know how to knit, but not how to fix knitting problems. Let's just say that my scarf is unique. Kc told me that I should try to make the same mistake every so often in order that it doesn't look so badly. And I also don't know how to stop, so that'll be interesting when it's time to stop knitting the scarf. I also can't quite manage holding both needles in my hands, so I've figured out a way to stick one needle in between my knees and the other I can knit with. It's a comical sight to behold, I'm sure. Me, getting all teary-eyed over BL, and knitting with one needle sticking upright between my knees and my fingers cramping from holding on to the other needle and yarn so tightly.
And that's all the random thoughts I currently possess. Actually, it's not, but I have to get back to work.
I thought of another one and I had to add it because I've thought a lot about it recently.
9. It's now been 2 years since I came home from China. 2 whole years. That's longer than I actually spent in the country. And yet, when I read stuff that I wrote while there, look at pictures, touch my scrolls, use my chopsticks, frequent a Chinese restaurant, or talk about it to someone, I realize how much I miss it. And how much it's still a part of my heart. My time there changed my life, and in many ways, I'm still realizing how much it changed it.
Many times Kc and I will joke on a friday night about how much we wish we could hop on a plane, hit up our favorite Uygher restaurant near the Deng Dai and hang out with our team.
I'm not sure I'd ever want to live there again, but man, I sure do miss it.
I got a facebook message from a former student who said she got a full-ride scholarship to attend Baylor for graduate school. She was booking her flight and realized she'd have an overnight layover in Dallas before heading onto Waco and wanted to know where she could stay. Uhh ... how about with us?!?!? I'm so excited. We weren't close, but I'm thanking God for another opportunity with one of my former Chinese students!!
Megan's Random List of the Last 3 Weeks in No Particular Order Because then I couldn't Call it 'Random':
1. Mom came to visit for 4.5 days. It was so great to have her here. I took a day off and we shopped, and shopped, and shopped. I had merchandise credit to spend at my 2 favorite stores and it was one of those times where everything was on sale and I had a 30% coupon at one of them and I majorly lucked out. Majorly. I'm all set for work clothes for the summer. That's the silly thing about living down south ... you
Anyhoo, it was so wonderful to have her here. We laughed. We talked. We ate. We played games. And we got up VERY early on Sunday morning to take her to the airport. Very early. :)
2. We've been house-hunting. And [insert drum-roll] currently have one under contract. I'm so stinking excited about it I can hardly stand it! The inspection is getting done today and if all goes according to plan, we'll close on June 23. Did I mention how stinking excited I am?!?! Cuz I am.
This is the front of it and I'll post more pictures of it later once it's finalized. I know I'm stepping out on a limb by even talking about the house before it's a done deal, but I mean, what's a girl supposed to do when she's excited? Be quiet and hold it in? Not hardly.My Scenic Design class is going to come in handy. I have every intention of making a "to-scale" floorplan and also doing it of our furniture so I'll know how to arrange it all. I know. I'm a dork. I'm already searching Craigslist for desired upgrade-able items, such as a double-oven, gas cooktop, sink, and the works. Did I mention that I'm excited? Just making sure.
3. What's with all the amazing Season Finales this week? My little heart can't take much more. Honestly. Between me crying at The Biggest Loser Finale and really the whole season in general (was it just me or did Helen look like she needed to gain some weight to make her not look so sickly???, and oh how I wanted Tara to win -- she deserved it in my book) .... and The Office last night (really? really? oh. my. word!!!) .... and then LOST (uhhh ... I'm so confused. so terribly confused!) .... and House .... and 24 -- I'm coming un-glued.
4. It's rained almost every day for the past 3 weeks. Seems to be that it's raining everywhere else to. I'll care more about it in a couple of weeks when I'm IN A HOUSE and can plant flowers and a small garden and mow the grass and all sorts of wonderful things. I'll like it more too, when I can actually hear the rain on the roof above my head and not the late-night rovings of our upstairs neighbors.
5. Yah. They've been in rare-form these past few weeks. I think it's God's way of saying "It's time to move" and I'm not arguing. The other day I thought our ceiling was going to bust. Sounded like it was a drunken brawl (or something) and they were very loudly chasing each other around the living room. Whatever.
6. Kc's 2nd year at TCA is almost finished. Today is "Charlotte's Web" day. The students have been reading the book and are coming to class dressed as a character from the story. My dear sweet husband walked out the front door in brown pants and a brown polo -- he's going as the manure pile.
Let me just let that sink in. I didn't type that incorrectly.
No wonder his 3rd graders love him.
I asked him if he was changing before meeting the inspector at the house this morning or if he really was going to show up looking like crap. HA! :)
7. Work has been crazy busy. We are down an employee as of a month ago and my days no longer look like this:
but are rather filled with assignments and the like. I'm not complaining in the least, I enjoy being productive and working hard. I'm just busier now and not as much time to goof-off on the internet. Sadness.8. When mom was here at the end of April, she brought along with her knitting needles and yarn and informed me I needed to learn to knit. (See ... she really is opposed to all my cross-stitching .. . I wasn't lying!) And, I've been quite the little knitter! The only bad thing is she left too soon after teaching me and I know how to knit, but not how to fix knitting problems. Let's just say that my scarf is unique. Kc told me that I should try to make the same mistake every so often in order that it doesn't look so badly. And I also don't know how to stop, so that'll be interesting when it's time to stop knitting the scarf. I also can't quite manage holding both needles in my hands, so I've figured out a way to stick one needle in between my knees and the other I can knit with. It's a comical sight to behold, I'm sure. Me, getting all teary-eyed over BL, and knitting with one needle sticking upright between my knees and my fingers cramping from holding on to the other needle and yarn so tightly.
And that's all the random thoughts I currently possess. Actually, it's not, but I have to get back to work.
I thought of another one and I had to add it because I've thought a lot about it recently.
9. It's now been 2 years since I came home from China. 2 whole years. That's longer than I actually spent in the country. And yet, when I read stuff that I wrote while there, look at pictures, touch my scrolls, use my chopsticks, frequent a Chinese restaurant, or talk about it to someone, I realize how much I miss it. And how much it's still a part of my heart. My time there changed my life, and in many ways, I'm still realizing how much it changed it.
Many times Kc and I will joke on a friday night about how much we wish we could hop on a plane, hit up our favorite Uygher restaurant near the Deng Dai and hang out with our team.
I'm not sure I'd ever want to live there again, but man, I sure do miss it.
I got a facebook message from a former student who said she got a full-ride scholarship to attend Baylor for graduate school. She was booking her flight and realized she'd have an overnight layover in Dallas before heading onto Waco and wanted to know where she could stay. Uhh ... how about with us?!?!? I'm so excited. We weren't close, but I'm thanking God for another opportunity with one of my former Chinese students!!
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