It is the night of our dear savior's birth...

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees and hear the angel voices,

O night divine!  O night when Christ was born.

Sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we

that all within us praise his holy name!"

I love this song, because it paints the perfect description of Luke 1-2 that tells of our Savior's coming.  I can't imagine the anticipation they must have experienced in this broken world, stuck for so long in sin and darkness, "waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (2:38).  And they had held on to this promise from God from generations and generations before, "the oath that he swore to Abraham and to his offspring forever" (1:55) "to show mercy...that we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days" (1:72-75).  I think after that many years of living in a fallen world, just waiting for God to fulfill His promise of salvation, I would be a very weary part of our world.  

But I love how God chooses "a new and glorious morn," dawn, to bring about his mercies that are new every morning.  A thrill of hope!  Christ, the promised savior, was born.  He came as Emmanuel, God with us, offering us a relationship with someone who never holds records of wrongs, who gives purity and innocence, and who presents us to himself as being washed with the word, holy, and radiant.  Of course at that news "a multitude of the heavenly host" would be praising God (2:13).  My heart can't help but respond with, "let all within me praise his holy name!"  

O holy night!  

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity that "Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, something that cannot be had in this world."  I feel as if we spend our whole lives longing.  We long to be grown up, we long to know where we are headed, we long to be in love, we long to experience adventure, success, and excitement in life.  For me personally, I have always longed to live in another country, to somehow "give something of my small self to the entirety of the world" (thank you Mary Oliver), but in truth, all that we grasp at somehow evades us in reality.  Somehow we are left disappointed and off to find fulfillment in the next new thing.  Even in the times I am most fulfilled by God's love, I still can feel a strong sense that there is more.  

It is in times when I look at the world in its shining, wondrous brilliance, like when the sun is at its strongest or when the living world is alive and rejoicing, that I get a glimpse of what it is we were all made for and have been missing out on.  There is a place where myriads of angels get to experience the full measure of the glory of God and creation gets to join with it.  (How generous He is that He lets us experience a bit of His presence when He could just keep to Himself!)  God does promise that He will make His sons perfect.  He has and will redeem this world.  That is why I can sing, "Beholding your beauty is all that I long for.  To worship you, Jesus, is my soul's desire."

Thank you to my intellectual superiors who have been able to put into words this stirring of my spirit, based on an innate knowledge of heaven and the response of pure adoration and praise.  

Hola familia!!

Long time no see.  I wanted to show you all what I have been working on all year in my Instructional Technology 486 class (using technology in the classroom).  

To visit my website visit:

http://web.utk.edu/~lwatson6

or visit my reflective blog at:

http://linzwatson.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think!

Although this is a little bit late, this is my picture for "Tradition."  Last spring break, my sister and I painted canvases for the house that I now live in.  This spring break, my roommate Brittany and I decided to spend one night painting to add some color to our walls.  This is what we came up with!  I painted the yellow and green ones, and the yellow's my favorite...maybe I'm biased!  

(Yes...Levi got all the artistic gene in the family)

Has everyone seen the Holiday when the two characters switch places and Cameron Diaz goes to a little getaway cottage in England?  The past few days I came home to spend some "getaway" in my new room, and I felt just like her!  I woke up the first morning to a house to myself, my favorite cinnamon rolls and coffee already ready for me, and a free morning to coup myself up in my new room with books, my ipod, my bible, the works!  It was incredibly refreshing to spoil myself...some much needed renewing of the spirit.  And my new room just embodies tranquility and gives it so freely!  The rest of my time at home has included McKay's (with a couple of great finds that they didn't have in Knoxville!), a run with my mom, time with Levi, Kelly, Dad, and Lily, and a fresh sunburn that was worth every minute I got to soak up the sun.  

I can't wait to participate in Sheryl's scavenger hunt!  Firstly, I took this picture last summer...but as I was thinking today of what would be my "Can't live without,"  I realized that the most accurate photo would have to be one of the sun, particularly when it was showing off.  I could not live without sunshine and seeing God's glory through its beauty.  I truly do believe I am somewhat more joy-filled in the summer and spring months than the winter.  Hence, photo submission #1

Shermidab

RIP  March 9, 2009

We had an honorable ceremony for him.  Allan wore the snuggie and gave a reading from Ecclesiastes as me and Brittany translated into Spanish, his native tongue.  He lived a long and fulfilling life and there is now a cross monument at his grave.  

Sad day.

ATTENTION FAMILY:

Jenny Ann will be featured on "On the Home Stretch" a radio show on Monday March 9th at 10:15 am CENTRAL time!  Tune in to hear her talk about the greatly anticipated upcoming release of her first publication, Unwritten Travels.  You can listen online at http://OnTheHomeStretch.com (during the interview) or you can call in LIVE at 877-474-3302

Make sure you listen in!

Song of the day:  "Sliding Down" by Bela Fleck.

Listen!  It's absolutely beautiful.

In other news, on Friday I spoke with a Spanish Pastor about serving with the children at his church.  The next day while I was working at Lifeway 6 different Spanish families came in that I got to help!  One family gave me a cd of their daughter singing, while another actually goes to the church that I visited!  What a grace it has been to see God making His work and presence in my life known.  I sometimes lose sight of the power of the gospel to change people; I forget that God chooses to use me even though He's not served by human hands (Acts 17:25).  I forget that He cares enough to lead me in the good works He has planned in advance for me to do.  I'm excited that He graces me with the opportunity to bring Him glory through something I love so much! 

Hear no evil.  See no evil.  Speak no evil.


The Roomies, Allan, and I before Tiff's Black and White Birthday party!!  It was so fun and Tiffany definitely had a fun 21st.  I forgot how much I like to dress up!

My sweet family!!  I have been absent from the blogging world for oh so long!  I apologize for my unplanned leave.  I wish everyone a happy valentine's day and I hope you all feel so loved.  I love Valentine's Day because it gives me the excuse to let myself feel loved by God.  So often I see how undeserving of His love I am and I feel selfish to let myself enjoy it fully, but yesterday I had the excuse to just let Him love me all day.  It is so sweet when you stop and look at how much you love someone.  It makes you long for time with them, it makes you want to do anything you can to preserve your love for them, and it makes you feel like you are the richest person alive.  I got to enjoy the benefits of love yesterday so fully.  He who created me is He who can know and love every little thing about me!

It also made me look at the way I love others.  So often I think about the friends that love me well, without paying much attention to the ways I can be loving them well.  When you look at what love is, say from 1 Cor. 13, I feel as if I don't represent it well at all.  

If I were to say that I was a good example of love, I would be lying:

"Lindsey is patient, Lindsey is kind.  Lindsey does not envy, she does not boast, she is not proud.  Lindsey is not rude, she is not self-seeking, she is not easily angered, she keeps no record of wrongs.  Lindsey does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth..."  And it goes on and on, exaggerations and fibs.  I want to love like God does.  The only way I can describe it is EXTRAVAGANTLY.

Yesterday was also a day of laughter and joy.  Allan surprised me with chocolate covered strawberries (my favorite!) and flowers.  We personally hand-made sushi (yes, we MADE sushi!!) and it tasted just like the real thing.  And we went to the river walk and ate ice-cream.  Now I am suffering the consequences of my "play before work" theology this weekend.  I have to read all of Richard III (Shakespeare) by tomorrow--yes, tomorrow!!  Pray for me, please!

YOU ARE ALL LOVED DEARLY AND EXTRAVAGANTLY!  Don't ever forget :)

Wow..well I haven't posted in forever, so I apologize for my absence!  First of all, I finished A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken, and it quite possibly may be one of my favorite books I have EVER read.  And definitely my favorite memoir.  Secondly, I'd like to publicly rebuke my two brothers:  Logan Daniel and Levi Benjamin for not telling me they were going home for mom's birthday!!  I was the only L not present for the family get together this weekend...thanks for the memo, guys!  Thirdly, last week I got the incredible chance of hiking the chimneys with Allan.  It was snowy and absolutely beautiful.  I think God likes to show off sometimes when we hang out. :)  And at the top, I experienced one of the most terrifying and invigorating moments of my life!!  We rock climbed out to this mountain that was waaay out from the top where we got a 360 degree view of mountains, which peaks were at eye-level.  It was so scary clinging to that rock, knowing that at any moment if you let go for even a second you would be meeting your death below.  There were moments when all I could do was pray for my safety and hold on with everything inside of me...it was INCREDIBLE!

These are picture evidence that could never possibly do it justice!

What a beautiful day to be out of school!!  It's snowing and my house is warm again so I can curl up and watch it peacefully.  Last night we went to a bonfire that included 405 Christmas trees being burnt to the ground...it was INCREDIBLE.  Literally the hugest fire I have ever seen!!  

Also, the day that all the public schools went back to school, a bunch of my friends and I went to the Bounce House, (which is akin to Pump it Up!) and played for hours since no kids were there!  It was so much fun and kids have waayy too much energy.  We were exhausted, bruised, and ready for naps by the end.  I don't know how kids do it!

CD of the day: 

Donavon Frankenreiter

(It brings me joy)   :)

So we got our heat fixed today...FINALLY!!  And Shermidab the hermit crab finally moved around a little bit.  I think we were freezing him :(  

Well Lily's hounded me to write again...but to be honest, there isn't much that is interesting to write!  Classes are back in full swing and my life is now consumed with Shakespeare, Cesar Vallejo, and boring text book writers.  I am already longing for more time to read Sheldon Vanauken and Mary Oliver and the writers that actually do inspire me!

Listen to how beautiful Mary Oliver thinks, and it's so true:

"Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, 'Stay awhile.'

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, 'It's simple,' they say,

'and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.'"

or the similar theme in The poet visits the museum of fine arts:

Every summer

every rose

opened in perfect sweetness

and lived

in gracious repose,

in its own exotic fragrance,

in its huge willingness to give

something, from its small self,

to the entirety of the world.

I think of them, thousands upon thousands, 

in many lands,

whenever summer came to them,

rising 

out of the patience of patience,

to leaf and bud and look up

into the blue sky

or, with thanks,

into the rain

that would feed their thirsty roots

latched into the earth-*

sandy or hard, Vermont or Arabia,

what did it matter,

the answer was simply to rise in joyfulness, all their days.

Have I found any better teaching?

Not ever, not yet.

Last week I saw my first Botticelli

and almost fainted,

and if I could I would paint like that

but am shelved somewhere below, with a few songs

about roses:  teachers, also, of the ways towards thanks, and praise.

*"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked...but his delight is in the law of the Lord...He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers!"

Psalm 1:1-3

I am envious of the way the tree sings of joy and praises so fully.  It reveals glory in all that it does, and it never ceases to fulfill its purpose in the world, providing air and beauty.  The tree and the rose truly understand the joyful realization that it is all for him.  I wish I could live in that sort of wisdom!

The beginning of the year has included a four hour long trip to a 2-story Borders with one of my favorite people (betsy painter), Pride and Prejudice in spanish with one of my other favorite people (lily watson), plus an hour of learning Beyonce's new video "all my single ladies" with two of my other favorite people (brittany turner and elise bernius), a park visit with...once again, my favorite people (afore mentioned elise bernius, lauren harville, and tiffany harbin).  WHAT AN INCREDIBLE 2009!!!

It's so hard to believe that it is already 2009!  The new year always holds so much potential.  I always love the excitement of having a clean slate, a year of unknown, a chance to better yourself.  As I thought about writing my resolutions, however, I am realizing that I am content with who I am and who God has made me to be.  I already can see God molding me and refining me to be more like Him and I love it!  I love that He already loves who I am dearer than I can possibly know, and although I definitely have things to work on and change, I am finally realizing that I don't have to try to save the world.  What I mean is, I can quit feeling responsible for everyone else's spiritual health around me, because I can't really change much.  Only God can save people and heal them from their problems, and fulfill them and make them whole again, and it is so freeing to realize that He provides me with everything I will need for each day to fulfill His purpose for me that day.  No more, no less.  He is so much more than enough!

Some of my less serious resolutions:

1.  I will cook new meals every time it is my turn at roommate dinner so that I can learn to cook new things!

2.  I will give myself time to read for enjoyment among my thousands of pages of reading textbooks.

3.  I will give God the firstfruits of my time each day.

4.  I will listen to music less and enjoy silence more.

5.  I will keep up with my friends better and lose the "out of sight, out of mind" syndrome.

6.  I will love the people in my life with more patience and selflessness.

7.  I will exercise at least a couple times of week with my roommates.

Let's see how long my newfound discipline will last!  Happy New Year!