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!