Lasso The Moon

The Warmth of the Sunlight

2011-02-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

To run in the sunlight,
To feel the warmth
(The joy of what has been and always will be),
Of that,
He is my God.
The closeness in which I long for,
Feels far away.

But I know,
Like the sun's rays,
Always He is there
(as when the world hides the sun and her warmth,
and comes the cold of night,
even the moon reflects her glory.
Her radiance cannot be hidden,
even in the cold of the dead of night).
Such is the glory of my God.

When my world turns dark,
and I have nowhere to turn.
Hopelessness surrounds my thoughts,
and I feel I am alone.
I only need
to open my eyes.
To look up at the moon.
and see the light shining in the darkness.
The reminding hope that my God is always there.

He holds out His hand to me, saying,
"Take my hand,
you need only take my hand".
And when I look at His hand
(His scarred hand,
scarred to save me.
Killed to save me...
He died so I might live),
I reach, but still,
He seems so far away.

"How can I reach You,"
I cry,
"When You are so far away?"

My instinct tells me -
No,
it is the lies in the darkness -
telling me to give up.
That I have no strength.
The darkness weighs me down.
I feel alone.

My Lord continually holds out His hand,
saying,
"My Child...
I love you.
Take my hand. I will never let you go."

"Help me, Lord!"
I cry again.
"I have no strength,"
I re-utter the lies of the darkness.
"Give me strength, God,"
I plea.
"Give me strength to take Your hand"

I long once again to dance in the sunlight,
To soak in the sun's rays.
To feel the warmth,
the joy,
the security.

I feel again a thirst.
A thirst I have felt so long.
a thirst that cannot be quenched.
Even if I looked a thousand years in this dark valley,
I would never find anything
to quench this aching thirst.
And I am dismayed.
The darkness calls out to me,
telling me of wonderful things,
things that will quench my thirst.
But they leave me ever thirstier.
And I am broken.

As I sit crumpled in the darkness,
I pray for my God to give me strength,
to battle the lies that fill the void of the dark.

He looks at me with eyes of compassion,
eyes that know my pain.

"My Child,
I know.
I know your pain.
I will give you the strength you need.
The strength you need to take My hand,
to trust Me.
I will lead you through this world of darkness.
I will help you defeat the onslaught of lies.
You will not be alone.
I am always here."

"Here.
Here is my strength.
I give it to you.
Because I love you,
my child.
I loved you so much I died for you."

"Now,
take my hand,
and you will never be alone."

Reminiscence...

2010-12-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

As crazy and stressful my time in Taiwan was (and considering I was sick for almost the whole time I was there), I realize that... if things were different, I wish I could go back.

I'd never experienced so many things all at once before. It was tough, hard, but it was... amazing. I felt like a completely different person: Mentally, physically... spiritually (well, I was mentally and physically exhausted all the time, and that sucked), but I also felt physically nicer (besides the main fact of me being... ummm... ill for a month and a half :/ :( ). But I mean, I had had my hair cut very short several months prior and it grew back wavy, and when I was in Taiwan, the humidity and climate made my hair curly, and I was ecstatic! I had always wanted curly hair and that was wonderful! I felt wonderful about my hair. :)

I felt too, that I lost weight (a Taiwanese woman I was working with had commented that I looked healthy and had lost a little weight), and I was excited about that, too!! :D I was incredibly excited and happy.

Unfortunately, when I got back to the states, I checked my weight and realized I hadn't lost any weight but I had gained 10 pounds... sooooooooo, you can imagine my disappointment. :(

It's understandable though why I gained weight. We were fed really well at the camps for one, and I was sick and ill for forever so I couldn't really do any physical activity with the kids (besides being exhausted mentally and physically every moment since the minute I stepped off the plane into Kaohsiung). Another factor to my gaining weight was just the whole teaching-for-the-first-time thing! I was really freaked out and stressed and nervous... and all that contributes to weight gain...

HOWEVER,

Before I stricken with disappointment that I hadn't lost any weight and was under the delusional impression that I was LOSING weight, and I felt good! I felt great! I was happy. :)

As far as spiritually... I felt spiritually stronger... like I was closer to God then I had ever been before.

I guess I pretty much decided that if ANYone was going to get me through these new and frightening experiences, it was God and God ONLY. I had to rely on HIS strength, because I was so exhausted, there was no way I could muster it up for myself.

I had really rough times there in Taiwan, and I had two wonderful gals who kept me threw it. Susanna and Laura W. were my supporters. At the last two camps we would read the Bible together in the mornings and at night we'd sing uplifting Christian songs on the beach. We encourage each other and lift each other up. We laughed, we cried, we talked about life, boys (and the difficulties surrounding them and us, lol ), and we were just there for each other. I miss those times. I miss those gals...

...

It's really easy for me to look back and see all of the negative... like

how I was constantly sick and the doctors didn't seem to know what to do the help get me better,

or how exhausted I was the second I stepped off the plane into Kaohsiung and was spring-boarded directly into teaching the next day (I never recovered from my jet lag - I was exhausted every moment of every day while I was in Taiwan).

How stressful teaching was - I'd never taught kids before and I was stressed out (but I did what I had to do), or how I was worked non-stop. Like 40-80 hours a week (for two months straight)!

how I didn't have time to enjoy the sights of Taiwan until my last day in Taipei (with Teresa, Laura, and Kevin - which was amazing by the way! :D ), but just how disappointed I was about that I was just working working working all the time.

Or how I felt that all the (HUGE) native bugs of Taiwan wanted to greet me all at once (ants, cockroaches, MASSIVELY disgusting spiders to name a few). O.O

... or how when I was in the San Fransisco airport talking with my mom on the phone (waiting 7 hours overnight in the cold terminal just waiting for my flight home) and I how I realized that all experiences that I went through (the good and the bad) were over and I'd never experience them again. And how all the friends I had made - how unlikely it would be that we would see each other ever again... and I just cried.

But... despite all of the hardships I went through... I miss my experiences there. I was someplace new and exciting and different - doing something I had never done before - meeting new people and making new friends, and I miss it.

And above all, I was in ASIA. I'd wanted to travel to eastern Asia ever since I was 13, and even though I wasn't jumping for joy that I was in Asia the whole time I was there (because I was just exhausted lol :P ;) ), it was beautiful! It was a wonderful experience and I wish that I would go back... Even if it was to teach. I would prefer not to be worked like a plow-horse the whole time I'm there, definitely! But I know that teaching children is a wonderful experience and a good thing to learn, even though it's hard and it drains all your energy... It is something good.

I wish I could go back to Asia. I fell in love with Taiwan and I wish I could go back. I want to go someplace new all over again - experience new things and meet new people and make new friends and do something good by teaching children and touching their lives (even if it's just the tiniest bit).

If I had the money, and if I had the time and the mental and spiritual energy... I would like to go back.

I miss Taiwan. I miss new experiences... I miss the friends I made there...

我的台灣朋友，我很想念你们!

I miss you so much, my Taiwanese friends!!

First camp orientation

Austin, me, Sarah, Joanna, Hannah, Laura, Kara, and Mei

Last get-together as a team before some of us went our separate ways

Nantou - week 1

My kids - Nantou camp, week 1
<3>

Solar eclipse

Teaching...

Sally, Me, Eve, and Kendra
<3

Eve and Me

Yian and Eve <3

Beautiful scenic view

The portrait I drew of Perlin for our skit - hahah ;)

At the beach at night

Laura and I doing piles of our laundry... it needed to be done, lol ;)
(Susanna took the picture)

Laura, Susanna, and me
<3>

Teresa, me, Laura, and Kevin in Taipei
(my first and last day to be a tourist in Taiwan)

(Thank you to all my friends who took such wonderful pictures!)

Keeping an Eye on the Prize...

2010-09-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Life is a roller coaster"...

Too bad I get motion sickness easily. :P

Hmmm... I was just thinking how what helps me stave off motion sickness... and how it reminds me of life in general:

If I'm in the car, I can't focus on the inside of the car - I can't rely on what's inside the car to help me NOT get sick. I have to always be looking out the window and focusing on the things that don't move - that stay stationary. If I start to get sick, I need to roll down the window to breathe the fresh and crisp air of outside.

I also can't try to ignore the motion or make the long ride seem shorter by reading a book or such... If I try to ignore it, it just makes me even more sick.

It reminds me of my dependence on God. How, when I focus on the roller coaster of this life, with it's never ending ups and downs, I get sick (but if I try to ignore it, it makes me worse).

But when I focus on, and rely on, God I can look to Him and be encouraged that He is the One Who never changes, and He's always with me through the ride. He's always by my side, and He'll never leave me. And I'm always so baffled by this.

Even though it's sometimes hard to see through this crazy whirlwind of life, what a kind, loving, affectionate, passionate, perfect, and incredible God we serve - Amen? :)

So, yes, life's a roller coaster... but there's a glorious prize at the end of the ride. And His name is Jesus

A Hole Inside... Is There a Fix?

2010-09-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder how SO much can be going on inside you? Things like, daily struggles, lessons to learn over years and years, developing personality and entirety of your person, and how's it's like that for every other human being on the planet? And also how there will never be another you or anyone else? Isn't that baffling? Even when our struggles seem so large, sometimes we can still seem to justify that our struggles seem larger than others (or our problems – as a society – are bigger than the previous generations past).

Even when I'm frustrated with the lessons I have to learn again and again, or the hard questions in life that are posed to me and I don't know how to answer them, when my heart breaks for someone who has had to go through hell to learn those hard lessons in life, when I realize how selfish I am for thinking my problems are so much bigger than someone else right beside me who is suffering just as much or more, and when I become crushed by the inner turmoil in my soul, I always have to remember how big my God is (and that's the only thing for me that remotely puts my troubles into perspective). And also how nothing else can satisfy one's soul and one's longings. God is the only thing in this world that can fully quench this everlasting thirst.

No matter how hard I try when I search and search for things to satisfy me - when my soul hurts and I try to fill it up with things that don't satisfy, God is the only One Who can fill that missing something, that hole.

Everyone is searching. Everyone feels a need to be loved, they feel something is missing. That is what our lives consist of - searching and searching - whether it's scouring the world, or scouring the heart and soul - we all feel a hole inside that needs to be filled.

Has anyone ever truly loved you to the absolute fullest? Has anyone ever completely fulfilled that need for love that you long for and need? Do you ever wonder why would God created people with this deep need to be loved? It's because we are spiritual creatures, each with a distinctive soul, each meant to have a relationship with God. But we're cut off from Him, and only God is big enough to mend us back together with Him - only God is big enough to fill the hole. Only God can satisfy completely.

To become fully satisfied with God – that is my goal. That is a hard lesson I am learning time and time again. It's hurts every time I learn this lesson, and sooner or later I pray it will sink in. And I can't wait until I stop constantly searching for frivolous and fading things that don't satisfy... because I have a God Who is the King of Kings, a Wonderful Counselor, and the everlasting Father Who gave His life for me so that I could have that connection with Him and so He can mend the pieces of my soul in turmoil and fill the hole inside.

2010-08-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

For anyone who might be following this blog,
please pray for me.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

"What Can I Do..."

2010-02-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Okay so I know it's been forEVER, but here's a little update about my time in Taiwan this last summer... :)
~~~

I share a small, yet significantly HUGE experience of my time in Taiwan...

A Small Update

2009-07-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

Hello family and friends!

So I'm here in Taiwan, and it soooooooo rocks!! The culture here is so rich and beautiful, and almost everyone is so nice - I've had hardly any troubles at all with people! The kids we teach are always so cute. There is always one or two in each camp that are stubborn and loud, but we just try to have grace with them and correct them whenever needed. I love teaching. The kids are so fun. Almost every single kid I've taught absolutely loves UNO. It's like part of the kids' culture here!

Since I've been here, I've hardly had any culture shock. Everything seems so natural because everyone else does it (type of thing) and it's been so wonderful! Everything seems soooo natural, I haven't had hardly any shock! :D As soon as I first arrived in Kaohsiung, it felt like I had just travelled across a state. I wasn't shocked, and I wasn't overly-ecstatic. At first, I was disapointed because I didn't feel like jumping up and down every single moment of the day because I was finally in ASIA(!!!), but then I realized it was kind of cool. I reacted (and am reacting) like it's just another place. It and it's people are not any better or less better than than any other countries or peoples. Everything seems so natural, like at home. People are people too, no matter what continent they live on, or no matter what language they speak. :)

There are some pretty small but unique things about the culture that I'd like to share with you all (because I think they're just so fascinating! ^_^).

1. The traffic rules in the U.S. hardly apply for Taiwan. People do whatever they have to do to get to where they want to go. If this means driving towards oncoming traffic until almost grazing a car headed straight for you, they do that. Or making U-turns that graze mopeds and other cars... or maybe passing a huge bus on a curve up a mountain. Yeah. I've been in each of those situations. :P They are really something! And the weird thing is, is that because everyone is so used to just doing what's needed, there's hardly any road-rage. Everyone is doing the same thing, so there's nothing to be mad about, I guess! ;) Oh, and there are mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles EVERYWHERE! In a city, you'll only see a handful of cars, and whole street-loads of scooters! It's quite a sight to see. ;)

2. When the kids come to camp, almost all of them bring their own little bowls and chopsticks for lunch. After lunch, everyone washes their dishes and puts them away to dry to use for the next meal. It's always so cute to see little kids eat with their chopsticks (one of my girls had some cute little Hello Kitty chopsticks too! Hen ke ai! <3 ^_^

3. Because of the SARS sickness that spread through Taiwan several years ago, the Taiwanese people have become much more concerned about sickness (especially with the Swine Flu scare). So, many people wear hospital masks over the bottom half of their faces (covering the nose and mouth) everywhere they go. And these aren't just standard white or green cotton, no, many are considered fashionable made of cloth with patterns of anything you can imagine! Like checkered, flowers, different colors... you name it! It's really neat! I kind of like it. I know that I totally could have used one on one of my flights over to Taiwan. The guy sitting across the aisle was coughing a quite a bit. :P And I like the idea of not wanting to breathe in a lot of bad air, especially in the city with open, underground sewers... :P . I'm actually thinking of buying one so I can use it in certain areas I might travel in, but also as a fashion statement. ;D

4. Another thing about health the Taiwanese people are concerned of is skin cancer. People carry umbrellas with them almost everywhere, because it can rain without hardly any notice here. But the other reason they carry their umbrellas is to use when the sun is out. So when it's really sunny, you;ll see many people pull out their umbrellas, or put on these really big sun visors (they're kinda like one big sunglass shaped like a BIG visor for the whole front of the face).

5. Many cities have what are called afternoon or night markets. The night markets are always the huge attraction for the people. It's a time where a whole street route is closed off and and people set up their booths and little shops for selling things. These little booth shops range from selling candy, to jewelry or clothes or shoes, to little restaurants that you can sit down and eat hot food. There were crowds and crownds of people at the one I went to! It was such a huge esperience of the culture; squeezing through people with the sellers shouting their goods all in Chinese (a few shouted some basic English phrases like, "Only 25 dollars!!" ;) Some booth owners just smile and wait for someone to stop by and look and their products. It's a really crazy, but neat experience. I know that if it had just been myself, I wouldn't have know WHAT to do, but I was with a large group of fellow teachers, and we just had so much fun looking and buying and walking and talking! ^_^

6. Okay, so when it comes to food, people are very open and free about it. Hardly anybody minds having somebody else eating off of their chopsticks or eating out of their soup and sharing their food! It's really free and just very sharing and open. I kind of like it. It's just very personal and food is very easy for everybody to connect to, so when someone wants to share something they like with you, it's just really cool. ^_^

7. Most bathrooms do not have their own tiolet paper, so people must carry around their own packets whenever they go anywhere. It's a huge part of the culture. People buy cute little packets of pocket tissues to carry around wherever they go! It's really something. ;)

8. 7-11 and Family Mart (little convient stores) are a HUGE thing over here, too. In the city, you literally see one every street corner (or every other street corner). It's really neat. It's a place for teens to hang out on hot summer days and read magazines, drink slurpies, and buy snacks. You can also buy basic necessities and food, too. It's extremely convenient! I loved just being able to walk down the street from our apartment to go the 7-11! Now up here in the mountains, it's like a 20 min drive into town! :P

9. The Taiwanese people are very much into being friendly to the earth. Recycling is very important to them. There are so many different types of recycling, too: There's paper, plastic, glass, can, general trash, waste, compost, etc. etc. It can be VERY confusing at times (even for the Taiwanese). o.O :P

10. The Taiwanese people are also very conscious about not wasting anything. Wasting food water are considered especially big sins. When the kids are done with their meals, there is a compost bucket that they can throw their chicken bones, orange peels, etc. in. There is always a TA sitting next to the bucket and watching what the kids are throwing away. If a kid hasn't finished all his food, and wants to toss it, the TA will tell him to go sit back down and finish what's left.

Hmm... I can't really think of any other things of the culture differences (or mini culture-shocks, I guess) right off the top of my head except for maybe the food. I tried "stinky tofu" at the night market. After I stopped to buy some ice-cream (becuase it was like 30 U.S. cents! :) ) the group stopped into a booth and they bought some stinky tofu. I was eating my cold ice-cream, and as they were gobbling up the tofu, I was shocked that it didn't smell bad at all. In fact, I thought it smelled somewhat decent and good. ;) So, I asked if I could try some and because my hands were sticky with the ever-melting ice-cream, one of the girls held out her chopsticks with a piece on it and put it in my mouth. As the piece broke apart in my mouth, there was an explosion of a horrific taste. Because it was so hot, I had to blow all the hot air out, and then... I smelled something horrible. I could not believe that that smell was coming from MY MOUTH. It was very disturbing. :P ;) So, now at least I can say that I have tried the infamous "Stinky Tofu" of Taiwan. ;)

There are other weird and small food differences like cooked rice and (chicken?) blood cakes in soup. Yeah. I had a bite and thought it was okay. That is until a fellow teacher came up to me and told me what it was made out of. Then I couldn't finish it... No thanks... :P ;)

Well... I think I'll close up for the night (it's almost 9:00pm here). Sometime I willl have to write to you all about all the wonderful people I've met here and all the wonderful friends and relationships I've made! God has been so good to me my whole time here, in the huge ways, and even in the little ways that I never expected! I can't even express my thanks to Him!!

Love you all, and miss you all a lot!
~ Elizabeth

Star Wars Duo Interpretation

2009-06-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

This is absolutely hysterical! If you know and love the first Star Wars film, and enjoy quirky, random, and clean humor, you should watch this! :D

Star Wars Duo Interpretation
4th Place Duo at the National CFL Tournament. "All" of Star Wars in 10 minutes

The Source of Love

2009-06-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

"The Source of Love" is a slice of life drama with a redemptive theme. Ming is the stern Chinese language teacher to whom most of the residents of Cheung Chau owe their proficiency in speaking and writing. His dignified career, hardworking son, university enrolled daughter and jovial wife give the impression of a very contented man. Though all looks well on the surface, we see a family in crisis. The family has to deal with an important issue - eternity. This aspect of the movie, as it unfolds, is especially intriguing. The real power and message of the film is hope. Hope when all seems lost.

A Trip for the Summer…

2009-06-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,

Nǐ hǎo ! That is hello in Chinese. :) I will be needing that useful phrase and many more where I will be going this summer!
An opportunity has come for me to teach elementary students English in Taiwan. I have known about this opportunity since my brother and sister in Christ, Nathan and Teresa S. went for this same opportunity three years ago. I never thought that I could be apart of it myself, but God has made a way.

I realized that there could be a possibility for me to go on May 15th when I heard that Nathan and Teresa’s younger brother and sister would be going to Taiwan for the summer. I inquired as to how they would be going, the expenses, and what they would be doing there, and realized that it would be a lot easier to go than I thought it would!
I have been disappointed before by my excitement of going places (such as a trip to Greece and Italy, and my constant longing to visit Asia because of my love for the Asian cultures and languages). I would always get my hopes up, plan everything out and think it would be the best thing for me – and that if I didn’t go to this one place, then any more opportunities would never arrive. I would forget about seeking God’s guidance and focus just what I could do, and what I wanted to do there. I would then ask my parents with my foolish, selfish, and unpractical hopes high, and they, knowing much more than I ever could, would tell me that I would have to wait.

I have never been a person who appreciates waiting. I always feel that if I do not get something right now, I will never again have the opportunity to get it again. I have come to realize that over this year, and I’ve learned that I must be content for where I am at the moment because I am always wanting to be somewhere else. My prayer this whole year has been asking God to give me patience, and to help me learn to be content for where I am in my life (whether it is just my walk through life in general, or where I am literally - in the U.S.A.).
So, my Mom was with me when I inquired about this opportunity, and she seemed somewhat all right with it. This shocked me. I thought it would just be another fanciful trip that I wanted to go on without my parents approval. I then, not wanting to get my hopes up any farther, asked God that if my Dad gave his approval, then I would know that I could go. I asked him the next day, and he gave his pleased support.
We needed to send an answer as to whether or not I would go by the next day, so we had some praying to do to seek God’s guidance asking if this was mean to be, though we all already felt that this was meant to happen.

This past month, I have found out more as to what I will be doing over in Taiwan that I would like to share with you:
~ I will be in Taiwan for two months, leaving the U.S. on July 7th and be back in the States on the 30th of August.
~ I, with different teams of college-age Christians, will be teaching Taiwanese elementary students English in four summer camps all over southern Taiwan (in Pingtung, Nantou, Taitung, and Hualien). I will be in Pingtung 7/10-7/13; Nantou 7/16-7/25; Taitung 8/17-8/21; Hualien 8/22-8/28.
~ The organizations behind this are IBLP and King Car Education Foundation. King Car is sponsoring the camps (It is an organization that has Christians teach English summer camps for Taiwanese children), and IBLP is helping spread the word and gather people to teach at these camps.
~ Housing and food will be covered by King Car, and will reimburse the teachers $1000US at the end of the camps (the teachers have to cover the airfare, passport, visa, and emergency money costs.

I know that I will grow so much during this time, because I can see I will be put out of my little, cozy comfort zone in order to go out of my way to help and teach others on my own (with help of course :) ), and by being in a completely foreign place without any prior experience with traveling or exposure to being immersed in different cultures.
This is such an amazing opportunity to go and help other people, and to be a light for Jesus! Please pray with me that God would give me strength and wisdom and peace (because I tend to get anxious easily), but most of all a love that only He can give. Please also pray that His love would shine through me, and the kids would want to know and experience that Love, which will open opportunities for me to share about Jesus and His loving sacrifice (and please pray that God’s Spirit would give me the words to share specifically for the human being who might be searching).

Thank you all so much for making an impact in my life, no matter how large or small. Thank you my friends.

Love in Christ,
Elizabeth F.

Valentine's Day Pains

2009-02-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

:laughs: Okay, so I know this is a little late for Valentine's Day, but I couldn't resist posting this hilarious video by Daniel Gardner...

Japanese or Korean?

2008-11-06T16:46:00.000-08:00

I was asked a question recently about my love for Asia and Japan, and why I chose to learn the Korean language. I wasn't originally planning on posting this, but the question really got me thinking and this is what came out:

Question:

Just curious, but with your love for all things Japanese, why are you considering learning Korean?

Reply:

Well, when I was 12-14 yrs. old, I completely fell in love with Japan and I wanted to learn the language, but when I was 15, I met a Korean exchange student and it got me really thinking about Korea (because I didn't know a thing about the place, language, history, etc.). Then during and around that time, the show "Lost" began ;) ;) and two of the characters in the show are a Korean couple, and they would speak their language. It fascinated me and got me thinking...

Later on, I eventually fell in love with not only Korea, but also China and Vietnam, so I learned and studied the cultures and a bit of the languages...

I had always wanted to learn Japanese, but I was always afraid it would be too difficult to learn (not so much the speaking, just the writing system - it really intimidated me, the same with Chinese). So I thought, since I had fallen in love with many different countries and languages in Asia, why not choose a language that seemed the easiest?

"So I Chose Korean..."

So I chose Korean. What I love about the writing system is that each little symbol represents a letter, and the letters are formed into syllable blocks (and it is also read from left to right). That, I decided might be much easier for me to learn Korean (because I can relate it more to the English language - not much, but a little at least) than to learn say Japanese or Chinese with their pictograph character system (which is quite a mystery to me how one can memorize and recognize all those hundreds of characters and their vague meanings!), or Vietnamese (which is written in Roman letters, but the language is so tonal, the writing system is full of different symbols that represent the different tones).

So... yeah... Does all that answer your question? :laughs:

:)

One of my Dreams...

2008-10-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven’t heard, I am taking college classes, and I wanted to share with you all a paper I wrote for one of my classes. I was assigned to visualize the exact moment in the future when I am experiencing the accomplishment of my biggest dream while still a student. So, having some inspiration from the movie “Little Women”, I came up with this:

~~~~~~~

As I sip the hot and bittersweet taste of my cup of coffee to ward away the cold, winter weather, I turn the keys to the door of my apartment and breathe a tired sigh. I can’t wait to relax and get away from the daily stresses of work and college. As I cross over the threshold into my apartment, I stumble over something. I look down and see a flat, square package. My eyes widen and I feel adrenaline pumping throughout my body. Could it be?

Snatching up the package, I rush into my apartment and close the door, shutting away the noise and hubbub of daily traffic. I excitedly tear open the package, my heart beating quickly. Then I see it. A book. MY book. I run my hand over the hard, glossy cover and let my eyes take in the wonder and beauty of such a simple object.

After two years of learning the Korean language and learning the art of watercolor painting, after weeks of trying to find a publisher, and after weeks and weeks of writing, translating, researching, painting, and editing, all the work paid off. I had finally gotten a book published for young Korean children.

As tradition with holding brand new books, I open the book straight in the middle, bury my nose in it, and inhale the wonderful and magical aroma of the “new book” smell. I smile as I lift my head out of the book and realize that it is MY work that has that glorious smell.

I stand there silently holding my work, realizing that it is only the beginning...

Your Music Tastes Shows Your Character (Re-post)

2008-09-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

If you're hearing music and you don't know where it's coming from, have no fear! I have recently added a music player called Project Playlist, where it harmlessly plays music that I know and love, and wish to share with all of you! The Player is located at the bottom of my blog, where you can browse the several songs I have added. Enjoy!

I have always thought that the music someone listens to shows a little bit about that person, and I thought what better way to express myself a little more to you all with my choice and style of music that I listen to!

I Don't Believe What I'm Hearing from My Own Mouth...

2008-07-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I am getting a “Facebook”. At first, I was completely against the idea. I thought,

“Wow… it’s just another fad going through my church congregation (surprise!), so whatever.”

But then all my friends starting getting them and telling me how cool and fun they were, and so I felt kind of out of the loop.

But I stood steadfast. I would not get a Facebook. (See "On the Outside and Barely Able to Look In"). But I would still hear of all my friends interacting with each other, and chatting, sharing pictures and videos, and having tons of fun and getting to know each other.

A specific part of my reasons of not wanting a Facebook was that I have a habit of wanting to be noticed by people, and seeking their approval of me. And some specific people that I knew had Facebooks were exactly who I was struggling with wanting to impress. So, I didn’t want that to be a struggle or stumbling block for me, and that was a main reason why I did not want a Facebook. (Of course, know I realize that I don’t have to interact with certain people, so I don’t have to have that stumbling block!)

So, just yesterday, my friend Joelle came over to my house and showed me what exactly a Facebook was like. You can share pictures and videos and have a huge profile, (etc, etc, etc, etc), and I got hooked. If there’s one thing I love about an internet interaction website, it’s the ability to have a huge profile and interact with friends in such a fun way!

So now, I am officially setting up a Facebook account. I am breaking my “vow” of not falling to fads and I am going to have fun and get to know people!

Hope to see you there!

요한복음 3장 16절 (Hangeul - John 3:16)

2008-06-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hey, check out this old post that I got a comment on! I'm so excited I got critiqued! :)

요한복음 3장 16절 (Hangeul - John 3:16)

What’s the Purpose of Teen Romance?

2008-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Here, I’ll get straight to my point. I don’t understand why teens get involved with each other romantically. There is no point whatsoever. I mean, you’re “on” hormones (they are almost like a drug!), you’re inexperienced in everything, and you’re transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Why add the complications of love?

You both are young. You both might have career plans that neither of you know about. Both of your views on life are changing every day because you both are constantly growing in body and mind. When you both finally mature and are fully grown (the average person doesn’t stop growing their brain until around their early twenties!), you both will be completely different people then when you were teens.

I hear rumors and gossip about boys kissing girls and major flirting (in the church congregations I’ve gone to, even!), and I don’t understand why it goes on (behind the parents’ backs, I might add!). Yes, I know, it’s hormones, but that’s no excuse. I personally think people (especially guys) flirt, kiss, etc. just for the buzz and excitement of it. If you really like someone, and care about them, don’t get them confused or befuddled with their emotions by dragging them in emotionally (and also physically, even if it’s just a kiss!). This applies for just one person initiating, or both of them doing it!

I guess I’m lucky. I’ve never had to deal with a romantic relationship. I’ve always dealt with faraway, one-way crushes. I’ve never had a guy like me back (or as far as I know). It’s always just been me admiring a boy from afar, longing for a relationship, and becoming jealous when I would see the guy interacting with girls, while I would be a wall-flower, too scared and infatuated even to stand next to him. Boy, do I sound pathetic…

I guess it’s easy for me to think rationally about this subject because I’ve never been involved in relationships (as much as I often longed for it), and also because I’m getting older, I can look at some things differently then I ever could have when I was younger.

I am glad I never had the opportunity to get emotionally (and, God-forbid, physically) involved with someone. It was bad enough for me to have faraway, one-way crushes, and to have my heart broken in those ways than to be entangled emotionally with a “boyfriend”.

To not have that distraction in my life was a blessing from God. I was able to grow in Christ, and grow mentally and spiritually, especially in this past year, and I attribute it only to God. I did nothing whatsoever, and I thank Him that I was not (and am not) dragged down by my emotions of just another sinful human being (because it’s bad enough having to worry about myself!).

There. My rant is over.

My Summer of 2008

2008-06-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

Here is another paper where I would like to share with you my aspirations I would like to accomplish over a period of time that has not happened yet. In this paper, the time period is the summer of 2008. I do not know if any of these events I write about will actually happen, but I will write and dream nonetheless, and pray that God will show me the path He has already prepared for me.

~~

The first month of summer: June.

June was wonderful. It felt so good not to have to worry about deadlines for papers, getting to classes on time, etc. I was so happy to be done with the school year!

I had so much fun getting together with friends that month. We would get together and do crafts, watch movies, and talk, and it was so fun! I invited my friends Hannah and Krista over to draw Manga (Japanese comic drawings) during that month, and we had a lot of fun! I never thought I would like Japanese Animé (animation) or Manga, but it is so fun to draw and color (oh, and I had gotten Manga paper and nine Copic markers, and had already drawn lots of pictures!).

During the middle of June, I got my permit. I couple of days after I got it, my Dad gave me my first driving lesson. It was very weird to be behind the wheel after 18 years of always being a passenger (and it was scary!), but I managed . . . with Dad’s help and patience of course.

On June 22nd, my family and I attended the L.’s 25th Wedding Anniversary party. I had so much fun! The socializing was very neat, and the music and dancing were awesomely spectacular! It was so much fun, and I was very excited because it was the first huge social outing that I could really show everyone my new hairdo (I had gotten it cut a couple weeks prior)! That may sound silly to the reader, but believe it or not, getting my hair cut was a huge milestone in my life.

~~

The second month of summer: July.

July was quite eventful. I attended On Your Toes Studios’ intermediate intensive summer camp. The classes were over three hours (combined) every weekday for two weeks. But I had so much fun and I learned so much! It felt so good to exercise and dance Ballet again after six months of not doing so! I learned (and remembered) lots of technique and moves from the Ballet classes, but Hip Hop and Modern were so foreign to me! I have only danced Ballet, and so a change of pace and mind was quite a change (though I can say it was refreshing and extremely fun!).

I was also still learning how to drive that month (and I hadn’t crashed, yet!), and I was also trying to figure out what I was going to do with my last year of school ahead of me.

~~

The third month of summer: August.

Then August came. The last month of summer. The month of getting ready for the next school year.

I talked to my parents about taking college classes like prerequisites such as math, English, grammar and writing, etc. I knew I would have no problem with any reading or writing assignments, but I knew I needed to get math (and other prerequisites) out of the way before I decided to actually go to college.

I was still trying to decide whether I actually wanted to get a degree of something when I attended college after I graduated. Would I study the Korean language and become a translator? Would I get a degree in Graphic Design and have a professional career? Or would I write books and make a living off of that? These were all really hard questions that were very hard to try to figure out…

But I did know that I wanted to go to college, get my driver’s license, and get a job. I knew I wanted to spread my wings, have more responsibility and independence, become much more confident in myself (for who I am in Christ), and be able to do things I hadn’t been able to do before.

~~

Present (June 10, ’08)

A part of me wishes that everything I have written could go exactly as I have planned. That it would all be perfect and how I wanted it to be. But I know that totally will not be the case. And frankly, I’m glad. For example, the last three or four months (March, April, May, and June, ‘08) did not go anything how I had expected or planned, and I’m glad! God worked tremendously in my life, I got closer to friends and got to know other people, and I could not have done or accomplished any of it! It was all God’s divine plan, and I know He has a plan for my life, even though it may seem that I can’t see it right now.

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Romans 12

2008-05-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special - part IV

2008-04-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

The King and I - March Of The Siamese Children

I absolutely love this scene from "The King and I". The Siamese children are so adorable!

"That's How You Know" from Disney's ENCHANTED

I just saw this movie about two weeks ago... and I LOVE IT!! It is such a cute, sweet, sappy, over-the-top, adorable love story! I highly recomend this movie! :)

Classic Jerry Lewis Moment (from "Cinderfella")

The Incredibles - Where's my Super Suit?

My family loves this movie. We quote this sequence a lot! :)

Anastasia - Once upon a December

Oh, this song is so touching and so sad!

Some of My Favorite Song Lyrics

2008-03-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

“God so Loved” (Jaci Velasquez)

God so loved the world
That He gave His one and only Son

That whosoever believes in Him
Will not perish by have everlasting life

“How Many Kings” (Downhere)

How many kings stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?

How many gods have poured out their hearts,
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only One did that for me.

“Such a Small King” (National Christmas Choir)

Such a small king, isn’t he? Such a small king.
Yet He will bring deliverance to me.
Prophets foretold His place in history.
Such a small King, such a small boy.

“How Can I Keep from Singing?” (Chris Tomlin)

How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love!
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing!

“I will Boast”

I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One who’s worthy
He’s worthy.

“All I Really Need” (Mark & Stephen Altrogge)

All I really need is Your grace
All I need to know is You are near me.
All I need is you.

All I really need is Your grace
All I need to know is You are for me.
All I need is you. All I need is you.

“Let Your Kingdom Come” (Bob Kauflin)

Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done,
so that everyone might know Your Name!

Let Your song be heard, everywhere on earth,
'til Your sovereign work on earth is done.
Let Your kingdom come!

“On the Street where You Live” (Sung by Harry Connick, Jr.)

I have often walked down this street before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
All at once am I several stories high
Knowing I’m on the street where you live
…
And oh the towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near.
The overpowering feeling
That any second you could suddenly appear!

“My Heart Belongs to Daddy” (Ella Fitzgerald)

Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn’t be bad.
My heart belongs to Daddy. Dad.
If you feel romantic, laddy,
Let me warn you right from the start
That my heart belongs to Daddy
And my daddy belongs to my heart!

“Let Me be a People (Plain Old Me)” (Jerry Lewis from the movie “Cinderfella”)

I keep statin' it,
No debatin' it,
I'm a happy breed,
So, therefore,

Let me be a people,
Says I sincerely,
I'm a fella who wouldn't give that for royalty,
I don't wanna be anyone else but plain old me.

“The One on the Right” (Johnny Cash)

… Now this should be a lesson,
If you plan to start a folk group,
Don’t go mixin’ politics with the folksongs of our land.
Just work on harmony and diction
Play your banjo well
And if you have political convictions
Keep ‘em to yourself.

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special - part III (Shirley Temple special)

2008-03-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

"We Should be Together" - Shirley Temple and George Murphy

"Little Miss Broadway " - Shirley Temple and George Murphy

"Hey, What Did The Bluejay Say?"

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special - part II

2008-03-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

Beatboxing Peter and the Wolf

Can I Live

Beyond the Night - Stargate Atlantis

Pirates of the Caribbean reenactment

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special

2008-03-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

Lost

Star Wars Tribute

Ryan vs. Dorkman

Elizabeth F.'s Graphic Design

2008-03-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

Friends,

I wish to share with you all my NEW and much improved WebBlog! There I display all of my graphic designed artwork that I so greatly love to make.

I have had a love of graphic design for over the past two or three years, and the main category I delight in is making miscellaneous media posters. I hope to be able to take college classes soon, and learn more about layout and design so that maybe I can take my love for graphic design and artwork to the professional level as a career someday!

On my new WebBlog, "Elizabeth F.'s Graphic Design", there are several pages that you can explore: On the Main Page you can browse the newest updated photos and artwork, or go to the WebLog and read my thoughts and musings (you can also send me a public message in the Chatroom!). You can also look through all of my Albums of pictures and media. If you like any of the pictures, voice your opinion! Click on a picture and you can tell me what you think of it!

You can also read my Profile if you want to learn a bit about me!

I know it's a bit silly that almost all of my posters are Star Wars (and other such media) related, but I have the most fun making them, because there are endless creative opportunities that can be utilized and thought of in such far-fetched and creative contexts! Well, I hope you all take a little peak into what I love to do and I certainly hope you enjoy what you see and explore! Give me feedback, too!! That's what every aspiring artist needs!

It is so fun to have such wonderful and fun opportunities to share such things with you all!

Elizabeth F.'s Graphic Design

Banners, and Tags, and Links, Oh My!

2008-01-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

Check out the bottom of my blog! There you will find links to some of my favorite sites! Have a look around and enjoy!

Another Day... Another Year...

2008-01-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

Wow. The year 2007 has already come and gone.

Yesterday, my dad assigned my brother and me to write a paper for school. The papers' setting was to be on December 31st of 2008, and we were to write as if we were looking back on our year of 2008. That night, we read our papers to the family (dad even wrote one, too). The papers were all very good (if I don't say so myself. ;) :joke: ), and it was neat to see what my brother and my dad wanted accomplished in 2008.

In conclusion, here is my essay where I give account of what I would like my year of 2008 to be like (of course, it's all up to God ;) ).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Year 2008 of My Life

A fictional essay written by Elizabeth F. on December 31st, 2007

A lot has happened to me this past year: turning 18, school and activities, and growing in Christ. Now sit back and enjoy my recap of this past wonderful year!

January was like any other January; however, I had an early birthday gift from the wonderful B. family. They treated me to dinner at an authentic Japanese restaurant. I had so much fun! The atmosphere was incredibly realistic and beautiful – I thought I was actually in Japan! We all sat at a very low table and sat on mats (I made sure I sat in the proper Japanese way), and we ate wonderfully traditional and totally different food! I had sticky, white rice (of course), Makizushi (which is sushi rolled up in dried seaweed), Sukiyaki (a dish made of noodles, edible chrysanthemum leaves, Tofu, and onions), and other such dishes of which I don’t know the names. The food was all very different, and unfortunately, I didn’t quite like all the dishes that I ordered. When were almost ready to leave, I thanked the nakai-san (the waitress) in Japanese. She looked pleasantly surprised, and said; ‘you’re welcome’.

January 20th, Michael and Nichole were married. It was so surreal; it was so hard to believe it had happened! The wedding was so neat, and it was quite and experience to be a bridesmaid. Nichole looked so beautiful in her dress and Michael looked very handsome in his Army Greens. It was all so beautiful and wonderful and fun!

On February ninth, I had my 18th birthday party. I had an Asian-styled birthday party, I invited many of my friends, and it was so fun! We all had fun playing Korean jacks, making origami projects, playing a Wii, learning short and simple Asian songs and phrases, and performing a small ensemble of songs from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, “The Mikado”. The food was very good! We had sticky, white rice (once again, of course), and there were several party platters from the Chinese/American restaurant, “Panda Express”, which had one of my favorite foods from the restaurant, orange fried chicken. Yummy! Because my birthday was three days after the beginning of the Chinese New Year, I gave everyone small Chinese and Asian-styled gifts, and everyone loved them. Oh, I had such a wonderful birthday!

In March and April, for my literature class, I read the book of Acts in the New Testament and all of Virgil’s Aeneid. Reading Acts was very uplifting (it was a whole ton better than the Aenied!) – I’ve learned that the New Testament is much easier to read and comprehend than the Old Testament. The Aenied was of course the typical Roman gods and goddesses stuff (yuck) but I did enjoy the writing and adventure of the storyline. I never thought that I would be one to enjoy stories such as Virgil’s Aeneid, and Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, but I guess my love for reading has made me appreciate the writing and adventures of those century-old stories.

My family celebrated a wonderful Mother’s Day. We all got Mom gifts and we ate cake and ice-cream and we played Mexican Trains, Scrabble, and Yahtzee, which was a lot of fun.
I also celebrated Hannah P.'s birthday with her. I couldn’t believe she had turned 17! I remember celebrating her 12th birthday! Wow, that is weird…

On Your Toes Studios was also preparing for its ballet performance, “With an Everlasting Love”, and Melissa asked if I could help with behind-the-scenes work. I went to all the main rehearsals and helped organize the little girl dancers (making sure they were in their correct line up for their dances, and such). It was fun to see my friends again, and to work with all of the dancers.

May 15th was my last literature class for the year. I really enjoyed having taken another year from Mrs. English. I had very good grades for that year. My average was “A”. At first I was a little disappointed, because last year my average was “A+”, but then I thought about it and realized that that “Classical Literature” was much harder than the previous year’s “English Literature”, and I had done my best in all I had done.

On Memorial Day, my family and I visited Jennifer’s grave, like we do every year. The visit was filled with memories and a little sadness. We all miss her. She would have been 13 years-old (which is kind of weird when you think about it. Where would my family be if she hadn’t died? I wonder how different my family would be as in interaction. It wasn’t, however, God’s plan to keep her with us. It was her time to go home, and I look forward to seeing her there.

On May 31st, OYT Studios had its ballet performance, “With an Everlasting Love”, which was an allegorical tale about God’s everlasting love for His chosen. It was set in Spain, and the music and choreography was very fun to watch. It was neat to see how much my friends’ dancing and acting had improved, and it was fun to work backstage.

Also in May was a music recital for Northwest Worship Academy. Christopher and I played a song together, and I also played a song with Hannah P.. Everyone did very well and all of the songs played were praiseworthy and God-glorifying.

June and July were two very fun months. My family celebrated Father’s Day, Independence Day, and I had lots of get-togethers with my friends. July 1st, was Canada day, and I sent a lot of funny cards out to friends (especially the L. family. They had quite a laugh out of it!).
One thing that was very encouraging about those two months was that I read a lot of the Bible and God revealed Himself so much to me. It was (and is) so beautiful to look at His everlasting grace and love.

August was pretty much all fun and games. My family and I just relaxed and did no activities. We did, however get ready for the upcoming school year.

In September, I started taking literature classes again. It has been my third year with Mrs. English and I am learning and studying American Literature. It is interesting to read stories by famous people I had heard about but never read their works. I can’t wait to read “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. I have heard from the other students that it is a very good story.

October, November, and December were pretty much the same: piano lessons, and literature class. Thanksgiving was just my family all together and it was a load of fun. Christmas was a lot of fun, too. It was fun to buy gifts for people (and to receive gifts!). To reflect on God’s Gift to us was a very beautiful time, as well…

I hope you have enjoyed me telling you about this past year. It has been such a joy and privilege to be able to tell you about how God had (and has) worked in my life, and the experiences and joys he has given me and my family.

"Paul, His Cloak, and His Books", by Charles Hadden Spurgeon

2008-01-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

II Timothy 4:13

‘The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments’

“He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He has had wider experiences than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up in the third heaven, and had heard things unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He has written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!

“The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every Christian, ‘Give thyself to reading’. The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own”.

Japanese Name Translation

2007-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

I found the neatest thing!

Go to the bottom of my blog, and see and hear your name written in Japanese!

Also check out the website: Japanese Name Translation

A Tribute to Calvin and Hobbes (Part III)

2007-11-28T18:29:00.000-08:00

Here is the third part of the Calvin and Hobbes series!

A Tribute to Calvin and Hobbes (Part III)

A Tribute to Calvin and Hobbes (Part II)

2007-11-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

Here is the second part of the Calvin and Hobbes series!

A Tribute to Calvin and Hobbes (Part II)

A Tribute to Calvin and Hobbes (Part I)

2007-11-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am posting a five-part series showcasing some of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes moments. However, this blog does not handle pictures very well, so I am posting the series on my other blog.

Enjoy and make sure you laugh! :)

A Tribute to Calvin and Hobbes (Part I)

Shirley Temple Drawing

2007-11-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

Four months ago, I posted the Shirley Temple Portrait Series, and for my final addition to the series, I have converted The "Dimples" portrait from black-and-white, to color.

~~~~~~~~~

Before . . .

and after!

I did all of the coloring and touch up by hand on Arcsoft PhotoImpression 3. Yes 'tis a pathetic program, I know, but it works! :)

I think the original drawing looks the best, but I do like the colored one, as well. Voice your opinion! :)

If you would like to see the pictures in a larger size, go to my blog of graphic art:

AnnaPavlovaFan

Happily Ever After

2007-11-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

I thought this quote from Ever After was funny:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Henry: Do you really think there is only one true mate?

Leonardo: As a matter of fact, I do.

Henry: Well, then how can you be certain to find them? And if you do find them, are they really the one for you, or do you only think they are?
And what happens to the person you’re supposed to be with – what if she never appears, or she does, but you’re too distracted to notice?

Leonardo: You learn to pay attention.

Henry: Then let’s say... God puts two people on earth and they are lucky enough to find one another. But - one of them gets hit by lightning. Well then what? Is that it? Or perchance you marry all over again – is that the lady you were supposed to be with or was it the first? And if so, if the both of them were walking side by side, were they both the one for you and you just happened to meet the first one first, or… was the second one supposed to be first?
And is everything just chance or... are some things meant to be.

Leonardo: You cannot leave everything to fate boy. She has a lot to do - sometimes you must give her a hand!

Places in the World I would like to go to…

2007-11-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

Some of the places in the world I would like to go to someday are:

Australia...

Because Australians are cool (and I love their accents!)

*

The Sydney Opera House in Australia boasts the largest display of fireworks on New Year's Eve.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

China ...

Because I like China

*
Beautiful China

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

France...

Because it would be neat to visit the palace of Versailles and other places

Eiffel Tower at dusk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Germany...

Because I’m learning German

Unter der Linde, East Berlin, Germany

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greece...

Because I’m reading ancient Greek and Roman mythology and it would be neat to visit some of the places I’m reading about

The Parthenon in Athens, Greece

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ireland...

Because the Irish are cool

Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Israel...

Because it would be really neat to visit Jerusalem and to walk where Jesus walked 2000 years ago

Golden Gate, Jerusalem, Israel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Italy...

Because I’m still studying ancient Greek and Roman mythology

Ruins of Pompeii, Italy, damaged by an earthquake in AD 63 and totally covered in AD 79 by the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Japan...

Because I love Japan!!!!!!

*
The Portland Japanese Garden

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Zealand...

Because you wouldn’t want to leave New Zealand out, now would you? Besides, I hear it’s pretty this time of year.

East Cape Island, New Zealand

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Russia...

Because Russians are awesome, and I love the language!

Early morning street scene, Moscow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

South Korea...

Because I love Korea!!!!!!

Confucian monastery, Seoul, South Korea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United Kingdom...

Because British accents are cool and it would be a neat place to visit.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK

Wales, UK

Isle of Wight, UK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vietnam...

Because I love Vietnam!!!

Cu Chi tunnels, Vietnam

Common mode of transport, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Hoi Anh, Vietnam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for sharing this journey with me across the world!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Countries are in alphabetical order)

~~ All pictures are the courtesy of "Webster's Encyclopedia 2005" unless otherwise noted: (e.g: * ) ~~

On the Outside and Barely Able to Look In

2007-10-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I heard about this new internet thing called “FaceBook”. What was it? I wondered. I heard mention that it was something like MySpace, except better. Well, in my opinion, if FaceBook was in any comparison with MySpace, I wasn’t going to get involved.

Soon after, however, I got 'invites' in emails from two friends of mine asking me to join FaceBook, and it made me curious as to what exactly FaceBook actually was. I asked two of my friends, but both of their responses were almost identical:

“Well, I can’t really explain it. You’ll just have to sign up and see for yourself”

I then started to get frustrated. Obviously, I wasn’t going to sign up for some internet site I knew nothing about. Then one day, I nearly begged a friend to tell me what FaceBook was, because no one else was giving me any hint whatsoever! He then told me that it is merely a place online to easily interact with people and post pictures and so on. He also mentioned that since many friends are using it, FaceBook can become very addicting and time-consuming, because you know, you just have to find out if your buddy put a ‘Post’ on your ‘Wall’! ;)

I was so relieved and I thought,

“Phew! I thought I was missing out on something. Besides, I don’t need any internet 'addictions' in my life, and I can get to know people well enough in person!”

Satisfied, I continued with my life. However, I would hear from my friends about all of their ‘going-ons’ on FaceBook, and I would get almost frustrated.

“Oh forget it, people!” I would think. “It’s just a silly internet site!”

A few weeks later, I heard about how many of my friends and more were using FaceBooks, and it started to don on me. All of these people were interacting, having fun, and getting to know one another with these FaceBooks. I started to think,

“Maybe getting a FaceBook wouldn’t be so bad. I could get to know a lot of people and get to know my friends a lot better. I could post and share cute pictures with my friends, and . . . Wait! What am I thinking?!? Ah! I can’t! I have too much on my plate! I don’t want to get addicted to FaceBook – because I know I will! No – I can’t!!”

Still the thoughts and longings to have fun with friends and getting to know people kept taunting me.

It would be as if you heard about this great and fun party at a friend’s house and everyone you knew was going to it. You show up somewhat late, but there is still a long line leading into the house. You watch the crowd for a while, filled with all of your friends and other people whom you’ve seen, but never talked to, and would like to get to know. This party would be the perfect place to socialize, get to know them, and have fun!

As you are still standing off to the side and watching the crowd, the last group enters the house, and you notice your best friend walking through the doorway. She notices you and stops and says with a smile,

“What are you waiting for? Come on! The party’s already started!”

You’re not really sure what to say, and in no time at all, you’re standing all alone on the lawn. You can hear the music and laughter coming from inside, and you go up to a window to see what’s going on.

“I know it would be easier and quicker for me to go in the house,” You think, “but I want to see what’s going on first”.

You notice that the curtains are drawn, and you can’t see a thing. With a sigh, you step back onto the front lawn and stare at the house. Music and laughter from people taunt you as you realize that you couldn’t possibly enter that house. You know that the party will last for hours and hours, and you don’t have that kind of time. It would be such a simple step of walking through that door, and letting the fun and socialization begin, but you just know you can’t risk it! So you stand there all alone . . . torn . . .

After what seems an eternity, your best friend comes outside to get some fresh air. She notices you and asks,

“Where on earth have you been? You’ve been missing out on all the action!”

You tell her your dilemma.

“Yeah, you’re totally right,” She says. “It is super fun in there, but it’s almost too much fun. I needed a break, so I came outside to get some air”.

She pauses and says, “But, yeah, I’m really sorry you don’t want to come in. I miss you in there”.

This makes you almost go insane. What do you do? Go with the ‘in crowd’ and have a blast with your friends and have sweet fellowship, or follow your convictions and feel completely left out of everything (and it wouldn’t be for the first time in your life)?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know it’s just a ‘fad’ and that everyone I know will have participated in it and then in a year or two it’ll all be gone. However, in that year, people will have gotten to know one another better (I mean, as much as people can get to know one another online), and I will have missed it all.

I don’t know . . . maybe my motivations are wrong for wanting to have a FaceBook. Maybe it’s just me wanting to be in with ‘the latest fad’ for once in my life, or to be ‘in’ with the ‘cool kids’ and get to know and hang out with them.

I’m sure there are some Bible verses to help me with this silly thing, but I cannot think of any, otherwise I probably would not have written this irrelevant post.

Your Music Tastes Shows Your Character

2007-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

The Big Red Button Game

2007-10-11T15:33:00.001-07:00

Warning:
Not recommended for people without humor

This is really silly, but I personally think it is hilarious!

So, go ahead and press The Big Red Button!!

Put The Big Red Button on your site

The Highlights of My Summer

2007-09-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

This past summer of 2007 had probably been the busiest summer of my life so far. It had been filled with get-togethers with friends and families, summer classes, vacations, and above all, growing in Christ. In this post, I will lead you through the sweet and forever memorable highlights of my summer of 2007.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My first “official” vacation of my life began in May, when my best friend, Hannah P. invited me to go with her and her family to a few of Oregon’s beaches. After traveling on a few-hours-long road trip, among other things, we stopped and visited the Tillamook cheese factory where we got some of the famous Tillamook ice-cream, which I thought was quite a treat. We then continued on our trip and stayed at three different time-shares where we experienced three different beaches; one of which was Cannon Beach (while we were driving through a small neighborhood in the Cannon Beach area, we saw several doe just standing in twos and threes munching grass and shrubbery!).

At whichever beach we would be staying, Hannah and I would walk the beaches several times daily. There we would comb the sands, looking for shells and unique rocks while we would let the waves chase us as we would laugh and giggle hysterically.

As I would watch the beautiful and powerful ocean, I would be in awe at God’s glory shining through His creation, and I would think how wonderful God was (and is) that He made all of it and gave it to us, His creation. The beautifulness of it all would make me want to cry with joy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another highlight in May was that Mother’s Day. My Dad had suggested to Christopher and me to gather pictures from photo albums of Michael and us when we were young, scan them onto a computer, and create a slideshow as a gift for our Mom. Scavenging through several photo albums and pictures on our computers, we gathered 69 photos and put them together into a delightful slideshow which was accompanied by some audios of our favorite movie quotes that went perfectly with some of the cutest and funniest pictures. Our Mom enjoyed it immensely.

One of the pictures featured in the slideshow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On June 2nd, I had the privilege and pleasure to be in On Your Toes Studios Ballet recital “The Promise” where I was blessed to play the lead role, Josie. The recital had been probably the most creative recital the studio had seen: it demonstrated some of the wonderful usages of dancers with props, and creative, yet simple sets all accompanied by imaginative and beautiful choreography and dancers.

One of my favorite pictures of the recital taken by a friend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also in June was my friend Lu'o'ng Linh's birthday and goodbye party (she was an exchange student from Vietnam, and she went by the name of Vivian). I had gotten to know her that past school year and we became friends. On June 10th, she hosted a birthday and goodbye party, because she was going to go back to Vietnam and her birthday was that week. Two of her Vietnamese friends were there whose names were Teresa and [oo-E-en] (I have no idea how to spell her name!).

We all immensely enjoyed playing Slap Jack together, and we were so hyperactive, that we would laugh and scream in hysterics almost the entire time (at least I know I did!)! We ate cake and ice-cream and we all gave gifts to Linh. I am so thankful that she has come back to Oregon and will remain here for a full year!

[oo-E-en], Teresa, Lu'o'ng Linh, and me (wearing a Vietnamese bracelet/hair-band I got from Linh :) )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On June 29th, I went over to Joelle L.’s house for a sleepover, and the next day, she and several of her friends and I went to Mount Tabor in Portland where we filmed portions of Amber C.’s medieval-fiction novel, “Chronicles”. All prepared with costumes and props, we had a wonderful time having fun and deciding what to do (we only filmed two shots in the few hours we were there). Later, we came back to Joelle’s house and shot a part of a scene that had many lines spoken by my character, Evelyn. After several takes and bloopers on my part, we finally finished part of the scene. Afterwards, when we all sat down and watched what we filmed, almost everyone commented on my acting abilities and I was indeed very pleased and humble.

Joelle took this picture of me while I was eating a “Barbossa Apple”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In July, A Friend invited me to go to the Lost Lake resort in Oregon, with her, her sisters, and three of her friends. There we had fun and delightful fellowship by canoeing, craw-dad catching, swimming, picking mulberries, and hiking. My most favorite of the activities was the canoeing, for those were the first times I had ever gone canoeing – not to mention the first times in boats!
As we would canoe across the vast lake, sometimes in the morning when mist and fog covered the lake and the treetops, I would sit and watch the fish jumping and the clouds slowly swirling around Mount Hood. The lake was so big, and Mount Hood was so enormous and beautiful! It made me realize how big Oregon really was. And if Oregon was big, the world was so much bigger than I had ever imagined! It once again brought me to God in awe and thankfulness.

Mount Hood from the view of the Lost Lake resort

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One day in the beginning of August, while visiting A Friend’s home, she told me something very interesting. She informed me that my room had nothing that glorified God in it. My room was dripping with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings related items which consisted of posters, bedding, toys, and books. She encouraged me that if I replaced them with God glorifying items, it would ultimately glorify God. At first I could not imagine taking down and putting away all of my items I had poured my money, time, and imagination into. However, as I thought about it, I realized it would be better for me in the end, because in fact I had recently begun to realize that I had made Star Wars and Lord of the Rings my idols and I almost constantly thought about them. I know that sounds childish for a seventeen year-old, but that’s the truth.

A few days later, I put away all of my Star Wars and Lord of the Rings items, and it made me feel so much better! It felt like I had a brand new start (the fact that it made my room looked bigger was pretty neat, as well)! I am looking forward to redecorating my room this upcoming year with God-glorifying items.

Before…

and After!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On August 19th, my oldest brother Michael came home from Army Airborne School. It was so wonderful to have him back! We spent a lot of time with him and his girlfriend, Nichole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On August 23rd, my family (accompanied with Michael and Nichole) all traveled to my Grandmother’s house in Astoria to celebrate her seventy-fifth birthday. Several other family members were there as well. We had a lot of fun and my Grandmother was completely surprised because she did not know that we all had the party planned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the 25th, while still in Astoria, my family, including Michael and Nichole and an Aunt and Uncle, went to the Astoria Column where we climbed the stairs to the top. After enjoying the sights and views, Michael dropped to one knee and asked Nichole to be his wife. She accepted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael left on the first of September to go to Oahu, Hawaii, where he will be stationed for two years. He and Nichole plan to have their wedding in the December Christmas break of this year if Michael is not transferred to Iraq. If he does get transferred, they will have to have the wedding after his two years of enlistment is up.

On our way to the airport: Michael, Me, Nichole, and Christopher

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for letting me share the highlights of my summer of 2007 with you. It was a very good summer filled with sweet fellowship and memories.

An Anniversary...

2007-09-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

I have found out that I have had my blog for approximately a year and eight days today!

Here is my very first post I published on the 29th of August, 2006:

Welcome. . . to Lasso the Moon

I have also had my other updated blog for approximately a year and ten days! There I publish my graphic art and other fun projects I work on. I encourage you to check it out! :)

AnnaPavlovaFan

A Special Surprise...

2007-08-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

On August 25, at the top of the Astoria Column, my brother Michael asked his girlfriend, Nicole to be his wife.

They plan to get married around the Christmas season break when Michael will be back for a short leave from his station in Hawaii (he is enlisted in the Army).

Shirley Temple Portrait series (Part IV "Dimples")

2007-07-10T14:27:00.001-07:00

Here is the last portrait in this series. So far, this is the best picture I have ever drawn in my life, and that is very encouraging because I had not drawn anything for months when I drew it.

Since there were so many choices, I asked my mom to help pick which doll that I should draw and she suggested the “Dimples” Shirley doll because of the shading techniques and the 3D look. It turned out great – thanks mom! :)

This drawing has rekindled the love I have for drawing, and I am looking forward to drawing many more pictures of the adorable Shirley Temple and others!

Read: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Shirley Temple Portrait series (Part III "Stand Up and Cheer")

2007-07-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

Another drawing of Shirley Temple. :)

Read: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Shirley Temple Portrait series (Part II "The Little Princess")

2007-07-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

This is my second drawn portrait of Shirley Temple. I'm sorry that it was drawn on lined writing paper, but I have learned my lesson from that.

After I drew this I thought that no other drawing that I drew could ever compare to this. It was however, was put to shame by my latest drawing, which I believe is the best drawing I have ever done in my life. It will be posted in the next two days.

Read: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Shirley Temple Portrait series (Part I "The Littlest Grand Marshal")

2007-07-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have always had a fascination with Shirley Temple. Whenever I would go over to my grandparent's house when I was younger, I would always watch at least one of the many Shirley Temple movies my grandma had in her collection. I believe my favorite Shirley Temple movie is "Little Miss Marker", which is about how Shirley melts the hearts of a gang of hardened gamblers when she is left as an IOU or "marker" for debt. It is very comical and Shirley was as cute as ever.

A few years ago, my grandma got me a porcelain doll of Shirley Temple. The doll was fashioned after a portrait of Shirley when she was appointed as Grand Marshal of the 50th annual Rose Parade in 1939. I loved (and still love) the doll so much and I drew a small portrait of it in my journal (Above picture).

Knowing that I had such a fascination with Shirley Temple, my grandma later sent me many brochures of Shirley Temple porcelain dolls by the "Danbury Mint". Each brochure featured an absolutely adorable and incredibly life-like porcelain doll of Shirley. These portraits inspired me to capture what the doll artists had captured in the form of drawn portraits. So far I have drawn four portraits (including the above picture), and I have taken pleasure in drawing and capturing every detail in each one. My other later drawings are much, much better than the first one I drew (above), so please don't think I'm just blabbering on about nothing. ;)

I will consecutively post more of my portraits over the next upcoming days. Stay Tuned!

Read: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Independence Day

2007-07-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

July 4, 2007: the 231st anniversary of our nation’s independence.

Comments Problem Resolved

2007-06-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my friend Hannah alerted me that her comments were not being allowed into my blog. I had no idea what was going on and tried to fix it, when I realized that when I updated my blog to the "New Blogger", I inadvertently set up the comment moderation as "Only registered users" could comment. I am terribly sorry for this mistake, and I have now fixed it. Now please feel free to comment as much as you want! I am very much looking forward to them! ;)

Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-17T14:20:00.001-07:00

Click on the picture, and you will be able to view it as its original animated GIF file

The Phantom of the Opera is There Inside My Mind (and it’s driving me crazy!)

2007-06-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went over to a friend’s house and we were going to watch the acclaimed movie, “The Phantom of the Opera”. I was very excited and I could not wait to see it. We grabbed snacks and popcorn, turned off the lights and my friends failed to inform me to get ready for a romantically huge disappointment of a chic-flick.

In my opinion, some books that were meant to stay books should stay books, and some operas that were meant to stay operas, should stay operas. Because "The Phantom of the Opera" was originally an opera (well, first a book), there were many very peculiar elements throughout the movie that obviously would not been able to happen in real life. Yes, I know it’s a musical, and lovers singing to each other before they kiss is so romantic, but I mean come on – where is the music coming from when the Phantom makes his grand entrance at the masquerade, and why on earth would you be singing if a complete stranger was taking you to his deep and wet lair? (By the way, Christine’s faint was a complete disappointment – I mean come on, it’s a chic-flick! You can faint more dramatically and romantically than that!).

There were many other weird elements as well, such as golden arms holding burning candles in a corridor that moved out of the way as Christine and the Phantom passed (that were not there when Meg ventured into the corridor! Moreover, why would she still be wearing her pointe shoes – especially when walking in a wet, rat-infested corridor? I have no idea – those things cost at least sixty bucks a pair! She did have very good turnout when she walked, I can credit her that). Furthermore, the fact that every song was dubbed in, and you could tell it was dubbed in, made the movie just the more disappointing.

Moreover, what was with the 1980’s music when the Phantom leads Christine to his lair?! It was an awesome song, but why, why ‘80’s style music with electric guitars and the like?? Oh well. It was still a surprisingly great song . . .

*sigh* If the Phantom wasn’t so demented, estranged, and obsessive, he’d be a pretty cool guy – I mean just look at his cloak! That had to have been the coolest cloak I had ever seen (besides Darth Sidious’ black Sith robe ;) ). I especially loved the way he would throw his cape away with the coolest black gloves!! He also had an excellent singing voice, along with being extremely romantic! *sighs dramatically and faints away*

. . . Oh, why did Raoul have to come into the picture? Why couldn’t have Christine and the Phantom just lived happily and romantically in the Phantom’s lair singing love songs to each other? :p Well, then I suppose that would be the end of the movie and then where would the awesome sword fight come into play? By the way, that was an impressive sword fight – especially with the Phantom’s swirling black cape!

Christine is so lucky – I wish I had the Phantom as my own “angel of music”. Well… I wouldn’t want him to be as nearly as demented, but I would want him to be just as creepily cool with the awesome cape, black gloves, and of course, the mask.

One more thing – despite the fact that a few of the dresses were very pretty and extravagant, almost all of them were completely immodest. I just wanted to point that out ;) .

I could rattle on and on about all of the little things I disliked about the movie, but don’t get me wrong, I do like “The Phantom of the Opera”, and if I had a chance to watch it again, I would (I would just fast-forward to all of the scenes with the Phantom ;) ). I know that all of my friends will be disappointed in me because I don’t completely appreciate the movie, but I can’t help it! I rarely like “chic-flicks”. There are only a few, such as "Emma" (oh, I love Mr. Knightly!) and "Ever After" that I really enjoy, but give me "Star Wars", "The Last Samurai", "Pearl Harbor", "The Patriot", "Independence Day", "Star Trek: First Contact", "Galaxy Quest", or "The Incredibles" any day! However, I do enjoy romantic movies once in a while. . . and if I have the chance to watch “The Phantom of the Opera” again, I will.

More Memories of Memorial Day

2007-06-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

My mom made this slide show of my precious little sister Jennifer.

Memories on Memorial Day

2007-05-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago today, my little sister Jennifer went to be with the Lord.

1995 - Jennifer and Dad before Jennifer's open-heart surgery

Sisters

Bouncin'

Jennifer's 1st birthday

Jennifer's 2nd birthday

Ten years ago on Memorial Day

요한복음 3장 16절 (Hangeul - John 3:16)

2007-05-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

하나김이 세상을
이처럼 사랑하사
독생자를 주셨으니
이는 저를 믿는 자
마다 멸망치 않고
영생을 얻게 하려
하심이 니라

요한복음 3장 16절

English Translation:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

~ John 3:16 ~

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl reenactment

2007-05-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

Watch this hilarious re-enactment of a famous scene in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl!

~ Elizabeth F.

God Made Me Who I Am

2007-04-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

An Ancient Art: Japanese calligraphy.
Enchanting and beautiful black ink script spell the four seasons (from right to left): spring, summer, fall, and winter. (This is my first try at the most famous of Asia’s traditional arts)

Last night, as I was staring at my first piece of Japanese artwork, I was entirely filled with glee – smiling ear to ear and nearly giggling with delight. I love Asia and its culture and Japan is on my “top favorite places in the world to go to someday” list. I was and still am so happy and ecstatic that I had pulled off my first Asian project.

First, let me give you a little history about me: I love Asia and for years, I have always wanted to be Asian. There is something about the beautiful, shiny black hair and distinct Oriental eyes that captivates me. I have sometimes thought about what kind of names I might have if I were Asian and what nationality I would want to be (mainly Japanese but more recently Korean or Vietnamese). Whenever I see an Oriental person, I am immediately drawn to them. Unfortunately, I seem to view them as a wonderful and glorious people group but then I realize that they are just the same as regular human beings with degenerate sin natures who need Jesus Christ as much as I do.

Back to last night: Still ecstatic, as I walked away from the corner of my room dedicated to all things Asian, a thought suddenly flashed in my mind from out of no where.

If I was Asian, I would not have the same appreciation for the Oriental culture as I do now.

“PRAISE GOD!!!” I thought. That had never occurred to me before and I am certain it could not have been my own thought but that God told me that wonderful and glorious truth. I was so grateful and thanked God so much that He loved me. It was such an incredible and wonderful revelation that I wanted to cry with joy! He loves me so much and made me who I am so that I could appreciate the Oriental culture in a way I could probably never do if I was Asian!

Here are some verses on this breathtaking and beautifully magnificent truth:

Psalm 139

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.
For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
[Such] knowledge [is] too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].

[If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against thee wickedly, [and] thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 1:4-6

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to
the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Revelation 1:4-6

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you, God for making me who I am. Thank you for making me Your Child! Your beautiful, wonderful, and sovereign grace has saved me, Lord and I am forever grateful to You. You are amazingly beautiful for who You are, Lord. Thank you, God.

~ Elizabeth F.

"The Morning I Heard the Voice of God" By John Piper

2007-03-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

I must recommend this article from John Piper! It is amazingly wonderful!

Japanese Barbie

2007-03-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

In some of our "junk" mail that my family receives almost every day, we got a Barbie catalogue a few days ago. In it were collector edition Barbie dolls whose cost ranged from twenty dollars to two hundred dollars. As I was skimming through the pages of exquisite dolls, I came across this one.

"A picture means a thousand words" (in other words: I have such a love for Japan and its culture).

P.S.
I even did some editing work on the picture: in the bottom left area of the page, there was text describing the doll and its cost. Also, the black border around the edges were torn (becuase I cut the page out of the catalogue), so I cropped it and added my own black border. In addition, the whole picture was lop-sided, but that was easily fixable. :)

Jennifer

2007-01-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

(Jennifer and me - her second birthday, 1997)

Today is my little sister's birthday. She would be twelve years old. She passed away in 1997 at two years of age due to heart falure. I've always remembered the day she passed away and her funeral. They have always been clear images in my mind. But I remember very little else about her. I remember her first Christmas, her second birthday, the day she almost walked on her own, but nothing else. And the fact that I forget her birthday makes me feel even more terrible.

Two nights ago, I was getting ready for bed and I stopped and looked at her "Tickle Me Elmo" doll. The day she died, her nurse, Tom, was going to give her that Elmo. His two children had saved up their money by saving bottles and cans to buy Elmo for her. She never got to see it. So, Tom gave Elmo to me and told me to take good care of him. As I looked at Elmo, I realized how I never really think of Jennifer. I sometimes forget that I had a sister and that she is my sister. I don't understand how we can just forget our family and friends who have passed on. But we can't dwell on them our whole lives. I don't know...

I really wanted to find a verse to end this post on a good tone, but I couldn't find one.

(Jennifer - 13 months old)

----------------------------

I have really been encouraged by my mom's post. God is so great and merciful, but most of all sovereign.

The Five Points of Calvinism

2006-12-22T17:22:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for gingerbread

2006-12-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

(My younger brother eating our completed gingerbread house - 2006 )

I love making gingerbread houses. It's so fun to make every little detail you can on the house out of candy: icicles, doorways, windows, shingles, ect. My younger brother and I made the gingerbread house in the picture really sloppy and funny, so our family could eat it straight afterwards. It was a very interesting house. ;:/

This gingerbread house was made a few years ago and it was the greatest my family had ever made. We really enjoyed making it.

Not only did we use white frosting for snow, but also powdered sugar to give it a powdery effect :) . We used upside-down ice cream cones for fir trees, and made a path of sprinkles bordered by gumdrops.

I believe it was my younger brother's idea to cover a gingerbread man with frosting to make him look like a snowman. :)

In addition, we used a fork to pull down the frosting off of the roof's edges to make icicles. A tuft of cotten was used for the chimney's smoke, and a frozen pond completed the cute little scene.

I think that out of the three catagories: making the house, looking at it, or eating it, I would have to say that making the house together as a family is the most rewarding.

Journey to Bethlehem

2006-12-13T15:48:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the "Journey to Bethlehem" in Kelos, WA. It was a wonderful reenactment and I just had to write about it. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bitter cold bit my cheeks as I walked through the packed parking lot toward the entryway of the Kelso-Longview Community Seventh-day Adventist Church, anxiously awaiting my journey to Bethlehem…

Christmas trees greeted me in the foyer as I waited restlessly for my group number to be announced. Meanwhile, I talked with friends and listened to the many musicians and singers who performed various Christmas songs and hymns.

After two hours of impatient waiting, the group and I get to go on our journey:
A Jewish man pulled the black curtain aside and excitedly invited the group to embark on the “ninety mile” journey to the city of Bethlehem. He, along with his cousin Sarah, handed out small scrolls (the taxes) and explained to us that we must travel to Bethlehem to pay our taxes to Caesar. Also, if any Roman soldiers were to stop us, the group was to respond that they were of the family of David and they were from Nazareth.

After walking down a path lit with torches, we passed a small camp of lepers, crying “unclean!” and begging for mercy. It was a very pitiful, sad, and disturbing sight.

We came across a tent and asked if we could take shelter there. After a woman passed around a small basket of crackers to the group, Gamaleel, a scribe, opened a scroll, and read to us a verse from Isaiah about awaiting the prophesied birth of the Messiah. After he explained the importance of the text, we thanked the residents for their hospitality, and continued on our journey.

We passed an old man, begging for alms, and came to the gates of Bethlehem. The Jewish man told the group that they were going to encounter the Roman soldiers soon, and that we were not to resist them.

A Roman soldier guarding the entrance was snapping his whip, demonstrating his brute force. When the Jewish man asked permission to enter the city, the soldier yelled at him saying that the city was full because of the census, and commanded us to leave. The Jewish man humbly offered him a coin, nearly begging him that they enter the city. The soldier took the coin and eyed it selfishly. He then reluctantly, but harshly shouted, “All right! But move along!”
I passed through the gates and dozens of sights, sounds, and smells met me. As I traveled through the city, I was tempted by venders and merchants, who crowded the streets, shouting – attempting to lure me to buy their products.

People, as well as animals crowded the streets. There were sheep, rams, doves, a donkey, and even a camel!

We hurried along until we come to an inn, hoping to seek shelter there. But the innkeeper laughed at us saying, “How many of you do I have to turn away?” He turned toward me and declared, “I don’t even have enough room for you in my stables!”

Disappointed, the Jewish man led us away to travel through the streets until we came along a group dancing to music. When asked why they were celebrating, a woman playing the tambourine said it was because God had been good to them and that they had a successful crop that year. We joined in the happy assembly, clapping along with the music, until a Roman soldier interrupted and demanded who we were and what our business was in Bethlehem. After explaining our situation, we were commanded to pay our tribute to Caesar.

A centurion on a horse appeared from the shadows and he commanded that the group be formed into two lines and face him so he could “keep an eye on [the] peasants.” The horse’s head was almost right next to mine and I had never been that close to a horse before. I could barely resist the urge to pet its nose. However, I knew that if I had petted it, the soldiers would have yelled at me.

After entering a large tent, hearing a speech from the tax collector, we payed our taxes, and emerged out of the city. Walking along, we came across shepherds sitting next a small campfire, when suddenly a woman dressed in white and gold appeared on the top of a large boulder and proclaimed to the shepherds that a Savior had been born and that they would find the baby in a manger. We followed the shepherds to a small cave to observe Mary and Joseph huddled over their precious baby, the Savior.

After the Jewish man and his cousin thanked the group for accompanying them on their journey and leave, we departed from the era of two thousand years ago and entered the present, where hot apple cider awaited us…

2006-12-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

"Join other Christian young men and women in TheRebelution.com’s new and exciting project: The Modesty Survey. The Modesty Survey allows any girl to submit anonymous, modesty-related questions to Christian guys and to receive (multiple) anonymous replies. It’s the discussion you’ve always wanted to have."

~~~~~~~

This is a perfect opportunity to not only get a look into the minds of the two sexes, but to discuss a very important subject. In this modern age, modesty gets thrown out the window.

The Messenger's 2nd Publication!

2006-12-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

We have published the second publication of The Messenger!

The publishers of The Messenger have given me permission to post my articles that have been published in the newspaper, along with any of my writing assignments for the club - The National Association of Christian Homeschool Journalism Clubs (NACHJC).

This is my article that was published in the second publication of The Messenger.

Eighteen-year-old Elected Mayor of Union

On November 8, unofficial election results showed 415 write-in votes, all in favor of Kyle Corbin, to be elected mayor of Union, Oregon. It was a write-in campaign because Corbin was seventeen during the time of the election. He turned eighteen five weeks later.

Corbin is a college freshman at Eastern Oregon University, where he is majoring in politics, philosophy and economics. In his senior year, he was the student body president at Union High School, where he was known for his good leadership capabilities. Jerry Matthews, a counselor at Union High School said, "His skills as a leader will amaze some of the older people he will work with [on the city council]. He has maturity beyond his years.''

In a private interview, Kyle Corbin expressed his reasons for deciding to become mayor and shared his political views.

Messenger: What made you decide to run for Mayor?

Corbin: I’ve grown up in Union my entire life. I had seen people I had looked up to and respected my whole life; [I got] the arguments on the street, [and went] to city council meetings about political issues. And it’s kind of disheartening to see things like [political misfortunes] happen in your town. It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody and when stuff like that happens, it’s kind of bad. So I decided, what better way to do my part, now that I’m old enough to do my part, and run for public office.

Messenger: What do you plan to accomplish during your term?

Corbin: Hopefully, at first to garnish and harbor respect, because you can’t really get anything else without that. That’s step one.

Messenger: Do you have any actual plans you want to accomplish?

Corbin: I want for Union what basically any mayor would want for their town. Things like economic development [and] creating jobs.

Messenger: You said that one of your main goals was to gain respect, and since you are perhaps the youngest mayor in Oregon’s history, are you worried about how people in Union’s city council will view you?

Corbin: I totally expect it to be difficult at first to gain the respect of the councilors that are older and more experienced than I am. I don’t expect to have respect just because I’m the mayor; I have to earn it. And in turn, they have to earn my respect as well. But we’ll get through it and we all want what’s best for Union and we’re all going to work together to try to make that happen.

Messenger: How much time do you think your duties as mayor will require?

Corbin: Probably as much time as I choose to put into it. I want to do the best job I can do. It’s going to be hard work and it’s going to take a lot of time, but it’s worth it, I think.

Messenger: Do you think you will be able to balance that with any of your College plans and your other duties?

Corbin: Yeah, I think so. There’s a lot of people here at the city that work hard and know what they’re doing, and they’re willing to help and so I think we can definitely balance that time.

Messenger: Who are your role models that perhaps influenced your political views?

Corbin: Anybody willing to step up and do what they think is best for their town or their country or whatever it might be is a role model to me.

Messenger: You regularly attended Union’s city council meetings. What motivated you to go to them?

Corbin: You hear things around town about things that have went on, but you don’t really know for sure. My mom worked at City Hall for a while, my grandmother’s on the planning commission, and my aunt used to be on the budget committee. And you hear all this stuff and you really don’t know if any of it’s true so I decided that I would go to some of these meetings and see what I could find out for myself.

Messenger: A lot of 18 year-olds don’t even consider voting, let alone running for office. What do you think makes you different from most people your age?

Corbin: I think anybody, whether they’re eighteen or seventy-five, has an opinion and has things that they feel strongly about. It just takes determination and the willingness to step up and try to get your opinions heard and make a difference to make things happen. I don’t think I’m really any different than any other eighteen year old. I just decided to do something about it. That’s the biggest difference, I guess.

Messenger: What are your views on the illegal immigration crisis?

Corbin: I definitely agree that it’s a problem. I think that our country definitely needs immigrants; they’re very valuable and our country was built on originally with immigrants. We need some sort of a structure instead of this free flow of people across our border. It causes a lot of issues [like] national security issues. I think that we need to create some sort of system that makes it fairly easier than it is now for people who want to immigrate to our country to actually get to do that in somewhat of a timely fashion. We need these people in our country to support our way of life and if they want to live here then I think that they should be able to, but they’re going to have to do it legally. And I think we need some sort of enforced system to make that happen.

Kyle Corbin will be sworn in on January 2nd.

"Everybody's goal is to make Union a better place. They just have different ideas about how to get there,'' Corbin said. "Sometimes dramatic change is needed. It might be that a kid mayor is what is needed to bring people together.''

Congrats NACHJC!

2006-11-08T11:57:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the National Association of Christian Homeschool Journalism Clubs for its first newspaper publication of The Messenger!

The club began two months ago, where just seven students met with a passion to write and the desire to inform the public of the three different types of news: things people need to know, what they have a right to know, and what they want to know. Our first paper covered all three!

The students - including me - had to do a lot of preparation before we could publish a newspaper. We had many writing projects and assignments, where we learned about how to write quickly, precisely, and most importantly, how to write well.

Then we had to decide on a name for the newspaper. After the students submitted dozens of names, we voted on the top four and the result was The Messenger. Following more writing exercises, each student picked a topic of his/her choice to submit into the newspaper. We had two weeks to gather information on the subject, write it and send it to our publisher.

I know for myself that I benefited from these past two months of reading, writing, and researching. Furthermore, it was very exciting to see the results of everyone’s hard work in our own newspaper.

I am very much looking forward to our next publication.

The Japanese equivalent for Here, Here, Here!

2006-10-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have always had a fascination for Japanese art and its culture – excluding the religion. I do not know how or when this adoration came about, but I just go crazy – in a good way : ) – whenever I see anything that is Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and more currently, Korean. I have no idea how I got so interested in Asian things; I know it did not come from my parents and I do not have Asian relatives much to my disappointment.

A couple years of ago, much to my amazement, awe, and sheer ecstatic-ness, my mom got me a Japanese kimono. Unfortunately, it is either incomplete, or it is not an actual kimono, because all it has is a sash to tie the kimono together. Anyway, I had never been quite sure for what exact purpose to use it - I could use for a production of the Mikado and be Yum-Yum, but I totally do not have a soprano type voice.

Later, I acquired a black wig. It is not very attractive. The style is cropped short, layered, and has huge ghastly bangs. I was definitely not sure what to use that for, either.

Therefore, they both just sat in my room for a couple years.

I then got a 007 game for my 15th birthday, in which the game was set in Japan, and obviously, I got tons of screenshots. I pondered and pondered of what purpose to use them, until a couple of weeks ago, I had a bright idea. I took the wig, pinned the hair back, put a flower in it, put on socks, flip-flops, and my kimono, borrowed my mom’s digital camera, and took many pictures.

Editing my face on my computer by putting makeup on my face, I then added myself into different screenshots I took of the 007 game.

After years of wanting to be Japanese, I finally got my wish. : )

Isaiah 55

2006-09-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

1
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2
Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.

4
Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5
Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8
For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9
For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.

13
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off.

Why Pro Life? Part IV

2006-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

This is the second part of my mom's story about her first pregnancy and why she chose life for her child instead of an abortion.

Where There's Life, There's Hope (Part 2)

"Is this okay?" the nurse looked at me cautiously, knowing my medical history. "I can give you a referral for a doctor in the city." What was she saying to me? Is she offering to set up an abortion for my baby? I have a baby?! My mind was racing and immediately I was filled with joy indescribable, and a little fear. "I'm going to have a baby!" my soul cried out on the inside, while a smile formed on my face. The nurse was concerned, and tried to gently remind me of my diabetes and how hard a pregnancy would be with it. All I could think about was this tiny baby growing inside. I had an immediate reassurance in my heart that God was going to take care of me and the baby, regardless of whether I had a husband or not, like the pastor had told me. "I'm going to keep my baby," I told the nurse with a smile.
"I'm going to have a baby!" my soul cried out on the
inside, while a smile formed on my face.

After I left the appointment I started praying fervently to know what to do next. I needed to tell my boyfriend, so I called him and we met at his apartment. I told him the news and also told him I was trusting God to take care of me and that I wasn't pressuring him to marry me. He immediately told me he wanted to marry me and we got married in the Fall of that year.

As I read more of the Bible I was filled with a sense of responsibility to protect the life of my child, and that meant to stop hurting my body with the eating disorder I struggled with. As soon as I read a verse in the book of 1st Corinthians, I immediately had no desire to hurt my body, and especially my baby's body. The pregnancy was considered high-risk with the diabetes and I ended up in the hospital a couple of times for low-blood sugars as well as pre-eclampsia, and our son was born at around 37 weeks. He was beautiful and healthy with strong lungs. He just was a little guy, weighing in at only 2 1/2 pounds. It took him over 40 days to gain 2 pounds in the NICU, but was the cutest baby I had ever seen. God had protected my baby from any serious complications, despite all the medical issues I had dealt with during the pregnancy. My son is now 20 years old and is serving in the military.

My hope is that if some woman who is considering an abortion because she thinks it will be too difficult to handle, or she's too afraid of raising a child alone or is just not aware of the facts of the baby's humanity in the womb, that she would hear this account of my hope in the midst of a desperate situation and decide to carry her baby to term. There is hope for those who feel afraid and alone. You are not alone; there is help and hope for you and your baby.

Kathleen

________

If you or someone you know is pregnant and considering abortion and needs help, please visit the Pregnancy Resource Center in your local area.

Resources for information and help:

Pregnancy Facts

Stand Up Girl

Post-Abortion Support

Information and Support

Why Pro-Life? (Randy Alcorn)

Read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Why Pro Life? Part III

2006-09-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

In this post, I have asked my mom to share her story about her first pregnancy and why she chose life for her child instead of an abortion.

Where There's Life, There's Hope

"You're not only pregnant, you're about 3 months along," the county health nurse told me as I sat in the exam room, not fully comprehending what she told me. I was 19-years-old, in a job that barely paid enough to live on, and I had just broken up with my boyfriend. These things were only compounded by the fact that I had insulin-dependent diabetes and an eating disorder that I had struggled with for years. This was my second pregnancy test in the last 3 months. I had taken one that showed negative at the same clinic just about 3 months earlier, but had missed my cycles all those months. Something had definitely changed in my life since then and I knew in my heart God had His Hand in the midst of all those details.

Before I had taken the negative pregnancy test 3 months earlier, my boyfriend and I discussed what we should do if it turned up positive and he suggested that we should go to the city and have an abortion. My heart sank then, and I just felt that he didn't love me enough to marry me and raise a child together. I agreed, very sadly, though I had never formed an opinion on abortion before. Of course a pregnancy meant a baby, but the actual implications of "aborting" a pregnancy never entered my mind as being equal to "killing a baby."

My boyfriend and I were invited to attend a small rural church with one of his co-workers. When Sunday came, he was unable to attend and encouraged me to go. When I got there I was greeted by silver-haired men and women who genuinely took an interest in me and the following Sunday I brought my boyfriend with me. There, we learned the Bible, struggled with our sin and met with the pastor who began teaching us the Bible. I wanted to be married and raise a family, but my boyfriend was not ready yet. So, during those 3 months our relationship became more and more strained, we broke up and eventually I moved out and got my own small apartment. My pastor encouraged me to place my faith in Jesus Christ and that God would care for my needs, like a husband. I cried out to God and knew that I needed Him to help me in every aspect of my life. I started trusting Him the day my boyfriend and I broke up. Little did I know the times of trusting God were just beginning.

If you or someone you know is pregnant and considering abortion and needs help, please visit the Pregnancy Resource Center

Coming up: Why Pro Life Part IV

Read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Why Pro Life? Part II

2006-09-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

This last month, I read the book Why Pro Life? by Randy Alcorn. This is the second Randy Alcorn book that I have read. It has helped me see so much that I never knew about abortion. I was so amazed at all of the scientific information he provided and his Godly insight.

Using incredible sources of information, including abortionists’ own words, he reveals the significance of human life and how it begins at conception. The italicized parts are from his book:

Dr. Alfred M. Bongioanni, professor of obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania, stated, “I have learned from my earliest medical education that human life begins at the time of conception…human life is present throughout this entire sequence from conception to adulthood…any interruption at any point throughout this time constitutes a termination of human life.”
Page 26

He explains how a Fetus is a human being and how that human being is not a part of his mother’s body. Like how a car parked in the garage doesn’t mean that it’s a part of the garage. This illustration is so simple to understand, yet so many women (and men) are blinded to this fact.
For example, since many people think that a Fetus is a part of the woman’s body, why would they destroy it? Why would they eliminate a part of their body?

Pro-choice advocates argue,
“Every woman has the right to choose what she does with her own body.”
Ironically, the choice of abortion assures that at least 650,000 females in the U.S. each year don’t have the right to choose what they do with their bodies. (That number is roughly half of aborted children, the other half being males.) A female killed by abortion no longer has a life, a choice, or a body to exercise control over.
More girls than boys are now being killed by abortion [because of sex-selected abortions]. To kill an unborn female is to kill a young woman. There can be no equal rights for all women until there are equal rights for unborn women.
Page 61

Mr. Alcorn wrote,
Peter Singer, the Princeton ethics professor, wrote,
“The life of a fetus is of no greater value than the life of a nonhuman animal at a similar level of rationality, self-consciousness, awareness, capacity to feel, ect.”
(… he also believes there’s a moral justification for killing the elderly.)
Page 48

I was astounded when I read this. I thought,
“He believes it is right to murder a human being just because he or she hasn’t yet reached a certain level of development? And he’s an ethics professor?”
Then that would mean that it’s all right for an eight year-old to be murdered just because he hasn’t reached the level of development as the eighteen year-old standing next to him.

Does abortion harm a woman’s physical and mental health? I was somewhat surprised to learn that yes, it most definitely does.

In her testimony before a Senate subcommittee in 2004, Dr. Elizabeth Shadigan testified that “abortion increases rates of breast cancer, placenta previa, preterm births, and maternal suicide… Statistically, all types of deaths are higher with women who have induced abortions.
Page 69

If that is the case, why don’t abortionists inform women of the risks of abortion? Why do they think that abortion is the only way?

In surveys of women who experienced post abortion complications:
1. Over 90 percent said they weren’t given enough information to make an informed choice.
2. Over 80 percent said it was very unlikely they would have aborted if they had not been so strongly encouraged to abort by others, including their abortion counselors.
3. Eighty-three percent said they would have carried to term if they had received support from boyfriends, families, or other important people in their lives.

Every woman deserves better than abortion.
Page 74-75

Coming up: Why Pro Life? Part III

Read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Why Pro Life? Part I

2006-08-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was watching the news with my mom. A news report came on about how pregnant women are worried that their worrying too much will affect their babies. As the report continued the reporter explained that worrying will not stress or affect the baby. The whole time I was watching, I expected the reporter to say Fetus, and by the end of the report I was surprised that she hadn’t said it once.

I then turned to my mom and said,

“It’s funny how when a baby is wanted it’s called a baby, but when it’s unwanted it’s called a Fetus.”

When people say the word baby, they have acknowledged that human life. When they say Fetus, they deny that human life and regard it as just a part of the woman, like an organ. Did you know that the word Fetus is a Latin word variously translated “offspring”, “young one”, or “little child”? So if pro-abortionists use the term Fetus, why haven’t they acknowledged that human life?

I have been raised in a Christian home. Both my dad and my mom are pro-life and I have always been pro-life. I have always known that abortion is aborting a human life for someone else’s convenience.

Clarification: Abort:
1. To fail, cease, or stop at an early or premature stage.
2. To put down or quell in the early stages.
3. To cause to cease or end at an early or premature stage.
4. To develop incompletely; remain in a rudimentary or undeveloped state.
5. To cause to bring forth (a fetus) from the uterus before the fetus is viable.
Random House Webster’s Unabridged Talking Dictionary

Abort:
1. To cause or to end prematurely
2. To cause abortion of.
Oxford American Dictionary

Last year I went through a science book that listed and explained some abortion procedures. As I read each procedure, I was so horrified, disgusted, and so deeply saddened, I wept. But that was just a glimpse at the world of abortion. The book, Why Pro Life? by Randy Alcorn opened my eyes even more on abortion not only in the scientific way, but the spiritual way as well.

Read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

2006-08-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Lasso the Moon

2006-08-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

My name is Elizabeth and I am almost 17 years old. Lasso the Moon refers to a quote from It’s A Wonderful Life. George Bailey offered to lasso the moon for Mary; the moon representing her hopes and dreams and God-given desires.

Here I express my hopes, dreams, desires, aspirations, and my overall longing to reaching heavenward. I press on in Christ as he matures me into the woman He has ordained me to be before the foundation of the world.

My mom gave me a little book of proverbs and scriptures today. Here are a few I found very inspiring:

Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many –
not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Charles Dickens

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man
that trusteth in him.
Psalms 34:8

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 22:4

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Philippians 4:11

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Proverbs 16:3

Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, and counting your
blessings before they’ve hatched.
Unknown

You can make more friends in two months by becoming
interested in other people than you can in two years by trying
to get people interested in you.
Dale Carnegie

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth
forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Matthew 7:16-18

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man,
and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he
will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:8, 9

He who has not tasted bitter does not know what sweet is.
German Proverb

We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were
only joy in the world.
Helen Keller

When a man has not a good reason for doing a thing, he has
one good reason for letting it alone.
Sir Walter Scott