His hope is my anchor

Going into the New Year, I do have several resolutions. It's not easy to not look back though. 2008 truly was a great year. I found a love for healthy living and clean foods, graduated from high school, began my adventure at Messiah College, and met some inspiring people who have challenged me to be a much better, more loving person. I have decided not to have regrets about 2008. Even though I didn't accomplish everything I hoped to, I'm not discouraged. Every day is a new day. I want to give each day a gift.

Some guidelines for 2009:
1. A deeper relationship with my Lord
2. Complain less
3. Straight A's
4.Washboard abs (hah)
5. Active and healthy living
6. Seek adventure
7. More arts and crafts
8. Be a servant; look for ways to serve others
9. Read more
10. Enjoy nature more

We're not bored anymore...

Today's Saturday morning went as usual. We all woke up, ate breakfast, stayed in our pajamas, wandered around, desperate for something to do. After watching some I Love Lucy, I resorted to plummeting on the carpet upstairs beside Bonnie. Boredom had really struck when I decided "playing jail" would be our best option for fun. A couple minutes later, I heard Hyun Tae, our Korean exchange student, yell, "ANNIE, ANNIE! WE HAVE A PROBLEM." He came running upstairs, eyes wide, letting me know that there was "water everywhere." Due to faulty plumbing, our toilet has overflowed countless times. Our family is used to this happening. When we see the water rising, we know to turn the knob to shut the water off. Well, Hyun Tae was not informed of the procedure. Bonnie and I ran downstairs, told Hyun Tae how to shut off the water, and soaked up the leakage with towels and the wet-vac. So much for being bored. And so, Saturday morning adventures continue...

Starting Right

Today's breakfast:
Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal
-tossed with dried cranberries, pecans, and sliced apples
Orange Juice
Green Grapes
:o)

One Track Mind

can a thought not be
simply that?
Passion spurs
the oddest things

Cycle

Wet Velvet

Dark waves bend the sky
Your words move in accordance
We're in a tree house

Angelina lips.

Next Friday, I will attend my first formal event: Messiah's Winter Formal. I'm actually proud to say that I never indulged in such the privilege in high school. My sister Kara's ruby red prom dress from 2003 will be my attire. Enchanté.

I did get into the classes I wanted for Spring and J-Term. I am so excited to take "Encountering the Bible" with my favorite Elizabeth Arnold. I am also taking "Creative and Expressive Movement" during J-Term with Sarah and Miriam.

We are "decking the halls" this week. Naugle 3B is "Christmas Around the World." We pillowed our ceiling yesterday for the Moroccan feel. Sarah and I are going to make windows and a fireplace in Climenhaga now. Wish us tidings of comfort and joy!

I forgot my coupons.

One thing you have to know about me. I have no patience for shopping. Going to the mall is more of an errand than anything.

Shopping for classes is different. I feel like a Black Friday shopper for the first time in my life, wanting to get my classes as early as possible, before everyone else snatches the best buys. It's stressful though when I see that an 18 person class is almost full, and I can't register for a few days. Financial Accounting is hot on the market for the J-Term season. Unfortunately, inventory for this product is low.

I have formulated an ideal wardrobe for the spring season. I'm hoping that all the pieces are easy to come by.

Banana Pancakes

Sarah and I learned some guitar last night. Jacob was kind enough to teach us a few chords as well as the intro of Banana Pancakes. I'm really looking forward to playing more. It also makes me miss my first instrument. Anyone know how to fix a cello?

I'm loving Messiah more and more every day. It's odd that it's home though. When I really think about it, it does not seem like I've slept here 60+ nights. Weird.

The soccer game last night was absolutely incredible. Messiah whhooooped Widener 7-0. I'm so proud of my school. Oooh ahh mess ay ess ay oooh ah mess ay ahh HEY!

Phonathon, my new on-campus job, is such a great opportunity. I get paid $10/hr to talk on the phone with amazing people. The other day I experienced a bit of a flash forward. I called a one of the 2008 alumni who was also an International Business major. His roommate told me he wasn't home. He is in China. How cool is that?

Anyway, a bit of a sporadic entry.

Conversation

I love conversation. Spoken word is truly a lost art waiting to be found again. I've been touched by several great interactions within the last 24 hours. I was filled with anxiety today before a Spanish speaking exam, but a conversation with my friend Lauren calmed my fears. My dad visited Messiah for lunch and I enjoyed the words we shared. Several other exchanges blessed my day. I received great advice yesterday to never fear conversation.

I'm off to NYC for the first time in these 19 years and 24 days of living. Liz and her dad have invited me for a short trip to kick off fall break. I'll be sure to take many pictures.

The realities of college life are hitting me. All the talk about keeping GPA, life plans, mission statements, balancing a social life and homework, being healthy and spending enough time in fellowship tend to stir up some butterflies in my stomach. I know I'm here for a reason, which God is revealing to me slowly but surely.

Jesus and the Disinherited

First update of college life...I'm just going to start out with today. There are so many things I could say about the past few weeks.

My first year seminar is very loaded. Today we discussed a quote in the book "Jesus and the Disinherited". It referred to Christianity as seemingly "impotent to deal...with the issues of discrimination and injustice on the basis of race, religion, and national origin." I was a little overwhelmed when my professor started talking about the name that early Christians established for Christianity...and the name we still create for it today. Thousands were killed if they didn't believe the gospel, homosexuals have been repeatedly judged and hated by Christians, wounds in the process of healing have been torn open with hateful remarks. Unfortunately, this is how the world views my faith. I stand on the Word that I know is true, and I believe in Jesus Christ with all my heart, but I wonder if people would accept my love more easily if I professed faith in Allah or Buddha or some other false god (simply because of the name). It hurts to think about how my Jesus has been misrepresented.

Big Decision

We all face big decisions in life:

What college should I go to? Who should I marry? Where should I live?

Should I buy a Mac?

As a college freshman, I'll need a good computer. I've heard that Mac is the way to go...but I'm still a skeptic...it can't be perfect...or can it?

Please help me out here. I need to make a decision soon!

Nicaragua

I expect to blog on www.frequencyouth.com while in Nicaragua. Make sure you check it out. Pray for a great trip!

Promise

After Cheryl Lehmann and I spent time in prayer at the church today, there was a beautiful rainbow over the mountains. I felt God speaking his promise over our upcoming trip to Nicaragua. Keep us in your prayers.

Squeeze

The past four years did not fly by. It is hard to fathom that only four years ago I was preparing to travel outside of the U.S. for the first time and then start high school a few weeks later. I, along with my dad, am deemed the sentimental of the family. I tend to cry and reminisce over the smallest memories. It's very bizarre to say that I will miss high school. Dreading walking through those halls was the definition of my life for a good chunk of time. Looking back on it now, I had a great experience in high school. I made good friends and laughed a lot. I learned about myself and others. I experienced art and music. I shared my faith. I worked hard. I have no regrets.

My English teacher gave each of his students a book called The Fountainhead. For our final essay, we read a small chunk of the first chapter and reflected. Howard, a young architect, gets kicked out of his prestigous school for not designing as instructed. Basically, the Dean refuses to understand Howard's creative and modern approach to architecture. Howard refuses to copy the past. I am in awe every day of how beautifully the mind is equipped. We are blessed with resources day after day to find and create significance.

I've learned not to stop learning. There were times at Cedar Cliff when I did not keep my eyes open for knowledge and wisdom. Now, I see that life is what I make it. Sometimes the most sour lemons make the tastiest of lemonade.

Learn something new every day

Learning is so valuable. I love learning. Whether it's a new word, a name with a face, a random statistic, or a story from history, every piece of knowledge is powerful. What we know determines our potential in sharing knowledge with others. In the past few years, there have been times of regret for not diving deeper into God's word and reading more books and having more conversations. There have also been times of great accomplishment, when I could encourage someone with scripture I had memorized or testimonies I had heard. I challenge you to learn something new every day. Don't be afraid to ask questions; there is always someone who knows more.

Philippians 1:9-11
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Free Water

This morning I was dreading walking 4 miles in the cold. For my school's honor society, our chapter assignment involves raising money and walking for multiple sclerosis. Last year, it was a beautiful spring day...I remember being in shorts and a t-shirt. Today, it was the perfect day to sleep in. When I finally got myself out of bed, I put on my jeans and sweatshirt and drove to the school. Still tired and wanting my footie pajamas, I complained for a good chunk of time about the weather. I grabbed an asiago cheese bagel from a Panera Bread stand (Later, I helped myself to cinnamon crunch). The thought of walking for an hour in the cold still made my stomach tumble (I know. How terrible!) As we began to walk, I realized how ridiculous my complaints were. Being involved in helping others is the most rewarding experience a person can have. Seeing hundreds of people come together for a common goal is so satisfying. The whole community was involved. The bank set up stands for water, juice, and fruit. Various doctor's offices and high schools also walked. Near the end of our walk, my friend Stef and I approached two little boys who appeared to be selling lemonade. When we got closer, one of the boys said "Free water" and referred to his hand-written sign. Even at their young age, these boys were motivated to serve. They wanted to help others who were helping others.

Indentity

Yesterday we heard from AG General Superintendent George Wood. He focused on Christ's relationship with Simon Peter. Jesus helped form Peter's identity by calling him 'rock'. He had faith in Peter before Peter ever had faith in Him and molded him from an impulsive and vulnerable man to an obedient disciple, willing to learn. I think it's cool that Jesus calls us by what we are to become rather than what we are at present. My name is Anne, which means "full of grace". It is my intention to shed grace, knowing I am called by that name. Reverend Wood also encouraged us to help form the identities of others by calling them words of faith. Words are truly life changing.

John 1:40-42

Brighten someone's day

I am convinced that I have the best friends in the world. Since Friday I've had some flu and cold symptoms and have just recently developed a pretty bad cough. I was getting pretty lonely being home but found some productive things to do. After my doctor's appointment today I came home and saw lovely flowers sitting on the front porch. There was a note inside from my friend Kayla McClintock saying that she was praying for and thinking of me. My relationship with her always challenges me to think of creative ways to brighten someone's day.

Convention business.

God has given me a passion for business and this weekend I was given the awesome opportunity to travel with the Fichtners and Sinclairs to the Giant Center to set up a Servant's Heart booth for youth convention. We sold t-shirts, jewelry, wallets, belts and other product that the teenagers loved. It was such a learning experience to be working and observing outside of my normal work environment. Interacting with my peers and younger students was also a blast. The Fichtners are godly in running their business and I can learn so much from them. God's presence and blessing are so heavy on my life right now--I praise Him to be here for such a time as this.

I know God has great things in store for my experiences in business and these are just the beginnings.

Tastes like pumpkin pie!

JJam is Frequency Youth's after school program for junior highers to get involved at CLA and build relationships with other students, while having an awesome time with friends. One special event is so aptly named "The Gross Out Game", in which students are indeed grossed out. This week it was simple. "Who can be the first team to finish all three containers of baby food?" One spoonful at a time: don't forget the napkin bib. When all was said and done, the Djibouti Jaguars took the win.

As Cherith, Troy, and I cleaned the kitchen and rinsed out the small glass containers, one of us was tempted to eat some turkey puree. Cherith (bless her heart) quite enjoyed the liquid entree, saying it tasted like pumpkin pie. Upon hearing this observation, I couldn't refuse to get in on the action. Pumpkin pie is my favorite dessert. Not only was it exactly what baby food is expected to be, but the roasted orange goo tasted nothing like pumpkin pie.

As I scraped my tongue, I came to a sad conclusion: I no longer have the taste buds of a JJamer. My fondness for mushrooms, ketchup, taco sauce, and various jams in a pie and french fries blended with orange drink and chicken nuggets (also called the Unhappy Meal) is nowhere to be found. Instead, enjoyment (and mild disturbance) is the result of watching 30 eleven to fourteen-year-olds lick oreos off each other's feet.

Kyle eating a (second) goldfish.

Isaiah is the next Rocky Balboa.

Drinking water

I've recently discovered how difficult it is to drink a full 72 ounces of water each day. I've started doing a semi-detox and the 2 parts hydrogen and 1 part oxygen are obviously essential. It's not that I get tired of the lack of flavor or the simple molecular structure, but in the 5-7 minute increments between bathroom breaks, I ask myself, "Self, is this really worth it?"

Water to me is motion and purity. Within the last couple months, my family purchased a BRITA water filter. It supposedly removes all impurites from tap water by using a carbon filtering system. As a result, we're drinking water in its closest-to-pure form. Other than the famous "gotta go" Detrol slogan, water is associated with motion in that, in its purest form, it helps move unwanted waste and harmful chemicals out of our systems. If the water itself is not first purified and moved, it causes sickness and disease.

Drinking water (and a lot of it) stirs in me a desire to fill my life with the purest form of any consumption, whether literal or otherwise. I think about the 51st psalm:

Psalm 51:10-12

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

I've got skeletons in my closet...

...ok not really, but there were other surprises. A couple days ago my mom wanted Bonnie, Aaron and me to do something productive since we were home for a snow day. We decided to organize the basement closet, which was choc-full of childhood memories. It was a blast sorting through old board games, books and toys. Bonnie and I even gave Dizzy Dizzy Dinosaur a whirl. It was so amazing how much we have held onto: Books about a bear named Button, identical naked baby dolls named "Liv" and "Liv New and Improved" (one had curlier hair), tattered barbies, a Babysitters' Club board game, Dear Chelsea (a book written with letters from young girls to the then daughter-of-the-chief Chelsea Clinton), old school notebooks and scrapbook pages, poems and anti-drug declarations we wrote in fifth grade, my dad's sequined wrestling one-piece from 1973. While these things have little worth to us now, there were also treasures of eternal value in our small closet. As Bonnie and I watched Hairspray and swooned over Zac(k) Efron, I came across a note that my mom wrote to her precious middle child (ha) in 1995. To her almost 6-year-old daughter, she wrote: Annie you are my beautiful, determined young girl. Someday you will be a great leader. Your mind and sensitive heart are touched by God. You make me laugh-I wish I had your sense of humor. You are "something special". My mom went on to say how much she loved me and that I was her gift from God. I am so thankful that my mom and dad took time to encourage me and my siblings even as young children. Even if we don't remember them or have let them collect dust beneath beanbag chairs and legos, words are undeniably powerful.

-Thanks Mom for seeing in me what I don't usually see in myself. Thank you for sacrificing a lot of yourself to spend time with your children. I love you!

Take a little off the left

There is a first for everything, and today I had a first. Other than an occasional snip of my sisters' bangs or the decapitation of my barbies' locks, today was the first time I cut someone's hair. We've started self-portraits in my art class. During our critique yesterday, Mr. Grandi, after looking at Sean's project, mentioned that his shoulder-length hair, rather than his actual appearance, was becoming his physical identity. Today I challenged Sean in a similar way. I proded him, all in a friendly nature of course, about being emotionally attached to his hair and the danger of being in that state of mind. To prove me wrong, Sean had me and another classmate cut his hair. Kevin got most of the length off and I went in for the layers and texturing so that he wouldn't look like a little girl. This was all done with a pair of kindergartener-suitable scissors. I have to say it was invigorating. Sean loved it and now I know what kind of business I'll be going into. pshaw.

Well done.

When we talk about someone's arrival to Heaven, those words are mentioned a lot. Today was Jean Page's funeral. I didn't know her very well, but I knew that she was a prayer warrior for those around her. Hearing stories from her family and from Pastor Paul and Pastor Ron made me want to live a life so worthy of the words "well done". One specific part of the service spoke to me so heavily. Her sister spoke about Jean so beautifully and concluded by asking who would replace Jean as a prayer warrior for the people who surround us. The power of one faithful woman's prayers was astronomical. Allow God to challenge you in prayer to change lives and further His kingdom.

Taking Notes

The first day of February has come and all too soon I have realized how quickly the first month of 2008 came and went. I have to admit: I'm incredibly nervous about the months and years ahead and how quickly they will come and go, but I know that God is faithful. I was recently accepted to Messiah College and I plan to attend as an International Business major in the fall. This season of my life is stretching to say the least; I'm finally transitioning out of the security of my home and the comfort of what I know and who I know. The scarcity of money is becoming a reality. Time is precious, but I often fail to treat it as such. It can't be over-said that I want to live my life to the fullest. With God's help, I will make the most of opportunities as I watch and learn from others, from my successes and my failures, all the while taking notes.