Bargains and Investments

I pride myself on being able to find a sale. I swear that magic is contained in a thrift store. If you have time, patience, and a little luck, you can find so many treasures.

I have lately been thinking of investments. I used to think Payless heels were the same as designer heels. Cute, high, whatever.

But lately, there has been a battle in my mind.

Bargains vs. Investments.

When I was in jr. high, my feet could take the cheap high heels, now I can't wear them, they are too painful. I am seeing expensive shoes as an invstment. In a way deeper than shoes, I am viewing things in life asa bargain and an investment.

Hanging out with friends at Disneyland could be an emotional bargain, but a night a church may be an investment.

To me, there is a time and place for investing, and bargaining. Example: Good high heels are classy, will never go out of fashion, and won't hurt your feet. =)

Confusing Ingredient

Have you ever made something to eat and put something a little bit unexpected in it, but it made it awesome?

Exhibit A: Sweet Tamales. Last year I made tamales for the first time. I never expected masa (ground corn) mixed with raisins, brown sugar and cranberries to taste so heavenly. I kinda expected to taste like a very confused barbeque.

Now throw this into the mix of daily life. Has something ever happened where you're beating yourself up for something you messed up?

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise 1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV)

Story of my life.

The other day, a friend divulged a story to me about how she was confused with a friendship in her life, and I literally went through the same thing roughly a year ago. It blew my mind, because I always thought I was an idiot with the way I handled things. It was amazing, because we were able to compare situations, I was able to tell her how God used it in my life, and gave her advice on what to do.

I didn't feel like such a knuckle head afterwards. It was the unexpected ingredient in the recipe. I thought I was still going to feel dumb.

Yes, the wisest person learns from other people's experiences, but we're all going to screw up due to our earrthly state. The cool thing is God uses that for his glory.

Reason for the Season

With Christmas becoming politically incorrect, I'd like to share one of the raddest things I've ever received on a Christmas card, aside from scripture. It is from Ronald Reagan, dating to December 24, 1981...

"On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer, feasting, and great merriment. But, most of all, we experience it in our hearts. For, more than just a day, Christmas is a state of mind. It is found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt, hope conquers despair, and love triumphs over hate. It is present when men of any creed bring love and understanding to the hearts of their fellow man...Let us resolve to honor this spirit of Christmas and strive to keep it throughout the year."

Most of us that know Christ are in concordance with the overall theme of this message, however it is a wonderful part of history that should truly encourage each one of us to strive to not only carry a joyful spirit in our hearts, but more importantly, remember the reason for this day, and live it out throughout the year.

Before I Die

I have to see this.

Fwendship

Proverbs 17:17 is like THE verse to put on a card to give to your friend, and for good reasons, it's stinking awesome!

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Okay, I have to brag. I have some of the coolest friends ever. They are seriously the greatest support group God could have supplied me with. For realsies.

The saying goes "you never knew what you had until you lost it." Tha's definitely true. Last night, I saw my best friend for the first time in 5 months. She had been studying abroad in Kauai (tough life-you know ;)). And I full-on tackled her. Notebook status.

And the craziest thing was, it was like no time had past. We were talking in our super loud, (pretend) ghetto voices, talking with our hands flailing in the air, hugging each other, so glad we were reunited (and it feels so good!) ;)

So in light of this, thank you to all my friends. Thank you for letting me be me, and make my sound effects, and carry carrots in my purse, and brush my teeth while we skype. You are all the best, and I know you all got my back. =)

Shadowland

Some people call me dramatic.

Because I make pout faces over a hiccup.
Because I'm over-apologetic.
Because my blood pressure goes up everytime I have a big project/test.
Because if I trip, spill anything, or hurt myself I mumble in my own made-up words. People probably think I'm a schizo.

There are some days where I'd be glad to crawl in a hole and wake up in Heaven. (Kinda dramatic, whatever.)

Heaven has become extremely appealing to me within the last year or so. Believe me, it was before, but now it captivates me. It entices my very prescence.

In Heaven, there will be food-without calories, sunshine coming from Jesus, gardens (I imagine, because God created life in a garden), clear water, peace, love, contentment.

I can't wait to go to Heaven and kick-it with Jesus. I literally want to sit down under a tree with iced tea and mana and just talk.

C.S. Lewis describes in the 'Last Battle' his depiction of Heaven. He thinks earth is merely a "shadowland" of the things that await us in Christ's kingdom. His chararacters recognize their land when they die, but they describe everything as being much more vibrant, having no physical limitations, and only being able to feel joy.

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." -Romans 8:25

I'm excited to get rid of this shadow. =)

Hamster Wheel, and Perservering

Lately, i've felt my life is a continuous cycle. You can reference the blog before this, it says basically the same thing.

Wake up.
Devotion.
School.
Nap.
Gym.
Homework.
Rinse&Repeat.

On Sundays and Wednesdays, there's church in there.
And an occasional hang-out with friends. Usually a study group. You know. Multi-tasking the friends with the studying. ;)

If this were to go on forever, I think I would be sad, pretty darn sad. Because I feel like the hamster I had in 5th grade running on a wheel. Trying desperately to get ahead, to move, to no avail.

Luckily, there is something comforting me;

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. He has made everything beautiful in its time." -Ecclesiastes 3:1;11

One day, I will
Have a job
Have no more homework
Have a car
Be able to smell the rose more often
Etc.

For know, I am on the hamster wheel, but I am perservering in hope.

My Life

Right now looks something like.

Forgiveness.
Discipline.
Patience.
Attempt.
Failure.
Attempt Again.
Books.
Court Cases.
Gym Shoes.
Prayer.
Homework.
Coffee.