Insignificant Words that Produce Joy

I was walking home from class today, contemplating what makes me happy. I realized that my joys come from more simple things: a word, a touch, a good grade, etc. I mean, lately I have been really drawn to words that start with "W." I'm not sure you understand.

There are many words that bring me joy. Often they are little used words that are insignificant. Lately though, "W" has become my favorite letter, and words that begin with it just make me smile:

Wrinkle

Wonder

Wigglesworth, Michael (a poet)

Wit

Wistful

Whistle

Whimsical

Wish

Widget

Words

I could keep going, but I think you get my point.

The Explorer of Warmth

Today, while I was standing at the drive-thru window at work, I realized that staring at my parent's Explorer gives me a certain feeling. I know that sounds weird. But what I mean is that there is a distinct warmth I get from seeing this vehicle. There is nothing special about it, other than the fact that it gives me this feeling.

And me being me, I needed to understand WHY I got that feeling. I'm not a "oh, that? okay" kind of person. I'm a "Why? I don't understand, and I really need to" person. Makes life difficult sometimes. But I learn a lot that way.

I know it sounds like I was wasting time at work, but honestly, this all took about a minute. Maybe less. I realized that my parent's Explorer reminds me of my dad. Which is weird because my mom drives it more than my dad, but for some reason, it's Dad I think of.

The sight of my Explorer makes me feel safe, protected. It makes me feel comfortable and at home. It's a warm feeling.

As I was standing there, a smile was brought to my face. I love these little things in life. I never want to overlook them. The little things can be much more meaningful and important than the big things.

Kare 11 and UW-River Falls

Within the last three weeks of the school year, the two sections of TED212 at UW-River Falls put together a field trip for inner city middle schoolers. It was an amazing experience. An eye-opener one might even say.

I was blessed with the group I had. They were amazing to work with. Our group had a time of it, but I can only imagine what the group who had Kare 11 coming to film them had to deal with. Their schedule was constantly being changed, and there was always a hitch in their plans.

But they made it. Today Kare 11 broadcast the story. Though it focuses on more of the math and science teaching program, the Gear Up Get Ready group, headed by Chad Forde and Laurel Corbett, planned the entire field trip. The students who were the backbone of this project were the Gear Up Get Ready students. In the video, they are the ones with the white t-shirts on.

The honor does not seem to be going to them. However, being a group leader, I understand the stress they were under. Chad and Laurel did an amazing job, along with Jon, Robin, Justin, Teal, Shanna, Eric, and Dr. Miller.

I would encourage you to watch the video and/or read the article. It's an honor, and I feel really special that I can brag that I know you guys. :-) Congratulations! Hope to see you in the fall!

Marriage and Cooking

So I have now come to the age when my friends and peers are getting married, and I realized tonight that I don't know how to cook.

Seems like there is little to no connection? Well, there is a pretty significant one, at least in my head.

With the marriages of my friends, I am realizing that someday I will probably be married myself, if that is what God wills for me. I'm not worried about having enough food to put on the table. I'm worried about WHAT food I will put on the table.

I honestly don't know very much about cooking (did you see the connection??). Though I may not get married for years, the recent and impending marriages of several friends have thrown into perspective my lack of desire and skill at cooking.

So this summer, I have a new goal (whether I obtain it or not time will only tell). I am going to learn how to cook. Not just from a recipe. I mean I can kinda do that. But I mean like cooking steak and pork chops and fish and bread (Bekah! Please help.) and so many other things. I want to be able to put together a meal for a meat-loving husband or a chicken-devouring friend or a vegetarian roommate. I want to be confident in the kitchen because right now, I'm not. If you have any tips, let me know.

It'll be a fight some days. I really don't like to cook, but I need to learn how. The older I get the more I realize being able to cook is a skill I have a desire to learn (at least in the back of my mind).

However, though I can't cook, I can make a mean batch of cookies. Just ask my brother.

A New Marriage and Old Friends

Oh man. What a night.

God blessed an amazing couple with union last night, and I was extremely blessed to be a part of it. :-) It was such an amazing wedding. The ceremony was amazing, and the message was great.

The party after the fact was amazing as well. I know it was a blessing for Alicia and Kory LaCroix, but it was also a blessing for me. I was able to reconnect with good friends from Northwestern that I haven't seen in 6 months or more. We danced the night away to 90s rap, polka, N*Sync, and everything in between.

I woke up this morning with a contentedness in my heart that could only be from God. He is good. He joined a faithful couple together and reunited old friends. His works are amazing.

Thank you, my dear friends, for an amazing night. God had His hand on the night.

Congratulations, Kory and Alicia!! Praying for your future as a married couple! God be with you on your journey!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

Grandpa George

Oooh man. Have I got a story to tell you.

This is how I have started many a conversation in the past week.

But I'm not going to tell you those stories now. I am going to tell you about something a lot more interesting. Well, at least I think it's interesting.

Last weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to hang out with my grandparents of the Drahosh variety. Mom, Dad, and Grandma went to a retirement party for a little over an hour, and I got to hang out with my amazing Grandpa.

George is one of those amazing people who doesn't think he accomplished much in his life. However, my grandpa couldn't be more wrong.

1. He was a rural mail-carrier for a long time.

2. He was the fire chief and the mayor of Finlayson.

3. He fought in World War II and has a bronze star and a purple heart.

4. He grew up on a farm during the Great Depression.

5. He understands Czech and English.

Those are just a few of the things that my grandpa has done.

And now, his short-term memory is fading, but my grandpa, he sat and talked to be for over an hour about amazing things. He told me about his childhood, about what a man's role should be, about the cats, about the recent fire, etc.

It was a good day. My grandfather is amazing. He is a man I respect a lot, and I love him very much.

So I'm done gushing now, but I would encourage you to go find out about your grandparents' life. They are pretty amazing. Trust me. :-)

Chai Tea and Desires

Today is just a day. Today is just a day in an endless stream of days. But today, all I want to do it write. And drink chai tea. Preferably Big Train Chai, but Caribou chai would suffice as well.

But what to write about. What to say that would be significant, but also extremely interesting and a pleasure to read?

Honestly I don't know. I could tell you about my day. I could tell you about my weekend. I could go on and on about the books I've read for class, about the overwhelming nature of my next paper. But really, who wants to read about that?

I find myself desiring something other than I have today. I want the sun to be shining, I want to be sitting in a hip coffee shop (yes, hip), and I want to have no cares in the world. I want to be writing from my soul and not from my mind. I want the words to flow and the utterances to have meaning.

But you know what, I have nothing to say. I want to write, and I want to write well. I want to live in a time of life where stress is nonexistent, but for me, stress, whether good or bad, will always be around. Lord willing, I will learn how to deal with it without falling apart.

So that's my desire today. I want to be different and out there, but I'm not. I am who I am. The Lord has made me this way and put me in this place for a reason. SO here we go. Let's work for Him.

All for His glory.

Time

But there is something about Time. The sun rises and sets. The stars swing slowly across the sky and fade. Clouds fill with rain and snow, empty themselves, and fill again. The moon is born, and dies, and is reborn. Around millions of clocks swing hour hands, and minute hands, and second hands. Around goes the continual circle of notes of the scale. Around goes the circle of night and day, the circle of weeks forever revolting, and of months, and of years.

--Madeleine L'Engle, The Small Rain, pg. 152

A Piano

There is something about a piano.

It's beautiful and soft. It's music is soothing to the soul and the sight of it is one which eases all pain and stress.

It is a moment. It is a relief. It is articulate. It is worn. It is comfortable. It is provocative. It is a window. It is a door. It is warmth. It is passion. It is sorrow. It is joy. It is an atmosphere. It is a motif.

A piano is an instrument, opening upon new worlds.

A Word of Truth and A Game I'm Bad At

Yes, I agree. Blogging all the time is a pain. That's why I don't do it. I am bad at reading them everyday too. Ha.

So I was reading Abraham Piper's newer blog, Downhill Both Ways, and I came across a blog from a few days ago among the plethora that I have not read yet. This one grabbed my attention right away because of, yes, the title:

"Two Truths and a Lie with a Deaf Guy."

First of all, I really suck at the game two truths and a lie. Don't try and play with me. I might be a writer (sometimes) and love making stuff up, I can't do it quickly or about myself well. Just don't ask me to play.

However, that's not what grabbed my attention immediately. It was the "Deaf Guy" part. If you know anything about me and my aspirations, you already guessed that.

Though this story seems like a difficult situation, it was also kind of inspiring to me. When it neared the end, and Abraham thought of Peter's words in Acts 3:6, I definitely got shivers. Goosebumps irrupted all up and down my arms. What a thing to remember at a time like that.

Anyway, I'm really glad I read Abraham's blog today. It was a blessing to me.

Weebly

So I stumbled upon this new website/blog maker today called Weebly. It looks interesting. I would like to play with it a bit.

Just for the record, I have no idea what I would make a website about. However, I'm sure I could think of something...

Like my love for cheese.

Or books. Books might be a better subject than cheese. Might being the key word.

So if you are interested, check back here later; I might create something amazing (or common and dull, but that's not bringing you back so...).

A Fabulous Friday

I had a fantastic Friday night; the best I've had in a while.

I got together with a young man. We played Lego Star Wars on the Wii for about two hours. After that we went out to Jimmy Johns and had subs. He was so polite, even going so far as to not speak with his mouth full when I asked him questions. We then went back to the Wii, proceeding to play Mario Super Sluggers for a while (the cause of my soreness today). He showed me his art, and we discussed Star Wars.

Yep, six-year-old Joey was a fabulous Friday night date. :-)

All that is Gold and All those who Wander

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be the blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

--The Fellowship of the Ring

Cheeese.

I know that I haven't written a profound blog in a while. I've been working with school and learning to live on my own and attempting to figure out what I want to do with my life. It's been a rough process... not really, but it's been growing. So fun, whimsical blogs have been more up my alley lately. And today, I thought of something else I would like to share.

I have a love for cheese. There are some cheeses I don't like as much, but I gotta tell ya, when I have a hankering for cheese, you better get out of my way (okay, that's a little dramatic, but you know what I mean).

So today, I was making a chicken patty and thinking about what else I could eat with it. Digging through my fridge, I thought, "I have cheese!" Granted, it was shredded cheese and wasn't conducive to eating it plain. Yet, I took it out and proceeded to eat some. Yes, plain. I put it away, made myself hot chocolate, and took it back out because I couldn't stand the idea of going a second longer without it. It's a cheese day.

So, in conclusion: I like cheese. And I think that others should like cheese as well. It is a happy food. So have some happy cheese. It will brighten your day. Trust me.