Te extraño, dulce verano

"Sweet, sweet Summer; Cruel Mistress Summer- She comes and She goes like a transient hobo."
-Emily Kaberline

Quoteables

"I just read Ruth, so this might sound a little weird, but can I sleep at the foot of your bed?"
-Kristin (after an exhausting night in Peru)

"There's something very comforting about instant mashed potatoes."
-Tricia

"You're so tiny. You're not even full-grown!"
-Jenny from Rescue Mission

"If we get printed napkins, you're just gonna wipe your mouth on it, wipe your nose and throw it in the trash!"
-Justin

"He was a Florida businessman who donated millions so that Cubans could immigrate to the U.S."
-My mom's sneaky Balderdash answer

*everyone talking, lots of noise during a game of Balderdash*
"Scottie dogs! You all lost your Scotties!"
-Renae
"I'm sorry Bekah. You're not getting any respect, dear."
-Mom comforting Bek

"Elijah Wood is in it?! Really?! I love him, and not just in a hot hobbit kind of way!"
-Tricia

"Baked Lays."
-Israel

"Some girls have boyfriends, and other girls have girlfriends."
-Ratch

"Okay, seriously girls-- are you kidding me??"
-Tricia to Rachel and me as we're looking at pictures during her story time

Clean Room, Clean Mind!

I slaved and worked on my room literally all day yesterday, beating it into a submissive and clean area once again. And I feel like I can breathe! I feel peaceful when I'm in my room, not stressed out! :) I sorted through a lot of stuff I had accumulated over the last several months, so I did lots of throwing old stuff away. Here are the results:

I am Pam Beesley

I like to avoid big scenes, drama and any sort of conflict.

My nature is to be pretty non-confrontational, because I don't like hurting people's feelings and I don't enjoy saying no to people. While these can sometimes be positive traits, it often creates more problems than just being upfront with someone about a situation from the beginning.

However, lately I have had to deal with some situations that required confrontation and blunt honesty, in Peru and even since I've been home several times. I feel more empowered!

As we all know, Pam went on to deal with her own confrontational issues beginning in season three, and changed her ways.

"I have decided that I'm going to be more honest. I'm going to tell people what I want. Directly. So, look out world, cause ol' Pammy is getting what she wants. And, don't call me Pammy."

Look out world, cause ol' Laney is getting what she wants!

First week observations

The first week of school is over, and I would say I'm pretty satisfied with school. I really like my schedule, which permits me to even be writing this post right now, as I don't have classes on Friday's or Monday's. :) :) :) So after I attend to informing you about the things I like about this semester thus far, it's on to productivity mode.

I really enjoy learning. It's like I forget that each time a semester finishes and I'm just ready for the end of it. I felt a little restless near the last of Christmas break, and it's really nice being back in school with some purpose! I'm taking all humanities classes-- English Literature, Kansas History, Early Modern Art and Shakespeare.

I've never had two of my professors before, so I took notes the first day of class on just little quirks about them from my first observation. I'm liking my English Lit. professor a lot. She's probably in her late 30's and looks a little like a mix of Ms. Cigler and Maggie Gyllenhaal. She appeared to be really nervous the first day, which I thought was interesting, but she's very eager and I can tell she's really passionate about the class. She said she wants the class to be very discussion-based and not just her lecturing all the time, so I will have to make sure I do all the readings. ;)

I wasn't sure how I would like Kansas History, but E.K. is in there, so how could it get better?! (You can recall him here or here). I already have my first quote from him. We went around the room introducing ourselves to the class, saying what our major was, what year we were and what our passions were. When it came around to E.K., he got this weird smile on his face and said all the "normal" things and then says, "And I guess my passion at the moment would be social networking. I'm really into socializing." Awesome. It's not quite like Human Impact, but I'm hoping for some gems.

And of course there's Dr. Janzen again for Early Modern Art, and she's in full swing again. It's a bigger class than I'm used to taking with her, but I'm thinking the non-majors will soon drop out once they realize what they got themselves into. I'm enjoying this particular period though, right now we're studying art produced during the French Revolution, like David's work.

I saved the best for last-- Shakespeare. I took an introductory course to Shakespeare two years ago with the same professor I have now, and she's great. She's a cute little British lady who is just a lot of fun! She's very knowledgeable about Shakespeare, but she just puts you in a good mood! Like when she referred to a group of kids as "tender little saplings," or when one guy who was introducing himself to the class and told us he was from D.C. She just looks at him and says, "Oh, I was just there last week, I should have said hello to it for you!"

We also watched a Simon Schama in my Shakespeare class about the tensions between Queen Elizabeth and her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. By now, I've seen this video about three times. I do enjoy the Schama quite a bit though. He has a way of describing things in a very dramatic, snarky and vivid way. I'll leave you with this quote from Schama, talking about one of Mary's suitors:

"One look at his shapely calves and Mary decided that she must have him."

He is my Portion Forever

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
-2 Corinthians 5:17

It's a beautiful morning, because Jesus has made me new-- He is redeeming me, making me new. I am truly alive because I have found free life in Christ. I'm amazed by such a seemingly "simple" truth!

He is beautiful! His Grace abounds!

:)

Old Worries

In the process of cleaning my room, I found a list of things that were on my mind, sort of like a checklist. I remember making this list in October one day while sitting at work, when I was really stressed out about tons of things. I decided that I would make a list, just writing out every little thing that was bothering or worrying me, even thinking a couple of months ahead.

It really is amazing because almost all of those little or big things that were stressing me out are just completely taken care of by now. Out of about 25 things on the list, most of them have been dealt with in some way! And some of them, what seemed like major things just a few months ago now seem arbitrary. I used to freak out about graduating and the future, not sure what was in store.... and now, I'm still not sure about the immediate details, but I do know that God holds me in His hand... He will take care of everything, even the small details.

Making that list, I was at a totally different place in my life. A different person even. Seeing that list was a good reminder of what a life not fully surrendered to Christ looks like. And I don't like who I was back then.

There is so much more joy, so much more peace in my life, all praise to God. I'm completely in love with Him, and I thank Him continually for pulling me out of that dark spot to bring me to where I am today. He is good!

Coming home

Ever since coming home from Peru, I really have felt like doing absolutely nothing. Of course that doesn't mean I don't have things I should do... like clean, unpack still, edit thousands of pictures, etc.

The trip was amazing and exhausting at the same time, I mean, truly an awesome experience. But it was pretty intense. New food, a new environment, totally engulfed in a Spanish-speaking culture, surrounded by extreme wealth and poverty right next door to each other, catching early morning flights, spending hours on trains and buses, visiting an all-girls orphanage, getting sick twice, meeting new people, bartering at markets, hiking in the Andes...

It's always a little weird after returning from a trip, especially after leaving the country. I feel such a mixture of things, and I haven't even really had a lot of time to reflect yet on just how I feel. Peru was amazing, and I loved it, but there was also such a relief I felt when we got to the airport in Atlanta. There was such a comfort in coming back to my own country, where not every little thing felt so foreign and uncomfortable.

I think starting school in a week will help these weird feelings, too. Just getting back into a routine, having a little normality. And maybe starting back at the museum again in a couple days will help.

"This is Who I Am" lyrics-- Shane and Shane

I am a new creation,
the old is passed away
and I’m made new,
I’m made new.

And I have been adopted,
the door is opened up
for me to know You,
be like You

This is who I am
I’ve been born again
the Cross is my defense, my hope secured.
Now my life is in Your Hand,
on Your every word I stand.
Lord I’m finding who I am in all You are

When my heart condemns me,
tells me I am guilty
You're greater
You're greater

Jesus, you have searched me,
and even in Your finding
You have loved
and You love me

This is who I am
I’ve been born again
the Cross is my defense, my hope secured
now my life is in Your Hand
on Your every word I stand
Lord I’m finding who I am in all you are

For He made Him who knew no sin
To be sent
On our behalf was crucified,
Oh that we could be the righteousness
Of our Creator

I am a new creation,
the old is passed away
and I’m made new
I’m made new.