Perseverance

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." ~ Newt Gingrich

This quote has gotten me through some pretty tough times in my life, and continues to remind me to keep going. It's a good summery of what the word means and also reminds that things aren't always easy. It's when you get tired of doing something, yet keep at it, that you persevere. As I keep walking down the road God has called me to I realize more and more that perseverance is the key to getting anywhere (and a large dose of determination doesn't hurt).

Looking Up

Ever notice how things can have a double meaning? Take my youth groups name for example: Cross Culture. Seems simple enough right? But if you've been in the youth group long enough, one should know that it's not so simple. It has two meanings. We are to cross into other cultures but also live the "cross" culture (Luke 9:23).

So take a look at the title of this post again. "Looking up" This has two meanings; I shall explain the first.

1a) The house recieved a very good report from the realtor. There isn't a whole lot of handyman/handywoman things to do, which is good. Our handyman J.L. is going to be doing somethings around the house that I have no experience with (such as wiring/electrical). There are somethings that I can do... if my shoulders will let me, they are still giving me trouble. But our neighbors are willing to help me out with them if they bother my arms which is good.
1b) I finaly took the time to get my driver's licence. Anyone who knows my schedule would most likely question my sanity for taking my driver's test on a Wednesday, but that was the only day the tester could do it because he was going to be out of town the day I wanted to do it (Thursday). But I got it done, and I wasn't at all surprised that my first solo drive was to NCCC/S (they needed someone to tell them where/how the Pentecost streamers were hung). My little brother enjoys the fact that now he can sit in the front seat when I'm driving.
1c) God has opened the doors for me to do a program called Pixel Corps this summer. What it basically is, is a group of people who work on the techy end of movies (i.e. 3D animation, mattes, graphics, etc). It is very cool and I am really excited to have the training in what I want to do. Some of the "instructers" are from ILM (Industrial Light and Magic)!

Now for the second meaning: I am "looking up" to God for a lot right now. The house(s) are something that we are all looking to Him for because the housing market is not real good right now. Finding a house in LA is a real challenge, finding something within a desent distance and price is really hard to find.
I'm also looking up to God, and the matter of a new computer for me. My current computer is fine for surfing the web and doing documents, but when it comes to doing graphics it's the pits. So in order to do what I need to do, I find myself in desperate need of a computer that will handle the animation and graphics programs (currently I'm using my mom's for graphics and such, but she needs her computer, too). This means that I need a top of the line computer, but to do classes at college I need a laptop. So I'm looking to God to provide the means for said laptop.
I'm also (well all of us) are looking "up" to God for strength and such to get through this time. It's not an easy time right now, with being on opposite ends of the country. Mom and I are bone-tired, from packing and such and it's not done yet. We're all stressed by the way we currently have to live and like nothing better than for this time to end.

So yeah, things are looking up... ;-)

The Important Things in Life

Approximately a year ago, a big graduation ceremony, with a nice open house were top on my list. Almost six months ago that began to change. We were going to be moving and I was not going to still be in Lansing... well, I'm still here. I'm getting invitations to open houses and such, and people are asking if I'm going to have one, but I've realized something. The big ta-do and everything I wanted a year ago is no longer something I want. Now all I want is to reunite my family which currently live in to very different areas.
Yes, an open house would be nice, but I don't care how big it is. In my eyes, it would be nice to just have one last little get together with all of my friends and "family" here in Lansing before I go, because who knows when I'll see them again. And as one person said, they'd like to be able to "congratulate me". What I'd really like is just a chance to spend time with them (and take a few pictures probably). The people here at NCCC are very special to me and I will miss them when I finally go.

Life

Sorry for the lack of updates. Life has been hectic. Not only have I had no rest in the recent month, but I have had a cold for the majority of the month which I haven't been able to shake until the last couple days because I haven't done anything basically. I've stayed home for a number of things and simply slept, which has put my cold on the run. Life is still pretty hectic, but doing a little better. All going well, we'll have the house on the market soon, and can finally head to Hollywood.

Where I apparently have my own studio already. Don't ask me how. I must be commuting back and forth to LA and not know it. Maybe that's why I'm so tired. ;-)

Anyway, that's what's up with me.

Of Hobbits and Fence Parts

Have you ever known someone who was almost consistently reminding you of a Hobbit? I know one such person... my little brother. For some time he has reminded me of scene in the Fellowship of the Ring movie:

Strider: "Gentlemen, we do not stop 'till nightfall."

Pippin: "What about breakfast?"

Strider: "We've already had it."

Pippin: "We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?" [Strider walks away.]

Merry: "Don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip."

Pippin: "What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn't he?"

Merry: "I wouldn't count on it."

[From over the bushes, Strider tosses an apple and Merry catches it. He hands it to Pippin and pats him on the shoulder. Another apple flies through the air, hitting Pippin in the head. He looks up bewildered.]

That is my brother for you... or his more recent incident. He bought this large mug, which looks like a pint. Which reminds me of this scene from the Fellowship of the Ring:

[Merry sits down at the table. He is holding a huge stein of beer.]

Pippin: "What's that?"

Merry: "This my friend, is a pint."

Pippin: "It comes in pints? I'm getting one."

[Pippin rushes to the bar.]

Sam: "You had a whole half already!"

My brother's attempt at this... filling the mug with Dr Pepper, which he had already had some Dr P already. Besides his Hobbit eating tendencies, he also has feet the size of a Hobbits, size 9 men's to be exact, and he's only 11.

Anyway, enough about my little bro. On to "Fence Parts". Did you know that old fence parts make excellent pallets? My mom and I went out to our garage on Tuesday morning to straiten it up so we can put things from the house that we don't need. Well, we discovered the most curious phenomenon... the floor of our garage was wet, yet when we moved the boxes the floor was dry, yet the bottom of the boxes was either very wet or damp. So, my mom and I removed nearly all of the boxes and put the old fence parts down on the floor of the garage and then a tarp over that, which made for some interesting foot work, but it was fun.

Hopefully, this will keep our stuff from getting super wet.

That's life right now... speaking of which... I just found out that I'm going to be an Aunt. :-)

Ramble

Have you ever found yourself simply staring out a window, yet not really seeing anything? The movement is outside and some part of your mind acknowledges it, yet doesn't at the same time. You simply become lost in thought, yet you aren't really thinking about anything in particular.
I find myself doing that lately. I find that there are times when I simply can not keep my mind on a task. I know that there is change coming and my mind does not want to stay on the tasks that I used to do with great ease. Perhaps this is because I won't be doing these tasks once I move. Or perhaps I simply have to many things fighting for dominance in my mind.
Hopefully once I get out of here my mind will return to it's normal clarity. Who knows. I certainly hope it does.

Pallet Jigs and Charlie Brown

"Some days I wake up early to watch the sunrise, and I think how beautiful it is, and how my life lies before me, and I get a very positive feeling about things. Like this morning for instance; the sky's so clear and the sun's so bright. How can anything go wrong on a day like this?" ~ Charlie Brown

That was today for me. The sky was clear the sun was unusually warm at a California temperature of 60 something and I was unusually happy. I found myself in a very Charlie Brown mood and put my little brother's You're a Good Man Charlie Brown CD on in my boom-box and put it in the sun-room and pointed it out the window. I have sung Charlie Brown most of the day as I've worked outside on our pallet jigsaw puzzles. Since we are sending the majority of our books via freight we have to pack them on pallets and then wrap them in layers of plastic wrap.

Anyway, good ol'Charlie Brown is keeping my spirits up and my parents home-group is starting to arrive to help out so I'll sign out for now.