The Kooky Cheez-It Fiend

2004-04-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

I'm going to post in Live Journal from now on. This will be the last Blogger post. The address is www.livejournal/~prncsbkwrm.com

Monday. Well, I'm glad it's over with. Let's see . . . .
Math, I forgot my calculator (which definitely would have come in handy in science too. I'm glad the sub didn't call on me cogh cogh).
Lit, I got my quotes exam back. 104/108. I so rock those tests. Maybe next time I'll even half way study. ha ha.
Chem, Like I said, I had no calculator. And I didn't understand WHY we were doing what we were doing. But I can do it. If I think about it long enough. I'm glad I had a bag of Cheez-Its though.
Mandarin, I must study tonight. If we have another sub, we may not have a quiz tomorrow. (I hope, I hope!)
AP US, it is the beginning of crunch time (aka Hell Month). This will continue until May 7, the day of the exam. Fortuitously, the National Day of Prayer is May 6. This will come in handy.
Bible, yes I am bored. so what else is new?
PE, we had sign ups, and I didn't bring PE clothes! Not my fault! usually we don't have to change into uniform on sign up days! so unfair.

After school, I heard a comment about someone else that I could have lived the rest of my life quite happily without hearing. Why do people feel the need to tell you things that you don't especially want to hear? *sigh* Now I'M responsible for it. Joy of joys. I'm not sure where to go with this. I'm going to pray for wisdom. Most likely, I will keep this information to myself. If the person says something more about it, then I will talk to the person. Anyway . . . (that sufficently vague? lol)

And then I had to stay at school until six. Not that this is anything new. I really do need to learn how to drive though.

He is risen!

2004-04-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

HE IS RISEN
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN!

NO LONGER DOES DEATH HAVE DOMINION OVER US! HE IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE! HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN! HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! CHRISTO ANESTE! HE IS RISEN! ALL THINGS ARE MADE NEW! EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED! THE OLD WAYS ARE OVER! THE NEW THINGS HAVE COME! HOLY HOLY HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY WHO HAS MADE ALL THINGS NEW! HE IS MAJESTIC! HE IS AMAZING! NO LONGER ARE WE SLAVES TO SIN! NO LONGER DO THE OLD WAYS HAVE TO HAVE DOMINION OVER US! THE MASTER HATH LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. WE CAN NOW BE RECONCILED WITH GOD. THE NEW COVENANT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED! IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS! IT IS GOOD! JESUS IS GOOD! WE ARE ALL NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST!

NOT ONLY THAT, HE IS COMING BACK AGAIN! HE IS COMING BACK WITH ALL THE POWER, GLORY, AND MAJESTY OF GOD. HE IS COMING BACK WITH THE CLOUDS OF MAJESTY! THE ANGELS WILL BLOW THE TRUMPET! AND JESUS WILL COME AND CALL US TO HIS SIDE! OH I LOOK FOR THAT DAY! THE DAY WHEN EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. OH COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS! COME QUICKLY! WE NEED YOU! OH FATHER! ABBA FATHER! YESHUA! COME TO US NOW OH LORD!

happy Easter to all.

2004-04-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Good Friday. So this is a highly serious blog. Just wait for Sunday's.

God, the holy, magnificent, just, loving, merciful, gracious, powerful God that He is . . . became flesh. The glory that was worshipped in heaven became man. This man, Jesus Christ, Jesus bar Joseph, Yeshua, grew up. He was God and man in one body. He took the weight of our sin. We deserved the humiliation. We deserved the flogging. We deserved to be beaten to a pulp. We deserved to hang on a cross with no one to speak in our defense. But He took that upon Himself. He was wounded for our transgressions. By His stripes, we are healed. Why? Because all we like sheep have gone astray. No one is perfect. But Jesus was perfect. And the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Oh Jesus. . . .He took the sin of all people, past, present, and future. He was on teh cross . . . . and He saw the people for whom He was dying. Including you. Including me. Including the people who nailed Him to the cross. Including Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. He died for them. He loved them to the death. What an incredible, powerful love. He wanted to reconcile us with God so that we could be with Him forever. And because of His death, we can be reconciled. And it is this death, two thousand years later, that makes people so angry. He said He did not come for peace. He came to divide. And the death of this man has done that more than any other event in history. The life of Jesus was truly His story. Did you know that at His death, two things happened: the temple curtain seperating the Holy of Holies from everywhere else was ripped in two. This is symbolic that God no longer needed to be seperated from us. The other thing that happened that is missed is that dead people walked around. Happened at His ressurection too. You can check the Book on that. His death shook all the ordinary ways. Because His blood covered our sins, there are no more sacrifices needed. His love paid for our sins. Wow.

2004-04-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

One more quick lesson (this from the needle-sticker): If you ask for Cliff NOtes on the Gospel, you will get laughed at. Especially if you're in seminary.

2004-04-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry about yesterday's blog. I was just in one of those moods. Today I had a doctor's appointment. Getting blood drawn twice and stuck with a needle three times is not the most fun thing in the world. I have some lessons to share from the appointment, the party, and the movie but first let me get the serious stuff out of the way.

Today is Maundy Thursday! For those of you who don't know what the heck I'm talking about, Maundy Thursday is the day of the Last Supper, where Jesus took the bread and broke it, and then shared the wine. It is the beginning of communion. Where the new covenant was established. Hallelujah. Man was going to be reconciled with God. Painful? You bet. Tragic? Of course. The greatest victory the world has ever seen? You'd better believe it.

Now for the fun stuff! Here's what I learned from the party:
1. Getting high on Cheez-Its is funnnn!!!!!!!
2. Home schoolers think differently.
3. If you start talking in Mandarin with people who have never heard the language before, they will not understand you.
4. Seeing The Return Of The King for the third time is rather tedious.
5. RACKO!!!!!!
6. I stink at Spoons.

Here's what I learned from the movie The Passion:
1. God loves us a lot.
2. Jesus died for me. He took the whipping and the crucifixion that I deserved.
3. Jesus died for the people whipping Him and nailing Him to a cross.
4. Jesus loves me a lot.
5. Christo aneste!!!! He is risen!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. He is risen indeed!!!!!

Here's what I learned from the doctor's appointment:
1. When you find out about the needle-sticker's dog with pink hair, you have been there too long. Waaaaaaay too long.
2. When they start talking about getting out the garden hose to syphon your blood, it is time to leave.
3. When both needle-stickers are laughing at your expense and talking about taking out more blood, it is past time to leave.
4. Sparkle pencils are cooooollllll.
5. Getting both arms stuck with a needle is not a pleasurable experience.
6. When you don't eat anything for breakfast, you become Godzilla.

Yeah. =)

Here's what I learned from

2004-04-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, since nobody understood part of my April 5th post (at least, such as I gathered from the comments), allow me to explain it in language you can understand.

My dad has been switching jobs. He hasn't brought home a pay check for the last three months. Worried does not begin to describe it. The last time we went through this, it turned into an eighteen month stretch with no paycheck. I'm WORRIED.

Also, I'm tired of thinking about issues that require seroius thinking and have no specific right answer. Like courting v. dating. I've heard a lot from people that believe that dating is better. I don't. Not that anyone really cares.

I'm tired of acting and feeling like 7 when I am really 17. . . .

I think I need a nap.

2004-04-07T01:11:00.000-07:00

I'm home from Quizchamp's party. I'm tired. And I have a headache. But I'm on Cheez-Its. =)

Tomorrow, no appointment. Moved to Thursday. Going to Bayfair to watch The Passion again.

I wish life were always like this . . . quiet, calm, and peaceful with a swarm of homeschooled friends.

2004-04-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

I looked at livejournal . . . and I really really liked it! Which means that everything through September and part of October is on the site. I won't give it out yet. But soon! But I really don't want to lose anything. So I'm making myself copy it over. *bleh*

Going to see my friend shortly. =) Yay!

Have a terrific Tuesday everyone.

2004-04-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

Finally! A GOOD Monday! hehe. And Sunday's on the way . . . my favorite holiday! Easter! I'm on vacation this week, which means, my friends, that when we go back to school, we will be on a sugar rush.

Small detail I may not have mentioned. Inspector Gadget has been playing Musical Jobs again. He does seem to like that game. I hate it. Instead of being at Help-U-Sell where he had no deals, he is now at Realty World (has been for a week) with no deals. *sigh* I wish he would stop that. It's going to play havoc on my college application. I also wish he would get some deals. That would be nice. Actual money. What a concept.

And tomorrow, after I firm up plans, I'll be going to a party for a nice home schooled girl. *smile* Happy 16th Birthday Margaret! Yes, I know it was really on Friday. I also know you don't read this. =P

Anyway, I finished my algebra. I need to do my AP US, but that will remain constant throughout the week. I can finish my american lit fairly quickly, so that's actually next on the list. Then, I also have to work on Mandarin, but if I work on it too soon, I know I'll forget it, so that will also remain constant throughout the week. =P American Lit, I have to read (oh darn) and I'll write my AR essay this time. I did the first time, but not the second. hehe. So i'll do it. The subject interests me. =) Christian relationships (i.e. in the subject of dating/courting). Question: Why is everyone discussing this now that the formal is over? Would it not make more sense to discuss it BEFORE the formal? Of course it would. But whoever said school did anything that made sense? hehe.

Courage, perserverance, and prayer . . .

2004-04-03T22:57:00.000-08:00

I'm glad no one bases my sanity off what I put in IM. I'd be deported to Bellvue faster than you could blink. Hehe.

"Until our pain level gets high enough, we probably won't change." And humans do hate pain. We are cowards at heart. We don't want to take responsibility for our actions and actually take the blame upon ourselves. We don't want to grow. We don't want to learn. We don't want to grow up. We don't want to mature. We don't want to be adult. That would be hard. And we don't like hard. We don't like difficult. We don't like being mature or responsible. Humans are incredibly mule-headed about taking on pain. Even for a good cause. We will not take up a cross even though it is strong truth. Interesting, no?

In my weaker moments, college seems an incredible waste of time. You just accululate a great amount of debt, and on't learn anything you can actually apply to the real world. *SIGH* Just skip college and go straight to the mission field! lol. But people say its actually useful. I don't know how. But it is.

Eat Cheez-Its. YEs. They are good for your health. Even if there is entirely too much orange to the brain. hehe.

2004-04-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

Okay lots of stuff going on at school! For those of you who don't go to my school, just bear with me.

Math: Logarithim word problems. Ugh!
American Lit: Vocab final. *laughs* that was easy. why did i bother studying?
Chem: *uughh* I hate titration . . . and molarity problems! Exothermic and endothermic . .. which is which again????
Man: Well, it's one of the hardest foreign languages there is. What do YOU think? I learn enough to appease the teacher, but I don't use it outside of school.
AP US: I got a test back today. I did better on the essay than the multiple choice. *WHAM* head to pole *WHAM* head to pole *WHAM* head to pole. QUIT LAUGHING. IT IS NOT FUNNY!
Bible: Talking about dating vs. courting. Funny, nobody sides with me. For some odd reason, my classmates don't want their parents involved in their life. I find this rather odd . . . .
PE: I hate PE. It does NOT stand for physical education. It stands for painful endurance. Which is what you have to do w/the class.
CET: Forensics. . . . If the teacher only knew how much time I spent watching Forensic Files and the other forensic shows, I don't think she'd worry as much . . . *smile* lol

Anyway, on to other matters. Spring Break! Whoop, whoop!!!! I'm already high on Cheez-Its! lol.

Monday, I plan to stay home and do some actual like WORK. haha.

Plan to go to a party Tuesday. Just call me party girl! LOL ROFL!!!!!! hardey har har. yeah, that's it . . . I can't even get my classmates to invite me to BURGER KING for goodness' sakes. =P

Wednesday, doctor's appt. Lots of blood to draw. Yippe skippe do. I'm so thrilled. NOT.

Thursday, more work.

Friday, possibly a church service. Then, work.

Saturday, the work i haven't done yet. Ushering at church???

Sunday, church service. Then, finishing work.

My life is boring. But safe. =P "Until our pain level gets high enough, we probably won't change." So, I guess, if we really want to grow, we should pray for pain. . . . Lol. That's insane.

2004-04-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is really really looooong, so bear with me. You can find it at flooble.com, along with lots of other interesting stuff . . . These are supposedly the business notes that were passed around right before creation. It does help if you know something about the Earth and something about Genesis.

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Gabriel, Marketing Director

The market research conducted by our department for the Genesis project, shows that systems of the following configuration will generate the highest level of consumer enthusiasm:
Planet(s): 1
Radius: 3,000 km
Gravitational pull: 0.5g
Land/Water ratio: 1:1
Temperature: +24 C
Atmosphere: Oxygen
Oceans/Seas: Fresh Water
Rivers: Milk, Honey
Fauna: Herbivores
Peripherals: 2 luminary bodies, (for day, night).
Orbital Speed: 0.0007 RPM (1 revolution / 24h cycle)

Resolution:
Forwarding to the strategy planning department for preparation.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Michael, Strategy Planning Manager

In order to minimize the overall project costs, I propose we power both luminary bodies using one energy source, and substitute Nitrogen for Oxygen.

Comments:
Leave at least 50% of the oxygen - otherwise we run the risk of user suffocation.
-- Raphael

25% Should suffice.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Lucifer, Head of System Technology Department

In the course of our work on project Genesis, we have run into some difficulties (specifically in the "Let there be Light" phase of the project):
We do not currently have access to a source of uninterrupted light that can be channeled into two separate luminary bodies. I propose we utilize a standard "Red Dwarf" type light source for daytime illumination, and use a mirror for nighttime light.

Comments:
Upgrade to "Yellow Dwarf". The cost differential is minimal, but aesthetically, the look is far more impressive.
-- Gabriel (Marketing dept.)

But that's a multi-client light source! Why would the user need it for a single-planet system?
-- Lucifer

The marketing department will tell to the user what he needs or doesn't need.
-- Gabriel

Lucifer, please restrict your comments to questions within the field of your competence. I'm approving the "Yellow Dwarf".
-- Jehovah

By the way, with the level of light output generated by a Yellow Dwarf, we can use a regular planetoid instead of a mirror.
-- Michael

Agreed.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Lucifer, Head of System Technology Department

The recent deviations from the specification introduced the following problems into the system:
The mass of the uninterruped light source is significantly greater than the mass of the planet. Due to this, the light source cannot be in orbit around the planet. Instead, it is the planet that is orbiting the light source.

Furthermore, due to the energy output of the light source, we are observing surface temperature that consistently exceeds the spec. by a factor of 2. However if we move the planet further away from the light source, the overall dimentions of the system will grow significantly.

Comments:
A larger system will probably benefit us from the marketing standpoint, but the fact that the planet is rotating around a peripheral device may lead to self esteem issues on the part of the user. Could we perhaps change the Gravitational Constant to compensate?
-- Gabriel

Changing the Gravitational Constant will result in compatibility problems down the line
-- Michael

What difference is it to the user what orbits what? Let Marketing come up with some kind of theory of Relativity.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Lucifer, Head of System Technology Department

After the increase in the orbital radius, all attempts to accelerate the planet to specified velocity have consistently lead to a system crash. (The planet escapes from orbit into outer space.)
By the way, the nighttime luminary exhibits the same behavior.

Comments:
The internal behavior of the system is irrelevant. We must deliver on the user experience. Why not make the planet revolve around its own axis? The user will then think that both the Sun and the Moon are orbiting it with the speeds originally specified.
-- Gabriel

Won't the user catch on?
-- Jehovah

Even if he does, it won't be til' the project is long delivered.
-- Gabriel

Agreed.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Raphael, QA & Support Lead

Initial testing has revealed the following defects:

We are observing consistent overheating.
The axis of revolution has shown a 33 deg. declination from the vertical, resulting in cyclic temperature anomalies.
The rivers' throughput falls far short of expectations.
Herbivore fauna (as specified) is missing.
The orbit is unstable. Planet tends to fall into the Sun.

Resolution:
Forwarding to the tech. department for review.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Lucifer, Head of System Technology Department

We are observing consistent overheating.
What else did you expect with that Land/Water ratio? For proper cooling to occur we need a ration of 1:3 - 1:4.

The axis of revolution has shown a 33 deg. declination from the vertical, resulting in cyclic temperature anomalies.
We're working on it.

The rivers' throughput falls far short of expectations.
This is because milk curdles, and honey crystallizes.

Herbivore fauna (as specified) is missing.
Hebivores require vegitation, which cannot grow in this heat without water. I propose to put water into the rivers. This should also help resolve problem (3).

The orbit is unstable. Planet tends to fall into the Sun.
We will intoroduce another planet on a larger orbit to serve as a gravitational counterweight.

Comments:
There's not enough room to reduce the landmass. We will have to increase the area of the oceans. This will result in a larger diameter and stronger gravitational pull. Plus the extra planet...
-- Michael

That's allright, the user will just have to live with it. We will present the extra planet as an added feature. However, we have already announced the Milk and Honey, will have to at least leave them in the most prominent rivers.
-- Gabriel

Let me remind you that the deadline for this project is fast approaching, and yet you are still beating a dead horse. Speaking of which, why have the designers not come up with a horse concept yet, and are still mucking about with the dinosaurs? Who needs these dinosaurs anyway?
-- Jehovah

Generally speaking, the user has shown great interest in dinosaurs.
-- Gabriel

Fine. But we must have horses too.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Raphael, QA & Support Lead

In addition to the unsolved problems with the axis, the planet now has the tendency to fly away into space.
Herbivores are missing again.

Resolution:
Forwarding to the tech. department for review.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Lucifer, Head of System Technology Department

In addition to the unsolved problems with the axis, the planet now has the tendency to fly away into space.
We'll add another counterweight, this time on a smaller orbit.

Herbivores are missing again.
They seem to have multiplied, ate all the vegitation and died out.

Comments:
How many counterweights do you need?!
-- Michael

All in all after the calibration we were able to stabilize the system at nine.
-- Lucifer

Did I understand correctly? Instead of one planet the user will be getting 9?!
-- Jehovah

So what? Eight of them will be uninhabitable anyway.
-- Lucifer

The user doesn't need to know. Half of these planets cannot be seen without a telescope. I suggest ammending the user manual with an 11-th Commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Invent A Telescope".
-- Gabriel

No. Then they will definitely invent it.
-- Jehovah

By the way, after the orbital radius was increased, the brightness of the night-time light source fell below the specified minimum. I propose using a mirror after all.
-- Raphael

Where were you before? We just finished balancing the system! Should we start over?
-- Lucifer

There will be no starting over! The project deadline is in six days! Lucifer, either make it all work or you will be demoted and transferred to a different post.
-- Jehovah

To: General Director Jehovah
From: Lucifer, Head of System Technology Department

> Lucifer, either make it all work or you will
> be demoted and transferred to a different post.

How is it my fault, if I didn't get a proper spec?

Anyway... The axis will have to stay angled as it is. The garden of Eden at least, will get +24C, but if the user goes wandering around elswhere, that's his problem. Doesn't look like we'll be able to finish the dinosaurs, but at least the horses will definitely be done. Milk and Honey are out, we made the rivers run with water, although it's bringing salt out into the oceans and seas. We had to introduce some Predators to keep the Herbivores from eating up all the vegetation again. However, we didn't have time to set the predators up to distinguish the users from their prey.

In short, it will all probably work out.

Comments:
Let it be so.
-- Jehovah

Epilogue
The head of System Technology Department, Lucifer, was in the end demoted and transferred, as punishment for unsanctioned assistance lent to the user in the usability testing phase of project Genesis.

2004-04-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all in blogland. The Lord be with you. The Lord, He is good. He is beyond comprehension. He is beyond all others. He is the restorer. He is the provider. He is the healer. He is beyond everything. . . No matter what the cost, I will follow Christ. He gives me life and that abundantly! I do have a life! And it is in God. My fortress. My stronghold. My gentle comforter, my dearest friend, my loving Savior, my holy judge.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, yet He is God. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus . . . the name is sweet. I do not seek the truth. I have the truth. I am willing to give the truth away. But I have the truth. And the truth has set me free indeed.

How was my day? Well, I feel very much better after talking to a dear homeschooled friend of mine yesterday. It helped beyond what mere words can say.

I do not want my peers to be lost. I want them to go to heaven with me. I do not want them to be eternally seperated from God. And time is not on my side. It is quickly growning ever nearer to the end. Oh, soften your hearts! Seek God, for only then shall you know rest. Please . . . Do not just hear the words. Listen to their message. And then act upon them. Because, ultimately, life is not about grades. Life is not about school. Life is not even about the act of living. Life is what you do with the knowledge of the man, who was more than a man, called Jesus the Christ. That is what life is.

2004-03-31T20:35:00.000-08:00

Good friends are hard to come by. They are rarer than jewels. They are without price. They are worth their weight in gold. To have someone willing and wanting to put their arms around you and say, "Welcome!" when they don't have to is a gift beyond all measure. It is priceless. To have someone invite you into their group, to have someone sit next to you during chapel, or on the bus, or just happy to be in your prescence . . . makes the sun shine brighter, it makes the room warmer, and it makes all of life sweeter. The angels sing harmony for a moment, the birds tweet in the trees, and for just a moment, you are not in the arms of a human friend, but in the arms of God. . . being embraced by a loving Father. Acts of love reflect the One who is love. *light bulb* ooohhhh. . . .So, that's why Christ wanted us to love the world as He loved us. To show the world that there IS a better way, the way of life, the way of light, the way of God.

2004-03-31T20:01:00.000-08:00

Wednesday. Was reminded today, that, in the company of a good sister in Christ, the world looketh not so bleak. In fact, it has a rainbow. *sigh* I miss homeschool. . . And if the opportunity were given to me, I would take it. But God has willed me here for now. May it be glorifying to Him. May I be glorifying to Him.

In Bible, we discussed dating vs. courting. For those of you who do not know my opinion on this, I do side with courting for many reasons. I could probably write a dissertation on the subject, but will not do it now. Perhaps in the summer when I have free time. Perhaps I'll also write how I came to CCS in the first place. But not now. Anyway, everyone else sided with dating. Somehow, this didn't surprise me. What exactly am I looking for? Well, to sum it up in as few words as possible, I'm looking for someone loyal, royal, and pure without heartache or pain finding the person. If God wills that I remain single, I'd be happy with that too. Either married or single, I will praise His name. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in His name. Yet will I praise the almighty God.

And yes. I remain HIGH ON CHEEZ-ITS!!!

2004-03-29T19:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, for some even stranger reason, my site looks just fine on this computer. O-o. . . somebody tell me how the idiot thing REALLY looks please. I can't tell. Does the link list have a very nasty split with the links at the bottom of the blog page, below the last post, or is it all together? Silly blogger.

Growing up: that thing parents tell kids to do when the kids are in trouble i.e. "Grow up!". That thing all kids are automatically supposed to KNOW without being told. "You're more grown up than that." *sigh* Growing up is not an age attained. It is a journey. I am told that a family member of mine once said, "You're grown up when you pay your first PG&E bill by yourself." Ahh. Is that truly it? Financial independence? No. Why not? Because you can have financial independence without having any other independence. Is independence growth? No. Why not? Because independence can be mishandled. So what is independence? Maturity is the knowledge you have of God and how much you let Him work in your life. Most of all, it's having the strength not to stick out your tongue at someone when they desperately deserve it, but being willing to help them when they fall down. That is true maturity. When you can do all that, you can truly call yourself grown up. Some adults are not truly grown up, except in the legal sense of the word. With God's help, I hope to become a fully mature follower of Christ.

And the sun shone brightly in the sky today. So part of it was okay anyway. I refuse to get too down. God gives many gifts. Hallelujah. He is a loving Father. Jehovah-Shalom. The Lord is peace.

Peace be with you.

2004-03-29T16:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, for some strange reason, blogger has decided to push some of my links down to the bottom of the page. So, until I can figure out how to get that resolved, there will be a split there. Blogger, of course, publishes no help on the HTML stuff. All the template and color stuff I figured out on my own by playing with it and by using xanga's color choices, which included the HTML code for the colors. *growls*

I hate Mondays. It started this morning with spilling contents of a box EVERYWHERE, and it has gone downhill from there. I KNEW I should have stayed home today. I want to crawl into my nice warm bed and never leave.

Yet, that is not what life is all about. Life is not about being comfortable, or doing the safe thing. Life is about taking risks, about growing up. Being a Christian is all about that. Christianity is NOT synamous with the word comfortable. If you want to be comfortable, becoming a Christian is the worst decision you could possibly make. Not to discourage anyone, but seriously. Following Christ demands that you step outside yourself, go beyond your bounds, and get hurt without getting callous. As someone wise who reads this blog once commented, "Life = drama." Indeed it does. Life also = growing. And growing = pain. That's part of life. Growing up, beyond your hurt.

And there is SO much to be thankful for, it isn't funny. So let us give thanks.

2004-03-27T22:06:00.000-08:00

Church this evening. That was good. But left me with question: how to reach my classmates? How to give them the life and love they are so depserately searching for? And why do some people know, but I am clueless? I feel unprepared . . . I also feel that something is unjust. I feel really sad too. I want my peers to come with me to heaven. I want them to be with me. And I know that some of them aren't. So sad... What to do, what to do? I don't know. I don't know. I would say I don't know anymore, but that would imply I knew in the first place.

Still, there are many things to be thankful for. Like what?

The sunset coming up the road towards home . . .

Hearing people say, "I love you" and know they mean it . . .

Knowing God is there, and everything is going to be okay . . .

The red roses blooming outside the front door . . .

The memory of the pink flowers inside my room . . .

The color of green grassy lawns . . .

The gradient blue of the clear sky . . .

The heat waves of the sun across my legs . . .

Smiles just for me . . .

Learning something you always wanted to know . . .

Having tea with a good friend at lunch . . .

Praying with friends . . .

Being truly happy . . .

Reading all the books of a particular series from beginning to end . . .

Dancing in the heart . . .

Shedding tears of joy in the heart . . .

Smiling at someone new . . .

Having all the binders stacked neatly . . .

Having the locker open on the first try . . .

Getting the answer right in class . . .

Knowing that people care . . .

Finding money on the street . . .

Finding a note in your locker from a friend . . .

Raindrops on roses . . .

Whiskers on kittens . . .

Warm woolen mittens . . .

Brown paper packages tied up with string. . .

Peace . . .

Patience . . .

Joy . . .

Gentlenes . . .

Kindness . . .

Goodness . . .

Faithfulness . . .

Self-Control . . .

Love . . . yeah. Especially love.

2004-03-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

This certifies that I, Sarah,

Have Become Cooler

Than I was Before

You too can Become Cooler atflooble

If only it really were as easy as pressing a button . . . *sigh* Don't i wish.

Anyway, I have now discovered that although Xanga will happily accept Blogger cut and paste, Blogger does not like accepting Xanga cut and paste, which was the reason for my frustration. Stupid blogger.

Time 4 food. Unless I can find a book.

2004-03-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

Okay. . . for some reason blogger is NOT publishing my stuff. so, i'm gonna try this ONE more time, and then I'm going to withold Cheez-Its from the computer.

What I learned at the party last night:

1. Sitting in the car with an Asian dad driving is a great place to enhance your prayer life dramatically.

2. Sitting down and shutting up is a very good idea.

3. However, if you sit down and shut up long enough, people WILL make you join the party.

4. Bamboo floors can be really shiny.

5. Admitting you know nothing in Chinese to your friends who know Chinese fluently is rather tiresome.

6. Never try to paint a green leaf on a cat's ear.

7. Cheez-Its are the staff of life.

8. Trying to go shopping at the last minute is insane.

In case you couldn't tell, i had FUN. LOL.

2004-03-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

So, everyone like the revamped color scheme? Yes? Well, all except that person in the back row. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Can't please everyone.

Today after school I was not around. (For those of you who actually, like, noticed). I went to the doctor. That was so not fun. Thanks for any and all prayer. (For those of you who actually, like, do). http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/hw/womens_conditions/tw9104.asp Go to the web site to see what they think I have, and what I earnestly hope I do not have. I won't go into detail about how THAT affects my self esteem . . . *siiiiiiiiigh*

However, I did get a nice shot in the arm today. =) The sophmore girls, and the "honorary sophmore" (me) beat the robot literate guys. All is well with the world. =) Hehe. And we know nothing! That was very interesting. Especially during the 'honorary race' where NOBODY'S robot worked. Ours went in a circle, one spun its wheels, one veered off, and two of them started doing battle bots. It was insane. Technology! LOL

His peace He left with us . . . Thank you dear Lord.

2004-03-23T20:07:00.000-08:00

Yeup. Tuesday. And, if we're blessed, our robot MIGHT actually avoid obstacles like it's supposed to. It would be rather humerous if the inexperienced gals beat the robot literate guys. =) hehe. I can dream. . .

*BAM* Head to wall. *BAM* Head to wall. *BAM* Head to wall. *BAM* Head to wall. *BAM*

That's kinda what it feels like when I try to study mandarin . . .

The Lord be with you, now and forever. His grace is sufficent.

2004-03-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

Invisble lines. They're all around us. You can't go beyond certain boundaries. Like in a schoolyard, they have fences to reinforce boundaries. But there are other lines that aren't visible. Like if I see someone talking and they happen to be my friend, I feel this invisible fence between me and the speaker until they're done. Weird. I feel an even stronger one when I see a group of friends together with an empty seat. I'm more likely to flee to the empty table by myself than sit next to them. Doubly weird. I suppose it has to do with fear of rejection. Ah well.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. No matter what he wants, I will follow. Be it to the mission field, be it to college, be it to ditch digging, I will gladly follow my Master.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Amen.

2004-03-21T20:53:00.000-08:00

Saw blnkppr today! Woah, talk about a flashback . . . Back to public school. That was different. And believe me, that ain't the half of it. LOL. Yeah. . . Each school system (tried public, private, and home) has its own problems and its own benefits. I MISS homeschooling. Sometimes I really think its unfair. My classmates have all the financial resources to do it, don't, and don't WANT to. I'd be happy to take it off their hands! X(

Tomorrow is Monday. *groan* But each day has enough trouble of its own!

I wanna go HOME (and I'm NOT talking about the building in which I reside, though that's cool too).

2004-03-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

Sunday. The Lord's Day.

Friday, I actually slept! (I know, what a concept. Sleep. I used to know what that word meant . . . lol). Saturday I went to a seminar on dating all day. That was interesting. I did not really agree with what the speaker had to say (he thought dating was a good thing), but it was still quite informative. Why did I go in the first place? Well, I wanted more information to be better able to pray for my peers who are going through that. I may not be, but they are. Today, I plan to meet one of my friends from public school. (I actually went to public school from K-5. I wasn't homeschooled all my life, unfortunately). Speaking of school, what is up with some people??? They think that I want nothing to do with my parents or Gameboy. If I didn't want anything to do with them, I sure as shootin' wouldn't have spent three years in homeschool. I had other options. Good grief, I like my parents and Gameboy (well, most of the time!) Why do they assume that I want nothing more to do with them now that I'm quote unquote "grown up"? Then again, people are really good at assuming things. They assume a lot, and some things they assume are not neccessarily true. But then, I assume a lot of things too that may not neccessarily be true. Maybe it's part of being human?

Now that I've posted my diatribe, I'm off to make preperations to see my friend. TTFN