Nothing gold can stay

It is remarkable to me how closely the seasons can match those in our lives. A simple dialogue from The Outsiders reminds me of the changes in life and how quickly they come. It may seem premature for me to be writing about my life changing when I do not graduate for another semester but it's just like the weather forecast for this weekend. It's only October, and they are already predicting snow. It will snow this weekend.

It already seems as if I'm slowly receding from this place; getting ready to move onto something different. I do not see my friends as much, and if I do, it feels like we don't have much in common anymore. Realizing that I will be moving on, changing, and that they will be still here as college students is saddening. Why can't we go on this way, at least for a while longer? At least until I'm ready to let go.

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

-- Robert Frost

Valentine's Day: Making Grown Men Crumble

Walking through the grocery store, I came across something that would become a familiar sight this Valentine's Day:

a gruff looking, bear-belly, flannel shirt wearing man is looking at sprinkles in the cake aisle. I notice his cart sitting on the other side of the aisle. Inside the cart there is a heart shaped cookie-cake with red frosting. Kiss is printed on it in cursive letters.

Valentine's Day was made to humiliate the toughest of men.

Love conquers all, except for Samurai Ninjas.
But then again Samurai Ninjas have throwing stars to fight with.
And love is blind, so it’s not quite fair.

^ Not sure where this came from - a song, I think. But it cracks me up every time.


Oh, my sister and her "boy" got engaged (apparently 10% of couples get engaged on V-day). I'm excited for them, but this means I will be in two maybe three weddings this summer/fall and will be attending another aside from that (more if I wasn't going to be YouthWorks-ing this summer..)

Please, if you're considering getting engaged and you're going to want me to be in the wedding, you might want to consider a 2010

wedding. My schedule is kind of wedded out.

Reflecting

I am currently one-and-twenty (Thanks for that, Jane Austen). It doesn't really feel any different. Those of you who are older than me know this, but those who are younger - I'm sorry to disappoint. While watching a talk show on my actual birthday, the guest, Michael Vartan (who was just as gorgeous as ever minus the molestash [ew]) told everyone he had just turned 40 and stated, "I just turned 21 three months ago, what happened?!" So now I am in the state of mind that time is short, and I feel like in three short months I'll be 40 and looking back on this time wondering where it went. That's enough to scare you. I think more than anything else, I don't want to waste my life (awesome book by John Piper, btw).

There are a few quotes I'd like to point out:

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln

"Everyone dies, but not everyone truly lives." - Braveheart

And finally, a verse that I think about very often:

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

The context surrounding this verse talks about how we are like grass and that God returns us to the dust. I heard a pastor talk on similar verses at summer camp. It was on James 4:14, "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." The pastor took out a spray bottle and had someone ready to time how long the mist appeared. The camper didn't even start the timer by the time the mist disappeared. Reflecting on this now, I am even more concerned about how I spend the time that God has given me. Have I used it wisely? Have I made them count?

One of the things that matters to me more than anything are friends. One of my dear friends was getting so caught up in school and other "busy-ness" that I never heard from her. We finally got a chance to talk one day and she said she had unfortunately had to ignore some friendships for a while and focus on all the other things in her life she had to do. I told her, "But what is going to be more important in the long run?" To me, sacrificing a better grade in a class to comfort a friend who needs to talk when I really need to study or putting something off for a few hours just to let someone knowI care isn't a hard decision. I try and make friends and people a priority. Sometimes I think I put too much effort into relationships, and I get drastically disappointed. Frustrated that I put time into relationships, but don't feel reciprocation. Yet, isn't it treat others as you would have them treat you not treat others as they do treat you?

Digressing from the reflecting (it's getting a little heavy for a 21 year old, don't you think?), my parents and sister set up a little surprise party of friends to come over on my birthday. It was wonderful. I can't remember a much better birthday. Truly.

I guess I'm just ending this by going back to the verse, and praying that God would teach me how to number my days so I would fill them with meaning.

Change

"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

I've been really excitedin sharing all of these thoughts with all of you (whoever you may be). I've decided to write some other more random posts - including more personality. Because, although Christ permeates every aspect of my life, I'm just not in the mood sometimes to post intense blogs... :)

So, there will be some change, but I hope that you guys will enjoy this just as much.

Long Walks in the Fall

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. God's glory is certainly displayed in the fiery hues of autumn. There is a crispness in the air, and a chill too. Signaling the changing of the seasons. Part of me loves change. No more same-ol'-same-ol', but there is another part of me, which I am sure is echoed in everyone that is uncomfortable with change. Running into my best friend from middle school just yesterday reminded me of how even though we never change, we do change. We sat and chatted, and I realized I am nothing like the girl I was back then. Perhaps there are some corners of my soul where that insecure little girl lingers, but I am stronger now. Just this past week I've had to deal with more changes to the "routine." It's difficult at first, adjusting, but I can only be optomistic.

While fall reminds me of change, I have to admit that I love spring. Spring reminds me that God brings newness in the change. It's a comfort to know that I am not the same person that first came to Christ at the cross.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I was able to walk among the tree with a friend yesteday; today I just need to pop in a cough drop and crawl back into bed. Being sick is no fun!

Get out there, enjoy fall, and embrace the changes God is making in you!