These Three Remain...

I sit on my bed, my bedroom being almost completely dark, with the exception of the light coming from the screen of my laptop; in the next room, I can just hear my grandmother listening to a lecture CD on her computer, and even clearer is the sound of my sister practicing piano on the other side of the house, playing a Haydn sonata slowly and steadily. I, meanwhile, am reading an article on Wikipedia regarding philosophy and its different forms, trying to find the sort that describes the idea focused on in the book that I am to write a report on for my English class. I have a window open (the weather is still in the 70’s here, though it’s winter—this should be illegal), and I can hear, faintly, distant cars, mixed with the sound of the night creatures’ songs. I can look over and see my calico, Faith, sitting at the open window, enjoying the fresh air, as am I.

My sister’s serenade has now switched to a Grieg nocturne, and I take a break from realism, idealism, and rationalism, realizing how long it’s been since I spoke in the blog world…You all have been quite patient with me and my lack of posts. :)

As I sit here, trying to decide what to tell you all first, what is most important, what would you like to know, I realize that there is so much to tell that I don’t know where to begin. The world of college is in a completely different universe (so to speak) than that to which I am accustomed—I am so very glad that I am living at home, where I can refocus and reprioritize. I am very blessed to have many friends in the music department who come from similar backgrounds (i.e. Christian, conservative, and often homeschooling families), but the larger percentage of the college is not so inclined. I don’t know what I would do had I not the training and the anchor that I have in Christ.

Besides that aspect, however, college is going beautifully. My professors are absolutely fantastic (even my liberal Political Science teacher :P)—they are down-to-earth and personal, and have a genuine concern for their students. My classes have fairly light homework loads, which is such a blessing, as I still have piano practice to get in. I’m doing well in my classes, and am very pleased to discover that I will never need to take more than 12-13 hours of credit per semester (because of my AP tests). This, too, is an amazing blessing. Over the past week especially God has filled me with this incredible joy and peace, and I feel that with Him guiding me I will continue to soar, and continue to grow in His wisdom. College has been a trial, a growing experience, and a blessing all together so far, and I know that it will only get better and better.

Thank you all for your patience, your prayers, and your support—and, though I might be rather slow in replying, please send me an e-mail or even a letter if you so desire; I’d love to hear from you!

God bless!

~Written 11-18-07

I don't believe that anyone who is right handed realizes how prejudiced the world is towards them. There are so many areas where we left handers are simply ignored or not considered! Let me give you just a few examples:

You know those mugs with the picture on one side? Go take a look at which side the picture is on; it's to the left of the handle. "So?" you say. Well, hold that mug in your left hand; what do you see? Nothing! The picture shows if you hold it in your right hand, but when you hold it in your left, you get to look at a nice blank mug.
You also (most likely) have no idea how frustrating scissors can be for left-handers! I don't know how many times I have had to give up in despair and ask a nearby right-hander to finish cutting something for me. Scissors, unless they say otherwise, are created with right-handers in mind; the blades must be cut in a special way. When I hold scissors in my left hand, not only are the handles themselves uncomfortable at times, but the silly things just won't cut! It's ridiculous!
Ah, and another biased item; measuring cups. Believe it or not, measuring cups can be rather annoying to left-handers as well. As I am an American, I generally use the "English" measurement system. Well, take a look at measuring cups--any measuring cup. On the majority of these, which side is the "cups" measurement on, hmmm? To the left of the handle. That means that when I am measuring something out while cooking, I have to turn the handle to the other side, and turn it back again when I want to pick it up (or use my right hand to pick it up).
Pens are another thing! Pens with words written along the side look just fine when you are holding them in your right hand; trying switching it to your left! Now what do you see? A bunch of upside-down nonsense, no? (I am very good at reading things that are upside down; I've had a bit of practice! ;) :P )
One thing that I have simply gotten used to in this backwards world is the mouse on the computer. The way that the mouse is shaped prevents left-handers from simply switching hands, and the mouse is always on the right side of the keyboard, anyway. So I am quite used to using my right hand in that arena.
Something that I have realized now that I am going to college is that desks pose another inequality for left-handed students. Many desks in school (at least at my college) have a little extended area of the writing surface to the right of the seat, allowing right handers to rest their arm on it as they write. Unfortunately, the desk is not symmetrical, so we left-handers are not given that nicety.

Now, with all that said, I have a shocker for you; I couldn't be prouder of being a left-hander. :D I absolutely love being left-handed...and a red-headed left hander, at that! And I'm in good company: Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Charlemagne, Alexander the Great, Ronald Reagan, Lewis Carroll, Albert Einstein and many more famous figures of antiquity and the recent past have laid claim to this prized characteristic.
Finally, it is a scientific fact that we left-handers are the ones who are most in our right minds. That explains a lot, now doesn't it?

Hello again everyone! We have returned from our month-long trip! We had a lot of fun, but we were definitely ready to be home by last weekend (you know that you've been away for too long when you come home and your very own kitchen looks rather strange and unfamiliar). We went to so many different places, and took so many pictures, that I'm going to have to update you all in installments. This first one is of Mexico; I don't have many pictures to show (I was too busy working!), but there are a few worth posting. Here they are!

Well, I'm off tomorrow (at 4 A.M.) for Mexico! Our church is partnering with another, and we are all heading down for a 6 day mission trip! My dad and I are going on this, while the rest of the family will be leaving the following Tuesday to drive up to Illinois for a conference. After the mission trip my dad and I will fly up to the conference....when this is finished we will be driving up to Michigan to visit some incredibly wonderful cousins! (Traci, Tralene and family ;) ) The next leg of our trip will be to drive through Canada to Niagara Falls, and then all the way down the east coast, visiting special places and friends. :D So that is our general plan....as far as my blogging schedule goes, here it is. Starting Saturday, I will probably do little if any blogging, as I will not be bringing my laptop; I should return the following weekend...in the meantime, please vote in the poll on the sidebar and let me know how you think I can improve the content of my blog! As a perfectionist, I'm always ready for improvement. ;)
When I come back, I should have lots of pictures from Mexico, and as the next 4 weeks progress, I will continue to keep you all updated with pictures and details! :D God bless you all! (By the way, I'd love to come back to lots of comments! I know there are some of you who read this and have never commented! *hint hint* :P )
Please keep us in your prayers as we all travel! Thank you so much!

" We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the twentieth century does not reckon with. But we are "harmless," and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contract with men, but brash, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are "sideliners"- coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!"

~Jim Elliot

Be dangerous--a living testimony to God's power through weak human flesh!

Happy Independence Day everyone! May God bless America!

“[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” ~John Adams

“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.” ~Benjamin Franklin

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” ~Patrick Henry

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” ~Thomas Jefferson (emphasis mine)