25 random things.

I’m joining in all the hype.

1/ I’m a Lost, Arrested Development, The Office, and Will & Grace junkie. But other than these shows, I never watch tv.

2/ I can play: guitar, piano, bass, trumpet, baritone, french horn, trombone, saxaphone, clarinet, ukulele, and kazoo. I like to pretend that I can play: violin, cello, and harmonica.

3/ I was born (sorta) and raised in Pittsburgh, PA.

4/ I absolutely love to cook. Especially if I get to cook for lots of people! (Sunday-buffalo chicken dip-hoorah!..haha)

5/ I listen to music almost nonstop throughout the day. I really cannot make it through a day without listening to Coldplay or Lifehouse.

6/ I love quotes. My favorites are, “The great use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” James Trunslow Adams and “To love is to be vulnerable.” C.S. Lewis

7/ I have ALWAYS wanted to ride in a hot air balloon for as long as I can remember. I still haven’t had the chance to do so.

8/ This is way harder than I thought!

9/ I did my undergrad at Messiah College in Grantham, PA and my degree is in Christian ministries with a concentration in global missions.

10/ When I was a kid, until about the end of high school, I used to have wicked crazy dreams and would wake up disoriented and think I was in that dream. So one year at camp I dreamt the bunk bed was falling on me and I woke up, sat up straight, and knocked my head on the wooden ladder.

11/ I only like balogna if it is in the shape of a duck.

12/ I have the very best friend in the whole entire world who loves me no matter what! And for that I am grateful. I don’t know what I’d do without her!

13/ I think kids are hysterical. I particularly enjoy the company of a rambunctious 2-6 year old. But beware, I tend to teach them bad things. Well, bad things or lots of Beatles songs Or bad things AND lots of Beatles songs. I think every 4 year old should know that the Beatles are the greatest rock band and be able to sing the chorus of some of their most famous songs. I’m just sayin’.

14/ I love to laugh really hard and I love to make other people laugh really hard. And by hard I mean, crying and having trouble breathing. What a joy!

15/ I’ve traveled outside of the country only twice; once to Port-au-Prince, Haiti and once to Baoding/Beijing, China. I am hankering to travel alot more after I’m done with school.

16/ Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually know anything about anything. 98.5% of the time I google it. In fact, I say, “I’ll just google it,” probably at least 10 times a day.

17/ I have a small collection of wooden statues from various places – Haiti, Mexico, Hawaii, Ecuador, Iceland. It keeps growing and I love it! So next time you are out of the country, hook me up!

18/ I’m deathly afraid of snakes. I will either (a) pass out or (b) run away screaming at the top of my lungs. I haaaaaate them!

19/ See #10. I had one as a kid where I dreamt there was a large gray snake wrapped around a tree in my yard and the people at the church were trying to figure out what to do with it. I still think about that alot and it still makes me shudder (see #18).

20/ I love all my fellow Mars-Hillians. They are an amazing bunch of people and we all have a ton of fun together!

21/ I miss my cat who is at home….she thinks she is a puppy and follows me around everywhere. And she sleeps next to my head every night.

22/ I’ve been in 26 states. Someday, hopefully make it to all of them.

23/ I won a real live bunny at school when I was in 2nd grade. I named it Fufu. No comments! haha

24/ I am actually rather introverted. I like being around people, but I also need alone time to wind down at night.

25/ I want to live, breathe, work, play, eat, love, sing, all in the name of Christ.

There are still good people in this world.

Read, THIS.

“Sorry, I’m Too Busy….”

I absolutely hate when people say this. What they really mean to say is, “I have other things in higher priority than you.”

Unfortunately this semester I’m probably going to have to employ this phrase more often than not. I’ve got a full load, and a more academically challenging semester. I’m ready, but it’s going to be tough! Here I go…

My reading for the semester:

The Kingdom.

So Are You To Me

Shakespeare // Sonnet 75

I need You the way living things need food or the grass needs rain, and to attain the peace that only You can give me, I fight with myself the way a miser struggles with his wealth. One moment he enjoys his wealth proudly, and the next he’s worried that someone from these thieving times will steal his treasure. One moment I think it’s best to be alone with You, but then I think it would be better if the rest of the world could see my pleasure. At times I feel over-satisfied from looking at You excessively, but a little later I’m starving to get a look at You. I can’t experience or pursue any enjoyment except what You can give me or I can take from You. That’s why I suffer and feel hungry day after day, because I either get too much of You or none at all.

First day of class…

Yesterday was my first official day back to school. It was really good, but veerrrryyyy long. Here’s my schedule for this semester:

BTI 502 Reading Practices: Engaging the Biblical Text (2 credits)

BTI 504 New Testament Genre (3 credits)

CSL 517 Marriage & Family (2 credits)

CSL 552 Practicum I Part II (1 credit)

SFD 526 Celtic Spirituality (1 credit)

TCE 502 Mission in a Global Context (2 credits)

I have one more class/credit than I did last semester. Yes, that means MORE reading and MORE papers. Hoorah…. But I think it is manageable. I think my favorites are going to be the two Bible courses.

another year gone by :: 2008 in review

[Above picture: One of my first attempts at watercolor and ink]

To see last year’s post, visit this link.

I have been really slack these last couple of months with this blog. The end of the semester was just so busy, I got side tracked. And then of course, have had little motivation to write much more on here. But at any rate, I shall reopen the blog posting this year with a series of lists. Because, well, I love lists of all sorts. Top 10 are the best. Anywho, here they be:

Best Memories of ‘08 ::

* Working at two mighty fine churches: Homestead Park UMC (worship leader) and Bridgeville First UMC (secretary)

* Spending two weeks in Baoding and Beijing, China.

* Greeting a third little Rager baby into the world, Mason Chase!

* Road trip across the country with my dad en route to Seattle for graduate school.

* One semester down, done well, well done, 8 more to go!

* Turning 24 years old.

* Getting to know my best friend in the whole world!

* Becoming addicted to Arrested Development.

* Overusing phrases like, “Hey hermano!”, “Because…I know that!”, and “I like you! Very nice!”

Things I’d like to do in ‘09 ::

* Ride in a hot air balloon (this is still at the top of my list, but I have yet to complete it….)

* Lose some weight……..or to be specific, a lot of weight.

* Get back into the habit of journaling

* Travel to . . . anywhere.

* Get some more good grades and enjoy some more MHGS classes.

* Figure out watercolor painting and paint some cool things.

* Find a cheaper addiction to replace coffee.

* Read some books that are not school related.

* Get a new camera and take some amazing pictures.

* Begin figuring out what the heck I’m going to do with the rest of my life.

* Actually write on this blog more than once every 2 months.

Best albums of ‘08 ::

* Tyler Burkham – Darling, Maybe Someday

* Ray LaMontagne – Gossip in the Grain

* Coldplay – Prospekt’s March

* The New Frontiers – Mending

* Kyle Andrews – Real Blasty