Of Autumnal Tillage

My youngest sister is a magical woodland creature...

After church this morning I was able to kidnap my youngest sister and bring her over for lunch. We both had a grilled cheese tortilla, though hers was cooked a little too long and darkened. She said she didn't mind and devoured it anyway. I finished off the delicious chicken noodle soup that Zack brought over on Friday. Sissy had a glass of sweet tea with lemon juice and a key lime pie yogurt with her grilled cheese tortilla. Then she and I watched The Spiderwick Chronicles while I did some work on the computer.

When my roommate got back she also took some pictures of me in the front yard, at my vain behest, followed by Sissy and I tromping down the street to visit the two felines we befriended last Sunday. We only stayed a little while, but long enough for the black kitten to get a few good "sneak" attacks in our hands and the older orange tabby to contentedly rest in Sissy's lap while she found the petting spots that made him happily stick his tongue out and squinch his eyes.

Our visit to our furry acquaintances was brief. The brevity was due to the need to return home so I could get more studying in for my Mamm Phys test. I have approximately 16 hours until my test. *gulp* My hope is that the hours I have left to study will be fruitful ones and I will be adequately prepared.

Prayers always appreciated. Thank you!

Disease state of the soul?

The concepts seem tied, but that could be my I-went-to-sleep-early-and-woke-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and-feel-potentially-more-lucid-than-I-actually-am thought process at work.



RELEVANTmagazine.com article on Gluttony

Cayenne I help you?

That same soreness was still in my throat when I woke up this morning. The cough had gotten worse. So I went out to the living room and started watching Enchanted with the roomie and her kids, or at least what was left of it. Two cups of coffee and a slice of cold pizza later the movie was over. A brief intermission occurred and then Spanglish was put in the movie playing machine. Having only watched it once before, I forgot how much I like that movie.

Instead of having another slice of pizza I heated up a bowl of the chicken soup that Zack brought over last night when he and Diane came over for an evening of Canadian comedy and oven-baked pizza. Wow! ¡Sopa deliciosa y picante! So good. Me thinks it has helped my sinuses open up too. It had spiral noodles, celery, onion, garlic, and other seasonings as well. Mmm... Campbell's can't beat it.

I'm looking forward to being well again. Inspiracion:

Hope from yllcn on Vimeo.

:::EDIT:::
Another funny video, to help improve your cookie eating technique: ROCKETBOOM'S Interview with The Cookie Monster

Quiet, still, quite still

Being home sick can be quite refreshing, not that I enjoy missing work or school due to illness. However, just having a day to rest, refresh, and be renewed is a blessing.

The decision to remain at home came after waking up at 6 o'clock this morning, taking the dog out, and dragging the refuse to the corner. Once I got back inside I realized that my throat felt like tiny little creatures had crawled in during my slumber and taken a coarse grain sandpaper to its walls. *cough, cough* Some abdominal soreness was enough to convince me that a day of rest was probably in order. Though, in honesty, the abdominal soreness could likely be due to the crunches I've been doing to try strengthening my back and core.

So far today I've emailed my professors with apologies for being absent, checked my Facebook account to find that my best friend has started a profile (and we're officially friends on Facebook :), listened to some of my favorite classical and Romantic period music, received a new haircut from my roommate before she left for work, and given an ear to my friend Jeff's songs. His music is worth recommending. The new Christmas songs that he and his friend Drew have been working on are quality. But don't take my word for it: http://www.myspace.com/jeffharte

Now the plan is to shower, drink a glass or two of water, and try to get a few hours more of sleep in. Later on I'll probably spend some time reading a new book my sister lent me, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Dave McKean. Some quiet time with Jesus will definitely be going on too. Then studying for my exam in Mammalian Physiology that is next Monday.

Have I mentioned how happy I am? Last night Zack and I hung out for a few hours and went walking around his neighborhood. Just talking with him and spending time with him brings me joy. I'm looking forward to what will come, but also trying to enjoy and be thankful for the here and now. May I be as good to him as he is to me.

speak easy, listen hard

This afternoon, instead of working in the biology office as I’ve been doing the last few weeks, I was able to work with my boss on some of the projects he needed to take care of: inoculating some nutrient broth test tubes with Bacillus, Serratia, and some other bacterium as well as checking inventory against the database. I love working in the biology department! Before we actually got to the tasks awaiting us we just spent some time talking in his office, which is another one of the things that I really enjoy about my job (it’s never dull working with Bob). Our conversation started with just the basic fair but after a short time we were talking about faith and trusting God. Some of the things that really stuck with me were the questions that we’ve both had come up about bad things happening to good people, being more Christ-like, and the verse that says something about going into a closet to pray.

After walking with Jeannine tonight, God laid something on my heart that was a culmination of a few conversations I’ve had the last few days, all leading into the importance of keeping communication open with God.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness” Jeremiah 31:3

Lovers usually don’t yell at each other across a room but instead get close and speak softly to each other. When speaking with this loved one, you intentionally incline yourself toward that other person so you can hear what they’re saying and really listen to what they’re trying to tell you, listening with everything that you can so you get the full message and provide feedback. Your intent interest shows in your posture, gestures, and the reactions to what the other person says. God pursues us and wants to be in relationship with us; He pours out blessings and leaves little notes and hints, small gifts to remind us that we are loved and cared about. Sometimes they’re not overt or they’re confusing and we won’t understand what He’s trying to get across unless we slow down, focus ourselves on this conversation with our soul’s Lover and listen intently, soaking up not just the words but all that we can of Who is directing His love toward us.