1.13.2010
Through the eyes of a 6th grader
At Crossroads this week (middle school youth group) Matt, the boys Youth Director, gave a wonderful example of how we can doubt God's goodness by having a selfish, narrow-visioned, instantly gratifying mindset. (He of course used different terms.) He asked one of the middle school girls to stand at the front and close her eyes. He proceeded to hold up a large and beautiful painting close to her face. When she opened her eyes, all she could see was yellow. As she took steps backwards she saw more and more of the striking sunset painting.
This resonates true when we live day by day and see little by little God's great plan come into existence. We cannot always understand the reasons that we are enduring the trials or situations that we are, or cannot understand the uncomfortable position that God has us in; but He continually reveals more and more to us so that we can more fully grasp his magnificent plan and painting of our lives.
Later, one of my co leaders in the small group asked our girls how they felt when God didn't give them something they wanted. The sweet girl to my left looked up and said, "Well, it can lead to resentment, but if you really trust God, you will know that if he really does have your best interest in mind, then what you wanted wasn't best for you, or you might should not have wanted it in the first place." - Ladies and Gentlemen, the wisdom of a 6th grader.
Silent Night- All is Calm
As I walked to work this morning in the nipping cold, I realized how often that I walk looking at the ground. Sure I was shielding my poor face from what I thought was -20 degree winds, but when I recognized how much I was examining the semi-flat pavement rather than looking at the world around me I was hit by the simple truth that I have been living life in the same manner.
How much do I miss by looking down at my feet. If I would just raise my eyes to look at those around me I might share the kindness of a stranger's smile, or enjoy the simple yet miraculous act of a bird in flight, or I might notice a cloud in an odd shape, or even just take in the enchanting world of the city.
Like tonight- I walked home from watching football at a friend's apartment on the north side of the Hill. I won't tell you what time, or how far, because I am sure to get scolded. I very innocently didn't expect snow, but much to my Alabama delight I walked out to a fresh layer of snow and practically floated home as I tried to see how long I could look up into the kaleidoscope of snowflakes. As I neared the Library of Congress and the Capitol, my breath escaped me. What a beautiful view. I didn't see a car in sight, and there were no noises. Very austerely and yet elegantly stood my Capitol. There is something simply charming and endearing about the Capitol at night with the sharp contrast of a midnight sky, the lights are at just the right angle so it demands respect. The snow peacefully fell covering me completely in new white attire, and silently embracing the Capitol that I love.
Everything in life depends on one's outlook. Think of what I would have missed had I not looked up. This year in 2010, I promise to pull my eye from the pavement and my own life, and look up to face the world around me.
How much do I miss by looking down at my feet. If I would just raise my eyes to look at those around me I might share the kindness of a stranger's smile, or enjoy the simple yet miraculous act of a bird in flight, or I might notice a cloud in an odd shape, or even just take in the enchanting world of the city.
Like tonight- I walked home from watching football at a friend's apartment on the north side of the Hill. I won't tell you what time, or how far, because I am sure to get scolded. I very innocently didn't expect snow, but much to my Alabama delight I walked out to a fresh layer of snow and practically floated home as I tried to see how long I could look up into the kaleidoscope of snowflakes. As I neared the Library of Congress and the Capitol, my breath escaped me. What a beautiful view. I didn't see a car in sight, and there were no noises. Very austerely and yet elegantly stood my Capitol. There is something simply charming and endearing about the Capitol at night with the sharp contrast of a midnight sky, the lights are at just the right angle so it demands respect. The snow peacefully fell covering me completely in new white attire, and silently embracing the Capitol that I love.
Everything in life depends on one's outlook. Think of what I would have missed had I not looked up. This year in 2010, I promise to pull my eye from the pavement and my own life, and look up to face the world around me.
10.09.2009
In God we trust
http://tinyurl.com/yz69leb
Watch the video.
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This is why I work here. This is what we are fighting for.
Take heart America there are still great men fighting for this country.
"The Lord blesses each nation that worships only him. He blesses his chosen ones."
Psalm 33:12
Watch the video.
Take heart America there are still great men fighting for this country.
"The Lord blesses each nation that worships only him. He blesses his chosen ones."
Psalm 33:12
10.02.2009
::Autumn::
There is just something marvelously wonderful about the change of season from summer to fall.
Fall is probably my favorite season. I can remember having an odd fondness for fall growing up. In the Isaacson household, we were big on make-believe play outdoors. We would make forts or become domestic and have forest “houses.” If we were feeling extra adventurous we would explore the wooded areas, (this is when 2 acres of land was “uncharted” territory and felt like 200,) or we would turn on some music and choreograph trampoline circus routines. I can remember four-wheeler hide-and-go seek games, horseback rides, and rollerblading up and down the one paved street in our area. Being homeschooled was fabulous because there were so many opportunities to finish our work quickly so that we could spend the day playing catch with Puppy outside.
I was never enthusiastic about summer days in Alabama. We were always in the pool and while that was fun, it was the nip of the autumn air that sparked in me a passion for God’s great outside creation.
My strong affinity for sports was also satisfied by football-filled Saturdays. Growing up in Auburn/ Opelika, I have been around SEC football for the majority of my life. Currently I am experiencing serious withdrawals that incite strong arguments about teams of which I care nothing about. I am venturing today to Knoxville to finally see my Tigers play, and I couldn’t be more excited! War Eagle!
Autumn also brings the need for long sleeve shirts, turtle-necks and sweaters. There is something delightful about cuddling up in a hammock with a good book and beautiful bronze and ruby leaves creating a canopy above that rustle with the cool wind interrupting the silence of the country. Oh how I wish I could be on Sedgefield Lane.
One of the other things I feel with the coming of autumn is the desire for school. I enjoy reading and learning, and I liked “school” growing up as long as I had some say in what I was learning. After a summer break, I can recall the excitement upon discovering a box arrived in the mail, all the kids would gather around to claim the books that were to become our teachers for the upcoming year. I would much rather be in school in the fall than any other time of the year. The weather inspires me to think deeper thoughts, and truly desire to retain the information I encounter; new books, new hopes for good grades and new interesting subjects to discover.This may be why I have been interested in grad schools the past few weeks, even though I can't fathom going back to school anytime soon.
In the AO area, we always had fun fall festivals, hayrides, corn mazes, etc., and all the memories of those activities makes me long for home and yet so thankful that I will actually get four seasons in D.C.
So it is with that same childish fascination of the weather patterns and biological change in the landscape that I am clinging to the hope of bottling up the weather here in DC and having some to enjoy year round. God is so creative to design a consistent pattern by which our agricultural cycles follow.
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
Daniel 2: 20-21
Fall is probably my favorite season. I can remember having an odd fondness for fall growing up. In the Isaacson household, we were big on make-believe play outdoors. We would make forts or become domestic and have forest “houses.” If we were feeling extra adventurous we would explore the wooded areas, (this is when 2 acres of land was “uncharted” territory and felt like 200,) or we would turn on some music and choreograph trampoline circus routines. I can remember four-wheeler hide-and-go seek games, horseback rides, and rollerblading up and down the one paved street in our area. Being homeschooled was fabulous because there were so many opportunities to finish our work quickly so that we could spend the day playing catch with Puppy outside.
I was never enthusiastic about summer days in Alabama. We were always in the pool and while that was fun, it was the nip of the autumn air that sparked in me a passion for God’s great outside creation.
My strong affinity for sports was also satisfied by football-filled Saturdays. Growing up in Auburn/ Opelika, I have been around SEC football for the majority of my life. Currently I am experiencing serious withdrawals that incite strong arguments about teams of which I care nothing about. I am venturing today to Knoxville to finally see my Tigers play, and I couldn’t be more excited! War Eagle!
Autumn also brings the need for long sleeve shirts, turtle-necks and sweaters. There is something delightful about cuddling up in a hammock with a good book and beautiful bronze and ruby leaves creating a canopy above that rustle with the cool wind interrupting the silence of the country. Oh how I wish I could be on Sedgefield Lane.
One of the other things I feel with the coming of autumn is the desire for school. I enjoy reading and learning, and I liked “school” growing up as long as I had some say in what I was learning. After a summer break, I can recall the excitement upon discovering a box arrived in the mail, all the kids would gather around to claim the books that were to become our teachers for the upcoming year. I would much rather be in school in the fall than any other time of the year. The weather inspires me to think deeper thoughts, and truly desire to retain the information I encounter; new books, new hopes for good grades and new interesting subjects to discover.This may be why I have been interested in grad schools the past few weeks, even though I can't fathom going back to school anytime soon.
In the AO area, we always had fun fall festivals, hayrides, corn mazes, etc., and all the memories of those activities makes me long for home and yet so thankful that I will actually get four seasons in D.C.
So it is with that same childish fascination of the weather patterns and biological change in the landscape that I am clinging to the hope of bottling up the weather here in DC and having some to enjoy year round. God is so creative to design a consistent pattern by which our agricultural cycles follow.
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
Daniel 2: 20-21
8.31.2009
Andy Griffith
Guilty confessions:
Apt 930 is addicted to the Andy Griffith show. It is true. We enjoy the antics of Barney and the comments from Gomer, and the sweetness of Opie.
There is even an appeal of the slow peaceful life of Mayberry. After going to my boss' district this past week, one of the guys from our Leg staff said he forgot that people lived such different lives. In D.C. it is easy to get caught up in the sexy world of politics and power and it sometimes takes a jolt of reality in the world of, "normal middle class America" to remind us of real life. Life is starkly different outside of D.C. Even the simple detail of clothing choice; we stopped at one locality and a woman looked at the gentleman she was with and commented that, "they must be from D.C." He inquired as to why she would presume this, and she informed him that just as we were, everyone in D.C. wears black.
Time and time again, I have found Andy to be so wise, and his profound comments and solutions always strike a chord with the true values that I align with. Each episode, he takes problems and solves them with real world, common sense solutions. Maybe he should be president!
I would be quite satisfied if God gave me an Andy Griffith to marry and an Opie for a son.
8.27.2009
Travels
Whew. I just got home from a tour of my boss' district. It was exhausting! Very very beneficial and eye opening, but socially draining. I really enjoy just listening to the rest of our staff and soaking up their exorbitant amounts of knowledge. There is much more to the legislative process than most people understand.
I feel like I'm constantly traveling these days, and my pocket book is proof as I buy plane tickets home to Alabama once a month if not more. When at home recently, I went out to meet up with a friend one night and realized that I felt SO out of place. Auburn seemed so foreign, it was like a dream in which I was searching to find a glimpse of normality and it was no where to be found. The faces were different, the buildings new, I kept trying to get comfortable, but I even found myself socially awkward. When my friend told people where I lived, they then asked what school I graduated from...doesn't take long to be forgotten. And as soon as I started talking about my job they glazed over, and I lost their attention almost instantly. I have forgotten how to small talk with anyone outside of D.C.!
However the trip was wonderful and it was great to see the family. My brothers are precious and growing by the day. And I was SO SO excited that Landrum chose to be a diamond sister with me in ADPI. I am very excited about all the experiences she is about to embark on. I will have to admit, that as beautiful as the country roads were in our district, and as refreshing as my trip home might have been, I realized each time I left, I was yearning for D.C. I look forward to the place where I fit in and live a comfortable life and also to come back to my roommate and my cosy grown-up apartment with the luxuries of a big city.
So tonight, for now, I'm back in what is my sweet home D.C.
I feel like I'm constantly traveling these days, and my pocket book is proof as I buy plane tickets home to Alabama once a month if not more. When at home recently, I went out to meet up with a friend one night and realized that I felt SO out of place. Auburn seemed so foreign, it was like a dream in which I was searching to find a glimpse of normality and it was no where to be found. The faces were different, the buildings new, I kept trying to get comfortable, but I even found myself socially awkward. When my friend told people where I lived, they then asked what school I graduated from...doesn't take long to be forgotten. And as soon as I started talking about my job they glazed over, and I lost their attention almost instantly. I have forgotten how to small talk with anyone outside of D.C.!
However the trip was wonderful and it was great to see the family. My brothers are precious and growing by the day. And I was SO SO excited that Landrum chose to be a diamond sister with me in ADPI. I am very excited about all the experiences she is about to embark on. I will have to admit, that as beautiful as the country roads were in our district, and as refreshing as my trip home might have been, I realized each time I left, I was yearning for D.C. I look forward to the place where I fit in and live a comfortable life and also to come back to my roommate and my cosy grown-up apartment with the luxuries of a big city.
So tonight, for now, I'm back in what is my sweet home D.C.
8.19.2009
Bodega
Reported by some friends in Auburn:
Robert Gibbs, the current White House Press Secretary, who seems to get more flustered than any secretary I can recall ever seeing or hearing about, was in Auburn a few weeks ago for his high school reunion.
Reliable sources have informed me that Mr. Gibbs was seen being thrown out of Bodega, a common late night watering hole after making a scene.
The bouncers were shutting down the bar when Mr. Gibbs who thought it was a little too early for this, insisted on getting in their face and asking repeatedly, "DO you know who I am???"
The bouncer then took the beer from his hand and chunked it in the trash saying," I don't care who the **** you are, GET OUT."
Washington has a habit of blowing up people's ego...but I'm justing being trying to be understanding. :)
War Damn.
Robert Gibbs, the current White House Press Secretary, who seems to get more flustered than any secretary I can recall ever seeing or hearing about, was in Auburn a few weeks ago for his high school reunion.
Reliable sources have informed me that Mr. Gibbs was seen being thrown out of Bodega, a common late night watering hole after making a scene.
The bouncers were shutting down the bar when Mr. Gibbs who thought it was a little too early for this, insisted on getting in their face and asking repeatedly, "DO you know who I am???"
The bouncer then took the beer from his hand and chunked it in the trash saying," I don't care who the **** you are, GET OUT."
Washington has a habit of blowing up people's ego...but I'm justing being trying to be understanding. :)
War Damn.
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