A short ramble

Our home computer crashed a week or so ago, so I haven’t had access to the internet all the time. This would explain why I haven’t written in a while.  However, I did update my ‘about me’ page a few days ago, if you’re interested.

So I’ve got a lot of stuff I have to get done over the next few weeks—stuff that I’m really ready to erase from my mental to-do list.  I have to finish reviewing my algebra, and take a college algebra CLEP test. If I pass this I should be finished with math forever! Isn’t that a happy thought? I also need to take some english CLEP test. I’m not quite sure what the test is yet, but I don’t think there’s a whole lot I will need to do to prepare for it. Then I need to create my own bank account; I won’t be able to cash checks through my mom after I turn eighteen. I also need to apply to Boyce. This includes gathering information and creating my transcript. I should have started on that already, but with our computer issues this has been difficult. I need to learn how to parallel park, log six hour of night driving (I’d feel more comfortable if I got new glasses first), review my drivers guide (because I’ll have to take the written test again), and get my license.  And lastly I need to take an eye exam and get those new glasses that I think I really need.

Well, my dad’s asking for the computer. And I guess that’s a good thing. I should be working on a plan of attack for the things mentioned, instead or writing this post anyway.

So it’s not Christmas anymore

and I miss my brothers already!

“It’s Christmas, after all”

Everyday is Christmas day. That is, every day until my brothers spread their wings and migrate east for the semester. Our family has been doing a lot of recreational stuff over the last week. My brothers actually spent a few days without studying anything, which is very unusual. The common excuse is: “We can do whatever we want. It’s Christmas day. ” I think this reasoning is quite reasonable. Everyone should take some time off from studying once in a while, especially during the holiday season. I’m very glad that my brothers have come to see the light, because it can be dreadfully lonesome doing nothing profitable all by myself.

Benjamin and I learned how to play backgammon today. Not a bad game, backgammon. I lost, but somebody had to lose the first game. We may pick that up some more over the next few days.

We as a family listened to To Build a Fire (Jack London), and some of Huckleberry Finn. You can hear them for free online. http://loudlit.org/

Benjamin and I (plus Mama at the end) used every letter from two Scrabble sets to create a crossword formation on the kitchen table. Every word had something to do with Christmas. It got challenging at the end, but we managed.

We’ve had the ping-pong table in our living room for a few days. There wasn’t room in the basement to set it up, so my brothers brought it around the house, through the snow, and into the living room. I haven’t played much, but my dad and brothers have been going at it quite a bit. My brothers discovered they can make it better exercise by jumping every time they hit the ball. There’s a lot of action in those games.

I’ve been having a jovial time–more fun in general then I’ve had in a while, this family time has been amazing, probably because my family is amazing–but at the same time I’ve been finding it easy to neglect spiritual disciplines. Pray with me that I would fill my time with meditation (day and night), unceasing prayer, and constant rejoicing.

Hope everyone is having a jolly time!

Laura

Extreme Tiredness

I was so tired the day before yesterday that I woke up more than five times. I was so tired yesterday that I wanted to cry about everything. I slept late this morning and now I feel fine. Does this ever happen to you?

New blog

Amy and I started a new combined blog. Check it out here: www.http://onyourgates.wordpress.com/

If the Lord Wills

I lied a few posts back. Referring to a performance of The Four Seasons, I said that I couldn’t miss it.

I missed it.

Due to weather, we couldn’t go. I would have liked to have gone. But in the end I’m thankful, because it was a good opportunity to recall four important biblical truths/commands:

• “The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
• “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
• “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know that your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”
• “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Concert details

Hey, here are all the details I can possibly think that you would need to know about the two concerts I posted about a while ago. You should probably order tickets as soon as you read this if you are planning to go.

The Tallis Scollars: Thursday, Dec. 10, 7:30pm, Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

Get tickets at www.chambermusic.org, or call 816-561-9999

$35 for adults
$32 for seniors and educators
Free for 18 and under
$15 for groups

Also if you’re a student over 18 you can try for student rush tickets. Details  can be found on the website.

The Four Seasons: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7:30pm, Unity Temple on the Plaza

Get tickets at www.kcchamberorchestra.org, or call 816-235-6222

Center floor tickets:
Regular $29
Senior $26
Student $10

Rear or side floor/balcony tickets:
Regular $22
Senior $19
Student, a ridiculously cheep $5
(Add to that a small “box office processing fee,” for us it was $3.50, and yup, there you have it.)

Meditation

What I am about to write is based on something Mr. Holloway shared on Sunday. 

What did you think about last night in bed? It’s natural to go over and over some conversation you had with someone, or think about every nuance of a certain event (for me, maybe something dumb that I did that day). This is a very good example of what meditation is.

The Bible says: “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we always by default started meditating on God and his word, whenever we were just “thinking”?

Here are a few ways to cultivate more of this kind of meditation:

Memorize Scripture. Small passages are good, big passages are better. If you won’t do big, at least do small. One of these days I’m going to write a post that will guilt you into it. Make it a habit to quote Scripture to yourself often. Try paraphrasing and expanding on the Scripture as a helpful way to think about what it means. 

Listen to Scripture or sermons. Even if you listen while you’re not really paying attention–my mom does it while she works on things around the house–you’ll find that you still get something out of it. My dad likes to listen to Scripture at night when he can’t sleep, and he says that listening to scripture is just as good as reading it.   

Keep Scripture in front of you. Put verses on your mirror. I recently made a scroll type thing with about 18 verses on it that I put on my wall in my room next to where I often sit. That has been enormously helpful to keep me meditating. When I first put it up, almost every time I sat there I involuntarily starting thinking about a verse. It was really cool! Honestly though, my scroll has become part of the wall. I rarely even really notice it anymore. I think I need to try moving it somewhere else, maybe then it would stand out again.

I really wish I could say that I had this meditation thing down, but I really don’t. I’m so distracted with trivial nonsense that doesn’t last more than a day. One of these days though, all those who love God will see Him, and what distraction will be able to keep us from thinking about Him then? Now I’m making myself homesick.

Concerts

All of you “Tallismen (and Women)” and anyone else who is interested:

The Tallis Scholars will be in concert Thursday, December 10th at 7:30 pm. And yes, they will sing the nine Psalm tunes from Archbishop Parker’s Psalter. I’ll post more details later, but I just wanted to make sure people reserve the date.  It’s free for people 18 and under. Students are $10 I think.

Also December 8th will be the Four Seasons. You can’t miss that. At least I can’t miss it. I’ll post more about this later as well.

 

The Calendar

“Oh Marilla, looking forward to things is half the fun of them! You mayn’t get the things themselves, but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them.” (Anne of Green Gables)

Am I strange if I say that I like looking at my calendar? Bryan used to think it odd that I would sometimes spend a good amount of my spare time engaged in this activity. I really enjoy sitting down on a rainy Autumn day like today–perhaps with some nice quiet background music–pulling some covers over me, and opening up my calendar. It’s almost as enjoyable as reading a good book. I preminisce about upcoming events, and reminisce about past ones. To me, opening up my calendar is something like heating up water for a cup of memories and imagination.

Here are a few upcoming events on my calendar:

My Dad arrives home from India tomorrow evening. I’m expecting lots of stories and pictures. Did I ever mention that my dad is the most godly, loving, funny, enjoyable, spiritually edifying and encouraging friend and dad I could wish for? Why is it that God gave me such a great dad? Many people have angry, abusive dads, and many have none at all. I have not only a believing dad, but one that seems to really know how to be a “dad” in every aspect of the word. That’s a lot more than most people can say.

October 31 is the fall party at the Olson’s. I’m so excited! 

On November 7th I take the SAT. Yay! (“seriously?”) Well, not that I get to take it, but that it will be over with. I have to keep a positive outlook, right?

November 15th is the Heatland meeting. Need I say more?

November 21st is exciting for two reasons. One: Bryan get’s home! Two: I have a violin recital. Actually, I can’t decide whether or not to be excited about the violin recital. It really depends on how I feel about my piece a week or so out. I don’t feel that great about it right now, which is a bad sign. But if I totally persecute the piece, the world doesn’t end. Bryan will arrive home later that day to sweep my troubles away. And if I’m surprised with an outcome quite the opposite, he’ll be there to rejoice with me.

And November 23 marks the arrival of Benjamin. I like Benjamin. Around Benjamin one is bound to have nothing other than an educational-good time. There are almost no exceptions to this rule. Benjamin also has a classic type of refined humor that’s refreshing. It can’t be described. You just have to know him.

So those are the highlights of this month and next. It’s probably more interesting to me than it is to you, but I wanted to write about it anyway. So if you read it, you’re my true friend. If you didn’t, well, you won’t be reading this so never mind.