Here We Go Again.

Wow, looking back to my last post it's been AWHILE. In fact over a year ..My last post being a 2012 new years resolution post and it looks like the only resolution I kept was numero 2, finished the Harry Potter series. Sigh... It was a long and unsuccessful year! Damn..

Well, in light of the coming of Easter Sunday, I have decided to "resurrect" my blog. My goal is to be more focused this time around.

It's spring! The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and I am on my last semester of grad school. Where will I go from here? Only God knows.

I leave you with this..

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time. ~ Martin Luther

Happy new year!! (well 17, 18 days late)

Alas, it is already almost a month in to 2012! Where did that time go? It’s been awhile since I have blog, and it’s been a while since I’ve exercised. I blame it on the holidays, the return of the NBA season, and my intensive interterm class. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love them all dearly! But something had to suffer, and this time it was the blog.

How to ring in the new year? With resolutions of course! Usually, I avoid resolutions. I know I won’t keep them and I can’t stand not completing what I set out to do.

But this year, I’m doing it. Afterall, you only get 2012 once, and according to the Mayans, this is the last year of earth’s existence!! Must make the most of it.

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Resolution 1 // Start an Etsy Store

This one has been on the back burner for months. I have a few items to sell, but still have some work to do before a store launch.

Resolution 2 // Finish Harry Potter Series

I’m on book five. Almost there!

Resolution 3 // Fit into those Jeans

Yes, those jeans. I have a pair of black jeans from oodles ago that I would love to fit back into. Almost there, but not quite. Hoping to reintroduce them into my wardrobe sometime in the spring.

Resolution 4 // Give up Coke for a month

Easier said than done. I actually did this last year for about 3 weeks when we were in Thailand. It was much easier to give coke up in country that offers alternative fresh fruit juice options. Perhaps I’ll give it up on our Philippines/Thailand trip this year.

Resolution 5 // Finish Highschool Scrapbook

Yes, you read that right, highschool. Last completed scrapbook was from 11^th grade. Still working on my senior year. 2012, eight years later, might be the year that I finally put highschool on the shelf.

Resolution 6 // More Compassion, More Patience

Last but not least, I’d like to be more compassionate and patient. Not necessarily a 2012 resolution, but a life’s goal. Luckily, I have a man in my life who is a daily example of both and a Savior who epitomizes compassion and patience. (Slow to anger, and abounding in love. Ps 86:14-16)

Routine of Studying

Studying is not easy. There are so many ways that I find myself getting distracted (writing this post for example). But I think I have finally figured out a routine.

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1// Calm

It needs to come out. The antsy-ness of wanting to check mail, facebook and anything else online needs to be flushed. I start off by at least 10-15 mins of getting it all out of my system. Check, check, check.. Until there is nothing new to check and I finally get bored and move on.

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2// Music

A good song, or two, or three, helps me wind down and focus.

Current music of choice – Fernando Ortega with a tad of Coldplay and a touch of Jars of Clay.

(Usually Fernando Ortega on repeat x10 will do)

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3// Quiet

If the lawn is being mowed or the leaves being raked, it is really distracting. Unfortunately, those are the cons of living in an apt complex (a very well-manicured apt complex, might I add). But for the sounds I can help (running the dishwasher, tv, radio..etc) I usually turn them off. It helps to have a spare room that I can retreat to with a good desk and a nice view.

In college I was able to do homework in front of the tv. Now, it’s a different story. Perhaps my brain needs a little more will power and concentration than before, or I just get distracted more easily.

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4// Breaks

Last and most important I take breaks. I read somewhere that your brain cannot retain any more information after 2 hours of studying. Breaks are necessary. So an episode of Law and Order:SVU every 2 hours or so stimulates my learning..(or that’s what I tell myself).

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I’m off to attempt to study..

Sing to Jesus

I’ve been seeing a theme in the blogs I’ve been reading.  

It’s this theme of letting go.

Each person has their own take and perspective on it.

How they do it, how they don’t, and why to let go.

Letting go has been fairly easy for me. I find that the memories/experiences that I have that were negative or painful are often the ones that I least remember. 

They are hidden in the deepest depths of my soul… occasionally a conversation or new experience will bring them back up, and I’ll cringe and reflect on how painful they were.. then breath a sigh and move on.. thankful that it is in the past.

Sometimes I wonder if my selective amnesia is a blessing or a curse. I mean, who would want to remember a bad experience? Then again, isn’t it those experiences that shape us the most?

All I can say is I’m thankful I do not have to re-live them..

They are of the past..You live, You learn..

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            Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame

            Lord of our sinful hearts.

            He is our great Redeemer.

            Sing to Jesus, Honor His name.

            Sing of His Faithfulness, pouring His life out unto death    

Come you wear and He will give you rest

Come you who mourn, lay on His breast

Christ who died, risen in Paradise

Giver of mercy, Giver of Life                                 

            **Sing to Jesus by Fernando Ortega

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I love these words. In our weakness, pain and suffering.. 

We can sing to Jesus. He is the Lord of our shame.

"'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"

I love hymns. There is something so beautiful about them.

They are gentle, kind, compassionate all wrapped up together.

Slow but steady, strong and meaningful at the same time.

The following hymn was written by Louisa M. R. Stead. She wrote these words after watching her husband drown and die trying to rescue a drowning boy. She later became a missionary to South Africa.

Beautiful words filled with so much faith. If it were I, would I have that much faith?

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"'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

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“In You our fathers put their trust; they trusted and You delivered them.” (Psalm 22:4-5)

Alanis and Me

Today, I had the urge to listen to some good old school Alanis Morissette. I remember listening to her in middle school and being told by my youth pastor that she was of the devil and that I should burn/destroy all her albums.

Lets just say I'm so glad that I didn't.
She helps me unleash the inner independent women in me!

Not only that I have very fond memories of her music. Especially her "Jagged Little Pill" album.

It always strikes a chord ::Ding:: You Oughta Know.

I am not a huge music person but there are those few artist and songs that invoke emotion in me.

Among the top invokers ::

 Alanis Morisette
 Regina Spektor
 Ramones
 Smashing Pumpkins
 Jars of Clay
 Fernando Ortega

**I know.. They are quite different musical genres represented above.. It's about the memories

"After all..memories are all we have" - K. Ngaihte

O America, Land of the Free and Home of the.. Wait What?

Currently, I am taking a class called “Intercultural Communication.” It is definitely an interesting class and has provided me with incredible insight to the many question of.. why? Through the lectures, discussions and readings I have been able to really evaluate myself .. 

What does it mean to be a part of many cultures and none at the same time? This was an issue I struggled with as I did my senior art show at Biola. 

The class got me thinking back to my freshman year at Biola. I was, for lack of a better term, FOB (or Fresh Off the Boat), although I wasn’t entirely oblivious to American culture, I didn’t have a funky foreign accent or looked like I was straight from a Hello Kitty magazine, walk barefoot or wear clothes decades old. I thought I would be able to blend in with American society, but it was in the subtleties that I was most confused.

For example:

1\\ Tips (A good 15% will do) \\ It was hard for me to grasp this concept at first. Why would I pay more than what was listed on the menu? And tipping varies from customer to customer.. there is no way to regulate it. Just tell me how much, so I won’t be surprised when my $15 meal turns into $25.

2\\ Surprise! You’re been Taxed \\ I guess this goes hand in hand with tipping. Why can’t they just tell you how much they want from the get go!?! It’s like an unfriendly surprise when the 99cent soda ends up being $1.07 and you just do not have those extra 8cents on hand!!!

3\\ HonkHONK \\ Honking is a pretty common sound to hear in Asia. There’s a honk honk here, and a honk honk there, here a honk, there a honk, everywhere a honk honk.. old macdonald….(you get the point). But here no one honks unless you are about to have an accident EXCEPT when they are an impatient driver who insist that you step on the gas the moment the light turns green. Apparently, taking longer than a mili-second justifies a good HONK!

4\\ Sue You! \\ The idea of suing someone for your incompetency appalls me. Yes, there are times when suing is justified. But on the other 99% of the time when suing someone for stepping on a crack that you were able to see with your two God given eyes hardly seems justifiable.

The list goes on...

Captain America anyone? Perhaps he has some answers...

School Supplies Anyone??

Found these absolutely amazing hand made "school" supplies on a blog I read. There are also notebooks, pencils and those awesome pink pearl erasers!

This just made my day! Practical for class.. I think so!

{See other images at site listed below}

http://www.sayyestohoboken.com/2011/09/embroidered-school-supplies.html

For the Love of the Game

Or in this case.. Class // For the Love of the Class
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Last week concluded my 4th week of classes and all I can say is AMAZING! I've had 2 of my 3 classes so far and both have been pretty much the bomb!

I did not think that I would be able to feel this way about a lecture class, but it’s happened /// 

This ex-art student loves sitting in lectures, taking notes and being involved in discussion. 

**(Oh and I love being early on assignments and readings!!)

What is this amazing life changing class/classes?

//// Intro. to International Development //// 

//// History of the World Christian movement //// 

The more I think about it I realize that not only IS the subject matter really interesting, but the professor are interesting.

They really bring it to life!

I love grad school! I don’t even mind that the next 3 weeks I have no weekends because I have classes!

For the love of the class.. right? Huzzah! 
(I have no clue where I got the expression from but I think it might be from my friend Josi)

Life as of Late

I realize it's been a decade (or a couple months) since I have posted. Honestly, I kind of forgot about blogging. 


Life has been a tiny bit hectic. Since classes started (and the month before, because I'm a nerd and like to get a head start) I feel like I have not had a moment to relax, sit down, and breath..


Today I was sitting in my office, looking out the window (wishing I was outside), and I really felt the urge to blog.


Nothing much to report.


\\ Things I'm currently obsessed about \\


\\ Excercising \\ Zumba + Turbo Kick = One Happy Nem. I really enjoy the two group exercise classes that I have joined. Although I have no rhythm in Zumba, I think I'm pretty decent in Turbo Kick. Both are definitely great stress relievers and you feel great after them. (Average calories burned in 1 hour class :: 600-1000, That's reason enough!)


\\ Coke \\ The coke itch is back. When we went to Thailand, I had a vast array for drinks to pick from, mainly FRESH fruit juices, and I lost my craving for soda. Unfortunately, it came back. Oh coke, You are my vice!


\\ Oliver \\ I'm always obsessed with Oli, but he just switched from night to day shift and it's been great to have him home at night. More time together = One SUPER Happy Nem. (Hopefully he doesn't get sick of me)

My desk. Yes it's a mess.. I was too busy looking out the window!
Can you spot the Laker's mug?

The UPS Man and Me

I have this awkward strange relationship with the UPS man at work. After sharing my experience my friend told me to blog about it so here goes.

Problem // The UPS Man

Well he’s just awkward. Tries to make small talk and looks at me so awkwardly as if longing for me to say something back. Perhaps it’s cause he meets lots of people everyday as he delivers and picks up packages, and it has made him social. I just see it as awkwardness x100000 and he can’t take a hint. (I guess my short abrupt replies don’t mean anything to him.) He just lingers, and lingers.. then finally leaves. Awkward you say? Most definitely!

Solution // Hide From Him

The benefit of a large window in the office is that I can see his gigantic truck pull up and park hap-hazardly in front.

Most of the time I’ll catch it out of the corner of my eye but on occasion it is too late and I’ll already hear the slam of the door signaling his entrance into the office.

This is where I must divert to plan B.

Depending on time, I’ll dart to the break room, bathroom or any other room. Wait.. wait.. then return to my office.

Today, time was tight. So I did what anyone else would do and I jumped under my desk. I have never been so thankful for my big solid mahogany desk before.

(Lucky for me, I found 2 paper clips.)

P.S. The FedEx guy is not too bad. But anymore chummy-ness and I'll be avoiding him too.

World Cup Champions : Japan

For as long as I can remember I have had this slight obsession with Japan. I remember being asked at my senior dinner in high school what I wanted to do with my life and I replied, "Be a missionary to Japan." I realize now it was a little ambitious but my sentiments are still the same towards the nation.

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Congratulations Nadeshiko Japan

2011 Women's World Cup Champions

"Live Your Goals"

Lately, I have been obsessed with, FIFA Women's World Cup.

Soccer/Football has always been dear to my heart. I enjoyed playing on teams and travelling to tournaments... just the overall culture of soccer. However, I was realistic and knew that I've never be no female Pele, but every time I watch this sport I can't help but dream the dream!

My family, much like the rest of the world, has watched the men's world cup religiously. We hardly even knew when the women's tournament was on. This summer with the end of the NBA season and a possibly lock out looming for next season, I decided to give the women's world cup a try... And it's been AMAZING! Not only is it surprisingly fun to watch, it's been exciting with twists and turns .. Wowza!

So this is what I've learned so far from my short month of fan-dom of women's soccer:

The Brazilian Bombshell - Marta (Brazil) is the best female player winning the FIFA World Player of the year award 5 times. aka "The Female Messi" (If you know anything about men's soccer this is a huge compliment.) She's amazingly talented!!

The German Tank - Birgit Prinz (Germany) is the FIFA Women's World Cup all-time leading scorer with 14 goals.

The Asian Sensation - Homare Sawa (Japan) is amazing to watch and also one of the older players at 32. She's already scored a hatrick, 3 goals in one game!

The American Rockstar - Abby Wombach (USA) is also really entertaining to watch. She has an amazing header! Wowza!

Other notes: 4 teams left - Japan vs Sweden, France vs USA.

I'm cheering on the Asians!

True Love is a Big Deal

Yes it is, and I am so glad that I found it.

Back to the Basics

I'm back.

It has been about 2 months since I blogged and I have the bug again. Don't get me wrong I haven't not been blogging because I don't want to but because I have just been so busy.

What have I been busy with you ask? Well.. VACATION! Yes, vacation made me super busy and super tired. When I got back I felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation.

Buena Park --> Bangkok, Thailand --> Chiang Mai, Thailand --> Buena Park --> Santa Barbara --> Buena Park

I was able to return to the country of my youth, Thailand. A place that I have not been to in 10 years. Some things stayed the same and others changed, but it was great to be back and to show Oli where I grew up.

Yup. That about sums it up. 3 beautiful weeks of traveling and spending time with my parents. Oh what I'd give to be back on vacation again..

Be Nice

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I found this on another blog I was reading this morning.
Food for thought.

Just Be Nice Dammit :: It's Better for Everyone

Update :: Out with the Old and In with the New

In January, I wrote a post about purging :: Out with the Old and In with the New :: It's been about 3 months and here is my update on that.

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First // Closet Clean Up

(Yes, my clothes are arranged by color :: It makes my wardrobe more fun to look at)

The closest clean up turn out to be very successful and ended up being quite addicting. Now when I look in my closest I see all my "favorite" shirts or pants. Each article of clothing is something that I would currently wear, not something I might wear in the future. It is a good feeling.

Purging resulted in 3 boxes and 1 bag of stuff to donate :: The small brown box is Oli's stuff. (He got the purging bug too)

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Second // Facebook Purging

Purging Facebook friends was awesome. What was not awesome was when those friends kept sending friend requests. Get a hint!

You can see from this blurry attempt at taking a photo of the computer screen, my friend count is down to the 500s from 800s :: Woot.

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Third // Reading My Heart Out

Last but not least, I read my heart out. Unfortunately they are all books for class but at least I've been reading. Although these particular books sometimes tend to put me to sleep I have learned a lot from them.

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Death has not hit me directly. I have a some friends who have had a parent pass away, a sibling and even a child. A couple of my Aunts and Uncles have passed away but I was not close to them (and in all honesty I do not even remember their names) so I could say that I have not yet to feel the impact of the death of a loved one.

On Friday (or was it Saturday) Oli and I received news that his 13 year old cousin who was in remission from leukemia, was in the hospital and eventually passed away. That same weekend I found out that one of my missionary Aunts (Not a blood related Aunt but one that my family has known for over 20 years, so she is in some aspects closer to me than any real Aunt) was in the ICU due to cancer as well. She too was in remission and had previously shown no signs of relapsing.

On Wednesday, March 30th, I found out Auntie Paula had passed away.

Like I mentioned before, even though she was not related to me her death has impacted me, because her life impacted me. Auntie Paula and the Dinkins were my family's first friends on the mission field over 22 years ago. She was the one who threw me my 3rd birthday party. When I was 8 she taught me how to sew. When I lived in the dorms and then to college, she was my mom. When I got married she threw my wedding shower.. and so on and so forth. The memories continue. And although this time should be a hurtful painful time, it really is not. I see the peace and comfort her husband and children have with her passing that I can not help but feel the same. Death is really just the beginning. In Christ we can celebrate.

That same day, my dear friend Hannah called me and told me that she was pregnant.

How ironic.

It's hard to understand God's timing. People often ask, "Why Lord?". But God's timing is not for us to understand (otherwise we would be God). We need to trust in God's wisdom, just like a child trusts their parents. As children we did not understand or comprehend the decisions of our parents, all we knew is that they did what they felt was best for us, their children. How much more then can we trust in God, whose wisdom is perfect and far more infinite than those of our earthly parents?

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Job 1:21 "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Molly & Me

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For my dear friend Molly's 25th birthday, which also happened to be her Golden Birthday (if you don't know what this means, it's when the age you are turning is the same as the date of your birthday :: Molly had to explain that to me too), I made her some personalized stationary.

We had both been talking about writing notes and I took this opportunity to design her something of her very own.

Happy birthday dearest! May your 25th be filled with much note writing!

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Molly's note set :: Front and back view of the notes
I also designed some stickers that are to be used to seal the note
(See below for a bigger version of the sticker)
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Close up of stickers :: "Written from the desk of Molly E Lewis"
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Birthday Card :: "from the bottom of our hearts HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY LEWIS"

Blog It Out

Two blogs in two days - Can this be true? Oh yes sir!

In an attempt to get the ball rolling again I am on a blog mission :: Blog it out.

Today in class our professor asked us to discuss what characteristics a person needs to be a missionary. We got into groups to discuss and two of us quickly pointed out the obvious, adaptability, culturally aware, flexible so on and so forth. It wasn't until one guy shared that a person needs to be Kingdom minded or filled with the spirit that I stopped to think about what he actually meant. It sounds so simple. Duh, of course you need to have spirit within you. But it was more than that. A person needs to exude the spirit in all aspects of their life so that not only are your words speaking for you but your actions are dually doing the same. Both equally important.

This reminded me of when I had first started at my current job. A co-worker once commented that I was always smiling and so happy. Like I was filled with joy all the time. Almost two years later and ironically this co-worker is now the person that I have the most hard time to get along with. I'm pretty sure he would not say the same about me now.

I've lost it. Lost the "sparkle". The joy that fills, well at least outwardly. And although from the moment I step into the doors at work my first thought is "when can I get out of here?" it really shouldn't be.

So again to the turning of the metaphorical leaf. (This leaf has turned so many times it's spinning) Oh well. Lets give it another shot. Let the goal be to be joy-filled and joyful.

After all :: Work's not THAT bad. I get to chat and make these awesome little paper toys... It's the little things.

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