Now that the internet works. . ..ahhh, and it's pretty fast too. It's been a good, but busy weekend and of course I still have lots to do. I'm promising myself that things will be better once Common Grounds is up and running. maybe a week or so.

in the randomness of just kind of sitting back and thinking, the thought crossed my mind about careless, seemingly harmless things that can be said that trigger hurt or something negative in another person. I'm not talking about profanity or such, more just, by appearance statements that most people wouldn't really take second notice of. Statements though, that might trigger something sad in a person who is going through a rough time or has had bad experiences with something related to the concept of the statement.

I don't know if there is really any good way of avoiding all things that could be said that might strike at nerves. In fact, I would say there is not. so why am I rambling on about this? good question. maybe just reminding myself to be careful with words and things said, particularly in jest and being aware of who is around me and what I do know that might be shadowing their lives.

anyways, it's about time for church. God bless the end of your weekend.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 10:08 AM 

 

   Hello from one busy soul who is taking advantage of the working (at least for now) internet connection over here in Trinity. I was going to go to bed, but after getting the opportunity to catch up on lives around me, I felt the need to continue on and update a LITTLE bit on mine. maybe I'll take the effort and give some more detailed thoughts on classes and such later.

It is really looking to be a good semester. God could still toss a few big ones at me, but a. I know he'll be there for me to handle them and he has blessed me with support all around. and b. well, I don't know. it could be dangerous to say, but I just feel that it's going to be a smoother semester.

even for that, I'm crazy busy with all my hats. For example, I just added to my hats that of grader for Calc 3 and Trig. Common Ground isn't looking to be as much crazy insanity bits of work with manager once things get going. Chaplaincy, well, that's week by week and I want to take a sort of laidback approach to it while still being involved. hard to explain. Classes, I have a joyous two days off in a week to work on homework and papers and such. I'm going to vastly enjoy Doctrines, Numerical doesn't look to be too bad and I'm thanking God that I took Number Theory last semester because it's looking to make Real Analysis a little bit easier. I can't tell you about my other two yet since they are my Monday classes. and I feel very lucky to have my boyfriend in classes with me and that I get the chance to see him every day and spend time with him outside of everything else.

It's also good to be around friends and getting to know freshmen once more. The courtyard has it's feel back--that wonderful feeling of fellowship all around and people having a good time. Sharon is looking to be a pretty cool roommate although I'm sort of the never home person right now. I haven't sold my car yet. :-/ I might be putting in add in the Longview newspaper next week.

well those are my thoughts, maybe I'll be able to share some of the more amusing memories of the last week another time. for now, I had better get in bed before I get yelled at by my loving friends for not getting enough sleep.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 1:17 AM 

 

   ahh. . .it's almost over, and classes are about to begin. but it's good now. i took the last two days to do a lot of bumming around with friends when not doing stuff with the newbies. It's been good. Games last night were okay. . .I have a good bit of engineers in my group who figured out what was wrong with every game. but I think they had some fun and they were talking to one another. my hair was once again turned into a mound of shaving cream and cheetoes--reminding me of two years ago when I was the freshie with half the hair I have now. than i got my hands and such dirty along with a few random spots of sunburn on my arms as we did some landscaping work this morning.

this afternoon I spent time with Josh and Moore and Ardith until we got back later tonight. Twas good to just kind of bum around, talk, meander, steal Dr Pepper, eat ice cream, drive, what not. and now I'm quite sleepy because I was awake early this morning after going to bed late last night. by the way, Whatburger has good chocolate shakes. . . .

I also was able to get a chapter of Orthodoxy read. mmm. . .sleep is calling my name and than it's awake and off to church tomorrow. . .and more people are coming back tomorrow!!!!!!!! Lily, Jenny, Wilson, and others. . . yay! and things are slowing down a bit so I'll hopefully get some good time in to go meet new honors students better and the gals on my floor. anyways. off to bed. . .

       <"Learning Teacher"> 1:21 AM 

 

   

       <"Learning Teacher"> 1:20 AM 

 

   day one is now over. Yesterday wasn't so bad except for getting a BAD migraine and than getting so sick that I couldn't take Tylenol because I couldn't have kept it down. So i went to bed at 9 pm and woke up 11 and a half hours later. but about the 12 hours before that in which i was never in my room. . . chaplain training in the morning. went well i think, saw how the Scan in/Scan out chapel card reader system would work and discussed Longview Blitz and such. Twas good. Than after lunch we had training with the RAs and PAs on dealing with Crisis-Counseling situations and an activity where we walked into a scene and observed as one member of the group dealt with the scenario. it was really helpful to see the different ways people deal with things and discuss good approaches and points to remember (like me, I should really remember to pay attention to all details, assess a situation. Than it was off to themelios stuff and we put bags together for our team members and what not--this is where the headache started and gradually got worse as we needed to go through all the dorms. . . our group is very spread out.

today i helped move people in and upgraded my cell phone and such. i took some good breaks just because i still wasn't feeling tops and working in the hot sun can be quite draining. My new roommate also moved in today. Sharon. She seems really cool and we have a lot of living style things in common it appears so it should work. The new gals to the floor that I also met and who have moved in all seem really great too and I'm looking forward to working with the floor this year. I hope God can use me as a chaplain. The activities tonight seemed to run really smoothly and go well too. We chose some more subdued ones since everyone was slightly dressed up for Convocation. (Dr Hummel gave another great lesson) the Team (TEAM 10 rocks!) is a quieter one but they all seem friendly and the type to open up slowly. We have the outgoing types and we have the quieter types. It works, especially as Colin, Al, and I really seem to be complements of one another as the team leaders.

it was also good to see Sunny back this evening, for the brief moments I got to see her. I hope we'll get some more time and fun moments together later with Cara.

Well, the back is sore from moving and I have the breakfast shift at 630, so I'm going to catch some of those z's. Can't wait to see those of you who are still yet coming!

       <"Learning Teacher"> 11:41 PM 

 

   Well, I just got out of a long four hours of a Cultural Competency workshop and needed to write and see if a can get some of these thoughts untangled out of the mess of my overloaded brain.

Everything Dr Mercer said was basically good and right but I'm tired of all the leader-speak and such and having this stuff crammed into my head, such as in my education classes. Also there was a heavy emphasis on the race aspect of culture. Other aspects were given attention also, but the emphasis was on race. I guess I feel that a lot of people forget about the other aspects--such as differences in backgrounds, preferences, and such and the problems that arise from this. I have seen the cases where a barrier is constructed because of the differences in two people's backgrounds growing up. There's also a lot forgotten about how really, a culture is made of sub-cultures and more mini-cultures and so on. It all overlaps. (*note to self, remember, this is really your theory and your perspective Anna.) I view it like the Body of Christ. There's one Body, and than little bodies make up that Body, and more bodies make up those bodies down to the individual person. I guess I would define cultural competency (God-based) as recognizing and accepting that everyone is different yet all are still creations of God. In being different, we are brought together.

random thought: does faster really mean better?

and other thought for now: Our differences only matter in what we bring to a community and that they are a part of who God has made each of us to be. My head has cleared through now. It's going to be interesting on the floor this year too. I had a meeting with Holly to just kind of go over some stuff. It'll be interesting. and the bug of having a good time during orientation with my team has set in too now. Anyways, sleep time. Another LONG day of training tomorrow with some more intensive stuff.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 5:13 PM 

 

   someone searched for "gorgeous pi" and found this site.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 8:47 AM 

 

   an interesting idea from a Bible study I attend:

for a morning devo, quiet time with God, whatever you like to call it. . .pick a Psalm and read as much of it as you wish. Find one thing that describes the character of God and contemplate on it. Write it down, write out thoughts however best expressed. Keep a journal of this. (that's my basic summary. run with it, ignore it, revise it, or whatever.)

we did it tonight at Bible Study. and I picked a section from Psalm 119, verses 33-40 I believe and put my focus on verse 38. The character trait: God keeps his promises. hey, it's cool enough that God makes promises.

I like that one because God has made some promises to me, and I've seen some fulfilled, never as I ever would have dreamed but more. Just a something, one of the happier things, that God has been working on in my life--heart, head lately.

Oh yeah, I just remembered that I was going to post earlier on the day at Themelios and Chaplain training. . .what we did and glimpses of what I see lying ahead, and such. later though. there's this theory about getting enough sleep I'm thinking I should give a try tonight. you should too!

       <"Learning Teacher"> 11:11 PM 

 

   Here's an article I was sent on trust that had some good timing. Morgan also had a good piece about it here (see July 24).

Today was a good day. It started out a little rough as I was feeling pretty overwhelmed with all I have to do this semester and being tired and already ready to just quit with everything. But that's not really what I want or what God wants of me. I'm going to fight these feelings that come to me to run away; I have to finish what I have started. I'm promising myself that I am going to narrow things down next semester, next year. I think some Junioritis has hit. But, really, I'm giving you guys permission to try and keep me from doing so much next year. This will be my last year for IMPACT. It also makes sense because next year the education department will practically own me the spring semester with student teaching. but until then :-)

...a saga dinner later.

well. saga. yeah. anyways. i lost whatever thoughts I had flowing earlier, so until I find them again, I'll be off enjoying the sunshine and the evening, a Bible study, maybe some coffee. . . , and sleep of course.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 5:10 PM 

 

   i think i may end up disappearing for a little bit this week although I'll try to put up little updates to assure you that I'm still alive. I have probably gotten myself into too much this semester, but I'm trusting God to pull me through and close doors as needed right now. It's a learning experience though as I finally grasp myself when it comes to commitments. hard to explain, but I see how i approach things now and what-not. I realize that I am one of those people who dives into things head-first only to find the water a whole lot deeper than I thought. and I can only be in so many waters at once :-) I like to throw myself into things that i deem worthy of a lot of effort, and the more I take on, the more I can't do. I'm either overestimating myself or underestimating the work needed of me in other things. and I fear letting people down. One of the interesting points I grasped this weekend is that we can only work with what God gives us--in terms of people, gifts and the like. time. :-) Well, I really must get some sleep so that I don't push myself too hard this week without the necessary sleep. Goodnight everyone.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 12:18 AM 

 

   Ahhhh. . .it is good to be back in my room after an evening of delightful conversation and randomness. and to be able to use my own computer for the internet again. but alas, those people of msc2 are whisking us away for a "retreat" and I'll be gone from tomorrow morning until Saturday night. and i still have so much catching up to do! but that's what all-nighters with caffeine are for :-)

       <"Learning Teacher"> 12:06 AM 

 

   Hey everyone. I'm now back in Longview, happy to be with rolling hills, sunshine, and trees again after the horrible drive across the plains. Amarillo was fun--we went to a museum and than saw Texas Legacies at Palo Duro Canyon. I enjoyed it thoroughly, along with the scenery. It was a perfect evening to be outside too.

As many of you may have read and should know by now, yes, the Cynic--Scholl-- and I are dating and have been for a month as of today. Again, if we failed to tell this to anyone ourselves, we apologize for you having to find out through the blog, or maybe someone else. So that is one of my fresh starts, new beginnings of the year.

A boyfriend, a new (to me) vehicle to drive, new classes, new books, possibly new roommate, new shelving in room, many new things. It looks to be a good year. More later.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 4:20 PM 

 

   Hey everyone! I'm halfway between Lake City and Longview here in Amarillo. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read any of ya'll's blogs who do blog and actually update fairly occasionally, but I plan on catching up when I get back to Longview on Wednesday. It's been the best trip I've ever had to Colorado, and hopefully I'll be able to get a pretty good post out when I get back too. I will say this, everyone beware, my uncle and cousin took us shooting tonight. So it was the first time I was able to shoot with a handgun. Maybe once I graduate I'll consider getting a conceal license. :-) Tomorrow we are talking about going to Cadillac Ranch, I'm thinking I might get some spray paint and be the infamous math nerd and do an integral or something on one of the cars. I'm glad that I had this break and this trip. This year is going to be a fresh start from many angles.

Later.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 10:21 PM 

 

   i finished work yesterday. . .with a good day of it too. We're sort of the group who has been taking care of little things therefore it's been slower for us. Linz and I had some fun of it and than brought the camera in the afternoon and took some great pictures. this afternoon I head with the Cynic to Dallas, where we'll be overnight until we trek to DFW at an ungodly hour--being there by 530--and fly to Colorado where we'll spend a few days and than drive my parent's 4-runner back down. It's going to be nice to have a reliable vehicle with working things like the back window and cruise control and dash lights and it has 4 doors and it in much better condition.

oh yes, I'm also now moved into my wonderful abode of ELH 203. It felt great to sleep there last night and be back with my shower with a high enough nozzle so as not to bend my back and fabulous shower pressure. All in all, life seems to be good. I hope everyone enjoys these last days, weeks of summer that they have! I'll probably try and post periodically from CO.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 12:05 PM 

 

   This is an article i found linked on brenton's blog. The author provided some insightful theories on current social views of men vs. women. Although I don't agree with everything. . or at least the way he said some things, I think he brought up an interesting point. I think he could have developed it some more though along the lines of showing how exactly the lack of a father figure and social engineering creates violent guys with wrong views of the female gender. (I'm not the best critical writer here...) Anyways. read it and let me know what ya think if enetation will allow.

one more day of work! and another decent Bible study tonight. I move into ELH tomorrow. The dorms are mostly done. A few more days and I have a more reliable and better vehicle (four doors, working back window, working cruise control, not to beat up. . .) and than really soon friends shall be back. well, i had better be off into bed pretty quick since i do still have to work tomorrow. . .

       <"Learning Teacher"> 12:09 AM 

 

   Mmm. . .I like weekends! Yesterday, after helping to get ELH finished for carpet cleaning, I clocked out of work and the weekend started. I relaxed through the afternoon after taking a wonderfully hot shower and than bummed around the apt most of the evening. I made cookies and than attempted to help someone with a Fourier series problem (but alas, series is one of my weaker spots in math!) and just talked with the guys for a bit. I also talked with friends online early into the morning until I couldn't fight the nodding head and falling asleep at my keyboard anymore. I really can't wait for everyone to get back and to start the wonderful not so routine everyday schedule of classes and whatnot. Today I slept in and than had lunch with a good pal of many years and we talked for a good while and enjoyed our food. Than I took advantage of the tax-free shopping weekend in Texas and bought myself some new shoes and flip flops and other things. After dozing a little while, I picked up the Cynic from the airport and made some dinner and than bummed around all evening, driving to Magnolia House in Marshall--the coffee shop that I dearly love. It's what a coffee shop is meant to be like. and than got back and bummed around more with a gorgeous evening to enjoy and a clear night for the stars. Now I am tired, but a happy, peaceful tired. I can't think of any profound thoughts to share right now. Life is quite still and quiet around here at LU. I realized just how busy the atmosphere always is when everyone is back. There's always the feel of something going on somewhere around campus, with lights on in dorm rooms and things up in windows, always cars driving down the road and people walking around. No matter what time it is. It's ready for people to be back though. I'm ready for people to be back. although I shall keep enjoying what spare time I have left until the insanity of classes and homework. I'm glad I stayed here this summer.

       <"Learning Teacher"> 12:36 AM