Random Picture of the Day

Nothing says "I love you" like a monster in a mug.

Licensed to Drive

Over my Christmas break, I had to study and take a test to get my license back. According to the law in the state of Iowa, anyone who is in an accident under the age of 21 has to take tests in order to keep their license. Fair enough.

So, of course, it had been a while since I have driven. This created nervousness that I thought I wouldn't be able to overcome. I had only driven twice before I took my test. First came the written test which turned out to be an oral test instead. I only missed one question! Thinking I would have to set up a driving time, I wasn't prepared to necessarily to do my driving test that day. However, God had other plans.

They decided to squeeze me in before someone else's time. After the car inspection, I took a deep breath and silently prayed that God would help me with this test because I really needed to get my license back. At times it was a bit bumpy, the examiner person was kinda new, but hey, we made it back in one piece. Once we were parked again by the court house, he set himself to the task of jotting more notes on his little clipboard, leaving me in painful suspense. How much more could he possibly have to write? After a little while, the lady in my back seat whose job it was to test the examiner spoke. She said she was pretty sure I passed and informed the examiner that he should have told me that as soon as we got back to the court house. He laughed a little and apologized. I had indeed passed my test!

Getting behind the wheel again was difficult, exciting, and been a challenge for me. Without my supportive dad, I don't know if I really would have been able to do it. His encouragement meant so much to me gave me the confidence that I needed to be able to put my foot to the pedal.

Since my test, I have driven around in my beloved car once again. Driving to school by myself for the first time in a long time was at first nerve racking, but the familiarity of the interstate helped me to stay calm enough. I almost thought I wouldn't be able to drive there, but my dad put most of my fear to rest when he told me that I was a good driver, I just needed to stay awake. His confidence in me and his words kept me from giving up as semis passed me by in the snowy weather on my way to school.

It's been nice to be able to drive again and go wherever I want, whenever I want. Do I still get nervous while driving? Yes. But such fear will not keep me from continuing to drive, and soon enough, that fear will subside. My God will help me and protect me. My dad will continue to encourage me and be there for me.

Vacation, Finally.

Hello all! I have disappeared from my blogging space for a while. The last stretches of the semester and then finals took their toll from my mind. The first weekend I was home I slept most of it away. It. Was. Glorious.

Now, I have been working upon some of my goals for Christmas break, some of them are quite ambitious. Here is my list (not in any particular order):

1. Do some free reading (mostly read the Eragon series which so far I have already read books one and two!)
2. Study Greek
3. Get my driver's license back
4. Continue to help my hip get better
5. Organize some of my school notes
6. Possibly start studying for orals
7. Have a few movie marathons
8. Hang out with my friends

So far I have been working on the first part, disappearing into the world of Alagaësia. I read Eragon a long time ago when it first came out and since then have not been able to read for fun. It has been quite the adventure getting back into the novels.

Soon I will update hopefully about driving and such. For now...

it's just another day on the ant hill. :)

So, So Thankful

With Thankgiving coming up so soon, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on thankfulness.

It's amazing how much we take granted the things God has blessed us with and how much we selfishly want more. Ever since my accident, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude has pervaded my life. God could have taken me out of this world; I think I was very close to it. I am thankful for each breath I have and for each morning I wake up to live another day (I may not be very thankful for the actual morning sometimes... still working on that). I go to an amazing school with professors who are sincerely concerned for your well-being. I love the education and the thorough study of the Bible I get to receive. Being thankful for God's Word, I have been learning so much about myself, life, and the God who gives everything to me.

I am also SO thankful for my family, friends, and churches. Before my accident, I think I failed to show how much I love my family. I have made it a personal goal to try to show my family how much I love them. My friends have been there for me so much this semester. They give me rides, put up with my emotional breakdowns, and encourage me all the time. I don't know what I'd do without the friends I have. Currently, I attend two churches, one while at school and the other while at home. Both have amazing congregations that I prefer to call family. I have sat under amazing teachings from God's Word that not only encourage me but challenge me in my walk with Christ.

I consider myself very much blessed.

So dear readers, what are you thankful for?

Content and Warm

On this cold fall day, I am thankful it isn't snowing (yet). It's not that I don't like snow; infact, I think snow is a beautiful aspect of God's creation. However, I am not a fan of slipping and falling. So I pray that if there is snow that comes, please let it not be icy. Being on a crutch has made my perspective change drastically about weather. I usually enjoy rain, but when I can't walk fast enough to get out of it and when it makes my hip ache like I'm fifty years older than I am, I am not quite a fan of it. So yes, I am a bit anxious about this winter. In about three weeks I'll be off the one crutch. Even then, my faith in my balancing skills is not 100%.

But God is faithful and will keep me from injury if He so choses.

For right now? I am sitting in a local coffee shop, eating a scone, drinking warm coffee, and listening to great music while blogging. For now, I'll be content and warm where I am, still thankful for no snow (yet).

Just another day on the ant hill.

Some Crutchy-ness

Just a fun Quote from the movie Newsies: Crutchy: Jack, when I walk, does it look like I'm fakin' it? Jack Kelly: Nah, Crutchy, who says ye'r fakin' it? Crutchy: I don't know... It's just there's so many fake crips on the streets today, a real crip ain't got a chance. I gotta find me a new sellin' spot where they ain't used to seein' me! For about the past two months I have been on crutches. For the first six weeks, I was on two crutches, and the last two I have been down to using only one. To you, my readers, I will confess something: I am not a patient person. Since my accident, I have been thankful for many things: being alive, God's mercy and grace, awesome friends and family who support me, people's prayers, etc. I have a hard time being thankful for my crutches. At first I often tripped over them while attempting to walk. I often drop them and struggle to pick them up. They get in the way and are quite bothersome for a small dorm room. Even worse: they constantly remind me how weak I am. Although I have made tremendous amounts of improvement, I still somewhat rely upon my crutch. You know what though? Even though I don't like using a crutch, I sometimes do need it when I am not as physically up to the task without it. Sometimes we treat God that way. We resent being so weak and in need of God's grace in order to get us through a certain situation or to have victory over our sin. We feel that we should be able to do things on our own when in reality, God is the one Who supplies us with the strength we need to get us through the day. We try to do things on our own but fall flat on our face. Now, I am not saying that God is a crutch. That would imply that someday, we wouldn't need God. We as fallible sinners will always need the Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. It is my prayer that I don't resent the fact that I need God for everything in my life, but rather, welcome His wonderful grace and be thankful for His help for all of my needs. So for now, I'll keep gimping along despite my dislike for the metal crutch. I only have a few more weeks on it anyway (hopefully won't be prolonged). I will rejoice, and be glad in my circumstances and in the God Who holds me in His hand.

The Country that Captured My Heart

I miss the people I met

Whose lives were shared with mine.


The people whose smiles encouraged


and joys overflowed, sweet and divine.


Even though there is an ocean


In between Germany and I,


God gave me a love for them,


That can go farther than I can reach,


(Too bad I can't fly).


I cherish the fast-made friendships,


And even though we are far apart,


The bond we have in Christ


Keep my new friends close in my heart.