an artist's perspective

2011-03-29T23:24:00.001-04:00

http://dawnmlent.blogspot.com/

2011-02-07T20:45:00.003-05:00

well i always thought i'd post quite often over the last 6 months but it never happened.

but im thinking about creating a new blog about being a wife and all the newness and interesting moments that happen as i learn how to cook and all that fun stuff. :)

stay tuned.

this blog will remain the creativity blog i guess. we'll see.

planning

2010-12-03T11:28:00.003-05:00

i used the last of my first personal address labels today as i sent out the rest of my thank-you notes from the showers i had over the last month. its weird to think about the name i have had for 25 years changing in a few months. i am so excited! i can't wait to become a Lent and spend the rest of my life with my best friend!

78 days to go before the big day. i am trying to pace myself and get most of the 'urgent' things done before christmas so i can take a breath and take in every moment of the last month and half before the wedding day. its amazing how caught up in wedding day planning you can get, even though you try so hard not to! the day goes by so quick and everybody says planning for your marriage is way more important than planning the wedding day. and i completely, whole-heartedly agree. it is, however, more difficult to do than say when you are actually in the planning stages. cause when it comes down to it, if you have a reception to plan for 300 people, you have to do things and work at planning it! if not, it won't happen. but then again when it comes down to it, nobody really cares what centerpieces you have on the tables or the music that is played during dinner. it's difficult for a perfectionist to let go of so many things i feel are important, but really aren't important in the long run! so i have been asking God to keep me from going crazy over things that are urgent vs. important. its an art trying to find the balance and how to make the most of your time...

2010-08-28T08:35:00.002-04:00

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hats

2010-07-19T08:57:00.002-04:00

everyone who knows me associates my name with hats. Dawn + hats. they just go together. that simple. just like the word camera or pictures is associated with my name as well. even kids who have known me for their three year middle school career have been surprised to know that i was a leader the whole time. they thought i was simply the picture lady. that is somewhat disappointing having been involved so much, but at the same time i can't blame them as they were the kids that were only there for major outreach events.

but back to hats. i loved hats. i still do. since high school and college i can remember going through entire days with one of my favorite hats on. i loved the idea of hats! they were brilliant. it was great to go through an entire day not worrying about what my hair looked like or what kind of hair day the weather would bestow upon me. i didn't even care if my hat matched my clothing or not. it was mine and i could wear whatever i wanted.

fast-forward to today and i wear them much less than i did even a year ago. i was talking with a good friend the other day and she brought up the fact that she noticed i don't wear hats anymore. she asked me why i think it was. i thought for a few moments and her conclusion was right. i don't need to hide under them as much anymore. I walk around with much more confidence in myself. more confidence in who i am and even in what i look like physically. Steve changed me. his constant affirmation has slowly changed the way i feel about myself. women usually always have insecurities we live with our whole lives. but the difference i feel and see in myself from last year to now is like night and day. i wore hats saying it was my own style statement. my friend said when you wear a hat once in a while, that can be a style statement. when you wear hats everyday, all the time... you are hiding. that is very true. my friends, in particular my best friend, has brought me out of my hiding place and i feel so free!

i still like hats. they are very convenient after wearing a motorcycle helmet! but hats don't define who i am. i am more than the hat i wear. and i am more than the camera i hold in my hand.

2010-05-21T10:31:00.001-04:00

i need to update. sorry for slacking. after k&m's wedding things will slow down.

2010-03-11T09:12:00.004-05:00

i am excited for the next few months to come. lots going on with my sister's wedding almost here. i thot it would never be here. i blink, and its two months away. wow! all i know is i have probably said the words 'tiffany blue' 7,475832 times in the last year! we are trying to get their invitations done in the next week because they should be sent out asap. this sunday is Kimberly's family bridal shower. looking forward to that celebration. also, the next few months mean springtime. i am soo ready to get outside after being stuck indoors all winter. i am ready for Steve's bike to come out of hibernation. i am ready for long walks with him. ready to start on the list of things we want to do together this summer.

i am tired of winter, but of all the past winters, this one has certainly been the most incredible. six months ago Steve and I went on our first date. i wouldn't trade the last 180 days for anything in the world. :)

chocolate ?

2010-03-01T23:13:00.009-05:00

steve and i like to joke about the clip above and say/do things that each one of us will recognize as a big bang 'chocolate' joke. but don't worry. there is no actual training/manipulation involved. :) the big bang theory show is so funny because S can relate to it so much. he understands so much of the dialogue between the guys... its awesome. i get some of it, but I tend to feel like Penny in the fact that i can be clueless about the vast intelligent/crazy/scientific/engineering things that are said between the nerds. but I do feel more informed now when they talk about anything StarWars related because I actually sat down to watch all the videos a month ago. I feel much more cultured now. every day, a little farther away from my bubble...

I do, however, like chocolate. i often CRAVE it. what girl doesn't? any kind of milk chocolate to be precise. what is different now, however, is that SL knows i like chocolate too. because he knows that, he has a pretty good sense of knowing when i could(more like, when i NEED to) sink my teeth into some of that delicious comfort food goodness from heaven. he is unbelievable. but much better than chocolate is having somebody understanding and caring to spend time and try to share my feelings with. I am still getting used to having somebody care so much about me to wanting to know what is going on in my head all the time. I am used to keeping my emotions inside me, because 'who would ever want to hear them', i told myself. well, i was wrong. :)

2010-01-15T11:19:00.002-05:00

Steve took me on another surprise date last night. I didn't realize we were going to a red wing's game until we turned the corner and saw Joe Louis Arena (as you could tell, i am not familiar with Detroit). I thot maybe we were going to the auto show, but since that isn't even taking place yet (unbeknown to me), I was clueless. It has been 12 years since I last went to a game. It was a perfect b-day gift because I got to share a fun evening with such an incredible man. and we had row #3 tickets!

words

2010-01-14T09:56:00.032-05:00

One of the love languages I cherish is words of affirmation. It is not my strongest love language to give, but I recognize it from others and try to share that love to those I know appreciate it themselves. There have been countless times I have been encouraged in areas of my life due to a note from a friend or compassionate words spoken to me at the exact moment in my life I needed to hear those words the most. It is life-changing, really. Those moments are blessings in my life that I do not take for granted.

Maybe it is because I take things others say too personally, or dwell too much on negative sarcasm so I need and long for affirmation more than others. Whatever it is, God has a lot to say about the use of our tongues and how important it is to be used positively. It can so easily be used to tear others down (even in the slightest way). My guess is most people probably have a hard time noticing they do it at all. Even I am guilty of using it to hurt someone rather than building them up with words of love.

All that said, because I have been blessed by affirmation I want to have open eyes to recognize opportunities around me and the body of Christ to say 'i notice what you do, and i really appreciate it,' or 'thank you for spending so much time and serving in this way.' A meaningful word or two can go so far, its incredible. It can keep a person who is discouraged (and under the surface, burnt out) from giving up and not thinking its worth it. A positive word can make all the difference. It can make you believe you are valued. It can make you feel loved. It can change your attitude if you're having a bad day. It can keep you keeping on. Who doesn't want to feel warm and cozy inside??! Seriously. We all need affirmation.

One particular thank you note I go back to, especially when I feel worthless, is one from a woman at church who sent me one from out of the blue a few years back. I don't know her other than seeing her sometimes on Sunday mornings. But she sent it to thank me for a number of little things I have done there that she noticed and appreciated. They were little things I thought nothing of doing because I enjoyed them so much. She took time out of her day to list off what she saw. It was amazing. Now I am not one for wanted attention, but I want to be like her when I grow up... I want to be an encourager and notice the serving, selfless things others do in the body of Christ. Lord, open my eyes to opportunities to show appreciation and Thankfulness. I want to be used to bless others with the words of my mouth.

happy new year

2010-01-04T23:02:00.002-05:00

Christmas time

2009-12-16T09:18:00.018-05:00

This December has been the most enjoyable month of Christmas I have ever experienced in my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything! I am so blessed to have been able to spend time with a man I care about so much. We spent time at both of each other's families, which was very special. Our extended families are very different from each others, so it was interesting to share our Christmas traditions with each other. i.e. he introduced me to Muppet Christmas Carol and I introduced him to my grandma's city chicken. fun times.

The last few months have been incredible in the fact that we have been able to spend lots of time together, doing all sorts of things getting to know each other more. Spending quality time is a strong love language for us both, so it has truly been wonderful to be blessed with the great amount of time we have been able to give each other. So i am soaking it all in before Steve starts his job next week. It's a great job, just probably lots of long hours to begin with so that will definitely be a little hard to get used to.

For Christmas I asked my parents for a fondue pot. I am psyched to use it! Got a sweet recipe book from Steve and I'm having fun looking at the many, many things I can try out. New Year's eve I'll try a few at a Fondue party later that night, whoot!

As far as trying new things and being more spontaneous, Steve has stretched me so much. It's crazy. If it were up to me, I'd stay closer to my personal comfort level, but it didn't take him long to bring me out of that box of mine. For example, I can't believe he talked me into eating frog legs, something i vowed never to do. I must like him a lot! There is always something new he is teaching me, showing me or encouraging me to try doing. He is certainly revealing to me the heart of adventure that is lived out in a man truly wild at heart.

About a month ago Steve took me on a 'surprise' date. We went indoor roller skating! I felt like i was back in middle school, it was a blast! If only i could skate better! haha. I hadn't been on roller blades in years. First time skating 'n holding hands with a boy ;)

the week of food

2009-12-02T17:46:00.013-05:00

Last monday we celebrated Steve's birthday at my house. My mom bought him a money container of sorts that counts change. I was doubtful it would actually work, but it does, haha. He made that our 'dating fund' bank. We figured Mark and Kim have a wedding fund, we may as well have a fund too. So if you would like to contribute to our dating fund, we take change and/or cash. :) It's a challenge finding different things to do in the winter that are cheap or mostly free. Summertime was much easier. But so far this fall/winter we are doing a pretty good job at finding deals and using coupons in order to do some different things once in a while. A few sunday's ago Steve took me to Outback steakhouse. He had a coupon for a free bloomin' onion. That was fun. I'd never been to Outback before. And the onion was delish. Steve makes good bloomin' onions too though, so i can have them anytime i want ;) So back to last monday,...after dinner, we went over a friend's house to look at their wedding pictures. That, of course, was super fun. They were beautiful. What a great night.

Steve's actual birthday was last tuesday. I took him out on a date to Buddy's in dearborn (love their pizza!), then to the Henry Ford Imax for a 3d movie. That was a very nice evening. I had been looking forward to taking him out for his b-day since we began dating.

Then onto Wednesday... celebrating once again with his family. He chose a great Indian food restaurant in Farmington. It was a small place, but amazing food! I am slowly building up a tolerance to the spiciness and flavors of indian food, thanks to Steve and his friends! mmm, delish. Great choice for dinner!

Thursday was Thanksgiving of course. It was probably one of the most enjoyable thanksgiving's I'd ever had. First, Steve went with me to my aunt and uncle's earlier in the day for thanksgiving meal #1. Visited for a while, then headed off to his house for thanksgiving meal #2. First time in my life i ate two full meals on thanksgiving day. (the list of 'firsts' keeps growing the more i hang out w/ Steve, haha). Because our thanksgivings are both quite different from each other's, it was an interesting day. I really enjoyed his family's thanksgiving, which was smaller and more intimate (his immediate family, an aunt and uncle and a couple family friends), and he enjoyed visiting w/ a bunch of my family at my aunt and uncles (which included my dad's large family of 50ish people for dinner). Overall a great day of fun, food, relaxation and sharing w/ each other what we are thankful for. i am so blessed.

also, i can't forget spending a wonderful evening last week with Emma. thanks for staying up so late to talk, friend. :)

2009-10-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

interesting

2009-10-27T09:25:00.005-04:00

Last saturday Steve and I went to a Benefit Costume Party supporting Gleaners food bank. Every year it takes place at Three Cedars. It was an absolute blast. We had so much fun. We went as a 70's disco couple. Steve looked the best! His bell bottoms looked awesome! I had slept most of the day from not feeling well, but brought enough kleenex w/ me to last through the night.

Sunday night we saw David Crowder Band w/ my mom for her birthday. It was incredible. The talent that band has blows me away. It was an amazing concert. I only wish my cold hadn't taken my voice away Before the concert so I could have sung along. Oh, well. It was still a wonderful night!

2009-10-07T23:57:00.002-04:00

There's a place in your heart nobody's been
Take me there
Things nobody knows, not even your friends
Take me there

Tell me 'bout your mama, your daddy, your hometown, show me around
I wanna see it all, don't leave anything out

I wanna know everything about you then
And I wanna go down every road you've been
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live
Where you keep the rest of your life hid
I wanna know the girl behind that pretty stare
Take me there

.....

I wanna roll down Main Street, the back roads
Like you did when you were a kid
What made you who you are
Tell me what your story is

Yeah, I wanna know everything about you
Yeah, everything about you baby
I wanna go down every road you've been
Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live
Where you keep the rest of your life hid
I wanna know the girl behind that pretty stare
Take me, take me, take me there

rascal flatts

september butterflies

2009-09-30T09:32:00.027-04:00

I am still getting used to the whole idea of having a boyfriend, and somebody calling me his girlfriend. I hope that excitement doesn't fade. may sound elementary, but its exciting nonetheless. that months of being good friends, months of prayer, months of seeking guidance and wisdom from others helped bring us to the point in our relationship now, knowing we went about this whole thing patiently and in a God-honoring way. and whatever happens with this, we know we did things right.

i have learned so much in the last 6 months it blows my mind. and my relationship w/ the Lord has grown a ton in the last year. i'm glad that this year as i help lead 8th grade girls again i have examples from my own life about men and women and relationships. i'm not just talking from no experience. i have something good i can talk to them about. something God-lead for sure. its so cool. an example of what can happen when you don't rush into things and end up with regrets. an example of waiting. an example of a man pursuing a woman. it can be reality.

the last two weeks have been so good. it is hard to explain what it feels like to know someone who cares about you and wants to know everything about you. its a beautiful thing.. the process of learning how to share more of your heart with someone you trust and care about. looking back, i know SL much more than i did even a few shorts weeks ago. It is weird to look back and think about all that has changed in a year.

this Saturday two friends of ours are getting married. I am so excited. and I am looking forward to dancing with SL again.. dancing with a handsome guy who tells me I'm beautiful. I have many insecurities. but some of them fade away with affirming words from another who doesn't see the flaws i see in myself. i'm 24 and those photoshopped magazine covers of fake women still lie to me. sometimes its not easy being a female.

2009-08-31T12:14:00.001-04:00

roughing it

2009-08-24T11:12:00.008-04:00

one more day until i go up north a little ways to the outskirts of rose city for some real camping experience. when i say 'real' i mean no campers, no running water 'real.' that kind of camping. i am so excited! yes, me...excited for this! i guess that is what happens when you hang out with boys...you end up doing some crazy fun things. nah, for real though, i am looking forward to trying new things and hanging out with great friends. steve's family owns property up there, and usually he does a weekend during the summer with the guys. this is the first time women will be joining them up there. so it will be a new experience for all of us. i think i will learn a lot! we'll have three wheelers and other stuff play with, and i can practice my tomahawk throwing skills again. it is supposed to be cooler and possible rain. so i am planning on getting muddy and wet and bringing leg warmers along! should be quite fun...

2009-07-23T15:04:00.000-04:00

summer is more than halfway over... :(

there is something in there after all

2009-07-07T12:22:00.005-04:00

with the encouragement of one of my mentors and good friends, i have started to journal. keeping a journal always intimidated me. i had tried writing a number of times growing up but i never kept it up. i am not a writer. so recently one of my best friends bought me a journal after i told her i was going to begin writing down my prayers, thoughts, desires, etc. in a notebook. so far i have enjoyed sitting down to write down my struggles, personal feelings about things, what is going on in my life, bible verses that have been on my mind, questions i have, song lyrics that speak to me, what i'm learning...a whole combination of things. and i love it. i have found i have more in that brain of mine than i realize. it is hard for me to voice many of my thoughts. journaling, i hope, will be a way to learn how to move out of the frustration i have with myself about being so quiet and keeping things to myself. it is a weakness i am working on.

with that said, i have been posting less because i am finding journaling to be much more beneficial to me than blogging about what i did yesterday or a movie i saw in the theatre that i enjoyed. so if you want to keep up with what is going on in my life, friends, ask me. my blog this summer is not going to help you out in that regard too much. but thank you for being interested.

2009-06-16T12:42:00.005-04:00

i am looking forward to this weekend. there is a concert up north a few hours where a bunch of mainstream christian artists (including Crowder!) will be playing at this BigTicket concert event. please pray it doesn't rain. steve, mark (one of his best friends), and i will be camping for the weekend. i don't want to be a baby and end up sleeping in the car if it starts pouring cats and dogs! i haven't used my cute little one person red tent in a while and am excited to bring it out again.

2009-05-27T08:13:00.003-04:00

i love this song by shawn mcdonald (apparently the youtube user doesn't know how to spell his name correctly). anyway, its a beautiful song about yearning for God and wanting to love Him with all we are. listen. another favorite from shawn is the song All I Need. the lyrics from that song are posted below.

As I sit here and think
About all that You've done
About how You gave me Your one and only Son
And I'm trying to fathom
All that You are, but so far, Lord
You're so beyond me
I fall down in reverence
And I fall down in fear
And I'm asking You, Lord, won't You please draw near
Won't You open my eyes
So that I can see
The way that You are working in me

All I need is Your love
To come and fill this heart of mine
My heart is a desert that has gone dry
And I need Your love to carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by, by, by, by, by
To carry me by

And I lay down my life
And I put it before You
all that I am is in your hands
and I’m not gonna question why you’re so faithful
Why that You give me the blessings that You have
Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown
to lift You up unto the throne
You are my God, You are my King
To You I give, I give You everything

2009-05-26T09:11:00.006-04:00

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

i am so blessed. God is teaching me so much about loving others and i finally can see myself changing more into the person He wants of me. i look back at how i used to treat people who messed up and let me down and realize i have not shown them love and forgiveness as Christ has shown me. you think you have control over yourself by hanging onto bitterness but it only turns you into a slave for satan to use to his benefit.

2009-05-13T11:50:00.004-04:00

a couple months ago i blogged about twin boys who were born to a neighbor girl, a child i used to babysit myself. after these few months, one of the twins, Jaden, is now home. Landon didn't make it. the funeral is tomorrow. it is a comfort to believe he is with Jesus, but it is so hard for me to understand things like this. not looking forward to a funeral for a baby. :(

2009-05-07T10:27:00.001-04:00

2009-05-06T13:46:00.003-04:00

i have attempted to update here recently but don't have much to update regarding my life now. but i'm alive and well and glad it is finally springtime, that is for sure. a longer post is due. i may get to that this weekend.

2009-04-20T11:04:00.001-04:00

2009-04-19T10:16:00.000-04:00

2009-04-16T10:56:00.006-04:00

this may not be a new advertisement for the answersingenesis website, but i came across it the other day. it was posted on a blog that posts completely random things and the question the poster asked was if anyone cared to explain/defend the video. then went along to say his interpretation which was i'm sure not what was trying to be conveyed.

if you can't see the video, it simply says this: "If you don't matter to God, you don't matter to anyone."

what do you think? if you watch the clip on youtube you can read some of the comments others posted about the clip, many confused oh how it is supposed to shed a positive light on God and christianity. i guess what bothers me the most w/out thinking too hard on it is the way it was stated as if the first part of that sentence was a fact. who sees a loving God after hearing that?

i'm not bashing answersingenesis. however i'm not a fan of the way they advertised their site in this way.

2009-04-09T18:47:00.006-04:00

Baby Nolan was born early Easter Sunday morning.
7 lb. 14 oz., 21 in.

I can't wait to personally meet this precious little boy!

this job was extremely fun. i hope i can do another kid's mural soon!

2009-03-31T08:52:00.004-04:00

one more trip out to s.lyon and it will be finished! (or so i hope!) if i wasn't such a perfectionist it may have been done last week. but alas, it has taken longer. but the mural is simply adorable. hoping to finish it tonight, although i twisted my back somehow so i'm feeling really sore and not extemely excited to finish painting from a ladder.
edit: 2:45 am and done. :) well, until i come back and tweak a few things here and there, but overall, its done. i have to take pictures when i'm over there next as i forgot to take after pics last night.

i had to find a way to lift the projector high enough for me to project part of the drawing higher on the wall, so i came up w/ the brilliant idea of stacking a bunch of stuff together for the projector to balance on. not the smartest thing to do but it worked.

2009-03-27T21:42:00.008-04:00

i finally have a quiet night to myself. wonderful. the downside is that the only thing i really want to do right now is go to bed. i am completely exhausted. its been run, run, run the last few weeks and this lack of sleep is beginning to catch up on me. i would rather not be a hermit either. i feel as though i have turned into one recently. i wish i could duplicate myself so i can be in two places at one time. that would be the most amazing super power, i'm telling ya.

i did manage to watch all the episodes of firefly recently though. don't ask me how i did that. i don't even know myself. then to end the amazing firefly series marathon , i saw Serenity-the film based off this unfortunately short tv series. i am only disappointed there is no more for me to see. i didn't think it would happen but i was hooked on the show from the start, with such great characters and dialogue. who would have thought a sci-fi western would be so good?!

2009-03-24T13:18:00.002-04:00

"It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.' That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are - just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it's not a conversation anymore; it's a pitch. And you're not a human being; you're a marketing rep."- quote from the character Phil Cooper in The Big Kahuna

not sure

2009-03-20T13:00:00.003-04:00

so this is apparently the new logo/slogan for wisconsin. i don't really get it. there is a lot of negativity surrounding this new identity but i'm not sure how to respond to it yet. first thought is there is nothing great about it. it certainly doesn't compare to the bahamas logo i showed in the past. this one looks bland. the concept i agree was good but the overall execution of the graphic itself didn't do so well. it is easily forgettable.

i have changed my opinion before, however. i wasn't thrilled w/ animal planet's new look but they have used it quite well and i enjoy the creative ways they display their logo on screen.

awesome

2009-03-19T13:14:00.001-04:00

nickel creek

2009-03-19T09:23:00.002-04:00

love this band's music. if i heard about nickel creek before i had forgotten how great their sound is. i was introduced to them this week. it is happy music. it makes me smile. i want to play a mandolin!

2009-03-16T10:22:00.002-04:00

i'd say the mural is about 30% done. hopefully i can get up to 70% done this week.

am i being followed ??

2009-03-12T15:32:00.005-04:00

so a bunch of us middle school staff sat down last night after youth group and decided on rules of how we want to play the game Assassins. basically a round lasts a week and as you go on w/ your everyday life what you do is have a list of the players you are to go after w/ a nerf gun (you are to go in the order on the list) and 'assisinate' while at the same time defending yourself from being hit by their darts. object is to get the most points. you get the most points by knocking off each person on the list while not getting hit yourself. if you get hit, you stay in the game but get less points.

sounds fun, right? i believe we have a few practice days starting sunday before a real round begins this coming Wednesday. that means i have to go find a smaller dart gun than i have so i can keep it w/ me at all times. besides our houses, some work sites and during church activities -which are all safe zones, every other place and time is in play. what i fear is that this game will turn us all into stalkers. i already feel as though i am being watched and the game hasn't even begun yet! so it should be interesting. looking forward to it beginning to see how it goes!

oh and non-nerf gun items that can be used to assisanate a player are car bombs and poison which i hopefully will not get to experience, but will most likely explain at a later time.

my angel

2009-03-10T09:48:00.004-04:00

SV told me about this website where you can sign up to be a prayer warrior for a little angel who is waiting to be adopted. to be a prayer warrior you simply commit to praying for the child they match you with every day at least until he or she is adopted.

my little angel's name is Brian. he is a beautiful little boy. he has down syndrome and is 3 1/2 years old. he will be facing the mental institution when he is 4 years old. i am praying a family out there somewhere will find him before then.

due to the laws and regulations of each country i am asked not to publicly display pictures or identifying information. but i have a photo and can tell you where he is from if you'd like to know.

i want to see a pink dolphin

2009-03-04T09:33:00.014-05:00

two days ago the two little boys i showed you ultrasounds of a few weeks ago were born. the first is close to 3 lbs and the second just about over a pound and a half. they were born early at about 29 weeks. but so far they are doing well. hopefully i will get a chance to go up to the hospital soon to see the little ones.

my grandpa tappen fell the other day and had surgery yesterday. the story...he had been home alone for about two weeks. my grandma went w/ her sister to FL for a while. the night before she came home he apparently tripped over shoes as he was coming in after locking one of the doors before going to bed. he hurt himself so bad...i believe his leg was broken...that he could do nothing to get help. i think he managed to make it to the couch nearby but could not move anymore due to the pain. he could not reach the phone or anything. so he lay there for 18 hours w/out help. no food, nothing to drink, no bathroom and no medication for the pain. i can't even think about that happening. ugh. before he was supposed to meet my grandma to pick her up many hours later, my aunt came by the house and found him lying there. he had surgery yesterday and that apparently went ok. he will be in a rehab center for a number of weeks. i don't think he's going to like that as he is always up and doing something. but that has to happen if he is to get better.

i keep forgetting we have another person living in our house. sebastian is in high school, about david's age. he was living at my neighbor's but w/ two babies arriving he's w/ us the last part of the school year. he's from germany but no i have not learned any german yet. he speaks pretty good english but i really have to listen well to some of the things he says. i have tried learning another language but it doesn't come easy for me. i am jealous of those who can catch on to other languages without a problem. so the best part of being in america...'hot girls' he says. haha. hmm so david and he have something to talk about.

i have not begun painting yet but below is a mock-up of my layout for the nursery mural. i'm sure things will change but in general this is the layout i'm going for. i'm excited to get started on it! the baby crib is going in the middle of the wall.

i could have got one more person

2009-03-01T08:22:00.006-05:00

i sat down and watched schindler's list last night. i've seen other film's on the story but i don't remember actually seeing this particular film in its entirety besides a few scenes. i had forgotten about how extremely powerful and moving the ending was.

2009-02-26T10:20:00.012-05:00

i believe i just came across one of the oddest online clothing sites ever. check it out.
i am especially questioning the image shown below. hmm a pair of sweats w/ sleeves for your friends and family to put their arms in and touch you from your butt down...??? that is exactly what i have been looking for....

or this looks useful....

it gets better...

go to the site for more awesomeness.

i am hoping this is not a for real business. and if so, that is a lot of time put into a fake business site.

packaging news

2009-02-24T12:21:00.003-05:00

great news! whoohoo!! they're going back!!!
thank you PepsiCo for listening.

monday randomness

2009-02-23T09:59:00.023-05:00

is it me or really ironically funny that i walk into church late yesterday and the lyrics up on screen that everyone is singing to as i step into the pew are 'Dawn is here, Dawn is here...'

there is a fantastic little mediterranean restaurant i was introduced to a few months ago that i revisited w/ my sister last week. it is called the Sheikh. it is a cute little atmosphere with delicious food and great prices. you are taken very good care of by friendly ownership and waiters. they even have free wifi. i can't get over how delicious there lamb shawarma wrap is...mmm. come try this place out sometime...or let me know and i'd be glad to join you.

a 12 year old girl practices her speech on abortion in this youtube clip. 7th grade...well done.

i haven't purchased it yet, but this artist is raising money so his family can adopt a child. you can help support him by ordering his new cd. phil wing has played with his band at velocity camp (week long summer camp for our high school and middle school ministries) the last couple years and i know you won't be disappointed in the music. plus it is for a good cause.

i can help you procrastinate and most likely make you go back to what you were procrastinating doing by sending you here. click anywhere on the blank white screen after seeing the stapler.

dare i say...en fuego!

2009-02-20T14:04:00.001-05:00

the nursery

2009-02-20T09:46:00.006-05:00

my friend lauren has asked me to do a super fun project for her. her baby is due mid-april (hard to believe!) and she and scott recently painted the baby's room. they're having a boy, but they want to keep the nursery a gender neutral theme. so they have chosen an adorable african safari/animal type theme. the blank wall you see is my canvas! i will make a mural of sorts using the images provided in her theme. aren't they the cutest!? fun and simple. i can't wait to get started. my handy dandy projector will prove useful for this project. i have already begun to arrange the images around via photoshop to see where they should be placed on the wall provided. i appreciate any tips and tricks from you artists out there who may have done murals before, as i am a mural virgin.

2009-02-19T08:50:00.014-05:00

i almost forgot to mention the field trip i went on last week. i wore raggedy clothes (nothing new) and was given a hardhat, safety glasses and earplugs for the tour. steve invited me to come along w/ his alternative energy group at LTU for a tour of the DTE trenton channel power plant. i think i blended in quite well w/ the rest of the intelligent engineering students. you'd never know i was a blonde compared to the rest of the group's knowledge. so power...we often take the gift of electricity and power for granted until our power goes out for a few measly hours and all everyone complains about is when it'll come back on. it is really neat to have a much greater appreciation for the workings of turning things like coal's chemical energy into electrical energy for use in our everyday life. it was awesome to see what goes on in a power plant in order for me to switch on a light when i want to. this somewhat explains how it works but if you ever get a chance to go on a tour and see the vastness of a plant yourself, go. a small graphic doesn't do a plant justice. and sorry, no cameras were allowed. you're just going to have to believe i was there.

engineering is such a cool thing. i wish i could wrap my mind around understanding how more things work and are made. i think of a clip from the movie expelled, which gives a brief glimpse into the complexity and unbelievably amazing engineering work of a single cell. it saddens me that so many are closed-minded about the idea of a Creator behind it all.

HAHAHAHAHA!

2009-02-17T10:02:00.000-05:00

i am sorry if this makes no sense to you. it truly reveals what a typography nerd i am.

making face time

2009-02-16T14:59:00.008-05:00

i absolutely love Dentyne's marketing, as this site points out. dentynes site actually gives you three minutes max before encouraging you on to better things...face time.

i value face time tremendously. but it is very easy to stay lazy and shallow w/ our relationships via blogs, facebook and dumb twitter updates (i do use FB often BUT i refuse to jump on the bandwagon w/ twitter.) in and of themselves these things are not bad. there are many positive aspects to blogging, FB, etc. but it is very easy to abuse their use. i can learn from dentyne's marketing. can you?

how bout some face time.

2009-02-16T13:13:00.010-05:00

windows had to be reinstalled in my laptop last night. my fault. i was naive and clicked a link from an email i thot was legit. after 60+ virus threats and a bunch of crap i realized i must have done something wrong. whether it was the link that was to a blog or something else that downloaded from there, i don't know... and really don't care at this point. i'm glad mr. laptop is up working again now. only thing i'm frustrated about is the many, many bookmarks i lost from 5+ years using this thing. oh well. nothing can be done about that. oh no! i just realized i forgot to copy all my fonts! stink.

2009-02-14T10:36:00.014-05:00

i bought a few dresses at kohls the other day. on sale. two springtime/summer dresses, a cute black/white polka dotted skirt and a black/white artsy v-neck 3/4 length sleeve dress (or long shirt...hard to tell nowadays). knowing i have showers and weddings to go to this spring i feel these items were more of a need than a want altho i'll probably return one of the dresses because i don't need both. however i don't know which dress to return ...they are both pretty. so help me decide, if you like. tell me which color you like best: dress #1 is the blue/white and dress #2 is the green/cream.

2009-02-11T23:35:00.004-05:00

more inspiration.

the image above might be my favorite. from the beautiful colors to the various textures i see...so intricate, yet it has order.

i also like the macro of the detailed bee on a flower(i like macro photography) and the buildings towering above the clouds (reminds me of the tower of babel). altho i am drawn to the photographs w/ people in them. every person has a story.

the most annoying music ever

2009-02-11T09:48:00.004-05:00

at this moment i am listening to a scientific attempt to create most annoying song ever. read the short post there and try to listen through it too. i am finding this fascinating...not quite to the point of screaming from the music yet, but very interesting mixture of themes and sounds. opera rap, anyone?? thought so...

what middle schoolers sing along to on the radio

2009-02-08T20:50:00.004-05:00

Katy Perry I Kissed a Girl Lyrics:

This was never the way I planned
Not my intention
I got so brave, drink in hand
Lost my discretion
It's not what, I'm used to
Just wanna try you on
I'm curious for you
Caught my attention

(chorus)
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chap stick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it

No, I don't even know your name
It doesn't matter
You're my experimental game
Just human nature
It's not what, good girls do
Not how they should behave
My head gets so confused
Hard to obey

(chorus)

Us girls we are so magical
Soft skin, red lips, so kissable
Hard to resist so touchable
Too good to deny it
Ain't no big deal, it's innocent

I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chap stick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it

are you kidding me ?!?

2009-02-05T07:21:00.001-05:00

ridiculous.

2009-02-04T22:37:00.013-05:00

please pray for these two beautiful growing boys. twins. mommy-to-be has named them Jaydon and Landon. I watched 'mom' grow up. I used to babysit her. i can still see her beautiful little face looking out the window and yelling 'hi' to me from across the street when she was three years old. she will be a young mother. there was a scare a while back about one of the babies. now at this point they are both doing fine, one at 1 lb. 4 oz., the other at 1 lb. 10 oz.

the past few weeks psalm 139 has been THE chapter i keep going back to and meditating upon for many, many reasons.... these babies being one of them.

no matter what the circumstances have been that led to the pregnancy...life is precious. life is beautiful. and God had these children in mind before the world was made.

...'For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.'...

her morning elegance

2009-02-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

blessed

2009-01-28T23:41:00.007-05:00

we are blessed. do you realize how much you have and how well you live? i know i forget often and it is absolutely shameful. i can complain about my car...but i have a car that runs....what is there to complain about? i can complain about how cold i am in the winter, but i have many clothes, socks, shoes and 10 blankets i could sleep under in a bed in a heated home....what is there to complain about? i can go on and on...but you get the picture.

i came across this site just a few moments ago and found it so fitting to share. i saw the film Slumdog Millionaire on Monday night. wonderful, wonderful movie, fyi. check it out...look up reviews online and go see the movie. i won't go into the synopsis of the film, but it is the story of a young man from Mumbai, India (or somewhere in that region). he lived in the slums, like countless others. i can't begin to imagine a life like that. can you? follow that first link and you have the chance to see a glimpse of the city of Mumbai, as well as others around the world, and how people live there. they know nothing better. i see this film or look at the pictures and it brings so many tears and questions to my mind.

we have so much. what are we doing with what we have? what do we do with the blessings God has bestowed upon us? are we hoarding our stuff, time, talents to ourselves...or can we give back somehow to the millions upon millions of people who have barely anything, finding it difficult to even get clean drinking water and survive.

i am abundantly rich.

2009-01-26T14:20:00.000-05:00

twenty four

2009-01-20T08:42:00.004-05:00

although i've been mentally preparing myself for the age change, i officially became 24 yesterday. if i had forgotten my own birthday i would have been reminded by the flood of facebook messages, texts, emails, calls. so thanks for the birthday love. i did feel loved. :)

yesterday was a pretty normal day, but thankfully my b-day landed on a small group night which made it much more fun in the end. my friend Steve found out i have a favorite cake and was frosting it as i walked in the door! at first i didn't notice he had made the best tasting cake in the world for me but it hit me a few minutes later. it was so thoughtful. so we celebrated both Kris and my birthdays, as Kris' b-day is today.

for the next few small group meetings we are spending time affirming a few members of the small group each week. i cannot explain to you how encouraging that was to experience in both ways...being affirmed as well as affirming. it blew me away. i had never done anything quite like that before. i am still processing it all. it meant so much.

i don't have a mac...but this is still great

2009-01-13T13:21:00.000-05:00

LOTR!

2009-01-06T13:16:00.005-05:00

last week i sat down with a couple friends and over three nights we watched the three Lord of the Rings films. not simply the theatre versions, but their extended versions. i thought they were great! i vaguely remember some of the scenes from the first and last movies. seeing the full extended versions (w/ sweet surround sound and big screen) practically back to back, however, made the story and scenes flow together so well. i thoroughly enjoyed them...and that isn't easy for me to say as i'm not a big fan of unrealistic fantasy films.

fun times.

2008-12-31T12:58:00.002-05:00

This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

how beautiful and true are His words!

2008-12-29T15:13:00.001-05:00

One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.

wild cats

2008-12-27T08:59:00.010-05:00

i hadn't grown up with cats or dogs due to the sniffling and coughing of my dad w/ his allergies. but overall, i am o.k. w/ pets...i had an iguana a few years...i wouldn't take care of other people's pets if i didn't like them. so they're alright, until i want to sleep. then i prefer them not in the same room i am sleeping. i don't want to wake up w/ glowing yellow eyes staring into mine or cat breath on my face. i understand that may change in the future if i marry a guy who loves animals. but until then, they can sleep elsewhere.

i'm house sitting, taking care of two cats. quite friendly cats....even the shy one. so last night its getting late and my eyes are drooping and getting sleepy so i leave to let the animals roam around the rest of the house while i get my beauty sleep. i close the door to the room, lock it from my side of the door. yay, bedtime. zzzzzzz

2 a.m: scratching noises
2:15 a.m: scratching noises
on and on and on this goes...you get the picture. am not sleeping too deeply.

5 a.m: finally sleeping somewhat soundly when door bursts open and two cats fly into the room. if my bladder wasn't empty i may have wet the bed. completely freaked me out. took me a second to realize one of them had opened the door that was locked from the inside of the bedroom. that had never happened to me in the history of my pet-sitting life. quite the traumatic experience. seriously....cats managed to open a locked door. doesn't happen very often. and i am quite sure it was locked well (i have OCD issues). i was told that i should lock the door to keep them out as they are smart cats that open the door. i don't know how they got into my room...it shall forever remain a mystery.

the end.

p.s. i ate lamb today. it actually tasted good. poor lamb.

2008-12-25T21:58:00.004-05:00

merry christmas. i give you all this gift: a link to some gorgeous photographs of nature and animals. quite beautiful. one of my personal favorites is the macro insect photography. similar to the amazing dragonfly photographs i linked to from an earlier post. our Creator God is marvelous. what a wonderful Maker... and talented photographers.

best gift

2008-12-25T14:02:00.004-05:00

My little brother was the most excited this morning when he opened this. Kim and I were in shock. Our jaws must have dropped to the floor. I mean, he's 11 and wanted it for christmas. I am so excited to see what God does in his life. Now i don't listen to this guy on the radio, but the fact that a 6th grade boy wanted Bob Dutko's top ten proofs for christmas simply amazes me. its weird, crazy and awesome at the same time.

I have to say he was excited to get beef jerky as well.

beauty for ashes

2008-12-18T13:53:00.016-05:00

last week i read a quick article in christianity today: defining missional. it caught my attention because i am a part of a missional community. thought the author describes what they should be quite well.

it took me long enough to get it through my head that waiting for people to walk through the church doors before doing something isn't all God desires of me. the Lord hung out with people in THEIR worlds. the whole outward focus thing is taking me years but i am at least beginning to understand what it can really mean. baby steps i guess. but truly life altering. the small comfortable church world i had placed myself in is expanding outward. not the easiest thing for my introverted self to do, but important and necessary in living the life God wants for me. i had enough of hearing sermons and teachings about living and loving as Christ ...but continuing to live my life, leaving the 'world' alone...being in it as little as possible. that is selfish and stupid on my part.

a continual prayer of mine is that God would give me a stronger and stronger sense of compassion for the hopeless. I love how Isaiah 61 describes Christ's mission...powerful, poetic words.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor....

'take this heart of stone...and make it Yours...' shane and shane

for His glory.

funny

2008-12-16T13:44:00.000-05:00

baby steps

2008-12-15T23:13:00.004-05:00

well it happened. it finally happened. after years and years of hearing about this film called 'what about bob?' i actually borrowed the movie and saw it. after years of people telling me how funny it was....or hearing quotes from this so called movie and not understanding what made them laugh so.....wheeww. took me long enough, i know.

and now.....my verdict. it was HILARIOUS!! so funny!! why i didn't see it sooner, i don't know. wow! now i understand why people ask if corn was hand-shucked. or ...really, i won't even continue quoting stuff from there, there's too much...i could go on and on. i may even watch it again before returning it.

2008-12-08T10:09:00.004-05:00

can you see why this small group can be a challenge? i thought my last small group a few years back was wild. i'm cursed! :)

my 7th grade girls decorated christmas cookies for small groups last night. well, that was the plan. apparently there is no way you can get 7 girls to sit at a table for 2 + hours. Marissa was the dedicated one who decorated most of the time. she left w/ over 20 cookies. the video shows B entertaining herself after she decided she was done decorating.

i love them

pupaphobia

2008-12-03T12:40:00.000-05:00

2008-12-01T09:43:00.004-05:00

2008-12-01T09:27:00.003-05:00

one of the freebie things YS gave us at the conference in nashville was a john tesh cd. when marko mentioned that they were giving us john tesh cds, some doubted. but we did end up getting one! so i'm finally going through my backpack of stuff i brought back with me and i figure since i'm not familiar w/ this guy's music possibly my mom would like this cd. personally, his name was recognizable, but if i knew who he was at one point in time i had forgotten.

me: hey mom, do you know who john tesh is?
mom: who?
me: john tesh. you don't know?

luke: i do! that sweet keyboard guy!??
me: you know who he is....and mom doesn't. that's weird.

i have to say i wouldn't have guessed my 6th grade brother would be standing in the kitchen in front of the cd player listening to john tesh. but again, he's the kid who takes the unwanted white elephant cds i get at christmas parties and likes them. he's awesome.

dragonflies

2008-11-30T21:49:00.001-05:00

check this out for some amazing photographs of dragonflies.

my thanksgiving, a.k.a. my food intake

2008-11-27T23:46:00.005-05:00

it was a relaxing thanksgiving. but after i worked all day, went over to my aunt and uncles for food. by that time i wasn't really hungry. so i ate 2 pieces of pumpkin pie. then at home i ate three pieces of pretzel jello. i must have been craving sugar. so i didnt stuff my face with mashed potatos and all the tasty sides, but thats ok. a couple friends i met recently are having an 'indian thanksgiving' on saturday and i am excited to eat a bunch of tasty indian food. and i know it'll be the real stuff since they are from india. so i will have a thanksgiving dinner....just a little late. people say the average person will gain 7 lbs between thanksgiving and new year's. i believe it is true.

2008-11-19T09:10:00.002-05:00

*sigh* so because i have not been able to get inspired and creative before yesterday, i will be bringing my lappy w/ me to nashville this weekend. xmas logo needs to be done for the xmas sermon series 6 days from now. 5 of those days i will be gone. we will see how far i can get! if i can try to work on it in the car on the way there tomorrow i will. i don't see that working well though. i am so looking forward to this weekend, but i know it will be exhausting. i didn't want to add logo design into the mix. oh well! i guess i could also work on it during the big game this weekend that all will be watching. i can multitask. we shall see.

a little adjusting

2008-11-18T00:44:00.002-05:00

well, i'm going to the chiropractor again this morning. my headaches have gotten worse over the past few months, to the point of nausea and throwing up. of course they've steadily been pounding my head worst on sunday mornings, which turns me into a sinner for skippin church. here's hoping an adjustment will help! if you think of it, please pray i won't get any of these nasty migraines this weekend. that would not be fun at all.

the guys' facial hair for the middle school 70's mystery dinner

2008-11-16T13:22:00.013-05:00

some of the middle school leaders are growing facial hair for their beard alliance thing (growing beards from oct. 1 through dec. 24....if they shave they are shunned by the rest of the group members until january). for the rest of the guys who are not in the beard alliance, they have been growing beards for over a few weeks now for yesterday's mystery dinner....70's style. these beards/facial hair may be a reason why i'm glad i missed the 70's! but i have to give them props....they were quite amazing!

KW presented the gospel for the night. she did a great job!

more photos on facebook. all the photos will be on the ms site later.

2008-11-13T19:06:00.005-05:00

this is my first video from my camera. woohoo! ...although the quality looks low and i don't know why (i am an amateur here). looks better through windows media player. anywho, this is just a short clip at torrid ....a game is trying to be explained here. then my batteries died.

caught in sin ??

2008-11-13T10:46:00.004-05:00

as excited as i want to be about the canon S5, i am less than thrilled. i think richie got it right when he said something about me disrespecting the awesomeness of the interchangeable-lens full system digital SLRs by using the S5. and i completely agree. i feel wrong or dirty using one of these dummy mode cameras. yes, it has some great features and i am able to have some manual control .... but it just doesn't feel right! i know....i need to give it a chance! after all, i wanted a compact camera.

i took it to torrid last night and the photo quality/color i saw on screen has no comparison to my old d20. however, i can't expect the same quality. it is a much lower end camera. i knew that purchasing it, so it shouldn't surprise me. so rather than pouting about what i miss, i will focus on the positive aspects of it. video capability, nice zoom, awesome flip-out screen, great size (wont kill my back), can attach my external flash to it (woohoo). only things i'm looking at now is a possible lens adaptor/uv cover, rechargeable battery pack (of course) and an extra lens cover to replace the awful one it came with. but i can afford those accessories when i think about the ton of money i saved from ordering it online and getting a 5 year warranty for $40.

so the dilemma i have now is this: which camera do i truly want to bring w/ me next week? answer: both. ha......

imagine a title here

2008-11-11T23:09:00.006-05:00

me: 'i'm sleeping with three blankets, socks, leg-warmers, a sweatshirt and pants on and also have my rice sock w/ me and i still have trouble staying warm.'

mom: 'you need a husband.'

i think it is going to be a long cold winter.

HP world

2008-11-08T08:10:00.005-05:00

what a gloomy morning. but i am excited about today. i am going to see what i can do to help with preparations for my friend's highland park community outreach open house she and others are hosting tomorrow. apparently some yard work and other work about the house needs to get done. it is a huge blessing to know people that have a big heart and passion for the kids in detroit. there is a whole other world out there most of us (me at least) don't know much about. canton and canton kids have completely different lives and dreams than most children in hp/detroit. it is so cool to hear stories about what my friends are doing in that community and how God is working in their midst. i am slowly breaking apart the comfortable box i have created for myself over the years and am beginning to see the world and communities around me in a whole new light.

my new toy

2008-11-07T10:32:00.004-05:00

i have wanted a more compact camera for a while now. i like my d20, but depending on where i go, it is often annoying to carry around w/ me. last year i read about a camera that caught my attention right away. after asking around for camera suggestions last night....the canon powershot S5 IS was once again brought to the forefront of my mind. so i ordered it last night. one of the major things i desired in a different camera was the video capability. my d20, being old now, could not shoot video.

the reason i made such a quick decision on this purchase is because Nashville is in two weeks and i don't want to carry around the d20. plus i'm sure i want to be able to take some short videos. now it is not a super compact camera, but it will be much more convenient to use here and there when i want it. plus it has many of the manual features i would miss going with something more compact. i think i will be happy. here's hoping it comes in time.

summer in november

2008-11-04T02:20:00.001-05:00

i just want to say that 76 degree weather in chicago in november is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

eunoia

2008-10-30T22:30:00.003-04:00

i am not a writer. i never will be. i have a great appreciation for those who can write though, and write well. this is a book i just heard about. follow the link and read the bold text as well as the few examples below it. what this writer does amazes me.

plus i think the cover of the book is neat.

yes, i'm iron man

2008-10-29T11:01:00.003-04:00

finally watched Iron Man last night. being a fan of superman and batman films i surprised myself by not knowing anything about this movie. didn't even think about seeing it at the theatre when it came out. but it's a good one. there are some great one-liners in it as well. i'd watch it again.

on a slightly different note, since getting dvr, i have been watching less and less tv. i don't even know how to use it. there are a couple shows i like to follow, but haven't bothered to use the dvr if i am going to miss one for one reason or another. i can watch them next day online if i want...or catch a rerun sometime. i am really glad i don't find myself wasting so much time staring at a television screen. there are so many better things to do. 3 hours or so a week watching tv is enough....exceptions being hockey games, etc. even those i rarely follow until the playoffs.

2008-10-29T10:41:00.002-04:00

i have no chance in figuring out a Rubik's Cube. those things drive me nuts. i have no patience for them. but this one i would play w/ in a second!! so cool. i should make one of these.

2008-10-28T09:12:00.005-04:00

masks. we all wear one at one time or another. least i have. i want to fit in. or everybody else is 'fine' so how could i be anything different. the problem with masks is people will grow to love the masked you....but it will mean nothing. you will be lonely and still feel unloved because it is the mask they know and are loving, not the person behind the mask, not the real you.

not a direct quote from the clip on grace i watched last night, but very interesting thought as i'd never heard it put that way before.

last minute concert!

2008-10-23T23:48:00.005-04:00

I saw Selah tonight! i and a few of my friends were invited late this afternoon (i didn't realize it was going on) and i rushed to get ready after work to be there cause i wasn't going to miss it. it was amazing! E gave me a liking for their music and now i love it even more! the whole smith family was there. stories were shared. sad stories. but hope and trust in the Lord God were beautifully sung and you could tell they all meant every word of the songs and the lyrics were more true and real to them than could ever have been imagined. the sad thing was i forgot my camera in the anticipation. but i used kris and katrinas so they may be posted on facebook in the future. it was a great night.

tomorrow night-the DIA!

2008-10-23T10:56:00.001-04:00

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Non-conformist, Visionary, and Independent

10 Abstract, -12 Islamic, -15 Ukiyo-e, 0 Cubist, -10 Impressionist and -16 Renaissance!

Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of what may appear to others as visual realities. Western had been underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. It allowed the progressive thinking artists to show a different side to the world around them. By the end of the 19th century many artists felt a need to create a 'new kind of art' which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. Abstract artists created art that was diverse and reflected the social and intellectual turmoil in all areas of Western culture.

People that chose abstract art as their preferred artform tend to be visionsaries. They see things in the world around them and in people that others may miss because they look beyond what is visual only with the eye. They rely on their inner thoughts and feelings in dealing with the world around them instead of on what they are told they should think and feel. They feel freed from the tendancy to be bound by traditional thought and experiences. They look more toward their own ideas and experiences than what they are told by their religious upbringing or from scientific evidence. They tend to like to prove theories themselves instead of relying on the insight or ideas of others. They are not bound by common and mundane, but like to travel and have new experiences. They value intelligence, but they also enjoy a challenge. They can be rather argumentative when they are being forced or feel as if they are being forced to conform.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

sleep

2008-10-23T10:11:00.007-04:00

somewhat disappointed

2008-10-22T14:09:00.002-04:00

i think i will get used to the pepsi logos...even though i have mixed feelings.

mtn. dew on the other hand saddens me. there is no energy in that logo. design wise i like it, but it doesn't fit w/ the drink at all in my opinion.

you know you have a brother in high school when...

2008-10-20T14:17:00.002-04:00

he is counting the days until.....High School Musical 3......because Vanessa is in it.

you find him watching GAC for the carrie underwood and taylor swift music videos.

rebranding pepsi

2008-10-20T10:28:00.002-04:00

pepsi's logo is going through some slight changes. i am a pepsi fan. pepsi is just good. i do like other kinds of pop as well, but this news is not about them.

The white band in the middle of the logo will now loosely form a series of smiles. A "smile" will characterize brand Pepsi, while a "grin" is used for Diet Pepsi and a "laugh" is used for Pepsi Max. Also, Mountain Dew will be rebranded as Mtn Dew....

where the hell is matt?

2008-10-15T14:18:00.001-04:00

he's here. doesn't it put a smile on your face and make you want to get up and dance??

last few days' events

2008-10-13T14:02:00.018-04:00

saturday morning i headed out to highland park where one of my friends from my citylife group lives. we and one of her house mates went to the eastern market. it was fun. it had been years since i had been to the eastern market last. i was a junior in high school at an art camp last time i was there. i want to go more often. it was a gorgeous day to go as well. there is so much to look at. it is a loud, diversified atmosphere with tons of texture and color. great for photography. ;) can't help but photograph the colorful fruits and vegetables.

after working a few hours in the afternoon i headed to the middle school Chips event. besides a few unexpected mosquitos, i thought it was a great night. kids like to run around in the woods. not my personal favorite thing to do, but it turned out to be quite fun. being the first time we did this specific event, i'm sure there will be things we will change or tweak, but overall a good night in my opinion.

woke up super early sunday morning to take some senior pictures out at mill race. it was nice to watch the sun rise. was an extra treat as i was setting up. it was a great morning for photos, being that is was pretty warm for a morning in mid october. that makes everyone happy.

after church i had time to go on a nice hour-long bike ride around part of whitmore lake and the area out that way. it was so beautiful! perfect weather. gorgeous seeing the bright orange, golden yellow and red trees against the deep blue color of the skies... i fell in love w/ Fall that afternoon! wish i could have balanced on the bike and taken pictures at the same time.

then i headed right over to three cedars to wait for my small group girlies. although it was very busy there, there were surprisingly no long lines for donuts and cider. that was nice. got our donuts and cider fill then hung around there for a while and took lots of photos of the girls (shocker).

yesterday was another great day meeting w/ the citylife group again. i love mondays because of citylife! what a great start to the week.

after work today i'm meeting up w/ L & T at red robin. mmmm i sure am looking forward to some good food and seeing my friends again.

outside the box

2008-10-10T13:15:00.002-04:00

i had to give it a try. it can be a challenge thinking outside the box.

baby

2008-10-09T09:33:00.004-04:00

i can't resist showing you this cute photo of baby simeon. he is two weeks old in this shot and resting on daddy's hands.