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Religious Views: Truth and Grace
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I have so many passions; here's a little list:

Family: older sister, two younger brothers; a loving Dad and Mom. It's a beautiful thing.

If I could do three somewhat out-of-the-ordinary things all day, they'd be:

Playing with Kids.
Swing Dancing.
Ice Skating.

LOVE those things.

My deepest passion is to help people express themselves. Be they handicapped and unable in the most common ways, or outcasts who aren't allowed to express themselves, I want to help people--kids, too--express themselves through all kinds of things, be it speech, writing, art, music, dance, or animals.

I adore children--especially special needs children. I love children who are deaf, and those who are autistic. My cousins are some of the most special and precious kiddos I have ever met.

I love to write--I'd like to become a freelance journalist for a children and families magazine after college. Thus, my major at Chico State (once I graduate this year from BC with my AA,) will be Child Development, and minor; Journalism.

My blog is: efflorescentexpressions.blogspot.com.
Check it out!

(Holla!)

I love to travel--I've been to Europe thrice; I adore it, and would like to go back. I've travelled around America with my family numerous times; all over, but particularly the midwest, which is where I live at present. China is an incredible country; I adore it, and desire to return.

I love adventure--mountain climbing, rock climbing, motorcycling, mopeding, horse-back riding, paragliding, cliff-jumping, boating, water sports; skiing, tubing, knee boarding, snow skiing and sledding, biking...the great outdoors is my home.


Three of my favorite ideals are:

Love, for the love that my Saviour has showed me through His death at Calvary. Through this majestic, gracious, beautiful love, I have life, hope and joy.

Hope, for the hope I have in my God; he who sustains me and loves me, and has heaven in store for me. Through this hope I am able live a life that looks Heavenward.

Joy, for the joy that I have because of the hope I possess. This joy is what makes life livable. Without joy, I would not be who I am. I thank the Lord for the joy He has set before me.

Beauty, Creativity and Passion are three ideas that I think about often.

I strive to live my life in a way that is a simplistic expression of Christ.

Passport, Passeport and Pasaporte

I am 20 years old.
I have 7 stamps on my passport, all from different countries.
My passport is expired.
I got it at 15.
I have been to 12 countries in 5 years: 2 of them twice.
Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Italy, Greece, China,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, France, Mexico.
THAT is an awesome list.
I am so blessed.
Time to renew my passport, so I can travel to new places!

so this is lov[ing].

Written some two weeks ago, but nonetheless, still very pertinent.


While snuggling 7-year-old cousin Kendra under my arm, she said this:
"Oh, Dree, I could stand like this for HOURS!"
It made my entire day, and it was definitely needing some help.

Now, I'm writing a paper about the stereotypes pressed upon individuals with special needs, and the sad misperceptions so many people have about who they are and what they can and cannot do. I could write the entire 5-7 pages [due tomorrow at 8 AM] on how they can impact your life, if you only give them the time of day - or a piece of your heart. It's a research paper, so I have to do a fair amount of informative explanation and quoting from scholarly sources, but my own passion for the subject - no - the people - will lead me on.

"We all want to be loved -- we all want to be liked -- This love has saved my life" 

-Kevin Yap, Bring Me Hope: Love Delivery: A collection for the orphans [and the suppressed].

It is weird: these kids listen to me [almost] at the drop of a hat, because I'm older than they, and do what I say because I'm their teacher; yet, I don't feel much older than them at all. I remember that time so clearly. Maybe, because I have so many cousins their age, who are -semi- peers. Equals, at least, in the grand scheme of things. And now I'm supposed to be their boss and tell them what they can and cannot do - oh, it's a funky shift.

I'd like to be saying goodnight, but that won't be happening for a few hours, sadly
[it didn't.]

One Glorious Weekend

Spinning, laughing,

dancing to
her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
Is all alone

Eyes wide open
Always hoping for the sun
And she'll sing her song to anyone
that comes along

Fragile as a leaf in autumn
Just fallin' to the ground
Without a sound

Crooked little smile on her face
Tells a tale of grace
That's all her own

Spinning, laughing, dancing to her favorite song
A little girl with nothing wrong
And she's all alone

'Sleepless, long nights...'

Finished HUGE math test at 11:00 PM.

Begin English paper (due at 9 AM tomorrow morning) at midnight.

grab cottage cheese tub from the fridge as study food.

Finally get online portal to work at 1:00 AM.

play in the sprinkling rain from 1:15-1:17:30 AM.

Start writing paper at 1:30 AM.

have brilliant idea to write a blog about it at 1:33 AM.

write blog at 1:35 AM.

continued writing until who knows when........

..............woke up at 6:15 AM the next morning feeling hungover.

mas o menos

I am exhausted. Utterly and completely, happily and blissfully, worn out!

I couldn't believe I had to go back to "normal" life. It's so humdrum.

Sitting in math class, still not learning anything. I had Happy Hands and EDC today, and my kids missed me! I missed them, too. When I walked in, they all came running up and attacked me with love and hugs. Very sweet. I've been thinking, "That was it. I was in Autumn's wedding. She's married. To a husband. And she and Ryan are in Hawaii. Together. Enjoying all Kauai, a Penthouse Suite and a honeymoon have to offer." Trying to get my head around that has been one puzzling ordeal!

The zillions of pictures from the wedding on Facebook are so, so fun to see! Natalie said she wants to tape record me looking at them. Apparently my laughter, cries and commentary are very entertaining.

It's really neat to see how many people were blessed, or at least affected, by the Swindoll's (whow) marrying.

my sister is a wife.

10.10.10.

my feet hurt.
our fridge is jammed full of amazing yummy food.
the top little cake, grapes galore, lots of desserts, scones,
rehearsal dinner italian. lots of cheese. lots of fruit.
lots of really delicious stuff i haven't allowed myself to have for weeks.
i lost 10 pounds for this wedding.
i am a sister in law.
i have a new brother.
i have not lost a sister, or at least not for long.
the timing of the wedding was perfect. to the dot of the schedule.
70 helpers.
yes, 40 of those are my cousins. ages 24 to 14 months.
10 servers, in pretty aprons mom slaved over for weeks and weeks.
they were such gracious, giving, competent help.
i didn't shed a tear the entire day.
i secretly wish i had; during my toast, walking down the aisle,
dad walking autumn down the aisle, or even at their dance.
tears are romantic. and beautiful.
i cried a lot yesterday. with autumn.
and heartfelt and a connexion.
i leave at 2:55 tomorrow afternoon, and go back to regular life.
the most momentous day in autumn's life just occurred,
and i have to leave home and do life regularly again.
WHY?
i am now the only sister.
ryan takes care of autumn now.
now, mommy and daddy are the caretakers of solely me.
i am the only on awake in this house full of 12 people.
ryan and my hands are the same size.
autumn's, too.
we're all sevens.
his ring fit on my ring finger.
that would be awkward.
i put Ry's ring on my left middle before the ceremony,
but halfway through i realized it had gotten stuck.
on my finger.
it was really hot.
and i was holding this monstrous bouquet.
with discreet-ness,
i gracefully yanked it off and stuck it on top of my purity ring,
which i had changed to my right ring finger instead of my left,
so nobody would even have the slightest thought that i was not single.
i caught the bouquet.
oh my goodness, i caught the bouquet.
the bouquet is in a vase in my room.
it's adorable.
how perfect is it that i catch the bouquet in the bouquet toss
at my sister's wedding,
that i'm maid of honor in.
and dude, i was frantically looking for
the toss bouquet fractions of a minute before she threw it:
my heels were strewn to the side of my table,
so i clambered barefoot through the little rocks and oak leaves to fetch it from its
handy water vase behind the canyon creekbed, right behind autumn's seat,
exactly where it should be.
and i handed it to autumn.
and ran and threw my shoes on as i was heading out to
stand in the middle of the dance floor.
i put my hands up.
and blinked the very instant she threw it.
that was dumb, i thought.
and next thing i knew,
i feel this thing squishing into my hands.
it is super soft.
and cassi and allison, two of my dearest friends, have a few fingers on it.
but both of my hands are totally and completely wrapped around the flowers.
they laugh and smile huge at me and say 'its all yours!!'
and dude, how perfect it was:
--it was all mine, it's my only sister's wedding,
and i'm maid of honor.
maybe i really will be next, like i said in my speech.
maybe i should blink more often.
though i was not first, oh dang i could be next.
WHO?
no thanks.
i don't want to know.
miss independent here is staking her clame on noone.
AND she has proven that she does not need a man, or his arm, to
help her walk down a grassy slope in front of 200 people.
in heels.
by herself.
nope.
she does it by herself.
and then very happily takes the best man's arm
and walks up the aisle with him
when its all over.
good thing Justin's such a gentleman, or else i might have fallen off
of the rocks. in my heels. onto my face. oh, what a scene.
phew.
but, we traversed the rock outcropping up to its scaliest heights,
and therefure led the rest of thre bridal party to do the same.
the groomsmen really did their job well.
the getaway car, cute little teddy roma the red tacoma / ted / Ryan's car,
was decorated quite nicely.
and quite cleanly, too.
surprising.
and Justin, what was that verse you had in mind?
best man and maid of honor: to the rescue.
you kept it clean, and i kept it under 4 minutes.
we are a bomb team.
and they were totally personal.
and made everyone cry.
that was fun, wasn't it?
thanks, Kim. you're a trooper.

who was the blonde, tatooed one on Ry's side? or the dark one, sitting next to him?
they caught my eye.
or, my---me---caught their eye.
my eyes saw their eyes staring at my eyes.
lets hope it was my eyes.
comment:
my face did not feel like it was about to split.
at all.
good thing. that would not have been pleasant.
my face did not split from a fall on the rock
[Ryan's finger already had that one covered]
nor from an over-smiling reactant disorder.

my face was radiating, you say?
thank you, that's really kind.
i do believe it was,
for my smile was not posed.
not for one minute.
i am so happy.
"i could not have asked for a better man for my sister"
it's 1 AM on Autumn and Ryan's wedding day.

va-va-voom.

how awesome for them.

hawaii.

kauai.

penthouse suite.

ocean.

beach.

"a good 12 days".

delightful.

half the suitcase.

oooh baby...er,

not.

no neices and nephews quite yet.

i need to pay rent. it is now late.

does it count that my landlords were at the wedding?!

i was in my dress for 11 hours today.
and in my shoes for 6.
3 inch heels. thick ones, cute ones. comfy ones.
but not for 6 hours.
thus,
my feet hurt.
and i'm going to bed.
on my hard mattress.
that's not even really mine.
on the bed, that's cleared.
i haven't seen it since i moved in august.
i have been home since then,
it's just been covered stock full in wedding stuff.
it wasnt even 'adria's room' anymore.
it had become known as 'the wedding room'.
that's great, huh?
here's your room, and here's mom and dad's couch.
and aunt Jeanne probably has lunch. probably.
and they (Jeanne and my landlord) fed us lunch today!
but that was planned.
it was delicious, although i didn't get to eat very much,
which was extremely sad for me.
when i realized it later.
although i definitely sneaked some in between the pictures and ceremony.
then Justin called 'adria!' 'adria!' all over the house.
apparently, it was time to be announced for tea.
so, we were perfectly on time
(in the fashion of the day)
and i on his arm,
we waltzed into the reception area.
and voila, there were our seats.
and his guest.
and my brothers.
so you see, i really do want it.
just not now.
not yet.
not quite.
but sometime.
that's for certain.
with all of my soul.
and so,
i will be content to not wait
around until my Ryan comes along.
I will...we'll see what i do.
all sorts of things.
all sorts of life.
all sorts of joy-
and adventure
and excitement
and travel
and thinking
and sharing
and caring-
and loving.
loving.
love.
"all because two people fell in love"
-mighty fast.

10.10.10.

New Beginnings

Hello!

I have not blogged in a long, long time.

So much has happened since my last post! I haven't cared to blog about it until now,

but you'll get a pretty good synopsis by viewing the last few months' facebook statuses.

Most importantly, I moved to Chico!

I love it here.

Natalie and I have been here for over a month and a half, and are pretty well settled in.

Classes started two weeks into our stay here, and have been keeping me busier than I had expected. I left home on the night of Friday, August 6, and headed to the Palmer's house in Apple Valley for the big send off the next morning. After much dispute, the traveling party consisted of Grandpa, Grandma, all the Palmers, and me. None of my family; it would have been great fun to have them along, but could not be worked out. It took 8 people, 3 cars and a whole trailer and pickup's worth of belongings to arrive at our final destination, 10 hours later: 1310 Greenwich Dr. The cute little "college cottage" as it had been dubbed, was complete: all four roommates were there!

My new home is settled in a nice track neighborhood right outside of the heart of town. It's relatively quiet, but from Thursday night to Sunday night there's some hard-core partying that goes one. Nicely enough, our cute little house full of girls is situated on a street full of boy houses. Yes, boys. Not men. These boys really like their alcohol. Before school started (and even harder the first few weeks of school) there was a party every night. Every night, from 5-sometime past midnight. Beer pong, loud music and all sorts of foul. (I sound like a 90 year old when I say that, but it has substance and a well-founded accuracy, I assure you!) More on them, later.

The girls are:

Natalie, 20 1/2-cousin and actual room-mate

Megan, 19 1/2

Anna, 19 1/4

We are all very different and live our lives differently, but have been working out our differences and idiosyncrasies as best we can.

It is fun living in a house of my own.

I have really enjoyed being able to cook for myself, set up a nice kitchen, decorate, and have my own "area" at least, of the room. Natalie and I share the master bedroom, and it has been a great thing. We don't mind being around each other almost constantly, and our belongings fit well together. She has all dark wood furniture, like cherry and I have happened upon all lighter woods, like oak and pine. It's a nice set-up. She's got one side of the room and I the other. The bathroom is a nice size and there's a little walk in and rolling door closet. We split both. It's a very comfortable fit for the both of us, I think.

There's a little lawn in the back and a nice sized one in front, which Megan and I take turns mowing. I'm going to plant some Shasta Daisies and Sweet Peas in front and back, and there's already a pretty Sterling Silver rosebush on our front walk. The vine by the front door goes a little crazy and tries to take over the siding (and all who pass by), so I'm going to try and tackle that, as well as the four huge cactus in the back.

Here's a run-through of my weekly schedule:

Mondays and Fridays:

6:10-wake up, get ready for the day.

7-prep 3 egg whites, 1/2 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup frozen blueberries for both of us.

8-English class

9:30-I do homework in the library or outside until...

10:30-Natalie picks me up from Butte Chico campus, after she finishes her math class at Butte main campus.

11-eat 10 almonds and a small fruit. We're always famished after class.

12:30-Lunch. 1/2 cup beans or brown rice or quinoa. 4 ounces lean protein: chicken, or salmon. Unlimited vegetables.

2-snack. 1/2 cup cottage cheese or 2 low fat string cheese.

3-5 or 6-EDC.

Extended Day Care at CCS. Chico Christian School. I love it! The kids are precious, and so are my coworkers. I'm learning a lot and being loved on even more.

-Natalie picks me up from EDC. Depending on the time, she's made dinner for us and brought me my portion in a tupperware container: 4 ounces lean protein, an unlimited amount of usually cooked vegetables.

6:30-WORKOUT! Our road to fabulous, that's definitely not easy, but pretty darn simple. (also on Fridays)

7:45-home from workout. Eat a little protein and veggies.

8-?-Who knows what.

Tuesdays and Thursdays:

Breakfast.

I often have breakfast made for Nan when she comes back from her Math class at about 10:30.

Lunch.

2-3-Happy Hands.

I teach Sign Language to 18, 2nd and 3rd graders at CCS. 14 2nds and 4 3rds. My precious little cousin Kendra Johnson is in the class, too. I love it! Lesson planning is hard and completely undesirable, but the kids' eagerness and ability to pick up a language so quickly keeps me going. Oh, and the excellent pay. My students are so cute and getting so good, after only 2 weeks! A few EDC kids are in it, as well. It's special seeing them through two different eyes and in turn, they, me.

3-5 or 6: EDC. (This is Fridays, too)

Dinner.

7-9:30-Math class. Disgusting. 2 1/2 hours of Math I hardly understand. I have to eat something or drink something during it in order to stay awake. I think, though, that that goes for all of us in it.

It's a Butte class, but is on the Chico State campus. Love that. Chico's only like, 3 minutes away from the house, so I could bike when the nights are lighter. When they're dark, no way in the world I'm going to walk more than a few blocks to meet Natalie at our usual spot behind the Mansion.

10-?-who knows what.

Sundays, Natalie and I have chosen Chico EV Free to be our home church. We love it! The teaching is excellent, and the worship is so rich. they've made us feel so at home--I'm pretty sure they all have the gift of hospitality. We've already met with the junior high pastor for Natalie to work with the youth, and I'm in touch with the children's ministry director.

You might have noticed (or even started to count) a few 'we's". Yep--Natalie and I sure do a lot together. She's the one with the car, so that adds a lot of time together right there, but we're both on the same regimented nutrition plan and workout schedule, almost identical class schedule, same church, same friends and family...it really is lovely. We haven't tired of each other! And we even still love each other. How's that for fabulous?!

I have an entire list to "blog" about, but I'll leave that for another time.

For now, I hope you have a good week.

Pictures of the new place will be posted soon.

It's two weeks until I'm a sister-in-law!!!!!!

Impassioned

Miss Marianne Dashwood: my newest inspiration.

I watched the newer BBC version of Sense and Sensibility last night, and fell wholly in love.

Marianne is the second daughter of three, and has notions that are far ahead of her time and her age. She wears a scarf on her head and has hair to match her personality. She is sixteen, and just moved to a cottage on the ocean. She falls head first into love with the man who rescued her from the rain and imminent sickness on the hillside after she has fallen and sprained her ankle. She and her younger sister get caught in the rain, because Marianne wanted to see the countryside. Who should come and find her in her distress but--the dashing Mr. Willoughby himself. In one motion, he sweeps her into his arms and into his heart. He is charming, experienced, delightful, and entirely unconventional--for this Marianne lets her passion fly.

We all know the story. Ends up, Willoughby leaves on short notice, Marianne is desperately hopeless without her lover, and althewhile, the older sister finds out he went off and impregnated another girl. Marianne sees him again and knows nothing, only that she wants to be with him. She hears of this, and after nights of tears and days of sadness, she uses her better judgement and rids her life of him. Mr. Wonderful--the always-in-the-background-waiting Colonel Brandon steps in and shows her a steady, respectable love. Miss Dashwood returns his love and 'they all live happily ever after'.

So what do we all love so much about Mr. Willoughby? After all, isn't he the one who broke the good girl's heart and left another with child? Oh yes--that's the one. And yet, he is still the intriguer, the romantic, the passionate, the one we all wish we had. He steals our hearts and our good sense all in the same, and yet we fall for him. Do away with the gentleman everyone loves and respects. I want the one who is a little risky; 'little rough-around-the-edges; mysterious. What's the fun without excitement and adventure? No thanks, I'll take my own breed of male, not the one destined to me since birth. Goodbye Mr. Steady, Hello Visionary.

Not. Mm...yes. That's what my heart is dictating to my brain; the brain to the heart, though--well, that's a little tougher. 'I wants nights full of passion, days of adventure, no strings--just warm, summer rain. And then I thought'...what about a family? What about children, a home, friends? Where is commitment and responsibility in that way of life--how would we ever manage to lead a life worth replicating? To duplicate myself, I must become someone who sets a standard of what is good and what is wrong. This I can not do on my own--such as it is, I desire someone who works on a whim and is adventurous--who I really need, though, is probably someone more compliant than contumacious.

Maybe, just maybe, there's somebody whose passion is indelible and virtue unforgettable. Henceforth goes the journey.

598

As Daddy puts it, "Day #598 of your sinus infection..." It seems about that long. One whole week. Ugh. A terrible sore throat at the beginning of the week, that morphed into a sinus infection. I feel like my teeth are going to be shoved out of their sockets. It's like I just put a new invisiliner in, or like I got in a car accident and my teeth got knocked loose (that's from experience). In any case, the entire right side of my face hurts so bad!

So, sadly, no, I have not "kicked" my cold. To my dismay, it has become a fever/sorethroat/sinusinfection/knock-me-off-my-feet for a week type of sickness!
I read Philippians 3, Micah 4 and Joshua 5 today. The authors said that we should 'count all things as rubbish compared to knowing Jesus Christ as Lord...', 'be warned that we will have glorified bodies...', and 'take comfort in knowing that God's ways are higher than ours...'. The first thing I saw when I woke up from my 'morning' nap was Mom's Bible. I knew I had to read the Word--I think I was desperate for it. I really didn't know what to read, then those three chapters, p.3, m.4, j.5, popped into my mind. Hmm, God really does have all things planned out for us.
Oh, the beauty of His ways!



In the course of time it took me to write this post, I have blown my nose (these are not little snauses) 15 times. FIFTEEN. Story of my life. Er, week.

Two

Oh--such irony!!
More on that later.

I'm home.

Happy May 29th! It's a day when lots of memories combine on one birthday. ;]

Goodnight! Maybe.

The Last Plane Out

"I've got a one way, a one-way ticket this time." (Aaron Espe)

Well, after two years in Kansas, I can honestly sing,

"I'm leaving, on a jet-plane, don't know when I'll be back again..."

because I really don't know when I'll be back. Maybe next Spring, to visit, if I can swing it, and am not totally broke by then? It's an odd feeling, not being able to say "have a nice summer, see you in August" but instead, to most, "have a nice...life!" That sounds idiotically depressing.

I'm done here. Yeah, unless someday God leads me back here, to this flat, wonderful, GREEN, beautiful, special, windy, state. It's a wierd feeling, but a nice one, too. I'm ready to move on, for some change, a different way, let alone pace, of life...all those things of moving on.

The goodbyes were the hardest part. I didn't even realize how hard they would be.
I am going to miss a lot of people. A lot.

Yet...tt's time. So, when I hop on that plane bound for LAX tomorrow afternoon, I'll be saying goodbye to Kansas for a good, long, time.

So, farewell, Kansas--you've treated me well.

Bliss

"I've been here since like, One..."

-Mac, coffeeshop, scholar, hottie at 5 PM

=]

"It's like the morning that lasts all afternoon"

-John Mayer

=]

"It's lilactime!"

-Van and Davy-Severe Mercy, and Adria today, after passing a lilac bush and smelling it before seeing it. It's now fragrancing up my room.

=]

"When you dance over me...I can't help myself, I've got to see you again."

-Norah Jones

=]

"I'm in love with a girl who's in love with the world, though I can't help but follow...gotta learn how to let her go."

-Amos Lee, describing me.

=]

"She holds you captivated in her palm"

KT Tunstall

=]

"Those Three Words"

Recently, I signed up for e-mails from Focus on the Family and Family Research Council. I have enjoyed reading the information they send out. Much of it is political, which keeps me aware of what is happening in this crazy country, and some is parenting, church-related content, high-school-and-younger centered, and in that, lots on relationships. Today's Boundless Webzine (for students of all ages) article was "The girl (or guy, depending) I'm going to marry will have to be..." as a spin off of Annie Get Your Gun. I had never posted anything on their blog before, but thought this was interesting. So, I did. I've never wholly liked the idea of a 'husband list', but last summer, I came up with these three concepts, or characteristics that are crucial. As you can see, they really encompass a grand array of possibilities and personalities.

Here's mine from the Boundless. Enjoy!

1. Integrity
-In all areas of life.
Family of origin, family of choice, friends, church, career, options for opportunity.
Ultimately, a passionate disciple of Jesus Christ: this requires humility, graciousness, good standing with acquaintances, justice, wisdom, joy, honesty, patience, devotion, and namely, a deep, deep love for his Savior.

2. Intelligence
-A man who can think.
One who has a thirst for knowledge, and searches it out in any number of ways. The ability to stand on his own and have good discussions. Loves books. Desires a great education (homeschool!) for our children.
Will make for himself a good job that supports a family.

3. Attractiveness
-This implies all the trivialities:
Handsome to me, enjoyed by others, adventurous, musical, passionate, stubborn enough to combat my own lot of stubbornness, yet soft hearted enough to understand my own soft heart, creative, flexible, artistic, jovial, outdoorsy, tender, lover of children...and the list goes on.

Posted by: Adria | March 25, 2010 at 04:37 PM

Barclay "Graduate and Skedaddle" Senior Bio

Almost all of this post is serious; the 'alternate reality' part was on Allison's suggestion. I'm pretty darn proud of how the bio turned out. Now, let's see what Barclay thinks of it...

My name is Adria Hinrichs and I am from Temecula, California. As I look back on my time at Barclay, I am amazed at how much life was packed into these two short years. These are years full of experience; experience I could not have had at any other scholarly institution. Barclay is such a unique place and has provided me with quite the opportunity for growth and learning.

My parents have taught me so much about what it means to live a life worth emulating. Through their example, I have learned not only how, but also why being a follower of Christ is central to our existence. All other strivings pale in comparison to the greatness of knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. My siblings, as well as my entire extended family, have shown me what it is to love unconditionally. They have been a consistent fountain of joy and love pouring into my life from childhood. Both the friendships invested in before Barclay and the continuation of those begun here have made my life rich with love and companionship.

I came to Barclay not knowing exactly what to expect, and was excited to see how God’s plan for the “Barclay” segment of my life was to unfold. I was home educated for most of my life, and through that, gained one of the best educations I could have received. Coming to Barclay was not a huge shock for me, as some may assume. Growing up, I had countless friends whom I saw on a daily basis and had been preparing for college since elementary school. I am indebted to my grandparents for the trips I took overseas which have broadened my view of culture, history, art, Creation and religion, as well as the many college-prep classes I took outside of the home, which were crucial in preparing me for the rigors of college. Adjusting from high school to college is a big step in a young person’s life, and my experience of home schooling helped me tremendously. To those considering home school, I highly encourage it; it has molded and shaped me into who I am today.

Alternate Reality: here's the real truth of my thoughts

[[[[[[I came to Barclay not knowing exactly what to expect, but very excited to uncover the mysteries that lie in wait. Okay, that might be a little too poetic for a grad bio, but then again, that’s me. Also, I’m interested in journalism…which is why, well, moreover, one of the many reasons why, I am transferring to…dun dun dun…Chico State! But really, I’m more interested in kids, so I’m doing child development, but not nearly as many people know that—they all stinking think I’m going full force into journalism. I love it-yes-but kids are my passion. I don’t really want to be a career woman anyway; all I wanna be is a mommy. A mommy who homeschools her kids and loves on people and loves my husband. By the way, puh-lease don’t pressure me to get into a relationship with someone at Barclay, because there is absolutely no one here who would even tempt my stupidest desires. That’s why, hallelujah, I’m transferring! Ah, actual possibilities: people who are intellectual and a little more than just enough-socially adept…Oh my.]]]]]]]]]]]]

Something really special about the Barclay experience is the location, and thus the culture it provides. I have a deep passion to experience new places. College, I thought, was the perfect time to travel, while getting a great education. I have definitely seen a portion of the world I had not fully known before when I came to Haviland, Kansas. This tiny little town with an incredibly big impact has had an effect on me that will not become obsolete.

This coming summer, I am going to be on staff with Bring Me Hope, an organization that puts on summer camps for Chinese orphans. From June to August, I will be in China loving on orphan children; this is exactly what my heart loves. There could not be a more perfect opportunity to hone what I have learned through my childhood and augmented at Barclay; that loving Jesus and loving others are the essential characteristics of a life well lived.

I am transferring with my Associates degree to California State University, Chico, in the fall of this year. I will be studying Child Development, with a minor in Journalism. Children, particularly those with special needs, are a passion that the Lord has instilled in me, and I have only touched the exciting field of journalism. At rest in His timing, I would like to write for a family magazine and be an advocate for children with special needs in a practical way.

As I go out from Barclay College, I scan the possibilities of what my life may look like in a few years, and wonder what is in store. It could be a family, a career in the States, or a job overseas; the Lord’s scope of imagination is so far beyond our comprehension, that I can only ready myself now for what He has planned for me then. I am so very thankful for the last two years I have spent here, and am grateful for the many ways the Lord has grown me while attending Barclay College. I desire to be an ever-blooming expression of His grace, beauty, joy and truth, so that people may see me and be changed by my God.

Desire

Oh, sweet desire, how you invade me!

I long so deeply, for something I do not know of yet.

I think it's something akin with searching for God, and having a deep, innate knowledge of something beyond your existence; something bigger, better, more beautiful.

When I see a certain picture, hear a particular song, read a distinct few lines,

it floods me like it always does.

How I long for you! How I wait for you in silence and in song!

Possibly, maybe. Quite maybely possible. Who knows, in this land of

ever-increasing desire for what you can't have?

Of dreamings for what you know you can't see?

Such is the life of me.

Hmm, that was silly. Really silly.

I'll expand on it more later.

This really, has nothing to do one bit

with the post of earlier in the evening.

The Thief

Your eyes are full

Full of the future of us

The air changes as you look across

At me in that wondering way

It is as if

I knew you before we spoke

Do our hearts know something we don't?

Conspiring, converging without giving us any say

You, sing me to sleep

Talk down my walls

Look through my windows as I wait

You could be the thief

I give the key to

You're ruining me

With secrets and gestures and looks

With sonnets from second-hand books

Playing the chords in me nobody knew how to play

It fits in your hand like water in rain

It unlocks our two different selves

And shows we are the same

Rather than wait `til I put me out for the taking

You're breaking

You're breaking

You're breaking into my heart

And I'm letting you

The Thief-Brooke Fraser

Offering grace, because that's what God does

My good friend and suite mate of last semester just came in and was telling me all the things she did over Christmas break. I suppose right now that I am just overcome by the depravity of humanity, and how absurd we can make our lives sometimes. And yet, God's grace still stands. Firm, sufficient and entirely undeserved. While she was telling me, I was praying for wisdom, because I don't agree with what she did at all, and I know that the Lord does not condone it, but I love her, and God offered her grace; so, so will I. Have you ever been in that situation, where you want to still be friends with a person, but wholly disagree with what they've done?
It's hard. I told her flat out that what she did was wrong, and I don't agree with it, but I love her still the same. I think that was right-I tried to be gracious.

We talked about how we had read Crazy Love together before break, and about how God has called us to live differently--radically different than the rest of the world. We are to set a standard that's higher, because we know the Most High God.

And so, when we mess up, and know entirely well that we messed up, what do we do with the knowledge that we've disobeyed God? What do we do when our friends have done so? How do we deal with that, and help them through it, yet let them do the confessing and asking for forgiveness? I can't move her lips, but I can walk alongside.

I want so desperately for her to realize that, although she knows what she did was wrong, that she needs to completely turn away from it: you've said you won't do that ever again, now stick to it. You are living elsewhere, but what happens if something like that comes up again? Will you be able to resist temptation when it shoves you on the floor? Listen to the Holy Spirit before it's too late, and before you're convicted; instead of after the fact, or all the while knowing your actions are wrong, but think that grace will make it all okay.

Yeah, grace does makes it okay, that's a fact beyond comprehension. But, if it is so freely given, why on earth abuse it? Jesus only died for us, for grace to be enough, for sins to be forgiven. In light of that simple, enormous fact, there is no reason why we should take lightly the given grace. We should try, with all our might, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. That verse in Micah entitles us to live radically; different than the whole rest of the world. Not as and of the world, with the memory of sufficient grace, but living in a way that, without a doubt, will acknowledge and absolutely use that grace, but with all that we are, rather, with all that God is through us, live in a way that glorifies the Giver of that all-sufficient grace.

Glorify the Giver; live in redemption, and live in a way that inspires others to be like that Giver.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"For sin shall not be your master, because you are...under grace"

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!"

"Having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification."

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:13-23

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