For you Little Women Lovers

I've been meaning to blog about my experience visiting the Orchard House, aka the setting for Little Women and Louisa May Alcott's home. I visited with my mother while in the Lexington and Concord area. It became the highlight of my New England vacation.

Fun Facts

• Mr. Alcott was a teacher without prejudice, meaning he believed that women and non-white should receive an education. Quite a modern idea back then.
• Mr.Alcott built the Orchard House over a well so that his daughters did not have to go outside to retrieve water in the bitter New England winters.
• Louisa May Alcott (LMA) wrote Little Women based off her own family. Jo is LMA.
• The Alcott Sisters (March's) really did put on plays
• Friedrich's character was based off Emerson, the writer, whom Jo had a crush on. In fact, Emerson visited the Orchard House often.
• Originally LMA's publisher did not like Little Women. However, the publisher's daughter got hold of the manuscript and fell in love with the story, so much so that she persuaded her father to publish Little Women.
• LMA made $45 million, thanks to Little Women.

These are just some things. If you ever watch Little Women with my mom or me, you will learn more.

Poor Candle

I can laugh about it now, just as long as I do not get fined. Thanks to Emily and Stephanie for helping me clean up the mess.

So, What's Your Will?

The question of the semester...

"What are you going to do after you graduate?"

It's almost overwhelming coming home, because I am constantly reminded how I am a senior and with no plan after graduation. Now I know why people stay in Springfield after they graduate.

To be honest, three months ago I thought I had it all figured out. Earn my MBA at a top-notch school, be a marketer for Disney, and end up producing all before the age of 35. However, one thing was missing... prayer. I did not pray about this decision and God slammed that door shut. Lesson learned: pray before making decisions.

Now it's back to square one. I've been the planner type, so what I am going through is very difficult. I never thought I would be THAT senior. What's funny is when I was a freshman, I thought after graduation I would move to LA, be an assistant director with my film degree, and already be engaged. Little did I know that technology and I would not be friends. I have no regrets for not dating so far at Evangel, God has protected my heart; don’t get me wrong I want to get married, but on God’s timing.

Earlier this week, I went to a Foreign Service worker's going away party. No one really talked to me (I was clearly the youngest person in the room.) However, one man, Erik, a strategy DOD worker, talked to me for a little bit. He told me that it is good that I am a communication major, "No offense, but diplomats aren't always good communicators." While eating in Georgetown later that night, my dad told me how my speaking has improved mightily. This may come to a surprise to you, when I was younger I had a speech impediment. I had to go to a speech therapists for over 10 years, and now I am on the forensics team, all we do is SPEAK. Funny how God works at times.

Currently, I see myself taking a year off. I will probably work on Capitol Hill or with the Ravens. It will be a growing year, which normally is not fun, but I will come out fully knowing what I want to do. Also, I will have the initiative to study for the tests in order to get into a grad program. Because, I have tons of interests but no idea what I want to do. Who knows, maybe God will surprise me and I will have an urge on what to do. :D

I am aware that I want to work with the Arts or for a company that is artistic. I need to be surrounded by the creative. I see Christ through creative things like film, art, and music.

All in all, I keep on remembering what someone once told me,

“There is beauty in the process.”

Hello, Break!

This is my mom's dog named Buddy, I actually think he has missed me, because he has been coming into my room. You have to admit he's pretty cute. Today, my mom and I went searching for the dog's Christmas presents; yes, I know my dogs are spoiled, but they bring so much joy to our family. Anyways, we asked a worker for their toughest toy, because Samson is notorious for destroying squeaker toys in a matter of hours. The worker gave us their "toughest" toy, which happened to be a dragon. The verdict: in ten minutes Samson ripped off the dragon's wing. Oh, well.

The ride home went pretty fast. I made it home in record time- 18.5 hours. This ride comes with stories. Like how Celia got a speeding ticket for trying to catch up with the group, but she was actually in the lead. Or how Jill now has gone through a background check thanks to a couple of post it notes.

My car was pretty event free, I mean we almost ran out of gas, and survived a SKETCH gas station. For some reason it was always hot in my car , which could be because we had three blonds all in one car ;). We drove two miles out of the way for some Starbucks, but hey it was a bathroom break for me. Eventually, I had to hide drinks from myself in the car in order to make stops less frequent. All in all Brooke, Chris, and Celia were/are great car mates.

PS: Thus far I have slept many hours. 14 hours on the first night, and 11 hours last night :D.

Poetry for Christmas

Kiliam McDonnell, a Roman Catholic theologian, is definitely not the average church member. He progresses with the culture and seeks to reveal what audiences always interpret. McDonnell’s style bursts energy and modern words that bring a new perspective to the Biblical texts. While reading the poems, I kept thinking about Slam Poetry, and how effective these poems could be using that sort of performance. I believe McDonnell has literary license. Before every poem, he gives a reference verse and follows the Biblical narrative outlines. Now to some Christians, McDonnell’s interpretation may be offensive. However, why water down the thoughts and events that changed history?

In the Kitchen paints a new setting for a divine and historical moment. Mary is doing her daily routine. She is normal like us, and God uses her. We can seek encouragement in the fact that God sees our normality and makes us become great through glorifying him. Also, ending the poem with, “And I dropped the rag,” sums up Mary’s emotions: awe, wonder, excitement, and shock. This is quite a pivotal ending to a moment that revolutionizes everything.

In the Kitchen

(“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel . . . .” Luke 1:26)

Bellini has it wrong.

I was not kneeling

on my satin cushion

quietly at prayer,

head slightly bent.

Painters always

skew the scene,

as though my life

were wrapped in silks,

in temple smells.

Actually I had just

come back from the well,

placing the pitcher on the table

I bumped against the edge,

spilling water on the floor.

As I bent to wipe

it up, there was a light

against the kitchen wall

as though someone had opened

the door to the

sun.

Rag in hand,

hair across my face,

I turned to see

who was entering,

unannounced, unasked.

All I saw

was light, white

against the timbers.

I heard a voice

I had never heard.

I heard a greeting,

I was elected,

the Lord was with me,

I pushed back my hair,

stood afraid.

Someone closed the door.

And I dropped the rag.

A New Tradition

Where has the freshman spirit gone? The spirit of staying up late, making movies for the fun of it, dance parties on floors, and SPONTANEITY. Elise and I have had enough of the senior stress, so we have taken matters into our own hands. We have created Senior Spontaneity. Every week, Elise and I will create a joyful, fun, and memorable experience or story. Let me tell you about our first couple of weeks:

Week 1

Elise and I were sitting on the couch hungry (this should be of no shock.) I told Elise how that I planned to put on a mud mask that night, and Elise spoke of her fast food lover aka Taco Bell. Thus, we developed the plan: to go to Taco Bell with mud masks on.

Here's the video:

It's funny how the worker thought nothing of us, that's when you know Springfield is strange.

Week 2

Lunch time on a MWF. (Maybe Elise and I create stupid ideas with non satisfied stomachs.) Casey, our RD, was at the time still prego and past her due date. Elise, Celia, and I decided to scare her by jumping and poking her. I admit, not the smartest idea, but Casey's husband laughed at us AND Casey had her baby the next day.

Week 3

The week of little sleep. Elise and I were preparing for our communication finals, and we needed some energy. So, we decided to run around Burgess Hall at 12:57 a.m. without real shoes to see if we could make it back in time before curfew. Verdict: 1 minute and 13 seconds. Elise taped it.

Week 4

Dinner. Cafe. Tots. That's right tots like from Napoleon Dynamite. The cafe served tots, and I don't know how this happened, but Elise and I stood up and yelled "TOTS" three times. However, we did not stop there. When we were done eating, we walked by George(who at the time pretended like he did not know us) and said "tots." Then prior to leaving the cafe, we screamed "tots" one last time and I jumped.

We would tell you to join us on our next spontaneous moment, but then it would not be spontaneous.

Quote of the Day

First off, I am happy to announce that soon and very soon, you will see more posting from me this week.

However, let me ease you in by a quote that came from my roommate today....

"What's my favorite Christmas Song?... I do not like most Christmas songs... Can I put down Mr. Grinch?"

- Stephanie Edwards

Oh, Mr. Grinch. What's ironic is that the forensics team is doing a Reader's Theatre of Dr. Seuss' classic for some Evangel faculty.