Monday, April 26, 2010

Mini-adventures to my heart

Ok, so I know I'm supposed to write part II of "picture," but some crazy, somewhat intriguing things have happened, so I needed to post a (slightly) brief intermission.

I can't believe that only a month ago I was wondering what I was here for and feeling displaced because I didn't have anything to do. These days, I have SO MUCH to do that it sometimes feels that there aren't enough hours in the day. Despite the busyness, though, little adventures have been occurring along the way that remind me of how God is constantly whispering in my ear, reminding me that He knows my heart and has things planned for me. For example:
A few days ago, on the front end of crazy storms and a tornado warning, I found a turtle.

Yes, that's right, a turtle. An Eastern Box Turtle, to be precise. And I think it was a boy. Perhaps it might not seem significant to other people, but this turtle came at a really good time. You see, I don't do very well with tornado warnings and such, and I really needed something to make me feel safe, to remind me of home. One of the things that my "adopted" family likes to do is catch critters they find around the farm (mostly reptiles and amphibians) and keep them as temporary house guests (in a terrarium, of course). They observe the creature, have an opportunity to learn about it, and then release it back into the wild.

So there I was, driving home and worrying about the possibility of a tornado, and I see this cute little turtle sitting in the middle of the road, waiting for, I don't know what. Perhaps he was sunning himself, or perhaps he had decided that he had enough of life. Either way, I wasn't willing to let him be smashed into the pavement, so I stopped my car, picked him up, and took him home.

Then the idea hits me: I can keep the turtle for a couple of days, show him to the kids, have a fun learning opportunity, and then release him back into the wild! Saturday afternoon, I showed the turtle to the kids (as well as everyone else in the "compound") and gave them a bit of box turtle info. Saturday evening, Mr. Turtle was successfully released into the wild, where he is (with any luck) finding himself a Mrs. Turtle so that they can help remedy the declining number of Eastern Box turtles. In my excitement for the turtle, I almost forgot about the tornado warning. Thank you, Jesus!

Fortunately, we stayed safe from the weather. Others in Northern Mississippi were not so lucky. A tornado, 1 1/2 miles wide, destroyed a significant swath of land and homes, and left a few people dead. Among the buildings destroyed was a church that had recently finished rebuilding from a fire that had burned it to the ground. I can't even imagine what that must be like. These people really need our prayers and support, so that they are not overtaken by despair or feelings of futility. So that they feel lifted up, encouraged, and cared for by their brothers and sisters in Christ and in humanity.

Switching gears, a family I have come to know and love is the Trest family. I work in the same building as Adam, who teaches art classes and likes it when I beat him at Scrabble. Brooke (who is not really a Trest), is the sister of Adam's sister-in-law. Make sense? Anyway, Brooke's sister, who really is a Trest (because she's married to Adam's brother), makes these really adorable stuffed animals, dolls, and other things of the adorable genre. Her name is Dawn, and her business is called "hello dearie."

Because she is super amazing, Dawn is giving away a completely wonderful ruffled apron, which I would LOVE to wear while I make food at the cafe'. So I entered her drawing, and you should, too. Check it out at http://www.hellodearie.com



That's all for now!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Picture


It's been almost four years since I graduated from Cal Poly. Right now I find myself wondering, what have I done with myself since then? It's not enough to just do things, you know? You need to feel like you're building something with your life. I started feeling curious as to what I've been building over the past four years. This seemed like a good opportunity to go on a kind of pictorial tour to remind myself of what I've accomplished with my life since Cal Poly.

I spent a total of ten summers serving at Camp Good News as a counselor, Bible teacher, and missions teacher. I can't even count the number of kids I've worked with during that time, but I do remember some of the more recent ones, kids who touched my life tremendously.

These girls were in the last cabin I had, two years ago. We were the oldest cabin during the last week at Emmanuel Heights. I remember that there was a lot of conflict coming from a couple of the campers, but these wonderful ladies did their utmost to make even the most difficult situation feel lighthearted. The following year, the camper who had caused the most conflict in the cabin wound up accepting Christ and turning her life around in a lot of ways. I've had the privilege of getting to correspond with her a bit, and it's amazing to hear just how much better things have gotten for her. I am certain that God used these girls to speak to her during a difficult time. They certainly were a testimony to God's love in this girl's life.

I also went to grad school. What a challenge! Tons of reading, a big, new, scary city, a new group of people, and all my friends and family far away. I am glad to say that completing this challenge led me to figure out what I love to do: teach. I got to work with some amazing faculty, create quality research, and build a solid foundation for the next chapter of my life. Even though I was glad to leave Sacramento when I did, there are still quality people there who I miss, like my old church family, my thesis advisor, my favorite comm theory professor (pictured), and a few of my fellow students.


After graduating, I took a job at Cuesta where I got to teach lots of fun classes: argumentation & debate, public speaking, and group communication. What a wonderful experience! While it was weird having a former teacher as a colleague, I learned so much during this time about how to reach my students, how to manage relationships with fellow faculty effectively, and how to manage multiple jobs. I also became the asst. manager and, later, manager of the portrait studio. What a crazy time in my life! I learned a lot about handling conflict effectively and having the courage to stand for what is right, no matter what the consequence.

During this time in SLO, I also committed to hiking and exploring all that SLO had to offer. What a wonderful time I had! I hiked and hiked and hiked, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. I remember one amazing hike where my friend, Yvetta joined me. I think that was one of my favorite memories of our hangouts. We had to cut our hike a bit shorter than intended because it rained, but we had such great conversation and such genuine enjoyment of the trail that it didn't matter. Yvetta actually took this picture on our hike. What an awesome day!


Speaking of friends, I got to build some AMAZING friendships during the past four years, with my family and friends who are as close to me as family. My sister and I have become so much closer since I left Cal Poly, and I love her SO much. I have certainly had to learn how to trust her to God and not take care of everything myself, but I think that both my sis and I have grown from the experience. I can't believe that I got to see her graduate from Poly, too!


Last May, I had the opportunity to spend time with my Dad and drive up to Washington to visit family. What a great time we had! We explored, shot lots of guns, and visited with family. So much fun!


Wow, we're only halfway through, and I'm thinking of more that has happened, so perhaps I should continue on another post! The rest to follow....

Sunday, April 11, 2010

A whitewashed tomb?

I have had a whirlwind of a weekend, and it's been making me think. I drove up to Memphis in the early hours of the morning on Friday to hang out with a friend and attend the Southern States Communication Association conference. During our time there, we visited Graceland, BB King's Blues Cafe' and the National Civil Rights Museum. It was amazing being in a city so rich with history. both good and bad.

One of the things that struck me the most during this visit was a woman who set up a booth outside the Civil Rights Museum. As per the tradition set forth by Dr. King, she was engaging in non-confrontational, nonviolent protest. Her banners read, "You are about to desecrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King," and "Boycott the National Civil Rights Museum Now!"



At first I was shocked that someone would dare to make such a controversial statement at a place meant to memorialize the memory of Dr. King and all he stood for, practically at the front door of the museum. But then I decided to take the time and actually evaluate her arguments. What I found surprised me more than I could have anticipated.

Apparently, before Dr. King was shot and the museum was built, the area surrounding the Lorraine Motel was a lower-income, predominantly black area. The Lorraine Motel housed not only guests, but residents. When the museum was built, the residents were forced out of the motel. Adding insult to injury for these residents, the lower income housing was demolished and replaced with high-rise condominiums that none of the area residents would be able to afford.

The displacement of the people originally residing in the neighborhood surrounding the Lorraine Motel is the result of a phenomenon called gentrification. Basically, wealthier people buy up housing in a low-income area and raise rents to the point that the original tenants can no longer afford to live there. While the physical space may become more attractive, the end result is that low income housing is lost. People who may have been living in an area for years and years suddenly find themselves without a home or a neighborhood.

The last resident of the Lorraine Motel, Jacqueline Smith, refused to leave her residence of several years and barricaded herself inside the motel. She was forcibly removed. Ever since, she has protested outside of the Civil Rights Museum. She argues that Dr. King would not have wanted his legacy used to perpetuate the gap between the rich and the poor, that the site of his death would be better put to use as a low-cost college, clinic, or workforce development site.

While I didn't boycott the museum, I did keep Smith's arguments in mind during my tour. I expected to find a reminder of our past and admonitions for the future. Unfortunately, I found much of the former and none of the latter.

During a film I viewed at the museum, one of Dr. King's friends recounted King's deep compassion for the poor and his commitment to redressing economic disparities. In fact, during King's last fatal stay at the Lorraine Motel, he was part of a rally for the Memphis sanitation workers, whose wages were so low that they couldn't afford housing. During that time, King was also involved in a march on Washington, where he and hundreds of other people committed to living in a tent city in Washington, DC, until the government engaged in economic reform.

I found it saddening and ironic that there, at the very site where this great man died because of his deep compassion for the poor, King's legacy was being used as an excuse to displace the very people he came to help. There, where this visionary was gunned down, stands a tomb in memorial of a movement that has yet to reach completion. Sadly, there was no vision for the future contained within this museum, no call to action for our generation.

During King's last speech, known as the "Mountaintop Speech," King said, "...I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land."

So I ask you: Does the National Civil Rights Museum fulfill King's legacy? Or is it simply a monument to a promised land that we have yet to reach?

The balcony where King was shot.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Flood

God is crazy. Like, crazy good. I've always heard that "God works in mysterious ways," but I'm not sure that I ever fully understood what that means. Perhaps I still don't, but I think I'm getting an idea.

I've been in Mississippi now for almost three months. For more than two of those months, I was very, very unemployed. I searched for jobs, applied for jobs, but nothing really came of it. Then I got a small gig as the market manager for the Laurel Farmer's Market, which starts in June. Not a lot of cash, but something. Then I got another small gig, helping a local building to put together an application for a Mississippi Main Street award. Again, not a lot of cash, but something.

Then, on Sunday, I got word that I was needed at the local cafe'/coffee shop. Minimum wage, but hey, I'll take it! Then today I officially started a gig as a freelance editor for a local web design company, and found out that I'm needed to manage another farmer's market. From no job, to a veritable FLOOD of employment: market manager, barista, freelance editor, all at once. I'm telling you, this is CRAZY!

So here is my question: why, when I felt the need for work, when I was going crazy and WANTED work more than anything, why was it that at that time I couldn't get a job, despite my plethora of qualifications? Why is it that all at once, I get a crazy amount of work, most of which I didn't even seek out? I'm telling you, God is crazy. He knows everything.

He knew that I needed time to rest; He knew that I needed to acclimate myself to my surroundings; He knew that I needed to have jobs in Laurel where our ministry is and not where the big job market is. He knew that I would be all too eager to take whatever job sounded good, whether or not it was really good for me. He knew. Everything.

This is MY downtown, with my cafe' in the green 4-story building.

So here I am, with yet another set of qualifications to pad my already brimming resume. I'm not bragging. It's just the truth. I'm working the type of job I always secretly envied others but was afraid to try; happily plugging away for minimum wage in a legit cafe with a colorful set of regulars and a staff that feels like family. And what's crazier is that I actually seem to be GOOD at it. After only three days on the job, I find myself negotiating the cafe with ease, handling orders, finding whatever work needs to be done, and being an asset to those around me. Being a blessing in my workplace. I love it.

So perhaps the next time I feel stranded and desperate in my situation I'll remember the story of the flood. No, not Noah's flood. Mine. My flood of employment that appeared out of nowhere when I was stranded in a desert of free time and unemployment. I'll remember that God provides the means to fulfill a purpose when you take the time to recall what your purpose is. Mine is to serve, the way that He came to serve me.

So if you find yourself in Mississippi, come on in and see me. I make a mean raspberry truffle latte, if you don't mind my saying so. And I make it with a smile. =)

Monday, April 5, 2010

News


Spring fashion week may be over, but I'm determined that my blogging will not end with it. This is such an amazing time in life (since I've moved to a new place and am having so many new experiences) that I really should be writing them all down.

Yesterday was the official launch service for our church (Agape Church). What a crazy day, but what a blessed day, too! I had the mother of one of my toddlers tell me that her daughter has been asking all week when she can come back to church, because she has so much fun. I think that's the biggest compliment I could ever get!

It's interesting working with toddlers, because their attention span is so limited. As a college-level teacher, I've been trained to create lesson plans with transitions, facilitate meaningful discussion, and plan pretty much everything. But with toddlers, you can't do that. It's as if I'm learning to teach in a new way, where I have to be even more sensitive to my "students" in order to find, rather than plan the opportunities to have a discussion (as much as they can discuss) that leads to a real teaching moment.

I think the bigger picture is that, while we may not have lots of intriguing, probing, intellectual talks, there are teaching moments everywhere with these kids: in the way we treat each other, in the way I am helping them to share, in the stories we read, the games we play, and even in our snack time. Learning to be sensitive to these teaching moments, I think, is making me a better teacher because I am learning to pay even more attention to my students, instead of plowing forward in my curriculum willy-nilly.

And who could resist those adorable faces? I love my little munchkins so much, that I don't think I'd trade my Sundays with them for anything.


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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Spring Fashion Sunday - Happy Easter!

I'm so sad that Spring fashion week is at a close, but I am so glad to have had the opportunity to dust off my blog and participate in such a fun event. Thanks, Emery!

Because I work with the toddlers at church, I don't really get to wear "fun" clothing. So as soon as we got home, I was itching to shed the t-shirt and capris in favor of something more Easter...country style.

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Eyelet lace on a fun white country style sundress with a cropped denim jacket, boots and a bright, cheery scarf. What a fun way to spend Easter!

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Here is some of the detail on the bodice of the dress. I'm a fan of little touches, so the buttons on the jacket really make me happy...they FEEL country!

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I busted out my favorite blue earrings to complement the scarf. So much fun!

Thanks for sharing all of your fashion with me this week, ladies, and for all of your loving comments. You're the best!!!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Saturday spring fashion!!!!

Wow, the PBR was GREAT! We got to head into the arena and backstage afterward, thanks to our friend, Clayton, who produces the show. SO MUCH FUN!!! And I got pictures with some good-looking riders :) I joked to my friend, Suzanne, that it was the largest gathering of attractive men I've seen since moving to Mississippi. Go PBR!

Today I had a few things on my list: manicure, lunch, scoping stores for kid's church supplies, and working on some freelance editing. I needed an outfit that would go easily all those places, and I think I found it!!!

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I love the gathers on the shirt, and pink shoes rock!

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Finishing touch: a big bead necklace. So fun!

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Top - Cato
Denim Skirt - Mervyn's (RIP)
Shoes - ?
Leggings - Forever 21
Bead Necklace - Kohl's

Also, I just found out that I had TWO submissions accepted to the National Communication Association conference in November. San Francisco, here I come!!!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Friday already?

I can't believe that it's already Friday and spring fashion week is quickly coming to a close. I am writing this post reallyreally quickly because I'm about to head off to the beach in Waveland to watch a friend do some kite surfing and to work on getting a little more color. Don't worry, I ALWAYS use sunscreen!

Later tonight, I'll be headed over to New Orleans to see the PBR! I am so excited I could just squeal! Because of these two very fun events, I have two very fun outfits and have snapped pics of them both! It's like a great two-for-one deal: one post, two fun springtime ensembles, albeit from very different genres.

Beach first:

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I got this top a few days ago in New Orleans, and it's so fun and cheery! This and the cardigan I wore yesterday are the only two yellow pieces I have. The sarong I purchased in Hawaii several years ago, and I love busting it out when the weather gets warm!

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I love the blingy details on the top, and it went perfectly with the yellow hibiscus on the sarong! I have a pair of denim shorts underneath, but you can't see them.

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Of course, for the beach you HAVE to do a ponytail, and I did...just differently. I chose wood earrings to contrast with the bright shirt and play up the minimal brown accents in the skirt.

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And no beach outfit would be complete without a simple, durable pair of flip flops!

Top & cami - Lane Bryant
Sarong - ?
Shorts - Lane Bryant
Flip flops - OP
Earrings - Cato

Now, on to the rodeo...

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I love prints that feel western, and this top is just perfect...western feel without being button-up plaid! I also love that it combines black and brown, one of my favorite combos!

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You also HAVE to have a good pair of boots. A friend gave me these a couple of years ago, and I've kept them nicer than my Ariats. I wait to wear these when I'm going someplace "nicer." I think the PBR qualifies!

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And here are the finishing touches: black chandelier earrings and a simple sparkly black necklace that I hooked in front to make it look kind of like a bolo tie. So fun!

Top - Cato
Earrings - ?
Necklace - ?
Boots - Wrangler
Boot-cut jeans - Lane Bryant

See you ladies again soon, AFTER I've spent some time amongst the..."ropes and the reins and the joy and the pain, and they call the thing RODEOOOOOOOOOO!"

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Spring Fashion Thursday

Tonight, the Farmer's Market in Hattiesburg kicks off, which warrants a super special ensemble. It is also a beautiful, warm, sunny day, so I wanted my outfit to reflect the soft, lovely vestiges of spring that I see popping up everywhere.

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I got this cardigan a couple of weeks ago. It was one of my first Mississippi clothing purchases, and it was well worth it! It reminds me of sunshine and daffodils-perfect for spring!


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This linen top was a summertime buy, but I was ready to get it out of the closet now! It ties on one side with a white ribbon, and the tiered layers of fabric are soft and flattering.


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I wanted to continue with the spring colors, so blue circle earrings seemed to be a good fit. With a cardigan and wedges, I felt like a semi-50's hairstyle would work. Simple and sweet.

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Of course, no springtime outfit would be complete without the perfect pair of shoes! I LOVE these wedges, with their blue and green floral print, and they are so comfortable! Great for perusing the farmer's market!

Cardigan - Kato
Top - Lane Bryant
Earrings - ?
Necklace - ?
Floral print wedges - Target
Bermuda shorts - Lane Bryant

Happy spring fashion, ladies! When you see me next, I will have been stuffed to the gills with fresh produce. I can't wait!!!

*Addendum - I apologize sincerely for the typographical error on the link from Emery's blog. Clearly, it should have read "It's springtime in Mississippi." I somehow missed the apostrophe in "It's" on the link, and I am sorely ashamed of myself. Deepest apologies.