i don't want to build castles in the sand

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life -- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life -- and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to it's level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you. 

                                                                     -- Romans 12:1, The Message 

see the way

With just one word from your mouth were the heavens made 

With just one breath of your lips the foundations were laid

With just one dream in your thoughts, you have wanted me

With just one pulse of your heart you are wooing me 

See the way he holds the stars in his hands

See the way he holds my heart

God is a lover, looking for a lover

So he fashioned me

God is a lover, looking for a lover

So he formed my heart

With just one pulse of your heart

I'm in love

unbelievable!

How is it possible that my favourite goalie and one of my favourite musicians have the same face?? How did I not realize this sooner?

               (Miikka Kiprusoff and Glen Hansard, Irish musician)

you are the potter, & I am the clay

right by my side

inspiration comes in from funny places. it peeks from behind the kitchen door, intertwines with falling snow, creeps though the pages of old-weathered books, and weaves through blades of grass. it comes in and, by using it's glittery appeal, seems to taunt me to capture a photo or draw a picture and keep it in my memory forever. it seems that oftentimes the uncommon is found among the common, or the beautiful is found among the plain. i think this is the way God views each of us; He has searched and sought for us, to see the deepest part of our hearts, and the best we can do is give everything to Him. He longs for us to just give it all. i am willing -- i will run towards the One who loves me and calls me by name!

N

it's been a while...

Hello again. So I'm determined to make a post for November. I've been busy enough with different things & occasions, and finally seeing the light through the foggy tunnel of homework. I'm becoming to realize God's purpose for my life, and I like it! I feel like I've always known it in the back of my mind, but it's just been confirmed over and over until now. So now I'm in that in-between stage, working to get there. But I am so happy! Even just living at home I feel the effect of other countries and cultures on my life almost daily, thinking about a different country every day (well, they actually rotate with each other, haha). I'm constantly inspired by little things too, wanting to create it for myself... like a couple days ago I made a necklace out of yarn, wire, and a pearl button. And that goes the same for music, too, I'll hear something and want to recreate it, or make something that sounds new and unique. Today is November 25th, so one month til Christmas! And one month and four days til I am twenty! I am so excited! I also just bought boots, I want to walk everywhere in them! I think I might just do that.

N

navy blue

Now, think of it. Navy Blue is a wonderful colour. My sister and I were just discussing this today. Here are some reasons I've come up with.

• anybody can wear this colour. really, it's true. and it makes your skin glow.
• it's very versatile. you can wear it with black, dressy, casual, etc.
• and instead of "little black dresses", everyone could wear "little navy blue dresses". i think i would like that.
• it's the colour of deep water -- such as oceans or the great lakes...
• and the colour of the night sky. with the stars sprinkled in this vast space, it's beautiful.
• it's just really, really good.

I've run out of reasons. But you get the point. Also, I've had the notorious swine flu this past week. It's been interesting... lot's of coughing, aches, and runny noses, but I do believe I'm on the upswing now. And it hasn't all been bad -- I learned a new recipe from Racheal Ray, and now I'm painting my nails red and waiting for The Office to start.

Goodnight!

N