Ending Blogoweek on a Pondersome Note
Today I was browsing groups on Facebook and came across a group titled "In Memory of Shelby". (One of my friends had joined it, which was why it popped up among the first on the list.) It looked interesting, so I decided to check it out.On the group page, there was a picture of a beautiful young woman---a high school student, apparently---striking a goofy pose while trying on a fancy dress in a store. Next to the picture was some text saying that her name was Shelby and that she died in a car accident on January 7, just four days ago. It was sad enough just knowing that someone like her had met her end in such a tragic manner and at so young an age, but what I read next just broke my heart...
Posted on the page were dozens and dozens of messages; some from friends and some from complete strangers. Each one read something like this:
"I wish I could have gotten to know you better. You had the most bubbly personality and were loved by so many people. I miss you."
After five minutes or so just browsing through messages like these, I had to stop. It was just too depressing, even for me. (Sometimes, for interest's sake, I'll pore over the obituaries in our newspaper. Call me morbid if you like; it's actually quite fascinating.) However, it got me thinking.
This morning at church, my dad (who also doubles as my pastor) preached about the preciousness of time, and how we should relish it instead of letting it slip through our grasp. He challenged the members of the congregation in this way: instead of looking at the clock and thinking, "Darn, fifteen minutes to go," we could think, "Hmm, what can I do in fifteen minutes?"
Time is precious, and irreplaceable, to boot. Why, then, do we constantly put it to waste, despite constant reminders and examples, to cherish it and use it to better our lives? Take Shelby, for instance. She had no idea that when she hopped into that car, it would be her last ride on earth. I wonder if she's now looking down and wishing she had used what time she had differently. (Assuming one can feel regret in Heaven. Still, it gives you something to think about.)
I never thought I'd actually come away from Blogoweek with a lesson. However, writing about normal, everyday happenings has, in a way, made me aware of how eventful my life really is. On the other side of the scale, it's made me realize that there are so many other things I could be spending my time doing. Sorry if I'm being vague. It's kind of hard to explain.
Blogoweek has been lots of fun, and I'm looking forward to doing it again. Perhaps I should make it a tradition during the first week of the month? We'll see. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to think about the way you spend your time, and realize just how precious it is. As my dad pointed out in a somewhat cheesy (but truthful) way: "Time is free, but it's also priceless."
Tinuviel
Posted in Blogoweek at 9:49 PM on Jan. 11, 2009 - comments {6} - post comment
New haircut!
Yup, the title says it all. I've done something completely impulsive, and am happy to say that I like the results. I'm afraid a lot of people liked my hair longer, however... *cowers*Here's a snapshot taken with my
My mom and I had to leave at 8:15 AM, and it still took 45 minutes to get to the place. Normally, it wouldn't take nearly as long, but it's been snowing all day yesterday and all day today, making the roads quite dangerous. One can imagine the snail's pace at which we drove!
Katie's out of town, and I've been asked to feed her pets for her. Looks like I should head over there before the snow gets too deep again...
Tinuviel
Posted in Blogoweek at 2:26 PM on Jan. 10, 2009 - comments {4} - post comment
I should have seen it coming.
Something's happened, and I thought I'd blog about it.I was giving my pet rats a bath today when I began to experience a shortness of breath. Now, I usually get some slight allergies around them, so I paid it no heed at first. But as the minutes passed I began to wheeze, and before I knew it, even drawing a breath became a struggle. My sister noticed when the wheezing turned to violent coughs, and she took over with the bathing while I ran to get my inhaler.
For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed with asthma as a baby, but since growing up it's only flared up every once and awhile, like when I get sick or when I overexert myself. (Is overexert even a word? Let's say it is.) The last time I had a checkup, the doctor said I was in excellent condition, but to still keep track of all the times I need to use my inhaler...just in case. Thankfully, I haven't had to use it much...until today.
It was probably the worst asthma attack I've had since an incident at the airport last summer which involved me running to catch my plane while carrying two full bags of luggage...'nuff said. Even now, eight hours after the attack, my lungs feel like the lungs of a swimmer who's been submerged for several minutes and has just come to the surface, gasping for air. The entire ordeal has shaken me up quite a bit---physically and emotionally---and now I'm having to make a difficult decision.
My mom has been prompting me to do something about my rats for some time now, on account of the various allergic reactions I get whenever I handle them. (Hives where their claws make contact with my skin, shortness of breath, etc.) Yeah, I know what you're probably thinking. "Hives? This girl is crazy! Why didn't she get rid of those rats weeks ago?"
Perhaps I am crazy. I know keeping the rats is only going to encourage more asthma flare-ups, but I can't stand the thought of getting rid of them. That's what my mom wants me to do. She's got a point; even I can see that. I'd just hate to see them go...and besides, who would want them?
I'm praying about it, and am hoping God will reveal his answer to me in due time. Still, I'd like to hear your thoughts...
Tinuviel
Posted in Blogoweek at 10:54 PM on Jan. 9, 2009 - comments {3} - post comment
First tag of 2009
RulesPost 6-10 things you do on a daily basis, link to the person who tagged you, and tag 5 other people. You must tag at least one person that you don't know!
This list will probably bore most of you to death, but here goes anyway:
1. Take a hot shower (Seriously, whether or not I get one determines what my mood will be like the rest of the morning. I love my morning showers!)
2. Read the Bible
3. Eat breakfast (usually cereal) over the funny pages (Aah, the simple pleasures in life!)
4. Angst about the way I look (What can I say, I'm girly at heart... *envisions a collective gasp of astonishment*)
5. Play the piano
6. Make at least one meal for my family of 9
7. Laugh
8. Feed my rats
9. Tell somebody I love them
10. Hold my nightly conversation with God (I know He knows everything already, but it's therapy pouring out all my troubles to somebody.)
I tag the following lucky bloggers: VintageAuthoress, Purpleclad, Daydreamer, and Scaryman (should be interesting). As for the someone I don't know, I'll tag Moonchild. She's on my friends list, but I think I've only left her one comment.
Tinuviel
Posted in Blogoweek at 6:29 PM on Jan. 8, 2009 - comments {4} - post comment
A Place Apart (With Photos!)
As promised, I'm going to write about the recent vacation my family took to White Sulphur Springs, a Christian retreat center for military families, located in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains in Pennsylvania.First, you must know that White Sulphur Springs is a very special place, probably my favorite out of all the places I've been. The scenery is breathtaking---miles and miles of mountain trails, trees in abundance, and of course, the springs for which the place is named. The hotel was built in 1884 and has an irresistable charm:
The first time my family went to WSS was in 2001, when my dad spoke at one of the summer retreats. We've gone eight times since then, mostly for the Christmas retreats but occasionally squeezing a summer trip in. Last summer I was privileged enough to spend an entire month there: two weeks on support staff, a week at camp, and a week attending a retreat with my family. Here are some more pictures of the grounds:
You can imagine my excitement when, somewhere in August, my parents informed us that we'd be attending the New Year's retreat at WSS. Though the grounds are beautiful in summer and winter, I'd always preferred winter...probably because of all those Christmas retreats we attended.
One of the first things we did once we arrived was go on a hike with a couple of good friends met over the summer. WSS boasts many hiking trails of different levels, and for some insane reason we chose Hezekiah's Backbone, which was really steep and rocky---the trail itself kind of disappeared somewhere along the way.
On New Year's Eve, a square dance was held in Fort Cochran, a log building used mainly for classes and the occasional skit night. I don't think I've ever had so much fun dancing in my life!
...unfortunately, I can't seem to find any pictures from the dance that weren't, er...shall we say...flattering? *grin* My favorite dance we did was the Virginia Reel. If you don't know what it is, you should find out. We usually do it once a month or so for homeschool PE (yeah, we've got an awesome coach), but doing the dance with a bunch of reluctant 6th grade boys just doesn't stand up to doing it with people who know the steps and enjoy doing them.
Look, I found a picture after all! Nothing like photographing innocent strangers. No, wait, Eni's the one standing in the background...
As midnight approached, those of us who were still up gathered at a bonfire by one of the ponds and stood around praying and generally musing on different things. We counted down the seconds to the new year, and then the shout went up, "Hallalujah! Praise the Lord! Happy New Year!" It was quite festive, as were the fireworks that followed...though the horses weren't too pleased at those and could be seen galloping through the pasture like crazy whenever a firework would light up the area.
All in all, those three days in Pennsylvania helped me unwind, enjoy wonderful fellowship, and grow in God. Mister Cool and I are holding our breaths for next summer, when we go back to work on support staff.
Wow, that was long. Hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about now when I mention 'That Place in Pennsylvania"!
Tinuviel
