porch

One thing I really like about homes on the east coast/country ish areas is the porches we used to have. On a lazy Sunday night like today, I'd want nothing more than to sit out on a swinging bench on my porch with a warm mug of apple cider and a nice book in hand or friend to share stories with.

This week was tough. Hopefully this next week will be better. I'm prayin.

힘내야지

너무나도 숨고 싶지만

돌아서서 힘 부터 내야지...

Things I used to do and now, don't

1. I used to turn my cellphone off at night before I went to sleep. Now it doesn't get turned off unless my phone decides it's going to stop getting internet connection. I can't even imagine turning my phone off throughout the night. I check it first thing in the morning, to check if I have any emergency emails to read/reply back to.

2. I used to never pay attention to gas prices. They were simply irrelevant to me when I'd be in the bay area but now, any time I'm walking by, or driving by a gas station I need to scope out the prices because no matter what people say, 10 cents per gallon makes a difference in the long run. Plus, it puts my mind at ease when I know I found (one of) the cheapest gas stations within a 5 mile radius.

3. (I guess this is the opposite of what this list is about) I used to never go on facebook chat. I feel like people you'd rather not talk to can IM you through facebook chat, and I don't like it. Because if you did talk to them, they'd be on your gchat/aim buddy list right? But now my sister only goes on fb chat and so I don't have a choice. But sometimes, FB chat serves as a good means to connect with the distant friend you haven't talked to in awhile. I still don't know if the pros outweigh the cons on this one.

4. I used to think I was completely dependent on my phone, now I feel like I've been proven otherwise. It's common to hear people say "I feel naked without my phone" which is interesting to think that people feel they can hide behind their cell phone devices. I left my phone at home in socal this past weekend, and it's been an interesting 3 days without it thus far. It's weird when I don't have text messages as a mean to say random things to ppl throughout the day, but otherwise I've found it rather surprising how much I don't feel like I need a phone. My mom still somehow finds a way to reach me via Nina's phone, or through sporadic emails throughout the day. The only real predicament I found myself in was when my boss asked me to call her this morning. I tried google phone, and after leaving a nice 2 minute msg I got a "call failed due to network problems" error msg. Google, you're amazing but you're not perfect. So now I'm thinking...do I use my phone more as a means to text or as a means to call?

The (slightly) OCD part of me wishes I could come up with another one so I could have a nice round list of 5 rather than 4 but, there is studying that must be done. So 4 it is!

from brontosaurus to africa

Two weeks ago I burned my hand while putting taquitos into the oven. But the battle scar I earned from it made it look as though I had been saving a burning tray of enchiladas from the oven. That's not the point. But as I've been walking around with this very visible and at first, physically pulsing reminder of a battle wound, I've learned lots and lots of lessons that I would like to share with all of you, my readers :)

• As soon as the burn happens run it under mildly cold/warm water, STAT. Don't run it under hot water because well, you know. Keep it there for 15 minutes.
• Depending on how bad it is, ice it. But if you do ice it, make sure there isn't direct contact between the ice and your skin.
• Don't keep the ice pack on it forever, that will render the ice packing useless. Ice it for 10 mins, leave it off, and then ice it again.
• As soon as you take it off from the ice pack it will hurt. It will feel like your burn spot has a heartbeat of its own. That is normal, do not freak out. Pray instead.
• Pray that it will not blister, p.David and Mike prayed for me and I truly believe that is why I didn't get a fat white nasty blister on my hand.
• Scar cream may help, I used it but the stuff is not cheap.
• Keep the area out of sunlight if at all possible, and most importantly keep it hydrated!
• As I was sitting at connect dinner with this rather provocatively massive makeshift ice pack on my hand, a lot of people were asking what the heck had happened. In the midst of their kind worries, Ju says "it's okay don't worry you'll just get new skin" as he went back to eating his drumstick. At first I was {mildly} irked by his nonchalant response. "sheesh, just cus it ain't yo hand bro" was running through my mind...haha. But in the end THAT is what stuck with me. And guess what! I DO have new skin growing...there is restoration happening on my hand, as we speak. That is pretty awesome. The old has gone, the new has come (2 Cor 5:17!) Thank you Jesus for being a God of restoration and regeneration.
• When I first showed my freshly new battle scar to Kat Mak she said it looked like a brontosaurus. Now...don't you think it sort of looks like Africa? :) I grayscaled the photo so it wouldn't look so gross as it is scabbing over {you're welcome}

Thank you to all who've been part of this learning experience with me! I greatly greatly appreciate it, and I hope these tidbits of knowledge will be helpful for any of you who end up saving a burning tray of enchiladas from your oven someday :) Cus you know, that's what I did.

Relentless

I realize I've been posting a lot of videos as of late, I hope you guys are enjoying them somewhat! Thanks to Pandora, I finally just discovered The Script through this song. But rather than thinking of how romantic the words are, it all just kept pointing me back to God. The words are sweet, he talks about how he will choose to remain in the same spot in hopes for the day that the woman he loves comes back to find him. The words are romantic, they are selflessly desperate. But in my own experience, I know that it's only possible in a music video...in a song. I don't know any man who truly can't be, won't be moved. Except for one. I think of the parable of the prodigal son, and I think the father probably sang a song that sounded similar to this one as he kept his post eagerly waiting. I imagine people who probably tried to convince him otherwise, the older brother probably tried once or twice. I think of God and who he's been in my own life and how he's pursued me, unmoved by my rejection, unswayed by the meditations of my heart and the things I have done. So that's what I think of when I play this song on repeat. I think of Him, and I think relentless.

Midterm seasons: Lots of random urges to blog

I remember visiting my aunt's house as a kid. She would often play classical music from her speakers and fill the entire house with this music as she'd work, clean, or just lounge and read. Her house had these high ceilings and long hallways and any time she'd play her speakers the music would drift through every room. I remember thinking even as a younger girl, that that was something I hoped to add to my own future lifestyle.

Sometimes I wish I had the diligence and drive to play the cello instead of the flute. It's such a full instrument, I love the richness of its sound, it makes me feel hollowed out and full to the brim; all at the same time (please, excuse the rather cheesy photos of yoyoma posing with his cello in the video clip. It was the best I could find)

lets do some math!

realizing there are 5 chapters to read before 8am class + 11pm after prayer/hanging out =screwed

jeremy messersmith + lots of new music in recently added playlist = happy happy

lost in walgreens + bandaid falling off wound = helpless, noticing glances of creeped out strangers

brand new soap in bathroom = lots of {unnecessary} washing hands just to whiff it again

lots of natural sunlight + empty cafe except for the old couple on a date = delightful discovery

surprise macaron on my desk + long day at church = thank you jjjune!

3 hr time difference + video chat with sister=rare, but so precious

sarah in france + rare opportunity to video chat = exception to my pet peeve of rudely loud conversations in public spaces....oops :\

effort to be healthy + homemade avocado, cilantro, tomato, pastrami, lettuce sandwich = hungry again in 2 hours = fail

desire to leave + abu dhabi in a month = antsy antsy antsy

finding a song that describes exactly how you feel/think at the moment = sigh of relief

Jeremy Messersmith

I thought I would post this onto my blog just so I can remember (in the future) the funny coincidences surrounding it, and its timing, and so I can smile (once again, in the future.)


The cello calms me.

ps: hi grace :) i know you'll like this!