So I'm at Parish Memorial. I just finished a few more things on my list - an Operations Management quiz, reading up on IRS changes, finding a good fish sauce recipe, checking facebook, and looking into a Theatre Minor.
I'm excited because I just added up all of my remaining coursework in Anderson plus the extra courses I want to take (Hotel and Restaurant Mangement, International Entrepreneurship, etc.) and I found out that I can get my minor in Theatre as well as finish everything else in exactly 4 more semester. I was ahead by one semester, but I decided that it is worth getting the minor to stay one more semester!! Isn't that great?! As far as I can tell, I shouldn't have to take any summer classes or stay past May 2012, but I can get everything done that I want to do!
I'm off to home now to clean out my car, make some lunches, and plan out my next goal to conquer.
I just love productivity!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Energy
I'm running full throttle right now. Between getting class assignments done, making things for friends, answering emails, taking phone calls, and talking to colleagues, my energy seems to increase the more that gets accomplished.
I am so thankful for my awesome life. Here are just a few things that I really like about life:
I love my church! I love how the body functions as a body. I love how close everyone is, and how involved everyone is in each other's life. I appreciate the love and unity between us. Praise the Lord for His work among us!
I really like my work! Real estate is so thrilling. It's hard on some days, but overall, it's an exciting, challenging, and constantly changing business. I really like our advertising campaign. It takes a lot of time to develop it all but it's cool, edgy, different, and hopefully effective! I love my business partner. Kevin is a really cool guy! He's smart, creative, and efficient. He definitely keeps me on my toes! (:
I like school. I'm finally in classes that make sense and are contributory to my life. Also, by some grace of God, I am doing well in most of them! Yay!!
Long story short. Life is good, and even if everything didn't feel pretty comfy, I'm still very joyful because of how the Lord is working in my life. That's a fun place to be.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
To My Best Friend
To My Best Friend,
Tonight was an eye opener. I knew so many of these things were true, but I hadn't let them hit me as hard before. Your comments, your openness, the way you describe our relationship... It was beautiful and yet sad. It was sad because it didn't quite address the issues that were at hand. It was one sided; it was selfish. I didn't understand. I'm taken back to the mentality of a 16 year old - write out your feelings and make them extremely dramatic. After spending a few minutes with you, I feel like a kid again in some ways. And I like that. So here I am writing out the feelings..
I appreciate your generosity to me, your constant favor, your constant dedication. If I was your husband, I could say you've done a pretty fantastic job at serving me, even from a distance. You've shown an unending amount of dedication and commitment.
So here is my apology. There has never been an an appropriate amount of apology. As we went through what you wrote, we discussed these things, and we talked about how they've changed. I won't specifically address them again, but I am saying with the deepest amount of regret and love for you, I'm so very sorry. Please accept my apology.
Please allow me to really be a best friend. Thomas has told me (sic) that best friends are the people that care about you and are most dedicated to you. So although you say I was your best friend, even more you were my best friend. You cared about me more than anyone. Even down to needing nail clippers, you wanted to be there every single time.
And so in response to the many blogs you've written, which I'm calling love letters, here is my love letter to you, even just as a friend. I love you for your service. I love you for your heart. I love you for your excitement for life. I love your eye for what looks good and your love for the details. I love how beautiful you are when you are cleaning. I love how you glow when someone says something warm and caring to you. I love how you tilt your head and speak softly when you can tell something is emotional and serious. I love that you care about birthing and nurturing you children, that you will give up your own interests to make sure things are done correctly. I love that you love the Lord and want to serve him. I love that we can talk about anything, for hours, and have no awkwardness. I love that I can trust you with everything. There's so much more to say....I love you.
Your Best Friend,
Matt
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Playing with Fire
I'm in marketing class, and I'm smiling at my well done job on my project. Who knew that drinking Starbucks could get me an A. (:
I'm also distracted with facebook. Facebook chat has become my new vice. I really enjoy getting to know new people. I haven't been doing much homework lately though because of that.
This post - playing with fire. I'm definitely playing with fire in that I'm not running from my vices. I'm not keeping away from sinful activity. I'm not fleeing the line - I'm toeing it. Scary, I know. So that's the post. I don't know what I'm doing. I guess I should pray.
I had a great time at Gyros (YEE-ros) with Robert today. It was a good discussion, and I always appreciate his advice. I'm also really excited for dinner at Thomas's tonight!
I think that's it..
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
90 mph
90 mph - the speed that my life is constantly running at. Is there a speed limit for life? I want to own a farm, raise some bees, bake some bread, and watch the sun set daily. I want to live far from anyone civilized and drink water from a well. I want to eat fresh produce and not care about what's going on in the real world. I want 20 children running around the house, barn, field, and more.
I definitely don't want homework, or fruitless work, or the stresses of people.
I think the to do list can wait for another night. Tonight, I want to read. I want to sleep. I want to cook. I want to make non time bound lists.
I want to facebook. I want to spend time with people who aren't demanding a service from me. I want to be a kid. Just tonight.
90 mph - that's the minimum speed I drove on the highway tonight. It felt very freeing to just glide along. No stopping. No distractions. Just smooth sailing. (:
I definitely don't want homework, or fruitless work, or the stresses of people.
I think the to do list can wait for another night. Tonight, I want to read. I want to sleep. I want to cook. I want to make non time bound lists.
I want to facebook. I want to spend time with people who aren't demanding a service from me. I want to be a kid. Just tonight.
90 mph - that's the minimum speed I drove on the highway tonight. It felt very freeing to just glide along. No stopping. No distractions. Just smooth sailing. (:
Monday, February 8, 2010
Psalm 118
This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
The cross between the Shane and Shane song and the Biblical passage merge in my mind as I'm also reminded that hard days often follow directly after good ones.
Today has been somewhat dreary as well. It started off nicely. I got a lot of things done this morning, and I felt confident going to musical theatre. Theatre class was awesome. We worked on the guy's ensemble that has a 3 part harmony. My section did pretty well, and it sounded awesome. The song seems fairly sacreligious (sp?) in its purposes, so I'm a little frustrated with that, but otherwise, it was a really great class with no complaints or issues. The problems begin when I get out of that class and try to get motivated to do late hw, study for several tests for the day, and figure out something to eat for lunch.
Lines at restaurants, inability to focus, and general desire to do nothing keep me from accomplishing much, so after a 1 1/2 hr break, I head to my next class. Upon arrival, I am informed by my friendly classmate, Shannon, that we have hw that was due 3 minutes ago online. (: In order to make up hw, you must read a business book - not terrible because I plan to read several anyway. This was just a little downer. She then reminds me that we have law notes due in the next class with a test. I haven't had time to type my 10 pages of law notes, so those are going to be turned in as a half-butt attempt at goodness. I hate turning in handwritten work, but it's better than turning in nothing.
I get out of that class early to a voicemail that we are going to have to severely delay closing on one of my pendings. The issue with delaying closing - the seller is already really ticked at us for asking for so much. Changing the closing time is no simple feat. In fact, it may just be impossible, short of the Lord's graciousness to me. This whole transaction has been one stressful headache after another, so after Saturday when it miraculously started working again, I was hoping for a simple and easy close - not so. Maybe the Lord is really showing me how in control he is. For this one to close will be nothing less than a miracle.
I have another 1 1/2 hr break, so I plan to do some hw, update my listings, call Kevin, and move on to the Marketing Quiz. I call Kevin and hear more bad news. I'm still wondering how to resolve that one at this very moment that I'm writing. I go to update my listing, and then I realize how depressed I'm becoming, so I start walking around campus praying. I'm feeling relieved, so I moved toward the library to check facebook, grab some coffee, and regroup (and as evidenced by this posting, I decided to blog).
My mind is still racing with things to do, but I have realized that the best thing for me to do sometimes is to sit, think, take a deep breath, and trust. I'm a fixer. I want to resolve every issue and make everything make sense, but I can't fix all of these issues. I'm thankful that I seemed to do well on my test, and I definitely have a glass that is more than half full. In fact, the glass is not only half full, but I already drank several other glass fulls, and I'm yelling for more glasses! That's how good everything is. The daily grind can sometimes feel like too much, but the Lord has made this day to teach me, grow me, sanctify me, bless me, and allow me to turn around and worship him. I will be glad and rejoice in it.
The cross between the Shane and Shane song and the Biblical passage merge in my mind as I'm also reminded that hard days often follow directly after good ones.
Today has been somewhat dreary as well. It started off nicely. I got a lot of things done this morning, and I felt confident going to musical theatre. Theatre class was awesome. We worked on the guy's ensemble that has a 3 part harmony. My section did pretty well, and it sounded awesome. The song seems fairly sacreligious (sp?) in its purposes, so I'm a little frustrated with that, but otherwise, it was a really great class with no complaints or issues. The problems begin when I get out of that class and try to get motivated to do late hw, study for several tests for the day, and figure out something to eat for lunch.
Lines at restaurants, inability to focus, and general desire to do nothing keep me from accomplishing much, so after a 1 1/2 hr break, I head to my next class. Upon arrival, I am informed by my friendly classmate, Shannon, that we have hw that was due 3 minutes ago online. (: In order to make up hw, you must read a business book - not terrible because I plan to read several anyway. This was just a little downer. She then reminds me that we have law notes due in the next class with a test. I haven't had time to type my 10 pages of law notes, so those are going to be turned in as a half-butt attempt at goodness. I hate turning in handwritten work, but it's better than turning in nothing.
I get out of that class early to a voicemail that we are going to have to severely delay closing on one of my pendings. The issue with delaying closing - the seller is already really ticked at us for asking for so much. Changing the closing time is no simple feat. In fact, it may just be impossible, short of the Lord's graciousness to me. This whole transaction has been one stressful headache after another, so after Saturday when it miraculously started working again, I was hoping for a simple and easy close - not so. Maybe the Lord is really showing me how in control he is. For this one to close will be nothing less than a miracle.
I have another 1 1/2 hr break, so I plan to do some hw, update my listings, call Kevin, and move on to the Marketing Quiz. I call Kevin and hear more bad news. I'm still wondering how to resolve that one at this very moment that I'm writing. I go to update my listing, and then I realize how depressed I'm becoming, so I start walking around campus praying. I'm feeling relieved, so I moved toward the library to check facebook, grab some coffee, and regroup (and as evidenced by this posting, I decided to blog).
My mind is still racing with things to do, but I have realized that the best thing for me to do sometimes is to sit, think, take a deep breath, and trust. I'm a fixer. I want to resolve every issue and make everything make sense, but I can't fix all of these issues. I'm thankful that I seemed to do well on my test, and I definitely have a glass that is more than half full. In fact, the glass is not only half full, but I already drank several other glass fulls, and I'm yelling for more glasses! That's how good everything is. The daily grind can sometimes feel like too much, but the Lord has made this day to teach me, grow me, sanctify me, bless me, and allow me to turn around and worship him. I will be glad and rejoice in it.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
O the joys of being a Christian
I'm so thrilled how this week has panned out. Earlier on, it started as a very dreary and depressing time. I was struggling with a heaping pile of sin, especially against those who are close to me (anger, jealousy, lust). I had been warring in my mind over how fun it would be to jump off the deep end and be a crazy sinner. I start myself down that road and realize that I would not like all of the consequences, outcomes, and final situations I would find myself in if I did choose that route, and so, in my moralistic, logical mindset, I kind of blew that idea out of the water. It seemed to haunt me several times this week, and I actually let myself fantasize about grandiose acts of revenge and pilage and more. After convincing myself away from the ideas several more times I realized a fatal flaw in my thinking - I was avoiding sin, but not because I hated it for its vileness. It was because I saw the problems I would encounter with it. I wasn't loving my God so much as to propel me to worship and desire holiness for His sake. I was a humanistic example of a "good and moral person" persuaded by my own selfishness to avoid other discomfort. How disgusting!
Even after I realized my issue, I was still full of a selfish rebellion toward God in how I wanted to be comforted. I was caught up in all the things I wanted. Some of them were quite explicit, but a few to top the list were things like "I want someone to love me." "I want affirmation." "I want to be better than everyone else." "I want to be awarded a prize." "I want to be top of this." "I want to make more money." Do you see the theme yet? I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want!
Allowing a foothold for sin is the start of a very large issue. Here, I allowed several footholds. I allowed my needs to be ahead of others. I thought that I needed to be made important. I allowed sinful thoughts to grow and flourish over and over. I felt that my God was insufficient at providing comfort, direction, and financial need. I was horribly mistaken.
It wasn't until tonight that I realized how flipped I had this. God had never lacked to provide for me. God had never lacked to be sufficient in comfort, direction, or in financial need. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were miracle days in how he orchestrated real estate deals to come together, allowed friends to send encouragement, and brought me back to a desire to serve Him. But even in these good days, my sin reared its ugly head in even the most awful ways, and yet he still provided, and still comforted, and still showed mercy. I'm so glad my salvation is not works based! The thing I learned most through this week of sinfulness and frustration is that God is faithful even when I am not. Christ's mediation is perfect and infinite, even when I am flawed and finite. God's love and shepherding of His children is strong and powerful even though I am weak and unable. Thank goodness He is good to uphold me or else I would be a wretched sinner on my way to hell. Praise God.
Something to meditate on -
Romans 12:9-13
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Even after I realized my issue, I was still full of a selfish rebellion toward God in how I wanted to be comforted. I was caught up in all the things I wanted. Some of them were quite explicit, but a few to top the list were things like "I want someone to love me." "I want affirmation." "I want to be better than everyone else." "I want to be awarded a prize." "I want to be top of this." "I want to make more money." Do you see the theme yet? I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want! I want!
Allowing a foothold for sin is the start of a very large issue. Here, I allowed several footholds. I allowed my needs to be ahead of others. I thought that I needed to be made important. I allowed sinful thoughts to grow and flourish over and over. I felt that my God was insufficient at providing comfort, direction, and financial need. I was horribly mistaken.
It wasn't until tonight that I realized how flipped I had this. God had never lacked to provide for me. God had never lacked to be sufficient in comfort, direction, or in financial need. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were miracle days in how he orchestrated real estate deals to come together, allowed friends to send encouragement, and brought me back to a desire to serve Him. But even in these good days, my sin reared its ugly head in even the most awful ways, and yet he still provided, and still comforted, and still showed mercy. I'm so glad my salvation is not works based! The thing I learned most through this week of sinfulness and frustration is that God is faithful even when I am not. Christ's mediation is perfect and infinite, even when I am flawed and finite. God's love and shepherding of His children is strong and powerful even though I am weak and unable. Thank goodness He is good to uphold me or else I would be a wretched sinner on my way to hell. Praise God.
Something to meditate on -
Romans 12:9-13
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Whistling to the same tune.
I've been itching all day to start writing again. Today was a very FULL day. Wake up late
(7:30). I text Kevin and he makes fun of me for oversleeping again. Get to the office and start digging through paperwork. Before long it's time to check in at a house I'm getting ready to list, but I have a worker doing some final touch up. Post office, Costco, Home Depot, Title Company, more work in the office and some showing of property. Finally back to the office to sort more paperwork, design some marketing, and terminate a deal.
I broke my paragraphs up, so now it is time to leave. I have Bible Study at my house tonight. It's 7:10 - I'm already running late! uh oh. Guess the real contemplation will have to come soon, but not yet!
(7:30). I text Kevin and he makes fun of me for oversleeping again. Get to the office and start digging through paperwork. Before long it's time to check in at a house I'm getting ready to list, but I have a worker doing some final touch up. Post office, Costco, Home Depot, Title Company, more work in the office and some showing of property. Finally back to the office to sort more paperwork, design some marketing, and terminate a deal.
I broke my paragraphs up, so now it is time to leave. I have Bible Study at my house tonight. It's 7:10 - I'm already running late! uh oh. Guess the real contemplation will have to come soon, but not yet!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Beauty of a Blog
I really like writing. I just wrote a fantastic essay on the social marketing ploys of Starbucks. I definitely thought outside the box, and I'm sure the teacher will really like it. That was extremely fun, but unfortunately, I prefer to write knowing that someone is actually going to read it. I don't write for myself. Isn't that sad? (Awkward Silence from the absence of readers). So now, I am going to convince myself to write about things I am thinking about, without caring who will read it. It should be for me - right?
Class is over so I'll have to be contemplative later.
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