Mama Sirens

I was at a MAX station and I heard a siren, an ambulance. And I said a prayer for the person the siren was rushing towards ... then I resumed back to my previous thought. It was like I was watching TV and a commercial break came, and went. But I went back to the commercial.
Why did I pray for the siren? What made me do that? I always do that.
Why do I always do that? Because my mom always did that.
I remember being little and driving in the van with mom, and every time she heard a siren she would pray. Lots of time in her head, and I would try to talk to her, and she wouldn't respond. Then she would tell me she was praying. Some times she would pray out loud, just start praying. Sometimes she would announce she was going to pray, sometimes she would ask me to pray. When she would ask me to pray, it was not one of those times that was up for discussion or debate, it was just time to pray. Sometimes she would pray when my friends were in the car. I would get embarrassed. I don't know why. I don't know why I would get embarrassed of her praying, all my frirends were Christians. But even so, she kept praying for sirens all those years. And now ... now I pray for those sirens.
I was sharing this with Angela and Heather. Ang said she prays for sirens too, becuase her mom always did. Heather said she was in the van one of the times my mom prayed ... and she has been praying for sirens ever since too.
Its kinda funny, cause its just this thing. Its a siren, but we hear them all the time. Its this habbit I did not know I had... and I have it because of my mom. I really like that. I keep being told thatI am like my mom, that I do things like my mom, and though we (Harmony and I) scrunch our noses at that ... we know it is a good thing. Because my mom is a mom who prays. Thank you Mama.

A week in the life of a college student

I am giving up on getting my computer fixed anytime soon, I cant even turn it on right now. So, I will revert back to this, a desktop, the computer lounge and a keyboard not quite accustomed to my fingers.

This week was really busy, it was mid terms week already, I couldnt believe it! Week 7 of 14 of this semester. That means I am half way through till Christmas!!!! (only 75 days by the way...) Speaking of, I was totally in Target this morning and one of those little CD preview stations was playing Christmas Music! Oh it was delightful to hear as I stood admiring the sweaters just accross the asile.

Sunday I went to Spanish church, and locked my keys in my car and had to call AAA. On the way home from that I met the homeless lady Joquel. We had a really good conversation and she told me she was just trying to gather $20.00 to buy bird food for her birds foxy and moxy. I am not sure if I believe her or not... but she was a dear lady and I got to pray with her and she was so thankful!

On Tuesday this week all classes were canceled due to an all school outreach day. We were all put into little groups and did outreach in our community (it was mainly yard work for elderly, or feeding the homeless downtown) I had a group of 4. We got our assignment, picked up our tools then loaded into my car. Not sure why we did that consdering I have a two door. We opened the sunroof and put the rakes and shovels in through through the roof, the guys had to climb in the back and hold them out of my driving visibility. We arrived at our house on 72nd st. And Karron waved to us as we parked our car, she was waiting for us to come. She met us in the back yard and we just started cleaning. Ivy was taking everything over, so we mainly just cleaned up, pulled weeds, trimed trees and bushes. She came out and sat on her walker and clipped bushes right with us.

The neighbor next door was another elderly lady who we also had students working for, it was so much fun to be right along side, us talking to the other students, the two elderly ladys talking to each other. We spent about three hours there and had a wonderful time, her yard looked really good. Courtney and I had a chance to pray with her as the guys carried everything to the front yard. It really wasnt an assignment for us to be there.

After leaving Karron I wanted to go back and chat with her. I learned that there use to be a ministry on campus of girls who did follow up with the elderly ladies from Outreach day. I got the information on that minstry and am looking into starting it back up. There seems to be interest here on campus from a number of girls, and there is nothing I would enjoy more then getting to spend time with elderly ladies each week!

Wednesday I was super excited cause it was my grammy day, but my car wouldnt start... I almost called AAA again.

Thursday I participated in a debate in World Christianity about whether Family or Ministry is more important. I had been placed on the Family side. It was fun, but I think it was kinda pointless. I dont think either one is more important, there just needs to be an equal balance. One person put it after it was all over "Ministry is more important but family needs to come first." Anyways I dont want to get in the debate again, but it was a fun experience and I got some extra credit...

Friday I finished up my last of 4 mid terms, then made a calandar for our dorm hall considering the one still up said August/September. Then we had our Senior Night Volleyball game. Mama and Daddy came, Daddy figured out what was wrong with my car (supposedly I have lights on my mirror and they were left on... I didnt even know I had lights there!) So we didnt have to call AAA after all.

Now (Saturday) I am headed to eat. Saturday Morning Brunch is my favorite meal on campus. There is lunch and breakfast stuff. Usually pasta and a waffle bar and so many other wondreful things! Then I get to go spend a few hours with my wonderful, beloved Grammy, She is my favorite person in the world and I feel spoiled that I get to even be around her at all! Then home for a wedding tomorrow.

Its been a good week...

Here I come

I am going to school this fall, and I am pretty excited about it. I never thought I would... go to school that is. I just wasnt something I wanted to do. I liked what I did. After I got back from Asia I realized I could not just keep working and traveling, eventually it would get old.

Harmony was the one who told me to go. She told me why I needed to. Why I would like it. Why I would not like it. She told me also what I would regret if I did not go. Sisters know sisters best. I decided to listen to my sister. Thanks Harmony.

I never realized that by going to school I would be doing so many of the things I have been longing to do : live in Portland, experience drm life, have a large group of friends my age, be closer to Grammy, learn spanish, lead, worship and grow. I am excited for school with a passion I have not felt for many other things. I know this is right. I don't know the answers to all the questions, I don't have it all figured out. But I know it is right.

Thank you Mama for talking to the Financial Aid Lady. Thank you Daddy for jumping on board. Thank you Sarah for giving me the low down on everything Multnomah.

College here I come.

My Birthday!

So, Yesterday was my birthday. It was one of the greatest days ever.

My cousin Amanda come down and spend the night with me the night before. I was so happy to see her! At 5:30 am, Abbey texted me and I was so excited that I just kept texting her till good after 6. Then I fell back asleep. At 7:11 Heather and Lauren and my Mom came prancing into my room singing "its your birthday, your 20, its your perfect day outside, its raining, its your birthday!" And they were throwing balloons - at Amanda. I had to sit up so they would see which lump in the bed I was. So then we exited the room seeing that Amanda had covered her head with blankets.

Lauren brought me 2 coffees from Starbucks, see bought me 1 but brought me 2. I was happy for coffee seeing I had had less that 5 hours sleep. Then Sharell showed up late and complained that Heather and Lauren did not inform her well enough of the mornings events. HA! So I sat around with them until they had to go to school.

I took work off for the whole day and was pretty excited. My Dad wanted to take me to breakfast but I wasn't feeling much for food seeing I had had Applebees the night before, 2 coffees for breakfast and was in the middle of trying to make a cheesecake. You can still take me out to breakfast Daddy!

Amanda woke up and told me she "hated" my friends for waking her so loudly so early in the morning, ah its all good Amanda.

Her and I got in the car, went to Starbucks (she got me a breakfast sandwich I was not about to have anymore coffee) And we made our way to the beach. I am always amazed at how short a trip it is . So just over an hour later, we arrived and made our way all through the outlet mall, taking stupid videos the whole time. ( I am working on putting all those videos together to put on here. Then I had Mo's for lunch. Yum! Clam chowder and Mashed potatoes (and enchiladas for dinner!) We touched the beach, but it was really cold, then we drove home

At home I started to try and finish my cheesecake, but it ended up a total disaster, it didn't cook all the way and the oven got turned off at some point during the cooking and ya, it was bad... but I will make it again. The the girls came over, Kirsten was my present. :) I put a bow on her. Oh and Amanda made Aaron come too. Always the guy with all the girls, but I miss him. Then Sharells car got Saran wrapped and they started to do the van but someone went outside and they went away. We think they were guys from school who knew where Sharell was... obviously high school guys who still think I drive my moms mini-van. Which I don't. (See blog about car. Which by the way, I did buy... I will pay it off in a few weeks!)

I talked to my sister on the phone. And mommy potter left me a great message on my phone. And Hallie, Esther and Zoe called me through skype and Zoe sang me the happy birthday song and ABC's (mixed which Chinese things) like 3 times! And I talked to my Grammy for 41 seconds and it made me super happy!

Hmmm it was happy. My mom absolutely loved having people over, and giving Aaron food, and listening to us all laugh from the other room. I got a super amazing orange chair, I think I am going to take the cushion back and get a green one though, it is much more practical... but for today I will enjoy the orange.

Thank you Jesus for days where we feel blessed, for days when you shower us with your goodness. I was amazed by your glory yesterday, the rain, the sun, the rainbow, the friends, the food, the happy feeling inside. I know that every day can be like the when I am with you, but thank you for making yesterday especially great.

ANNE

I just finished watching the last of the Anne of Green Gables movies my mom gave me for Christmas. I watched them by myself, I was too impatient to find someone to watch them with. I think my mom was jealous that I watched them late at night without her. (Don't worry Mama, I'll gladly watch them again... anytime... again and again and again...)

I got sucked into the story. Don't we all? I remember being in the play in 8th Grade. I remember being so sucked in, I really believed I was one of Anne's friends. No other story in the world hits me as intimatly as does the story of Anne. I feel I belong on Prince Edward Island, and my boosom friend Diana is waiting there for me to take a walk on the shore line. I dream of once again letting my eyes rest on Green Gables, taking a swim in Barys Pond (aka the lake of shining waters) I am even in love again with the poem 'The Lady of Shalot'

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web of colors gay
She has heard a wisper say
A curse be on her if she stay
To go down to Camelot....

I know, I know... I am a bit of a freak at the moment. But I just ended the series! I am caught up in it all, ok? I have this urge to read the series now, I would have to purchase it of course, which causes another problem of buying more books to replace the ones I have not yet read. In 8th Grade I got caught up in the story, I had to let it go. I had to accept that it was my imagination (at least I have an imagination!). I had to really step back from the story for a while...perhaps that is what I will have to do with this as well.

It is just so good. So pure. So innocent. A story of true love, friendship, and kindred spirits. I admire that my mom watched this with me and Harmony, that we grew to love it... that my Dad can even quote it... and though he wont admit it, I am sure Matthew could tell you of all the scenes of the wonderful plot as well. It is this special movie, that will remain special as I watch it with my friends, and with someday, my daughters, and as I watch it again and again and again. So for now, good bye Green Gables.

I remain yours, Heather ANNE with an 'E'.

Stories

Ok so I suppose I am long overdue at writing, I have the urges of those who actually read this upon me - and it is nice, I like that people read what I write. I know that someday when I write a book they will buy one, well they wont need to cause I will give them one... but they will buy 20 and give them to everyone they know. That is why I love the people who read my blog.

Its my mom and my sister who urge me to write so, to follow this passion in my soul, the longing of my fingers to flow. They write poetry, as do I... I guess it is just what we do. We have stories, we live them, and we tell them. We see the importance of listening to each others, because our stories are important to others stories. A single story with one character would be quite slow, that is why our stories intermix, and weave and blend.

We really are alive to live out and tell the greatest story ever told! Our stories are meant to fashion after his! I guess all this to say: I have a story and it needs to be told as I live it out - so thank you for reminding me of this.