tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74690905909085686482024-03-05T16:06:24.030-05:00The Daily Show with Jon Stuart... featuring Elizabeth Annenot all who wander are lost.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-8054435937054556852011-04-17T23:06:00.003-04:002011-04-17T23:53:35.167-04:00yay! i am posting again!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">april</span> is flying by! it seems that i have been a day behind most days of this month. if it was the 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, i was thinking/writing the 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> all day! i just cannot seem to keep up... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">haha</span>!<div><br /></div><div>we had a unique youth group tonight. since it is palm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sunday</span>, we set up the stations of the cross, 14 of them, with scripture passages and pictures all around the youth room. i always love quiet nights with prayer/reflection stations because it seems that time almost stands still. even though the suffering of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">jesus</span> is a difficult topic to meditate on, it was peaceful and restorative as well. it was truly a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sabbath</span> day for me!<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">saturday</span> was quite a busy day! the wild wall paper that was in our bathroom fell off the wall! check out the pics on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">facebook</span> if you have not seen it. the wall paper must have been a quick fix-up before the previous home owners put the house up for sale. after a few months of showering, we noticed some of the corner pieces were starting to peel off the wall. slowly, the steam from our showering just melted the paper off and cut our bathroom make-over job in half. we borrowed a wall sander from a friend at church. i let <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">jon</span> tackle that job. i am better with a paint brush. we used the paint color from our bedroom, soft rabbit brown. <div><br /></div><div>last week <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">jon</span> was in new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">orleans</span> with our church for the yearly RHINO (restoring hope in new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">orleans</span>) trip. the trip was family oriented to encourage whole families to do mission trips together. they did construction work with habitat for humanity -- exterior painting and siding, toured the city and of course ate at cafe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">du</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">mon</span>! </div><div><br /></div><div>while <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">jon</span> was gone, sierra and i had some great bonding time. we had date nights -- running together and then a car ride for some errands and drive-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">thru</span> dinner at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">chik</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">fil</span>-a! i was also adopted into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">dunbar</span> family and introduced to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">rockaways</span> hamburgers... thanks <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">catherine</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">lisa</span>! </div><div><br /></div><div>hopefully i can catch up with the date for the rest of the month! maybe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">i'm</span> on track now!</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-62286509124867575382011-04-03T21:21:00.002-04:002011-04-03T21:42:08.319-04:00what are we doing????<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doggie</span> obedience training<div>vacuuming the couch so it does not drowned under sierra's shedding hair<br /><div>kayaking</div><div>yard cleaning</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doggie</span> obedience training</div><div>kayaking</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doggie</span> obedience training</div><div>more kayaking and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">doggie</span> obedience training</div><div>kite flying or kite crashing is more like it... with lots of laughing</div><div>running with sierra... she did not make a appearance at the st. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pat's</span> race because we were uncertain if the race was dog friendly. </div><div>enjoying spring weather (since the beginning of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">february</span>!)</div><div>rocking climbing (just inside for now, at strongholds gym)</div><div>devouring taro tart yogurt at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">yumilicious</span> (serve yourself set ups are the best!)</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">doggie</span> obedience training</div><div>small groups with our senior high school buddies every <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">monday</span> night (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">jon</span> with the boys and me with the girls)</div><div>working too (preaching, teaching, evaluating, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">exercising</span>)</div><div>enduring the pollen plague that covers <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">columbia</span> in a haze (it is quite amazing actually)</div><div>cooking (new favorite cookbook is the earthbound cook, the enchiladas are delicious!)</div><div>reading (blue like jazz - reread, crazy love and forgotten God)</div><div><br /></div><div>a little brief... sorry... maybe i can use this as a jumping off point to blog a bit more frequently!</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-78224020863344833142010-08-17T19:38:00.002-04:002010-08-17T20:05:10.833-04:00rain, rain, and more rainsierra slept in on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">saturday</span> morning! we were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">soooo</span> excited. we did not think we would be sleeping in until 9:00 ever again. we are hoping for the same routine next weekend! we had a big night out with sierra on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">friday</span> even with all the rain. as soon as we got home from work, we began our date night with sierra... we started out for a hike at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sesqui</span> and decided to stop by pet smart, or is it pet's mart?, since it was raining. a new harness and a yard stake with a 30 foot lead later we checked out of the pet store. still raining, so we watched <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">jon</span> through the window of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hibbett</span> and ate a couple of dried worms on the side walk (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">seirra</span> was on her own for the latter). still raining, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">jon</span> and i took turns going in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">lowes</span> to pick out gardening gloves. the rain was not going away so we went home. we managed to keep sierra up until almost midnight, so she was worn out when we finally put her in the bed. <div><br /></div><div>we were able to break in the new yard stake and gardening gloves for a few hours <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">saturday</span> morning and then the rain came again. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">yardwork</span> is a pretty good workout. everyone was exhausted after a few hours of laboring in the SC heat. we still have a couple of weekends of clearing out before we will begin the landscaping. we are still excited about our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">yardwork</span> days. i hope the excitement continues!</div><div><br /></div><div>it is thundering as i type. more rain! sierra is missing a few walks. she is unsure of the rain. luckily we have a covered patio, and she will potty somewhat outside. </div><div><br /></div><div>on a random note, i have watched some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">tv</span> tonight since it is raining. i am not sure what channel i was watching, but the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">cosby</span> show just came on! we do not have cable, so i was really surprised to find such a treasure! took me back to when nick at night was playing my favorites! i am expecting a lot from this station!</div><div><br /></div><div>sierra needs a walk. she is going nuts on the couch!</div><div><br /></div><div>E L I Z A B E T H :)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-36336733734631866462010-08-10T21:52:00.002-04:002010-08-10T22:47:46.222-04:00updates, updates, updateshello from columbia, sc! <div><br /></div><div>we are settling in to our new home and jobs. the big news... we decided to add to our family. we are the proud owners of a german short-haired pointer, sierra! she is keeping us busy and is a lot of fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>now that we have a little furry alarm clock, no more sleeping in... even on saturday! since we were up early, we ventured out to the local farmer's market on saturday morning. it was a little smaller than i expected, but it was fun with some quality vendors. for breakfast, we had piping hot apple cider donuts right off the donut conveyer belt, and we took some home for later. sierra got lots of attention and loved sniffing the fish juice trail left by one of the vendor's leaky coolers. </div><div><br /></div><div>we've started 2-a-days... sierra loves her morning and evening walk/sprint/run/jog/sniff time. she really enjoys being outside, and we enjoy sleeping through the night!</div><div><br /></div><div>we will be home for labor day weekend and are super excited to have so many of our dear friends planning to come to jon's ordination service. it should be an interesting trip since it will be our first car trip with sierra. at the rate she is growing, she won't fit the co-pilots lap anymore! </div><div><br /></div><div>next on the to do list... yard work and landscaping. anyone know any good shrubs or ground cover? my expertise starts and ends with monkey grass.</div><div><br /></div><div>E L I Z A B E T H :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-42096233509000155532010-01-19T21:11:00.003-05:002010-01-19T21:32:41.594-05:00HELLOOOOOOO!!!Hello blogging world -- is anyone out there? This blog officially fell off the face of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blogoshpere</span>!<div><br /></div><div>So... to start 2010 we are job hunting. Who knows where! If your town needs a minister and a physical therapist sign us up. This will be interesting to coordinate... and fun too!</div><div><br /></div><div>We've had tons and tons of snow, but it has all melted away in the past few days since we basically had what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pittsburghers</span> call a "heat wave" blow into town (with 30 - 40 degree temps!). </div><div><br /></div><div>Jon is gearing up for a two week trip to Nepal at the end of February. Maybe he will do some blogging to keep us (me included!) updated. We are not certain of how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">primitive</span> the communication will be while he is there... I am hoping for more than email!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am working at the children's hospital for another 3 1/2 months, and then I graduate! There is always a good surprise coming to the hospital to cheer up the kiddies (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Elmo</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sidney</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Crosby</span>, puppies, the nutcracker ballet... usually something every week!) I now enjoy working with the inpatient and outpatient kids, so I am hoping to do both after I graduate. </div><div><br /></div><div>This could be the start to a new year of blogging... </div><div><br /></div><div>E L I Z A B E T H</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-65771861331539131942009-05-08T12:12:00.003-04:002009-05-10T20:05:53.876-04:00questioning culture...in a recent online discussion with someone, i found myself having to fight against common cultural understandings, which are entirely non-biblical, just to get to the point that we were discussing. as i thought about this, i, myself, have bought into many of these cultural misunderstandings. unfortunately, we are shaped by the things we are exposed to the most, and i know that i spend far more time in culture (since i can't escape it) than i do in God's word. this is a shame. being christian, though, i believe that there is a far greater Truth than the "truths" that culture creates. remember, Jesus calls us to be in this world but not of it.<div><br /></div><div>for this reason, i have decided to create a series of posts that will question culture. these will include subjects ranging from privacy to money to inclusivity. these are intentionally provocative. i hope they will challenge you as much as they have challenged me as i have thought about them. feel free to post comments arguing against my points. in doing this, perhaps we will come a little closer to the way things should be.</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-21797318231395843572009-04-29T18:20:00.003-04:002009-04-29T18:30:38.415-04:00the flyover...i am not sure you all heard about this, but air force one did a little fly over in lower manhattan the other day to get pictures of the plane next to parts of the city, like the statue of liberty. not only did it cause panic and chaos (hum, i wonder why people were panicking about a low flying boeing 747 in nyc???), but it also cost us (the taxpayers) $328,835. it is good to know the geniuses running this country are making wise decisions and using our hard-earned money well. <div><br /></div><div>apparently, the new tech-savvy white house has never heard of photoshop!?!? here is a little hint: you don't have to have two objects in the same vicinity to get a picture of them together.</div><div><br /></div><div>speaking of good decisions, get ready to be voted out of office arlen specter.</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-19521362370814213692009-04-27T20:30:00.008-04:002009-04-27T21:32:44.461-04:00raccoon creek<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2cm_CBoUxD0P1PF1Z95hZm_Jp6nHcwGYFGPtgIIEehUKa8oAJ0lPBW3FngG5oU8o9AHcFQhXbshRrnVQ6ChCsnGPk-Ze1d01Xzq7jgnT7XtEO9URtfFuSX141GoYL9UYW-QiOQxOMreI/s1600-h/DSC02592.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>what a great surprise! raccoon creek state park is only 35 miles from city life! is it a really pretty park with lots of hiking and biking trails, a little beach and a nice sized lake.<div><br /></div><div>a great get-away for the weekend or a day trip too! </div><div><br /></div><div>i learned how to make mountain pies thanks to carolyn! she has a mountain pie maker which perfectly holds two slices of bread with whatever you want in the middle. we used pizza sauce, pepperoni and cheese. YUM!!! then you shove it in the fire for a few minutes and out comes a delicious mountain pie!!</div><div><br /></div><div>after dinner, we did the same thing with cherries to make a dessert mountian pie. i'm telling you, the options for these mountain pies are limitless! a mountian pie maker is a must have!</div><div><br /></div><div>hydrobikes are one awesome invention! what a great way to explore the lake and just be out on the water. i had SO much fun. jon managed to conquer the hydrobike wheelie and got everyone wet. it did make for a thrilling adventure!</div><div><br /></div><div>i led us on some "not so easy" trails that some of the group was a little upset about... oops! i just like to go nuts outside. i do not care where it is... haha! we never got to the end of the lake trail to find the stone mansion from 1846... maybe next time? once we actually found the lake (after traveling on forrest trail uphill for over an hour), we made our own trail back to the boat ramp where we started. leave no trace would be very upset with us. it was my favorite part of the hike though! we just blazed a path next to the lake all the way home. we had some sweet adventures along the way!</div><div><br /></div><div>the other remarkable event from the weekend, was the fire! we are totally obsessed with fire. well, vanessa and i are totally obsessed with fire. we basically played with it all night. we were not that crazy. we kept it in the designated fire pit area. we just made everyone else nervous i guess... hey, no one got hurt, and we were no where close to it. homemade sparklers can be safe, and we proved it... haha!</div><div><br /></div><div>so that recaps the first camping trip of the season... </div><div><br /></div><div>here a couple pics to accent the post.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjxYua1Bp-yFODDCNJF69enbjdfpmtn_vpqPIpgroJXFy39PkJFAtAMYmlsJz1mYdFWY3rB_tJ1yNn5e_wZ-vBHTGpzPYLoGAqtv5DNhzUrrcXXsSP1wh9Uis7eJ_fthW8NdEoLYZWhe-/s320/DSC02530.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329539978878394322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESFYZFaLgPd07i4qMw04om7W7qBBK1stSHdlJb7FGNwFf8dCGkd1qGYyNmMh8CFi0I5R-qpZB6QmFUJlvWWKPdDE-sXH7jE2TaLZvb2gtdSEzMeL3fMCcx99uQTHS9H5HxEzaE8mzEFIf/s320/DSC02551.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329545574153289938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQwiiBqVCpKhyphenhyphenbitRq9g8TtB-TLMrCSaZpRTpjwNciy3pENgCumRYv-AbvHF9KJ1WPXaOnIRucu_vMdzOh1sYx2G_y7Mm1YfhPBuMU7UDLbs6QVAULfno0rvapCZOv43TqW5jhvY7aofM/s320/DSC02552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329539982730332290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1dYssV2AoH8msWVZzFn8s4w_K3axBbVY0rfUlTzrGiemTXSMVZPvnhD6deAjrIhN40hjIMok88tAt3SOwRs2FYXJRE83kxjMCXTlI8mWKVJQNUjUb6A1_r22ybwxgov_BrADbMRwjjpx/s320/DSC02554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329539986215411538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFs3u_1uOEYUZ-KYMpCHRHe_szBkPJM3wuyyuvU61NQF8DhprG0lAmgXBXMAo5LiFOgfyRiV9bOtkzYx5yWHVZUOLNt6K9StbYGSKEMcLWHA6HqpZYyw8h3jx-1m5FGLHugut88t5SKcq/s320/DSC02553.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329546591897109010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60olJf_yB1j267yb29l-f0T7xcnvSM5TrMRg3f_qP-rtFk-FBqvZVS0cxcFqYReREKYxGBtvG7J3WMwVP9lCk5XQlK7uOhRkbjr7vN1DEncLpN3q5WIoTjoxzaO3cq-Z56_7Ojj8cJ8Ne/s320/DSC02560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329539991367504322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrUGoCFVUuJG8yXtdHaV93sG9b_PVLqLwDoKQwK0KTa6H5pff2mLjl4-lM64qLjQQVWNMlBCDPXhLoDiY_owgxfIg1NcQbzlIl5XrebSBFMj8-LDoGLFmj4ClmeP5LAVG4FyEUXfYJXp4/s320/DSC02595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329547544668889954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2cm_CBoUxD0P1PF1Z95hZm_Jp6nHcwGYFGPtgIIEehUKa8oAJ0lPBW3FngG5oU8o9AHcFQhXbshRrnVQ6ChCsnGPk-Ze1d01Xzq7jgnT7XtEO9URtfFuSX141GoYL9UYW-QiOQxOMreI/s320/DSC02592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329548251474963186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);">e l i z a b e t h</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-37699329785322570212009-04-22T21:38:00.005-04:002009-04-22T22:17:33.746-04:00bye bye school days!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6HrJwmy66X6Rf3XOKR1LFakLwaazumWs4T6-PG6-0m4V7PIQjbL6zi9Ef2l6b_TpztnbN2EvC86gM_ILpWQdBgfAMGBF97rf-YiYhrEVAhr_q5jzTfswoQm8q3rG1qdbDrimjWmsjlqj/s1600-h/DSC02520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6HrJwmy66X6Rf3XOKR1LFakLwaazumWs4T6-PG6-0m4V7PIQjbL6zi9Ef2l6b_TpztnbN2EvC86gM_ILpWQdBgfAMGBF97rf-YiYhrEVAhr_q5jzTfswoQm8q3rG1qdbDrimjWmsjlqj/s320/DSC02520.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327702961287617042" /></a>we're all dressed up! last day of PT leadership and professionalism class. we're supposedly ready to own our own business... hmmm....<div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-AVGODLOzk8RTGgWzx86J3XUD9JKlbYpGezWNKiA8_MKwwiwm3AlpB6KcjJRI2wEgNRwF9VGGttNA9RJWi80wBZSJ2_TdMH6uxcyl3PkEbgH1t_wPtKk9i3thYTTW73TEi_F5ePaVNXa/s1600-h/DSC02521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-AVGODLOzk8RTGgWzx86J3XUD9JKlbYpGezWNKiA8_MKwwiwm3AlpB6KcjJRI2wEgNRwF9VGGttNA9RJWi80wBZSJ2_TdMH6uxcyl3PkEbgH1t_wPtKk9i3thYTTW73TEi_F5ePaVNXa/s320/DSC02521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327702956595428450" /></a>this is jon's way of having fun while i am busy studying! i literally rolled out of bed and took my study spot on the couch. i think i was growing roots into the couch... good thing studying is over!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7qS2gFOBhjxvUweFPJXPUby_L0w0asoGfRvOuyqB7jbRUHl9AxU92BZXons-Xbl4NBkevUP-7tDf_Ummhv5y3a0JCYGQkVcbKvPbH3sN8SX2aNtKBF17Rarm1hrll6gLTJ_JkH7PzAhc/s1600-h/DSC02526.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7qS2gFOBhjxvUweFPJXPUby_L0w0asoGfRvOuyqB7jbRUHl9AxU92BZXons-Xbl4NBkevUP-7tDf_Ummhv5y3a0JCYGQkVcbKvPbH3sN8SX2aNtKBF17Rarm1hrll6gLTJ_JkH7PzAhc/s320/DSC02526.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327702950536542258" /></a>this is most of my pediatrics elective class on our last day</div><div><br /></div><div><br />well... i am officially finished with class!!!<div><br /></div><div>we were all going crazy today before our last test. we had the whole class doing cartwheels and various other tricks. it was amazing; i think we should take it on the road! :) we should gather more often for such events!!! the tricks, not the tests. we've had quite enough tests! <br /><div><br /></div><div>i must say when i walked out of my last test today, i was not feeling the full effects of being totally finished. i think it will take some time for it to sink in. we hung around the beloved forbes tower and raided the famous exam snack buffet. i was not exactly ready to leave, but i am SOOOO glad that i will not take tests anymore!!! (especially practicals!) they make my tumbly rumbly!</div><div><br /></div><div>i think i love school. i guess that is ovbious since i have been going to school since i was 3! my mom only had me in pre-school 2 days a week when i was 3, and i asked to go more... haha!</div><div><br /></div><div>before i start working, there are many fun things on the horizon...</div><div><br /></div><div>camping this weekend with friends from school at raccoon creek state park. the weather is supposed to be wonderful! i am pumped! good chace to chill out after exams and celebrate earth day too! </div><div><br /></div><div>next weekend, our friends katie and shea are coming to visit! we always love company. we cannot wait to enjoy the city with y'all! also, my friend karen and i are hosting a field day at the seminary on saturday. there is no telling how crazy this could be... haha! </div><div><br /></div><div>there will be a couple days of nursery working and hopefully some down time... then i will be a working girl! children's hospital here i come! from may 4th until november i will be at the outpatient clinic. from november to the end of april 2010 i will be at the brand new hospital (or campus rather!). it is quite an establishment! i am thrilled :)</div><div><br /></div><div>hopefully i will be back on the blogging radar now that class is OVER! there should be some great pics to come!</div><div><br /></div><div>happy earth day! get out and play!</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-68979626507403163632009-04-21T23:33:00.016-04:002009-04-22T02:06:42.284-04:00good for you, miss california!i am sure all of you have heard about this by now... the infamous question that miss california fielded and her response in last weekend's miss usa pageant.<div><br /></div><div>i have a few comments about this whole situation:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. everyone has the right to their own opinion. don't ask someone a question about what they think and get mad when they respond with their opinion. the fact is, the homosexual gossip columnist who asked the question seemed to be digging for an affirmation to back his beliefs. sorry, buddy, but you didn't get it because some people in this world find that there is a worldview that trumps the fads of culture.</div><div><br /></div><div>plus, this is america. if you tell someone they are wrong, it is discrimination, which, ironically, is the very thing you are fighting against. it is ridiculous that we have over-defined freedom to the point that there is no freedom.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. it is amazing to me that people who are fighting for something, which they identify as 'love', can be so hateful. the class of one individual in this situation prevailed, while others went to their blogs, called names, and threw temper-tantrum cheap shots. that is just inappropriate, tacky, and childish.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>further, shame on those of you who abandoned someone you called a friend because you discovered this person didn't believe the same things that you do, especially when this person called you a friend even though she already knew you held different beliefs than her. but this is how things seem to work, isn't it? let me suggest that true love and friendship go beyond even the deepest beliefs. i think some individuals have revealed their true color in all of this and should take time to reflect on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. i am just flabbergasted that people who want to argue that people are intolerant are themselves so intolerant. if you want to live in a relativist world where everyone is entitled to their belief, then you must honor everyone's belief. i have just one thing to say - welcome to your self-created catch-22. by the way, honoring someone's beliefs means that you shouldn't expect the rest of us to tell you that we agree with you. we don't.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>4. by the way, just in case you were wondering (since one news report stated otherwise) - miss california does not hold views which are in the minority among her age group, nor even for her liberal state. i am pretty sure that california voted to uphold true marriage. this statement was a media-created myth to try to trick people into being like-minded by making the majority feel like outcasts. we will not be marginalized by your lies.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. thank you, miss california, for reminding us of something. we should never read culture onto scripture. instead, scripture should inform our understandings of culture. and based on scripture's nature of Truth, it has some hard teachings. this inherently means that scripture will rub us the wrong way sometimes. if it doesn't, then we aren't reading it correctly. how many times did people walk away from Jesus because they couldn't adhere to His teachings because it challenged them to live their lives differently... it forced them out of their strongly held incorrect beliefs?</div><div><br /></div><div>6. i have realized two things from all of this...</div><div><br /></div><div>a. this is all a power struggle. a minority wants to do something that a majority thinks is wrong, so the minority does anything possible to flip the situation on its head. as much as our post-modern world hates power (which is interesting because this is exactly what the minority wants), power properly used is not necessarily a bad thing. power is not meant to dominant and oppress, but it creates boundaries that protect (which in this case are called oppressive in order to look like it is awful... pretty soon inmates will be suing the government for imprisoning them).</div><div><br /></div><div>at some point we must all face it, we were created finite beings, which necessarily means we are limited. why? because God loves limits. He loves limits because He loves us, and He uses limits to keep us safe. this is the same way a parent places limits on children to protect them from a world that they do not fully understand. in doing this, they are not being oppressive but loving. there were limits from the beginning in the garden (think the tree of good and evil). God created things good, but anything good used improperly can be dangerous (just look at electricity!). He knows our tendency to pervert His good creation for evil. thus the reason God ushered adam and eve out of the garden after the fall - because otherwise they would have been able to eat from the tree of life, allowing them to live indefinitely and keeping them in their sin. once again, God created limits (death in this case by cutting them off from the fountain of youth... which provided God a way to ultimately redeem them from sin).</div><div><br /></div><div>sexual matters definitely fall into this category. i watched as a young couple, both of whom were fourteen-years-old, sit on the oprah show last week and announce to the world that they were ready to have sex with each other. it is interesting that we don't think these children are mature enough to operate a motor vehicle, but we do think that they are old enough to have sex, which always comes with the potential to create life (when asked, the girl admitted that she didn't want to think about this consequence because it "scared her to death"). wrong! sex is something God placed boundaries on, not because it is sinful or evil (although, as all else, it is when used wrongly), but because it is so wonderful that when improperly used it can be extremely destructive. it is not meant to be an outlet for lust but an opportunity for a special intimacy reserved for married couples to bring them together as one flesh. used otherwise, it becomes people using other people as objects to fulfill their desire. it is literally dehumanizing! this is the antithesis of love.</div><div><br /></div><div>i enjoy candy. it brings joy to my life, but there has to be limits. otherwise, i end up with diabetes or overweight. something that could have been enjoyable ends up destroying me. you see, this is what sin is. it is the crossing of boundaries created for our good. it is using things that God created good in capacities that they were not created for. the problem is, secular culture, which worships a god it created, thinks it can now define how creation should be used, which obviously suits its own sinful desires. we are just not having any of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>b. from this, i have concluded... </div><div><br /></div><div>one side has dominated this whole argument for a long time. it has been controlled with language about rights and love. this is not an issue of rights and love, though - mainly because this has nothing to do with rights or love. marriage is a privilege and an institution that was created by God, which is defined in Genesis 3. culture, you have no right to define this because God has taken that liberty, as it is His creation. while i am not ignorant and recognize that marriage is also a social institution, it is a social institution explicitly for purposes of procreation. as homosexual relationships are incapable of this, marriage is an absurd demand (other than trying to claim something that is not your own for "romantic" reasons). further, since God is love and has created marriage (the place for eros, intimate, love) solely between a man and a woman, i think it is a safe bet that eros love has been perverted in any other capacity.</div><div><br /></div><div>so i would like to suggest this: people who oppose homosexual relationships have been said to be unloving, uncompassionate, out of touch, biased, and a list of other things. these are incorrect assessments, though. i admit that some people are homophobic and hateful, but the rest of us recognize that we love people too much to give in to someone's beliefs (and thus falsely confirm them) when we know these beliefs to be destructive. we struggle against culture... not to maintain or get power, but to uphold the divinely created boundaries... not out of hate, but out of love.</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-62041465467993804202009-04-19T21:39:00.005-04:002009-04-19T22:12:07.928-04:00hey! jon's on the news!jon and the pts praise band led music for a healing service for the stanton heights community, where the three pittsburgh police officers were killed on April 4th. any way, all the news crews were at the service.<div><br /></div><div>here are the links for the 3 news channels that covered the service...</div><div><br /></div><div>http://www.wpxi.com/video/19224655/index.html<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/19224353/index.html<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>there is no audio for this shot...</div><div>http://kdka.com/local/fallenheroes/Stanton.Heights.service.2.988811.html<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>how cool is that!</div><div><br /></div><div>please continue to keep the community and the families affected by this senseless violence in your prayers. also, tell the police officers in your community how much you appreciate what they do each day, putting their lives at risk to keep our communities safe.</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-44517211801203616612009-04-12T13:09:00.002-04:002009-04-12T13:18:57.431-04:00HAPPY EASTER!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">this was part of our maunday thursday service at glenshaw.....</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Quiet Meditation</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">How shallow former shadows seem beside this great reverse, as darkness swallows up the light of all the universe. Creation shivers at the shock, the temple rends its veil. A pallid stillness stifles time and nature's motions fail. This is no fantasy, no flight of fervered brain. With vengence grim, and real, chaos is come again. The hands that formed us from the soil are nailed upon the cross. The word that gave us life and breath expires in utter loss. Yet deep within this darkness lives a LOVE so fierce and free, that arcs all voids and risk supreme! embraces agony. Its perfect testament is etched in iron, blood and wood. With awe we glimpse its true import and dare to call it good.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">- arranged by Lee Dengler</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Christ has died,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Christ is risen,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Christ will come again!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">e l i z a b e t h </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-74441358020234501162009-03-08T22:19:00.004-04:002009-03-08T22:37:45.927-04:00booze with a smile???check out this article -<div><br /></div><div>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,506837,00.html<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>apparently the geniuses in our pa. state government are spending almost $200,000 of taxpayer money (translation: my money) to make the people working at the state run liquor stores (you can't get liquor anywhere else) more friendly.</div><div><br /></div><div>are you kidding me? it isn't like they are going to get more business by being friendly. we don't have any other options! i really doubt people are leaving the stores saying, "those people are not friendly. i am going to quit drinking." perhaps that might actually be good.</div><div><br /></div><div>if they are going to spend our money trying to make government employees more friendly, then they should work on the people at the dmv. or maybe they should pay someone to help arlen specter make better decisions.</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-73571708055267309432009-03-03T21:22:00.002-05:002009-03-03T21:25:12.395-05:00this kid is ridiculous!!!i was amazed by this and thought that i would share it. plus, this is one of my favorite songs...<div><br /></div><div>enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HTwfTMBB-H0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HTwfTMBB-H0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,<br /></div><div>jw <><<br /><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-87879540002238557282009-03-02T17:42:00.002-05:002009-03-02T17:51:42.420-05:00i'm done!!!!i just finished a long week of late nights, lots of reading, and 21 pages of papers! no more finals!!!! well... for a few weeks at least. i now have a few days of rest and relaxation. <div><br /></div><div>i have made a long list of things to get done during the next week (my spring break) but have a few fun things, beginning with reading the three magazines (backpacker, adventure, and relevant) that have been teasing me the past week. why is it that they come at the worst time? i mean, come on, exam week!?!</div><div><br /></div><div>also, i discovered that netflix put up some new online movies and tv shows. season one of survivorman, here i come! plus, jimmy fallon takes over late night tonight...</div><div><br /></div><div>finally, i will start blogging again.</div><div><br /></div><div>i hope your week has started as great as mine!</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-25613451430240859292009-02-27T15:58:00.004-05:002009-02-27T16:14:04.565-05:00pictures<div>february was a great month, but not very much of it was caught on camera. so this blog has no theme really... just some fun snap shots. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbog-UdB0Y4vvOn_9rKcsGoobhASlRgqQ_NgDc15fdUVJ6e3y3dECBxXbSOyE-zm0f1a57rp7H9pWR2ag0vm2hCvUKPr5jIepjdrEpBba6DsjrSbKvxB0RXztCVzHBtqv8eaY7I2c48lVO/s1600-h/DSC02429.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbog-UdB0Y4vvOn_9rKcsGoobhASlRgqQ_NgDc15fdUVJ6e3y3dECBxXbSOyE-zm0f1a57rp7H9pWR2ag0vm2hCvUKPr5jIepjdrEpBba6DsjrSbKvxB0RXztCVzHBtqv8eaY7I2c48lVO/s320/DSC02429.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307586284572320978" /></a>nannerpuss let me hold his peel. we're friends... haha! my friend carolyn brought him to our last dinner party. it got a little crazy as you can see!<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDXlW2dXQi3mnzXDk98lErlABlzsnt0Tjwnc0K0vUcc3ZZ2qUBzzBe4NT-tX3vO1jrbV4BHL8FyzVrPpY7zOshhqbPYcCFWABSHgCDtBTTNhvcrwAlA_bxxYRrPk6UsjrLispF1H3hdsO/s1600-h/DSC02420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDXlW2dXQi3mnzXDk98lErlABlzsnt0Tjwnc0K0vUcc3ZZ2qUBzzBe4NT-tX3vO1jrbV4BHL8FyzVrPpY7zOshhqbPYcCFWABSHgCDtBTTNhvcrwAlA_bxxYRrPk6UsjrLispF1H3hdsO/s320/DSC02420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307586275718004722" /></a>phipp's conservatory is a must see in pittsburgh. the flowers are gorgeous!<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi8jZ5YHG2d7yepj98pdtPznsxAOD2m7shyphenhyphenKdmbJWL47jmMbOXq1T9TlWAfeaZebfifxDM8_h_COIKluHAKMR_4dVC6apXfiIOYXrUegm0xJAjwkxt5kQ1WNrb-QGFAux87g7omW_lev9/s1600-h/DSC02410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi8jZ5YHG2d7yepj98pdtPznsxAOD2m7shyphenhyphenKdmbJWL47jmMbOXq1T9TlWAfeaZebfifxDM8_h_COIKluHAKMR_4dVC6apXfiIOYXrUegm0xJAjwkxt5kQ1WNrb-QGFAux87g7omW_lev9/s320/DSC02410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307586265625206594" /></a>so... ummm.... this is in a blue hut in a building on pitt's campus. we meet in it for lunch. no one else is using it, so we adopted it as our lunch time club house! this was costume party day! lunch is so fun!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-kGP9LHGHL75i17GiW-P1PCOmNRXEi8aUwp9FpeIIAf3gmKN7nURiR0VlvM19OsZP6XKokfDERv4VH9wBqXyavLhmdY6DS790iNkWHyRuMJ4aWuK6KfW1f0aHqTELBEI_ze_WGOYLIzo/s1600-h/DSC02413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-kGP9LHGHL75i17GiW-P1PCOmNRXEi8aUwp9FpeIIAf3gmKN7nURiR0VlvM19OsZP6XKokfDERv4VH9wBqXyavLhmdY6DS790iNkWHyRuMJ4aWuK6KfW1f0aHqTELBEI_ze_WGOYLIzo/s320/DSC02413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307586259925620066" /></a>valentine's day stroll.... so nice! see the pretty flakes falling? :)</div><div><br /></div><div>hope you enjoy our little happenings!</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-6723692932706936632009-02-22T23:00:00.002-05:002009-02-22T23:26:56.467-05:00cooking and a quotei must share the recipe that has gotten us through the bone chilling weather this winter... it also happens to be delicious and easy to make!!! we have this... probably every other week and never get sick of it!<div><br /></div><div>it is.....</div><div><br /></div><div>TACO SOUP (yummmmmmm!)</div><div><br /></div><div>brown 1 pound of ground meat (trader joe's leanest of the lean)</div><div>add onions if you like (flakes or the real deal)</div><div>pepper to taste</div><div>1 package of taco seasoning mix (we totally prefer cheesy taco)</div><div><br /></div><div>now for the cans... just add them to the meat:</div><div>1 can mexican corn</div><div>1 can diced tomatoes (or rotel if you like it spicy! ...not for me)</div><div>1 can pinto beans</div><div>1 can diced green chiles</div><div>22 ounces of V8 (for a thinner soup add more. the canned 6 pack works well)</div><div><br /></div><div>bring to a boil and stir. let simmer on low 30 minutes. TIME TO EAT!</div><div><br /></div><div>fritos under (for me) if you like them a little soggy or on top (for jon) if you like them crunchy. top with a little cheddar cheese and sour cream. </div><div><br /></div><div>the most comforting of all comfort foods, my friends! it is so simple because we always have the ingredients in stock, and we can usually get 6 hearty meals out of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>try it tonight!</div><div><br /></div><div>as for the quote portion... jon and i had a saturday study date at the border's down the street, and i was sipping my new favorite tea -- good earth -- best ever... i think it will be my favorite forever! so good earth puts cute little quotes on the tea bag's little folded paper piece at the end of the stringy thing... wow! did you get that? i wonder what the formal name for that could be??? i am not savvy with tea bag anatomy! so... i am not sure how i feel about the quote... but it was interesting for sure. jon and i exchanged a "hmmm" and went about our studying. i am still thinking...</div><div><br /></div><div>"the world is a tragedy for those who feel, but a comedy for those who think." --horace walpole</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>now, make some taco soup and then curl up on the couch with some good earth tea and pretend your are living in a snow globe. that is how i do it! by the way... we got another couple inches today! i still love snow!</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-60698590411267710382009-02-21T12:33:00.002-05:002009-02-21T12:40:06.204-05:00bow ties...so, i spend way too much time on the internet. occasionally, though, i do run across helpful and interesting things. below is one of those! enjoy!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; "><object width="450" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/mediaplayer.swf"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="menu" value="false"></param><param name="flashvars" value="height=370&width=448&autostart=false&autoscroll=false&showstop=false&showicons=false&showdigits=total&controlbar=34&backcolor=0xFFFFFF&screencolor=0x000000&frontcolor=0xDEDEDE&lightcolor=0x00A2FF&logo=http%3A//www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/data/images/ireport_wm.gif&file=http%3A//ht.cdn.turner.com/ireport/big/prod/2009/02/19/WE00214575/424896/Anon1235101617-DavidHartCoHowToTieABowTie786312.flv&image=http%3A//i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2009/02/19/WE00214575/424896/Anon1235101617-DavidHartCoHowToTieABowTie786312_lg.jpg"></param><embed src="http://www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/mediaplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="370" menu="false" flashvars="height=370&width=448&autostart=false&autoscroll=false&showstop=false&showicons=false&showdigits=total&controlbar=34&backcolor=0xFFFFFF&screencolor=0x000000&frontcolor=0xDEDEDE&lightcolor=0x00A2FF&logo=http%3A//www.ireport.com/themes/custom/resources/swfplayer/data/images/ireport_wm.gif&file=http%3A//ht.cdn.turner.com/ireport/big/prod/2009/02/19/WE00214575/424896/Anon1235101617-DavidHartCoHowToTieABowTie786312.flv&image=http%3A//i.cdn.turner.com/ireport/sm/prod/2009/02/19/WE00214575/424896/Anon1235101617-DavidHartCoHowToTieABowTie786312_lg.jpg"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-39702818254732628282009-02-18T20:04:00.002-05:002009-02-18T20:13:16.814-05:00HILARIOUS!!!i literally fall out of my chair whenever i see this!!! i hope this commercial comes on everywhere. the whole world should know about nannerpuss. i have only seen it once on tv, but i've watched it a lot on you tube... haha!<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BOprBKByEIw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BOprBKByEIw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">i hope nannerpuss made your day!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;">e l i z a b e t h</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-66685107292361533602009-02-16T22:22:00.002-05:002009-02-16T22:51:11.902-05:00Happy, Happy, Happy Valentine's!well, well, well! we had a really great valentine's day and weekend!! <div><br /></div><div>our valentine's celebration started friday morning. jon does not have class on fridays and my class was cancelled because all my teachers went out of town for a conference... whoo-hoo!! so we decided to go out for breakfast. deluca's in the strip district has been voted pittsburgh's best breakfast place... i believe since the beginning of time! since we did not want to wait in a line around the corner, we have never been on a weekend. jon enjoyed the steel city breakfast which was the biggest meal on the menu... haha! it was all VERY good. they have anything and everything you could ever want for breakfast! we strolled around the outdoor markets and specialty shops afterwards. if you ever come to pittsburgh, a trip to the strip district is a MUST!</div><div><br /></div><div>friday night the seminary spouses club had a very cute valentine party! we decorated "the shak" (pts student union-ish place) with red and pink balloons and candles... it was really pretty! we had yummy appetizers and of course chocolate (for those who like it!) my favorite part was game time... the best part of any party if you ask me! we played cute newly wed type games even though we had couples of all ages. it was fun to hear everyone answer the questions. you learn a lot about people, too... haha!</div><div><br /></div><div>saturday we went to an afternoon movie at a really fancy theater! i have been wanting to go to this place since we moved here, but we never had a good excuse to go... til now! we were planning on cooking together that night, but after the movie got out, we changed our minds. the theater is right next to a very nice outdoor mall (imagine the summit in birmingham, al) and one of our favorite restaurants, bravo. it was only mid-afternoon, so we figured we could get our name on the list to eat sometime that evening! luckily the wait was only an hour and a half, so we were set. the temp wasn't too bad if you were bundled, and the snow was REALLY pretty, so we shopped around until time to eat. </div><div><br /></div><div>then sunday night we finally got around to cooking our valentine's dinner... thanks to brad's fabulous recipe!</div><div><br /></div><div>this was the perfect weekend after midterms! i was past due for some chill time!</div><div><br /></div><div>hope everyone had a wonderful valentine's, too!</div><div><br /></div><div>e l i z a b e t h </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-66252688818415353292009-02-14T22:51:00.002-05:002009-02-14T23:04:13.604-05:00love...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.<div><br /></div><div>1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV</div><div><br /></div><div>This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.... God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him... We love because he first loved us.</div><div><br /></div><div>1 John 4:9-12, 16b, 19</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-16369423846242897892009-02-10T20:00:00.005-05:002009-02-10T20:35:48.380-05:00discovering our identity...<blockquote></blockquote>He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him... "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church..."<div><br /></div><div>Matthew 15:15-18<blockquote></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>last thursday i wrote on peter's confession at caesarea philippi, as it was the lectionary for the day (if you all haven't noticed, that is where i get the scripture i comment on). any way, today in class one of my classmates offered a pretty insightful thought into Jesus' comment back to peter in this parallel passage in matthew.</div><div><br /></div><div>my classmate stated that it was only after peter recognized who Jesus was that Jesus was able to tell peter who he was, giving peter his identity in light of who he had discovered Jesus to be. you see, it is only when we have a clear understanding of Jesus that we are able to discover who we are and what we are here for.</div><div><br /></div><div>so often in life we are so confused about who we are and our purpose here on earth. we look for our identity in all sorts of things... our profession, our possessions, our family, our friends, etc. nothing seems to satisfy though. and we come to wrong conclusions about the negative aspects of ourselves. we convince ourselves that we are just inherently pessimistic, or fearful, or impatient, or untrusting, or easily frustrated, or whatever. we say things like, "that is just who i am." but is that really who God created us to be? i have a feeling that God didn't create us to be things that are unbecoming of His own character. remember, we were created in His image. instead, we have allowed circumstances to place on us these identities.</div><div><br /></div><div>peter's identity must have been challenging for him to accept, for Jesus gave him a pretty big task. his task was to love and feed the flock of God. peter could have said, "Jesus, i don't think that is such a good idea. You know - i mess up a lot. i am hard-headed. i have problems trusting. i messed up walking on water. i ask stupid questions. i am a little slow. in just a second, you are going to call me satan. in a few days, you are going to get mad at me for wanting to stay up on the mountain to build huts for You, elijah, and moses. in Your time of greatest need, i am going to deny You three times. really, i am just a screw up." instead, in understanding who Jesus was, peter knew that this task could be accomplished. this is because it was God, Lord of all creation, who had spoken this to him. if anyone knows who you are, it is the One who created you.</div><div><br /></div><div>in fact, God is the only One who knows who you are. so may we stop listening to the world, which tells us we have to prove ourselves and earn our way, and start listening to the One who whispers words of love and affirmation because these things have already been earned on our behalf.</div><div><br /></div><div>friends, if you want to know who you are and what you purpose is, then figure out who Jesus is. you will discover your identity in Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div><div><br /></div><div>by the way, thanks james!</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-86286461860581331322009-02-09T13:10:00.004-05:002009-02-09T13:30:48.569-05:00the news...the great theologian karl barth once said that we should read the news with the newspaper in one hand and the bible in the other. it is an interesting idea - that we should be trying to interpret what is going on in the world through the lens of our faith, constantly looking for what God is up to in the world.<div><br /></div><div>today, while reading the news, i was very disturbed (not that i am not always disturbed). the headline story this morning on cnn.com was that there are families in alaska that are starving, as they are having to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families. right next to this headline were the smaller stories for the day. one of these stories was that a some kid scored 890,971 points playing a video game, which was the highest score ever recorded for this game.</div><div><br /></div><div>it is just very sad to me that this was even a story that would make the national headlines. as i thought about how much time this kid put into this achievement (if i can call it that), it saddened me even more to think that this time could have been spent on something far more productive. now, i will admit that i play video games every once and a while to relax and do something brainless. i do this, maybe, once every three or four months for an hour or two. it seems that people are spending more and more of their time doing activities like this, though. and for what?</div><div><br /></div><div>there are families struggling to survive here in america, and we are playing video games. it has convicted me to pay close attention to how i am spending my time. has my life been dedicated to something that is completely pointless - like playing video games? in such an individualistic society, which encourages us to think only about ourselves, it seems that we must be very careful to make sure we are serving one another. our time and energy could definitely be spent making a difference in this world, participating in what God is doing to redeem all of creation.</div><div><br /></div><div>perhaps the movie wall-e is prophetic in regard to where we are headed if we do not be more careful.</div><div><br /></div><div>just something to think about...</div><div><br /></div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-78833446579367888762009-02-05T19:59:00.003-05:002009-02-05T20:39:55.370-05:00the one and only...<blockquote></blockquote>Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."<div><br /></div><div>Mark 8:27-29<blockquote></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>caesarea philippi was an interesting place. in its time, it was a center of worship... pagan worship. at one time there were temples there for baal. before becoming caesarea philippi, its name was panias, after the greek god pan, who was thought to have been born there. so, there were temples for pan there, as well. then when the area came under the control of philip, herod the not-so-great's son, he renamed it caesarea philippi, after himself and to honor caesar. so there was a roman temple for caesar.</div><div><br /></div><div>needless to say, this place was loaded with pagan temples for syrian, greek, and roman gods. interestingly, it is here that peter makes his confession. peter's statement should shock us. he is saying, "we believe that You, the One standing before us in the flesh, are the One Whose name we can't even speak. You are the One Who spoke creation into being, Who spoke through a burning bush to moses, Who delivered our people from egypt, Who has been promised through the prophets." this is astonishing!</div><div><br /></div><div>what can we take from this? well, to begin with, to confess that Jesus is Lord in the midst of all these pagan temples is at the same time making a negative statement. it is not only saying that Jesus is Lord, but it is saying that this means that no one or nothing else can be.</div><div><br /></div><div>i am not sure that i often think about what confessing Jesus as Lord in my life means on the negative side. if we are to say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we, inherently, have to say that He alone is in control. we have to say that nothing else can be treated as Lord... nothing else can be exalted, worshipped, glorified. this might cause the need for some serious rearranging in our lives to truly be honest with this confession. peter figures this out very quickly... just read the next few verses.</div><div><br /></div><div>i think that it is also significant that Jesus first asks what others think about Him before asking who they think He is. there seems to be an implication here that the confession that Jesus is Lord has to be ours alone. when we stand before God, i have a feeling that He isn't going to care so much what our friends, family, or pastors thought about Jesus. instead, the question will be, "who do you say I am?"</div><div><br /></div><div>in reply to peter's confession in matthew's gospel, Jesus states, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." i will let you all chew on this statement.</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers,</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469090590908568648.post-30190384760718487792009-02-05T19:43:00.002-05:002009-02-05T19:57:50.627-05:00how well do you know scripture?so... i take my first ordination exam tomorrow - the bible content exam (or as i like to call it - the bible trivia exam). it is, arguably, the easiest of the lot, as the rest aren't multiple choice or so straight forward.<div><br /></div><div>i am telling you this not only to ask for prayers but also to inform you of a great resource on the web for studying for this thing. now, you might be wondering why i would tell all of you about this resource because, probably, none of you will ever have to take this exam. well, i thought that i would pass it along and challenge all of you to take a few to see how you do. it is 100 questions through all areas of the bible (pentateuch, historical books, prophets, psalms and wisdom literature, gospels, acts and pauline letters, and the "rest of the nt"). all of it is multiple choice, and you can even take the different areas separately. at the end, it will show you what you missed (and got right if you want!). plus, it has the bible references to each question that you can click on to read.</div><div><br /></div><div>the website is: <a href="http://www.whitneyhq.com/biblecontent/">http://www.whitneyhq.com/biblecontent/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>who knows, you might find out that you knew more than you thought... or less than you thought. if you are feeling generous, give a donation while you are there. it will keep the site working for those of us who rely on it!</div><div><br /></div><div>cheers (and happy testing),</div><div>jw <><</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0