Mountains of Life
I have a paper bag. I carry it with me everywhere I go. It accompanies me to class, on vacations, in bed at night, and so many other places. I should mention that my bag is made of recycled paper, because I am eco-friendly of course. My paper bag is my life. Inside it I keep only the most sacred and important parts of who I am. My bag is enormous, although this does not come from being a packrat or holding on to things for longer than necessary. It is because what I have inside my bag is huge. If you were to look in my bag, it would be like peeping into an infinite abyss. There is no telling what you would find there. Although it is a miraculous view, the sight is not uncommon to many people. Inside my bag is a mountain, a huge mountain covered with rivers, rocks, wildflowers, and wind. This mountain is not like any normal mountain though because it is my mountain. Its unique characteristics range from worn and fallen trees to the new sprouts found in spring. The mountain is a constant cycle of all things old and new. This is the treasure found in my simple recycled paper bag.
My mountain is large and strong. It is powerful and can withstand anything. My steadfast mountain may be hit with severe thunderstorms, rainstorms, or fire, and it will continue to stand strong. I believe God delighted in making the mountains above the rest of creation. Just like snowflakes, no two mountains are the same; my mountain is my family. Like tree sap, it sticks together through the thick and thin. My family is unique like the mountains because God created each and every person different in some way or another. My mountain has been weathered; struck by broken relationships, lies, fighting, and work. Though there have been bad days, there have also been sunny, snowy, and beautiful days filled with joy, unity, comfort, and strength. After each rainstorm my family, like the mountains, have also prospered and sprouted new beginnings out of negative effects. This is what I admire so much about my family- though times can get tough we always pull together and conquer anything that is thrown at us.
My mountain’s terrain is unique and covered in rivers flowing in a hundred different directions. The courses and paths are always changing, leading into new places. Though the currents shift and branch off, they continue to flow. The waters push me off into new journeys, both good and bad, but always helping me to move forward. These rivers are the people I consider my friends. Throughout my life so far I have met many new people that have led me down new paths in my life. I have had positive influences that have sent me in areas and helped me to grow and mature. Other rivers have been raging rapids that caused me to backtrack in my life. Together, these rivers have carved their ways in the bank, creating new bends and turns that have led me to where I am today.
Mountains are obviously covered and built out of rock. This is essential for a mountain to stand tall and remain prepared and steadfast. The rock makes it capable for the mountain to be strong against everything. The rock of my mountain is my education. I truly believe this is one of the foundational aspects of my life. Knowing that there are uneducated children and people in the world has caused me to be grateful for God’s blessing of education. Having a strong education has not only prepared me for school work and got me into college, but it has prepared me for ‘real life’. I feel that with what I know right now I will be able to be independent. Teachers have shaped my life over the years and have helped me to develop my conscience. Education has helped me to create my moral standards and values. The rocks of my education help me to stand firm in my beliefs and lifestyle choices.
The wildflowers found on the mountain are one of my favorite parts. God created each one individually with vivid colors, unique size, and shape. Every flower is beautiful and bright. The wildflowers represent every different continent, country, and culture found in the world. People are my passion, specifically their cultures. I find it so amazing that God has filled this earth with so many diverse peoples, yet all are uniquely crafted by His perfect design, giving them immeasurable value. I want to take the time in my life to travel and get to experience every culture on a personal level. It is my life dream to take Christ to the world and to make Him known by all. I love to travel, to see new places, to engage in different culture, and my relationship with God. When I combine all of these together I come out with the idea of a missionary. This is what I want to do. I feel God’s calling on my life to live out His Great Commission to the fullest. I feel that everything in my life has prepared me for this. Daily I pray that He will strengthen my faith and my heart to fulfill His will for my life.
The most essential parts of my mountain are wind and air. Without them it would be impossible for everything to survive. The air rustles the trees, causes the rivers to move, and blows through the petals of the wildflowers. The wind affects everything on the mountain. Without it the mountain would lose its majestic mystery. The wind and air are God. I can breathe it in, and feel it surround me. Just because you cannot see it does not mean it isn’t there. The soft breeze gives me a feeling of peace and comfort. I know that I am not and will never be alone. God’s love is the air I breathe in. With every breath I am filled with Him and our relationship is strengthened. The air is filled with particles of his characteristics: love, peace, kindness, mercy, grace, and joy. Each time the wind moves through the mountain, I remember, I am never alone.
What I enjoy most about all of the aspects in my bag is that the all unite under one common theme: love. In all aspects of my life I am able to observe the beauty that is perfected through love. Within my family we all share a natural bond brought to us from birth. This unconditional love is so powerful. I know that my family will always be there for me and that I can rely on them no matter what. My friends are similar to family because I hold them closest to my heart. I have known them for some time and they have become like brothers and sisters to me. Their companionship means more to me than I can express. In addition to receiving love, I love many things in life. I especially love to learn. Without my education there is no way that I could progress in life. I’m thankful for all that I have been provided with and the ability to learn at a higher level. My love for people and culture is another important area of my life. This is more than a love, but a passion. Above all things, God is the most important form of love in my life. God is love. His love is unfailing, unchanging, and perfect. It is a comfort to know that God will never leave or forsake any of us. I feel that all of the aspects of my mountain unite under the perfect bond of love. Each area weaves with each other to create a beautiful and colorful quilt that covers my mountain year round with warmth and protection.
My paper bag is one of a kind. Its contents are incredible- uniquely created by God. Inside the infinite abyss of my bag is a mountain. In this mountain is my life, covered by rivers, rocks, wildflowers, and wind. My family, friends, education, culture, and God are what hold this mountain together. All things interact and weave through each other forming a shield that can withstand anything. The mountain is fortified for the worst of days and gladly embraces the good ones. This mountain that I keep hidden in my recycled paper bag composes my whole life. I carry it with me everywhere I go. I have a paper bag.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
christian shootings
this morning i woke up at about 730. kaylans parents called to tell us about the local shooting. it took place in arvada which is near our school. it was at a ywam (youth with a mission) training center. it was said that he shot people because he asked if he could stay the night there and they said no. he shot 4 people. two died, and two are in critical condition. the boy 23 was from alaska and the girl 26 is from minnesota.
we watched the news for a while ate breakfast and went back to sleep. we went to eat and do homework where we learned there was another shooting.
at New Life Church in colorado springs there was a gunman who shot anywhere between 4 and 8 people inside the church and in the parking lot. it is learned that 1 person died. there is an asumption that the gunman was shot and even that the person was a girl. but who knows. there is also no conformation that the two shootings were related. New Life Church is my roommates home church so she was worried. we drove down to colorado springs tonight and are staying at her parents house. pray for these people.
we watched the news for a while ate breakfast and went back to sleep. we went to eat and do homework where we learned there was another shooting.
at New Life Church in colorado springs there was a gunman who shot anywhere between 4 and 8 people inside the church and in the parking lot. it is learned that 1 person died. there is an asumption that the gunman was shot and even that the person was a girl. but who knows. there is also no conformation that the two shootings were related. New Life Church is my roommates home church so she was worried. we drove down to colorado springs tonight and are staying at her parents house. pray for these people.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
the blustery day
i barely made it to class without blowing away.
i woke up an hour early because the loud machines were going clearing leaves out of the way. it wasnt windy. all was quiet but these annoying machines. i got ready, put on a jacket, and left. i barely made it down my stairs because my eyes were blinded by the leaf debris that was shot out by the machine. when i got to the bottom and out in the open, i almost blew away. i have never felt or walked in wind this strong. tree branches, newspapers, and plastic bags were flying around everywhere like ghosts. of course i had to walk by the lake to get to class so i was struck by sharp droplets of water blown off the surface. the wind blew in my eyes so fierce that they started to tear and run down my face. my hair was standing straight up as the wind came underneath and shot it up. i finally made it to my classroom. while sitting there though i was convinced by the strong sounds and the shaking of the building that a tornado was going to come and blow us away. walking back from class was a little scary but comforting since austin walked with me and holding on to his hard helped me to not fly away into the infinite abyss. we quickly walked back to our rooms while still continuing to get pelted by water droplets from the lake and while tears ran down my face. i made it back inside safely but the sounds are terrifying. whistling, shouting, torments of wind. our poor little rocking chair out on the balcony is going crazy but i wont dare go outside to rescue it. good thing i dont have any more classes today because i am not leaving this room. unless of course our stairwell blows over, which it might very well do. wish me luck.
i woke up an hour early because the loud machines were going clearing leaves out of the way. it wasnt windy. all was quiet but these annoying machines. i got ready, put on a jacket, and left. i barely made it down my stairs because my eyes were blinded by the leaf debris that was shot out by the machine. when i got to the bottom and out in the open, i almost blew away. i have never felt or walked in wind this strong. tree branches, newspapers, and plastic bags were flying around everywhere like ghosts. of course i had to walk by the lake to get to class so i was struck by sharp droplets of water blown off the surface. the wind blew in my eyes so fierce that they started to tear and run down my face. my hair was standing straight up as the wind came underneath and shot it up. i finally made it to my classroom. while sitting there though i was convinced by the strong sounds and the shaking of the building that a tornado was going to come and blow us away. walking back from class was a little scary but comforting since austin walked with me and holding on to his hard helped me to not fly away into the infinite abyss. we quickly walked back to our rooms while still continuing to get pelted by water droplets from the lake and while tears ran down my face. i made it back inside safely but the sounds are terrifying. whistling, shouting, torments of wind. our poor little rocking chair out on the balcony is going crazy but i wont dare go outside to rescue it. good thing i dont have any more classes today because i am not leaving this room. unless of course our stairwell blows over, which it might very well do. wish me luck.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
weekend of joy
this weekend started early and i feel like its gone on forever. i believe it all started on wednesday night when we had a dance party... yeah, well we made some sweet videos the best being glamorous, and if youre really lucky ill show it to you all when i get home. so that night was pretty fun. the next morning i dragged myself out of bed to go to class, but i made it no worries mom. after we skipped chapel (to take a nap of course) and then we left to go snowboarding. it was the first one of the season so it was amazing. kaylan, breezy, jessica, and i all rode up to copper mountain. its kind of scary snowboarding somewhere else for the first time. ive never gone outside of alaska so i guess you could say i was a little intimidated. but despite that, i had the best day of riding that ive had in a while. afterwards we left and drove to beau jos where karissa, dylan, and nick met up with us. we had my birthday dinner. soooo good. how i love that place. they got me a special dessert too. it was perfect. kaylan gave me a birthday present, a heart necklace with three hearts that say faith hope and love. its so perfect. she is the best roommate EVER. that night we watched elf with some friends and then went to bed. ohh and breezy slept over, which happens like every night, so its nothing new. i do love to share a single bed with her, haha.
friday was fun. we slept in, went to the gym, which was killer since we were so sore from snowboarding. we cleaned and decorated our room some more. that night kaylan, breezy, jessica, and i went downtown to watch the parade of lights. we had to park a million miles away the traffic was so bad. but we finally arrived and it was totally worth it. we saw a lot of people from our school. everyone now knows us as "those girls who sang and danced to glamorous. yeah it showed up on our facebook newsfeed." we dont even know some of these people haha. but still the parade was fun. there were lots of dancers and bands and giant blow up things and lights! it ended and we walked and got some hot chocolate. we didnt quite remember where we parked so we took the 16th street bus hoping it would take us somewhere. the bus was about to leave so we sprinted after it where these two punk boys insisted that we couldnt get on because it was going to nebraska. dont ask. but one of them was from alaska and went to dimond. its always crazy when you meet people from home. its such a small world out there. well after our long walk and sketchy back streets and trying to stay near police cars (since we are four young girls) we made it back to our car safe and sound. when we got back to the room i went into my room to start putting clothes away and i heard kaylan call my name. i came out and there was my whole stairwell holding a cake and sang me happy birthday. it was so good! my birthday has been drawn out for three weeks i think and i love it! thanks to everyone who made it extra special. after all of this we had a sleep over in our room and watched the hallmark movie a boyfriend for christmas which is absolutely amazing and you should all watch it.
saturday morning i had to wake up early to go to a training day for our missions trips. all of the teams were there so about 70 people. we spent a few hours doing team building activiteis which is always fun...... haha, afterwards we just talked for a while and they brought us lunch which was cool. after that not much happened. i think we just hung out, watched tv. let me say the show intervention on A & E is amazing but sad. you should see it. hung out with nick that night. did laundry, dont know what else.
sunday morning we had decided not to go snowboarding the night before but karissa came into my room at eight and said to get up so we could go! so i sprinted, put on some clothes got my stuff together and we left. us two and breezy all went and we met up with two other girls up there. the drive was long, i guess there were accidents and the one hour ride turned into two. it snowed 12 inches up there. but seriously, im from alaska and i know bad roads, these roads were not bad. there was barely any snow let alone ice on them and everyone was freaking out and going 5 miles an hour. i wanted to die. people in the states do not know how to drive. besides that the day was great. it was warm and sunny our and the snow was powedery. a perfect day for riding. but it came to an end like all good things do. we got in the car and headed back where the hour drive turned into two again because people still dont know how to drive... i showered, ate, went to the store, and did homework. now here i am recapping the best weekend ive had in a while. k bye.
friday was fun. we slept in, went to the gym, which was killer since we were so sore from snowboarding. we cleaned and decorated our room some more. that night kaylan, breezy, jessica, and i went downtown to watch the parade of lights. we had to park a million miles away the traffic was so bad. but we finally arrived and it was totally worth it. we saw a lot of people from our school. everyone now knows us as "those girls who sang and danced to glamorous. yeah it showed up on our facebook newsfeed." we dont even know some of these people haha. but still the parade was fun. there were lots of dancers and bands and giant blow up things and lights! it ended and we walked and got some hot chocolate. we didnt quite remember where we parked so we took the 16th street bus hoping it would take us somewhere. the bus was about to leave so we sprinted after it where these two punk boys insisted that we couldnt get on because it was going to nebraska. dont ask. but one of them was from alaska and went to dimond. its always crazy when you meet people from home. its such a small world out there. well after our long walk and sketchy back streets and trying to stay near police cars (since we are four young girls) we made it back to our car safe and sound. when we got back to the room i went into my room to start putting clothes away and i heard kaylan call my name. i came out and there was my whole stairwell holding a cake and sang me happy birthday. it was so good! my birthday has been drawn out for three weeks i think and i love it! thanks to everyone who made it extra special. after all of this we had a sleep over in our room and watched the hallmark movie a boyfriend for christmas which is absolutely amazing and you should all watch it.
saturday morning i had to wake up early to go to a training day for our missions trips. all of the teams were there so about 70 people. we spent a few hours doing team building activiteis which is always fun...... haha, afterwards we just talked for a while and they brought us lunch which was cool. after that not much happened. i think we just hung out, watched tv. let me say the show intervention on A & E is amazing but sad. you should see it. hung out with nick that night. did laundry, dont know what else.
sunday morning we had decided not to go snowboarding the night before but karissa came into my room at eight and said to get up so we could go! so i sprinted, put on some clothes got my stuff together and we left. us two and breezy all went and we met up with two other girls up there. the drive was long, i guess there were accidents and the one hour ride turned into two. it snowed 12 inches up there. but seriously, im from alaska and i know bad roads, these roads were not bad. there was barely any snow let alone ice on them and everyone was freaking out and going 5 miles an hour. i wanted to die. people in the states do not know how to drive. besides that the day was great. it was warm and sunny our and the snow was powedery. a perfect day for riding. but it came to an end like all good things do. we got in the car and headed back where the hour drive turned into two again because people still dont know how to drive... i showered, ate, went to the store, and did homework. now here i am recapping the best weekend ive had in a while. k bye.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
pianos and a flute
ive been home almost a week and things are already back to normal. currently i am in the basement of the school of music. i hear it can be kind of sketchy at night and my roommate didnt want to come over here and practice piano alone so i came along for the ride. there is a pleasant yet somewhat awkward blend of a christmas song on the piano, and deep song on the piano, and a fierce flute. despite how much i enjoy music. i dont think i could handle it being my major.
weve been getting in the christmas spirit around here. tomorrow is a christmas tree lighting (there is a giant one in the middle of campus). im really looking forward to it, you know since i missed the one at home and all. but i guess there will be hot chocolate and cookies, and who skips out on a free one of those. honestly. well so yesterday we moved all of the furniture in our living room around and it looks adorable. its so open and welcoming. we bought a fake tree and put it in the room and decorated it with lights and ornaments. we put fake garland, lights, and candycanes around our sliding balcony doors, and we put colored lights around our kitchen window. i must say though, i absolutely hate christmas lights. they worked, then they didnt work, we changed the fuse and everything and it came down to us going back to walmart, returning them, and restringing them. what a hassle. this week we intend on having a stocking making party since they are just to epensive to afford these days.
a lot of homework to look forward to. three six page essays all do on the same day next week. wooo. i plan on going snowboarding two or three times this weekend. thursday afternoon, friday, and sunday. thursday night is mine and jeremys joint birthday party. we are going to a pizza place called beau jos, i think thats how you spell it. it has the best pizza of anywhere, it might even beat home..... so yeah thatll be fun. saturday i have a training day for my trip to romania. i dont know exactly what a "training day" is but im sure ill find out when i get there. since it is like seven hours and all... but dont worry about me, ill still get the essays done, i always do.
well the person on the flute keeps messing up there scale and it makes me laugh everytime, i feel like a mean person. hopefully karissa will be done soon and we can go back and decorate some more and watch the movie elf.
i post some pictures.
k bye.
weve been getting in the christmas spirit around here. tomorrow is a christmas tree lighting (there is a giant one in the middle of campus). im really looking forward to it, you know since i missed the one at home and all. but i guess there will be hot chocolate and cookies, and who skips out on a free one of those. honestly. well so yesterday we moved all of the furniture in our living room around and it looks adorable. its so open and welcoming. we bought a fake tree and put it in the room and decorated it with lights and ornaments. we put fake garland, lights, and candycanes around our sliding balcony doors, and we put colored lights around our kitchen window. i must say though, i absolutely hate christmas lights. they worked, then they didnt work, we changed the fuse and everything and it came down to us going back to walmart, returning them, and restringing them. what a hassle. this week we intend on having a stocking making party since they are just to epensive to afford these days.
a lot of homework to look forward to. three six page essays all do on the same day next week. wooo. i plan on going snowboarding two or three times this weekend. thursday afternoon, friday, and sunday. thursday night is mine and jeremys joint birthday party. we are going to a pizza place called beau jos, i think thats how you spell it. it has the best pizza of anywhere, it might even beat home..... so yeah thatll be fun. saturday i have a training day for my trip to romania. i dont know exactly what a "training day" is but im sure ill find out when i get there. since it is like seven hours and all... but dont worry about me, ill still get the essays done, i always do.
well the person on the flute keeps messing up there scale and it makes me laugh everytime, i feel like a mean person. hopefully karissa will be done soon and we can go back and decorate some more and watch the movie elf.
i post some pictures.
k bye.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
home sweet home
i am so lame. i made this completly awesome blog that people actually read and yet i have abandoned it. i got carried away by other priorities, school, friends, the outdoors, and going home.
last week i went home. seeing my family was perfect and everything that i hoped for. i ate a TON and played a lot of guitar hero. it was sweet. although i must admit that i was real disappointed with the weather. honestly, rain in november? come on world. whats happening. so there was no snowboarding for me. and no sledding. hopefully by christmas. it was nice to see shay and a few others but im sure next break will be better when people actually go home. im really looking forward to that. it was my birthday on thursday, thanksgiving day, it was exciting. i got some giftcards to where i needed them, some tasty chocolate, a movie, and a snowboard bag. i was very happy.
thanksgiving was a whole other story in itself. we drove out to cooper landing in the worst weather possible. pouring rain and terrible wind. we barely made it. we got o the cabin and dropped some stuff off and then went down the road to my aunts house where we proceeded to get dinner ready. my cousin katie was there who i love to death and i was so excited to see her. aunt cissy, our new uncle, step uncle? im not quite sure what to call him, so ill just call him nick. he is amazing and i really like him a lot. then his daughter alex, and my dad and brother were all there, ohh and my mom. so it was cozy.
five minutes after we started cooking, katie and i had just started to cut potatoes, the power went out. it was still kind of light outside but it would be getting dark soon. we got out candles and lanterns. then we realized the water was off too. this made the night so eventful. nick got us buckets of water from the creek which we used to cook our food, wash our hands, and flush the toilet. we even boiled it and washed dishes in it. the it got dark and a million candles were lit around the house. dinner was complete. we had a wood stove going and we sat down to eat by candle light. surprisingly the food was the best thanksgiving food that i had ever had. everything was perfect and amazing. ahhh i cant even explain. after dinner and the long process of washing dishes we played the game apples to apples and finally the power came back on at about eleven.
overall being home was a lot of fun. the end of the trip was better than the beginning so i was kind of sad to leave but it is a joy to be back in colorado. when i walked in there were decorations everywhere from my roommate. it was a great surprise. and now she is home and i am happy. the end.
ill write more often i promise.
last week i went home. seeing my family was perfect and everything that i hoped for. i ate a TON and played a lot of guitar hero. it was sweet. although i must admit that i was real disappointed with the weather. honestly, rain in november? come on world. whats happening. so there was no snowboarding for me. and no sledding. hopefully by christmas. it was nice to see shay and a few others but im sure next break will be better when people actually go home. im really looking forward to that. it was my birthday on thursday, thanksgiving day, it was exciting. i got some giftcards to where i needed them, some tasty chocolate, a movie, and a snowboard bag. i was very happy.
thanksgiving was a whole other story in itself. we drove out to cooper landing in the worst weather possible. pouring rain and terrible wind. we barely made it. we got o the cabin and dropped some stuff off and then went down the road to my aunts house where we proceeded to get dinner ready. my cousin katie was there who i love to death and i was so excited to see her. aunt cissy, our new uncle, step uncle? im not quite sure what to call him, so ill just call him nick. he is amazing and i really like him a lot. then his daughter alex, and my dad and brother were all there, ohh and my mom. so it was cozy.
five minutes after we started cooking, katie and i had just started to cut potatoes, the power went out. it was still kind of light outside but it would be getting dark soon. we got out candles and lanterns. then we realized the water was off too. this made the night so eventful. nick got us buckets of water from the creek which we used to cook our food, wash our hands, and flush the toilet. we even boiled it and washed dishes in it. the it got dark and a million candles were lit around the house. dinner was complete. we had a wood stove going and we sat down to eat by candle light. surprisingly the food was the best thanksgiving food that i had ever had. everything was perfect and amazing. ahhh i cant even explain. after dinner and the long process of washing dishes we played the game apples to apples and finally the power came back on at about eleven.
overall being home was a lot of fun. the end of the trip was better than the beginning so i was kind of sad to leave but it is a joy to be back in colorado. when i walked in there were decorations everywhere from my roommate. it was a great surprise. and now she is home and i am happy. the end.
ill write more often i promise.
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