May Photo Challenge

Dad threw down the gauntlet by posting this on my Facebook wall yesterday. It was funny, because I had just been thinking that I wanted to improve my skills by taking more photos. And I've got nothing better to do right? At the end of this month, Jake will be off gallivanting in France without me... So I need something to do with my time! The only sad thing about this challenge is that the last day is "Love" and Jake won't be here to take a picture with me! Doesn't that make you want to cry? Yeah, me too. I may have to just skip that day and take a picture with him when he comes back. I probably won't clog up the blog with photos every day, because I think that's obnoxious and un-aesthetically pleasing, but expect to see a couple of "This week in photos!" posts over the next month!

Ups and Downs

Stats:

assignments left: 0
times cried: 1
close calls: 3
coffees: 4
free time: lots
mood: up and down
reading: Tuesdays with Morrie
highlights: working on the porch, soccer invite, Passion CD

Weekly Update:

I won't lie; it's been a really tough week. It started strong, with me pepping myself until I finished all three of my last assignments for my degree. I turned them in Monday afternoon, totally psyched to send for my transcripts immediately and apply for graduation upon their arrival at TESC....

Easter Reflections

Last Sunday, Pastor Kyle preached about the importance of telling your story (which is synonymous, he said, with the story of Christ) and he challenged everyone to tell their story to at least one person before Easter.

I didn't meet the challenge.

I wrestled with the question all week long. What is my story? Though I'd just written my autobiography, I wasn't sure if that was the same as my testimony. What was the significance of Christ in my life? I was 7 years old when I was saved.  I had no dramatic before and after picture of my life. No powerful story to tell. Perhaps you can tell I have struggled with this question for a long time.

Coffee and a Croissant

Stats:

assignments left before graduation: 2
hours worked on paper1: 8+ (this week)
drinks from Starbucks: 6
tempature high: 91*
learning: contentment
mood: charmed
highlights: trying a new college group, dinner with Becky, finishing a paper, and a leisurely morning




Weekly Update:

I swear, I am having the best day ever. After a four hour stint in Starbucks yesterday (a new one opened up close to my house!), I finally finished one of the two papers due for my last two classes. Only two more assignments to go!! (Another paper, and the annotated bibliography. Don't ask me why they are separate assignments.) Before I set out, I texted Jake, "I am going to finish this paper TODAY or I am not going to soccer tonight." I find these kind of ultimatums scary to make, but motivating and helpful. Needless to say, I FINISHED IT (though it still needs some proofreading before I turn it in) and went heavy-handed on the rewards: eegees, soccer, and a phone date with my beau. ^-^

Today, I had a huge chunk of free time and I thought, "What am I going to do with my day off?" (besides catch up on chores and blogging, of course). While talking to my mom this morning, I said, "You know what sounds really good right now? A ham and cheese croissant. Where could I get one?" So, I went to LeBuzz cafe, for no reason at all (except the croissant, that is.). I wasn't there to study or grab coffee with someone or anything. Just getting out of the house. I took a book with me. And it was one of the most glorious mornings I've ever spent. I also decided that my ideal lifestyle involves a daily breakfast of coffee and a croissant (ideally, but not necessarily, in a cafe). How lovely would that be?

Brace Face

Guess who came home with a mouth full of metal this week? That's right, Cameron is now sporting Seahawks colored braces! He was really bummed to give up starbursts, chips, and popcorn for the next 18 months, but in the meantime, he gets to eat lots of jello, smoothies, and yogurt! He's been quite sullen lately, but I think once the soreness wears off, he'll embrace the his mechanical mouth, even if it means giving up sweets for a little while.

On the Way to 5K!

Dad and I are about halfway through our interval training and tonight we went 2.78 miles!! And I ran 5 minutes straight...twice! Every day, this 5K feels a little bit closer and a little bit more attainable. Friday, we'll be pushing it up to 6 minutes. Woohoo!

Life and Art: Part 2

I recently found this email written to Jake and the sentiments expressed still ring so true in my heart today. Especially with my new insights on my purpose. The desire to create things, to live life artfully has never compelled me so much as now.

On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 10:16 AM, Misha Tyler wrote:

I read this in a book (called Ascent of a Leader) for school this morning:

"Let them remember there is meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power, and that we can--every one--do our share to redeem the world in spite of all absurdities and all frustrations and all disappointments. And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art." -Rabbi Abraham Heschel

The chapter goes on to describe a painting that from up close appears to be a collection of random splatters of paint that don't make any sense. But as you step back and look at the bigger picture, you begin to see that it's an actual image. It relates it back to real life saying, 

"...though life may appear random, even ugly from up close, if you have the right perspective and distance, you can see beauty. Compelling beauty. Breathtaking beauty. Even though the subject matter is common enough--ordinary people living ordinary lives-- the hand of the Master is at work.

"Each life is a work of art, created with living, breathing paints with a will of their own. We actively participate in the process of our own making. We sometimes get glimpses into the Master's purpose as we see the brush strokes in our lives come together. But from day to day it can be difficult to make sense of the seeming absurdities of our own foibles and troubles. We may question the Creator's choice of colors, technique, or materials..." and then it trails off into a vaguely related story. I imagine it should finish something like, "...but in the end, we may see the full picture and perhaps come to an understanding of the Creator's work in our lives." 

...the whole thing spoke to me, personally, and I wanted to share. Especially the idea of living artfully. I love that. And getting so caught up in the day-to-day struggles, you lose sight of the bigger picture. The leadership courses have definitely challenged me to look at the bigger picture of my life and pursue goals and improving character. Otherwise, I feel like I am wasting my weeks--purposelessly drifting along with no end in sight. And that, to me, is the definition of a miserable existence.

Living Artfully (or trying to),

Misha

The Danger of Daydreams

I never really thought about daydreams as "dangerous" until I read a post by Good Women Project on the topic. What's dangerous about a daydream? But lately, I've found myself sustaining many different daydreams as I start to plan for the future and I don't like what it does to my mind. They are innocent things to me and (it is worth noting) realistic-- the future with Jake, traveling, career possibilities etc., but I hate what it does to my mind.

I have more than a few harmless dreams--I'd love to travel abroad and experience other cultures, taste new food, listen to strange music, and maybe pick up a language (or two!). But I found myself latching on to any story of young people traveling--most recently, I heard of a girl who stayed with friends in France for a year while waiting for her fiance to finish school--and trying to figure out how I could follow in their footsteps to achieve my own ends. 

And then the thought occurred to me, perhaps I just need to learn how to be content with the shape my life takes regardless of which path I ultimately choose. My "harmless daydreams" stirred my jealousy and magnified my discontent, making me feel "stuck" because I couldn't do the same things they did. Couldn't walk the same paths they walked. But that doesn't mean I will never travel; I just need to find my own way to do it, instead of pursuing avenues that worked for other people, but might not work for me. 

So I've been rethinking a lot of boxes and expanding not only my perceived options, but also my expectations for what I want the future to look like. The truth is, it never looks quite like you planned it out to be; but being such a detailed planner, this is difficult for me to embrace. Still, I try to be flexible and in the mean time, I'll be dwelling in the here and now and not daydreaming of what is to come. 

Photo Credit: Ryan McGuire

The Best Things in Life...

I am convinced that the best things in life are the little things. Like my brother serenading me to sleep with his ukulele last night. Who cares if he was just making up a song about his favorite ugly sweater? I certainly didn't. (And plus, I was too tired to be much of a critic.) It's moments like this that make me forget how annoying he normally is. Love you, Cam! ;)

The Stats of Intentions

Stats:

hours worked this week: 15
assignments left: 3
blog posts intended: 8
blog posts written: 3
blog posts posted: 2
best running time: 4 minutes
mood: tired, but positive
reading: If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
pondering: the future
learning: plans change
highlights: a nap, water-balloon dodgeball at youth group on Wednesday, and seeing a work project come together.


Weekly Update:

It's been a few weeks since I've given any stats and that's where the intentions come in. But life happens and I get busy-busy. I meant to write a bunch of interesting posts and then plans fell through and I didn't make time for it in my schedule and violá here we are.

I feel like the only remarkable thing I've done this week is work. Which is totally fine with me; we have some cool projects underway. But I'd feel boring if that's all I talked about (everybody knows that guy who only talks about his work all. the. time. And I definitely don't wanna be that guy.) But truthfully, since I finished my thesis, I haven't done much except... work. With school out of the way (mostly) and in the midst of the busy season, I've taken on a lot more hours than I was originally contracted for (5-7/week), but it's been good, and it looks like they'll be giving me more hours this summer!

I've also been thinking a lot about the future lately--career options, travel goals, etc.--but that's a post for another time.

Little Shop of Horrors

I had the pleasure of hitching a ride out to San Diego with Jake's parents to see him perform in SDCC's spring musical Little Shop of Horrors. It was just a quick trip, but what fun!

Highlights included:

• Our impromptu tour guide Jim (who also hitched a ride with us)
• Lunch at a local Italian restaurant in Gila Bend
• Seeing the show (twice!)
• Catching all the added gags the second time
• Analyzing the hidden meanings of the show
• Leisurely breakfasts
• A mini-piano concert by Jake
• Meeting a CollegePlus student while striking the set!
• Running with Ms. Jessica in the park
• Multiple trips to Starbucks

The entire cast did a phenomenal job, but (not surprisingly) I thought Jake did the best of all! He played both of his roles (the dentist and the voice of the plant) very well and it was a joy to watch him perform, even though both his roles were antagonists.