Spring Break Fullness

These are pictures of my new apartment. I threw an "apartment warming" party a few weeks back and so finally had to finish putting it all together. Every morning now I love waking up, seeing an apartment actually full of light, and hearing the birds singing outside. Thus I spend about 20-30 minutes each morning just laying calmly in bed, enjoying the fact that I am alive and am so grateful for this new situation.

Sometimes I don't know where the time goes! This week, while intended to be slow and relaxing, has become a non-stop, yet fun whirlwind. I spent last weekend entertaining different friends and then spent Easter at my granny's. We drove over Sunday evening to the family beach house where the next three days were spent with a variety of my cousins, aunts, and included a quick visit from my parents. (Dad even taught me how to replace multiple components of a toilet-he's the family "fix-it" man.) I spent Wednesday with my sister. For her birthday she had wanted us to spend a day together. So I took her to lunch and then gave her fashion advice as we shopped. I spent Wednesday evening at my granny's again and then came back to my apartment on Thursday. Ran the usual errands, cut my hair again, and caught up on news-by then the evening was gone! Yesterday was spent on a local winery tour as part of the weekend bridal celebration for a close friend of mine, and today will conclude with more of her celebrations. This evening is the Earth Hour at 8pm by the way. And tomorrow will focus on finishing my scholarship applications and finishing two books that I borrowed from friends for the break. And then the new term begins again! How glad I am though to have these opportunities-to have the moments with friends, to cherish new memories of time with family, to feel the ocean breeze and listen to the gentle falling of the rain, to see the snowflakes, to feel the sunshine, to laugh, to read, to enjoy, to be alive, and to have a comfortable apartment to return to. I'm again reminded of how fortunate I am.....



And these are pictures depicting the beautiful spring in my neighborhood. It never fails to make me laugh how much this small town gal is enjoying the vibrancy of the city.

Hope you all have enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilling week yourselves!

Feast of Information

It's pretty much become feast or famine here on my blog (I suppose in that way it resembles our world, no?). So get ready for a feast of information:

Since my last class of the term was yesterday, I am happily engaging in a stack of titles that I have been wanting to read for some time now. Included in the stack are:
Not Just a Pretty Face-Stacy Malkan
How Doctors Think-Dr. Jerome Groopman
Last Child in the Woods-Richard Louv
Healthy at 100-John Robbins

I finished the Groopman book last night. It had originally been assigned for my Health Systems Organization course and is a great book about why doctors make mistakes and how patients can be better advocates. The doctor-patient relationship truly is a partnership and often we overlook that doctors are human also. It also gives a pretty insightful look at the current health system.

The book I started this morning, Not Just a Pretty Face, is about the toxic chemicals found within the beauty industry that impact men, women, and children. The first chapter alone has me jazzed up and ready to take on the world again. That is partly due to the fact that the first chapter focuses on the entirety of the chemical industry however. In never ceases to amaze me that people wonder why we suffer so many ill health effects....hmmm could it be all the chemicals floating around that are not regulated? Could it be the principle of bioaccumulation? Could it be that we don't adhere to the precautionairy principle at all? Yet, I find myself biting my tongue more frequently than not, especially around family.

Which brings me, sort of, to my next topic. :-) In my home community meeting last evening we talked about Mark 8:34-9:3. The primary part of which is Jesus telling the crowd that to truly follow Him we must give up the ways of the world and our adherence to our own independent identity instead of one focused on Him and His purpose. Now how does this tie in? Because lately I have found myself getting sucked back into the consumerism and expectations of the world instead of looking at the larger picture and trying to live at a more simple existence. In some ways, for me at least, living a life of simplicity is the same as living a Christian lifestyle (although like many Christians, I struggle in living a truly Christian lifestyle). But when I look at the example of Christ, well just think how against the grain he was! How simple, how socially justice orientated! He sat amongst the dirty, the diseased, the poor. He cared about treatment of ALL others and he didn't accumulate more than he needed. In fact, the Bible explicits says that we should live accordingly.

As part of our discussion last evening, we met in small groups to discuss the ways in which we struggle. The ways in which we adhere to the ways of our society and the world, and the ways in which we hesitate in walking closer to the way of the Lord. So now my thoughts are floating back to how to regain satisfaction with needing to do, be, and have less. That true satisfaction comes beyond seeking for more in the physical realm of this world. That, for me, living truly in a mentality geared toward Christ and His mission, also means living simply, giving more to others in a variety of ways, and doing what I can to advocate and educate for the care of all God's people and this planet He gave us as a gift.

One additional link I want to add: http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php I was sent this by a friend who is one of the few in my life who I can truly talk to about environmental issues. The link depicts images from an art installation that demonstrates many of the things we use that are also detrimental to our health, to the planet, and thus to our existence.

More to come I'm sure.....it's spring break after all and my thoughts are flowing.....

Productivity and Easter Goodies

It's been a productive day thus far. I'm down to finishing one project and completing a take home exam I'll get on Thursday before the term is over. I can't wait. The good news is that I was able to spend some time today with some of the smaller things I've had on my mind as well.

I got back to Portland from my "official" last academic Salem weekend about 11am. Unpacked my car and then looked at the wonderful things the Easter bunny brought me...hence the above picture. I got window boxes made from recycled plastic (baskets), organic potting soil (green filler), and organic seeds (jelly beans). For good measure the smart Easter Bunny gave me some additional garden utensils and a little tea bag holder. (I'm glad 25 isn't too old for a visit from E.B.)

EB, aka Mom and Dad, also brought me some of my extra hangers and freezer jam from their house, and a couple other items I asked for as well. (Including my Mariner's hat...season starts soon!) As I've decided it's cheaper, lighter, and made from more environmentally friendly packaging to make juice from concentrate, I also asked them to bring up an old juice container that they never use.

Thus today I've done quite a few "little things." Sent a card to my buddy who's deployed and a postcard to the kids from summer. Dropped off 2 final bags of scarves for the street kids and returned a book I'd borrowed from someone in that neighborhood. Looked for a frame (who knew it'd be so hard?!) and dropped off pants at Goodwill. Uploaded photos from the weekend's family bday party. Unpacked and organized all the goodies. Made o.j. Cleaned the apartment and took out trash/recycling. Fixed and hung my wind chime (thank God for tape & floss).

Now it's back to the academic grindstone for the rest of the week, but I hope to write a few thank yous and work on scholarships this evening also.

Am also including 2 pictures of my newest reuses for drink bottles: There's nothing like a glass bottle for a vase or saving the planet one flush at a time via a plastic bottle filled with water!

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEK!

D-E-B-T and Saving

I'm sitting with all of my notes and papers scattered around me, but before I dive in I wanted to post quickly and attach a link to a little "article" that popped up on yahoo yesterday.

It's nice to see that more and more people are becoming aware of the debt trap. Now if only we can convince most people to use the "economic stimulus" check to pay down debt.

I'll be the first to admit that I've invested in a few purchases lately getting ready for the coming spring/summer and that I (guilty!) also purchased a cheap new little digital camera. Sigh. However each purchase has been something I've been thinking about for awhile and have been waiting on until I potentially had the funds. Somehow, even with a fairly frugal student budget and saving for the coming months, I had the opportunity to make those purchases now.

However, I also always try to keep in mind what may come up tomorrow that will take more than I expect and budget accordingly. Planning for the unexpected AND the expected because something unexpected always comes up. I've been budgeting since I moved here to save money to pay for tuition and housing for summer when I won't have as much student loan money available to cover all of my expenses. And as much as I hate the idea of borrowing the full amount of loan money to pay back at a later date, I also realize that investing in education is one of the few debts that actually does pay one back at a later date. Plus since I've accustomed myself and generally choose to live a fairly cheap existence, it will be easier to pay off the debt as quickly as possible maintaining the same standard of living. How I long for a debt-free existence again!

One concept I have been wrestling with though is the idea that it's okay to spend on occasion to go out with friends or to purchase something that may be more of a simple pleasure. I think it's important to be aware of these choices though and how they impact the greater picture (such as human rights, recycling or passing on of old goods, etc). And to also make sure that I'm aware of where all of my money is going. However maybe I've decided that living as a hermit in order to save money, may not be the best idea....;-)

So now to the article, "The Seven Deadly Sins That Lead to Debt."

Product Review

I've been wanting to review a couple of different green products I've been using but haven't gotten around to it until now.

Over the Christmas break I purchased a stainless steel water bottle to replace the plastic bottles I continually cycled through the dishwasher. In my attempt to reduce production and waste and to save my health (plastic water bottles, including Nalgen's, leak chemicals that have been attributed to cancer after several uses or after exposure to warmer temperatures such as the sun shining on it for any real length of time), I bought one at the local co-op while I was on the coast and take it everywhere with me. It has turned out to be one of the best purchases I have made in a long time. I would highly recommend it for anyone as it makes it so easy to increase water intake and to do so in a healthy way. There is debate about which is the healthiest bottle, stainless steel or glass, but at least I don't have to worry about the stainless breaking. While the one I bought is a knock-off product, the main brand (and with reasonable prices) is Sigg.

I also purchased a reusable coffee filter basket. I had to purchase it online as none of the stores sold one that would fit into a 4 cup outfit. It took a while to get used to it and I have to be really careful when scrapping the used grounds into the garbage (unfortunately no composting options). It filters slightly differently than regular paper filters as it allows more of the natural oils to pass through, thus the coffee in the pot appears darker than before and tastes slightly different as well. And from a frugal standpoint, it's not the best deal as I would have to use it over 1000 times to offset the cost. Since it's partly manufactured out of plastic and not recyclable if it becomes damaged, I also have to wonder which is environmentally worse-the reusable basket or using paper coffee filters? While many options exist, the one I purchased (and got the image from) was from Medelco.

Spiritual Wisdom

Time has been passing so quickly. Two weeks left of the term and some how the days are just slipping away from me without much researching or writing getting done. Somehow it will all be completed though-of that I'm sure.

Last Saturday found me passing through an evening full of multiple emotional thoughts but luckily an old friend lent an ear. Somehow my original thoughts of the week, led to a continued introspective week, and finalized in my realization of the fact that who I am is currently changing-whether I want the change or not. On Sunday, God provided many answers to my concerns of last week through the songs, sermon, and community that I found during church.

The sermon itself talked about suffering-never an easy topic for a minister to preach about but one that seemed to solidify to me that God understood what I'd been thinking in terms of feeling guilty about others who have so little and who suffer through much. The crucial transition point of the sermon centered on changing our thinking from asking WHY suffering occurs and instead taking on the question of HOW we can go about easing suffering and creating change. That the reality is that suffering does occur but in one way or another God does much with it. We also can do much with it, to ease it, to demonstrate God's love to others.

The additional take home message from the service seemed to tell me to be patient during this time of waiting because in this moment God wants me to be learning, trusting, and depending. He will show me where to go from here when the appropriate time has come. We sang the final hymn- If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee. Perfect words for what I needed to hear.

This evening I attended a home community in my neighborhood based on a church I used to attend here in Portland. We shared "our stories" this evening in small groups and at first I always feel uncomfortable with this idea. I never feel that I have an "ah-ha" moment to share. However I also realized tonight that the journey of my life, the things I've thought about, supported through, and carried over the last few years all are aspects of my spiritual life as well. My life story is in fact my spiritual story and will continue to be. However it was nice to come together in community with others of similar interests in my neighborhood as well.

I hope each of you is having a calming and wonderful week!

A Week of Thoughts...

Sister beware....it's a tadbit lengthy...

Monday ended in a reflective bit of depression at the state of the globe. My international health course left me again realizing how much change is required and how many obstacles exist before change can occur. There are moments when I sit in a room full of my peers recognizing that these individuals are humanitarians, who have lived amongst the most economically disadvantaged of our globe. These are individuals who are all pursuing degrees in health and who care about the state of our world. Yet if you heard the opinions, saw the behaviors, and noticed the consumption of all of us you would be astonished. If those of us who know what is going on and know what has to be done, cannot even truly live our lives in a manner to ease the burden of others-then how can we expect other people to change? How can we ask of others, what we ourselves struggle to do?

I have ruminated a lot this week about the thought that ignorance is bliss. If I did not know what I do know, I wouldn't care that the make-up I put on my face each morning leaks toxins into my skin, I wouldn't feel it's necessary to spend $4 on 5-6 organic apples, I wouldn't feel guilty buying new clothes or spending money on a couple of beers with friends, I wouldn't wait until it's really cold to turn the heat on, I wouldn't be annoyed at my new cell phone having problems, and I wouldn't write my representatives asking for change. If I didn't know what I do know, I would freely buy myself new shoes, new CDs, new throw away crap, I'd eat whatever foods I wanted regardless of the health impacts, I wouldn't cook from scratch ever or eat balanced meals, I'd drive my car wherever I wanted, I'd waste heat, water, food more than I already do, and I'd live like most Americans.

So how come even with many of the changes I have made...I sometimes feel it's not enough? And the answer is: Because I do know. I know about what is in so many of the products, I know about the workers in bad conditions and the lack of regulation for me to have the products I buy, I know about the majority of others who suffer because I have too much, and I can't help but wish (at times desperately in my soul) that we wouldn't live like this and that it never would have gotten to this point. But we are here, and regardless of what people say to me, I will never feel that what I do is enough. I've had this discussion many times this week and it's been commented on this blog that I shouldn't feel guilty, partly because of the ways that I do compensate....but that guilt isn't going to go away because these problems will continue to exist and I am still consciously making MANY decisions with negative impacts.

There are moments when I am saddened by how much I still allow society to influence my desires, but I also have come to realize I suppose that sometimes in order to influence change you have to remain a part of society to get to the power players and to the masses. But when will I regain the motivation I once had and do that? Although that's more of a personal question than anything....

A conversation from this week also discussed the idea of praying to be uncomfortable in one's life. This concept is one that first was mentioned to me by an old college roommate and at the time, I didn't like the idea. Yet in my own life, I soon realized that in the moments when I was the most "uncomfortable," I seemed to be going through the most growth-generally both professionally and personally, as for me the two tend to operate interchangeably. And it was during these periods of growth that I depended most upon God to help me become a better person, to use me to touch the lives of others, to teach me about my strengths and weaknesses, and to strengthen my relationship with Him.

Thus being "uncomfortable" can yield incredible results. And one could argue that when we become too comfortable, we are in fact stagnant. So I found it ironic when the other individual in the conversation posed the question to me, "So are you uncomfortable?" And my response was....no, I'm not uncomfortable.....in fact I live my life in a means to be as stress-free and "safe" (well as safe as can be based upon the first paragraphs of above) as possible. In fact, I would have to say that I pretty much make decisions that I already know what the results will be. And the two additional ironies are that currently I feel like I trust God more than I usually do and that there are many moments when I feel that where I am now is where I am supposed to be. So then, why do I also feel that I AM indeed stagnant....because I am waiting....and I haven't quite yet gotten to the point of recognizing what I am supposed to be learning while I am waiting........however I don't know that I'm quite at the point of wanting to be uncomfortable either although I know it will arrive.....it always does....

May be some unfinished thoughts....but just like everyone else, I'm a unfinished individual....