This is the Coronado Theatre in Rockford, IL. It is, by far, the most beautiful theatre I have ever seen. I have been in theatres around the country: Milwaukee, Madison, Buffalo, Huntsville, New York City, and several in Washington DC. Though not the largest, the Coronado far exceeds any other in beauty and opulance. I thought of it the other night when I went to a local show. Since this theatre, I have been disappointed with every other theatre I've seen. The renovation completed a just few years ago is supposedly mimics the Coronado's original decor. It is breathtaking. The lobby glistens with statuesque pillars supporting elegant balconies, guilded arches draped in crimson velvet, and hanging chandeliers that reflect off 30 foot glass mirrors. It's an experience like none other. I had the privilege of seeing Puccini's La Boheme here, and it was a night I will never forget. So, lest I conclude without making my point, this theatre is exquisite, and you must go see it if you ever have the chance. I promise you will not regret it.

Ok, well, I think Heather's the only one who ever checks this anymore, so, hi Heather.

I guess I just needed to write something out that I can't say right now.

Ok, so yucky day at work. Nothing eventful, but yucky. Then I come home to find on tv one of those shows about solving crimes. Patricia Arquette. I don't know the name. The theme on this week is something about a pervert who keeps two girls locked in his basement. They're beat up, bruised, and bleeding, and he comes down and takes one of them. I didn't stay long enough to watch. Mom and Dad didn't excuse it, said it wasn't fun, but that they needed closure. Why?! Why even start it once you've seen where it's going?! I can't do it! Anything like that. Why do we watch movies like The Cell and Saw? What is our sick fascination with the psychotic perversion of a criminals mind? And why in the world do we find it entertaining??!!!!! Why do they make them? They wouldn't make them if we didn't watch them. But we do. Over and over again. That's why Saw (what is it, 4?) came out. I guess people think of it as the mystery, the chase, the police aspect of finding the bad guy and making things better. But why does it have to go there? Why do they have to dwell on rapes, child abuse, and the twisted demented side of crime? Isn't there enough of that in reality? Somewhere out there, right now, at this very instant, that is happening to someone. A child is being kidnapped, a young girl is being murdered. And we watch it on tv, for fun.

I hate tv.

I know, it's been forever. Sorry.

"Men get opinions as boys learn to spell, by reiteration chiefly." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

So, I found this quote today while looking online. And I like it. Look around. There is a constant battle for originality. Ironically, this isn't new. I read of Aristotle, who looked for wisdom in the men around him. He found they all thought higher of themselves than others did. He said their arrogance made them ignorant. He then affirmed that since he acknowledged his lack of wisdom, he was better off than they. But is that not the same thing? Was he not as arrogant as they?

We're still doing it. We still condemn each other and praise ourselves. We claim our own originality. "There is no new thing under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). We may know that, but it hasn't stopped us yet. After all, I'm writing this, aren't I?

Actually, I'll be taking a rather fast jet to China. I leave today at 3:30 from Hunstville, AL, and by tomorrow afternoon, will be setting foot in Chengdu China (though by that time, it'll be Saturday because of the time change.) I am so incredibly excited.

I think only family and friend read this, so everyone should know by now, but I'm going to China to teach Enlish for 3 weeks. We'll be gone for a little longer, because of travel time, but we'll be in the class for 3 weeks. We will be in Chengdu, China, in the Sizchuan province (SW part) of China. I say we... Mike is coming with me. We are 2 of about 30 students from Maranatha, which is 1 of 4 schools making the trek. There are almost 150 students total. We will be spread around the province, some in the city, some in the country, teaching conversational English to students ranging in age from 6 or 7 all the way into adulthood. I actually received news a few weeks ago, that I may be teaching some of the university professors. Talk about intimidating! But we're excited and looking forward to every moment.

I must rush, as we leave in less than 5 hours! If you care to find how I'm doing, please go to our website: www.teamchinaonline.org

See you all in a month! Love you!

Okay, so, I just spend a half hour posting on here about my life right now, and my summer plans. Then, this silly computer (actually, it was the blog host, but its bad advertising to admit that), logged me out somehow! So, it's gone, I'm a half hour behind, and I'm frustrated!

But now that I think about it, anyone who reads those knows about those plans, or at least could call me if they didn't. So, in a nutshell:

• I'm now from Alabama. Dad works for Baptist World Mission.
• Mike's at Marine Officer Candidate School. Gone for a few more weeks.
• I'm going to Pennsylvania in a week. Will see Heather and Sarah Jane, and go to Hershey Park and NYC. Can't beat it!!
• My best friend is in Europe right now.
• And I'm going to China. Me, and Mike, and about 25 other kids from school, and that many from 3 other schools. We leave mid-July, get back early-August. We're teaching English in Chengdu, and I'm so not ready yet! I'll get there though... I hope.

Um... yeah. I think that about covers it. Basic facts. How/where am I in the middle of this? Keeping pretty busy, unpacking lots. Glad Al's here. She's keeping me sane (scary, I know!) I think I'm okay with the South, though changing again is never easy. I'm praying for Mike, excited about Pennsylvania, and have a lot to do for China, though I think it's going to be great. Oh, and did I mention that right away I go back to school (with both siblings this time), and that it's my last semester! I'll be done with college. It's incredible! Life is just flying by, but it'll be good--I just know it!

 Okay, so yeah. This was the world I live in on April 11th. Yes, April 11th. Seriously, people! I know its Wisconsin, but three inches of snow in April is just ridiculous! The good news is that it didn't last long. In fact, right now its 80 degrees here (another freak day that will not continue. This time unfortunately.) I guess these are the joys of living up north. Actually though, I'll be moving down South soon. I'll take another time to post on that, but I'm excited about it. It'll be nice and warm!

School's about to get out. We start finals this Thursday and then graduation is next week. It's nuts. Take it another step further-- I'm done in one semester! That is so incredibly awesome. In same ways, I'm looking at college and saying, "Where did it go? It went so fast!" But in another sense, I'm ready to be done- especially considering the fact that I'm still plannin on grad school. So my education isn't entirely done with. (Okay, far from.) This summer is going to be so interesting. We're moving as soon as my little sis *see picture below* is done graduating from high school. Then, in mid-July, I take off with my little brother and about 30 other kids from school to go teach English in China. It's going to be so amazing! I cannot wait! Life is so incredible. Really. I mean, it's not always enjoyable, but it's truly amazing the way the lows bring out the highs, the way struggles form into triumphs, confusion gives way to direction, and it all forms together into a life-- 80 years of it. One step leads to another and every moment shapes who we are. It's just incredible! In the for-what-its-worth category, I can't imagine looking at the complexity of human life and not seeing God's hand in it. It's utterly amazing!

Here's a random picture of me and my little sister. She's the one in the back. I'm in the foreground. But I look different (a lot like her) because I straightened my hair. Okay, seriously, you cannot imagine the difference it makes for a curly girl to go straight. People flipped out. I got many compliments, and several people upset that I'd done it. But the best reaction was no reaction at all. Several friends just walked right past me, not recognizing who I was. One friend knew I'd straightened it and still couldn't find me when she wanted to. Another professor came and was already shaking my hand before he recognized me. It was really quite amusing! I'll have to try it again sometime. (Perhaps when I have another hour just staring me in the face with nothing to do.)

Well, I think I've procrastinated my Biology studying for long enough. Perhaps I'd better go.  Till then...

Okay, well, this is just a little piece of my world. Actually, this is what I'm looking at right now. The Gerber Daisies are the remnants of the gorgeous bouquet my daddy sent me for my birthday. It was utterly brilliant and breathtaking! I've saved two roses that are now hanging beside my computer, and these three beautiful flowers have lasted and still brighten my day with every glance! Next to it is a picture of me and two of my dearest friends. I'm so thankful that God has allowed me some amazing friendships in the last few years. Some have started on the funniest of terms, some have lasted in spite of busy schedules, crazy lives, and differing interests, others have gone through seasons of change and morphed into something better than I ever expected.

I find that I too often doubt God. When I lose sight of Him and His greater plan, I easily fall away. Just yesterday, I was thinking, and let my mind wander from truth. Before I knew it, I was in tears, overwhelmed at my lack of understanding and strength. But with the guidance of a friend, and a moment to think on the God I love, my mind was once again at peace, trusting Him. What a clear example of Peter's escapade across the waves. As soon as he took his eyes off the LORD, he floundered. But with His focus on the father and not His trials, he could literally walk on water. And in a figurative sense, so can I. I'm learning that. Slowly. I've spent a lot of time fighting the waves lately-- a lot of time barely keeping my head above water. But God is teaching me that I don't have to fight it, that if I just look at Him, He'll lift me above the stormy sea and draw me closer to Him. He'll give me peace in the midst of the storm.

This is my spot. Well, a part of it. It's a park not too far from school that has a lot of open space, and some lovely trees around. Birches are the most beautiful tree, are they not? In the summer, the stark white contrasts against the backdrop of luscious green leaves. And in the winter... well, just look at it. It's beautiful.

It's snowed this weekend, mostly today. I walked through eight inches of snow to find some time beneath my trees. But it was worth it. It's still there. Though the world is still moving about, it seems as though the snow is God's way of telling the world, "Hush. Slow down. Be still." I was contemplating that today-- be still. I've heard it and pondered it very often before, but it struck me differently today. I've always heard that we need to be still, to hear God's still, small voice. And I believe that. It's hard to hear God's whisper while you're shouting to be heard. So I went to be still, and to hear. But you know what? God doesn't say that. The goal of the stillness is not to get the answer you're crying for. The psalmist instead writes, "Be still, and know I am not." He doesn't say, "Be still and listen for my thundering answer." He doesn't say, "Be still long enough for me to speak, then get up and go your way." He says, "Be still, and know I am God." Psalm 46 then goes and declares God's glory. That's it. No promise that, in the stillness, God's revelation will always come. I went to my spot today, praying for direction, for leading, for answers. Instead God showed me that that's not His plan, at least not for today. It's for me to be still, to cease striving, and to be content in that stillness. Rather than looking at winter as transient, and only a necessary season to get to the life of spring, I must be content with the falling snow and rejoice in the beauty it has to offer, today. I cannot look for tomorrow in today's revelation. All I can do is be content, at rest. All I can do is be still.