Mercy Me Concert

     This spring I went to my first concert - Winter Jam. Shortly after going I learned that one of my favorite bands, Mercy Me, was going to be coming to my home town as part of their Imagine tour. I have liked their music for a while, but since concerts were never my thing I didn't ever think about seeing them perform in person. Winter Jam broke the ice for that and I realized that I would enjoy seeing them live.

     Unfortunately I put off getting the tickets a little too long. By the time I got around to it all of the seats in the section that I wanted had been sold, except for a few spots here and there. So it was either pay extra to get seats together in the next bracket or find someone who was willing to go to the concert with me, but not sit together. Who better than family to fill that role? I convinced my father to come with me. We ended up getting seats close to each other, one directly in front of the other with just a few rows separating.

     Even with the awkward seating situation I think the concert was an experience both of us enjoyed. I wasn't completely prepared with what to expect, but the concert was similar to the one I had been to previously, if on the smaller scale. The band performed well and we got to hear some of the stories behind their songs.

Stir Fry

     This is my final meal that I made while living by myself for a week - stir fry!

     Stir Fry is one of my go-to things to make. I especially like to make it with leftovers since it is quick, fun, easy, and gets old food out of the fridge. This time I did not have any leftover meat to work with. However, it just so happens that there was some already trimmed, cubed, and marinated chicken in the freezer that I could use.

     The first thing I did was to cook my rice (I just used the rice setting on the microwave. It works!) and chop my vegetables. You can use whatever kind of vegetables you want. I used carrots, onions, and celery, as well as some leftover broccoli.

     Next I cooked my raw vegetables. After they were cooked I removed them from the pan and cooked my chicken. When that was all done I added in my vegetables, including the precooked broccoli and warmed everything up. Served with the rice my stir fry was ready to go!

A Variation on Green Bean Casserole

     One of my favorite side dishes is green bean casserole. For this variation I was inspired from another green bean casserole recipe from one of our recipe books. I took out some of the things I didn't like (like green peppers) and added somethings I did.

Ingredients:

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Milk

Soy Sauce

1-2 cans of green beans (drained)

Ground hamburger (browned)

Frozen tater tots 

This recipe is really easy, if a little vague. Some of the things you just have to eyeball. 

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix the cream of mushroom soup with a little milk and soy sauce. Add in the green beans and hamburger. Mix. (Note: I would advise draining the green beans. I forgot to do this and my end result was still palatable, if on the soupy side). Top with tater tots and bake for an hour at 350.

This recipe works great for leftovers as well. I only used one can of green beans, and all together it was enough for two full meals for me!

Taco Soup

     For a week this month I was all by myself. I had to act responsibly, cooking and cleaning up for myself. One of the main challenges was cooking meals. I think I overcame the challenge and considering I survived the week alone, I was pretty successful. So, I would like to share some of my successes here.

     One of the things I made was Taco Soup! This is a great dish because it is easy to make and tastes good the second time around. Yay leftovers!

Taco Soup

(makes 11 cups)

1 lb ground beef (browned)

1 onion, chopped

1 can chili beans, pour it all in

1 can kidney beans, mostly drain off

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

2 cans peeled/diced tomato

1 c. water

1 4 oz can green chiles

1 package taco seasoning

     Basically, you have some stuff and a bunch of cans, dump everything into a pot, warm it up, and create something delicious like this:

     This recipe is really good when topped with corn chips! Enjoy!

Graphic Texture

Semester #5

     I am now a junior in college! How crazy is that? I'm going to continue laying out my class schedule, if just for my own personal record of what I did when. So, enjoy!

1. Intermediate Spanish Grammar and Composition (Honors)
     This is the next step up in my journey up the Spanish language ladder. After completing the equivalent of Spanish 3 last semester, I am now on to bigger and better things. Essentially we will be going over what we learned in the past and focusing in on grammar and exposition. Our first writing assignment was a comparison essay of a Hispanic actor/actress/artist/famous person and one from our country of origin, specifically America. I chose Rita Moreno and Betty White. I was going to use Julie Andrews, but she is British and therefore off limits. This being an honors course, my compositions have to be a bit longer than my other fellow classmates.

2. Earth Science and Environment (Geology)
     I think it interesting that last semester I was taking astrology and learning about space, but this semester I am focusing closer to home. The class is technically called Earth Science, but I always refer to it as Geology (or Geometry if I get my words mixed up - it's okay, I know what I mean). Currently, we just finished up learning about  rocks and minerals and erosion and what not. This is an online class, so something have been a bit of a learning curve, but hopefully it will all come together in the end. Also, I've learned that Geology has a lot of potential for puns!

3. Graphic Design Concepts
     This is one of the Graphic Design courses I need to take before I can apply to the program. In it we discuss where ideas and concepts for designs come from. We also have an opportunity to practice coming up with some designs of our own. Right now we are learning about different design collectives, or groups of people with the same design ideology.

4. How to Use Photoshop and InDesign
     Like the class I took last semester for Illustrator, this online course is instructing me in the ways of using Adobe software. Photoshop is a program that works with pictures and pixels. InDesign works to create layouts and formats. I have used both programs in the past. For example, I have used InDesign to create the family newspaper-style for our Christmas cards.

Evidence of my photo-manipulation skills

5. Typography I

     This is another Graphic Design course that is required to apply for the major. In it we learn about different fonts and typefaces, as well as miscellaneous design aspects involving type.

     Five classes is a lot! I am really glad that not all of my classes extend to the end of the semester. My schedule is packed and I am already ready for a break. However, in a few weeks, my load will be lessened to just four classes!

Trust: The Word of the Year

     I mentioned in an earlier post that already 4 months into the year God was working on my faith and trust. More than halfway through 2018 I can say that He is still working.

     This summer I experienced some health complications. I would like to say that they were what prevented me from posting anything, but that wouldn't be quite true. They weren't terribly serious, but it was still scary as they continued on and I still wasn't feeling at my best. "Come on, I'm young!" I thought. "I'm not supposed to struggle with my health!"

     In some ways my 'disabilities' held me back. But in other ways they pushed me forward. I tried not to let how I was feeling (unless I felt really really bad) dictate what I did. I made an effort to say, unless ____ occurs, we are going to do what we can and not let it hold us back. It taught me more to focus on God and continue to trust Him daily. Because I needed Him to give me strength to get through the days. I couldn't do it by myself. I am thankful that he continued to come through. This summer I helped out with the youth group program at my church. Aside from being gone on vacation one week, there was not a week that I missed because God provided and sustained me.

     At this point I have been to the doctor's a couple times and am taking measures to fix whatever is going on. I am trusting God to heal me - through medication, the natural processes of my body, or whatever method he deems necessary. But I had to come to a difficult truth that I may have learned in my head, but am still learning in my heart; He is better.

     My home church is going through the book of Amos as a sermon series. It's got some pretty heavy stuff! The Israelites have turned away from God and He is making good on his promise to punish them for breaking the covenant. One of the things they turned to was wealth. Some had more than one house, and these houses were extravagantly decorated! In the midst of this luxury and splendor the poor were neglected and ignored. The people valued their wordly possessions as more than God.

     The truth I had to learn was that just as God is worth more than worldly goods, He is worth more than my health here on Earth. Even if He does not heal me and this is something that I continue to struggle with I know that He is Good. And he will use my struggles in amazing ways. So, it might not be fun, but it will be worth it.

Family Vacation 2018 Part 2: South Fork

     The next morning after our somewhat laborious hike we left Colorado Springs and drove to South Fork, where we had rented a cabin. On the way to our destination we stopped at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. In the informational video at the visitor's center every time the park was mentioned the whole name had to be spelled out. So to give it full justice I will say it again: Great Sand Dunes National Park.

     Theatrics aside, the park was very cool and beautiful! We had good weather, although it was a little hot. The river that usually flows through the park had dried up due to drought, so after walking around the dunes for a bit we took respite in the air conditioned visitor's center.

     Another tourist attraction we enjoyed while in South Fork was the Chimney Rock National Monument, a newly established national site for ruins of ancient peoples. These ruins were situated on Chimney Rock because of the astrological importance of the location. Or so we were told. It seemed a plausible explanation as any, but we must take every thing with a grain of salt. Speaking of salt, our tour guide was very well educated in the geology of the area and did his best to pass on the information to us. I should have paid better attention, maybe some of what he said could help me in my Earth Science class this semester.

     On the way back from Chimney Rock we stopped in Pagosa Springs so Mom could reap the enjoyment to seeing some of the Springs in action. We also did a small hike to a waterfall near Wolf Creek Pass.

     That pretty much sums up our summer family vacation (albeit -1 family member). We did have a bit of an unplanned adventure on the way back, but that is a story for another time. 

Family Vacation 2018 Part 1: Colorado Springs area

     The first half of our family vacation was spent in the Colorado Springs area. We left bright and early Sunday morning and made it to Manitou Springs by the afternoon. Since we were dropping off my brother at Summit Ministries in Manitou for two weeks and had an extra spot, I invited my friend to tag along! It really worked out because she had family in the area that she was able to see, as we ate supper with them the first night.

     The next morning we went exploring near the mining town of Victor. We didn't actually do anything in Victor, but we walked on a trail that showcased several old gold mines as well as educated us on mining equipment and history.

     After eating a picnic lunch we ventured back to Manitou Springs to explore the town a bit. We checked out several arcades and art galleries before heading back to our hotel room for the evening. That night we were visited by some family members who live in the area. It was fun to see them and catch up. Another hilight of the trip for Mom was seeing all of the springs in Manitou. Below is one called "Iron Springs." Most of the springs tasted like alka-seltzer, but this one tasted like pennies!

     The next morning marked the beginning of our most ambitious day; climbing to the Eyebrow! This is somewhat of an obscure family tradition. Most people don't know what the Eyebrow actually is. We use the term to refer to an eyebrow shaped ridge of rocks in the mountain range of Pikes Peak. In fact, after ascending to the Eyebrow you can keep climbing and eventually reach the Peak. We did not do that however. Mom and Dad were the only ones who made it all the way to the top. My friend and I did not quite make it because we stopped just below the tree line. It was a fun hike all in all.

Top 12 of 2017

     As a "Year in Review" I look back at the previous year and pick a hi-light from each month. Again, I realize this is a little late to be doing this, but better late than never!

1. New Year, New Things
     Among other things, I started learning how to use an expresso machine!

2. Choir Concert with Dad
     Not a whole lot happened in February, but I did go see a choir concert with my father!

3. Kansas City Trip
     For Spring Break we visited Kansas City as a family. It was a short trip, but we got to see a couple museum exhibits, including the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum!

4. The Stars Aligned
     Okay, the stars didn't really align. However, it perfectly worked out so that for one day I had absolutely no obligations - no school, no work, nothing! I don't quite remember what I got done that day, but I'm sure it was glorious!

5. Family Vacation to California
     I've already done multiple blog posts about this, so feel free to check those out for a more in-depth description.

6. Seeing Wonder Woman in Theaters
     I don't go to the movie theater often, but this time it was to celebrate one of my good friend's birthdays!

7. Serving on Summer Team/Seeing Friends
     Over the summer I helped out with the youth group at my church. That was a really great opportunity and I enjoyed getting to know the girls in my group! I also got to spend time with some friends from high school, since our schedules were less restrictive.

8. Solar Eclipse/Quilting Spree
     A new school year started, and with that I got to witness a partial solar eclipse! I also finished up a quilting spree that started in the summer.

9. Books!
     For whatever reason, I bought a lot of books this month.

10. Fall Break Fun
     During Fall Break I got to meet up with some friends in a nearby town and explore their shopping district. Plus, we bought fudge!

11. Senior Play
     My brother's senior class put on "The Wind in the Willows" for their senior play. I had mixed feelings about my own senior play, but I really enjoyed getting to see his. Part of this was because for opening night I brought a friend who had close connections to the school, but had never been there. Being with her helped me to see the whole experience in a new light.

12. Christmas Cantata
     At the start of the fall semester I joined the church choir. As a whole, this experience has been a tremendous blessing to me!

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

     This year God has been working on my faith and trust. I often struggle with anxiety about little things and how this affects my attitude going forward. If something happens that inconveniences me or proves difficult I tend to blow it up beyond what should concern me. Sometimes I try to give the situation to God and pray for peace to do what I can and allow Him to work out the rest. Other times I stew over the situation. But each time God has come through.

     For example, at the beginning of the semester I became overwhelmed by my various classes and the new responsibilities that I would need to undertake. One of the things I needed to do was get a film camera for my photography course. It was a little thing but I was stressed about it. In the end, it worked out beautifully because my dad had a camera that I could use.

     I'm sure God was shaking His head at my concerns. He might have been thinking, "Calm down. I've got this all under control. Just wait and see." Sometimes I cry out and say, "But God! There is is this one thing that is making me nervous. I don't know how it will turn out and..." And God responds, "Yes, but God. Be still and know that I am in control." This year, I am reading through the Psalms for part of my daily devotional and it has been a real encouragement to see how the psalmist cries out to God in his time of need and how he still keeps the perspective of God's power and glory.

     As other obstacles come up I can look back and see how God has been providing for me. I can trust Him. Things don't always turn out the way I think they will, but I know it is for the better and can sometimes see how it was better than what I originally wanted. So maybe worrying about a camera (or whatever else happens to be going on at the moment) is a small matter. And it is! However, I know that if I can trust God in the small things I will be able to ride out the storms of this life and rest on the firm foundation of God's grace.


     FAITH is traversing a rickety bridge; where trust must be put into the fibers and cables that they do not snap. Often, the bridge is stretched over a deep chasm and those who cross it are fearful that they would fall. The act of faith does not eradicate fear, but it behaves like a guiding hand as the person crosses the narrow planks. Faith is like a father leading his child through a dim hallway; it is not like a blind man stumbling around in the dark. In a similar way, the person crossing the bridge uses the ropes to keep his balance. The first step, from solid ground to the first board, involves a mixture of courage and faith because the person must get over their fear. After the first step is made safely and their act of faith is reassured it is easier to take another step. Real life is similar in that future acts of faith are made easier due to the fulfilled acts that came before them. In this way faith can be built. As Christians, we live our lives in faith when we look to our Heavenly Father for guidance. The way is not always clear, but we can rest in the fact that He is always with us. Sometimes faith is born of necessity, like the man trusting the bridge because he must get to the other side. However, true faith is built on a kind of knowing, that is a faith in of itself. It is trusting when no reason or argument would advise to do so. Our faith in God our Father is much stronger than our faith in the bridge to stay together. God has the power and ability to sustain us infallibly, while the bridge’s ropes will eventually fray. It is often necessary for faith to be built in times of ease, so that when the difficult trials come we will not be crushed on the rocks of despair. Solomon urges the reader to, ‘remember your Creator in the days of your youth.’ When hard times come the faith that was built during times of ease will be like a cushion that we can fall back on. That is why a house built on a solid foundation will hold in the storm and not crumble, like the one built on sand.

Semester #4

    Usually I write about what classes I am taking at the beginning of the semester, but it didn't work out that way this time. Even though there are only a couple weeks left, I am going to take the time to tell you what I have been learning about these last few months.

Adobe Illustrator
     This was a short one-credit blip I took at the beginning of the semester to learn the Adobe Illustrator program. Illustrator is a digital drawing program that is used in a lot of design work. I had used it a lot in a graphic design course the previous semester, but I was still able to learn some new tricks.

Spanish 210
     This is the third Spanish course I have taken. I think I have progressed a lot since I started! In this course we are learning new grammar principles, as well as building on old ones.

Honors Astronomy
     This course knocks out two birds with one stone for me; it fulfills my honors requirement and also acts as one of my science/math general education courses. Being an honors class, our work is more discussion based and we write papers instead of taking tests. A lot of our discussion is based on recent events and advances in astronomy. At the moment I am working on a project about the recent Cassini mission to Saturn.
     
Art History
     This art history course is looking at different examples of power and propaganda across different cultures. So far we have gone through ancient Mesopotamia, Persia, China, Greece, and Rome.

Photography
     If I had to choose a favorite class this semester, Photography might be it! For the first half of the semester we were working in the darkroom, learning how to work with film and the developing process. That was a fun experience. Now, we are getting using what we learned about analog photography and applying it to the digital realm.

Revival

     I haven't posted much for the last few months, but I intend for that to change in the near future. I have a couple posts that should have been posted in January, but never made it out. I also hope to continue posting to keep you all abreast with the wonderful things going on in my life. ;) I'm sure you are very excited!

Snow Day!

     This winter has been a fairly dry one, but we got a sprinkling to snow at last! What is more, ice and rain came along with it, so even though the snow barely covers the ground, schools let out for a school day.

Mug Cake

Ingredients:

- 4 T all-purpose flour

- 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder

- 1/4 tsp. baking powder

- 3 T granulated sugar

- 1/8 tsp. (pinch) salt

- 3 T milk

- 3 T vegetable oil

- splash of vanilla extract

- 1 T Nutella/peanut butter OR 3 T chocolate chips (optional)

Method:

1. In a bowl mix dry ingredients.

2. Whisk in milk and vegetable oil with a fork until no clumps remain.

3. Pour batter into a large (14 oz. +) mug.

4. Add 1 T of optional ingredients.

5. Place mug in microwave on top of a paper towel. Cook for 70 seconds (950 watt microwave). Enjoy!

A Christmas Budgie

     Several years ago, our first parakeet, Petey, died. He was much beloved and the house missed his chirping and chatter. This Christmas talk was circulating about getting another budgie.

    The thing is, when we were kids my brother and I got a hamster for Christmas. It was a very big surprise Christmas morning when we came down to see a cage with a new pet in it. We referred to it as the Christmas hamster. Mom debated getting another Christmas hamster, but decided a budgie would be easier to care for in the long run. Besides, she could always pawn it off on my brother and I when she got tired of it.

    And so Pax the Christmas budgie came to be!