Daily Epiphany: August 1

Not really an epiphany, but talking with some friends who are also on blogger, I decided to re-decorate. Since I don't have the freedom of decorating my apartment with more than push-pinned posters and faux ivy, this will have to do.

I started working at the Loyola Bookstore this week. Getting this job was such an answer to prayer. I don't mean to question God's blessings (yet I often do, until He lightly taps me over the head with a 2x4), but sales is definitely an alternative universe. And, as much as I enjoy purchasing items at great discounts, I do not enjoy entering them into the cash register.

Two weeks until my birthday. It doesn't feel right not being at camp for my birthday. I don't know what I am going to do with myself. Nevertheless, it will involve ice cream.

I've been reading Joshua Harris' Boy Meets Girl, but not for the reasons you might think. Whether or not I agree with the idea of courtship, Harris has some great incites about God's role in our lives, relationships and dreams.

Taken from pp. 39-41:
You might be asking, "How am I supposed to obey God's commands and follow His principles when my circumstances are so different from those of other people?" Let me try to explain.
Imagine that you're a student in an art class. You and dozens of classmates are learning from a master painter. One day your teacher displays a painting of his own. It's an incredible work of art, and he wants each of you to copy it.
You're about to begin working when you turn to look at the person next to you. You're surprised to note that he has a larger brush than yours and a differently shaped canvas. You look around at the rest of the class. Some students have acrylic paint, others watercolor, still others oil--and everyone has different colors. Though you all have the same assignment, you each have completely different materials. . . "How do you expect me to duplicate your painting when the people around me have so many more colors to choose from?"
The teacher smiles. "Don't worry about the other students," he says. "I've carefully chosen the brushes and paints that each of you has. Trust me. You have what you need to complete the assignment. Remember, your goal is not to create a painting that mirrors the person next to you, but to do your best with the materials I've given you to create a picture faithful to my painting."
. . . We can each rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign over our life's situation. No matter where we are today or what mistakes we've made in the past, He has given us everything we need to glorify Him right now.

Daily Epiphanies: July 24

Starbuck's new Banana Mango Smoothie is delicious . . . and over priced.

Although I love biking, my legs aren't always willing to cooperate. Today I borrowed a friend's bike and rode down the lake shore path down to Fullerton. I was dead tired when I got back, wobbly legs and all.

I am writing/illustrating a cookbook (thanks for the idea Rachel W!) I'm including all my recipe inventions, but I also want to put in a section of my friend's favorites.
So here's where you come in:

- Email me a favorite recipe (has to be easy and fairly unique). It can be something you created or from a cookbook.
- If you are willing to participate, you'll get unlimited access to all the other recipes.

Daily Epiphanies: July 5

It's been a while folks. Sorry.

This summer I've been completing an internship at the Pritzker Military Library
- attending free concerts in at the Grant Park Music Festival
- writing and llustrating a little children's book about a girl's field trip to the art museum
- painting murals for the kid's club at church

I love blazing down lake shore drive on the the #147 when the bus is almost empty and there's no traffic (i.e. saturday mid-morning)
I hate riding the #147 during rush hour when it is prone to 1) break down 2) be overly crowded 3) get stuck in traffic.

This weekend I'll be in Madison for the Art Fair off the Square. Oh memories!

Daily Epiphanies: May 30

1. I often do not have a problem paying for a $3 smoothie (if it's a good one) yet today at the grocery store I had trouble buying a carton of Orange-pinapple juice for the same price. Hmmm

2. I like fruit. Today I bought two items I haven't eaten in a while: pears and grapefruit. Yum.

3. My hair does NOT like this weather . . . at all.

4. I am going to write a children's story book. This morning I re-organized my apartment and created a space for the production of the aforementioned creation.

(contd.)

Earlier this year, a beloved author, Madeleine L'Engle passed away. Today at the bookstore I found a new book by her! She wrote it in the 1940s, but it wasn't published until this year. I am so excited.

There are a few authors whose work makes my heart race (though not all with the same intensity):
1. C.S. Lewis
2. Madeleine L'Engle
3. L.M. Montgomery
4. Louisa May Alcott
5. Jane Austen

Daily Epiphanies: May 11

Bookstore bring a strong sense of comfort.

Every time I walk into a bookstore, I can almost feel myself being welcomed in . . . like a warm hug from close friends.
There are memories to be found between the covers of so many books . . . and it's a wonderful feeling. I don't need to spend any money, just spend time with my fictional friends.

Daily Epiphanies: May 1 (posted on May 2)

I am staying in Chicago this summer. That means . . .
1) first summer spent in Chicago
2) first time in the last 5 years that I will be living in the same abode for more than 6 months
3) first summer in 15 years that I will not be going to Ontario Pioneer Camp
4) I need to get an internship/job
5) I am scared and excited . . . at the same time.

Sooo . . . if anyone wants to come visit the Windy City, let me know.

Daily Epiphanies: April 19th

My Christian upbringing would not have been the same without hymns and sacred choral music. Contemporary worship is good, but there is something about the mixing of marvelous harmonies and biblical truths that makes my heart happy. I have had hymn tunes stuck in my head all week, and it has been amazing!

What's your favorite hymn?

Mine this week is:

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you that for refuge to Jesus have fled?

"Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."

Daily Epiphanies: Reasons my world is falling apart

1. I don't think I got the internship.
2. Application due dates for any other possible internship have passed, or are close to passing.
3. The Evanston History Center has shut down . . . for now.
4. My academic adviser is leaving to go to another school.
5. I woke up last night to an 5.4 earthquake--literally thought someone was shaking my bed.
6. Classes are over in a week and I don't know what I am doing this summer.
7. First time ever, I am not with my family for Passover.

The End

Prayer request

I am being considered for a summer internship at the library of congress. I thought I already had it, but apparently I am only on the short list. They make the decision this week. Please pray for God to put me where He wants me this summer.
Thanks!

I am proud to introduce. . . Daily Epiphanies

I am starting a blog series called Daily Epiphanies. Most likely I won't be able to post one every day, but be on the lookout for tidbits from my thoughts/day dreams.

Sunday, April 13
When I am old and wealthy (I am assuming that this will happen) I am going to give large monetary donations to the music/theater ensembles that have made an impact on my life.

Inspired by: My excursion to hear the NPU Band Concert this afternoon . . . and then my sneak peak at the Spring theater production (that building needs a wealthy benefactor!).

"Since I've Been Gone . . ."

Does anyone even read this thing? Maybe I should start inserting into Facebook Notes . . .

Anyway, I am back from my un-official hiatus from blogging. I think I became slightly disillusioned by the idea of recording my daily musings. Maybe an audience would help.

Since my last post, I . . .

1) Got a job at the Art Institute--working with Discovery/Antenna Audio selling audio guides for the special Edward Hopper/Winslow Homer exhibit. Simple sales in a magnificent museum (alliteration anyone?). The wet toes paid off, apparently.



Mid-March my family drove me back from Easter-in-Madison and we all experienced the exhibit together. This sparked my desire to re-pick up Chaim Potok's "My Name is Asher Lev."

2) Cut my hair. It's shoulder length now.

3) Finally stepped foot in North Park's archives. For a class project I used their repository for a mini internship/volunteer job and ended up processing a former professor's collection of newspaper clippings.

4) Compiled and published a history picture-book with Blurb.com's Booksmart software [http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/212693].
















5) Got a summer internship at the Library of Congress in their Prints and Photographs division!