Over the last year I have been introduced to Boundless, a webzine from Focus on the Family. Their articles have a way of getting me to think about my Christian worldview (even in practical issues like homeownership). There is one article in particular I found interesting. It's entitled Sex Is Not About Waiting and addresses the issue from a view of a 20/30 year old single.
I am blessed with a great church now that reaches out to singles and holds a high esteem of marriage. However in my daily life I seem to notice more cynicism about the institution or commitment in general. An early paragraph of the article states
At first, the argument to wait makes sense on the grounds of protecting yourself from something you're not emotionally or physically ready for. Later, it makes sense on the grounds that it will be better if it happens in the context of a committed, adult relationship. But what about now? You're in your 20s or 30s; your career is taking off, and your body and emotions are about as developed as they're ever going to be. And though you're not married, your relationships with the opposite sex are mature and adult-like in every other respect. So why keep waiting? You're not a kid anymore. And even if sex is marginally better inside of marriage than outside, what if your prospects for marriage aren't that good? Isn't sub-optimal sex now better than no sex at all, ever?
Not a completely ground shaking article, but I think its a great reminder...so whilst I'm away from posting you might check it out.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Left Over Sushi
Tonight was my grand "Melissa Kisses Retail Goodbye" party in honor of resigning from my job and looking forward to part-time employment at the hospital. I worked hard shining the faux wood floor, rolling homemade sushi, brewing some darn good french-pressed coffee, adding a strawberry topping to the NY cheesecake, and making a glorious display of french bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and herb dip.In the end it ended up being more of an intimate snack party. My pregnant neighbor heard "cheesecake" and came right over. My classmate and her boyfriend joined us for a discussion on marriage. Later Della and a friend from D/FW helped me finish off some food. Now...off to study for the med/surg test on Monday.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Test Taking Skilz & Common Sense
Once again I prove that just because you get an A on a really hard test does not mean that you have practical life skills. Tonight I went out with a classmate and her boyfriend to celebrate making it through a crazy week. He's a good ole West TExan and was chatting with the waiter at Wild Wings who was obviously also from this area and had the deep drawl. He told me it was "45 cent boonuuus wing night" I looked at him and said, "so that means?!????"
He stared at me and asked, "you're kidding right?"
I obviously did not so I clarified, "its what?"
"45cent boonuus wing night"
There was this really odd silence and Kathy wispered, "come one, you know...no bones"
OOOOOO right! BONE-LESS
He stared at me and asked, "you're kidding right?"
I obviously did not so I clarified, "its what?"
"45cent boonuus wing night"
There was this really odd silence and Kathy wispered, "come one, you know...no bones"
OOOOOO right! BONE-LESS
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
A Ceremony Only A Mother Would Love???
Our dedication ceremony (previously termed "capping" back-in -the -day) is coming up in about 2 weeks. Apparently this is a pretty big deal and we will even be given invitations. One teacher says she thinks this is more beautiful than graduation and we can invite family. I pondered who I would invite since there are no relatives nearby. When you think about it, really, this is a mom ceremony. I can't really picture asking my friends to sit through a long ceremony with speeches on a nice sunny Saturday when its not even graduation...its the beginning of clinicals. Sure they might come and paste on some smiles, but they wouldn't know anyone else. This is the type of thing a mom would like or pretend to like as she shot various pictures. Maybe I'll ask Kathy's mom to take some pictures for me. =0))
Perspective....
I have a pile of tests in the next few days and the weekend/Monday at work was insane. I planned to lock myself in tonight and not answer the phone. I did step out for a short trip to American Idol night...and left early. As my pharm study guide and piles of practice tests lay around me I got a call from the friend I had just left. For the past 10 days or so I'd been trying to get in touch with a mutual friend and even drove by her house at various times unable to find her. Her voice mail was full and she wasn't answer texts.
It was 9:30pm and I was feeling way behind. However, I was informed that her grandmother had died (she moved here to care for her) and her cell died just before I lost touch with her over a week ago. With little thought I jumped in the car to go see her now that I had the new number and location. Yes, study is important and I hope to have more time to devote in the next few weeks while on a hiatus from work. But in light of a friend who is hurting they are just dead trees on the floor painted with ink.
I had a pain in my gut as I thought about how I'd slacked on my friend duties and not been more available...its all about perspective.
It was 9:30pm and I was feeling way behind. However, I was informed that her grandmother had died (she moved here to care for her) and her cell died just before I lost touch with her over a week ago. With little thought I jumped in the car to go see her now that I had the new number and location. Yes, study is important and I hope to have more time to devote in the next few weeks while on a hiatus from work. But in light of a friend who is hurting they are just dead trees on the floor painted with ink.
I had a pain in my gut as I thought about how I'd slacked on my friend duties and not been more available...its all about perspective.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Year of Intracultural Weddings??
I love having such crazy/diverse/passionate/amazing friends all over the world. They seem to do things in waves...
Round 1 : Mr & Mrs. Macad February 16, 2007
Round 2: Nicolle & Goncalves March 24, 2007
Round 3: Crystal & ????
Round 1 : Mr & Mrs. Macad February 16, 2007
Round 2: Nicolle & Goncalves March 24, 2007Round 3: Crystal & ????
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Breakfast Burritos and Pharmacology
Thursday night I was up late making random plans to fly to LA for Nic's wedding next month
and frying sausage (ewwww...I can't remember the last time I ate pork) for breakfast burritos. My plan had been to get in enough volunteer hours that the school would pay for me to go to the national student nurse association's conference in Anaheim. Friday morning I was up early finishing the eggs and the almost 3 dozen breakfast burritos for the fund raiser at school.
However on Friday I realized there was no way I could get all my hours in and stay ahead in my grades since I'm still finishing my last week of work before my resignation is effective. So there with my burritos I stood longing for the sleep I lost. I came home from school and slept....no passed out basically for 3 hours. Luckily I had set my alarm for work!
This week was great learning about wound care and all the fancy dressings we have in the States. Though in reality I'm impressed with most of our equipment (I still feel a little flutter in my heart when I see boxes of alcohol wipes. or sterile gauze..no messy bottles and cotton balls or making guaze packs for hours)
And now I have to study for a big pharm test...So, yes feeling a bit in over my head, but having a blast.
and frying sausage (ewwww...I can't remember the last time I ate pork) for breakfast burritos. My plan had been to get in enough volunteer hours that the school would pay for me to go to the national student nurse association's conference in Anaheim. Friday morning I was up early finishing the eggs and the almost 3 dozen breakfast burritos for the fund raiser at school.However on Friday I realized there was no way I could get all my hours in and stay ahead in my grades since I'm still finishing my last week of work before my resignation is effective. So there with my burritos I stood longing for the sleep I lost. I came home from school and slept....no passed out basically for 3 hours. Luckily I had set my alarm for work!
This week was great learning about wound care and all the fancy dressings we have in the States. Though in reality I'm impressed with most of our equipment (I still feel a little flutter in my heart when I see boxes of alcohol wipes. or sterile gauze..no messy bottles and cotton balls or making guaze packs for hours)
And now I have to study for a big pharm test...So, yes feeling a bit in over my head, but having a blast.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
[Moved Post] Valentines '07 AM
Morning of lectures looking at bloody/infected wounds....
Lunch at the Filippino restaurant with 3 other girls...
An afternoon with this stud....
The Sound of Snow
I had to dust off more powdery snow from my car as I prepared to go to RUF tonight. Have you noticed snow's sound? Perhaps it is just that I recognize a lack of sound. The streets of the university were silent as I walked up the stone steps. I love the glow of light around the city and was willing to put up with the icy bite to my extremities to enjoy the moment.
The message was not your usual - it was on our acceptance in Christ and justification. The crowd was small due to the weather and we were left with mostly regulars. We laughed about how we second guess who we are based on a holiday and what we are doing. Were you the only one on the Facebook news feed who did NOT get a gift? =0))
Afterwards we were in the student union for a game/speed dating type set up. Some were fun....others were just awkward as the person took 3 words to answer the open ended question adn then just stared at me for the rest of the 90minutes.
Later my friend and I were discussing why we have these deep insecurities that seem to come out. We feel like confident people, but then something will happen and that other person is "totally out of my league" or so much better than me. Where does that come from?
I didn't see anyone taking pictures, and perhaps you couldn't capture a very nice snowy end to my Valentines day. It was weird, ordinary, but a lot of fun. (now back to reality of studying....)
The message was not your usual - it was on our acceptance in Christ and justification. The crowd was small due to the weather and we were left with mostly regulars. We laughed about how we second guess who we are based on a holiday and what we are doing. Were you the only one on the Facebook news feed who did NOT get a gift? =0))
Afterwards we were in the student union for a game/speed dating type set up. Some were fun....others were just awkward as the person took 3 words to answer the open ended question adn then just stared at me for the rest of the 90minutes.
Later my friend and I were discussing why we have these deep insecurities that seem to come out. We feel like confident people, but then something will happen and that other person is "totally out of my league" or so much better than me. Where does that come from?
I didn't see anyone taking pictures, and perhaps you couldn't capture a very nice snowy end to my Valentines day. It was weird, ordinary, but a lot of fun. (now back to reality of studying....)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
What I Miss This Year....
Valentines 2004 - The infamous candlelight dinner at McDonalds on the southern island.
Valentines 2005 - A brief furlough in the US to study for our certification exam....
Valentines 2006 - Preparing to leave Asia indefinitely...though G&C were on the beach and I on the southern island on the acutal day, we were together that week.
Sigh...I miss em. I did get to talk to C today which is the next best thing.
Valentines 2005 - A brief furlough in the US to study for our certification exam....
Valentines 2006 - Preparing to leave Asia indefinitely...though G&C were on the beach and I on the southern island on the acutal day, we were together that week.
Sigh...I miss em. I did get to talk to C today which is the next best thing.
Media Portrayal of Young Females
I went over to Della’s tonight and made us some fabulous faux Asian noodle dish. After Idol, she was fascinated by a show interviewing some polygamists. One girl they were interviewing was only 20. The interviewer asked her if she felt like she was missing out since other girls her age were out dating lots of people or partying.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
She's BAAAAAAACK
Andrea and I caught lunch at Taco Bell. We will be working at the same hospital when I start in March.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Motivation
At 11-something p.m. I left work and went to Walmart to look for some supplies we needed for tomorrows lab. K called me in a panic that she didn't have the stuff and we shared our feelings of being overwhelmed in the face of a significant test on Thursday. (The subject which caused most people who failed last semester so much trouble)
She told me she had put up some photos of premature babies to remind her that one day this would be worth it and she'd be doing what she hoped. I shared with her that Hope is on my computer wallpaper (the little girl in the tribes who died of dysentery this year).
Mother Theresa said, "Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus." I know that what we do in life is an offering to the Lord and the work itself isn't the big deal. However as a humans I think we were relating to the fact that we have short sighted vision. Sometimes we need to see something "real" in the goal.
Is that a lack of faith? I'm not sure. Perhaps it could be an idol if a "dream" is what drives life exclusively. For now the picture stays on my wallpaper and keep going one moment at a time.
She told me she had put up some photos of premature babies to remind her that one day this would be worth it and she'd be doing what she hoped. I shared with her that Hope is on my computer wallpaper (the little girl in the tribes who died of dysentery this year).
Mother Theresa said, "Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus." I know that what we do in life is an offering to the Lord and the work itself isn't the big deal. However as a humans I think we were relating to the fact that we have short sighted vision. Sometimes we need to see something "real" in the goal.
Is that a lack of faith? I'm not sure. Perhaps it could be an idol if a "dream" is what drives life exclusively. For now the picture stays on my wallpaper and keep going one moment at a time.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
My Space
In other news of the day I am now officially a freshman class representative and serve in student government. This is a year term and supposedly its supposed to look good on my resume. ;0)) The three of us elected from my class are all about the same height, brunette, and have lighter eyes. Gotta love diversity in West Texas. =0)) I am excited about some of the opportunities to help our class succeed and get to know the faculty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
