Really... you guys like each other?

One of the weirdest phenomenon that I've experienced being here has been that of coupling relationships.  On the one hand, we have the young couples who really only know what they're doing from the movies and end up making a fool of themselves by having really disgusting PDA sessions...no matter who's around.  That's just gross, and I almost wanna be like, "Get a room ya idiots!" 

On the other hand, we have the young couples who really only know what they're doing from the movies and end up looking like fools by fighting all the time... no matter who's around.  This bugs me even more sometimes because it just makes me wonder: really... THIS is what you think a relationship should look like?  In fact, it is not uncommon to see some small whiny girl and her 6-foot tall boyfriend fighting on the street.  Sometimes she will hit him.  Sometimes she will yell at him.  Or sometimes she will simply walk with her arms crossed, like "You know what you did to upset the queen, and now you must PAY with your dignity!"  And these guys!  They just stand there and take it! I often want to just shake them and yell to them: Have just a little self respect; you don't have to take it!  And of course there is the flip side of things and you see once in awhile (although less frequently) the guys that treat their girlfriends like crap (again, in public!) And it makes me sad.  

It makes me sad because relationships are a gift!  They are meant to bring comfort, joy, and love, to sharpen and refine, and they are ultimately to magnify the awesome relationship of God.  It makes me so sad that the young people in this country take something that is supposed to be a beautiful gift, and they trash it by reducing it to some cheap imitation of some dramatic scene from a movie.  I wonder though if I am guilty of that same thing sometimes.  I wonder if I often take something that is supposed to be beautiful by HIS standards, and I reduce it and trash it by trying to make it more like the world's.  Whether it's relationships, talents, my life, or just ME- all things are made beautiful (and worthwhile) by submitting them to HIM.  In His grip, there's a beauty that the world cannot offer; but it is also a gift that the world can never take away! 

The Importance of Quiet

As I've mentioned before, I live on a super noisy street.  There are people yelling and screaming outside from about 6am til midnight.  I also have the habit within my home of always having some noise going on in the background, whether it be the tv or my itunes.  Even my life has become noisy with stuff to do each day... and noisiness is exhausting!  

Well, the other day, it finally hit me how much in need of quiet I was!  I had just become overwhelmed with the noise in my life, and I decided to turn it off for awhile and find rest in the One who promises rest for our souls.  I took an afternoon, turned off my computer, sat on my sofa, and just read and meditated.  I read about the life of Joseph in the Word and saw the Father's faithfulness.  I read a book called "Calm My Anxious Heart" and was reminded of the joy of contentment that He gives to us!  I just basked in the beauty of Him, and the quietness of that time was invaluable.  That afternoon, as I focused on Him and being in His presence, the noise from my life, from my apartment, and even from the street seemed to fade away.  How important it is to take some times of quietness!  How important it is to find rest for our souls!

February 09

Ok, yes- these posts have definitely falling behind, but at least it gives me plenty of time to collect some good pictures!  Here are some from February:

I went to the zoo here, and it was perhaps the saddest place I'd been in a long time.  The animals had a lot of potential of being beautiful, but they all seemed depressed and defeated!  The worst part of it all: I actually saw a dying Bengal Tiger!  It was emaciated and caged up; a bit shocking and very sad.

Turning 27... yep, I had my first birthday in this Big City, and it was really relaxing and fun!  We went bowling and had dinner with just us girls, and then we had cake and games at a friend's house!  It probably ranks up there as far as birthdays go!

WOW! This was one heck of a birthday!

This was a five year-old's birthday party I attended... couldn't leave all the dress up fun to the kids though!

A friend and I found a really funny restaurant menu that I couldn't resist taking pictures of.  In case the picture's not clear enough, the description of this dish is: Fried eggs stupid fentiao.  I have no idea...