Boot Scootin'

Note: This song has an expletive in it. 

a few summers back, i lived a couple of blocks behind campus in the jankiest basement of a duplex on Van Dyke. i used to gun my little 5-speed light blue sentra up the death-trap driveway, and then i'd whip around corners and back roads, windows down, and blare this song out my speakers, which were probably also janky.

this monday morning Air Traffic Controller came up on my spotify, and just in the nick of time.

Before 8:00 am ...

i discovered my favorite white blouse's armpit stains

i had big beef (30 minutes worth) with Microsoft's online support

...and then ran late

my pants were being awkward and poochy. typical.

i woke up

So imagine how happy my little heart was when my old jam popped up.

muy happy. ganz happy. i was boot scootin' all over the bathroom while brushing my teeth and very decidedly not putting on makeup.

I hope you scoot a little too.

happy wednesday.

-bRob

Sacrificial Spring Break

I wanted to post a few pictures from the Spring Break adventure I mentioned forever ago...

I participated in Sacrificial Spring Break with a local church. In the morning, a group of sixty-ish college students went to a local middle school to help landscape, paint, and beautify.

btdubs, I've both cut and washed my hair since this photo was taken, so chill out.

In the afternoon, we split up to work on different service projects around the city.

My group, the rag-tag bunch pictured below, landscaped at a local community outreach center in the afternoon.  I was so impressed by the organization. The pastor, Royce (pictured on the left below), has such a heart for his community and serving them well.

I feel the need to mention that I have never actually been to Wisconsin, whatever my sweatshirt may (might?) say.

My bud Emily's group worked at a non-profit farm for the week. I kid you not. Right after this picture was taken, Emily and team got yelled at for playing with the livestock. Haaaaha, suckers.

I think our efforts to beautify the city was somewhat metaphorical for how God beautifies our lives or something like that, which is awesome, but as I am neither poetic nor one for metaphors, I chose to dwell on the fact that the Bible calls us to serve and love our neighbours. It was a great time to practice humility and using a servant's heart, or, if you don't have those (hi, that's me), pray for them.

There was so much community - it was wonderful seeing so many college students worshiping together. 

I think the following lyrics from Amazing Grace really resonated with our group (or bRob):

  When we've been here ten thousand years

bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

then when we've first begun. 

One day there will be no pain, no tears, and constant joy! Forever happiness, as the the Jesus Storybook Bible calls it. Worshiping whole-heartedly with that group made me think about the eternal future that awaits. 

There was lots of juicy goodness in that week, and it was by far the best Spring Break I've had. Granted, my last Spring Break involved getting my wisdom teeth removed....but, still...

-bRob

PS - Several (ie two) of you have contacted me, concerned about the fairly lengthy haitus. Specifically, Grandma has expressed concern. Fear not, dear (two) readers (...Grandma et al), I will try to be more diligent about posting regularly.

When We Were Young

Oh, those were the days.

When we were younger.

When it was 25 degrees warmer outside.

When we had cupcakes.

sunshine [and cupcake]

someone doesn't understand what "be candid" means...

 

ah, the lightheartedness of youth [with cupcake]

 Pictures from last week.

To be young again. 

But mostly to be warm again. 

I'm typing in wool socks and a zebra-striped snuggie.

-bRob

Happy Girls

"I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls."

-Audrey Hepburn

I cannot think of a better description for my freshman "suite-y", Amy. She is as beautiful as she is happy.  To know this chica is to truly love her. She is genuine, friendly, and always good for a laugh. She is the least judgmental person I know. While our freshman suite was plagued with petty drama, she remained a friend to everyone - always sweet, always happy.

I had the chance to attend her wedding  [aside: between a hurricane and a lack of GPS, I got super lost and made it after the ceremony =( but in time for the reception] a couple  of weekends ago, and she was as lovely and sweet as ever. 

I'm glad I got to see them together, and I hope the Lord richly blesses their marriage.

-bRob

PS - I am officially the lamest photographer ever. Unless you like weird shoulders in the foreground of your pictures.

My life is here today...berserk tomorrow.

So. My dad keeps telling me I've gone loopy. I always associate loopy with ladies who wear chunky jewelry, pea green frumpy cardigans, and have 3 cats, one of which is hairless. I wear tie dye and green nail polish and have two rats - I'm sure that's close enough. That's right...it's two rats now. Mariella is blind, albino, and a genius. She also pees like Seabiscuit, so beware.

Back to the start - my dad thinks I've gone bonkers because everything in my life right now is topsy-turvy. I take what I've done and flipped it all backwards. I've been rethinking my major, my co-op, my future, my life in general.

I want to get rid of my double major and stick with MAE. But can I handle it, really? And this means I will be sacrificing certain scholarships I've gotten through the industrial engineering department. And I don't even know what I should do post-graduation.
Honestly, I want to do engineering for a Christian mission organization. In Africa. AFRICA. But am I doing this because I feel led? No. Brittany wants to travel so she'll throw the God card.
And will I live in Africa for forever? Do I want a family one day? Will I want to consult? Will I regret giving up ISE?

And, since I was "strongly" discouraged from ditching my third rotation for a EWB trip to Uganda, I have decided that perhaps I should study abroad NEXT fall at the University of Cape Town. Issues: It's mega-expensive, I may not be able to get class credit over there (thus deferring graduation...again), and it's *technically* only for sophomores. But rules are there for bending, right?

My car died the other day. It's been bandaid-ed right now, but I don't think it'll last for too much longer. I have to start researching buying cars. I really want a station wagon, maybe a Subaru? I'm not clued in enough to maintain my own car - so it's definitely gotta be reliable. And cheap. Life costs a lot. Between 5+ (ok - 6) years of college, apartments, food (and of COURSE i'm too snobby to buy regular food...I'm obsessed with the ridiculous stuff that costs $. I mean really, why do I have to buy Greek yogurt? Is yoplait not good enough?), automobiles, oil for my oil sucking automobiles, rat play pens, etc, how will I ever afford anything???

Then there's always my personal demons. My temptations, my desires, my wants, and everything that pulls me away from God.

Good night. When life hits, it hits hard, doesn't it?

In looking through this blog - I realize it seems rather depressing. And really, I never blog when I'm ecstatic. When I'm on fire for God, when I think things are going well, when life makes sense, when I'm not scared or worried or on the verge of (or in the midst of) tears, I don't blog then. I promise I'm not always like this.

I need to start happy blogging.

For instance - I could have blogged Saturday morning. On Friday I was super busy at work (and being super busy = super important, yes? I choose to believe so...) I woke up in my old bed at home with an autumn sun streaming through my window. Fall is my absolute favorite season. Home is becoming one of my favorite places. And my sister's obnoxious wake-up call makes me laugh so hard.


Happy Blogging Step 1: Count your blessings.

Today I am thankful for my family. I love them all. They are giving, "passionate" (ie don't make 'em mad!), vulnerable, hard-working, and strong. They are hilarious and smart. They are truly blessings. Exhausting and frustrating blessings.

Philippians 3:13-15
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.