cch10's Xanga

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Tue, 17 Aug 2004 00:04:36 GMT

p. s I just moved this weekend. Winnie has the address if you're interested or just e-mail me. It's been a hard (and expensive!) road, but God is faithful and strong in the midst of it all.

Thursday, July 15, 2004

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 01:17:57 GMT

That's all folks!

Thursday, July 01, 2004

Thu, 01 Jul 2004 20:18:05 GMT

I'm leaving July 10 and like the early handover, I totally do not feel prepared to go. God's been doing things at home. For example, my relationship with my mom has grown a lot. I feel like we've really connected in a way that hasn't happened for years. Yesterday, I couldn't go to sleep until four in the morning. I read my old journals. I came across this quote: "Grace is freeing me to no longer minimize, justify, or deny my losses, but to face them with integrity and grieve over them. Coming out of denial about past losses has been critical to my healing process." Nancy Groom. Grieving sucks, but it's necessary.

I was watching a romantic comedy "Til There Was You," which was more like a tragedy, but I realize that it's a short jump from believing in love to believing in a higher power. God is love.

Monday, June 28, 2004

Mon, 28 Jun 2004 17:11:59 GMT

I'm impressed by this early handover in Iraq. Perhaps that's the way to do things-spring it early, so there's less time for anxiety, because it already happened. :)

Saturday, June 26, 2004

Sat, 26 Jun 2004 16:17:05 GMT

I've realized that I don't speak up for myself. So I went out to dinner with my friend and I told myself I need to speak up, because I didn't want to eat at a certain restaurant. I spoke up. However, this was after we were seated at this certain restaurant. I'm kind of s-low. (Could you pray for me about this?)

My professor e-mailed the class about grades. He said that about 40% of the class got A- or above. I was in the other about 60%. Surprisingly, all my grades are in. It's only been a week after finals!

I've been reading this book, The God of Small Things. It's so sad. And then I get sad about it...

Monday, June 21, 2004

Mon, 21 Jun 2004 23:34:34 GMT

My Last Saturday as an Undergraduate

The day I've waited for for years came on Saturday. I was afraid that I wouldn't wake up on time. My ceremony was at nine. Luckily for me, my roommate's extended family came early and were very awake. They were loud and excited in the next room. So I got up and got ready. My eating's been erratic this week. I had ice cream for breakfast and then headed over to Kerckhoff to get ready. On this happiest of days, the sky was cloudy, gray, and looked like rain. I was praying, "Please don't rain." (And it didn't! PTL) So I hung out there, while the organizers scheduled an hour to go over what to do during the ceremony. They emphasized that I was to remember to start a new row. I was like, "That's it?" Then we walked in and the chair made some remarks. They hooded the Ph.D students. Sometimes the professor would be shorter than the student and the student would bend down. The professor put the hood over the student's neck. Then the hood would catch in the student's mouth, instead of resting at the neck. After the hoodings, we had two student speakers. The first gave the enthusiastic, "Biotechnology is the future!" speech. The second gave the from-the-heart, "Use your knowledge to serve!" speech. A good balance. Most of the remarks about futures in the lab didn't apply to me, because I'm going into architecture. But we'll see how I get to use this knowledge in the future. Because you know what I liked about my major? Those microorganisms are beautiful. Sometimes I'll be in a class, bored and they'll show a beautiful slide-fluorescent green filaments or purple nuclei. It's like looking at a mountain range or a quiet stream. How wonderful is the creation of God!

I was reading this article in The Los Angeles Times about how there's a report about how the Catholic Church has known about the danger of priests sexually abusing children throughout its history. What was alarming to me was that church files on this stuff used to be open. Then recently (maybe 1967?), they were closed and everything was sworn to secrecy. Why? And is this scandal the result of that?

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Sat, 19 Jun 2004 05:56:26 GMT

I graduated today. All this time culminated in walking up to the stage and getting my name read. My minute of fame. I like it. I'm a graduate!!!

I've been thinking about what it takes for a friendship to work. I realize that both people need to give and sometimes things just don't work out. That's why friendships really are a gift, because, like in any relationship, you can only give your part. And if the other person gives too, then it works. If not, the relationship doesn't have a life.

My plant has white spots on its leaves. Does anyone know what that means?

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 22:13:13 GMT

I got an e-mail from UVa and now I'm freaked out about going. Basically, it said how I don't have a background in the subject. (That's why I'm going to summer school there.) Anyways, now as I think about leaping over this cliff, I wonder what I will land on. Will I catch the roving cloud (like the ones in the video games)? Or will I land on the ground "splat" and it's "GAME OVER?"

Friday, June 11, 2004

Fri, 11 Jun 2004 07:48:51 GMT

Things have been crazy. I'm keeping up, but it's hard. I had a quiz today (part 1 of the final) and watched a disturbing clip for the essay (part 2). I had a marathon review session from 8 to 10:30. Goldie isn't looking too well either. Oh, well.

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

Wed, 09 Jun 2004 20:21:21 GMT

Yesterday, I was planning on writing my essay. I ended up watching a movie on television, Fools Rush In. There's a lot of running away in it. Today, I read about how Jonah ran away from God. All this sneaking away doesn't work though. Things have been determined already: "When God did in this case made it perfectly plain that his purpose is not a hit-or-miss thing dependent on what we do or don't do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, flowing steadily from his initiative. God told Rebecca, 'The firstborn of your twins will take second place.'" (Romans 9)

I'm so excited about The Stepford Wives!!! I also got a flower from the senior banquet. I named it "Goldie." I hope it doesn't die in my hands...