Having a Mona Lisa Smile

Mona Lisa Smile is one of my favorite movies ever. It's one those movies that gets me thinking...especially with my last post, you know it's been on my mind. It's just that this film really goes through the choices that young women make regarding home and family versus career. One thing Julia Robert's character Katherine Watson kept stressing was, "You can do both," yet I think the main message was summed up by one of the producers: Choose- and when someone else chooses, respect that decision. There is no solid right answer for everyone, no formula. For example, one of the characters (Joan, played by Julia Stiles) was the head of her class, was admitted early to Yale Law School...yet chose to elope and become a housewife. She said to Ms. Watson, "Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?" Katherine replied, "Yes Joan, I'm afraid you will." To this, Joan exclaimed, "Not as much as I'll regret not having a family! I want a home, I want a family- that's not something I'll sacrifice." The key there is regretting not as much. It's a matter of priority- what is more important to us as individuals? That's what the Mona Lisa smile is about- it's the smile of mysterious, yet satisfied smile.

For me, I know that I would always regret not having a family. But I'm trusting in God's timing. That's the best part. There is hope and peace there. A little impatience, too (I'm not going to lie). But it's all good. I'm sincerely enjoying where I'm at and where I'm going!

Getting Hitched

Yeah, I forgot to tell you all...just kidding. I'm not talking about myself. I've been thinking about this recently since seeing pictures of a few girls I know in white dresses walking down the aisle...and tomorrow yet another girl I know is saying "I do." Whitney! It's really exciting to watch it all come together and soon I'll see her name change on Facebook, too...aww, me all sentimental. Oh well, this blog isn't all about Whitney, either...she is my intro into and illustration to the real topic- the MRS degree (she and I were talking about it indirectly on Facebook the other day!).

Many people I've met have smirked upon hearing that I'm going to Master's. Why? Because I suppose Master's has a reputation for being a general hitching post for some years... but it's still funny to think that some people assume that a girl's only going to college to "catch a man," as they say in the Anne of Green Gables series. (Did you know for probably around the same price on the Internet, I could mail order a husband? Steff showed me...aaah!!!) Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see who God brings me together with in marriage...but that isn't why I chose Master's. That isn't why I go to church, either (someone asked!). Knowing me, it'll probably be entirely unpredictable, meeting him neither at church nor Master's. But who knows, right? I'm just thrilled to see what happens as it's happening. Even being a planner, I'm really perfectly happy knowing I can't control who God has in my future. Well, I can to an extent...but you see what I mean? Do you think I'll know who he is when I first see him? Probably not.

So, college! I'm thrilled to be an Intercultural Studies major. How God will use me with it, I have no idea. I think it's better that way! I was talking to one of my dad's friends at church last Sunday, and he asked me if I had ever considered Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in the medical field. To be honest, I'd vaguely thought about it, but never really looked into it. I'm planning on it, though. Wouldn't that be cool to blend my love for travel and othe cultures with my interest in Nursing? I think so.

Speaking of other cultures, Deutschland beat Portugal in soccer yesterday! I really, really miss the competitive atmosphere of soccer in Germany...it's all or nothing- I love it better than football here (sorry Tennessee family...)! I think the first thing that will always come to mind when I think of German soccer is the day I sat next to Oliver Kahn in Starbucks...I won't forget him, that's for sure! With that kind of face, he inspires the competitive spirit and German pride. Besides the fact that if you shot a bullet in his direction he'd probably catch it.

That's it for now...just reminiscing and anticipating the future!

I've Been Douped

(Take the title for what it's worth- it fits...)

So Relient K is having this online scavenger hunt to promote their new CD "The Birds and the Bee Sides"- and today I joined in on the fun. The rewards? Five free songs from the new CD before it's released on July 1. Today I won the song "Hope for Every Fallen Man". As soon as the intro started playing I knew I would enjoy yet another lyrical wonder by Matt Thiessen...but I had no idea how applicable the lyrics are for my life right now.

The whole thing I'm trying to connect this to is probably pretty obvious to people who know what's been going on with me in the last few months. For someone I cared so much about, things sure changed fast. I thought I had things pretty much figured out- what happened, and what was happening now. Not really. Sunday was a day of revelation- the news was broken to me that we (meaning me and whatshisname) weren't even friends anymore. That hurt like nothing else: to me, friendship isn't something that ends when you hit a rough patch. The same goes with love. So Sunday was a hard day. After fourth service I was at home, upset, and I thought, "Hmm. I wonder if he ever had a blog." I knew what he would name it if he did, and so I typed it in. I honestly thought it would come up as invalid, but it didn't. Entries all the way from the beginning of December told me I had not a clue what was going on. And it was worse than I could imagine. Worse, when I asked him about it, he said he felt "violated," that he did nothing wrong, and that he didn't want to talk about it. That's when I realized: there is absolutely no way things will ever go back to where they were, and I was glad. God knew what He was doing when he stepped in and intervened (also pointing out that neither one of us is exactly to blame). Even though he was upset to be found out, I'm sincerely glad that I found that blog- otherwise I might've gone my whole life wondering. Now, I'm supposed to pretend like I don't know he exists. So I'm not going to talk about "him" anymore. I don't know who he is.

Love vs. Hate: Does Love Really Conquer All? Hmm...

I had to send my precious baby iPod Touch to Apple for a replacement yesterday. It was somewhat of an emotional release, knowing I'll never have that exact iPod again...I mean, we went to Germany together. We flew the flights, took the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, shared with friends, exprienced the German cold and rain (although safely protected in my purse)...we went to Tennessee together...we were traveling buddies! We've survived many long car and trains rides in California. Boys have come and gone, but my iPod never fails to shuffle to the most (sometimes hilariously) appropriate song for any mood or situation. (I am by no means suggesting an iPod replaces a boyfriend. No way! It just...helps...) This gift of God has given me unexpected glee ("Hey, I get WiFi in Del Taco!") and hours of entertainment. Needless to say...I still don't like Apple. How does this work, when I view Apple as the Bane of All Mankind? Well, it's a love-hate relationship...mostly hate though.

Here's how my phone call with Apple ended when telling them that my iPod was broken.

Them: "Ma'am, do you use a Mac computer?"

Me: "No, I use a Dell."

Them: "XP?"

Me: "No, Vista."

Them: "Vissstaaaa..." *snickering in background*

Me: "Yeah, well if your crap didn't suck I wouldn't be having this conversation with you."

Okay, so I didn't say the last line...but I thought it.

Here's to a (hopefully) longer-lasting iPod.

"You're going to see WHAT?"

Last night, Deja and I went to see a movie. A movie that some might find questionable just by the title alone- Sex & the City: The Movie. When my dad asked what movie we were going to see, I told him- when Ernie asked after I got home, I told him too. I recevied the same reaction from both: a grunt and a, "Whatever." I told my thoughts to Deja, "It's not any worse than saying a movie was called Sex and 300 or Sex and the Notebook!" At this comment, Deja burst out laughing. But it's true...from HBO's point of view, who's going to watch a TV show or movie called, "The City"? You may ask, "But isn't there sex in it?" Yes, there is (you won't find many movies today that don't). But that is not the main focus point of the show. Sex is the lure, plot is the catch. So, what's so catchy about it? It's the separate and very different lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda brought together by the city and solidified by nearly twenty years of friendship.
Is there anything biblical to be learned here? Of course! And something positive, at that. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says: "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" How true!
There are a lot of other lessons to be learned from a movie like Sex & the City, but friendship is the one I've appreciated most as a viewer. Friends are wonderful- true friends, those who are with you through good and bad, are treasures.

A Day For the Mental Scrapbook

Today was a happy day. Firstly, I got to have my call with the Registrar's Office at Master's to get all my classes set in stone...only my brilliant plan of having all my classes on Monday/Wednesday/Friday failed miserably- I have classes every day. (But thankfully they end fairly early in the afternoon! That leaves time open for a part-time job to help out with tuition/living expenses.) But alas! I have discovered my major- Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Intercultural Studies. Does that not sound perfect? Also, there's an option to get the TESOL certification, so I plan on taking advantage of that! Within the Intercultural Studies major I also get to take either Greek or Hebrew...it's sounding more perfect by the minute. And I'm minoring in Music. Yippee.
Back to my happy day. After my call with Master's, I called Grandma Joyce to tell her all about it- the cool things about that are (a) I love talking in general, and (b) Grandma lets me talk a lot and always has good advice after I spill everything so...I'm glad she has her voice back! I think she's one of the few (very, very few) people who actually like me talking. (I love you, Grandma...)
After my second call of the day, I set in on Geography 101. Not so fun, but it must be done...yeah, I just took my first exam online and missed passing it by one question...d'oh!!!
In between phone calls and geography, I played with Krystal and Krystine, who were in high spirits today. They get me giggling, let me tell you. Krystal asks funny questions ("What if everyone in the world got to be on TV? What would you do or say? I'd pretend to be eating something." ???) and Krystine makes funny faces. We mess around at the table and play ridiculous songs on my keyboard. They dress up in my clothes. I laugh. Good times with my two favorite little sisters...
After Dad got home from work today, we went to Black Forest Bakery. It was surprisingly like taking a mini-step back to Germany. Baked goods on the right, German groceries on the left (they actually have those yummy German potato mixes- not mashed potatoes, not a baked potato...they're kind of like potato balls...kartoffelknödel, that's it!). My dad and I got chocolate eclairs- they only have pretzels and pretzel rolls (Charissa!) on Saturdays- and looked at the different German foods. I will definitely go back on Saturday for a pretzel roll- and I will take a picture, Charissa...
When Ernie got back from youth group, the Slurpee Gang (sans Cory and Antonio)- AKA Dad, Ernie, and I- went to 7-11 and filled up and headed home. Now I'm lying in bed, typing my day for you to read, because it was a very good day!
If anyone wants to get a pretzel on Saturday, let me know!