Still going strong!

We were rescued, but there are still people out there waiting! Check out the website or watch the live feed above to learn more. Thanks!

April 25th is almost here!

By "last time," I meant, "wait one more."

I just wanted to explain what I'm going to be doing this weekend. On Saturday afternoon, approximately 1500 of us Minnesotans will be marching to the capitol in St. Paul to help raise awareness in order to bring an end to the use of child soldiers by the LRA in Northern Uganda. Linds and many others have worked tirelessly for the past month coordinating all of this. It is happening in 100 cities worldwide--of which St. Paul is ranked 13th for the amount of people coming. I am so excited to be a part of this.

The second big event in my life will be taking place next Saturday, May 2nd. I have volunteered for nearly two years for the Animal Humane Society and next week they are putting on their annual fundraiser called the Walk for Animals. It should be a blast! You can check out their website for more information, if you'd like to see what I'll be up to.

Grad school is slowly but surely coming together. I am signed up for a class this summer, but I'll probably have to go a little over my two year original plan, as there are a few extra classes I'll have to take because I am not a licensed teacher. Otherwise, it should be interesting, to say the least.

Have a great weekend! I'll be sure to let you know how the Rescue event turns out this weekend.

Peace!

Last time!

Go here and watch the video. It's about 30 minutes long, but if you can find the time, it's worth it.

If you can make it, come to the event on Saturday. Lindsay's planning it, so I'm plugging it. I'm not quite sure how it will turn out, but there will be well over a thousand people there in it with you.

If you can't come, learn more!

It's official!

I did officially make it into grad school. It was touch and go for a moment there, though. But once I saw that letterhead--well, it was wonderful! I also received a scholarship, and the award letter basically has given me two days to decide. Pressure! Oh well.

I got to go to my parents house this weekend for Easter. I spent time with my family, and some very good friends whom I hadn't seen in months and years, and we love to spend time together once or twice a year, and just refresh. I loved it.

We also had the roadies from Invisible Children staying with us for about five days, so our house was filled to the brim with people sleeping on makeshift beds such as this:


But it was so much fun to share lives with them, if only for a few days! These people have been traveling all over Middle America, showing videos, talking, and spreading the word about The Rescue. I just enjoyed getting to know everyone and hanging out here at home, it was quite relaxing, despite the hectic schedule.

Here's a few pictures of the weekend activities, including egg coloring, the annual burning of the dead Christmas tree, and of course, the ever popular Easter family photo.


Peace!

Good THURSDAY

Today is my sister Kate's birthday! She is literally MILLIONS of miles away living here:


and not here:


...so I'm sending this across the WORLD WIDE WEB.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

All Quiet on the Midwestern Front

I have not heard much more regarding school in the past week, other than they are offering me a scholarship and that I should be expecting some type of letter in the coming days. I am trying to figure out a bunch of logistical things, including housing, summer classes, etc., but it becomes increasingly difficult when I don't have a springboard to jump from. Be patient, J! I'm also excited--I get to go to my parents' house this weekend! I'll get to relax, see family (including the not-so-little Fuzzwad) and just sit.

I was thinking last week about the past year, which has been very difficult for some of my closest friends, and in turn, hard for me to watch it be difficult, making it hard for me. I can read and re-read the passages in the Bible all I want about trials, sorrows, how God builds you up when you are down, etc. I listen to the endless number of sound-alike Christian songs hammering lyrics into my head such as "shelter from the storm" and the ever popular "sometimes he calms the storm, and other times he calms his child."

All of these things, due to my increased cynicism in the past year, seem so ridiculously trite. What does that all even mean? I've been asking myself that for awhile now. I know in my head that things won't always be rosy--I expect them, more often than not, to go downhill--but I really don't get why. I was contemplating over this one night, and a picture came to my mind. People seem to pray for hurtful and horrible things to end quickly, or for God to sustain others through tough times--what does that look like? What does that mean, on a practical, every day level? There's the popular metaphor of life being a huge rainstorm--and God gives you an umbrella. He doesn't necessarily stop the storm, just provides you shelter. Or, on a blisteringly sunny day (personally, this is worse to me than rain), he provides you shade.

You'll notice--he doesn't always send the rainclouds away. He doesn't eclipse the sun for you, either. .He gives you something to temporarily ease the harshness of the weather. I know that more often then not, I am standing under that umbrella, tapping my foot, scowling and groaning as the storm rages on around me. I am standing under that shady tree, glaring at the sun, wishing that I could move. I always feel trapped. Why can't the sun go under a cloud so I can have a moment's reprieve? Why can't the rain let up for five minutes so I can dash to my car? Why am I so impatient? Why can't I appreciate that I am relatively dry, or cool, or calm--protected for the most part? The point is, it may keep on raining. You may get the backlash of the drops as they come in sideways. You may step in puddles. The sun might glare off of something and hit you square in the eye.

All of these things are happening--nothing is perfect--but I realized that if we keep focusing on all of that, we lost sight of the umbrella. Or the tree. I get so focused on the storm, or the hot sun, that I can't appreciate anything else. I think then, that I am supposed to look up--and see what's above me.

I don't know if it makes much sense, but I think it's worth thinking about--at least worth checking what our focus is on in life. Are we too focused on what's immediately around us, complaining because it is yet another rainy 40 degree day in April? Are we too focused on that big snow storm that is around the corner? Are we still obsessing about that time back in '97 when all hell broke loose in the atmosphere (oh, the drama!)? Or are we sitting here patiently, under this tree that has stayed the same since before we can remember, content in whatever life blows our way?

I think that's something I'd like to strive for.

Is this a chain letter?

Ok, so I just interviewed on Friday, so imagine my surprise when I find an exuberantly purple-fonted (is that even a word?) email sitting in my inbox last night telling me that I am going to be admitted to the grad school of my choice! There really isn't much else to say yet, as I don't know any details.

Amanda did point out that I might get to wear a robe with a hood--this is a plus.

I also think you should check out Lindsay's blog--she has more information and further details about Invisible Children, including a screening here in the Minneapolis area that can give you more information on the whole situation in Uganda.

I'll hopefully be able to give more details about school soon--at the rate I'm going, I'm going to be homeless and jobless as of July, so I have that to look forward too! Luckily I have some great family who is willing to take me in temporarily (thank you Pam and Mark!).

Oh, to be twenty-something...it really is the life, isn't it?