Smile

Acck! It's been so long since my last post and I was doing so well... sigh. Part of it is because we're back to school now and last week (being the first time in two weeks we've been at school) was pretty crazy.

So here's a short update:

I've been busy. I am now not as busy. I got a tip today that I will be observed in the next week or so. Good tip.

I just smiled a lot because of this.

I am ahead in planning/photocopying for my earth science class but not my French classes - strange. I might, might get separate French III and IV classes next year. I may also have one student in French V. And I've been watching lots and lots of Olympics.

Promises

Today I spent my devo time reflecting on all that is good and right in my life - all the blessings that God has bestowed on small, undeserving me. God has given us so many amazing promises of his love that we forget when things get tough or when we are focused on other things. It is so unbelievably true that when we finally look to God and focus on Him that all other things fall into place.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

See the promises that the Lord has given us and be encouraged! We are so precious to him and he holds us tightly in his hands - nothing can separate us from that love. (See Isaiah 43) I could write so much more, but the point is - be strengthend, encouraged, and loved. With Valentine's Day approaching, this is so appropriate - who is a better example of love than He who loves us so much that he would sacrifice himself?

Earthquake

This morning, there was an earthquake in Chicago. Chicago?! You may say, but yes, Chicago. I got a call from my mom early this morning all excited about the 3.8 magnitude earthquake that she slept through. :)

Here's the map that shows where the epicenter was - quite close to our house!

Nerd

So the nerd in me was very excited to wake up this morning and see the news about the Hadron Collider in Switzerland sharing its first (or second?) results! The amazing atom-smashing machine (which is much bigger, newer, and more sensitive than FermiLab's, sorry blokes in Batavia), broke an atom into many more pieces than anticipated! This is very exciting seeing as they are currently searching for the Higgs boson, but are finding more levels of sub-particles will make the search that much more exciting (and frustrating, I'm sure).

Check it out!

Blizzard

And here's some pictures from this afternoon of the blizzard that hit the East Coast today. It kept snowing for about 5 more hours after these pictures were taken!

Looking outside my door at the frosting on the trees.

And those little white blobs are actually bushes that are usually a little taller than the fence behind them. Plus you get the added benefit of seeing the huge snowdrift - about 2 ft. deep.