Monday, June 8, 2009

Surviving Cascade


Recently, my Dad, sister Steph and I went with a small group to hike up Cascade Mt. near the town of Keene in the Adirondacks mountains. It was a blast, we had a lot of fun and I did learn a few things.

#1. I am out of shape
#2. 4,000 ft. is a long way

I have for the most part considered myself a decent hiker, I mean I can hike our little foothills here in upstate NY no problem, but our foot hills maybe take 1/2 hour or hour to hike up. Cascade, 1 hour you weren't even half way up, and that's when I realized the life of a hiker is not one for me. For I have never been so exhausted in my entire life. I am glad that I went however, and now I can say I conquered a mountain. But climbing another mountain is definitely not in my near future. Enjoy the pics and will post again later.







God Bless!
Sarah

Friday, May 8, 2009

A Legacy of Jane


“Pride and Prejudice”, “Sense and Sensibility”, and “Emma” are three of some of England’s classic novels written by the beloved Jane Austen. Jane’s novels have been treasured since their first publications in the early 19th century England and whose publications have since spread throughout the world. But what is the basis for the public’s long appreciated love of Jane’s novels? For surely a simple novel cannot survive over a span of almost 200 years without some unique aspect with which to endear itself to its readers forever.
Jane Austen was a realist. Her writing reflected the joys and problems of a middle-class society while having an antidote of a happily ever after for the heroines and heroes. “Sense and Sensibility” for example, describes the fictional life a widowed mother and her three daughters who, upon their fathers death, are forced to live on a meager salary endowed on them by their brother. However, amidst their lack of fortune, the two elder daughters are able to marry for love to wealthy men who can take care of them and their mother and younger sister. This scenario from “Sense and Sensibility” reflects Austen’s life in a way that when her own father died, she and her mother and sister were dependant on her brothers for support. Unlike her books however, Jane’s life did not necessarily have a novel ending. Her fictional heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, and Elinor Dashwood, were able to marry for love despite age and financial barriers. Austen on the other hand had only one marriage proposal. A man of good fortune whom Jane had known for some years asked for her hand in marriage, but Jane did not love him and rejected his offer. Jane lived mostly a quiet life, unknown by the public by her real name, she received little public recognition for her writings. Unfortunately, in 1816 Jane began to suffer an illness, which she tried to ignore, but in August of 1817, Jane Austen died at the age of 41.
In conclusion, many movie adaptations have been made of Austen’s novels and today in the 21st century, Austen’s works are still being read and enjoyed by a new generation raised in a totally different culture. But Jane’s tales of love overcoming the odds are still inspiring. Apparently, Jane Austen’s lasting literary classics will last until the world stops reading.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Whoa, I'm still here

Hello, well in case you thought I had abandoned my blog, take a deep breath, I didn't :) I just got really busy with little to no time on the computer. Hopefully in a day or so I will be able to post a little essay I did so I have something new! Alrighty, talk to you all later!

In Christ,
Sarah

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A Few Laughs


I've always appreciated the ministry of Francis Frangipane and one fun aspect of his website (http://www.frangipane.org) is his humor page. So I just wanted to share some funny ones with you. God Bless!

Someone At The Door
A priest is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.

After watching the boy's efforts for some time, the priest moves closer to the boy's position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder leans over and gives the doorbell a sold ring.

Crouching down to the child's level, the priest smiles benevolently and asks, "And now what, my little man?"

The boy replies, "Now we run!"

Generations
Windsor Castle, outside of London, is directly in the flight path of Heathrow International Airport. While a group of tourists was standing outside the castle admiring the elegant structure, a plane flew overhead at a relatively low altitude, making a tremendous noise.

One particularly annoyed tourist whined, "Why did they build the castle so close to the airport?"

Never Be Late
A local priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish.

A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner.

However, he was delayed so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited:

"I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had also stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had an affair with his best friend's wife, and taken illicit drugs. I was appalled.

"But as the days went on I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people."

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies for being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and said: "I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived. In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession."

Moral: Never, never, NEVER-EVER be late.

Interesting Thoughts
Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.

When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?

Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

If horrific means to make horrible, does terrific mean to make terrible?

Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?

"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.

Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed?

Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?

Why is it that if someone tells you that there are 1 billion stars in the universe you will believe them, but if they tell you a wall has wet paint you will have to touch it to be sure?

If people from Poland are called "Poles," why aren't people from Holland called "Holes?"

"Grace"ous Host
A woman invited some people to dinner.

At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Another Day Gone By



Well today was a absolutely beautiful day in the valley! I went to Red Cross this morning, went to a friends house for lunch, then took my sisters to a park, followed by working at the pizza shop for 4 hours. Yep, it was a busy day!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Lessons in Trusting God

College. Now there's a word that can frighten the daylights out of me. Why? Because college will determine what I will do for the next few years and set me on a course I may be on for the rest of my life! Yikes! Questions such as "What courses should I take?" "what if I fail?" and "what if I make the wrong choice?" loom ahead like dark clouds bringing a summer storm.
After talking with my parents about all my questions and fears, I realized I had a definite lack of trust in God. On my own strength I am simply terrified about my future. But Jesus isn't terrified. He knows my past, my present and my future, and I don't have to worry, because He knows whats best for me. While praying for trust, Jesus gave me a song from the Donut Man that goes something like this:
"Here comes Peter walking on the water, walking on the water because Jesus said come. He stepped off the boat to see if he'd float and he's walking on the water and it looks like fun! He see big waves all around, he's afraid he's gonna drown. But he's walking on the water, walking on the water, because Jesus said come. He stops to think, cause he's afraid, but Jesus hand lifts him from the waves. But he's walking on the water, walking on the water because Jesus said come!"
Peter had to let go of every logical thing he knew to step on that water, but he did, and Jesus kept him safe. Jesus is faithful no matter what is going on in our lives. He is in control and can calm any storm and give us strength to walk on our stormy seas, even when we think it's impossible.
God Bless!

In Christ,
Sarah

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What's up today?


Well, for all reading (or Aunt B, Aunt J & Uncle L =) not to much today. I went to Red Cross and had fun organizing files and dunking a sweet donut in coffee ahh mmmmmmmm. After RC I came home and later went to work at the pizza shop, which has been slow this week so I left early.
Different subject: one of my new favorites songs is "Uncommon" by Greg Long and Kristy Starling, which is about not choosing the "comfortable life" and taking the straight and narrow way. As a rebelutioninary ( http://www.therebelution.com/blog/ ) I especially find this song very powerful. If you would like to hear it, check out Greg Long's website at http://www.greglong.com/ .

Have a wonderful night in Christ!

Love you all,
Sarah