So today I went running for the first time in weeks! I have been an absolute bum and today I was like dude enough of this its time to begin again. so i did. and i remembered how much i love to run! yes, i am slow, but its like your lungs get cleared out and the brisk fresh air fills them up and you push yourself further than you expected you could go. And I just had to share, that as I was running, I came to that mental bridge that I have to cross every time I run, where I say to myself, okay you have gone far enough, and i let myself walk. But today I pushed on, said to myself 'I really am a NINJA!' and went on. Today three miles down, soon to be more and more.

I overheard a co-worker ranting about how silly Christmas is, that the romans just took over a pagan religious holiday a be-jillion years ago to show power and thus this holiday it simply a political power-play and that Jesus was really born in June etc etc. I think, for me at least, the historical development of this holiday is somewhat irrelevant and it doesn't matter when exactly Jesus was born, because really Christmas is a reminder of God's greater plan! That he knew that redemption for his broken servants (us) could only be granted through blood and a perfect sacrifice. And so, in His perfect plan, he gave us his son, the exact representation of Himself in human form, so that we can return to him. And the story, the story of Christmas, of Jesus' life, is all part of this plan that is necessary so that we can see God's greatness, His plan, and Praise Him for His mercy, grace, and power. So Christmas is just the beginning of that plan, the first light of hope for sinners, the dawn of a new covenant, a new law, the gospel. I know I can't express it as well as others, but this realization makes me want to shout and dance and sing! For God is so Good to us! And we know that His plan has already been completed, the sacrifice has been made and Jesus has already sat down on the throne beside the Lord, signifying his victory over death! Rejoice for we have been redeemed! Amen!

i was at my church orchestra rehearsal last night when one of the pieces struck me as oddly familiar. this familiarity was not of the "oh-this-is-my-favorite-hymn-which-i-have-heard-all-of-my-life" variety, but a far more unsettling "this-sounds-like-some-random-song-from-an-inspirational-movie-possibly-one-with-woopie-goldberg" familiarity. the song is titled "Glory to God" and has a reggae-esque (?i dunnno, beachy perhaps describes it better...iam not known for my musical accuracy) beat to it. well, i finally placed where the familiarity origniates from. Its a dead copy of the theme song from Free Willy. Yes, the movie about the whale. now, i ask you, how am a supposed to keep a straight face during the Christmas program with this mind association firmly planted in my brain?

Hallsey, one of the three adorable children i sit for, and i had a tea party tonight while her parents and older brother went to see narnia. One of my favorite things about her is that she answers all my my playful, teasing questions with a straight, serious (while slightly questioning my intellignce) tone. i attempted to capture some of her funnier moments in prose, but erased them when they fell shamefully short of campturing her truly inate sense of humor. all this to say, she is a riot. She names all her dolls and animals frivolous names like Annika and Serefina (names gleaned from barbie movies i gather) and dresses up in a princess costume evertime i come over. we tell lots of stories, her sweet voice always chiming in when she feels an elaboration to my plot is necessary. she went through this one morbid (and very funny) stage when she would make all the characters in the story die. I would have the princess in the tale living happily ever after when suddenly Hallsey would declare that, no, the princess fell violently ill and died. i hope all these deaths weren't due to her dislike of my impromptu fairy tales. she is as cute as a button.

look at me, just blogging away. (this is for amy's benefit).

so pride and prejudice was super good! very prettily filmed, lovely music, and, of course, a wonderful story. the best part was my grandmother's commentary and her swooning over mr. darcy every time he came onto the screen. ah i love that woman!

um. today is my day off and i usually begin my tuesdays with a list of things to accomplish. and generally they never get done. so it goes today. what i really think i need is a nap. :)

um, i think i am going to prague. stay tuned for more details.

i have been lax in my posting.
but, frankly, there has not been much to write about, though this is not a negative or sad observation, i have just been in go mode for the past few weeks.

blog topic #1: just home from a fantastic weekend at Chapel Hill. What a wonderful and talented group of friends I have! Amy- You had a fantastic, magnificent rectital; Jon- You were amazing(!!) in the cradle will rock! You owned the role. Matt- Congrats on winning the concerto competition, i cannot wait to hear you perform at the concert.

and Elisabeth is 21-hooray!
This is a very insufficient sum-up of the weekend, but i am an a concise mood. final statement, i had a wonderful time, i love seeing all of my dear friends!

blog topic #2: it is very difficult to soak your ear in salt water.

blog topic #3: be expecting an e-mail about a fantastic party. my mom's only condition about holding it here in charlotte is that everyone brings their instruments and that we all sing Christmas carols. i am not kidding, bring your instruments or my mom will jetison us into the cold.


Tonight i am have a date with my grandma for dinner and a movie. i am excited, there is no one i like talking about jane austin with more that my g-ma. can you guess what movie we are going to see? stay tuned for my next blog in which i will give a detailed analysis comparing the film to book versions and A&E movie renditions.