Speaking of goats...

Okay, so I realize I hardly ever post blogs about actual events. This is not cool. I want to share my life with you guys! :)

Here we go.

This weekend I went to the Pima County Fair with some friends.

That's how I felt about the ferris wheel. Note: This is a dramatization of actual events.

Beautiful Sydney and I on the ferris wheel. :)

First, we saw a bunch of old tractors and a washing machine. Then we saw animals being auctioned off for food.

Me: Sydney...what happens to those cute little lambs?
Sydney: Um...
Me: Wait...the Disney version.
Sydney: They never die.

After that, we went and saw a ridiculously large amount of ridiculously cute animals. I love bunnies. I also adore baby pygmy goats.

I do not adore country music. However, I tolerate it. I went to my first country concert at the fair (It was free and Sydney and Kyle happen to fall all over themselves when Craig Morgan is around). So, naturally, I belted it out when he sang one of my least favorite songs and pretended to be the daughter of a third generation farmer.

Then we went on the ferris wheel and took a lot of pictures. It was a very serious time.

Um...

Kyle and Ross...cuuuute :P

View from the big wheel

We went to Triple T for a late night dinner afterward. We talked about Jane Austen, a guy named Chase, skydiving, and yogurt. It was probably one of the best conversations of the semester.

Distraction

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

-Hebrews 12:1, 2

Frustration, difficulty, desire, it's hard!....oh....endurance. Oh...lay it aside. Oh...Jesus. The author and perfecter of our faith. Oh.

It is difficult not to let yourself be distracted, but that's why we need endurance.

Thank You, Lord, for giving us examples. People who endure are inspiring.

Progress, not perfection. There's a reason we need Jesus as the perfecter of our faith (He is the most inspiring of all...by far....by farther than far).

Turn your eyes, O my soul, to Jesus, my great High Priest. He has been tempted in every way and understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses. Let me not be anywhere that You aren't, my Lord. For reasons not completely explainable He welcomes me back with open arms to stand before the throne of grace.

Optimism

Today I discovered that I am much too unflinchingly optimistic to study Philip Larkin.

My loss, I'm sure.

Beauty

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple."

-Psalm 27:4

How wonderful.

The Owl

Downhill I came, hungry, and yet not starved;
Cold, yet had heat within me that was proof
Against the North wind; tired, and yet so that rest
Had seemed the sweetest thing under a roof

Then at the inn I had food, fire, and rest,
Knowing how hungry, cold, and tired was I.
All of the night was barred out except
An owl's cry, a most melancholy cry

Shaken out long and clear upon the hill,
No merry note, nor cause of merriment,
But one telling me plain what I escaped
And others could not, that night, as in I went.

And salted was my food, and my repose,
Salted and sobered, too, by the bird's voice
Speaking for those who lay under the stars,
Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice.

--Edward Thomas

I love this poem. Perhaps I will post my thoughts on it later and how they relate to man's (my) escape from sin and condemnation. For now, however, I would like to say that the rhyme of "voice" and "rejoice" is one of my favorites.

I am now off to finish writing the paper I am working on for my English class. I'm really enjoying it, but am too much of an extrovert to concentrate too long without some kind of contact (virtual or not) with people.

Anywho....happy working, oh people of Wednesday!

Japan ♥

I have a blog for Japan.

It is http://ashleyaxupinjapan.blogspot.com

Check it out and pray with me that God would do His will in the country of Japan!