My phone rang last night (or I should say this morning) about 1:10am. Whenever my phone rings after midnight my stomach drops a little because usually calls coming in that late are not good. Here's our conversation:
Me: Hello
Tim: Becky? Are you sleeping?
Me: No I'm awake, what's up? Are you okay?
Tim: Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a question for you.
Me: Okay...
Tim: I need you to tell me on the TV show "Full House" who is the one who always says "How rude!" Was it Michelle or Stephanie?
Me: Seriously? I think Stephanie started saying it and then Michelle would copy her.
Tim: Oh okay, I thought it was Michelle, but I think you're right...it was Stephanie. Joaquin (his roommate) and I were just talking about it and we figured you would know this kind of thing. Thanks Bec!
Me: Sure...
Tim: Love ya sis. I'll give you a call tomorrow to catch up.
Me: Love you too.
Yeah...that's my brother...I'm just glad I was legitimately awake when he called, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been as helpful...or as nice...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Courtney Is Engaged!
Courtney and Drew are officially engaged! I was sitting in a meeting this afternoon and I looked at my phone and saw Courtney was calling and instantly thought to myself "She's engaged!"
Courtney and I went to Fresno Pacific together all four years and we lived together in a house our senior year. She is a dear friend with an absolutely beautiful heart. I am so excited for them!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Do You Dance In Your Bed?
I've been at the hospital with my mom for the past few days as she recovered after having her thyroid removed. All went well and her recovery is going smoothly.
I think the highlight of my time at the hospital (besides eating sphagetti for dinner with Jen in the cafeteria) was my mom's roommate, Mrs. Anderson. She shared a room with my mom and didn't have too many visitors, so I would help her if she needed small things (more water poured, another blanket, etc...).
Mrs. Anderson was in her late 80's and legally blind so that made things all the harder for her.
My heart smiled when I overheard this conversation she had with one of the nurses...
Nurse: Mrs. Anderson, your sheets are all tangled up. Have you been dancing in bed?
Mrs. Anderson: No ma'am I haven't been dancing in bed, but one day I'm going to be dancing in heaven.
You are right Mrs. Anderson...you are so very right...
I think the highlight of my time at the hospital (besides eating sphagetti for dinner with Jen in the cafeteria) was my mom's roommate, Mrs. Anderson. She shared a room with my mom and didn't have too many visitors, so I would help her if she needed small things (more water poured, another blanket, etc...).
Mrs. Anderson was in her late 80's and legally blind so that made things all the harder for her.
My heart smiled when I overheard this conversation she had with one of the nurses...
Nurse: Mrs. Anderson, your sheets are all tangled up. Have you been dancing in bed?
Mrs. Anderson: No ma'am I haven't been dancing in bed, but one day I'm going to be dancing in heaven.
You are right Mrs. Anderson...you are so very right...
Monday, April 21, 2008
Did You Know...
1. My first karaoke debut was to the song "Baby Got Back".
2. I play with my eyelashes when I'm thinking hard...or stressed.
3. My bedroom is usually messy...I wish it weren't so...but on any given day you will find clothes strewn across the room.
4. I could eat blackberries and strawberries for days and not get sick of them.
5. When Jen and I go on walks we sometimes pretend there is hot lava all around us and we have to jump around it to save ourselves. Oh you know we have fun...! And sorry, our walks are pretty exclusive, though we may allow for occasional guests from time to time...
Did you know all that?
2. I play with my eyelashes when I'm thinking hard...or stressed.
3. My bedroom is usually messy...I wish it weren't so...but on any given day you will find clothes strewn across the room.
4. I could eat blackberries and strawberries for days and not get sick of them.
5. When Jen and I go on walks we sometimes pretend there is hot lava all around us and we have to jump around it to save ourselves. Oh you know we have fun...! And sorry, our walks are pretty exclusive, though we may allow for occasional guests from time to time...
Did you know all that?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Happy 115th Birthday!
Can you imagine living to be 115 years old? This woman, Edna Parker, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest known person. She was born on April 20,1883. On Friday, Edna laughed and smiled as relatives and guests released 115 balloons into sunny skies outside her nursing home. Dressed in pearls, a blue and white polka dot dress and new white shoes, she clutched a red rose during the festivities.
You better believe she deserved to get some new white shoes for her 115th birthday party!
Wow. If I live to be 115 years old that means I have 92 more years to go...!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Donald Miller is Coming!!!
That's right...this Thursday...at FPU. I have my ticket in my hand. Can't wait!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Best Prank of the Year...
Check out Dani and Mallorie's blog for full details. It was planned out and executed quite well. I was impressed!
Thoughts From The Throne
Another new adition and only two more left for the school year! Enjoy!
I love life. Well, I should say I love most things about my life, though I don’t always love everything that happens in life…but all in all…I love life.
And I love that there are seasons to life. Just like the weather changes season (except when you live in Fresno and it’s 94 degrees in April…what’s up with that?) so life has seasons. Some seasons are bright, sunny, radiating beauty and goodness. Other seasons are dreary, raining (maybe pouring) and dark. But whether good or bad, nonetheless there are seasons. And seasons change.
Think back to August…the first week of school. You may not have known very many people and you may have been new to Fresno all together. August seems like such a long time ago. Many of you would probably say, “So much has changed in this past year…” You have most likely met new people, had new experiences (maybe both good and bad) and have had opportunities to be involved in the community at FPU.
It’s amazing what happens when you take time to reflect on the year as a whole. It’s often comical to think back to who you were 8 months ago—life happens and people change. It’s always encouraging when one can look back and see growth in their life for the good. Although, I also recognize some of you may look back and see that you’ve become someone you never wanted or expected to be. Or maybe you’ve made small changes that have started you on a path that you know will only continue to lead you further in the wrong direction.
Even though life can get crazy and seasons can turn from bright and sunny to dark and dreary in a matter of a day, God isn’t surprised by what’s happening. He knows you. And I mean He really knows you. I’ll be the first to admit that even though I follow Christ I still mess up. And often it’s not pretty. I’m beginning to learn more and more that it’s through the difficult seasons of life that I learn and grow the most. I’ve learned more through seasons of pain and heart ache then I have in my seasons of rejoicing.
Even as we follow Christ it’s made known that it isn’t that we are perfect now or that we will never have to struggle again, but rather when we do struggle we can look and cling to a God who is constantly wanting to restore us back to Him and grow in us an understanding of his deep love and grace.
And I wish that growth process didn’t hurt so much sometimes. Often trying to go around difficult or painful situations is a whole lot easier then going through them. But something happens when you face life head on and enter into what may be a difficult season clinging to God’s promise that He will walk with you through it.
Just as the seasons are about to change, so I am also changing and I hope you are too. Change can be incredibly scary but indescribably good at the same time.
Until Next Week…
I love life. Well, I should say I love most things about my life, though I don’t always love everything that happens in life…but all in all…I love life.
And I love that there are seasons to life. Just like the weather changes season (except when you live in Fresno and it’s 94 degrees in April…what’s up with that?) so life has seasons. Some seasons are bright, sunny, radiating beauty and goodness. Other seasons are dreary, raining (maybe pouring) and dark. But whether good or bad, nonetheless there are seasons. And seasons change.
Think back to August…the first week of school. You may not have known very many people and you may have been new to Fresno all together. August seems like such a long time ago. Many of you would probably say, “So much has changed in this past year…” You have most likely met new people, had new experiences (maybe both good and bad) and have had opportunities to be involved in the community at FPU.
It’s amazing what happens when you take time to reflect on the year as a whole. It’s often comical to think back to who you were 8 months ago—life happens and people change. It’s always encouraging when one can look back and see growth in their life for the good. Although, I also recognize some of you may look back and see that you’ve become someone you never wanted or expected to be. Or maybe you’ve made small changes that have started you on a path that you know will only continue to lead you further in the wrong direction.
Even though life can get crazy and seasons can turn from bright and sunny to dark and dreary in a matter of a day, God isn’t surprised by what’s happening. He knows you. And I mean He really knows you. I’ll be the first to admit that even though I follow Christ I still mess up. And often it’s not pretty. I’m beginning to learn more and more that it’s through the difficult seasons of life that I learn and grow the most. I’ve learned more through seasons of pain and heart ache then I have in my seasons of rejoicing.
Even as we follow Christ it’s made known that it isn’t that we are perfect now or that we will never have to struggle again, but rather when we do struggle we can look and cling to a God who is constantly wanting to restore us back to Him and grow in us an understanding of his deep love and grace.
And I wish that growth process didn’t hurt so much sometimes. Often trying to go around difficult or painful situations is a whole lot easier then going through them. But something happens when you face life head on and enter into what may be a difficult season clinging to God’s promise that He will walk with you through it.
Just as the seasons are about to change, so I am also changing and I hope you are too. Change can be incredibly scary but indescribably good at the same time.
Until Next Week…
You...Me...Wii...!
That's right folks...I bought a Wii! It's super fun and I'm developing some mad skills on it. If you haven't played Wii...you need to. And it's not just another video game...it can be a legitimate work out! The boxing game on there makes your arms burn after a while!
I bought the Wii after Dani and Mallorie put one on hold for me at Wal-Mart. It was only on hold for an hour so I had to decide quick if I wanted to buy it. I bought it and I haven't looked back. I'm very happy with my decision!
You...Me...Wii??
I bought the Wii after Dani and Mallorie put one on hold for me at Wal-Mart. It was only on hold for an hour so I had to decide quick if I wanted to buy it. I bought it and I haven't looked back. I'm very happy with my decision!
You...Me...Wii??
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Book Recommendations...
If you could recommend one book that was really impactful or insightful for you what would you recommend?
As always, there is a reason for this...and I'll let you know in a few days. I'd love to hear your recommendations though. Thanks in advance...!
As always, there is a reason for this...and I'll let you know in a few days. I'd love to hear your recommendations though. Thanks in advance...!
Problems and Pain
I'm reading a new book right now that I bought at the MCC Sale for $1 titled: The Road Less Traveled and I thought I would share a little snippet of it with ya'll...
"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.
Life is a series of problems. What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending upon their nature, evoke in us frustration or grief or sadness or loneliness or guilt or regret or anger or fear or anxiety or anguish or despair. These are uncomfortable feelings, often very uncomfortable, often as painful as any kind of physical pain, sometimes equaling the very worst kind of physical pain.
And since life poses an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we challenge and encourage the human capacity to solve problems, just as in school we deliberately set problems for children to solve."
This part really resonated with me...
"Fearing the pain involved, almost all of us, to a greater or lesser degree, attempt to avoid problems. We procrastinate, hoping that they will go away. We ignore them, forget them, pretend they do not exist. We even take drugs to assist us in ignoring them, so that by deadening ourselves to the pain we can forget the problems that cause the pain. We attempt to skirt around problems rather then meet them head on. We attempt to get out of them rather than suffer through them..."
"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.
Life is a series of problems. What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending upon their nature, evoke in us frustration or grief or sadness or loneliness or guilt or regret or anger or fear or anxiety or anguish or despair. These are uncomfortable feelings, often very uncomfortable, often as painful as any kind of physical pain, sometimes equaling the very worst kind of physical pain.
And since life poses an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.
Yet it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we challenge and encourage the human capacity to solve problems, just as in school we deliberately set problems for children to solve."
This part really resonated with me...
"Fearing the pain involved, almost all of us, to a greater or lesser degree, attempt to avoid problems. We procrastinate, hoping that they will go away. We ignore them, forget them, pretend they do not exist. We even take drugs to assist us in ignoring them, so that by deadening ourselves to the pain we can forget the problems that cause the pain. We attempt to skirt around problems rather then meet them head on. We attempt to get out of them rather than suffer through them..."
Friday, April 4, 2008
Bye Bye Digital Camera
I received a new digital camera as a Christmas gift from my parents this past Christmas. I loved it. It was exactly what I wanted and perfect for what I was going to be using it for--taking a ton of pictures.
But this past Tuesday my camera went missing after I set it down on the bleachers in the gym at school. I went to get it from where I set it down...and it was gone.
Some say it's just misplaced, others say it was just plain stolen...I'm not sure what to say, except I hope to get it back someway...somehow!
And though I really liked the camera, I'm the most saddened about losing all the pictures I had on there...that I had not yet downloaded on my computer...just about 200 of them from December to the present.
Major bummer.
So if you are an FPUer and know or hear of anything...I would love to get my camera back! Thanks.
But this past Tuesday my camera went missing after I set it down on the bleachers in the gym at school. I went to get it from where I set it down...and it was gone.
Some say it's just misplaced, others say it was just plain stolen...I'm not sure what to say, except I hope to get it back someway...somehow!
And though I really liked the camera, I'm the most saddened about losing all the pictures I had on there...that I had not yet downloaded on my computer...just about 200 of them from December to the present.
Major bummer.
So if you are an FPUer and know or hear of anything...I would love to get my camera back! Thanks.
RA (Raw) Heat and RA (Raw) Power...
FPU Dodgeball Tournament. This past Tuesday night. 8pm. Our two teams (RA Heat and RA Power) rocked it.
Okay, I should say my RAs rocked it. No, we didn't make it to the championships, but we looked dang good in the shirts we made and the socks we wore. Please note the shirts and socks in this picture. Not everyone was able to make it so in this picture we're missing three and there is one special guest added in. All in all a very fun night. I am so down to play again...!
Oh and you know we had an hour practice the morning of complete with throwing and dodging drills. We were so hard core. I love these ladies. Oh, and just as a disclaimer, I have no idea what I'm doing in the second picture...no idea.
Okay, I should say my RAs rocked it. No, we didn't make it to the championships, but we looked dang good in the shirts we made and the socks we wore. Please note the shirts and socks in this picture. Not everyone was able to make it so in this picture we're missing three and there is one special guest added in. All in all a very fun night. I am so down to play again...!
Oh and you know we had an hour practice the morning of complete with throwing and dodging drills. We were so hard core. I love these ladies. Oh, and just as a disclaimer, I have no idea what I'm doing in the second picture...no idea.
Monday, March 31, 2008
I'm Hooked
It's true. I borrowed season one of "One Tree Hill" from Dani and Mallorie and I'm hooked. I'm embarressed to say how many episodes I watched this weekend...but it was quite a few. It's a good show and now I understand what so many people have talked about for so long.
Now Jen don't go rolling your eyes just yet...watch a few episodes and I can pretty much guarantee you'll be hooked too...
When You Reach That Level...
I love when you reach the level with people where you can start joking/making fun of them. You know what I mean. When you reach a certain comfort level where you can banter back and forth about any given thing all in good fun.
Today was a long day. A very long day. And I can pretty much say with confidence that this day would have seemed a whole heck of a lot longer if I did not have great (and fun!) co-workers. Kimi, Dave and I work really well together--and we've reached that level with one another where we can joke around and make fun of one another all in good fun.
There was one time today when both Dave and Kimi were mocking me and I couldn't stop laughing. I love this about my job.
And it gets even better when Pam jumps into the mix!
Today was a long day--but I work with some amazing people and even when one of us has a "bad" day we love one another through it.
And know it's time for me to leave my office and go to bed...
Today was a long day. A very long day. And I can pretty much say with confidence that this day would have seemed a whole heck of a lot longer if I did not have great (and fun!) co-workers. Kimi, Dave and I work really well together--and we've reached that level with one another where we can joke around and make fun of one another all in good fun.
There was one time today when both Dave and Kimi were mocking me and I couldn't stop laughing. I love this about my job.
And it gets even better when Pam jumps into the mix!
Today was a long day--but I work with some amazing people and even when one of us has a "bad" day we love one another through it.
And know it's time for me to leave my office and go to bed...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
You Really Never Know...
A student recently wrote this to me...
"you have been speakin to me everytime you send one of the TFTT (Thoughts From the Throne) out.....u have helped me through alot of stuff and you keep me on the right track...thanks"
Who knew? God knew. I didn't know. It's just another reminder tht we really never know how God is at work. I'm blessed to be a part of the process.
"you have been speakin to me everytime you send one of the TFTT (Thoughts From the Throne) out.....u have helped me through alot of stuff and you keep me on the right track...thanks"
Who knew? God knew. I didn't know. It's just another reminder tht we really never know how God is at work. I'm blessed to be a part of the process.
I am third...
In an interview with comedian Jeff Foxworthy by Glenn Beck on CNN, Foxworthy gave some invaluable advice. Foxworthy said in his family he encourages them to say and live like, "I am third. I will serve God first, family second and myself third."
Good advice Mr. Foxworthy. Now if only I could do that...
Good advice Mr. Foxworthy. Now if only I could do that...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Another "Thought From The Throne"...
Have you ever got a song stuck in your head before? Either you hear it on the radio or you hear someone singing it and from that moment on you can’t get it out of your head. This has happened to me before…well, okay it actually happens to me a lot. People who know me well know that I really like to sing. Now when I say I like to sing, by no means do I mean that I sing well. I just like to sing and will often burst out in random song. And I usually only realize I’m doing it when I look up and someone (or multiple people) are looking at me really strange… yeah…
Well I got a song stuck in my head this weekend. On Easter Sunday I attended church with Jen and Derek and I was reminded of what I like to call “oldie but goodie” praise songs that we used to sing at the church Jen and I grew up at. I couldn't’t get this song out of my head—-the chorus of the song went like this:
And I believe that He’s here now
Standing in our midst
Here with the power to heal
And the grace to forgive
These four lines were stuck in my head all day—I even found myself humming it last night while I was in the shower! Often when songs get stuck in my head I don’t think too much about it, and honestly I sometimes don’t even realize what I’m singing or saying with the lyrics of a song. And I’ve found myself in a few awkward situations because of that…
But this time as I sang the words to this song over and over and over again, I found myself discovering deep truth in these lyrics. Specifically with the last two lines…
“Here with the power to heal and the grace to forgive…”
Sometimes we need to be reminded of this. I often need to be reminded of this. We need to be reminded that Jesus has the power to heal in ways that are beyond our understanding and He has the grace to forgive even when we don’t want to or can’t forgive ourselves.
It doesn’t take much looking around to see that we live in a broken world and therefore we’re all broken people. Some of you probably feel more broken then others at times. And some of you are hurting and are hurting really bad right now. We are in need of the one and only one who offers healing in a way that no one (or no thing) can.
Some people go their whole life searching for something or someone to heal their brokenness. But the thing they’re searching for is in their midst. He’s right here. And we can only find the healing and grace we need when we give up the search, when we surrender, when we trust.
Trust that God is already at work putting you back together. Trust that through dying to the old, the new can give birth. Trust that Jesus can repair the scarred and broken image. Trust that grace pays the bill…
Until Next Week...
Well I got a song stuck in my head this weekend. On Easter Sunday I attended church with Jen and Derek and I was reminded of what I like to call “oldie but goodie” praise songs that we used to sing at the church Jen and I grew up at. I couldn't’t get this song out of my head—-the chorus of the song went like this:
And I believe that He’s here now
Standing in our midst
Here with the power to heal
And the grace to forgive
These four lines were stuck in my head all day—I even found myself humming it last night while I was in the shower! Often when songs get stuck in my head I don’t think too much about it, and honestly I sometimes don’t even realize what I’m singing or saying with the lyrics of a song. And I’ve found myself in a few awkward situations because of that…
But this time as I sang the words to this song over and over and over again, I found myself discovering deep truth in these lyrics. Specifically with the last two lines…
“Here with the power to heal and the grace to forgive…”
Sometimes we need to be reminded of this. I often need to be reminded of this. We need to be reminded that Jesus has the power to heal in ways that are beyond our understanding and He has the grace to forgive even when we don’t want to or can’t forgive ourselves.
It doesn’t take much looking around to see that we live in a broken world and therefore we’re all broken people. Some of you probably feel more broken then others at times. And some of you are hurting and are hurting really bad right now. We are in need of the one and only one who offers healing in a way that no one (or no thing) can.
Some people go their whole life searching for something or someone to heal their brokenness. But the thing they’re searching for is in their midst. He’s right here. And we can only find the healing and grace we need when we give up the search, when we surrender, when we trust.
Trust that God is already at work putting you back together. Trust that through dying to the old, the new can give birth. Trust that Jesus can repair the scarred and broken image. Trust that grace pays the bill…
Until Next Week...
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Things I don't understand...
1. Why people eat hot dogs.
2. Why people call you, don't leave a message and then get upset because you didn't call them back.
3. How anyone can think the circus peanuts candies are good.
4. Why some people come to a complete stop before turning into a parking lot or onto a side street.
5. How some people can eat fast food everyday...and I mean everyday.
6. Why 7-11 got rid of their diet pepsi slurpees.
7. How anyone would not like the show "The Biggest Loser"
8. Why when you're told you can't do something it makes you want to do it all the more.
9. Why some people can do a cart wheel and others can't. I would be in the "cannot" category.
10. What a bunny has to do with the day Jesus rose from the grave.
2. Why people call you, don't leave a message and then get upset because you didn't call them back.
3. How anyone can think the circus peanuts candies are good.
4. Why some people come to a complete stop before turning into a parking lot or onto a side street.
5. How some people can eat fast food everyday...and I mean everyday.
6. Why 7-11 got rid of their diet pepsi slurpees.
7. How anyone would not like the show "The Biggest Loser"
8. Why when you're told you can't do something it makes you want to do it all the more.
9. Why some people can do a cart wheel and others can't. I would be in the "cannot" category.
10. What a bunny has to do with the day Jesus rose from the grave.
He Has Risen...He Has Risen Indeed!
I love that as I get older I have started new traditions for different holidays. Actually I should say Jen and I have started new traditions of things we do together since neither of us are married--or any where close to it for that matter.
On Easter we attend church together, but the past two years we've gone to a church that we normally don't attend. I don't really know why we go to a different church--but it's a lot of fun. After church we then usually eat and hang out for a while. This year we came back to the house that I'm house-sitting at and made deviled eggs and green bean casserole for my family's Easter dinner.
But what's most fun about it all is that we've started these traditions on our own. As adults. And I love it.
Hopefully in the years ahead we'll establish traditions for other holidays, but for now we have our own traditions for Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr. B-day and Easter. Sometimes Thanksgiving too!
Oh what fun!
He has risen...He has risen INDEED!
On Easter we attend church together, but the past two years we've gone to a church that we normally don't attend. I don't really know why we go to a different church--but it's a lot of fun. After church we then usually eat and hang out for a while. This year we came back to the house that I'm house-sitting at and made deviled eggs and green bean casserole for my family's Easter dinner.
But what's most fun about it all is that we've started these traditions on our own. As adults. And I love it.
Hopefully in the years ahead we'll establish traditions for other holidays, but for now we have our own traditions for Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr. B-day and Easter. Sometimes Thanksgiving too!
Oh what fun!
He has risen...He has risen INDEED!
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