Anna’s Blog

This Friday night I had the privilege of participating in the celebration of Shabbat at a local Jewish congregation. My friend Kevin, an RA up at Manor Campus and former IJS student, organized the trip to the synagogue - more than ten PBU students came!

I've always had a true love for the people of Israel - God's Chosen! - and it was such an awesome experience to observe and participate in their worship. The songs of worship were sung in Hebrew (we followed along as best we could in the prayer books), and lyrically, sounded like hymns we as Christians might sing to the Lord, too! I couldn't help but notice a certain sadness, though, in the songs. They are still waiting to be redeemed. They still cry out for a Messiah.

Torah, then, was read - the passage from Exodus on the observation of the Passover. Though the rabbi spoke on the significance of the blood on the doorposts, and the people to be ready as though for battle, again I felt that the picture was incomplete. Because of my knowledge of Jesus as Savior, Messiah, Deliverer, Redeemer, the picture of Passover is a shadow of what He has accomplished! We are covered with His blood - and death cannot touch us! There's a deeper... magic. I was brought to tears, listening to the words and the hopes of a people so lost, so desperate for the salvation they've missed - but at which they still have a chance!

The congregation was incredibly friendly and inviting - more so than many a church I've visited in my life. After the service, we were invited to 'nosh' with them in their fellowship hall. A few friends of mine and I chatted with Mo, a regular at the synagogue, while eating freshly baked bread and chocolate covered strawberries. In all, an awesome experience.

Be in prayer for Israel - and for the Lord's People, wherever they are in the world.

Posted by Anna at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So it's never fun being sick. And it's even LESS fun being sick without your mother to take care of you. Unfortunately, that's the boat I'm in. My mommy is 700 miles away. So I've got to care for myself as best I can.

I developed a wicked chest cold this weekend, and the Worship Service I attended on Saturday night did nothing to help my sore throat (I'd rather sing worship to my God than be silent in such a service...). The past two days, I've managed to attend classes with only minimal interruption of sneezes and coughing fits, and the teasing from my friends is mostly bearable. I may sound like a man, but it won't be long now till I'm all-girl again!

Monday after classes, I settled myself under my covers - textbook and cup of soup in hand - and proceeded to read through chapters detailing the different disabilities and special needs prevalent in classrooms across America. After finishing said soup, I was all snuggly and warm... and promptly fell asleep.

I awoke around 8 o'clock that evening, finished my homework, watched a few episodes of Arrested Development (come on - I've got to pamper myself at least a LITTLE bit!), and took some NyQuil. Once under my covers again, I was asleep again.

...Who knows... a few more days of this and I may just beat this thing! :)

Posted by Anna at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Classes have... begun.

Today, I poured myself a cup of coffee before work (knowing that I wouldn't last long without my caffeine fix) and added extra sugar. As I stirred the sugar, I wondered at the way sugar mixes in with the hot liquid. Weird... stirring makes it dissolve. And is there any way to chemically separate the sugar granules from the coffee again? Is that possible? Why haven't I considered this before? ...Why am I considering it now?

Maybe we'll discuss this in Intro to Natural Sciences.

Posted by Anna at 7:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ahhhh... after a long and very crowded flight out of Chicago (absolutely full of supporters headed out to DC to witness the historic Inauguration), I made my way out of the terminal toward the baggage claim in the Philly airport.

They better not have lost my luggage again, I thought to myself. It was evening, I was tired, and memories of living off my friends' kindness for a week last year when the airline had 'misplaced' my suitcase didn't provoke any fondness for airtravel. Missing my own family, I grumbled as I passed happy families reuniting, excited tourists sporting their Obama gear, wondering howww anyone could have the energy to be EXCITED to be in Philly during the winter. My hair is static-y.

And then, I rounded the corner to Baggage Claim. A squeal pierced the already noisy and bustling atmosphere around the conveyor belt. My spirits instantly rose as I saw my best friends Megan and Brieanne running to greet me. They hugged me and spun me around and screamed in my ear and invaded the personal space only just recently readjusting to freedom after the crowded flight... but... I wasn't annoyed. I didn't grumble. THIS was another family reuniting. And I had missed them.

Welcome home, Anna.

Posted by Anna at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The days are blurring together.

Of this final week, here are some "significant" events, captured on film!

The view out my front door. Beautiful snow.

My living room, and my cat sleeping in a paper bag.

My little sister Adarae watching a movie...in a laundry basket.

I'm losing my miiiiind!

My room...aaafter it's been cleaned. Whoops.

Beloved piano.

Silly mom spilled coffee beans alllll over the floor. But we're not ABOUT to waste our delicious Costa Rican beans!!!

A picture I drew/colored one day... I'm very proud of it! :)

I'm outta here on SATUUURRDAAYYYYYY!!!

Posted by Anna at 11:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I went sledding today.
Something I haven't done in years.
Literally years.

I'd completely forgotten what it's like to:

*look like a marshmallow in an effort to protect from the cold

*eat pure, powdery snow

*throw snowballs

*be hit by snowballs

*tackle someone into a snowbank

*be tackled onto a moving sled, and slide down the hill backwards

*try to surf a sled down the hill

*not care whether I hit a tree or not

*walk back up an enormous hill, dragging a sled

*have so much fun I forget how incredibly cold I am

*trudge back to the house when the cold becomes unbearable

*try to pull off frozen boots with frozen fingers

*change out of sopping wet clothes into warm sweatpants - fresh from the dryer

*sip hot chocolate with friends, watching Hannah Montana

*not care what happens for the rest of the evening... or the next day, for that matter

Ah the simple joys of Winter Break. A mere week left of this retreat to childhood.

Posted by Anna at 7:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well -- I had originally written a rather lengthy little article on my New Years: how I was finally able to drink carbonated beverages again after a year of giving up pop, musings on where this year would bring me, random philosophical quips about whether or not I would trust the Lord to bring me through another year -- a blog I could be proud of, but nothing earth-shatteringly brilliant, profound or inspired. But as I went to publish it, my internet abruptly disconnected. After a minute of no connection, my airport indicated it was up and working again, I reloaded the page... and the textbox was empty. Shoot.

But then... it got me thinking. This year... is a blank slate. A chance to start over. I have a new, more serious hairstyle and color (thanks to my mom's stern influence). I'm recently out of a relationship. My workload has more than doubled, as far as both my job in Admissions and classes go. I'm growing up. The Lord has something in store for me. I don't know what it is, but it's certainly... different than years past. Am I ready for it? Who knows... but I know I can trust Him to equip me, fill me with the grace necessary. Praise Him - for new beginnings, for blank slates.

Happy New Year!

This picture went much better with my original post: my first pop in a year! (A&W Cream Soda = best everrrr!) Cheers to a New Year! L'Chaim!

Posted by Anna at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)