http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/ en Copyright 2009 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:59:10 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Zebra Striped Whale Also referred to as ZSW or Zebra, this place has some awesome ice cream and tea and a really fun atmosphere as well. 3. Styer's Orchard In the fall you can go pick your own fruit... it reminds me a little of home, and its also cheaper than in the store. 4. Target A great place to roam around in... play hide and seek... and practice your hoola-hooping skills! 5. Parks This is probably one of my most favorite categories of things to do off campus. You could have a cookout, play firsbee, have a picnic, fly a kite, go for a walk, be pooped on by birds, or go hiking... the possibilities are endless and there is always something to explore. Some of my favorite parks are: Montgomery Lorimer Park Core Creek Park Tyler State Park Silver Lake County Park Playwicki Park 6. Nifty Fifty's This one has been one of my favorites for a long time... I have been going there with friends since my freshmen year when we first went for someone's birthday. They have a ton of options for milkshakes and sodas! 7. Philadelphia... and of course cheesesteaks! I don't think I will ever get sick of watching people in Philadelphia, everyone is so different! But also, besides having some awesome architecture and history... Philadelphia also has cheesesteaks! One of my favorite places to get cheesesteaks is Jim's on South Street. Sometimes me and my friends eat them there... or we go find somewhere else in Philadelphia to eat them. 8. Camping There are a lot of places in the area that you can go camping close to school, and it is pretty cheap. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of this campground, but it was one of my favorites! http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/06/these_are_a_few_of_my_favorite_1.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/06/these_are_a_few_of_my_favorite_1.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:59:10 -0500 ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/06/the_tragic_squirrel.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/06/the_tragic_squirrel.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:30:00 -0500 "daze", I looked it up on dictionary.com and part of its meaning is to stupefy or bewilder. In some ways I feel like that is what summer does to me, it puts me in a daze. I struggle with the concept of summer right now. I feel very restless, but also stuck. I feel like my brain has decided to shut down, but that there is a part of me that is not really ready to accept that, there is a part of me that wants to do something new, I want some sort of adventure. These summer feelings of mine, as I have been processing them, are not very healthy to a living a life for God. On one hand I think that He probably delights when we want to do more, however, for me right now, I think it is probably a bad attitude. Right now I need to concentrate on how to serve God in a manner glorifying to Him, in the place that I am now. So those have been my thoughts lately. http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/06/summer_daze.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/06/summer_daze.html Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:33:06 -0500 I love coffee... I probably drink 2 cups a day. I enjoy it, but as I was thinking about it while I was walking to class the other day, I haven't been ENJOYING it much lately, but more surviving with it. Life has been crazy, I get up, hurriedly pour coffee in my travel mug and hope that I put just enough cream in it, not too much, not too little. Then I rush off to class or work, hopefully on time, and I sit there and drink my coffee- there are a few reasons I drink coffee during class or work. 1) It gives me something to do, I am a fidgeter so this keep me occupied just enough that I can still pay attention in class, 2) it helps me to focus on one thing, 3) I really do just like it. But the other day, I woke up and had to write a paper, but before starting it I sat and ONLY drank a cup of coffee... that was all I did. It made me think about all of the charming aspects of coffee. There is something very simple in drinking a mug of coffee when nothing else is happening. There is something about holding a nice warm ceramic mug that slows life down a little. And there is also something very beautiful about having a cup of coffee with a friend, a cup of coffee and good conversation. Those are the times that coffee is best... those are the times that make coffee worth it... that make coffee indispensable... the times that it represents calm, and friendship. That is worth it, that is indispensable. You know, its kind of the same way with God. When we get busy we grab our time with him on the fly... We say a prayer and run, and hope its enough. But the times that we are quiet, the times that we are still and just sit with God... those are the precious moments... the indispensable moments... but so often the moments that are often the first to be tossed out the window when we get busy... Isn't that incredibly sad? ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/04/2_creams_no_sugar_.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/04/2_creams_no_sugar_.html Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:13:55 -0500 (Me and Carolyn at the end of our ten hour Saturday class) But what sorts of things have I been busy with? Well... besides mass amounts of papers, class time, working, etc... I have been able to sneak in some fun things... such as eating peeps during the 10 hour Saturday class... or being silly with my room mates... here me and Kelsey are trying to squish Brittany between our couch cushions... ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/04/spring_forward.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/04/spring_forward.html Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:31:32 -0500 Yesterday I was looking for a picture to put in a newsletter for work. I was looking for something that had to do with "college" and so I typed "college" into google and clicked google images. I was shocked at the number of inappropriate pictures that came up. As I thought about that, I thought about what it means to be a Christian college student going to a Biblical University. What does the world stereotype college students as? As I was conducting my search it was pretty clear, the world sees college students as immoral. Apparently we are in a stage of life that is all on its own, we cease being held accountable for our actions and have free reign. College students, we stay up late, have horrible eating habits and bad discipline. What does this mean for us as Christians? How do we shine like lights on a hill while being college students? How are we set apart? Are we being intentional about making sure that the world sees a difference in us? http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/03/set_apart.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/03/set_apart.html Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:29:56 -0500 (we decided it would be fun if the leaders dressed crazy... just for fun)]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/02/if_you_make_a_fuss_i_am_sure_t.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/02/if_you_make_a_fuss_i_am_sure_t.html Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:52:36 -0500 (in case you can't tell, me and my cousin Josh are sitting at the top of the slide contemplating the best way to go down it. He ended up using a sled, I opted for a cardboard box. Don't ask me why I felt safer in a box...) Also, I've spent a lot of time catching up with family and friends, one of whom is Aunt Shirley who inspired me to write this blog! She doesn't even know it! So the other day I went and spent a little bit of time talking with my aunt Shirley and catching up with her. Aunt Shirley, in my opinion, has a lot of wisdom and many times when we are talking she imparts little pieces of wisdom and she probably doesn't even realize that God is using her this way. Well, during this conversation that we were having, I was telling her how very disorganized I am (some would say that when you go to a Bible school, one of the dangers is compartmentalizing the Bible, let me tell you, I am pretty sure that my brain does not know how to compartmentalize ANYTHING, much less my own thoughts!) So, I was telling Aunt Shirley of this flaw of mine and my frustration with it, you see my room had gotten to the point that I couldn't even walk straight to get to my bed. Aunt Shirley was very kind to me and told me that this is a common problem for "creative people" and etc. and while we were talking I told her how I would like to go through my room so I can get rid of the things that I don't need. Now, this is the part where one of her little pieces of wisdom slipped right out, and as I write this I feel very convicted by it and challenged, so please know, this is something I struggle with. I have a problem getting rid of things, especially if someone once gave it to me, I feel like I would be hurting their feelings if I did not keep it the rest of my life. But Aunt Shirley told me this, she said that "God has called us to be "tent dwellers". This means that we are not to be so attached to the things of this world, we can't carry it all with us. We are called to share our abundance with everyone. That is part of what it means to be a Christian, to give what we have and do not need to those who do need it." So as I cleaned my room (I can now walk to my bed without fearing tripping!) I kept that in mind and dwelled on it, you know, thinking about that makes it a lot easier to say good bye to my clutter that someone else might really appreciate having! I was convicted of this lesson again today when I was reading the novel that I just started "The Brothers Karamazov" and there was a reference in it to Luke 14:33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions." So... that is where I am at today. I hope that you are enjoying the winter, and the snow if you have it! Have a beautiful day!]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/01/aunt_shirleys_wisdom.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2009/01/aunt_shirleys_wisdom.html Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:43:56 -0500 just the God of the OT. So I started to try to understand why people would have a hard time loving the God they see in the Old Testament. Another question that was raised during Sunday School that I have been thinking about is what does it mean to Biblically think about the future? or is it really just our culture that tells us that we need to plan ahead several months in advance? I do not know what I will be doing after I graduate, but is that so bad? So that is another thing that I have been thinking about... and that is a snapshot into the brain of Heather from the last week. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/the_great_dig.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/the_great_dig.html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:25:01 -0500 ...the four of us occupants of A2 had a beautiful "season finale" moment. It was one of those moments when you realize how much has really happened in the last semester, or to stick with the tv show theme, in the last season. You see, as finals week continues to encroach upon our lives, the time to say good bye also is creeping up on us. For some of us the goodbye will only be for the time period of Christmas break, and then we will see each other again, however, others will not be returning, or in the case of our A2 apartment, possibly might not be returning. Our room mate Brittany is contemplating doing next semester in Israel... which as you might be able to guess, means that she will not be living with us. So that led to us reminiscing about the semester and discussing how much we have learned through each other. You see, "living life together" is what we did in our apartment... and it was not always easy. (Ironically, the pastor at our church preached a series title "Living Life Together" cool huh?) If you do not know me and my room mates personally, then you should now that each of us are completely different. If it was possible for there to be four opposites we might have accomplished it. So living with such different people presents some unique challenges. The awesome part about "living life together" though, is that we worked through those challenges and those hard parts, and while we didn't always like each other, we learned to love each other. That was not all that we learned though, we also learned a lot about ourselves individually. By living with people who are so different than yourself, you really cannot become them because it is so outside of your nature, so you learn to embrace who you are... which really is a beautiful thing. So not only did we have 4 very different girls, but we also had 4 very different girls embracing their own uniqueness in God and learning to embrace others uniqueness as well. Those are the things that we talked about... and in a sense... it was our season finale... but don't worry, this show is still going on! :) I won "rock paper scissors"! ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/living_life_togetherseason_finale.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/living_life_togetherseason_finale.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:57:22 -0500 Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and merc mild- God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th'angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord: Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the God-head see, Hail th'incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to rais the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Come, Desire of Nations come! Fix in us Thy humble home: Rise, the woman's conq'ring seed, Bruise in us the serpent's head. Adam's likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place: Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love. "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" - Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn Today while I was driving in the car, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" came on over the radio (in good Christmas Spirit!). And of course, being that I have yet to grow out of the pretending to sing like a rock star phase, I started to sing along- in true rock star fashion. As I was singing though, I was thinking about the words of the song. It is one of those Christmas hymns that I always knew but never really thought that much about. So as I was thinking about the words, what they were saying really hit me, there is so much truth in them... and it is so majestic! Our God is so Awesome! and so I found that I had been refreshed through the song, and I hope that as you think about the words of it, you will be too! Merry (early) Christmas!]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/hark.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/hark.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:37:57 -0500 his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/the_light_shines_in_the_darkne.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/the_light_shines_in_the_darkne.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:06:00 -0500 me so far... I should be giving thanks everyday, and rejoicing at having a day to give thanks with others. In any case, below are some pictures of what I was thankful for on Thanksgiving. Family in and beyond the pictures :) Shelter... And of course... who can forget the food? ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/a_time_of_thanksgiving.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/12/a_time_of_thanksgiving.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:39 -0500 Sorry friends... I have been neglecting my blog... forgive me? Its not that I haven't had anything to write about... the problem is that I have had too much to write about and do not know how to organize it all! and the longer I wait the more things that happen. Don't worry, nothing major happened, no life changes. I have just been busy! This week I have not had any school work. at all. How often does that happen? Ironically enough, the rest of the student body has been somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of homework that they have this week. Therefore, I have seen this week as my God-appointed week to encourage people, and since I love cookies that seems like it is the best way to go about doing that! I hope that I use this time of rest wisely... its hard to use time wisely in college. A lesson in process. http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/11/long_time_no_write.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/11/long_time_no_write.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:35:43 -0500 "October" O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall; Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all. The crows above the forest call; Tomorrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin the hours of this day slow. Make the day seem to us less brief. Hearts not averse to being beguiled, Beguile us in the way you know. Release one leaf at break of day; At noon release another leaf; One from our trees, one far away. Retard the sun with gentle mist; Enchant the land with amethyst. Slow, slow! For the grapes' sake, if they were all, Whose leaves already are burnt with frost, Whose clustered fruit must else be lost-- For the grapes' sake along the wall. -Frost "The Road Not Taken" Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. -Frost "Mending Wall" Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun; And makes gaps even two can pass abreast. The work of hunters is another thing: I have come after them and made repair Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbour know beyond the hill; And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls We have to use a spell to make them balance: "Stay where you are until our backs are turned!" We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of out-door game, One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is we do not need the wall: He is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, "Good fences make good neighbours." Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head: "Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence. Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him, But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather He said it for himself. I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it seems to me, Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he likes having thought of it so well He says again, "Good fences make good neighbours." -Frost Frost is such an artist, don't you think? He paints such a picture using his words and includes human emotion intertwined into the poem. He write moments, that others can experience as well. ]]> http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/10/it_was_a_robert_frost_woods_an.html http://blogs.targetx.com/pbu/Heather/2008/10/it_was_a_robert_frost_woods_an.html Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:29:18 -0500