Love Modesto

So today is Love Modesto day! When I first saw signs for it, I thought it was some kind of sentimental gimmick to get people to do unrealistic recreational activities like community softball and group picnics. But that's not what it turned out to be at all! Today is a day of community participation in service projects (totally neat, right?) Several churches in the area partnered with community leaders and organizations to kick-start this soon-to-be-annual event. About 1200 people gathered at Big Valley Grace Community Church this morning for a little worship and prayer for the day before splitting into the groups they had signed up for. Habitat for Humanity, the Gospel Mission, World Vision, Second Hand Harvest Food Bank, Delta Blood Bank, and Teen Challenge Ranch were among the the organizations participating in the Love Modesto service day. My home church committed to partner with World Vision in creating relief kits for certified caregivers in Haiti. The United States gave immensely to the Haitians after the earthquake that devastated their nation. But we know all too well that once the disaster lost its hype on the news, we forgot that Haiti still was still in need. World Vision has been in Haiti for 30 years. Much of their mission now is focused on relief efforts. Today we put together 170 relief kits to be distributed to caregivers in Haiti. The drawstring bags were filled with items including latex gloves, soap, washcloths, acetaminophen, bandages, vaseline, bags of cotton balls, and personally written notes of encouragement to the recipient of the package. The items will be distributed by caregivers to others in need. Putting these kits together went so quickly and smoothly that the reps from World Vision agreed to do another event like this, but double (if not triple) the amount of supplies and bags! The kits we put together will be shipped on Monday- wah hoo!

Please continue to pray for Haiti and for the individuals and organizations that are focusing their energy and finances on this country :)

Bobby Pins

I remember when bobby pins were really uncool. When I was in elementary school, it was all about scrunchies and clips and barrettes. No bobby pins. We thought of bobby pins as being outdated and for old ladies- but I have no idea why. Being in ballet classes, I couldn't really escape using bobby pins to secure my slicked back, hairsprayed bun, and that was okay since everyone in ballet class also wore bobby pins. I guess I kind of realized that bobby pins were accepted in the ballet world. But what was awful was when my two worlds crossed- like when I saw friends from school after a dance show, or when our dance classes would do performances at other elementary schools. I was so embarrassed about having bobby pins in my hair! How strange. I also remember how weird it felt to move out of that bobby pin shunning age. For the most part, I only avoided bobby pins because they were socially "uncool," even though I knew how useful they were after having to wear them since I was 4. It was in junior high school that I began to wear bobby pins to school if I needed to. At first I was afraid, but I kind of just embraced it. And now girls of all ages wear bobby pins all the time! Bobby pins are cool now- (or at least accepted)- and they come in all different colors, designs, sizes, some even have little decorations on them like beads or flowers or rhinestones. I'm boggled by how groups develop unspoken rules about things like bobby pins.. Needless to say, I'm glad I no longer think bobby pins are uncool. I use them all the time. And if you don't believe me, you can come look at my bedroom or my dorm- there's always like 50 of them on the floor.

He must become greater; I must become less.

Not long ago two friends and I traveled into West Modesto with a newly purchased camera and a particular interest sunsets. Eager to find the perfect setting, we drove somewhat aimlessly on the larger country roads before happening upon two stables- overgrown with weeds, disintegrating with age. Without much hesitation, we claimed the uncultivated plot for the evening and began to explore- documenting our journey with Dani's new toy- and being eaten alive by fiery red ants along the way.

It was captivating how much beauty could be held within the soggy wood planks of buildings that had seen much better days. There was yet sturdy life in the rusting, corrugated steel that roofed those boards. And as the sun-dried hills drank the light of the day, color spilled like wine across the forgotten walls of the stables; and it was as if 'admiration' had always been their purpose.

After the sun sank, and the response-time of the camera lagged in the darkness, our adventuresome hearts took over and we wandered from the stables. Not far out into the field was a well, and as my friends climbed up on it I couldn't help but stand back- in awe of their stark and brilliant black silhouettes against the expansive, radiant sky. I quickly fumbled with buttons and settings to capture this magnificent scene. Soon the three of us were conducting an extensive photo shoot where each captured snapshot was greeted with a gasp or sigh. It was almost too much to behold.

Up on the well, I could hardly help but drink in my existence. Rising above my accustomed perspective, I let my senses absorb their life. The smell of the farms- fertilizer, dirt, earth. The taste of the warm and weightless summertime air. The sight of the sunset and all it poured its light on. The grittiness of the concrete beneath my bare feet. The silence of the country.

During a moment when I was on the ground and my friends atop the structure, I looked up and there I saw it all: two people, dwarfed and darkened by a giant and magnificent sky, dancing, playing, being within this majestic creation. The royal blue and orange that pulsed throughout the atmosphere spoke of something greater than mankind- and my Creator did not go un-praised.

There before me was a picture of the living God, and an image so utterly tangible and true to the work He is doing in my heart.

John 3:30 says, regarding Jesus, "He must become greater; I must become less."

And there we were, these small yet intimate creations, 3 in 6.7 billion, not consumed by night but rather overcome and illuminated by a backdrop of brilliance, by an entity immeasurable, by the joy of Christ, by the living God. And so much greater is He than we! There, in that evening glimpse, He was greater, and we were less, and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever beheld.

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joys is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater, I must become less." John 3:29-30

Mary

Quick post, just for kicks.

Since we have a new addition to our already instrument-filled home, Katie and I decided that, by the end of the summer, we want to be able to write/play some duets. She on piano, me on cello. Me on guitar, she on cello. I started writing a song yesterday on guitar, with a cello melody in mind of course.. or you could sub guitar for piano. Either way. The lyrics are bellow (and are subject to change) but I thought I'd let you take a peak. Suggestions welcome :)

"Mary"
Mary stands beneath the streetlight with her bags packed on the platform.
She watches the only train pass by, and she doesn't mind.
She was looking for something sentimental in her Mary Jane shoes.
And she thought she'd find it here singing all its melancholy blues.

She thought that seeing something pass that could have
taken her back to you would make her cry.

But Mary doesn't cry.

She ponders in the past about the things that didn't last
and hopes to shed a tear- for all that was lost on you, or
all that was lost.

But once it's left her skin it leaves her heart and so begins
to fade right from her mind.

And Mary doesn't cry.
No, Mary doesn't cry.

She walks the tracks back to your town
And as her thoughts careen her eyes begin to shine
But there is something in her veins
that takes up all the space you left behind

A sense of joy tucked up, behind her lips
and her teeth begin to chatter with delight

And though there's fire in your lies
yeah, though there's fire in her skies,
there's a fire in her eyes

and Mary doesn't cry.

A Cello Summer

I got a Damien Rice cd for Christmas and, after taking about a 1/2 a listen to it, I decided something very crucial had to happen in my life: I needed to learn how to play the cello. About a month ago, I decided that this task would be my summer project, My sister Katie wanted in on it too. I found a cello on Craigslist being sold for $150 (what a deal!)... too bad the woman selling it had actually sold it within 2 days of the ad being placed- she just didn't find it necessary to delete the ad. Thanks.

So we found a cello to rent for the summer- which is just as good, if not better- then Katie and I won't have anything to fight over when the summer ends :)

Below is a picture of "Coacello" our cello. So far I can play the 2-note sequence from the hit movie Jaws, and a D major scale. I had 9 years of success doing the Suzuki program when I played the flute- so we got Suzuki Cello Book 1 today, complete with all the variations of twinkle twinkle little star you could ever want to hear.

More cello tales to come!

Black Tears

My roommate's eyeliner always looks great. It doesn't ever smudge and it stays in these perfect black arches throughout the day. I asked what her secret was and she told me liquid eyeliner.

I was in need of some new eyeliner myself, so when I went to Target today, I searched for this magic beauty potion liquid eyeliner.

When I arrived back in my dorm with my new cosmetic, I decided to give it a whirl and try it out.

If you've ever used liquid eyeliner before, you know how.. juicy.. it is. The problem is, I hadn't ever used it before and I didn't know how juicy it was; thus when I attempted to apply it, I got too much of it too close to my eye and pretty soon my right is is welling up with these diluted black tears.

It was fascinating how fast my body responded to this villain. How did my eye know that the viscous intruder wasn't supposed to be there? Nevertheless, I watched in awe as my eye quickly went to work- moving the black liquid out of my eye. And as I wiped away my ebony tears, I thought one thing:

Man, the human body is amazing!

CSULB Film

As many of you know, I climbed a pretty big step last week as a college student. After 2 years of wishy-washy-ness in the realm of "choosing a major," I finally have one that I can own.

In January of this year, I submitted my application to the CSU Long Beach Film Department in hopes that I would be accepted into their Production Option. The group they select is based on GPA, a personal statement, a critical essay, 2 letters of recommendation, and an artistic project that shows ones capabilities and promise. I was very fortunate to have 2 beloved teachers, whom I highly esteem, write my letters of recommendation. Both gave me the chance to prove myself and grow as a student, and enabled me to own my capacity for leadership and creativity. I am ever grateful for their kindness in this process.

I decided that for my "artistic project" I would shoot a music video of sorts- but not like VH1 or MTV. I wanted to tell a story [or at least part of one] through the creative use of imagery in both cinematography and symbolism. That's fancy-talk for "I wanted to tell a story and make it look pretty." Coming up on winter break, I didn't have a CLUE as to what song I would use or what story I would tell. The submission deadline was January 15th, so I had about 4 weeks to get it together [yikes and a half]. On my drive from Long Beach to Modesto in December, I was skipping through track after track on my ipod, trying to find something that struck me.

I was on the grapevine pass when I kind of gave up, and put on a very familiar mix CD a friend had given me. I had listened to "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" so many times in Long Beach, but this time the song sounded new, and my whole video just kind of created itself in my head- the story, the type of shots I wanted, the props, the colors, the people. And I listened to that song for about 2 hours on repeat just to solidify it all in my mind.

So over break, I recruited a cast (2 of my best friends), got a crew (my family), designed costumes (Target...), bought a bunch of paint (boo yah), and made the video I submitted: Catharsis.

catharsis : [noun] the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions
(it's what the story is about).

To retain some professionalism, I waited to post Catharsis to the internet until I had heard from the Film Program regarding the status of my application. Last Thursday, I was informed that, along with 48 others, my application was accepted and I would be a part of the incoming Production Option class :)

So- below this paragraph is my video. (Yeah, I know it's tiny- and kind of pixely- and I hesitate to show you because of those things. Nevertheless-). Know as you watch it that the intent of this project was to show both creativity and promise (not necessarily professionalism). Yes I exerted much effort into making it as professional as possible, and most everything you see was intentionally done, but with very little formal film education to own to, this is purely rudimentary, purely student (so all you film buffs- extend some grace!) :D

[VIDEO CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION - NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME]