Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Superbowl oh Superbowl
I don't really get into football at all really. But I dutifully watch the superbowl every year and randomly choose a team to root for. I think I have unsuccessfully rooted for the loosing team every year (meaning: I pick the wrong team). Oh well.
One of the highlights that is quickly ceasing to be a highlight is the commercials. They used to be funny and great, but they've gotten worse. But there's usually a couple good ones, like this one, for example. The best commercial of the whole superbowl this year.
This one was pretty close behind it.
And that was pretty much the two good commercials of the game this year. :)
One of the highlights that is quickly ceasing to be a highlight is the commercials. They used to be funny and great, but they've gotten worse. But there's usually a couple good ones, like this one, for example. The best commercial of the whole superbowl this year.
This one was pretty close behind it.
And that was pretty much the two good commercials of the game this year. :)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Books
Those of you who know me, even just a little, know that I love to read. When I was younger, I read every moment of every day that I had to spare. Now, I don't have quite as much time to read, but I still read every moment I get. A few friends were asking for book recommendations a couple nights ago and II thought I'd share some of my all-time favorite books with you, as well as some I would highly recommend and then my reading list for this semester.
All-Time Favorite Books:
(highly highly recommended. if you read nothing else on this list, read these)
^The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. This is my all-time favorite book. In it, he categorizes love into four groups and talks about which is the love God has for us.It is one of the most eye opening books on a lot of different topics including friendship, romantic love, charity, why there are cliques and why there is segregation between the sexes. I love this book so much!
^Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The story is great, the characters are amazing, there's mystery, action and romance, the ending isn't all too predictable...what could be better? This book has so many great quotes towards the end and is such a great story all around.
^Persuasion by Jane Austen. It's the last book Austen wrote and definitely the best. It's the least predictable, has the best characters and is definitely the most romantic. If you're going to read Austen, read this one.
^God is the Gospel by John Piper. I think this book was the most eye opening, life changing convicting book I have ever read besides the Bible. Piper shows how the Gospel is the best news in all the world and how the best part of it is that we get God. Incredible.
Highly Recommended Books:
>This Momentary Marriage by John Piper. I love this book. Even if you aren't married, read it. I read it when I was struggling with being single and waiting for God's timing. It made me appreciate marriage and singleness even more. Most of it was stuff that I've heard before, but it was said in a way that was different and powerful. I think it should be required reading for EVERYONE!
>The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This book is a set of letters from a demon to a demon in training so to speak. In it, Lewis goes through and reveals ways that Satan works to destroy our faith from his studying in the Bible. It is very eye opening and helpful in that way.
>Good to Great in God's Eyes by Chip Ingram. I know, it sounds kinda weird. I was pretty leary of it when I first started it. But it is an amazing amazing book. It lists and expounds ten ways to go deeper in your faith. It's one of those books that you read once to see where he's going and start making changes, but then you read it again slowly, meditating on it and making big changes in your life.
>Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. This is a book for girls of any age. When I read this book, I was astounded at how much I got out of it and how it spoke to my life. The struggles she faced and her feelings and emotions were exactly the same as mine. It showed how she dealt with them in a God-honoring way and challenged me greatly.
>The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Moving on to fiction... this book has a highly intricate plot line, the characters are versatile and real and jump off the page at you. It take place in the French Revolution (my favorite time period) and Dickens is an outstanding writer so it's an amazing book. Dickens can be wordy and hard to understand at times, but press through it and the books is wonderful.
>Anything by Austen. If you just need a easy, feel-good read, pick up any of the Austen books. They're nice easy reads and just make you feel good because they all have happy endings. They're like the book version of a chick flick if that helps at all.
>Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. This book has everything a good story needs: romance, action, light-hearted moments, sad moments. It is such a good book. No wonder it's a movie and a Broadway musical. And it takes place in France, what could be better?
>Anything by Agatha Christie. If you like murder mysteries, she would be right up your alley. I would especially recommend Murder on The Orient Express and And Then There were None.
Book List for The Semester:
+A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper
+Humility by C.J. Mahaney
+Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
+Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley
+Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris
+A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot
+Books 6-9 of the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery
+Bleak House by Charles Dickens
+The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers
+The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I would love to hear some of your favorite books or books you would recommend as well! As for now, I'm off to read....
All-Time Favorite Books:
(highly highly recommended. if you read nothing else on this list, read these)
^The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. This is my all-time favorite book. In it, he categorizes love into four groups and talks about which is the love God has for us.It is one of the most eye opening books on a lot of different topics including friendship, romantic love, charity, why there are cliques and why there is segregation between the sexes. I love this book so much!
^Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The story is great, the characters are amazing, there's mystery, action and romance, the ending isn't all too predictable...what could be better? This book has so many great quotes towards the end and is such a great story all around.
^Persuasion by Jane Austen. It's the last book Austen wrote and definitely the best. It's the least predictable, has the best characters and is definitely the most romantic. If you're going to read Austen, read this one.
^God is the Gospel by John Piper. I think this book was the most eye opening, life changing convicting book I have ever read besides the Bible. Piper shows how the Gospel is the best news in all the world and how the best part of it is that we get God. Incredible.
Highly Recommended Books:
>This Momentary Marriage by John Piper. I love this book. Even if you aren't married, read it. I read it when I was struggling with being single and waiting for God's timing. It made me appreciate marriage and singleness even more. Most of it was stuff that I've heard before, but it was said in a way that was different and powerful. I think it should be required reading for EVERYONE!
>The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This book is a set of letters from a demon to a demon in training so to speak. In it, Lewis goes through and reveals ways that Satan works to destroy our faith from his studying in the Bible. It is very eye opening and helpful in that way.
>Good to Great in God's Eyes by Chip Ingram. I know, it sounds kinda weird. I was pretty leary of it when I first started it. But it is an amazing amazing book. It lists and expounds ten ways to go deeper in your faith. It's one of those books that you read once to see where he's going and start making changes, but then you read it again slowly, meditating on it and making big changes in your life.
>Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. This is a book for girls of any age. When I read this book, I was astounded at how much I got out of it and how it spoke to my life. The struggles she faced and her feelings and emotions were exactly the same as mine. It showed how she dealt with them in a God-honoring way and challenged me greatly.
>The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Moving on to fiction... this book has a highly intricate plot line, the characters are versatile and real and jump off the page at you. It take place in the French Revolution (my favorite time period) and Dickens is an outstanding writer so it's an amazing book. Dickens can be wordy and hard to understand at times, but press through it and the books is wonderful.
>Anything by Austen. If you just need a easy, feel-good read, pick up any of the Austen books. They're nice easy reads and just make you feel good because they all have happy endings. They're like the book version of a chick flick if that helps at all.
>Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. This book has everything a good story needs: romance, action, light-hearted moments, sad moments. It is such a good book. No wonder it's a movie and a Broadway musical. And it takes place in France, what could be better?
>Anything by Agatha Christie. If you like murder mysteries, she would be right up your alley. I would especially recommend Murder on The Orient Express and And Then There were None.
Book List for The Semester:
+A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper
+Humility by C.J. Mahaney
+Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
+Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley
+Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris
+A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot
+Books 6-9 of the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery
+Bleak House by Charles Dickens
+The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers
+The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I would love to hear some of your favorite books or books you would recommend as well! As for now, I'm off to read....
Monday, January 25, 2010
No Ice Cream
Yep, I'm not eating ice cream for a whole month. Why? I'm not really sure. I think I was inspired by my friend Karissa who, for school, had to do something she would normally not do. I think I was also inspired by Julie and Julia (by the way, you an actually read the real blog; I love it!).
Anyhow, I think I was inspired by those two things mainly. But since I work at an ice cream shop, I eat a ton of ice cream and just feel so unhealthy when I do. So I decided I wasn't going to eat ice cream for a month. I was going to give it up for Lent or something like that, but it's not something that distracts me from God or that I would give up for a reason like that. So, I just decided to do it now.
Ryan doesn't think I can do it. I told him I could. I think that's the main reason I'm doing it now. To prove to him that I can go a whole month without ice cream. Day one is done. I successfully made it a whole 8 hours at work without having even the tiniest bit of ice cream.
So, I, Courtney Anne Ayers, will not eat ice cream from today, January 25 until February 25, not at work or at home or at anyone else's house. No samples, no bowls of ice cream, no ice cream with brownies, no nothing. And I will do this.
Anyhow, I think I was inspired by those two things mainly. But since I work at an ice cream shop, I eat a ton of ice cream and just feel so unhealthy when I do. So I decided I wasn't going to eat ice cream for a month. I was going to give it up for Lent or something like that, but it's not something that distracts me from God or that I would give up for a reason like that. So, I just decided to do it now.
Ryan doesn't think I can do it. I told him I could. I think that's the main reason I'm doing it now. To prove to him that I can go a whole month without ice cream. Day one is done. I successfully made it a whole 8 hours at work without having even the tiniest bit of ice cream.
So, I, Courtney Anne Ayers, will not eat ice cream from today, January 25 until February 25, not at work or at home or at anyone else's house. No samples, no bowls of ice cream, no ice cream with brownies, no nothing. And I will do this.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Something's Missing....
I've been missing INSIGHT a lot lately. I don't know why. There's been several times I've been at work and been thinking about it and all the memories and I've wanted to cry then and there (this is what happens when you are bored at work :D). Maybe it's 'cause I've been really nostalgic lately. Maybe it's 'cause all the insighers are back and doing school. Whatever the reason, I've been missing insight a whole ton. I've been having great fun with all my college friends this year, but it just seems like something's missing. But when I start to compare this year to last year, this quote from C.S. Lewis comes to mind and has been helping through my longings to be back at insight:
At the beginning of this year, I was trying to compare this year and these experiences to insight. I know that's kinda weird because I'm not in school this year like I was last year, but in relationships and in my group of friends, I was trying to compare them to insight and they weren't meeting my expectations. Joe Rigney, at the end of the year, told us that the reason insight was so amazing was because we set low expectations and insight met and exceeded all of them. He told us not to set high expectations for our next years of school and not to set insight as the norm because if we did, we would be thoroughly disappointed. I didn't think I could do that this year since I wasn't in school. But I did. And it wasn't until after I read that quote by Lewis and after I started praying and giving it all over to God that I really started to connect with my college group friends and started having great great times with them.
It's been a great year, all in all. I just wish Insight didn't have to die. Not that it will be totally gone, but it's all memories now and I don't want it to be. I don't want to have everyone gone; I don't want to have to go somewhere else for school and not have all my insight people with me. But God is so faithful to accomplish all his plans. He knows what's best; I don't. I'll trust him then to do what's best, not me, not insight. This doesn't mean that I won't miss insight by any means, but it does mean that insight won't be my norm or my expectation at all this year or when I go down to Union. It will just be the most beautiful and wonderful memories of my whole life.
It seems to me that we often, almost sulkily reject the good that God offers us because, at that moment, we expected some other good...On every level of our life- in our religious experience, in our gastronomic, erotic, aesthetic, and social experience- we are always harking back to some occasion which seemed to us to reach perfection, setting that up as a norm, and depreciating all other occasions by comparison. But these other occasions, I now suspect, are often full of their own new blessing, if only we would lay ourselves open to it. God shows us a new facet of the glory, and we refuse to look at it because we're still looking for the old one...And the joke, or tragedy, of it all is that these golden moments in the past, which are so tormenting if we erect them into a norm, are entirely nourishing, wholesome, and enchanting if we are content to accept them for what they are, for memories. Properly bedded down in a past which we do not miserably try to conjure back, they will send up exquisite growths. Leave the bulbs alone, and the new flowers will come up. Grub them up and hope, by fondling and sniffing, to get last year's blooms, and you will get nothing. "Unless a seed die..."
At the beginning of this year, I was trying to compare this year and these experiences to insight. I know that's kinda weird because I'm not in school this year like I was last year, but in relationships and in my group of friends, I was trying to compare them to insight and they weren't meeting my expectations. Joe Rigney, at the end of the year, told us that the reason insight was so amazing was because we set low expectations and insight met and exceeded all of them. He told us not to set high expectations for our next years of school and not to set insight as the norm because if we did, we would be thoroughly disappointed. I didn't think I could do that this year since I wasn't in school. But I did. And it wasn't until after I read that quote by Lewis and after I started praying and giving it all over to God that I really started to connect with my college group friends and started having great great times with them.
It's been a great year, all in all. I just wish Insight didn't have to die. Not that it will be totally gone, but it's all memories now and I don't want it to be. I don't want to have everyone gone; I don't want to have to go somewhere else for school and not have all my insight people with me. But God is so faithful to accomplish all his plans. He knows what's best; I don't. I'll trust him then to do what's best, not me, not insight. This doesn't mean that I won't miss insight by any means, but it does mean that insight won't be my norm or my expectation at all this year or when I go down to Union. It will just be the most beautiful and wonderful memories of my whole life.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Memories
Yesterday at work, my mind started wandering back through so many precious beautiful memories that I've had. Today has been no different. I've been going back and forth through so many beautiful wonderful things that have happened in my life.
*On the plane coming home from Guatemala, I was talking to Kyle and telling him how I thought it would be so great if people from the south campus came to greet us like people from the downtown campus always do, knowing full well that it wouldn't happen. As we came down the escalator, I saw Seth, Nate and Christina standing there and I yelled back up to Kyle, "They're here. They're here. They came, they came."
~Also while in Guatemala, I got third degree burns on my shoulders. Seeing people's reactions to that was quite hilarious. I remember walking into our last team meeting and only my roommates knew that I had these huge burns and Peter said, "Courtney, I think you have some slugs or something on your shoulder." I told him (and the whole group) that it was a sunburn. Hannah immediately came rushing over and was exclaiming over them with Heidi. Then Hannah got to help Rachel pop them and Heidi tried to stay and watch and eventually went outside saying, "If you need me, I'll be outside throwing up." Getting to the airport was no different and everyone was trying to give me hugs, but it wasn't quite working too well. :) I enjoyed it.
*Hannah ate a bug while in Guatemala. She started freaking out afterwards and Noah said "Well, Hannah, if you die, the first words out of Jesus' mouth will be 'Well done good and faithful servant.' The second will be 'Well that was stupid.'"
~Our whole INSIGHT class, plus a few others, went to Chicago to volunteer at the Gospel Coalition conference. Our last night there, Kat, Emily, TJ, Luke and Mac or Matt maybe, and I were all playing jenga at like 2 in the morning and Kat and I fell asleep. I vaguely remember anything else from that night at best.
*In Michigan, we stayed at Julie's house and our last night there, Mr. Kresge sprayed a wasp's hive causing all of them to come into the basement where we were sleeping. It was a terrifying night to say the least.
~Swing dancing the very first night that a ton of the INSIGHTers went. I was dancing the last dance with Luke and one of my shoes came off so I kicked the other one off and just about hit Mac in the head. His response: "Are you trying to kill me?" Yes, France-hater. :)
*Our accountability group went "camping" in the Watters' backyard. We were inside talking and I fell asleep in their comfy chair for about an hour before they woke me up and told me they were moving outside.
~One particular study hall my junior year. Joe and I were hanging out and we talked about how at my funeral instead of having a moment of silence, everyone will have a moment of laughter, and we came up with Joshua's nickname: Shua. And I laughed a lot that study hall.
*At Emily's house just this past week, Kamil tried to see how long he could get me to laugh while Kelly tried to get me to stop. It was so so so funny. Target!
~In France, we all sat around in the middle of the trip and Christina, Kelly and I, I think, had all been making fun of Jake and how he always said "pretty much amazing." I laughed every time he said it and I laughed a whole ton that night. I think Dylan and I were talking elephants and giraffes and it was really funny, I just don't know what was so funny about it, or the conversation at all.
*Also in France, when we were getting ready to go to the porcelain factory, Amy came up and took the mike and gave me a gift card of sorts to the porcelain factory from everyone to thank me for translating. I totally wasn't expecting it at all and it meant a lot.
~The Thursday before I left for Guatemala, I went to the Tapestry and went swing dancing. Everyone was there (no joke) except the INSIGHT people and it was beautiful. I loved every single moment. It was almost the best night swing dancing.
*One night I went swing dancing totally randomly and it was my first night in a million years and people actually were there (insight people!) and that night seriously caused my heart to worship God more.
I am so blessed by having such beautiful memories.
*On the plane coming home from Guatemala, I was talking to Kyle and telling him how I thought it would be so great if people from the south campus came to greet us like people from the downtown campus always do, knowing full well that it wouldn't happen. As we came down the escalator, I saw Seth, Nate and Christina standing there and I yelled back up to Kyle, "They're here. They're here. They came, they came."
~Also while in Guatemala, I got third degree burns on my shoulders. Seeing people's reactions to that was quite hilarious. I remember walking into our last team meeting and only my roommates knew that I had these huge burns and Peter said, "Courtney, I think you have some slugs or something on your shoulder." I told him (and the whole group) that it was a sunburn. Hannah immediately came rushing over and was exclaiming over them with Heidi. Then Hannah got to help Rachel pop them and Heidi tried to stay and watch and eventually went outside saying, "If you need me, I'll be outside throwing up." Getting to the airport was no different and everyone was trying to give me hugs, but it wasn't quite working too well. :) I enjoyed it.
*Hannah ate a bug while in Guatemala. She started freaking out afterwards and Noah said "Well, Hannah, if you die, the first words out of Jesus' mouth will be 'Well done good and faithful servant.' The second will be 'Well that was stupid.'"
~Our whole INSIGHT class, plus a few others, went to Chicago to volunteer at the Gospel Coalition conference. Our last night there, Kat, Emily, TJ, Luke and Mac or Matt maybe, and I were all playing jenga at like 2 in the morning and Kat and I fell asleep. I vaguely remember anything else from that night at best.
*In Michigan, we stayed at Julie's house and our last night there, Mr. Kresge sprayed a wasp's hive causing all of them to come into the basement where we were sleeping. It was a terrifying night to say the least.
~Swing dancing the very first night that a ton of the INSIGHTers went. I was dancing the last dance with Luke and one of my shoes came off so I kicked the other one off and just about hit Mac in the head. His response: "Are you trying to kill me?" Yes, France-hater. :)
*Our accountability group went "camping" in the Watters' backyard. We were inside talking and I fell asleep in their comfy chair for about an hour before they woke me up and told me they were moving outside.
~One particular study hall my junior year. Joe and I were hanging out and we talked about how at my funeral instead of having a moment of silence, everyone will have a moment of laughter, and we came up with Joshua's nickname: Shua. And I laughed a lot that study hall.
*At Emily's house just this past week, Kamil tried to see how long he could get me to laugh while Kelly tried to get me to stop. It was so so so funny. Target!
~In France, we all sat around in the middle of the trip and Christina, Kelly and I, I think, had all been making fun of Jake and how he always said "pretty much amazing." I laughed every time he said it and I laughed a whole ton that night. I think Dylan and I were talking elephants and giraffes and it was really funny, I just don't know what was so funny about it, or the conversation at all.
*Also in France, when we were getting ready to go to the porcelain factory, Amy came up and took the mike and gave me a gift card of sorts to the porcelain factory from everyone to thank me for translating. I totally wasn't expecting it at all and it meant a lot.
~The Thursday before I left for Guatemala, I went to the Tapestry and went swing dancing. Everyone was there (no joke) except the INSIGHT people and it was beautiful. I loved every single moment. It was almost the best night swing dancing.
*One night I went swing dancing totally randomly and it was my first night in a million years and people actually were there (insight people!) and that night seriously caused my heart to worship God more.
I am so blessed by having such beautiful memories.
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