a bit of an update

I never update.
So it's time.
It is 5:53am and I have yet to go to sleep tonight. My schedule has been crazy this week so I figured I would keep it that way tonight.
I have to pull together 3 papers, a presentation and take an exam all by Friday.
Again -- it's Thursday, 5:53am right now... I have yet to go to sleep.
As of recent -- I went tanning with my friend Chris, his 21st birthday is coming up and he wants to be tan for the pic. Legit. Normally I tan outside, in nature, on the weekends while reading for classes.* But I figured since it was Chris, and since my friend Jacquie gave us free tanning certificates -- why not?
So I had been tanning outside a few times and had worked up a pretty good base tan on my arms and legs so I was like, eh I'll go for like 12 minutes. Normally if it had been forever I would go for 8, but as stated previous I had a base.
Now... the issue was that the base was on my legs, arms and face and no where else -- this means everywhere else is burnt to a crisp. Literally I feel like a piece of overcooked chicken.
So since the cost of aloe has gone up dramatically in the past couple of years I decided to go for a home remedy and I just took a baking soda bath to try and balance my pH levels a bit.
Now I just feel like I have sun-poisoning.
I also washed my hair in the sink -- which has become one of my new favorite past-times for when I want to look like I showered.
I have not been showering that much lately.
I have been working out a lot more though. I think it's better this way.
Oh and as for classes, I am in class from 9am to 6pm every week day. I am taking Social Inequality, Islam and Beginning Golf.
-Social Inequality is interesting, our teacher thinks we are in Kindergarden though, and talks like she is constantly winning a million dollars.
-Islam is by far my favorite of all the classes I'm currently taking. I have Dr. Talat Halman whom I had Intro to World Religions with. He is one awesome guy. We talk about Christianity a lot and it's just a big discussion class and the grades are based on participation and papers -- my kind of class for sure.
-Beginning Golf is not what I expected. Our prof grades us based on skill level which is insane. Because I really can't help it if I suck at my full swing? You know, some people just don't get it and you should grade based on participation and trying and practice and attendance -- anything else in a sporting class is unfair in my opinion.
These classes are all 3 weekers, which means I am done on Friday. Friday I am going with my Islam class to the Malt Shop and then I am probably going to move some stuff out of my apartment then maybe go out with Jacquie and some of her friends later.
I love leggings. I am sorry but they are so comfortable. I want to wear them everywhere but I know that is inappropriate.
I have to write this paper about "Who really rules America." It can pretty much be summed up in two adjectives; old and white.
Alas, my kindergarden teacher probably expects something a bit more in depth.
Once Monday is past I plan to spend a lot of time in Glen Arbor with my family.
I also plan to spend a lot of time traveling, I am just not sure where too yet. I might go visit my friend Ismelda in Wisconsin. I would really like to go to Florida but I don't know if that's possible. I need to go to Washington, DC also.
If you would like to go to any of these places with me, let me know!

Shalom,
-Brooke

Food for thought/More thought into our food

inspired by a friend

Creating your own 1001 Day Project

The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

101 Things in 1001 Days
3/29/2009-7/3/2011

Green Signifies : In Process

Strikethrough : Completed

1. Go back to the Dominican
2. Run a 5k
3. Read my Bible every single morning without fail for a month
4. Visit Colorado
5. Go camping
6. Build a fire
7. Finish Jesus for President
8. Make something for someone I don't know
9. Graduate College
10. Take the LSAT
11. Apply to the University of Florida Law School
12. Go to Africa
13. Talk to the International Justice Mission
14. Visit Grant in Washington DC the Summer of '09
15. Finish an Internship
16. Go Skydiving
17. Send a Postcard to Postsecret
18. Actually learn how to play a song on my guitar
19. Build a tree-fort with my nieces and nephews
20. Go canoeing
21. Leave a gathering of friends to pray
22. Be intentional and show Jesus' love to someone I don't want to
23. Send my sister 1 letter a week for 2 months straight
24. Go on a prayer hike
25. Thank my parents for everything they do for me and for how great they are, you can't do that enough.
26. Stop downloading illegally
27. Fast from secular music for 1 month
28. Stop eating sweets from April to October '09
29. Go to an outdoor concert
30. Go on a spontaneous roadtrip
31. Make all my Christmas gifts one year
32. Read the Bible in a Year
33. Make brownies and soup for my grandma
34. See the Grand Canyon
35. Do something awesome after college, PeaceCorp/AmeriCorp/DR
36. Eat only unprocessed foods for 1 month.
37. Go Snowboarding
38. Watch the sunrise on a beach
39. Make a DR dinner for some DR friends
40. Throw together a big fundraiser for a good cause for no good reason :)
41. Climb a tree
42. Make a Carrot Cake for my dad
43. Drink 2 Nalgenes full of water for 1 month
44. Go camping in the mountains
45. Take a cooking class
46. Get a pro camera
47. Take a photography class
48. Send a package of fun things to someone
49. Not go out to eat for 1 month
50. Put $10 in savings for every task completed
51. Give $2 to a charity for every task completed
52. Get a rosary
53. Learn the rosary
54. Go to a Notre Dame football game
55. Re-read the Screwtape Letters
56. Read Mere Christianity
57. Read the Narnia books
58. Take a yoga class
59. Don't eat fast food for 1 year (1/365)
60. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
61. Take my vitamins every day for 1 month
62. Exercise every day for 1 month
63. Take my mom to dinner and a movie - on me.
64. Take my sister out, my treat.
65. Have a "chalkboard" wall
66. Write 1 thing I am thankful for every night before i go to bed for 1 month
67. Visit my cousin Jenny in Florida
68. Make a LG Cookbook
69. Say Yes to everything for 1 day
70. Give a 100% tip at a restaurant where the bill is over $10 ... and don't make the decision based on looks
71. Take 1 picture a day for 365 days, Post is on Flickr.
72. Lose 30 pounds
73. Give $ to a friend in need ... secretly
74. Have a meal and real talk with my brother Shaun
75. Take all of my nieces/nephews "out" individually for a day that's all about them
76. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100
77. Do something intentionally nice for someone else every day for 1 month
78. Start and finish writing a book
79. Get my bike fixed
80. Visit Ismelda
81. Don't spend any $ for 1 month
82. Fast, watch the Passion, and go to the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday
83. Send Merker a package
84. Participate in PFPChallenge.com
85. Go without white flour for 1 month
86. Make homemade tortillas
87. Do a Polar Bear Plunge
88. Read my personal journal from the Dominican
89. Make home-made sushi
90. Pay for a stranger's dinner
91. Make home-made strawberry jam w/ my mom's recipe
92. Raise 100 pairs of socks for the homeless
93. Donate 101 items to charity
94. Buy Alissa a new water bottle
95. Play intramural tennis
96. Try ear candling with Chris
97. Go to a vegan restaurant
98. Visit Brandae and Rachelle in Ohio
99. Share a meal with a homeless person
100. Give up texting for 1 month
101. Make a new list.

I see a generation rising up to take their place - with Selfless faith.

God is bigger than, the air I breathe - the world we'll leave. And God will save the day, and all will say MY GLORIOUS!

I ask God for my strength when I feel like I can't go on.


And He gives me it, He doesn't ask questions He just does it.


Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

Jesus Your Love Has No Bounds

This week has been really weird for me ...
I felt very disconnected and I knew what was keeping me from full connection but I didn't do anything about it. I just kept fueling the fire for anything but Christ.
Yesterday I had a realization that Christ has to be number one, no matter what ever else is happening in my life if I neglect Jesus it will not be good for me.

I have been talking to a few of my closest friends who are struggling with relationships or lack there of. Sometimes it can feel like everyone is getting hitched, especially as we get up into our later college years. Society focuses so much on relationships and marriage it can be very discouraging. If you turn on a TV, go online, or flip through a magazine or newspaper you see many things trying to find you your "soul mate." Clever slogans and campaigns, "Wanna know if he's the one for you!?," "I found my soul mate on E-Harmony!!" "Meet local singles in your area today!" etc etc etc.

People focus so much on finding their "soul mate" that they forget to find themselves. I have spent time in my life attempting to find something that'll "complete" me on that physical human relationship level. Have we ever thought about the fact that we complete ourselves? That we are incredible people put on this earth by God to bring great joy to others... not just one other. A lot of times when you get into a relationship, or whatever it is, you focus only on that person -- you forget about others, yourself, God. Then you realize where you are and what has happened after you wake up... IF you wake up. Love is great and relationships can be fantastic, but they -- like everything else in this world, can be done the wrong way. It's a matter of finding you, and focusing on you and God. Not being self-centered, but being God centered. If you are God centered the rest will fall into place. It's about God, it's not about that person... when they say "His will be done" they aren't talking about John, or Jerome or Jenny's will -- they are talking about God's will.
Maybe God did intend some of us to be single forever and maybe that is okay. Maybe God did intend for some of us to find someone to marry and maybe that is okay too.

Maybe whether you eat, or drink, or marry, or stay single, or go workout at the SAC, or work on homework at the U-cup, or stay at home with your kids, or recycle a newspaper, or throw up from food poisoning ... maybe whatever you do, you should do EVERYTHING for the glory of God.

Amen.

God is Great!

Generally I want a somewhat captivating title to my blogs and not something too simple, I thought for a minute that, "God is Great!" wouldn't do for such a purpose... Until I thought about the fact that there is nothing simple about that at all! God is great and God is magnificent and there is no explaining Him but we all know (or have an inkling) that He is AWESOME!

He is.

This weekend was good and bad. I spent a lot of time with family and realized a bit that though I build up this awesome flawless family in my head when I actually get around and hear some of the words that are coming out of the mouths of these people (myself included) I get so sad. Sad is really the only adjective to describe it. It just gets so hard to see Jesus at those moments.

Today I got back to school and went to classes and meetings, cada dia. Tonight was different though because I got a piece of mail from my friend Steph who I was in the DR with. I can't express how much the DR has changed my life but one thing that I know for sure that God has done is given me amazing friends through this who would risk their lives to bring my life closer to Him. Anyway, I received a DVD from Steph and a note talking about how great God is and rehashed on a time when her and I were by our friend Heather's pool in Kentucky talking about the people we've lost and the greatness God has done in our lives because of it. Well this DVD is awesome, and Jesus def. tore my heart apart about the stuff I haven't given fully to Him and convicted me about not letting Him be my #1 comforter. The DVD is Hope When Life Hurts Most and it's a couple sermons by Louie Giglio. He talks about loss, and the fact that just because you become a Christian doesn't mean that your life is going to be all ups, Life Hurts. But Louie talked about the Cross, and how at that moment, being there, it had to be "worst case scenario," the God you have put all your hope in, His Son is dying on a cross right in front of you, everything seems lost. But God can use the worst for eternal good. Jesus rose from the dead! If we can see the Cross as beautiful, which is how I would describe it now, then we know God can turn ANYTHING around!!! Seriously. Think about that.
When we pass away we don't need to be brought back from the dead, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD -- Jesus payed that for us and we have accepted His gift, graciously might I add.

Louie also talked about how through our lives we are broadcasting something to those who are involved with us. Our hurt can become a megaphone to amplify our message that God is HUGE and GREAT and so very REAL!

Using that pain to relate to people and help those who are suffering and show the amazing good that is God is priceless, and key.

So in a few simple words, now with a better background, you too see that -- God is Great!