New List…

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A few years ago, I created a list of 100 things about me (because my other friends had been doing the same thing on their blogs)…I found that list today, and thought it would be fun to revise it/repost it… 🙂

1. I was born in Hayward, California on New Year’s Eve.
2. When I was almost 7, my parents decided to move to Northern California.
3. I won the spelling bee in 5th grade and progressed to the county level.
4. I misspelled the word “enamel”, much to the dismay of my father(the painter).
5. I won the “Geography Bee” twice between 5th-7th grade (don’t remember when).
6. Much of my life was dedicated to beating Casey Coffman in everything. )
7. I started playing the clarinet in 4th grade.
8. I got bored with the clarinet in 6th grade and started the flute.
9. My first piano lesson was at the age of 8.
10. My freshman year I started playing French Horn (bored with flute).
11. I have always loved camp–whether being a camper or a counselor… 🙂
12. In 8th grade, I went to the state level of the “History Day” competition.
13. My entry was a video documentary on The Beatles.
14. In 1998, I sang at the State Youth Conference in front of 7,000 people.
15. In 1999, I was an exchange student to Guadalajara, Mexico.
16. I was in three musicals in high school.
17. “Bye Bye Birdie” –I was Alice, the mayor’s daughter (1 solo and 2 trios)
18. “Brigadoon”–I was Jean (a lead, with two solos)
19. “The Sound of Music”–I was Sister Sophia (a nun, opened the play a capella).
20. I graduated high school with a 3.998 GPA.
21. I was .02 from graduating with “Distinction and Honor”.
22. I graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2005 with a 3.67 GPA. So close to honors, again!
23. I have been to 31 states: Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada.
24. I have been to three countries: Canada, Mexico and Tunisia.
25. One of my goals in life is to visit all seven continents.
26. I want to have four kids someday (2 adopted, 2 of my own).
27. I now play seven instruments: Piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, french horn, mandolin, and ukelele (learning).
28. I have an incredible family (immediate and extended), and love them dearly.
29. I have a rabbit named Casey (after Casey Jones, railroad conductor), who lives with my parents.
30. He was NOT named after my life-long rival, Casey Coffman.
31. My favorite NASCAR driver is Casey Mears.
32. My favorite driver was always Ricky Rudd until he retired.
33. I raced once, led a few laps and then was spun into the wall.
34. That ended my racing “career”, LOL.
35. I once had a prescription to chew gum (6th grade). Seriously.
36. I love photography and purchased a Nikon D-80 a year ago.
37. I used to eat Heinz Ketchup on everything. Even fruit.
38. I love getting reactions out of people (i.e. #37).
39. I would love to go to Italy on my honeymoon…or a road trip in some remote area of North America…
40. I’ve been told by over 60 people that I look like Lindsay Lohan.
41. And that was on two continents (N. America and Africa).
42. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Azusa Pacific Univ.
43. I am in TIME Magazine (in a group), in the very center of the magazine.
44. I was on ABC for approx. 30 seconds during the 2005 Inauguration.
45. My parents have sacrificed far more than I will ever know, so that I could have the life I have so enjoyed.
46. I started to learn Arabic, and will finish someday. Just not right now.
47. I love biking and hiking.
48. I think picnics are a perfect way to spend a day.
49. I love surprising people.
50. The most elaborate surprise I’ve ever done was in February 2004.
51. I flew to Chicago to cheer up a friend who needed it.
52. He had NO idea. ) And it was a great weekend.
53. Classical music can move me to tears.
54. I was a Southern Baptist “Summer Missionary” for two summers in Pennsylvania.
55. I worked on three campaigns during college.
56. I have only been to one protest (Hillary Clinton and Gray Davis). It was fun!
57. I still can’t believe that I lived in Southern California for 7 years.
58. I moved to Pennsylvania in July 2008, without a job, and the Lord has truly blessed me here…
59. I’ve learned that you never really know someone until you live with them.
60. I had 17 roommates during my four years of college: Allison, Leslie, Sara, Jessica, Alli, Katie, Rebecca, Jo, Jen, Kori, Brianna, Jes, Erin, Courtney, Erin, Kait, Ananda.
61. I had four more roommates after college: Molly, Christy, Mindi, and Laura. And one more soon: Lena. 22 total.
62. I really should be a detective–I’d be good at it.
63. I love driving.
64. I love baking/cooking.
65. Camping and fishing are two things I wish I had discovered much earlier!
66. I am lactose intolerant. Grrr!! However, I found medicine in 2007 that solved that problem!
67. I am very allergic to bees (Epi-pen at all times!), and am terrified of them.
68. My sophomore year in high school I got the Performing Arts “Juliet Award”.
69. The award was given to the female with the most relationships that year.
70. It was NOT a compliment! Especially because I only “dated” four guys, I think.
71. I love maps. I can spend HOURS studying them.
72. I have had two surgeries on my radial nerve in my right arm.
73. Because of those two surgeries, I have a “Nike sign” scar that is 8 inches long.
74. James Madison is my favorite U.S. President (and my future daughter will be named Madison 🙂 )
75. Of all the books I own, I’ve read less than 50% in their entirety.
76. I could drink apple juice every day.
77. I am extremely opinionated, but have become more open-minded as I get older.
78. For 21 years, I had straight hair, but always wanted curly hair.
79. Between 21-22 yrs, my hair began to develop a wave/curl to it.
80. I finally have curly-ish hair!!
81. I lied about my weight on my driver’s license in California, and was happy that PA doesn’t ask for it…
82. I was a vocal performance major when I first started college.
83. I have issues with can-openers.  Sometimes I just can’t figure them out!
84. I haven’t been kissed in four years. It was six years before that. And that’s okay!!
85. I love singing the National Anthem; One of my life goals is to sing it at a major sporting event…like NASCAR!
86. I love event planning and would love to do that as a career.
87. I am a redneck. It didn’t occur to me until I moved to SoCal.
88. Voting is SO exciting to me!
89. My favorite band EVER is Caedmon’s Call. Hands down.
90. I don’t like alcohol and don’t drink. Designated Driver is my title. 🙂
91. I love “The Learning Channel” and “The History Channel.”
92. I really love Jack Bauer!!
93. For 11 years of my life I planned on being an astronaut.
94. I even had a Congressman lined up to write my recommendation to the USAF Academy.
95. Daisies are my favorite flowers. They’re just so happy! )
96. I found Jon & Kate’s house and church, and loved that challenge!
97. Most of my closest friends in life have been guys.
98. I dealt with local taxes for 2.5 years at ADP–and don’t know how I survived the boredom.
99. I was class treasurer for three years in high school.
100. Without God, none of this would have been possible. )

Rediscovered Song…

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I love Caedmon’s Call, and I was recently listening to one of their first albums…and I rediscovered this incredible song. The lyrics have caused me to think quite a bit this week…

Love Alone

By Caedmon’s Call

No one would love me
if they knew all the things I hide
My words fall to the floor
As tears drip through the telephone line

And the hands I’ve seen raised to the sky
Not waving but drowning all this time
I’ll try to build an ark that they need
To float to you upon the crystal sea

Chorus:
Give me your hand to hold
‘Cause I can’t stand to love alone
And love alone is not enough to hold us up
We’ve got to touch your robe
So swing your robe down low
Swing your robe down low

The prince of despair’s been beaten
But the loser still fights
Death’s on a long leash
Stealing my friends to the night

And everyone cries for the innocent
You say to love the guilty too
And I’m surrounded by suffering and sickness
So I’m working tearing back the roof

Repeat Chorus

And the pain of the world is a burden
And it’s my cross to bear
And I stumble under all the weight
I know you’re Simon standing there
And I know you’re standing there

Looking Back at 2008…

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This has probably been the most crazy year of my life thus far. It has been filled with trials and challenges, but also with joy and growth…I’m 26 years old today–and I’m now closer to 30 than 20. Such a strange thought! I don’t feel like I could possibly be nearly 30, but I guess that’s a good thing. 🙂

In December 2007, I began praying that God would make me “uncomfortable.” I realized that I was not growing in my faith because I was comfortable where I was in life…when you look at the example of any biblical character, they grew the most when God challenged them and presented new situations to them. So, I began to pray that He would do the same with me. And He did not disappoint. The most obvious example of that is that I now live in Pennsylvania, where I’m experiencing my first “real Winter”. 🙂 The growth that has occurred this year is remarkable, and I can’t wait to see where I am at this time next year! I have learned that being comfortable is overrated–and boring, actually. 🙂

In 2008:

I attended the “Passion” conference in L.A., by myself, and was forever changed by that event…I was given an opportunity to teach in Dubai for the 2008-2009 school year…I had to quit my job at ADP because they changed their mind about giving me time off to lead my mission team to New Orleans…I decided to move to Pennsylvania without a job, trusting the Lord in His guidance…I spent six days driving across the United States with my Mom (and saw things like the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, and other things in the nine states we drove through)…I went to seven new states this year, bringing the total to 31…I had pneumonia for 13 weeks…I spent an amazing month in New Orleans, serving the Lord and serving others…I took about 15,000 pictures…I spent 5 months unemployed and watched the Lord provide for me in miraculous ways…I now have an incredible job with a growing lobbying firm, where I can finally use my degree and my passions…I got in my first car accident, and had to buy a new car…I learned a valuable lesson about friendships–it’s okay to let some go, because some people are “toxic” to our lives…I drove in snow for the first time…I’ve lost some friends and gained new ones, and my life has been so blessed by my new friends in Pennsylvania…I’ve learned that it’s okay to accept help from others…I found a new church here in PA that is healthy, missions-focused, and I’m ready to dive in and serve…

2009 is going to be an interesting year, that’s for sure. Two of my good friends and I decided to give up ice cream (defined as anything that is “frozen dairy”) for a year. It will most definitely be the hardest thing I’ve given up! However, it will be a constant reminder that I’m trying to be even more healthy when it comes to food than I already am, and I am going to succeed this year in losing the weight I gained while I had pneumonia. 🙂 So, I’m eating a lot of ice cream today! If the Moravian shoe thing I tried (see prior posts) is accurate (Ha!), then I’ll be engaged by next Christmas. Not counting on that, but I wouldn’t mind! 🙂

Most of all, I’m excited to see what the Lord is going to do in my life and in the lives of those around me. He called me here to Central Pennsylvania for a reason, and I’m excited to see what He has in store! 🙂

Riddle…

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I first saw this riddle during a contest at ADP in 2006–and I was the only one who got it right. 🙂

“The day before yesterday I was 25, and next year I will be 28. This is true only one day a year. When was I born?”

Lesa’s List of Winter Weather Terms…

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Prior to my move to Central Pennsylvania, I thought that there were two main types of precipitation: rain and snow. I was very wrong. LOL. This is a list of the terms I’ve heard/experienced thus far, and I’m sure the list will grow!

Freezing Rain
Freezing Drizzle
Freezing Fog
Ice Fog
Sleet
Wintry Mix

And there are even more (taken from USA Today):

  • Blizzard: Winds of 35 mph or more along with considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than one-quarter mile for three or more hours. Extremely cold temperatures often are associated with dangerous blizzard conditions, but are not a formal part of the definition. The hazard created by the combination of snow, wind and low visibility significantly increases, however, with temperatures below 20 degrees.
  • Blowing snow: Wind driven snow that reduces visibility to six miles or less causing significant drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
  • Drifting snow: Uneven distribution of snowfall caused by strong surface winds. Drifting snow does not reduce visibility.
  • Flurries: Light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or just a light dusting is all that is expected.
  • Freeze: Occurs when the surface air temperature is expected to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below over a widespread area for a significant period of time.
  • Freezing rain or drizzle: Occurs when rain or drizzle freezes on surfaces such as trees, cars and roads, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Temperatures above the ground are warm enough for rain to form, but surface temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the rain to freeze on impact. Even small accumulations of ice can be a significant hazard.
  • Frost: Describes the formation of thin ice crystals on the ground or other surfaces. Frost develops when the temperature of the earth’s surface falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but because frost is primarily an event that occurs as the result of radiational cooling, it frequently occurs with air temperatures in the middle 30s.
  • Graupel: Small pellets of ice created when supercooled water droplets coat, or rime, a snowflake. The pellets are cloudy or white, not clear like sleet, and often are mistaken for hail.
  • Heavy snow: Depending on the region of the USA, this generally means that four or more inches of snow has accumulated in 12 hours, or six or more inches of snow in 24 hours.
  • Ice storm: An ice storm is used to describe occasions when damaging accumulation of ice are expected during a freezing rain situation. Significant accumulations of ice are defined as one-quarter inch or greater. This can cause trees, utility and power lines to fall down causing the loss of power and communication.
  • Sleet:Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists. Heavy sleet occurs when a half of an inch of sleet accumulates.
  • Snow showers: Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is possible.
  • Snow squalls: Intense, but of limited duration, periods of moderate to heavy snowfall, accompanied by strong, gusty surface winds and possible lightning.
  • Watch: A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather event has increased significantly, but the occurrence, location and timing are still uncertain.
  • Warning/Advisory: These products are issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, is imminent or has a very high probability of occurrence. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. Advisories are for less serious conditions that cause significant inconvenience and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life and property.
  • Whiteout: A condition caused by falling and/or blowing snow that reduces visibility to nothing or zero miles; typically only a few feet. Whiteouts can occur rapidly often blinding motorists and creating chain-reaction crashes involving multiple vehicles. Whiteouts are most frequent during blizzards.
  • Wind chill: The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. This temperature is the reading the body “feels” given the combination of wind and air temperature. At wind speeds of four mph or less, the wind chill temperature is the same as the actual air temperature.

    • I had no idea how complicated Winter is! 🙂

    Moravia…

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    So, I’ve been learning a lot about the history of Bethlehem, PA lately, and one of the things I’ve been learning about is the Moravians who settled there. They had a tradition that I thought was particularly awesome:

    The Maiden Threw Her Shoe

    If and when one will be married is a question asked all over the world. In parts of Moravia, it was a popular custom on Christmas Eve for unwed girls to take off one shoe, turn their back to their front door, and toss the shoe at the door. Tradition said that if the shoe landed with its toe pointing to the door, the girl would be married before the next Christmas.

    So, I decided to try…

    …and if this is at all accurate, I’ll be married by next Christmas. 🙂 Here’s hoping! LOL.

    I don’t like the sound of this…

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    …and yet, I have to remember that I chose this 🙂

    “…WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM EST TUESDAY
    THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON…

    A SHALLOW ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION LATE TONIGHT
    AND EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. MOIST AIR FROM THE MID ATLANTIC REGION
    WILL FLOW UP AND OVER THE COLD DOME TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH
    WEDNESDAY MORNING…PRODUCING A MIXTURE OF SNOW…SLEET AND
    FREEZING RAIN OVER SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

    A LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 3 INCHES APPEARS
    LIKELY TUESDAY MORNING INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE PRECIPITATION
    MIXES WITH AND POSSIBLY CHANGES TO FREEZING DRIZZLE OR FREEZING
    RAIN TUESDAY EVENING. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FREEZING RAIN IS
    POSSIBLE TUESDAY EVENING…PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS
    OF WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

    A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
    SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.”

    I’m Going to Alaska!!

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    I’m really excited, if you couldn’t tell…I’m going to be in Alaska for 10 days in May, for my cousin’s graduation from high school. My aunt is planning on moving to California next summer, so I wanted to go while she still lived there, anyway…and I got an AMAZING deal on airfare, so I just couldn’t resist! Plus, my parents and grandparents (and probably more of my family) are going to be there, so that will be great family time as well…

    blackstone_bay_-_alaska

    I can’t wait to spend time taking pictures up there. I was there when I was 8 years old (17 years ago!), so it’s been awhile…and all I really remember was it being -2 one day…seeing a moose in my aunt’s backyard…going around to places like Kenai, Homer, etc…going to the zoo…but I don’t have vivid memories. Now that I’m older–and much more into photography–I can’t wait to go!

    I also decided that I’m going to try to get a meeting with Governor Sarah Palin. She should be in Anchorage when I’m there (based upon the legislative schedule), so I figured it’s worth a shot! 🙂

    I leave for California in nine days…so I’m very excited about that as well. But, right now, my trip to Alaska is definitely all I’m thinking about 🙂

    The Meaning of Christmas…

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    Last year, I wrote this entry regarding my frustration with people who celebrate Christmas for their own reasons, and who don’t allow Christians to celebrate it openly–even though it’s a religious holiday…and I can’t say my opinion on this has changed much in a year (though I’m much calmer about the subject, haha). I honestly am coming to feel that if people don’t celebrate Christmas because it’s the birthday of Christ, then they shouldn’t celebrate it at all. I don’t celebrate holidays if I don’t believe in the event/reason for which the holiday was created (i.e. Columbus Day)! So, why should Christmas be any different? At least this school is being consistent with all religions.

    More and more, I see Christians being persecuted for their beliefs in the United States…and I actually think it’s a healthy thing. Persecution causes people to either grow stronger or to abandon their faith (more often the former), and it causes people to truly think about why they believe what they do. This is something the Church in America desperately needs to do!

    Here’s the text to my entry from last year:

    It boggles my mind when I hear about things like this… ONE person complained about a Christmas tree being put up, and they school takes it down (though they put it back up). Why does it seem like the only religion people ever complain about is Christianity? If someone had a dreidel on a table, or any other item symbolizing a religious holiday, no one would complain–why is it only Christian holidays that are criticized? I never seem to hear about Christians claiming to be “offended” by other religions celebrating their holidays! (I have a theory about this as well, but we’ll save that for another time)…

    In my home county, Tehama County, the county offices are not allowed to decorate with angels or Santa–because they are “religious symbols“…

    DUH! The entire holiday is religious! It’s about the Son of God, coming to earth as a human baby, born in Bethlehem two-thousand years ago…that’s what Christmas is about. Even Linus from Peanuts knows this (see “Charlie Brown Christmas”)…It’s not about presents, or anything else that the secular world has made it to be. It’s about our Savior’s marvelous birth and life…

    To those who want the “religious symbols” taken away from Christmas, I ask this question: Why do you even celebrate Christmas if you don’t understand/appreciate the true meaning? It would be like someone celebrating/participating in Ramadan, because they wanted to diet and Ramadan includes fasting from sunrise to sundown…what a dumb reason to do something! If you are celebrating Christmas just to get gifts…I don’t even know what to say to you…

    I think it’s kind of ridiculous to make a holiday into something that it’s not (i.e. Christmas and presents with no Jesus, Easter and the candy/”Easter bunny” with no Jesus), and I think it’s even more ridiculous to ignore that which you choose to ignore–like the fact that these holidays are about JESUS.

    If “Christmas symbols”–like angels and nativity scenes, and apparently even Christmas trees–offend you, then don’t celebrate. BUT, don’t prevent someone else from celebrating the birth of their Lord and Savior…

    And don’t even mention the “Separation of Church and State” to me in this situation–because the majority of citizens in this country use that phrase out of its true context constantly. I’m not going to go off on that tangent right now (if you are curious, you can ask)…just know that it doesn’t apply to decorations in a cubicle!

    I am SO thankful to work for a company that truly embraces diversity and allows associates to express their religions/cultures. In two weeks, I’m participating in a Christmas Caroling performance at WORK–and we’re singing “religious” songs! How awesome is that?! No one is forced to come to the performances, but nearly everyone does, because they understand that it’s stupid to be offended by something like that, and they enjoy the celebration. We have Christmas trees in the lobby and in the cafeteria. And I have never heard anyone complain about that.

    Yes, I’m on a soap box. But it’s absolutely amazing to me how far this country has gone to be “free from religion”. If you don’t want to be “religious”, that’s your choice (though it breaks my heart because you are missing out on the most marvelous relationship available to you)–but it’s also my choice and freedom to be “religious”.

    The Constitution of the United States of America grants us the freedom OF religion, and the right to practice it freely. And I take that right very seriously.