Sunday, May 01, 2011

New Blog

Hello friends!

I've started a new blog over at Wordpress, so I will no longer be posting here. Say goodbye! Change your links! Check out my new blog: http://marikamagazine.wordpress.com/

Love to all.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Ramblings of a Working Warrior Princess


Here we are, the middle of March, already. I feel like life is moving past me so fast now. Working full-time, is really just that--full-time. But I feel really blessed and lucky with my job.

I think I forgot to mention (back in my December post) that I work at a boarding school. The school is 90% boarding students--the remainder commute. I'd never even been to a boarding school before working here. It's pretty interesting. The boarding kids have a pretty scheduled life...

Wake up at 6:30-7 am.
Breakfast at 7:30 am.
Morning assembly from 8:10 - 8:30 am
Class all day with lunch in the middle
Study/tutoring time 2:45 - 3:30pm
Sports/Clubs
Dinner at 6 pm
Study Hall 6:45 - 8 pm
2-3 hours free time or extra study
Lights Out/Sleep 11 pm

Every day.

Some of our kids are 18 already, some even older, because they've repeated a year due to English ability (over half the school is made up of International students). I wonder how I would feel going to this school sometimes. I think most of the kids like it. It's amazing how much more mature the majority of these kids are. Many of the students are involved in several clubs, and sports, holding leadership positions that require a lot of extra outside work. I know I was too shy in high school to do any of that, but maybe if I had gone to a small or private high/middle school like this one, I would have outgrew my shyness earlier. Anyway, with all the cuts and uproar about public education right now, I think a small private or independent school is a wise option.

While the academic side seems amazing at this school, there is definitely a spiritual deadness. There are no Christian clubs on campus. I don't even know if the kids can go to church on the weekends if they don't have a ride. Two of the people I work with in the Admissions Office are Christians. But nothing is really happening on campus spiritually at all. For Christian students coming in, there are really no supports for you if you are a boarding student.

There is a position opening up on campus in June for a Dorm Father. The position provides a free on-campus apartment, plus pay, and basically you are responsible for the kids while they're not at class during the day. Paul is considering the position, since it would be a great job to have during grad school. He could do his classes during the day, and then be around at night when he's on duty. The headmaster basically said to let him know our decision about the position...and he hasn't even met Paul! I think the Fuller name really carries a lot around here.

However, we saw one of the apartments today that will be coming available, and I don't think I could live there. It's much smaller than our current place, and older. It was being lived-in when we saw it though, and not cleaned up, so it's hard to imagine what it would like empty and clean. Apparently, there is a 2-bedroom one that may be available in the summer though, so I need to find out more about that.

Although it would be sad to move out of Fuller housing, it would be a good move financially, and who knows how God would use Paul to minister to the boys from all over the world at this school at such an impressionable time in their lives. Might be some good informal counseling opportunities as well.

We would appreciate your prayers on this decision, if you think of us! Paul is also starting finals this week -- finishing up his second quarter at Fuller.

I've been going through some weird health things the last couple months. I got sick with a cold twice --just recovered from the second one today. Then, I woke up this morning super nauseated and had to throw up before breakfast. Then, felt fine. It's strange, because I've had this morning throw-up thing happen occasionally (about once every few months) ever since we got married. I don't recall it ever happening before. I'm starting to think it may be related to my BC pill. I'm going to start tracking it now, to see if there is pattern. I hardly ever get sick though, so getting sick twice so recently just appalled and frustrated me. I guess I've been spoiled and taking health for granted. My work has been super nice about letting me take sick days though--so I guess I still am spoiled. :)

I found out I get 2-weeks vacation at my job and I have to use it before September! I really miss WA and my family. I was hoping to be able to make it to my brother's graduation ceremony in May, but Paul can't miss any classes, so it would only be for a weekend...which probably wouldn't be worth it in the end. We are looking now towards going sometime this summer.

I just found out my Mom will be driving down to our old city, Santa Rosa, CA this weekend to visit some people, so I'm (probably Paul too) going to drive the 8 hours to go see her. I love my family!

I turned 23 last month, and it feels significantly older and more adulty than 22. I tried explaining it to Paul, but he's 27 and wouldn't understand. :P

We've been married for a year and 8 months! I can't believe it. We've been talking a lot in church about the meaning of being the Bride of Christ. I guess the greek word for helpmeet/help-mate is "ezer" (sp?). From what I've gathered from the messages, an ezer is basically a warrior princess. She is an extremely powerful, valuable, and influential partner with Jesus. It's been very empowering actually, just as a woman, to learn about this. I feel like so often the women in the church that are considered godly, are the wives of rich men, stay-at-home, primped, pampered, and polite. But, the picture I'm getting of the bride of Christ seems to be one more of passion, strength, boldness, long-suffering, and the ability to confront, uplift, and empower her husband and the world on Earth. It's a very honorable, and dignified role-- which seems to fall in line much more with Proverbs 31. Also, I'd like to point out that it's godly to be MUSCULAR as a woman. Proverbs 31:17 says:

"She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong."

God, I love that! How many Christian women do you know with notably buff arms? Generally, the ideal that comes to mind for Christian women is to have bone thin arms, so as to appear more "feminine." I know the Bible was probably also speaking on a more figurative level in that verse, but I think the literal is often disregarded too much.

I went to this "Turbo Kick" class a week or two ago with a friend, on a free trial from a nearby gym. The woman who led the class was like a female Hurcules! It totally rocked. I don't know what it is, but there is something about a fit and strong woman that I find really cool. I'm planning on signing up at the gym next month--the class was so fun and I want to get on a weight lifting routine. I doubt I'll get super buff (maybe I need before and after pics?), but I do like the way I feel after lifting. Plus, it's really important for women to lift weights for so many reasons, but especially to improve bone density. Plus, it's hot! ;) Although, I wouldn't consider Marilyn Monroe an ezer...







Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Saturday, January 22, 2011

pinguecula

This last summer I went to an eye doctor because I noticed these little white bumps just outside my pupils (on the side closest to my nose). I was freaked out that it was some kind of eye cancer, but the doctor told me it was just "pinguecula," a non-cancerous growth of the mucous membrane...blah, blah, blah. So, I was fine. I got a hefty medical bill for 5 minutes in the doctor's office to notify me that I didn't need a doctor.

Lately, though, my eyes have been looking really blood-shot, and they get progressively worse throughout the day. I feel like people must think I'm on drugs all the time--it's terrible. Also, when I wear my contacts, I can feel them rubbing on my pinguecula, and it's really uncomfortable and stings. So lately, I've been trying to wear my glasses more often, despite the fact that I hate wearing my glasses. I can't see as well in them, and they hurt my nose, and I hate turning my head everywhere I want to look, and I hate not being able to wear sunglasses without looking like total dork (and I have to wear sunglasses because they say that the sun is what causes pinguecula in the first place).

I guess I've just taken for granted that I would be able to wear contacts the rest of my life, but it's looking like I'm going to be glasses-girl from now on. Ugh. This probably all sounds really immature, but glasses are just such a pain! Which has got me thinking about laser eye surgery, but after watching a youtube video of the procedure, I am terrified. All the stories of people getting double vision, dry eyes, or even blindness doesn't help either.

So glasses-girl it is. I just hope the redness and hotness of my eyes goes away soon, if I wear my glasses for a while. I might just have to go shopping for a really cute pair of specs to solve this... ;)