pictures!

why would i write a post about my trip, when i could just show you pictures??! they tell the story better than i could!

click this pic to see more!



oh yeah, and i must give credit to Belle for some of the pictures. she gets a little carried away w/ taking pictures, but hey, she always gets some good ones in along with the random ones of feet, tables, butts, toys, etc.

smell

yes, it is Valentine's Day, but this post isn't going to be very Valentine-y. but i had a thought the other day. (hey, they don't happen very often, i have to blog about them when i get the chance!)

what makes something smell bad? i'm not taking about what gives something an odor...but what makes us think it smells bad?? is it simply that our brains have been trained to think certain things smell bad? is it simply our interpretation? or is it fully explained by a natural reaction of our smell receptor's to our brain? is there such thing as an odor that actually smells bad...or are there just odor's that we think smell bad? i would almost say it is just all in our heads. but i tend to think this way a lot. because if something is "all in your head" that gives you the ability to control how you react. however, if there is actual, biological, chemical explanation for everything...then that means you WILL react/respond a particular way without choice. i like to think i always have control :) so if i tell myself something does not smell bad, can it actually not smell bad to me? some things it seems are personal opinion- some people like the smell of gasoline. some do not. pretty much everyone agrees that flowers smell good. pretty much everyone agrees that farts, and sewers, and decaying bodies smell bad. (sorry, i got carried away w/ the bad smells) so why is it we all think farts smell bad? what is it about certain odors that tells our brain it smells bad?? i think i'm repeating myself now. and i think you at least understand the point i'm trying to get at. well, i guess there's not really a point. just random thoughts. can you help me? do you have any medical, scientific answers? if not, more random thoughts are welcome.

thanks to my roommate for helping with the big words and sentence's.

a new heart.

okay, i have a song for you again! :) take a good listen...

"White As Snow" jon foreman



this has been my theme song over the last few days. i can always tell you about the depravity of man and how sinful and wicked the human heart is. and i realize i am human, so of course i fall into this category. but do i actually search my own heart? it's not simply about how filthy man is, it's about how filthy I am.

create in me a clean heart, O God. my heart is not fairly clean with a little bit of dirt on it...there is sin so deep in my heart, no amount of dusting or wiping will get rid of it. i need a whole new stickin heart! i need a heart that is unlike everything i am. yes, i know that as a believer, i am a new creation, but salvation is not yet complete- there is still a war within me. i am in constant need of forgiveness for the wickedness that is still deep in my heart, and i am in constant need to be washed white as snow.


this song is taken from Psalm 51. read it. pray it.

Father, restore to me the joy of your salvation!!

hope

i heard this song "hope" by Alli Rogers, and i thought it'd be a good one to put some Three Angel pictures to. the chorus says:

"Hope, I’ll be waiting, I’ll be holding on to...
I am never knowing, so I’ll be holding on to
hope"

for those of you adopting, a lot of things have probably changed since you started your adoption process. things rarely go as planned. as we plan, that is. but God's plan never changes. He has things worked out from beginning to end. He sees the big picture (cause He made the big picture!!) and we can only see what's right in front of us. hold on to hope...His plan will be accomplished in His time!

some random thoughts at the airport.

i've got some time on my hands sitting at the airport (quite a bit of time actually), so i thought it was a good opportunity for a new post.

first off, i am sitting at the O'Hare airport in Chicago after a LOVELY visit with Shannon's family. i'm sure i am by far the most unusual house guest they've ever had (i mean, have you met me??) but i had a great time...hanging with the Hoffmann's (catchy, huh?), meeting Elias (you-you's brother), spending some time with Leah and her family, and meeting a bunch of other ppl that i can't name.

i saw a girl on my flight wearing this t-shirt:


it frustrates me. not simply because it's a bash on Bush, but because of the lack of respect we (the american culture) have. He is the President of the United States. i don't care if you disagree with every single thing he says and every decision he makes, he IS your President and he deserves your respect. in some countries, it can be a crime to disrespect the President. ah, but we have freedom of speech. (which that fact should make you thankful to be in this country...and should make you feel like you should at least somewhat appreciate the President of this country) ANYWAY, i am frustrated and sadden by the lack of respect that we feel we owe authorities. not only is it a Biblical truth, it USED to be a recognized as simply a moral truth, as it should still be.

oh goodness. i found a ton of new (new to me) AMAZING music. so yes, of course i'm going to share a song. :)

i originally decided, "heck i'll go ahead and post another song" when i heard the song "Clinging to the Crucified". (by Jeremy Casella on the "wake thy slumbering children" CD.) but then i heard this song and had to post it instead.


"My Lord I Did Not Choose You" Matthew Smith


how amazing is that song?? i love the lyrics...feel free to share your opinion/views (yeah, probably the same thing) on it. ah. i love it.

go to this website ONLY if you want to spend money on buying music right now. (i bought two so far)

great music says megan

if anyone ever tells you they don't listen to christian music because there isn't any good stuff out there...please direct them my way. i will find something they will like. that's my guarantee. (i am not saying that i believe all secular music is bad and you shouldn't listen to it, i'm simply saying there's A LOT of good christian music too)

to finish up my random thoughts at the airport: Karsen. the 5 year old little boy sitting directly in front of me from LA to Chicago. after a few hours of sitting on the plane (still sitting in the airport) i got to know those around me a little bit. there was 12 year old Peter sitting next to me. (funny kid, lots i could say about him, but we'll stick w/ Karsen) i believe next to him was Lori. in front of us, a business man (didn't talk w/ him too much), Trisha, and her son Karsen. we played games, he drew me pictures, and told me about his cousin Owen.



oh yeah. i almost forgot to mention. Karsen DID spill Diet Coke all over my lap. that was lovely.

okay, and that's all. except, if the airport is open 24 hours, why don't they have any 24 hour restaurants?? (i believe they may have one 24 hr starbucks, or maybe it's just open later than everything else)

AND these airport announcements get REALLY old and annoying REALLY fast.