http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/ ratiugirl Sun, 10 Dec 2006 23:50:02 PST http://www.blogdrive.com Copyright 2006. http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/114.html Mon, 11 Dec 2006 04:45:43 GMT [Wow...it's been over a year. Talk about a long sabbatical...] So...the sermon this morning was pretty good. Actually...it was the children's sermon that got me (funny how that happens). My pastor had all the children fill their hands with as many little beans as they possibly could. Then once their hands were overflowing with beans, he pulled out a bowl of hershey kisses and told them they could each take one--yet they couldn't, because their hands were full of beans. They had to empty their hands of what they were holding on to in order to receive the gift that was so much better. I think... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=114 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/113.html Tue, 29 Nov 2005 23:02:51 GMT So I'm back to school now...and things are craaazy (as always). Lots of class work, getting ready for 3 days of teaching in a real classroom with real students for my math methods class next week, plus a gajillion Christmas-type performances for TC and Chambers (..speaking of which, ya'll should totally come to our choral concert this Sunday at 6:30, OR--more importantly--the candlelight service the Sunday after that--the 11th--at 6:30 or 8:30...all the cool kids are gonna be there...). So yeah...it's pretty much going to be non-stop madness until Christmas break. Good thing it's only 3 weeks... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=113 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/112.html Thu, 24 Nov 2005 15:06:46 GMT How do I even begin to express thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for me? Every now and then I stop and think about and realize how unbelievably blessed I am. Amazing family, INCREDIBLE friends....man. Who am I to deserve all this? (And of course, the answer to that is...I don't). God's grace is just overwhelming to think about sometimes. I was thinking this morning, as I read 1 Chronicles 16:34... Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Two things hit me about that verse. First...the fact that his love endures forever. Do you realize the... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=112 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/111.html Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:16:03 GMT Well...I decided to give this whole blog thing another whirl. It's been a while, and I miss sharing what God's been teaching me with you all. I also realized that after all the hassle of switching over to xanga for a while there...my heart remains with blogdrive. So...I went through all the hassle again of transferring all my xanga entries over to here...but it's worth it. Good to be back, folks. Hard to believe the semester's almost over...what a crazy-busy one it has been! (of course) A couple huge things to update ya'll....first of all, I'm volunteering as a youth leader at my home... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=111 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/110.html Wed, 07 Sep 2005 04:31:34 GMT I feel like I'm in the midst of a lot of change right now...everything I have been used to in the past is gone, and is being replaced by new unfamiliarity. There's definitely potential for good in this of course, because see...the Lord is always doing a new thing. And newness is often necessary for growth and stretching and blessing. And yet...a huge part of me misses what was. The comfort of the familiar. Maybe it's just a nostalgic mood I'm in tonight, I don't know. Maybe tomorrow I'll turn around and be wicked excited and on fire about all the new changes and experiences going... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=110 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/109.html Tue, 23 Aug 2005 02:00:33 GMT Well...I'm back from my weekend in Vabeeotchay (VA Beach). I really can't get over how gorgeous it is down there...and that my sister actually LIVES there...as in, not just staying there on vacation or something. Anywho...I had an amazing, amazing time down there. I got to meet all my sister's awesome friends/roomies/cohorts, check out Regent (jaw-dropping gorgeous as well), meet Merlot (most adorable kitty ever!), and of course...spend all sorts of awesome QT with my lizzy-pooh. I arrived at my aunt/uncle's house Friday evening at about 7:30-ish (after a 9-hour cramped-up car ride..blah),... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=109 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/108.html Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:58:32 GMT Wow, so I really stink at this whole xanga blog thing. Sorry guys. I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since I got home from Pittsburgh. Did it ever even really happen? Sometimes I feel like it was just a dream...but then I get a phone call from a camper or a voicemail from a fellow staff member...and I realize that yeah, it did happen...and I grin. So what have I been up to these last couple weeks, you ask? Well...lots of fun things. I've been back to work in the alumni office at the college, working all the live long day on profile books, in preparation for the reunions going on... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=108 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/107.html Sat, 06 Aug 2005 23:13:29 GMT So...I'm back from my summer working at Urban Impact. Wow....is it really over? I have such a mix of emotions. The people, the surroundings, the kids that have been my life for the last 8 weeks are suddenly...gone. It felt so abrupt. Now all of a sudden I'm sitting here at home in an empty house, missing everyone like crazy. Thank God for things like cell phones and instant messenger...plus an hour drive to get to Pitt is so not bad. You guys can count on my visiting. On the other hand, it is def good to be home. I can't wait to see the crew from home...and I had almost forgotten how much I... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=107 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/106.html Sun, 22 May 2005 17:25:50 GMT "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (philippians 1:21) Life and death...two seemingly opposing forces. But in reality, they are united by one common passion. Christ. To live is to make Him known and to seek His supremacy and glory in everything I do, say, and am. To die is finally to be stripped of everything else of this world that weighs me down and hinders me, and to just enjoy Him alone, fully. You see, there is no losing in Christ. We do suffer on the Calvary road as we take up our crosses daily and die to ourselves...but that also serves to make Christ all the... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=106 http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/archive/105.html Fri, 20 May 2005 01:30:31 GMT "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (joshua 1:9) Something I hadn't noticed before about this verse is the powerful choice of the word "commanded." I usually just skip over the first sentence and go right to the part about being strong and courageous, not being terrified or discouraged, etc. But what I failed to realize until now is that...this is not just a warm-fuzzy message of encouragement. It isn't even a fiery pep talk. It's a command...i.e. NOT optional.... (more) http://ratiugirl.blogdrive.com/comments?id=105