Leave the Scar

Does the thought of who you used to be ever cause you to feel sheepish? Sometimes when I think about a way I acted or how I handled something badly I thank heaven that I'm not the person I used to be. But then this invariably leads to a wandering wondering about what I'll think of my present self 5 years from now. Will look back and think about what a fool I was?

I was listening to pandora tonight, when a song called "Heal the Wound" began to play --- and it really resonated with me. We all have imperfect pasts. We've all learned from them, and need not be ashamed of where we've been as long as we're heading in the right direction. It's those times that we screw up that force us to learn, and we become more beautiful because of it. The scars of our past are what force us to grow.

The song says it much more eloquently than I can... so I'll share the lyrics here:

Heal the Wound

By Point of Grace

I used to wish that I could rewrite history

I used to dream that each mistake could be erased

Then I could just pretend

I never knew the me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away

Hide all the evidence of who I’ve been

But it’s the memory of the place You brought me from

That keeps me on my knees and even though I’m free

Heal the wound but leave the scar

A reminder of how merciful You are

I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

And heal the would but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything

I don’t take pride in what I bring

But I’ll build an alter with the rubble that You’ve found me in

And every stone will sing of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar

A reminder of how merciful You are

I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

And heal the would but leave the scar

Don’t let me forget

Everything You’ve done for me

Don’t let me forget

The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar

A reminder of how merciful You are

I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

And heal the would but leave the scar

Heavenly Kisses

There is something extraordinarily wonderful about the moment when a snowflake lands on the very tip of ones nose. On the rare occasion it happens, I feel as if Heaven has just given me a kiss, and a divine whispering states: "I know exactly where you are Miss Krystal." And then I can marvel at how good the Lord is at steering snowflakes. Especially on evenings like tonight, when it was barely snowing to begin with.

There are so many beautiful things in this world to marvel at, and so many tender mercies... Snowflake kisses are just one of them. Some of my other favorites include: laughter, back massages, sunsets over the mountains, mittens, friends, big balls of snow shoved in your mouth, family, the smell of laundry detergent, teasing, overly large sweatshirts, rosy cheeks.... 'Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens... bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things!'

Oh man, Julie Andrews definitely had it right with that song.

What are a few of your favorite things?

Is it wrong to be so happy?

For no real reason at all?

I was talking to my Mom today. I was telling her of an annoying thing that happened to me today. One of those, "life just stinks sometimes" instances. And then I told her... that I wasn't going to let it get me down, because this week is too beautiful to be sad at all in.

And then she told me that I was too happy. She wanted to know what boy had suddenly popped into my life. I told her there is no boy, no I have not become a true aggie, or anything like unto it. And then when she told me that it was still weird for me to be so cheery, the only explanation I could give her was that springtime must be getting to me.

Isn't it amazing how absolutely nothing more than a ray of sunshine can make the world seem perfect in almost every way? I think everybody should be this happy today :D

Picture Perfect

So I practically live in this little computer lab called the YETC. (Which, in case you were desperate to know... stands for 'The Adele & Dale Young Education Technology Center.) My favorite place to work while I am in the lab is the little computer lab in the back right corner. It is usually mostly deserted, and therefore quiet, excepting for that nice humming sound 20 computers make by themselves. I usually pick to sit down at the fourth computer in, on the back row; left side of the lab. That just happens to be where I am sitting now as I type. Sometimes I mix it up and choose the second or third computer in on the second row though. Go figure.

Anyways. Now that you know where to find me if I am not home or in class...

I love this little place, not because it is quiet, or because I seem to get a lot of work done while I sit there... but because of the amazing backgrounds on each of the screens.

I walk in, and all the screens are dark, which makes me excited to jiggle the mouse so that I can see what glorious picture awaits me.

Currently, my computer is sporting a picture of the San Francisco bridge, lit up with lights during the sunset. The mountains in the background are silouetted black, and the water looks purple. Next to me I see some bright yellow daisies close up, surrounded by the pink and blue of other flowers.

These scenes changes probably every half hour or so... and inevitably when a new one comes up I will let out a sigh of longing... wishing that I could leave the dusty computer lab and hop right into the picture... so that I can sit on the upturned boat by the crystal clear blue lake, or watch the pink sunset at the top of the mountain, looking down into the lushly green valley. Or fly straight into the bright orange sunset on top of the clouds.

Sigh

The mill over the waterfall looks like an incredible place to explore, and the lonely tree overlooking the lake needs a friend to enjoy the sunburst through the clouds with.

I know it is probably silly to take so much notice of the computer backgrounds, but I can't help it. They make me so happy, and so jealous of whomever got to take the picture.

Maybe one day I'll decide to be a photogrpaher, then I'll have a really good excuse to hunt down all of these places :)

So I just wanted to say thank you. To those photographers who took the pictures, and the person who decided to put them in the YETC for me to enjoy. They'll never know how thoroughly they are being appreciated.

Aren't they just incredible?

Rigoletto

What is true beauty?

It's does not lie in our face, our clothes, or even our words. True beauty is shown through what we give of our spirit, the kind things that we do for those around us. I believe each person has a beautiful spirit, and they become a beautiful person when they show it through service towards their fellow man.

So it's interesting that everyone get's caught up in looking beautiful, when the only way to be truly beautiful is to forget to spend that extra hour in front of the mirror and choose instead to spend it helping someone else.