So first to explain about the previous post in case anyone gets the wrong impression…I was in fact paying attention (indeed, the upper left side of the page is covered in notes) however I tend to get restless. I learn best when I can join in the conversation, and if I cannot do that then I tend to shake my foot a lot of start making noises, or tapping my fingers. In order to combat this I take notes, and I doodle. This allows me to listen with my ears, while still being productive. I really wish I knew how to knit, I feel like this would solve a lot of problems for me. Although I’m not sure if whipping out a pile of knitting during the service would get me the evil eye or not. It probably would.

Speaking of the evil eye, a couple weeks ago at church I overheard something that made me slightly upset. A group of elderly ladies were standing by the door, and as I walked  by I heard one of the ladies say something to the effect of, “Young kids have no respect anymore. They cannot possibly love God, because none of them ever dress up anymore.”

First of all: 1) Love of Jesus is not tied to outward attire  2) If you notice young ladies at our church often dress up. Not because it is “the church outfit” but because looking nice is a courtesy to both yourself and others. 3) Just because I am wearing a pair of jeans, it does not mean I do not respect you. It means that I am wearing the clothing that happens to be clean, that fits, and that is comfortable and modest.

I am a firm believer that one ought not to dress up just for Sunday. This is a mentality I have observed quite frequently at church. So many people just dress up for Sunday–in clothes, in language, in hospitality, in sociability. I am not saying that I am not also filled with double standards, however I have watched so many people that are supposedly “pillars in the church family” put on their Sunday clothes (to borrow from Hello, Dolly!) and then take them off Monday morning.

I would rather have my church family see the real me every day of the week, and not just the spit clean church goer on Sundays.

Also, I don’t think a worship service ought to be viewed as a special occasion. Yes, every encounter with God is special and unique, yes, God ought to be our highest priority, what we worship. (Vs. clothes, intelligence, freedom, music, etc.) However, worshiping God ought to be normal. It should be what we do all of the time. Not just at church.

I am going through a video class from Mars Hill on what every Christian should believe for Sunday School, and he said something today that really got me thinking. He said that Jesus was a normal human being. We are all abnormal. Isn’t normality what so many people aspire for? I mean yes, there is a selfish drive to be above the pack, to be ‘divine’, to be a prodigy, but deep down we want to be as we were created to be.

Jesus exhibited all of our good traits, all that every human being ought to be. All that we can be.

So many people just think, “I cannot ever achieve the goodness Jesus had, so why try?”

But isn’t that sad? As an “Image-Bearer” of God I want to try. As much as I love Star Wars, I have to disagree with Yoda. There is a try. If there were only do or do not, what would be the point?

Speaking of Star Wars (and to change the topic to something slightly lighter…) I am currently recording my own narration of one of my favorites, “Specter of the Past”. I love this novel (and it’s companion) because these are the two books where Luke wises up and gets humbled, and where he and Mara get together. Books on tape are so expensive, but I love listening to them. So in order to fix this, I decided to just record my own. I’m really good at voices (Where’s that humility Em? Oh…sorry..)

I would post a preview but I’m sure that would be infringing some sort of copyright. (Or a LOT of copyrights.)

So I won’t. This’ll just be for me to enjoy myself.

Moving on to heroes.

(We’re working our way up.)

1) Donny Osmond. http://www.donny.com/  So as I am sure you all know by now, I am currently in Joseph. (Oh, I’m a brother again! Hurrah!) I watched his version over at my friend’s, (the G’s) and I loved it. Then I was watching Mulan (which I got recently for a dollar on VHS at a garage sale) and I was practically in love with the singing voice of Mulan’s love interest. (Hence my new myspace song) I was like “Who does that heavenly voice belong to?” and my ex-roomie told me “You know who that is, right? It’s Donny Osmond!” So I am a huge fan.

2) Meryl Streep. I am a firm believer that she can play any role. I believe that she is an excellent actor, and she inspires me. (Aside: While I loved the music and dancing of Mamma, Mia! I was saddened by the storyline. It was unbelievable that the protagonist would decide to not get married in a minute, after the whole beginning of the movie she “had a dream”. Let me tell you, I wouldn’t go traveling anywhere with a guy who didn’t want to marry me. Talk about self-serving. There won’t be a sequal -a because they used up all the ABBA music-because their relationship won’t last. It made me so sad that the entire movie was anti-marriage. -at least until you’re over the hill and you’ve already had a kid-) Despite the stupid message, I just thought she was perfectly her character. All of the movies I’ve seen her in, she has been superb.

3) The padre…and i guess uncle. They fixed my car. (a melted tube, a broken clamp, low on oil, a worn out filter or two). Enough said.

4) C. For putting up with all us girls, teaching us how to quilt or whatever, finding time to do what she loves, and raising a beautiful boy. I suppose her husband helps lol.

5) J. For lending me binding tape and expertise. And for reaffirming that my machine is officially broken.

I’m sure I’ll add more later.

Speaking of 4 and 5 what a lovely segue onto handbags.

So I officially made myself one. I made the pattern, I quilted it, I sewed ALL of it. I was even being …material conscious? I made it out of a recycled dress that I loved but no longer fit, and the inside was a curtain. And two spools of thread and several hours later…voila! A beautiful creation.

Here I am modeling my FABULOUS creation. Everyone else in my group was making a quilt but I was too poor to buy fabric. So I made this instead.

My sentiments exactly.

So, I guess I’ll leave it at that.

Oh, also I think I’m gonna try to make a series of interviews with some of the monks when I get back to campus answering some of my questions on Catholicism. Hopefully this happens.

This project inspired by J’s blog and interview. So thanks.

I finally got my RA training schedule.

11 days until SMUtown. Gotta love it.

I can’t wait for school!

Sincerely, Emilie

P.S. I also bought Romancing the Stone for a dollar, and (thanks to C for introducing me to it) if you haven’t seen it, you need to.