New dream...

I went somewhere very pretty today! A friend and I went to visit a local nursery (the plant kind) and I saw some BEAUTIFUL plants! My friend is a bit garden savvy and had plans to grow her own vegetables and herbs. I'm not much of a green thumb (I'm not one at all actually) but I kind of fell in love with their succulents. My great-grandmother grew them and at one point gave some to my mom. They are resilient little plants and I was surprised at how pretty I now think they are.

 This little guy came home with me! He's so puffy and cute.

My friend and I agreed that we think plants are therapeutic. From what she told me the nursery didn't have as many plants as they usually do, so we'll have to go back another time when they have more plants in stock.  Even with the more limited amount of plants I loved seeing the variety and beauty that was there. All I could think (especially after we'd found the curry plant...so awesome!) was how amazing God is to create such diverse, beautiful, healthy plants. In one place there were so many different colors, textures, and scents. It was so fun to wander around and smell the plants and see how pretty they were. Stuff like this is such a gift!

The nursery also had lots of beautiful vegetables, flowers and herbs. And even a disappearing peacock! They had a curry plant that smelled so wonderful! And lavender plants that smelled 10 times better than any essential lavender oil I've smelled. If I knew how to care for those plants I would have bought a whole bunch of them, but I am afraid I would kill them. So I think I'm going to start researching herb gardens and succulents and start my own little garden. I'm thinking a little balcony garden with lavender, mint, lemon balm, curry (it smelled SO good!) and succulents growing would be so nice. I could make little ceramic pots for all of them to live in!

It's the perfect idea! New dream: herb and succulent garden on my balcony. It's going to happen. :)

One last piece.

Just one more...a teapot. Probably the best one I've made so far. Teapots are hard. There are so many pieces to make and assemble. Spouts are hard.

But I think I'm finally heading in a better direction with this ceramic stuff. At least I'm happier with my work's development here at the end of this semester than in past semesters. :) I just hope that someday I'll reach the point where I know what I'm doing and can make good work.

I may be biased...

but I think I live in one of the prettiest places. :) For a state that catches a lot of flack it is so beautiful. The other day I went to Barnes & Noble and Target just because I felt like getting out of the house. It was rainy and gray, but looking around the area the shopping complex is located in I was struck by how beautiful it is. Most of the time when you go to a shopping center you are in an urban place. I love that when I go to the store I still see big open spaces and fields and mountains. Sometimes there are even deer out in the fields by the Walmart.

Before the semester ended I walked up to the President's house with a friend and viewed the city from the over look. From such a quiet spot you can look down the mountain and see all the traffic and lights from the city and the surrounding area. It was beautiful. I love feeling that in this mountainous, rural state you find pockets of "civilization" that are little energy hubs. There is so much life and so much action happening and it's all set in this serene, beautiful place. And I can see both at the same time.

Yes, I love my town and I love this state. I'm glad I get to call it home for awhile. :)

From the final critique

Just a little peek at some of what I put into my final critique for the semester. I am happy to say I got away from shocking blue glaze, but somehow got into strange amber-olive-poopy brown glaze. Depending on which kiln in was fired in it came out differently. So next semester I have my work cut out for me in trying to figure out colors that work for me.

creamer and sugar

cup trio

cup trio again

little bottles

basket vase...or cutlery holder for your next picnic...whichever you want.

casserole

And finally, the chocolate milk flask. :)

Graduation

Another semester is over. I've lost more of my friends to this epidemic called "graduation." I'm proud of them and I'm happy for them. And I'm sad for me (selfishly) because I love them and will miss them.

Bummer, dude.

Trying to be a good steward.

Life is this delicate balancing act where we learn to hold to the things that matter most as tightly as we can and as loosely as we can. The danger lies in not appreciating the precious blessings we have been given or in holding them so tightly we don't acknowledge that all things belong to God. We put trust in them instead of the One who made them and shares them with us. The goal is to value and care for them while being ready to give them back to God whenever He asks. I guess that's what good stewardship is. And it applies to all areas of our lives...family, friends, the ones we love and the ones we struggle to love, possessions, opportunities...all of it.

I think this concept would be a lot easier if emotions didn't play a role in these things. :)

Balance

(This was supposed to post a couple of months ago...but for some reason didn't. So it's not current. )

Yesterday I decided to throw caution and "responsibility" to the wind. I left school early (5 pm) and went out to Michaels and Books a Million with two friends. After that I went out to a Bible study with two more friends. After visiting at Bible study I stopped at the studio which turned into an impromptu Kroger run with my Chinese friend there and then ended in a long chat with one of our newest grad students. After I finally got home I did my Chinese homework and then visited with one of my roommates till about 3 am. Can I just say that that is probably the most one-on-one visiting I've done all semester? I see people in groups frequently, but I rarely get to go out with one or two friends to do anything. It was SO nice. Except I knew I would be tired all day today because of my lack of sleep.

(coffee with friends)

Turns out I wasn't because I slept through my alarm and missed my Chinese class. Oops! Once I woke up and realized what I did I decided that I just didn't care. I made breakfast, ate it in bed and did a Bible study and it felt so nice.

I give up eating regularly, sleeping regularly, spending time with my friends, spending time with Jesus, working out, etc., to do school. It consumes me and I always feel like I'm behind or not doing a good enough job. I feel worried that if I don't make great grades it will reflect on me badly and make me seem really lazy or apathetic. However in my frenzy to "succeed" at school and not come anywhere near the lines of failure academically I feel like I'm failing in my personal life to have a balanced, normal and healthy lifestyle. My room is a disaster. The only meal I ate yesterday was lunch. Today I rested, ate, visited with friends, got to participate in an outreach event on campus, and it was so very nice.

I've got to figure out this balance thing.