The Garland Theater

I’m sure many of you have heard that I recently got a job at the Garland Theater, a local sub-run theater – meaning that we show movies after their initial release but before they reach DVD. It is locally and independently owned, and is pretty much as small as a theater can get: one screen. I’m really enjoying it there. The people are great, and the work goes by pretty fast. Much faster than at Party City, for sure.

So I am finally making some money again, on top of my little bit of work-study I get from the school.

Also, I’ve figured out my housing situation for next year! I am going to live off campus in a brand new house with some great guys. It’s going to be so much better than living on campus. And it is actually cheaper than living on campus. So, bonus!

Checkup

I am at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma right now. What, at the age of almost-20, am I doing at the children’s hospital? Just getting my favorite hip checked up on. It is hard to believe that it has been about two years since my last visit to Dr. Nick’s. Time flies when you’re not constantly getting metal hardware placed inside your body.

I’ll update you on my health status when I’m done. Wish me luck!

Update:

I’m all good. There is a small flat spot on my hip, but there isn’t much we can do about it now.  Also, regarding my whole leg falling asleep, there isn’t anything we can do about that either, other than wait it out and hope it gets better.  Here’s to hoping!

iPhone = Beatiful

I shall start this post by making a bold declaration: I love the iPhone.

Just hear me out. I knew I would love it, but actually using it has made this even more clear to me now. I am writing this blog from the free WordPress app. It is somewhat slow-going, but it is worth it!

Anyway, enough about iPhone. I have a post I’m working on, so be patient and wait for my next exciting installment!

Party City-ing it Up in Seaside, Oregon

I am down in Seaside, Oregon for five days while I work at a Paper Factory store.  It burned down a while ago, and they are reopening it soon, so they need some people to help set it up again.

I get five days in Seaside, a stay in an executive suite, gas, food, and Party City foots the bill.  Pretty sweet.

Bike & Build Grant Finished

Recently, I had drafted up an application for the Bike & Build Grant. I answered six questions about what my club, Habitat for Humanity Whitworth, would do with $10,000 if it was granted to us.

I’m happy to say that I received a final copy – pending approval from Habitat Spokane’s Executive Director – from Mary Jo Harvey, Habitat’s Resource Director. I read over it, and it looks good. So I sent my OK to her, and we will see if it is granted approval from their Executive Director. Hopefully all goes well.

I’ll be praying that everything goes well, and that we will get the grant if it is God’s will. Please keep Habitat for Humanity Whitworth in your prayers as well!

Bike & Build Grant

I got a call from Dennis Reed, the Community Relations Director over at Habitat for Humanity on Wednesday.  I previously had a lunch meeting with Adam Borgman (Habitat’s Volunteer Service Coordinator), Mr. Reed, and my Treasurer Lara Lichten about a month and a half ago.  We discussed ways that they could help our club and start collaborating on some projects.  It was very nice, but I hadn’t heard anything until Wednesday.

I was in class when he called, so he left a voicemail detailing a grant that Habitat Spokane is interested in applying for, the Bike & Build Grant.  What is the Bike & Build Grant?  From their site:

The Bike & Build Grant Program is a competitive application process through which the proceeds from our events are distributed to affordable housing groups throughout the country. Grants are restricted to finance projects championed by students and young adults, ages 18-25.

The last sentence is the one that catches my interest.  Mr. Reed wants Habitat for Humanity Whitworth to assist Habitat Spokane in applying for, and executing this grant.  We can apply for up to $10,000 to address a housing issue.  He thought this would be a great opportunity to get Habitat Whitworth involved.  I’m very excited to say that we are going to start work on this grant very soon, and hopefully, come September, we will have been chosen and $10,000 will be at our disposal for a student-led project.

I would really appreciate some prayer on this because it is such a great opportunity for me, and the other members of my club, to get some real experience.

I Have a Mentee! UPDATED 1/19/07

UPDATE:  I had my interview with Mentors and Students Together today, and I am happy to say that I have been matched with a student!  His name is Tyler; he’s a 7th grader and he is interested in music and needs a math mentor.  Some of the other mentors said he is the most thoughtful student they have ever interviewed, but lacks any self esteem.  I will hopefully meet him this Tuesday, or maybe next Tuesday.  I am going to bring my computer and MIDI keyboard so he can mess around in Garageband and make some music.  I hope it goes well!

A Christmas Letter

Hey all, I was writing an informal essay for my Core 150 class, and we had to write about our ideal Christmas break (yes, they do call it Christmas break, thankfully) and how it matches up with our worldview (our core beliefs). The purpose of the paper is to analyze the disconnect between our beliefs and our actions. I wrote a section that really stuck out to me, and I thought I would share it, I hope you enjoy!

I am really trying to be more thankful for what I have, and that is why this Christmas I didn’t ask for much. I am starting to realize this year that there are some people who have nothing; I’ve always known that there are people that are less fortunate than I am, but it is really starting to impact my heart in a meaningful way. What right do I have to ask for DVDs or video games when there is a child right now in this vast, cold world of ours struggling to find clean water, struggling to eat, struggling to breath, struggling to live? What right do I have? How can I possibly justify my so called needs? How can I type up my Christmas list on my $2000 computer, in a room that protects me from the elements, at a school that costs $32,000 a year? I can’t. And that is what I am beginning to realize. For the more than 1 billion people living on $1 a day, it would take them more than 87 years to pay for education at Whitworth. What on God’s green Earth did I do (or will I do) to deserve these blessings? I have absolutely no idea how to answer that, and the only thing I can do is have faith that God can. I believe that God has a purpose for me, and for that purpose to come to fruition I need to be exactly where I am, and I thank God for that daily. Thank you, God for giving me my loving family, my caring friends, my schools, food to nourish my body, clean water to hydrate my being, and thank you, Lord, for your Word to nourish my soul.

It’s Official

Yup, you read the title right.  It’s official.  And by it’s I mean Habitat for Humanity Whitworth has been chartered as an ASWU club.  Officially.  Yup, I like saying official, because that’s what HfHW is.  It’s official.  Now we can do real stuff!  Yay!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful day stuffing yourself with turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, corn, turkey, rolls, stuffing, turkey, and rolls!  I know I did.And as always, we should thank the Lord for our blessings, and remember those that aren’t as fortunate as us.  So take a moment to pray, thank God for everything you have, and remember that Christmas is right around the corner; a perfect time to help a fellow human being and put a smile on their face.