Phoenix - Day 3 - in Photos

There are a lot of these in the city

Water features are everywhere...in the desert

The beautiful Fransiscan church I mentioned yesterday

Mosaic mural on the walls of the Convention Center.
You can see the skirt I wore today in one of the mirrored tiles. :-)

These "Phoenix Point of Pride" signs are all over

statues outside the Herberger Theatre Building

Our hotel (and conference location) from 2 blocks away

See the mist coming from the overhang?

Listening intently to the questions and comments at our newsletter session

We spent the evening inside the Arizona Science Center (like OMSI or Clark)

Elizabeth sorting blood platelets inside the heart

0 of 173 people are like me! :-)

Phoenix - Day 2

See, I told you I'd blog every day. :)

Well, technically right now I'm supposed to be wandering around the "Arts District" of Phoenix to read the city. It's 93 degrees, dry, and not a cloud to be seen. So - I'm sitting in my hotel room with my roommates blogging about the day so far.

City as text turned out to not be what we expected, and we didn't understand how to look at our environment in the way they wanted us to. The so-called "Arts District" wasn't really "artsy" - in fact, there are far more artsy things around the hotel than in that part of town. just across the street from us there is a beautiful Fransiscan church, a theater, Arizona Symphony/Opera building, and some public art.

One thing that has really struck me about Phoenix is the architecture. All the buildings have something different to say, and they say it in a completely individual way. Even the buildings that look alike because they're part of the business sector have different materials and styles crafted into the building. There are so many places here with a look of old history - like they have seen much and could tell great stories. I wonder if that's what is supposed to be happening this afternoon with the City as Text experience - to find the stories and the history of this place. Honestly, I feel that I've gotten more out of the experience just by observing and snapping pictures than I did with explicit instructions about how to go about reading the city.

First impressions of Phoenix: Full of history, Mixture of old and new architecture, HOT.

Tonight we went to the opening Plenary. The topic was the current debate about the Arizona Immigration Law (SB 1070?). The panel of speakers came from many different realms - Business/Law, Law/Journalism, Hispanic/Chicano Education, Education/Activism, and Medicine. I didn't know much about the Arizona immigration law, so the discussion fostered a lot of new questions and knowledge for me. I was impressed by the level of understanding each of the panel members possessed, and most of them were great speakers (one in particular had a hard time reading from his notes, but spoke great when allowed to think on his feet). The interactions between each of the panel members was also amusing to watch. One woman made her dislike for another panel member quite obvious in her body language each time he spoke. At the end of the night, it was agreed upon by all of the panel members that there must be some kind of immigration reform in this country - though not all agreed on the purpose or method of that reform.

Following the plenary was dinner and then the student party. The contingent from Westminster went to the party, and  then decided that we would be better served hanging out on our own, and headed back to our rooms (there was dancing in a circle, and I detest dancing in a circle...gross). I went to check out the fitness center and work out, while my roommates crashed on our beds.

The first full day in Phoenix, general day 2, was full of interesting experiences and new ideas. I'm looking forward to what the rest of the conference will bring.

Phoenix - Day 1

I'm going to try to blog about NCHC each day. There isn't a whole lot to talk about today other than the plane ride and hotel.

We arrived in Phoenix tonight at 9:30pm, where even late at night it managed to be 89 degrees outside. The forecast for the whole weekend is low 90s through Sunday. Eew. I'm not cut out for hot weather...
Our taxi ride to the hotel was ridiculously expensive. We were at $8 before even leaving the airport grounds!

By Sunday morning maybe I'll have a good enough feel of the city to get a bus/lite rail to the airport. Seriously.
Since Arizona doesn't observe daylight savings, I'm back on the same time as you Oregonians! Tomorrow morning will come quickly so that's all for tonight.

Check back tomorrow for observations about the "City as Text" workshop!

Pull Me Through

I write to you tonight completely humbled and in awe.

Please check out This verse, which was posted today by one of the blogs I follow. It perfectly describes what I have experienced in the last two days.

On Wednesday, I received a phone call from my team leader of our trip to Swaziland. She was checking in to see how I was doing with fundraising. If you'd noticed, the status bar to the left had been under 50% for a while, and looked pretty likely to stay there for a while. She left me with a goal to reach the next fundraising deadline at the end of October, which meant I needed $905 in a month.

I'll admit, I was a little bit concerned about how I'd reach that goal. I'd sent out letters to friends and family, though most people who were able had given, I still was behind. It was discouraging to see that I was behind by two deadlines and didn't know where the funds would come from...but I also knew that the funds would come...somehow.

THEN...

I met with a friend to catch up and chat about how things were going since she'd graduated and I started my final year, and she explained that she partly wanted to meet up so she could support me. Hallelujah!

Then, yesterday, I came home from class feeling a little rough around the edges. Decided I'd check the mail just to see if anything fun had arrived. An envelope from my friend who attends college in another state had arrived. I was excited to open it, since we maintain a fairly regular correspondence...and it was more support for Africa! I was surprised since she'd told me that she did not have any funds (which I totally understand, being a college student myself). The note attached said "For Swaziland - God is Good! - I Love You!"

And Today - God continued to blow my mind with his provision. I seem to be the resident mail-checker in our house, so when I got the mail today, I saw a letter for two of my roommates and one for me. Looking at the address, I realized it was someone who'd already given me support, and I thought maybe they were sending an update or something to me. When I opened the envelope, a check was enclosed with a note that said "To warm up your Swaziland themometer" - the amount was staggering. At first, I felt as if I would cry, then all I could do was laugh. None of my roommates were home, so I walked around the house laughing and speechless.

God came through and provided exactly the amount that I needed to be caught up to the deadlines from August and September.

Still...I am speechless and in complete awe at this amazing, amazing God who provides in perfect timing.

Biggest Fan: My Roommates

Clockwise from top left corner: 2am Wendy's run, Temple Square Christmas Lights, Sing-a-ma-jigs, St. George, Disneyland, After Morgan's play "Civil War", at Matt's work party, in Las Vegas, St. George, UMEA conference

I adore my roommates. So very much. It has been my great pleasure to live with two amazing girls for the last year, and I'm so excited to get another year off and running. In case you didn't know, we live in a two-story duplex, two rooms on the ground level and two in the basement. Sometimes the bottom dwellers have to come upstairs to socialize, but we do a lot of our social activity in the kitchen or main basement room.

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Love My Roommates (in no particular order):

1. They Inspire Me.
          These are two women who are doing what they love. They have ideas and hopes to make the world a better place in whatever way they can, and they share those ideas with anyone who will listen. 

2. They are Beautiful.
          My roommates are beautiful, beautiful people. Not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. They are kind souls who deeply care about others. They are not ones for excessive primping, but they care for themselves. They stay healthy (though we're not beyond runs to Wendy's and for ice cream), and take care of their bodies.

3. They are Hilarious.
          I cannot tell you how much we laugh at our house. We have a board of quotes in the kitchen, and it's constantly being updated with new phrases that someone said and we just had to write down. These quotes all come from the roommates or our close friends/family, and it's so fun to look back and remember the times we were crying from laughing so hard. You know that show "Kids Say the Darndest Things"? Well, you could make a television show out of the ridiculous antics that happen in our house, both verbal and behavioral. 

4. They are Spontaneous.
          This December, we randomly decided that it would be fun to go to Disneyland over Spring Break. So we did. Many nights, we find ourselves out in the boonies on an abandoned road just driving in the moonlight (this is mostly thanks to an unemployed and bored friend who needs something to do). We've gone searching for the most extravagant homes in the area, It's not uncommon to find us searching Sugarhouse for food at 2am, or deciding to taste test the two 'best' Thai restaurants in SLC.  

5. They are Meaningful.
          Both of these fabulous women have been a part of some of the deepest and most meaningful conversations that I've ever had. Late at night you can hear Morgan and I discussing some theological difference between our religious beliefs, or talking about a psychological concept that affects our thought processes. So many nights we've congregated on Anna's queen-size bed to talk about relationships, family, friends, school, and how we relate to one another, other people, and ourselves. In each of these conversations and discussions, I'm challenged to think and respond to very specific topics. It's so amazing what the trust of each other can do to open up meaningful conversation among those who are much together.

6. They are Helpful.
          Whenever you need something, or you're stressed, it's roommates to the rescue. Last year, when I stage managed, it was such a blessing to have one of my roommates ask "Do you need anything?" when they could see I was in over my head. They're always willing to contribute their expertise to whatever you're studying or writing about. It's like a constant informational swap meet, where education is synthesized with psychology and literature. Need to study for a test? There's a good chance that one of these awesome ladies will be around and willing to drill you about the elements of Old English grammar. ;-) (*cough* Help me! *cough*)

7. They are Creative.
          One of my roommates is an artist who has also written a piano piece, and the other is an actress and singer. Both these women are singers, actually; that's how we met, in Chamber Singers. Music is always a presence in our house, in many different genres and periods. The art and artistic pursuits of my roommates is a fun thing to be a part of. When rehearsals are going on for a show, we get to hear about them, and when a new drawing or painting is done, we get to see it hung up in the room. One of these days I'm sure we'll be having a crafty day to celebrate the onset of fall. 

8. They are Supportive.
          I know I mentioned their helpfulness two points ago, but this one is a little different. When someone decides to audition for a show, the roommates are the first to offer support and encouragement. They're ready to hear you sing your 16 bars or recite your monologue. But their support doesn't end there. When I'm behind on homework or have to write a paper, they are ready to offer encouraging words and advice for how to begin. When you're ill, they are ready to help make you feel better. If you're having a breakdown, they're the first ones to let you know that people are there who love and support you. They don't judge your shortcomings, and offer suggestions to help you find solutions to problems (both personal and academic).

9. They are Happy.
          Not to say that the lives of my roommates are sunshine-daisies-and-unicorns, but they are positive and upbeat. When life just isn't handing them a good situation, they seek the positive elements, the learning experience from that negativity. For me, happiness/joy are not fleeting emotions, but rather states of being, and these women live in a state of joy most of the time. They are excited to find small things in life that are exciting, and look for ways to have fun. They smile so much, and their smiles spread to others. They are not afraid to be silly and indulge their childish sides. They live happy and make others that way too. 

10. They are Passionate.
          This one kind of ties in with #1, being inspiring, but this one deals more with their personal attitudes rather than the effect of those attitudes on me. Both of these women are pursuing what they love and are good at. One is an aspiring neuropsychologist, channeling her love for the brain and experiments into a diagnostic field, and the other is living out her love for children as an elementary school teacher. They know what they like, what they love, and what they're good at, and they want to use those skills and passions to help others to learn and recover. This is an inspiring passion.

We may not always do the dishes or vacuum the stairs, we have dance parties and murder mystery parties, we keep Christmas trees up until after Valentine's Day, and we can't seem to keep the TV in one room, but we like it that way. To my dear Morgan and Anna, thank you for letting me be part of your lives this last year. I am looking forward to our continued friendship and adventures together. You are lovely and amazing.

Love, Me.

P.S. - Be on the lookout for posts about these individual roommates later in the year.

Biggest Fan: Britni

 I would like to introduce you to my amazing and wonderful friend Britni. The photos you see are: with her boyfriend, diving, and with her sister. Britni and I met in the 6th grade during a play, I remember she was always smiling. We got to be better friends as middle school progressed, singing together in choir and taking classes together. We wrote a newspaper and distributed it to our friends (we were soooo cool, can you tell?), and even developed our own system of rating boys we thought were cute.We once decided we were going to open our own candy store and started hashing out ideas. Currently, our projects are the following: Creating our own school, Writing a book of our email correspondence, and eventually having a gigantic communal backyard somewhere in Oregon...at which time we'll be living near one another and working together, of course. :)

 

One thing Britni has always been is full of life. She's excited about living and there's never a dull moment when you're with her. Whether it's jamming out to Elvis or 80s music, kneeboarding behind a boat, or participating in a hula-hoop contest, for Brit, life is about participation. There's no sitting on the sidelines for this amazing woman. Recently, I was asked to think about someone who I hold in great respect (that was not a family member) and why. One of the first people who came to mind was Brit. As the group I was in started naming the people and traits we admired most, I was so excited to be able to say Britni because she is full of life. The word I would use to describe her is a Greek word: ζωή (zoe). It means: life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ (New Testament Greek Lexicon).

It has been my privilege to be a friend to Britni, and to know her as she pursues the path laid before her. Watching her faith grow and develop has been a great honor. I love being able to talk with her and know that she will give me a Godly perspective and friendly encouragement. Our friendship has been strengthened by distance, even though we see each other rarely, we communicate regularly. So much so that at any given moment, one of us probably has a really good idea of what's going on in the life of the other. She tolerates my nerdy jokes and geekiness about language and literature. She encourages me with her prayers and words of strength. She challenges me to step outside my comfort zone. She keeps me accountable when I'm feeling like a jellybean. 

It is very rare that such a friend may be found, and this beautiful, beautiful woman is a very treasured friend. She has always been incredibly beautiful and magnetic. People are drawn to her, and she energizes the places and people she interacts with. Britni shines so brightly, and others can't help but notice that something amazing is going on in her life...and they want to be a part of it.

Britni, Thank you for letting me be a part of your life. I am so honored to be your friend, and look forward to our continued journey through life together!

I love you immensely!

Biggest Fan: Carissa

This is my little sister. Well, she's actually several inches taller than me, but she's still my little sister. She just finished her first few days of college classes, and I'm so excited for her. Growing up, we were in each other's company a lot, though we didn't always get along like some sisters do. We attended the same schools - together in Elementary school for several years, and in High School for one. Each year for the last three that I've been in Salt Lake, she's come to visit and stay with me. Since moving away, we've become a lot closer. We've always been able to be silly together. I cherish memories of movie nights and laughing till we can't breathe any longer. I love watching her grow and become the beautiful young woman she was designed to be. She's a social butterfly and loves to be with people. I know she's going to have an amazing time in California and her college experience is going to be one that she'll remember for a very long time. This little sister of mine is one amazing woman, and she's got big things ahead of her. She cares deeply for every person in her life, and likes to help others feel welcome and loved. She is probably one of the silliest people I know, and I love that about her. Dear sister - you are SO loved and I can't wait to see all the awesome things you're going to do as you continue to follow Jesus and let Him lead your life. Have an amazing time in college, and I can't wait to see you in your new environment. I LOVE YOU!