Dido

My car officially has a name now. I had come up with Charlie, and then George, but neither of those really fit my car. Then last week in Worldview we started reading the Aeneid by Virgil. For those of you who haven't read it, its the continuation of the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. The main character is Aeneas who is trying to get to Italy obeying the will of Zeus. In the story there is a beautiful queen named Dido. She was married and loved her husband very much, but he died and she decided she would never love again and became very bitter. When Aeneas visits her kingdom, Hera and Aphrodite devise a plan to keep Aeneas from going to Italy by causing Dido to fall deeply in love with him. They used an arrowed from Cupid, and performed a marriage that wasn't official. After all this, Zeus tells Aeneas he must leave and Dido is heartbroken and so she commits suicide. Later in the story Aeneas goes to the underworld to visit his father and he sees her, but she won't even speak to him. End of story - and so my car is named Dido.

Song of the post:
"Vincent" by Josh Groban

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I was trying to think of something profound to post, but nothing came to mind. So here's a verse, quote, and a song for you to think about.

Verse:
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I warn you whom to fear; fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." - Luke 12: 4-7

Quote:
"Love. What is love? No one can define it, its something so great, only God could design it. Yes, love is beyond what man can define, for love is immortal, and God's gift is divine." -Unknown

EDIT: I decided to change the song. :)

Song:
"From this moment on" by Bryan White and Shania Twain

Utopianism

I am reading No Little People by Francis Schaeffer, this week the chapter was about the Weaknesses of God's Servants. Schaeffer goes into great detail about how terrible utopianism is. A utopian is a person who believes in impossibly idealistic social perfection or spiritual perfection. Utopianism is terribly cruel because it expects the impossible from people. Its bad in a marriage relationship, a parent-child relationship, in friend relationships, pastor- church relationships and in one's relationship with himself . One side makes up an image of the other and expects them to be just like that image, demanding more than is possible to give. Here's Schaffer's quote: "If we demand, in any of our relationships, either perfection or nothing, we will get the nothing." I definitely think this is something we need to be reminded of once in a while. Sin is sin and we shouldn't try to explain it away, but having a standard that is too high is also wrong. Can you guys tell me what you think about this please?

Yesterday I was able to go snowboarding with my friends! I had a blast. I drove with the Youngs down and back. It was Jessica's first time snowboarding so she had to learn from the beginning, but I think everyone that went had a good time. Today I am really sore, my butt hurts, my arms hurt, my knees hurt and my neck, head... all of me. lol. But, despite the soreness I want to go again this winter. That means we need to plan another trip soon.

Quote of the post:
"Pain is no evil unless it conquers us."

Song of the post:
"May it be" by Enya

Sports

This morning I had another swim meet. It was held at the Nat, the pool at IUPUI. I think it went well overall, I dropped time in 3 of my 4 events, but the 200 breast is being depressing. Every event I've swam this year I've dropped at least 5 seconds in, except for the 200 breast. Each time I swim it I always get a 3:01. But Therese said I just need to do more breast pull and work on a greater range of motion with my arms. Hopefully I'll be able to see results.

Daniel ran the first of his training races for the mini this morning. I wasn't very happy when it was snowing this morning, but I'm sure he was even less excited. Now that I'm home, inside and warm I'm happy about the snow, but when you have to go outside with wet hair - its not pretty. Anyway - I'm very proud of Daniel for running the 5K in the snow. Which reminds me, I need to start training for the mini, definitely not something I'm looking forward to. :P

Question of the post:
What is your favorite sport and why?

My answer is obvious. Swimming is my favorite sport, I love it so much. Why, is harder to explain. I suppose it might be because its one of the only sports I can do and enjoy. But also because you can do it all year round and see results. Being fast doesn't account for everything, swimming works so many different muscles and its hard to be a fat swimmer. I guess the one downside would be "swimmers shoulders."Almost every swimmer has them, both girls and boys. Anyway, I'm excited to hear what you all say. :)

Song of the post:
"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias
I know this is the same song as before, but its one of the those ones I can listen to over and over and never get tired of it. :)

Feelings:

I was reading some of my old posts and I remember loving this when I posted it before, so here it is again. I changed several, but it still shows the way I feel right now.

I am not: normal
I hurt: deep in my soul
I love: with my whole heart
I hate: sin
I hope: in God
I hear: voices in my head
I crave: coffee
I cry: every night
I always: dream
I long to: grow up
I feel alone: in this world
I listen: but I don't hear anything
I hide: where no one can find me
I drive: everyone crazy
I sing: and can't stop
I dance: with you
I search: for meaning
I feel: sad
I fail: constantly
I sleep: when my mind and body are tired
I need: a hug
I am: scared
I think: so I can do right
I exist: to glorify God in everything I do