Special Blessings

A while ago, a friend was telling me about how God had blessed him. At first I thought it sounded silly, but now I totally understand. His story was that one evening, while we were at RUF, something struck him and he had a sudden urge to call one of his buddies. When he did, his friend reminded him that their fantasy football draft was going on right then. This gave him just enough time to call his roommate, inform him of how to pick, and then show up later for the last couple of rounds. How was this a blessing from God? Well, he explained that he would have been a little bummed during the rest of the season if he hadn't been part of this fun event with his friends, but God knew how much he would enjoy himself if he had the chance, so he was blessed by remembering just at the right time. Silly? I really don't think so. I think that happens more than we think.

For example, my freshman year (five years ago) most of my friends I made were cyclists. I went to Lindsey Wilson College, which if you were to google, you would find that it is one of the top cycling schools in the country. That's not bragging, that's just a little perspective of what was valued there, and how many cyclists there actually were. So anyway, most of my friends rode, and that is how I came to love the sport of cycling and it's equipment. I remember working my first race, spending hours listening to stories about crashes, tough rides, road rash, shammy butter, and the like. It didn't take long for my interest to turn to how I was going to start riding when I got home.

Upon my return to Oklahoma, on September 11, 2001, I purchased my first mountain bike. A Gary Fisher Kaitai. It was/is sweet. I never did/do ride as much as I had planned, but I love it none-the-less. There are some differences though. There really wasn't anyone here that shared in my same passion. No one to talk about rides with, change tires with, look at bike mags with, watch stupid race tapes with. Until recently. Lately bike enthusiasts have been coming out of the woodwork. Mostly guys, but more and more girls are getting interested as well. Now, there isn't a social gathering that I go to where bikes are not discussed. And you know what? That just makes me smile. God has blessed me. With a silly little pleasure. I rode my new cruiser today, and was just blessed by how it made me feel. Like a child mostly. Coaster brakes. Cruisin'. Hangin' out with friends. Enjoying the weather. Even getting to see a friend enjoy his new cruiser. Hopefully he enjoyed it as much as I did, because watching him just made me smile. Thank you God for the little things.

Ride more.

Oreos and Lima Beans

I recently had a long and interesting conversation with a new friend. We talked about lots of things like growing up in Norman, parents, being old, drugs, dogs, Oreos and lima beans. You see, early in the week we had been in Tulsa for the RUF fall conference, and while walking through Brookside (I think) we went to this really posh dog store. You know the one. Silly dog costumes, dog leashes with a little bling bling, and of course gourmet dog treats. This led to conversations about dogs and then bikes somehow. I told this friend that I had been looking for a throwback Schwinn. (I know you can use "throw back" to talk about old jerseys, but is it okay to use when talking about Schwinns made in the 60's and 70's? Anyway, you get my point.)
Well, he just happened to mention that he had one just sitting at his house that I could have if I wanted. Those of you who know me and share in my fetish can imagine when I say that immediately lit up and freaked out. I offered to pay for it. I told him that I had been looking on EBay and bikes like these weren't going for cheap. He said that if I just took care of it and fixed it up, that I could just have it. I don't think you understand how this made me feel. It was like a dream come true!!

So returning to Norman, my new friend with my oh-so-sweet ride came over for a late night visit the next day. (The little beauty was everything I imagined it could be) And may I just add that this is #4 in my ever growing fleet of bikes.

But going back to the original reason for posting this blog, my friend and I had this interesting conversation about Oreos and lima beans. His theory is that everything has an enjoyment value that can be measured by how many Oreos or lima beans it dispenses. This hit him while ironing clothes for an old girlfriend that he was dating at the time. In his mind, and I can't remember how his mind got to this point, the ironing didn't dispense any Oreos; in fact it dispensed lima beans. Although while ironing, he hugged the girlfriend, who dispensed Oreos. He thought it strange but with the amount of lima beans being despensed by the ironing and the Oreos being despensed by the girlfriend, he just ended up coming out even. Equal amounts of lima beans to Oreos. This is when he knew they needed to break up. So from now on he measures something's pleasure value by estimating how many Oreo to lima beans they dispense.

I thought, and still think this is a pretty good system. Now you may not want to use this with everything situation, but for the most part, if you are trying to weigh options, Oreos always outweigh lima beans. For example getting in bed right when I walk in the door despenses many many Oreos, and at the time taking off my shoes and brushing my teeth despenses several lima beans. In this situation, you have to look past the immediate Oreos and look to the possible Oreos in the future. Waking up in the morning without wicked breath and comfortable feet, feeling oh-so-refreshed despenses a considerable amount of Oreos.

So here are some things with a high Oreo count, followed by lima bean dispensers.

OREOS-
Bikes (free ones despense the most)
Dogs
Children
Songs from the 80's
Any drink that is red.
Seinfeld
Blogs
Pictures(see the link above
Silver Lake
Kim and Keely(and many more, to many to mention)
Fall
Hearing my name (is that vanity)
Rusty's (you can actually get Oreos in Rusty's)
Being the first one awake
Being the first one asleep
Weddings
WAMP
I have a feeling this list could get really long

LIMA BEANS-
Collecting rent.
Forgeting my wallet (sorry Kim)
Being late
Shaving with a dull razor
Bathing (I do it, I just don't like it)
People moving away.
Rolling trashcans in the union.
People shushing me.
Painting the house.
Seeing people you know you were mean to in middle school.
Trying to read my blog in french.
http://reverso.fr/url/result.asp?directions=524289&templates=0&autotranslate=on&baseurl=http://www.ouruf.org/&url=http://delladawn.blogspot.com/

TwentySomeone

This is one of the assignments I got to turn in for my CAPSTONE!!!!!! I really can't believe that I get to do this. And that this is the project that defines my college career. Crazy.


Della Sanger
Journal Entry #1
Service Learning Capstone

TwentySomeone

For the past to weeks my partner, Danny Kern and I have been trying to prepare for our book study. At least two weeks ago, we selected what we think will be a perfect book for the circumstances, entitled TwentySomeone, co-written by local campus minister and author Doug Serven. Since then we have been patiently waiting for our contact at Westminster Presbyterian Church to notify us as to whether or not the session approved the book as being appropriate for their students.
While we wait, we have met a couple of times to discuss topics and our goals for the study. We met over dinner last week and shared common experiences of our twenties thus far. We found that we had similar struggles which fit appropriately with topics discussed in the book. TwentySomeone sets out to help students, ages 18-34, answer not the typical questions of what are you going to be when you grow up, but who are you going to be. Danny and I feel this is an important idea to bring to young peoples attention at this time in their life. We both wish someone had sat us down to discuss these issues when we were their age.
Meeting to discuss these points of interest has been a great use of what could have been lost time. I feel like we are a lot more focused on the overall goal of leading this discussion. It was also a good time to bond and get in-sinc with one another, which will be vital for the first weeks meeting, which should be happening this coming Wednesday.

Okie Noodling

Welcome to Oklahoma! For all you freshman, transfers or new grad students, I would just like to personally welcome you to Oklahoma. I am glad you are here, and I hope that you get a chance to enjoy all that Oklahoma has to offer. Take advantage of the locals. We all have something to share. My good buddy Clint Rule would love to take you to the Great Salt Plains, or to see the fabulous murals in Elk City. If you are in Norman, you might want to take a tour of the haunted slaughter house, but we would have to call in some of our experts from around the country to give you their deluxe package. In all seriousness, Christmas isn’t Christmas (in the secular sense) without a trip to Chickasha to see their amazing light display.

But what makes Oklahoma the Oklahoma I know and love, occurs every summer, is steeped in tradition, and takes place in my birthplace, oh yes, put on your muscle tee’s, your backwards John Deer hat, and your cut-off “jorts”*, because it is time to go to the Okie Noodling Festival!!!!!!

Now, I wouldn’t suggest that you participate in the actual noodling. It is far too dangerous. After all you are catching catfish with your bare hands. That's right; I said bare hands. No hooks. No lines. No rods. No reels. Just hands. "Caveman fishing," a buddy of mine calls it. In some areas, folks call it by other names, such as hogging, tickling, grabbling or dogging

A pro noodler explains, “The person doing the noodling wades into a body of water where catfish are known to lurk, then reaches underwater and starts feeling for holes in the bank, in logs, under rocks and so forth. Catfish get in holes like this when spawning. Female catfish lay their eggs, then a male cat moves in to guard the eggs. The noodler feels for these holes because he knows when he reaches in, if a cat is on guard, it'll bite him. Then he can grab the fish--maybe--and pull it out.”




You're starting to understand the "stupid" part of all this, right?
The deal is, the noodler never knows for sure what's in the hole he's probing. It might be a catfish. Then again, it might be a snapping turtle, a beaver or a snake. Mr. Noodler's down there holding his breath, getting all tingly with excitement, while he thrusts his hands in dark underwater hidey-holes to see if anybody's home. He loves this stuff. He thrives on the adrenaline rush it affords. Some guys get their thrills driving racecars, or skydiving, or mountain climbing. Others get their kicks noodling.

Cak and Fussell

Congratulations to the newly married couple. I have heard great stories from the wedding, and I am so sad that I missed it.

This is a shout out to both the bride and the groom.

Russ- Thank you so much for the long emails about theology. Thank you for your compassion towards me through my struggles in faith and in life. I can't begin to express my gratitude to you for your example as a friend, as a Christian, and as a servant. You have always been willing to lend an ear or and hand when need was expressed. I thank God for our time together here in Norman and pray that as you and your family grow, we will continue to be in each others lives.

Kat- In the short time we have known each other, you have been nothing less than a great friend to me. I will always charish that night we spent together in the tent, chatting it up and snuggling oh so close. I am greatful that Russ has joined in union with such a warm hearted woman, who I hope to become great friends with over the years. Us girls have had the unique opportunity to spend countless hours with some fabulous Christian men, and it is truly a blessing to see them marry up to our standards.

Mr. and Mrs Edwards. May God bless your marriage and your new family, may you have many little Russ and Kat's. Please remember your friends and community always. I love you very much!

No, what actually happened over there.

Last summer, my best friend and I went to Europe for five weeks. The traditional American Backpacking Trip!!
Here are my accounts, recorded and reported to you via my journal. To hear the other side of each story, please look towards Kim Perkins Blog found here http://www.perky1.blogspot.com/


Tuesday, June 15 2004

We’ve been here a full day and I’m so tired. Yesterday seems like a blur. I feel like I’ve been walking around London all week.
The plane rides weren’t too terrible. Kim didn’t sleep very well. My television didn’t work for a major part of the trip flying over the ocean. I must say that walking onto that massive Virgin Atlantic AirBus was like walking on to a movie set. I think there were 18-20 flight attendants, each of them beautiful and with wonderful accents. Taxi-ing took forever and we didn’t eat until 11:30 at night, (our time) but besides that, I got a few good hours of sleep and it went rather fast.
So when we landed we went through customs found our baggage (almost found someone else’s eh Kim) and quickly bought tickets for the tube.
We took the tube from Heathrow to Hyde Park. It was very stuffy and hot. I was surprised at how long it took. London is so large. We then made it to Hyde Park were it seemed like we walked forever. We checked in and moved into our room. Four bunk beds, four sets of lockers, a sink, and a mirror. At first, it looked like we only had one roommate but that wouldn’t be for long.
After checking in it was time to find food. The eating schedule is pretty much messed up. While people at home are getting up to have breakfast we are having a 2 o’clock lunch. We ate at a place called “The Swan”. It was only a short walk from our hostel. I had a chili beef potato and a Guinness. It was pretty good, nothing I couldn’t have at home. I wouldn’t have spent nearly $14 on it at home but it was worth it, I was starving.
By this point, we had already been asked twice if we were Americans. Our French waiter at the Swan assumed we were either from the west coast or the great lakes region. I assumed that was he knew about American geography. After our fill of potato and beer we took the tube to Piccadilly Circus. At the Oxford Circus stop we quickly jumped off and ran because of two sets of wandering eyes across from us.
We walked up from the underground to see the familiar London I remember from the pictures. It was pretty cool. There was a large statue with many tourists sitting around digital billboards covering tops of buildings, and surprisingly lots of department stores.
We hadn’t been there two minutes when a young American asked us for the time. His name was Chris and he was from Chicago. He walked around with us for a while. I got bored quickly at Piccadilly Circus. It wasn’t the best that London has to offer. I’m not sure how much longer we actually walked around before grabbing dinner at PRET, which I wish we had in the US, and eating in Hyde Park. (Chris had left at this point) As we sat in these green chairs, that we didn’t know we we’re to pay for, it started to get cold. We decided to go back and change. That turned into taking showers and going to bed at 7. I did wake up from hunger, and met some of the girls that were in our room. Mindy and Mel. They are from Pennsylvania. Around eleven more people started moving on to our floor. One of the ladies insisted that we turn off the lights and thats when we finally tried to fall asleep, but not until our final roommate moved in. He was a young French guy named David. We all talked to him for a minute, then I was forced to roll over when he started taking off all of his clothes.