Show Me How to Love Like You Have Loved Me.

This is one of my favorite lyrics from the song "Hosanna" by Hillsong United. Actually the whole bridge of this song is amazing:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I walk from Earth into Eternity

The first time I heard this song it just shook me. I'm not sure why but it was at Concert of Praise for New Life and in the background they were playing a powerpoint and there were images of people helping others in poor countries and it just made me sad to think of how many people are truly in need. Not just in those countries but here.

There's this person whom I love dearly. And because I love themI want to share my faith with them. But every time I try I get scared, I think because I know their not ready to hear it. Hopefully though, if God wants me to share it then he will give me the words to say and the right motives for doing it.

Then Moses said to the Lord “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.” [Exodus 4: 10-12]

I Had That Dream Again Where...

I forgot to feed Ginger and she died. Only this time my sister was with me and we were staying in this weird hotel. Ginger was running along beside me and I realized she was really skinny and I asked Lauren if she fed her lately. She said she hadn't been feeding her cause she thought I was feeding her. Then Ginger looked sadly at me and I knew somehow that if I didn't feed her soon she was going to die. So we go to our hotel and we are waiting on the elevator and Lauren and I step in but Ginger doesn't make it so we are stuck riding up to the 26th floor. By the time we get back down to the lobby to get her she was dead. It was really depressing.

I don't understand why I keep having this dream. Ginger is fine, besides the small fatty tumor she had removed last month she's pretty healthy. Dream Moods Dictionary says this: "If the dog is dead or dying, then it indicates a loss of a good friend. Alternatively, it represents a deterioration of your instincts."

Interesting... I'm not really sure what this means.

What's With The Rain?

It's been raining here in Ann Arbor nearly non-stop all weekend. I do not like rain. If there was a "Stuff Liza DOES NOT Like" here on this blog, Rain would be #1 for sure. I hate that my pants get wet and then when I sit on them my butt gets wet. I hate that my hair goes from being sort of puffy to an afro in a matter of 5 minutes. I hate that I feel sticky everywhere I go. I hate that my umbrella does not prevent my arms from getting wet. I hate the rain.

I managed to get a fair amount of homework done this weekend though, on account of the rain. I'm trying to get a lot of stuff wrapped up before Emily's wedding this weekend so I can focus on spending time with my family (it's one of my goals for '08-'09 so let's hope I do better than last year). I'm excited for wedding cake and baking cookies with Grandma =)

Today I also checked out the University Lutheran Chapel on campus. I really liked the small feel of the service and the fact that they have communion. Maybe I will go to the Lutheran church in the mornings and to Core at New Life in the evenings. I know what you are thinking..."Woah that's a lot of church!" It's good though, I probably need it. And as it's the only thing right now not stressing me out it gets me through the week. So yay for God and church families =)

Now, if I could only secure a recommendation for the Honors program, find a way to be the best RA ever, and manage to be swept off my feet by my Prince Charming my life would be all set.

Stuff Liza Likes #2 - Librarians

Librarians are actually bespectacled angels. Plus, they are some of the smartest people I know (how do they remember that confounding Dewey decimal system? I mean really?).

Today I went on a hunt for an article I read in the Chronicle of Higher Education that I couldn't access online. After a frustrating 45 minutes on Mirlyn, I decided to seek professional help. The lovely librarian at the UGLI was able to locate it for me in 2 minutes, plus find the author's latest book and put it on hold for me. I told you they were angels.

I actually would not mind being a Librarian someday. All I would have to do all day is read books and summon information for overwhelmed college students. Plus, I would get to wear argyle, sweater vests, and cardigans every day! I think a career switch is in order...

What's Cookin in DC

Somehow a home-cooked dinner of canned black beans isn't quite as good after you've spent the last three days eating out every meal at fancy New York restaurants. I deposited a check today but it still hadn't shown up in my bank account this evening when I went out to do my grocery shopping so instead I scrounged up some food from the depth of my pantry. I made some weird black bean soup that was more of an experiment .... 1 can of black beans, two tablespoons of peanut butter for thicker broth, a teaspoon of mustard (the peanut butter made it too sweet), salt, and a dash of balsamic vinaigrette. Sounds utterly disgusting but actually the tangy sweetness of it was pretty good all around. Definitely better than garlic-butter noodles. I think the countless nights I stayed up watching Food Network with Alex has given me some ideas about what can and cannot work together and so I think overall my "experiments" are becoming tastier.

Everyone wants to know what is going on DC and I guess there really hasn't been that much. Last week was pretty fun, I got to go on some lobbying trips up to the Hill (one was unsuccesful, the other mildly so) but Congress was distracted because it was a recess week. It was exciting to be asked along though. On Sunday I got to take a tour of the West Wing of the White House (AMAZING!) and got to stick my head in the Oval Office. It was a great experience and I'll be sure to upload some pictures once I get home. I left the cable that hooks up my camera to my computer at home so I am unable to share them with you.

I found out last week that I might have TMJ (it's a joint / muscle disease in your jaw that is really painful) so my dentist put me on some muscle relaxers. They've been helping some but I'm still in alot of pain in the morning. I think when I get back I might have to get a retainer thing which will probably be uncomfortable (but preferable to jaw pain!)

That's all that is going on with me at the moment. Sorry if it's not very deep or thoughtful! I've actually been having some thoughts on where this blog might go after this summer. It might become more of a place I voice my opinions on social matters or highlight things of interest but for right now you are just going to get some updates on my life in our nation's capitol and I hope that is exciting enough.

I think I just lost my breakfast.

Facebook can really ruin someone's day. Especially when you log in to find out yet ANOTHER one of your friends is getting married and you are still hopelessly single.

This should really not be a big deal. We're only 20! Why is everyone getting married!? Personally, I'd rather have my freedom. Between my two jobs I doubt I even have time for a boyfriend.


Ok, so maybe I am just a wee bit jealous.

Today I saw Obama.

I was on my way to pick up my regular 5$ foot-long from Subway when I noticed quite a commotion outside of the DNC headquarters. I decided it was worth stopping to see who was inside since the last time there were that many press people outside it was for Charlie Rangel and I missed getting to see him tell Hillary to end her campaign. So I thought this time I would stick around to see who everyone was waiting for. About 30 minutes later, Senator Obama himself was seen exiting the building. I don't know if I expected him to be different than he was on TV but there he was, smiling at the cameras and the small crowd of starry-eyed interns and hill staffers. I think I might be in love.

Other than that today was rather uneventful. I had to work tonight at Starbucks and I got to learn how to make espresso-drinks which was fun (although now I smell like a giant coffee bean). Also, I found out some great news on the supplemental we've been working on. We don't really expect it to make it through to the final bill though since Bush seems intent on veto-ing any domestic spending but hopefully we'll get some money after all the effort we put in.

I wish that the Roll Call website allowed non-members to access articles so I could post a link to this amazing article I read today in the Heard on the Hill section (the gossip section, for those of you unfamiliar with Roll Call). Basically, it was mocking Congress for a recent bill they passed on ending interstate monkey trafficking because of the number of people who had reported monkey bites (But don't worry, according to a quote in HoH, you only have a 1 in 84 million chance of getting bit by a monkey today). I just don't understand how they can easily pass a bill on monkey trafficking but there seems to be no solution in sight for the ever-increasing gas prices, the GI bill, or the broken housing market. I guess Mike was right, this really is the "silly season" of Congress.