mjnels

I Finaly did it

2009-02-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

its hard to see in the picture but i got both of my ears pierced this friday.

The Blues

2008-11-21T14:04:00.001-08:00

I love how John Mayer has gone from sort of a pop artist, to more acoustic, and now he is probably one of the best blues musicians alive in the world right now.

I am kind of obsessed with his Where The Light Is CD.....
And Live Blues Night every Sunday night in Uptown....

Snowball Fights & College Life

2008-11-12T02:01:00.001-08:00

Well its strange the times i suddently feel like writing here... its 4 in the morning and i have to wake up at 8... oh well.

just a regular night. homework was done and me and a bunch of guys were watching Band of Brothers and drinking coffee and eating cheese and crackers and other munchie things. when it started to really snow!
and since tonight was the first day that it snowed and actually accumulated on the ground, we, as all good minnesotans do, went outside to enjoy it! One thing you have to understand about living in the Freshman Dorm Nelson is that we in Nelson are separate from freshmen hill (Edgren, Bodien, and Getsch), so there is kind of a rivalry between Nelson and the rest of the freshmen dorms. its actually kind of humorous... each dorm has its own sterotypes... it really reminds me of Hogwarts... but anyways Freshmen Hill decided to raid Nelson and it turned into a Snowball fight of epic proportions. There was even strategy involved... i was part of a group that decided to try and take higher ground and flank Edgren... that resulted in me getting nailed in the mouth... regardless it was quite fun.
God really answered my prayers and has given me lots a new great friends, which is something that i really needed after an eventful summer.

anyways i really need to get some sleep.

til next time

.Michael.

Life at BU

2008-09-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

so i have not written here for ages, and i thought it was past due for an update. I honestly have just not had a whole lot of free time just to sit down and write out my thoughts, but i have a moment now and i am taking it!

in case you didn't know this already i am living in one of the suites in Nelson Hall with 5 other guys. we have 2 bedrooms a living room and our own bathroom! its really nice. i really want to do a video tour thing but right now the place is a mess, and i haven't put up some art that i bought... so i will probably do that one of these days coming up.

this week is homecoming and it is a pretty big deal here. last night there was the whole school cheer off where all the dorms show their pride by making up and performing a cheer/ song for the rest of the school... and then there will be a tug of war contest, a relay, and a cram the car contest throughout the week. The Dorm that wins will get a huge golden trophy and 300 dollars for their dorm to get whatever we want... so i guess its pretty intense. :-) anyway things are going well. i will try and get that video up soon :-)

later
~Michael

A Photo's Worth A Thousand Words...

2008-08-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Post-Ireland Pup

2008-08-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

well Northern Ireland was astounding! The scenery and climate was amazing but even more so the people. We made so many close friendships in such a short amount of time it really is incredible. It was so amazing to see how much the Lord answered prayer so evidently and so often! it really spoke to my heart personally. but i won't go into too much details about it here, jason did a great job updating our team blog if you want a more detailed description of all that happened.

anyways the second part of this post is that we just got a new puppy!!! he is a mut but his mom is a springer-spaniel, and we are assuming the father is a lab because he kind of looks like one.... but he is ADORABLE!! and without a name... let me know if you have a good one :-)

Michael

The Time Has Come

2008-07-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

As many of you probably know, i will be leaving for Ireland on Sunday. previous to my departure i have the honor to be a groomsman in my cousins wedding, which i am really looking forward to. All summer its sorta seemed like this trip was really far away and its hard to believe its already here!! im really excited and am looking forward to see how God will use our team.

So many times when i talk to people about Christ i think of good things to say afterwards...i look back and kick myself thinking "AHH if only i had thought of these things to say DURING the conversation..." but God is sovereign, and i am sure he worked though my non-elegant conversations. All that to say is Pray for me (and the rest of the team) that I will not rely on my own wisdom, or knowledge for what to say when ministering... and that God would just come and use me and the whole team to do awesome things for his kingdom!

This is probably the last thing i will write til after the trip, but we will be updating our team blog, which the link is on the sidebar... or right here N. Ireland Team 08 blog

Brother in Christ
Michael

Ephesians 3

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family [3] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Hancock and Rainbows

2008-07-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

My Rating:4/5

so Today i went and saw Hancock with Wil Smith. I thought it was really good. It was funny, entertaining and it kept my attention the whole time, despite the annoying little girls sitting right in front of me an my sisters.

There is kind of an abrupt plot twist in the middle of the movie that i totally called! but i won't ruin it for you people who haven't seen it. Its not a MUST SEE... i probably could have waited tol the dvd, but i feel like i got my 5 dollars worth.

Now the second part of this very spontaneous, bored inspired blog post is later the same evening when there was a quick rain burst. afterward i think we saw the fullest double rainbow i have seen in my life! in the picture the second rainbow has already started to fade because i couldn't find the camera but still...

Fourth of July

2008-07-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

so yesterday was july 4th!! this was the first july fourth that i have spent up at our cabin in years, so it was very enjoyable. the first thing of note that happened was when i went out to the dock to just relax in the sun and listen to some tunes, i set my ipod down to straighten my towel. first mistake: never set an ipod down on a dock... yep thats right my ipod fell in the water. i jumped in the water and grabbed my ipod, miraculously it still worked!! the ipod that survived an entire winter in the snow also is tough enough to survive under water!! unfortunately i think that the water just hadn't soaked in all the way, because an hour later it died... R.I.P. i pod.... RIP....

the next exciting thing that happened was that we went out on our boat to watch the fireworks. we drove to spicer and turned off the boat.. layed down and enjoyed the nice summer breeze and realized how much nicer this was than parking 2 miles away and battling crowds in Minneapolis. after the show however we tried to start our boat.... nothing. we tried again.... nothing again. (this has happened before last year with gabby kaija aaron and ian) so here we are stranded in the middle of the night in the middle of a lake filled with zooming boats everywhere. fortunatley we found some nice people to tow us. so there it is... a very memorable fourth of july :-)

Michael

PS

it turns out that the only thing wrong with the boat was that the emergency safety button got switched... probably when emma was pretending to drive the boat....

The Return of Little Jimmy

2008-06-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have ever heard or heard of "the Voice" might not know its origins.

the voice started out as a joke, a goofy voice created by Trey Gyovai. some of us here in Minnesota learned to love the voice and even tried to imitate it. Others hated and despised it *cough* weston and luke *cough*

this is a greeting from the guy that started it all.

Summer

2008-06-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

i think that Jack Johnson, Matt Costa, Sondre Lerche, Matt Nathanson make great summer music.

i had alot of fun today with emma and abbie. what started out as a simple time to wash the car turned into a water fight filled with laughter. although there are lots of times when being with my family is the last thing on my mind... there are times when it is a blast to goof off with them. i guess you don't realize how much you'll miss little sisters until you are about to move out of the house.

Gyovais Video 1

2008-06-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Gyovais

2008-06-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

so after having a blast in New York we arrived at the Gyovai's wednesday night. Its been awesome to catch up with them and to meet some of their new friends here in VA. We have been making some Videos that i am going to post here soon... there have been some storms and the internet keeps dying so its hard to upload anything... and now that the internet is working YouTube is doing site maintenance so i can't do it now when i wanted to :-(

but tomorrow morning we are going to D.C. bright and early so i need to get to sleep.

keep your eyes open for a video soon :-)

Michael

The Sojourner

2008-06-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

our walk is full of crossings
paths that intersect, merge, and bend
a road that turns and goes off into the distance,
the sojourner never to be seen again.

He is the one who must stand strong,
when no one is around him to catch him fall
but the horizon is too high for him to see
there's no one to lift him, neither you or me.

consumed by the shadow that dwells in our depths
the sojourner stumbles struggling for breath
then out of the darkness the light breaks through
it started small... but slowly grew.

Graduation

2008-06-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

I got a pretty funny card from JoJo for graduation. The front of the card read:

wake up. take a picture. put on gown. Take a picture. put cap on head. take a picture. Meet friends and family. take a picture. take a picture. go to ceremony. take picture...

etc. you guys get the point :-)

Its over exaggerated, but not that much!

the 2 weeks before my open house getting ready, to last night pretty much drained the energy from me, in a good way i realized! Last night when i got home from the Baccalaureate service at church i threw on the spectacular mix that gabby gave me and started going though all the cards and congratulations that i got. i realized how blessed i am to have such loving family and friends!

so thank you everybody soooo much! i don't deserve any of you.

much love,

Michael

Coldplay

2008-05-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

coldplay is coming to town july 8th. tickets are 75.00 for upper level seats $95.00 for main seats..... ridiculous.

*sigh*

Warewolf Boy

2008-05-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

So i don't think i have ever done a blog about a news article... but this one i just couldn't believe, and so i thought i'd share it with you all.

The boy above is named Pruthviraj Patil and was born in India with a disease called "hypertrichosis", or called warewolf syndrome. Its extremely rare disease that only about 50 people in the world even have. The people of the village that Patil was born in, thought he was some sort of God or some strange creature that came to earth.

to read the whole article click here

Subway Etiquette

2008-05-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular belief subway sandwich artists have feelings to, and there are definately dos and don'ts when it comes to your behavior when ordering a sandwich. These tips will not only make you look savvy and cool when it comes to your subway behavior, but will make the sub making process smooth and easy for your local, friendly subway sandwich artist.

Subway Behavior 101

1. Get off your cell phone!
2. when ordering multiple subs tell the SA (sandwich artist) what kind of bread and what size all the sandwiches are on. Then you may proceed to tell them what kind of sandwich it is.
3. when just ordering a single sub do the same thing. you look like an idiot when you just say "uhhhh...i'll have a feast!!". You may not know this but, we need to know what kind of bread and what size it is before we can put the meat on.
4. Learn how to pronounce words like "Monterey" and "Marinara".
5. if you are in a big group and are paying together let the person who is paying order first. then he can go and pay... makes sense right?
6. don't order sandwiches that don't exist, or that existed 20 years ago.

so there you have it. 6 simple things that will make you look suave. :-)

Lost in Contemplation

2008-05-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

picture by Jozefm

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

-Langston Hughes

(a poem we read in English Literature today that i liked for some reason)

Battle of the Sexes!

2008-04-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

Alright so this is a response to the Blog Gabs just wrote about Scott commenting on some quirks that girls have. From the girls I know, lots of them make the occasional comments about how hot some guy is or how they want to marry some guy because of this or that. The whole genre of chick flick movies just spur this emotion on. Now, i know that when they say these things they are joking, and i have no problem with joking like that at all! (nor do i have a problem with chick flicks :-P). But i do find it interesting that when a guy makes the same sort of comments about women lots of the time girls somewhat freak out. like gabby said in her blog entry about: her mom was speechless when she saw the picture of Natalie Portman and scott.

i just think its an interesting topic of discussion, and has some interesting sociological significance (woot i am learning about gender identity in my sociology class right now!)

so I think that perhaps maybe scott (and the rest of us guys) are trying to figure out this somewhat double standard that you females have :-P

anyways let me know what you think.

..mjnels..

God is Good!

2008-04-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, i am wanting to go to Bethel University next year. Fortunately i was accepted there, but due to complications i received NO financial aid. My dad has been calling and petitioning for at least some, and this morning i just found out that i am getting $16,000 from FAFSA! what an answer to prayer! That much on top of what bethel has given me makes Bethel affordable! So that is where i probably will be attending next year. Either that or the U of M, but only that if they give me simply amazing financial aid.

2008-04-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Spring Is Here!

These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
The total sky almost without defect,
And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
And yet not out by any brook or river,
But up by roots to bring dark foliage on.
The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods---
Let them think twice before they use their powers
To blot out and drink up and sweep away
These flowery waters and these watery flowers
From snow that melted only yesterday.

~Robert Frost

2008-03-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

walking along the beech, i came across what i thought was a red flower.... much to my disappointment it turned out to be a nasty red pepper...

as usual some random thing got me thinking, and i started coming up with all sorts of analogies.

i guess sometimes things just aren't what you think they are....

Michael

2008-03-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

check my Deviant art page for some pictures I took while in Florida

2008-03-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

here i am in the car driving down to Florida with my family + Leah's friend Charlette. Right now we are sitting in ATL Traffic yo, which is pretty much the worst ever. We are about 8 hours from our destination, and it is 1:30 which means we will get there probably around 10 or 11 because of stops along the way. Unfortunately this means i will have to miss LOST!!!!! plus i already missed the announcement of who got voted off AMERICAN IDOL *crossed fingers that Jason stayed on*. but yeah, The end of the world? i think so.

i guess there's always the internet....

speaking of the internet, having a macbook is alot less fun without access to the web. i was going to do something on garageband and half the loops you have to download! which is difficult without internet. finding wi-fi spots is pretty challenging on the road. Luckily this dilemma will be remedied when we get to my Nana's house.

talk you you all then!

(or at least the 2, maybe 3 people that read this :-P)

~Michael

2008-03-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Global warming

So i am going to do a Pseudo political blog seeing as i haven't ever done one on here that i can remember.

I was driving in the car with the Huerta family and Micaela brought up how Christians deal with the controversial topic of Global warming. It sorta got me thinking and so here is my take on the issue

I think that Christians can't deny that global warming is happening. Polar ice caps are smaller and scientists can measure CO2 levels etc. I think the controversy is the cause of it, and to what extent. For one, this isn't the first time climate issues have been risen. back in the 70s scientists said that an"ice age was imminent". How much of the climate changes naturally? how much is humans?

People like Al Gore and the far left environmental organization ELF (Earth Liberation Front) would like us to believe that its humans fault and some would go so far as to say its the U.S.'s fault mainly. E.L.F., which holds this view, was responsible for the burning of $10 million worth of homes a few weeks ago in Seattle because the homes weren't "green enough". For one the claim that Global warming is mainly the U.S.'s fault is bogus. if you have been to any third world country and stood on the streets you will realize that the United States is remarkably clean in comparison.

As a Christian i personally feel my role in this is to be a good steward to the earth that God has given us, and if there are chances to conserve waste and to be more earth friendly, then to of course take them. who would want to pollute the earth? Also to be open minded and realize that there are other causes for global warming than humans (the sun is burning brighter, current changes, movement of the Milky way etc.) (not saying that humans shouldn't do what they can to prevent it) and be wary of spending millions of dollars of tax money on things that we are not even sure about, and that scientists can't all agree on.

but ultimately we know that we have a Father in heaven who has the whole world in his hands, and we can be rest assured that his plan for his creation is the best one.

Michael

2008-03-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

so the other day i was sitting at Dunn Bros with Beau, we were supposed to be doing homework.....like thats gonna happen though!
anyways instead of doing our homework we decided to make me a facebook profile picture on beau's beloved Adobe illustrator instead. After brainstorming and randomly chose to do a sky theme it popped into my head that this was the same theme as my blog!!

"take to the sky"

thats the title of my blog and the picture!

now if only it had some significant meaning....

well im gonna start to write on here more often.

Til next time!

Michael

2008-01-16T11:12:00.000-08:00

another semester bgins....

2007-10-31T12:32:00.001-07:00

it's October 31st. the end of, what seemed to me, a month that just flew by!
well this is the first Halloween in our new house and it certainly was not a very festive one.... first off our neighborhood isn't necessarily the best place for tick-or-treating. and secondly we did no pumpkin carving. :-( we got as far as buying the pumpkin but never got around to carving it this year.
instead we put it up on a ledge in our living room and let it sit decoratively.

2 days ago we started noticing a puckilicious, nasty smell. We looked and looked for some dead mouse or rotten eggs that must have been left laying around. It wasn't til yesterday, when our whole living room just smelled nasty, that we realized our pumpkin was rotten. sunken. and that its rotten juices had oozed out all over the place. gross.

2007-10-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

Halloween

Me and Jeremy Trying to get candy....

2007-10-23T09:46:00.001-07:00

i Finished my application for the U of M!!

2007-09-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

So Today i was reading my bible, something that i have been trying to make a habbit for some time now, I was reading Galations 5... the chapter about the fruits of the spirit etc... a chapter that i have read again and again my entire life. Its intresting how you can read something a million times and the read it again and find new meaning that you never have seen before. this is sort of what happened for me today. let me type the verse for you just to highlight what stood out to me...

Galations 5:18-25

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy,
fits of anger,
rivalries,

dissensions,

divisions,

21 envy,

[4] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,

self-control;

against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

k so i don't want to sound like a preacher, but this verse really got me thinking.... it says not perform orgies or get drunk and not to take part in the things of the flesh but also in the list is dissentions, divisions, rivalries, fits of anger... how many times have i argued with my parents or gone into fits of anger at sibilings? how many times have there been divisions and dissensions among friends?
the word says that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom... that is powerful language... that is a higher calling.

my prayers recently have reflected that. i have been praying for the fruits of the spirt to be evident in my life... that i would be patient... kind, i have been praying that i would have self-control. and what stuck out to me for the first time was the word peace. that is the one attribute that doesn't really fit... its not a verb... you can't "peace" someone... so i am taking it as an emotion, like joy, or self-control... which i had never really thought before. it is a fruit to be at peace about things... "Michael, don't be anxious about anything!"

keep praying for me as i continue strive to live for christ.

~Michael

2007-09-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

a little update on my life...
yesterday, at home inside (it was raining) drinking tea, trying do do homework...ending up on facebook...whats new?

anyways.... i started this yesterday and i'm finishing it up here at school. school. what am i doing here? what do i want to major in? where do i want to go? i finally think i know what i want to pursue... political science.

in the realm of politics there are hundreds of jobs besides running for office and its really something i enjoy... i love people, and i feel like i get along with them pretty well... i have no problem calling people, planning things, trying to organize events etc... and i have already taken 2 political science classes and loved them! i guess it just kind of dawned on me the other day.... so yeah, idealy i would love to eventually move to D.C. and just get a job working for a senator or ambassador or who knows... a president? (:-P yeah right.. it never hurts to dream though...) my cousin is living in D.C. and is in international relations.... see i would LOVE that! anyways i am blabbering now. and i need to go!

cheers!
Michael

2007-09-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

last night me and my family got home from closing up our cabin (picture above)on labor day, a lifelong tradition for our family... labor day marks the end of summer for me... the end of days at the lake tubing and skiing, climbing trees and making ropeswings, going for walks by jesse lake, and making bonfires on the beach... however, as fun as all this is, it saddened me this weekend about how little time i spent up at green lake and how my summer mostly consisted of working... but thats life.

also this summer i lost good friends. Trey, Mason and their family moved to virgina which was hard for our entire family. the previous 3-4 months before they left i didn't feel we did as many things together as we used to; mainly because of us moving to Wyoming MN, but also we started hanging out with different circles of people... but what really makes a true good friend is that he still would call me up out of the blue just to see how i was doing.. and i would do the same. and even though he struggled with his faith, he would still ask me about mine, and it was never a burden to talk and pray with him about his faith. we really were like brothers. loosing someone who actually really cares about you is always hard. So this summer has been a learning time for me, where God has shown me that friends move away, and all friends are human and can fail, and as close as you think you are to someone God can take it all away, and show you his glory through it, and can make your relationship with him so much sweeter.

as much as i love summer and its random adventures and lots of free time i am looking forward this fall. I love fall with its cooler weather and regularity. as strange as this might sound to some i'm looking forward to once again having a routine and getting into a regular schedule again.

God bless
Michael

2007-08-14T13:29:00.001-07:00

Michael never posts.

So I will.

..

2007-06-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! its been awhile....

just thought i would write something here and update the world on whats going on in my life...

I have a JOB!!

i got a job at subway...yeaaaaahhhh its a good time i guess.

so today i was in Edina chillin with aaron ian and eventually gabby and we were all having a grand 'ol time at noodles & company when my phone started ringing... it was work saying that i was actually supposed to work today....

WHAT?!?!?!?!

yeah i pretty much was freaking out because my schedule at home definatley said i wasn't working... so god bless Gabby who drove me to county road C where my bosses husband picked me up... awkward? yeah pretty much. i was pissed i missed swimming at aarons and the twins game.

so thinking that people would be mad at me, and me thinking i would be mad at people (my mom confirmed that i was not on the schedule that was given to me) i entered work.... now if you know me good enough you know i really can't hold a grudge... especially when the people i am mad at are apologetic... i really wish i could sometimes, but i guess its for the better... anyways as i was saying i got to work and everyone there was not mad but more thrilled that i actually showed up. apparently i was my managers last resort and she had tried calling everyone else to cover the shift before she called me and i was the only one who picked up my phone...

yeah

so i worked... and extra hour later as well... but hey i am getting paid and my manager felt bad so she gave me free sub coupons!!! YAY!!!

Michael

2007-05-31T22:27:00.001-07:00

hiiiiiiiiiiiiii

2007-05-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

5.

that is the number of thimes i have been pulled over by our wonderful law enforcment officers... wonderful eh?

luckily the reason i was pulled over was apparently they thought i was under the influence... and after taking numerous tests they determined that i was completely coherent. whew. of the hook. it took some convincing though... they were pretty determined to prove i was on marijuana. they got some drug specialist who told me to stick out my tounge. "aaaaaaaaa"
"why is the back of your tounge green??"
"maybe because i was drinking an energy drink??"
"its also a sign of marijuana use...."
"i didn't know that officer..."
"Alright, well look straight ahead"
"ok"
"is there a reason why your eyes are blood shot????"
"i don't know...."
"that is also a sign of drug use...."
"really?"
"yes. keep looking ahead... is there a reason your eyes arn't dialating when i shine the light in them??"
"i don't know..."
"ok wait here."

yep they eventually let me go... after searching my car... they still thought i was a drugie though... pretty much.... so this whole thing probably took at least 40 minutes. yeah. thats all i have to say.

2007-05-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

At long last summer is in sight!!

with all the joys and draw backs...

one drawback for me is mowing our lawn... something which i need to do today... if you have seen our lawn you will realize it is massive, and we don't have our riding lawn mower yet. i should get on that....

but this minor inconvienience is quickly forgotten by the fact that there is no school!! i am now done with my classes!! all that is left is 3 daunting finals next week which i havn't started studying for yet....yeah...i should get on that....

then today after that, i guess i am going to the Senior Gala. that should be fun. except i will probaly have to bring my studying with me.... because then on sunday it is mother's day, and then monday is my first final...AAAAA no time to study. freak out. i really shouldn't go and focus on school but...it will work out i guess. :-)

i should get to work.

farewells!!

Michael

2007-05-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

"A picture of Shakespeare? how strange..."
you might be saying to yourselves...

well

for the past 3 days i have been emerged in his play "Othello, the moor of Venice"

why?

well i had to write a paper... my last paper for this school year.
i have been really struggling with finding anything to write about this. and i honestly think i had writers block, because i had so many ideas flying through my head that none of them landed on paper... well as i was driving home from school today still trying to figure out what to write i had a stunning revalation. i realized that this play is really all about mis-communication. i can write about that. this is something that i can relate to.

in the end of the play pretty much everyone dies. and if they didn't die their lives were ruined. and why? because none of the characters communicated with eachother. they all assumed things about the others, and came to their own conclusions. this attitude ruined their lives and relationships. well in my life right now, there seems to be some major lack of communications, not nessicarilly with me personally but between friends. i was just convicted that, yes we need to talk about things more with eachother before they explode, but infinatley more important to pray together, as a group.... because that is what makes frienships lasting and significant.

sorry i don't mean to sound glum... im really not :-) but that is what i think....

Michael

2007-05-08T20:49:00.001-07:00

its ironic how the last assignment for school i have is the one i am finding most difficult and hardest to get done....

its frustrating trying to write a paper when you can't get ANY of your thoughts down on paper....

mmmm...

i don't really know why i am writing this blog. i guess i have been trying to write for so long without getting anything done, that i need to write SOMETHING. writers block maybe? i don;t know... well enough rambling for tonight. i am heading off to bed and i will attempt to finish my paper tomorrow...

God bless

Michael..

2007-05-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

i am convinced of the healing powers of taking a shower.

or maybe random naps.

or tea?

or ice cream?

writing a blog on my thoughts?

a combination of all of the above?

well anyways right after i wrote my previous blog i started feeling better... then i took a shower and drank some tea, took a nap and then drank some more tea... all that to say is i feel like a new person. and as i re-read my blog i though about deleting it... delete the sleep deprived, runny nose, sore throught, jumbled thoughts that had been running through my head. so i decided to be a blogger nerd and write this and write another blog... on the same day! wow i'm bored. which is bad because i have so much to do =/ but anyways... i should probably start my paper due tomorrow...yeah...

oh and 24 is tonight!!!!!!

this may be blasphempous BUT.... i am more excited for Heroes... and am tempted to watch that instead... *gasp*

no of course i am watching 24 but still :-)

well my parents decided for me that this week i am having no social life. so no midnight adventures for me...only this week though because i need to study for finals and finish assingments...wich is probably good...but yeah maybe they'll forget by friday...we'll see

Michael..

2007-05-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has stripped from me my glory
and taken the crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.
12 His troops come on together;
they have cast up their siege ramp against me
and encamp around my tent.

13 “He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.

23 “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!"

Job 19

i think god is trying to teach me to find all my comfort and support in him, and in him alone. there has been alot going on in my life and all my friend's lifes around me, and we have all grown extremely close. lately i feel that this closeness is being stripped away,
for no reason thats clear to me.
i don't want to go into detail...
last night/ this morning i felt like i was breaking down physically and emotionally. what i thought were allergies yesterday turns out to be a virus of sorts... and waking up feeling like i'm about to colapse, but still having to go to school probably didn't help...
i felt like there was no one there.
i am wrong of course, i was able to talk to a newer, but still dear, friend, and sorta jsut vent.... But most importantly God is always there! and i struggled with actually finding my support in him and not others. And just being able to Pray and talk aloud with him... just helpped lift burrdens off my shoulders...
i really do feel that friends ARE critical. and God gives them to us to help eachother and encourage one another. and it's is important to talk about things, work things through, and most importantly pray together...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"

2007-05-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hi.

Michael has failed to post a new blog in a VERY long while.. So i've taken it upon myself to post for him.

Well, as far as I know, Michaels day went as follows..

1.Woke up.
2. Had a random conversation on the phone with Kaija.
3. Made coffee
4. Made a egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast.
5. Showered.
6. Got dressed (supposedly.)
7. Went over to Edina eventually and picked up Gabby from school.
8. Went over to Kates.
9. Went to Leons.
10. Went home before a midnight curfew.

That's pretty much it..
Like I said, this is as far as I know.

Later. I'll probably update this later..
-Kaija (fake Michael.)

2007-04-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

normaility

today i was sitting outside, drinking tea, and enjoying the suns rays that were warming up my skin. its these kind of moments that i really have time to think, and reflect.

this particular afternoon i was thinking to myself that after a few months of non-stop drama and tragedies.... i think that my life has gotten to a brief point of rest. a time for me to catch my breath before the next waves of events. whatever they may be.

now i pretty much know who reads my blog, but just for the sake of privacy and unwanted attention i will be vague when it comes to names....
one of my closest freinds, probably best freind, my brother, is finally (i hope) getting over a hard season of life where he rejected his faith and tried to find satisfaction in the world. i have been encouraged talking with him and praying with him, and just seeing God starting to answer prayer!! its amazing...

thats just one example... there is so many more dramas though that i feel are starting to wind down.... and even though most of them aren't completely over, i feel like i can deal with it. this probably has to do with the fact that our house is starting to feel like OUR house. boxes are dissappearing and furniture and homely things are stating to appear.

i realize that no life is perfect and struggle free, and i am assured that there will be hardships to come... but at this moment i am at peace. and drinking tea. and avoiding math homework......the main sourse of stress in my life right now =/

but anyways
those are my thoughts for today.
i thank God for you guys

Michael

2007-04-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

so today was the father daughter tea. every year we transform the commons and fellowship hall of our church into a Medival City. there are decorations, games, shops, roaming minstrels, venders, and all sorts of other niffty little things like that that gives the whole place a middle ages feel.

my family was the royal family. all i did for 4 hours was sit and eat food and drink mass quantity's of tea. and wear tights. and a purple outfit. wow. yeah so that was my day... it was hard though i wanted to go out and enjoy the 80 degree weather, and frolic in the grass... or go for a walk, or go swimming (those costumes got HOT!). but even though i would've rather been outside, i was able to find joy in taking part in an event that ove 200 fathers and daughters were able to enjoy. but now i am exhausted. so i am going to go sleep.

Cheers! (ha ha sorry i've been a medival prince all day :-P)
Michael

2007-04-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

New layouts... :-)

old cars.. :-(

so yes yesterday as i was driving to piano lessons i heard a funny noise at the front of my car... i desregarded it because it went away after a while... then a few miles down the road the temperature gauge spikes all the hazard lights went on and i FREAKED OUT!! so i exit... and go to a gas station (convienently across the street from the North Campus) and i open the hood....PSSSSSSSSSS.... smoke. yeah some random belt broke... so now i am carless until sometinme today this afternon. apparently its an easy repair... but still... after waiting around for more than 2 hours... i missed piano lessons and couldn't go anywhere for 24... :-( it was actually a good day though...

2007-04-15T21:28:00.001-07:00

Finally. our home is starting to feel like home. i have a bed with sheets. my room is painted! (brown and blue :-) )

bad picture...but whatever. i took it with my phone. i just like having pictures with my posts...i think it adds something... i am getting sidetracked..

anyways! we have actually painted all the bedrooms.... we have moved in most of the furniture. we can see the back of our garage. we found our teapot ( which some of you can appreciate :-P) AND we got our cool new high efficency washing and drying machine!!

soon i will post some pictures up... maybe when our house isn't so messy....

but our house still seems far away... it has been encouraging though! Ian and Aaron and Kate i think have all drove out here numerous times! Our house is ALWAYS open for anyone. no joke. we feel as if this is the lords house and will be used for ministry and just a place where people will want to come... so, anytime just give me a call and come on over :-) or just show up spontaneously... either way.

2007-04-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

So....yes...we are semi-moving into our house today!!!!! i am super excited!!!!! we have not been in a house for approaching 8 monnths. so today we are taking all of our belongings from my grandparents house and moving them into our new house. we will be sleeping on matresses on the floor for a few days while we paint and put in flooring etc. AHHHH! i am ecstatic! wow. well i need to pack this computer now... so i thought i'd write this really quick because we won't have internet for a while... bummer... i'll write more at school though!
til then

Michael

2007-04-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

wow all i can say, is i have amazing friends.
yesterday at the mall of america, during "Mall Madness", i was hungry...of course... so i decided to get some chineese. it sure tasted good at the time but i am almost positive i got food poisioning from it...later that evening it came back to haunt me.

i was driving kaija to Grace church for the easter play. I felt awful. apparently i was swerving quite a bit. kaija told me

"Michael, if gabby was here she would be freaking out!!"

thats when you know i am driving crazy :-P

no, but its probably true considering tha when we got to grace i almost collapsed in the parking lot... and almost passed out in the commons.

all this to say, after complicating Kaija's evening sitting backstage grace for an hour sleeping/being cold. she persisted on taking care of me even though i was being a pill and not wanting any help. even more, after everyone telling me i couldm't drive Aaron brought me home in my own car, while Erin (a girl from grace) followed, and the brought Aaron back to grace for his car... thats about 2 hours of driving... i thank God for Friends that care!!

Michael

2007-03-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

i just found this post that i thought got deleted with my blog on my jump drive!
yeah so i am posting it because my blog is rather bare right now.....

the past few months have been crazy.

and unpredictable.

From our family selling our home and loosing the one we thought we were going to buy, from the paralysis of a dear dear brother in christ, from the countless trials and struggles in my friends lives, ranging from Drug Abuse, to depression, to faith issues, to realationship breakups and much more.

all these things causes stress and anxiety. not knowing what to say to a freind in need, not being able do do anything or help in a hard situation, not being able to encourage somebody, not feeling like things are going right. time after time things keep going wrong.

Being home 1 or 2 days of the week and getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night have not helped matters at all either.

where is God in all this?

i feel as if my life is spiraling downward.

or at least i did.

God is here with me. carrying me through. through these tribulations i have grwon so close to God, and the friendships i had with some of my freinds have grown so much deeper than they would have otherwise. the same thing with my family. even though i am gone the majority of the time, my parents have never stopped supporting me, and i thank God for this blessing!

there are still many obstacles ahead. and many frustrating things to overcome. but i am assured that All things will work for the good of those who love our savior.

Little do men perceive what solitude is, and how far it extendeth. For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

2007-03-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

Today is the 30 of March, 3 days away from my family moving into our new house!!!
This exites me very much, considering we have been without a home for the past 6 months. and i have been sleeping on a couch the majority of this time. :-)

However, this means i am moving farther away from some of my dearest friends. (Gabby, Kaija, Trey, Beau, Aaron H., Aaron G., Ian etc.) some people might say "oh wow michael 40 minutes! thats nothing!!" and that would be true considering trey is moving to virgina.... BUT this is still going to be very inconvienient and hard to adjust to. but oh well! God is good! this move is good! and you all have to come to our house alot :-)

2007-03-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

ok so some how i deleted all my posts.... i am really confused... and really sad.