Idea: the content of cognition; the main thing Tara is thinking about

It's a Female's Emotion Forecast - December 8, 2009

I have realized the panhandle weather is a lot like a female's emotions. Now before you ladies get all huffy, go with me. This may be an extreme scenario, but we, or our loved one's all experience our "weather."

Today started out peaceful, though frosted-over. Icy. Fragile. But it's simply captivating, mesmorizing, how can something so beautiful ever cause one harm. Must one truly be cautious in their actions less they slip and fall causing pain? Though look at the horizon, one can see the cold coming. You know it's going to come, but it still throws you into complete surprise and shock on impact. Then it begins to snow, little flakes, big flakes, hitting the ground, yet the snow doesn't get anywhere, it just disappears. The snow just needed to get out in the open, and move on. Nothing happened, there seems to be nothing to conclude from it's fall, yet it's still snowing. It's snowing with the sun out. Yes, snow plus sun. How does that make sense? To us daughters of Eve, perfect sense!

And now the wind. You feel and hear it, but no idea where it's coming from. However you realize that doesn't matter because the stop sign in the parking lot looks as if it will put a "stop" to you and be used as a guillotine via the wind. At that point, it doesn't matter what is causing it, one must seek shelter. And now as the sun sets, it's peaceful ... for a time. Well the calm, serene evening has come to an end, and Ms. Wind is back in action. On top of that, the weather man says the temperature is going to reach 15 degrees below 0 (F). To quote him exactly, "Dangerously cold."

Wonderful, the weather is a lethal weapon. So the best thing to do is "think about tomorrow, for tomorrow is another day!"

God saw she was lonely and gave her Tootsie - December 7, 2009

I woke up this morning by a cold, wet, rubberyness hitting my nose. Aka Tootise, my little sister's dog. Now this dog and I had a rough start. She has always loved me, I however, sincerely would have thought it was quite hysterical if she got hit by a car. You know when you come home from college and you can't wait to snuggle into your warm, cozy bed. Sleep late. Not think about all the things you should do. You are in the hands of your parents. Sigh ... well the first time this little rag-dog and I met, I woke up to a disgusting fish smell going straight into my nose. Now I love to snuggle, but my idea is not practically eskimo kissing with a smelly, homeless-looking dog with breath that could bring in the toxic control.

Well- I decided to not waste anymore daylight and run some errands. Make-up less, pajamas in tack, hair untouched, but I did brush my teeth, obviously I can be a little too confident in myself. And not thinking that of course in a small town, you see everyone you don't want to see. But instead of detouring away, I just grin it and spark conversation with my acquaintances of the past. As I am out and about, I couldn't help but smell a constant stinch. Now I know I did not shower, but typically I always smell like roses :) so I was a little dumbfounded. After seeing way to many people, I decided to tame my side, rooster like pony-tail. As I strung my fingers through my hair... I feel crustiness. Yes, crustiness, I grab the nearest mirror, and low and behold that mangy mutt had thrown up in my hair! I wanted to kill her. I had been talking to who knows who with dried, mustard colored, dog throw up in my hair! So obviously not a great first impression.

Jumping to the now, in the last five months I that I have been living with my parents as a boomerang child. I must humble my pride, and say I love this dog. This morning as she woke me up, I said good morning, rubbed her tangled fur and she snuggled back to sleep with me. A few hours later, I re-wake up, do my morning routine and she follows me around with such loving endearment. This dog has a deep-rooted affection for me. And I do have to say, in my stage of life, God looked down on me and saw I was lonely, but instead of bringing an "Adam" he brought me Tootsie.

Though my circumstances haven't changed, I am happy - November 29, 2009

I have found, in my 22 years of experience, that after you have one of the most intimate times with God, the attack by Satan gets intense.

"When the storm comes" Not if or perhaps, but when, it's a guarantee. I even sensed it coming, so I prayed, "Lord hit me hard, WE can handle it."

Oh my goodness! I had no idea what was in store. It's like if you pray for patience ... you're going to get chances to be patient. Well I tell you what, I have never experienced such darkness and depression. Satan was trying to steal my joy, in everything. But I have and will forever be stubborn, I refused to let him win. I can't stand that man. Satan plays cheap, he knows when you're down, and how to hit us in those delicate, fragile places. Well Satan can come because I was determined to dress myself in the full suit of armor EVERYDAY. EVERY SECOND. EVERY WAY. Not that secular music was bad, but I had to go all in. Good-bye secular music, movies, books, ect. Only Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Jesus in the morning, Jesus in the evening, Jesus at suppertime. I was in battle. At times I would scream, yell, mourn, "How long oh Lord, how long." Yet in the midst, I'd start laughing and praising my God, thanking Him for this sifting period. "It's going to be worth it. I will be stronger in the end, so keep it coming." My journal writings were bipolar and scitsofrenic.

But 1 Peter 2:9 states it so well, "For you (I) am a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession that I may proclaim His excellencies of Him whom called me out of darkness into His marvelous light."

I realized last weekend ago, that though my circumstances have not changed, internally I have. I am happy again! I am joyful. God does turn our mourning into gladness! He is so good, so faithful. He goes before and sweeps behind. And when the storm comes, He helps us through it. He will not forsake us. The worst times are the best times! And I would not trade it because you see, God is at work in me. I never will settle for where our relationship stands. I want more! I need more!

Come what may! My God is mine and I am His!

Scientific Method is a fraud November 14, 2009

• The steps of the scientific method are to:
• Ask a Question
• Do Background Research
• Construct a Hypothesis
• Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
• Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
• Communicate Your Results

In other words, they design an experiment so that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way.

This is a fraud.

Here I am a Baylor graduate and thinking I can use this to solve this new season of being a big girl in the real world. It doesn't work this way. I go through all these steps, declare my conclusion so that the next time it will be "predictable."

False.

I do NOT know what tomorrow will bring, I give up, God is bigger that any method. All i can do is trust, obey and walk step by step in faith and watch my life unravel.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what God has in store for those who love Him."

Entertaining Strangers

Time and time again my mother has tried to tell me,

"Don't talk to strangers."

But I can't.

It's not in me. I love people. I love random people. The college student with 15 piercings across her face ringing up my $2 persnickety doodle bottomless cup of coffee. Carrying a conversation with the table behind me with a married couple of fifty years eating lunch, in which the husband, being a former director of ABC, proceeds to give me a lesson on public relations and his wife compassionately hands me a miniscule light blue Gideon's Bible with coffee stains on the edges. You never know when you might need it she says. Or the five-year-old girl sitting next to me at church and at the end of the service hands me two beautifully crafted drawings with the words "I love you."

One meeting, one moment, one chance to get to know one person. Each their own story, past, future, and I could be a part of it. A little tidbit in their life. In a blink-of-an-eye I enter and leave their world.

I could be the first smile they have seen or a sincere, "I hope you have a wonderful day," their ears have heard in a long time. Life is too short not to talk to strangers. The random stories or advice they might share can influence or make a difference in my life. You never know who you might come into contact with.

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

Hebrew 13:2

As I read the passage my heart beats rapidly with fear and excitement. That passage could become my reality. God has given me joy to share and a heart for people. Just think one day I could come in contact with an angel. And that would be a precious awe-strucking moment.

God reigns forever and ever...

Life. School. Tests. Stress. Burdens. Tossing and turning. Making grades. Getting that promotion. Making the team. Finding that significant other.

When it's all said and done, when the books get shut, and the dot of a pen reaches the end of a phrase. The last drop of sweat hits the game floor. As your car rolls into the garage. Your head hits the pillow. Maybe you won, maybe you lost. You failed the test or passed with flying colors. Life takes you in an unexpected direction. Some for the better and some for the worst.

The fat lady sings. The test, the job, the relationship, comes to an end. The day passes on, the sun sets. It all passes away and only one thing remains.

God.

No matter how the table turns, God is on His throne. The King of Kings. The Alpha and Omega. The I AM. He never leaves, he never strays. He holds his children up by his right hand. He delights in you, no matter what you do.

Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 1:2) No matter the outcome of our lives on Earth, God still remains. What joy, hope and peace we can find in knowing that. It doesn't matter.

God still remains.

The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 146:10

Freeform- October 24, 2006

Frazzled. Stressed. Tick tock goes the clock.

I’m late! Time escapes faster than normal. It’s like the rabbit on Alice and Wonderland, “No time to say hello-goodbye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!”

Don’t run into me when I’m late. My brain’s going 90 miles an hour. I can’t think straight. I sweat like crazy. I get short with my words. Inconsiderate. Pretty much I’m like the Grinch who stole Christmas. I hate being late.

My dad, on the other hand, loves being late. We have to tell him to be somewhere 30 minutes earlier than the original time. It drives me nuts! I like to be prompt. I like to be there when they’re expecting me.

Some people may call me “annul” or “over-achiever.” I like to think of myself as responsible. Dependable.

On days I’m late, nothing seems to go right. Often the whole day is twisted, and my panties are in a wad. My classes seem rushed. My clothes don’t match. I just can’t function as well. And much of the time, it’s my own fault for being late.

The snooze button is cruel and unusual punishment. It allows us to think we can keep pushing getting up.

But really, we’re just wasting time. I’m not even getting good sleep because the blaring, annoying beep comes on every seven seconds.

I should just get up and get ready.

But no, I procrastinate. I dolly around. I draw out trying to figure out what to wear. Or I decide not to do my homework until that morning, and now I don’t think I’ll have time to finish. And then I don’t have time to take a shower.

And now I’m late to class. Again.