MLK Inspiration

Yesterday I started this amazing class about modern day injustice. Awesome reading material for this class, let me tell you. Even two books by Gary Haugen (the man who started International Justice Mission, you can be reminded all about it here, it's the most amazing organization)! 

To start the class we read Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. It's amazing, so many quotes worthy of repeating. 

So, instead of writing the reflection paper on MLK's letter, I'm telling you about it. And eating a chocolate muffin. And chai tea. And water. (I'm big on liquids.) Don't you find that a much better use of time? I do too. 

You should really read the whole letter yourself, but in case you find the idea of a 10-page letter daunting, I'll try to share the highlights with you. 

What I find most amazing is what he says about injustice. Obviously, this is a main focal point of his letter; the injustice of segregation, but what he says applies to any injustice throughout the world. As an advocate for Invisible Children I've heard a lot of people say, "Gee, that's terrible. But..it's all the way over there. It doesn't affect us." To such a sentiment, MLK says this, 

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Our liberty is bound together. If one person on the other side of the globe is being treated unfairly, it is our responsibility to come to their rescue. We would want to be rescued.

Obviously, this letter is quite lengthy, and though I'd love to continue sharing quotes with you I really should write the reflection that needs to be written (and my chai tea has run out, which signals to me that I have neglected my paper long enough). But I must share this last bit with you. For the first half of the letter MLK seems almost insulted that he has been called an "extremist." But on page 6 he comes to a realization that all the greats have been extremists; Abraham Lincoln was an extremist for freedom, Paul an extremist for sharing the gospel. And so he says,

"So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be.Will we be extremists for hate or love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime- the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality..The other, Jesus Christ was an extremist for love, truth and goodness."

And you thought MLK talk was over for January.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Awkward:

 My next door neighbor asking if I've lived on campus for the past month, "Yep..I have." "Oh, Seriously?" Really, Really?

 When you realize you should stop talking, but you keep talking anyways. 

Telling someone a story and not remembering where I was going with it, but they look so interested, I had to finish it, so I made something up about my Dad. 

Awesome:

KP is my new room mate. And our room is all moved around. It's nice.

Ethan visiting and bringing out a brand new futon to have, although it does lack cushions... 

No more meal plan! That's right, I don't have to eat in the dining commons any more. Serious horray. 

Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. 

A Room Mate

This girl just moved in. 

Her name is Kristen, but we call her KP, because her last name begins with "P" and her first name begins with "K." We've been friends since we were 10. 

She's incredibly neat, you should see her closet, it inspired me to organize. Now you should see my closet. Our closets are terribly organized. 

I'm sure you'll be seeing more of her soon, but I just thought I'd drop by and introduce her. 

Spring Semester starts tomorrow, horray!

Good Things

               

 

Sweater: c/o CAbi Tank: AE Skirt: Thrifted Shoes: Khols

Include, but are not limited to...

Hot chocolate, people getting engaged, the  new game that came into the toy store (Tenzi, have you played it? Go play it), the Detroit International Auto Show, eating waffles, curling up with a blanket, pretending that I don't have to work on a project due tomorrow. 

What are your good things? 

Awesome and Awkward Thursday

Shirt: Gap Cords: c/o CAbi Scarf: thrifted Boots: DSW

Sorry, it's just too terribly blistery out of doors today. 

Awesome:

Chelsea, Michigan. It's quite possibly the most picturesque little down town I know. And it can be further improved when Ethan meets you there. Well not you, you can meet your own man-friend there. Or lady-friend, if you're a man.

Finding out that I can wear pants in Uganda. Maybe even JEANS. Did you see that, JEANS. Skirts are still coming along with me though. I can't leave out skirts for jeans. I do that to them enough. 

Two girls from across the hall knocked on my door, "We were facebook stalking you and noticed you were watching Psych, can we watch too?" 

My RA, she's just about the sweetest person you've ever met. She really is.  

My heater is fixed!! My room is warm!! Ah, what a lovely feeling. (My vent has been blowing cold air since I moved back to school, this is a seriously wonderful development!) 

Getting a great deal on my books for this semester, less than $70 for every single textbook! 

Awkward: 

 Going to say hi to someone and then standing behind them waving for a good minute before they turn around. Of course everyone else in the cafeteria turned around and noticed you waving, "hey guys." 

Realizing the Super came to fix my heat and running over to make sure you couldn't see anything questionable in my dirty clothes basket. We're good. Then looking over and seeing the massive pile of dirty dishes. We're a slob. I hope Mr. Super doesn't do his dishes either.

Dropping the very expensive, high-tech clicker while giving a presentation on Free and Appropriate Public Education. Ironically, I was just about to say "Your student is entitled to technology listed in their IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for free, but if he breaks it, you may be charged." And que the irony. 

January

..Tends to be a tiny bit dreary. Just a tiny bit. Because once all the glitter settles from the confetti on New Years you tend to notice all the salty snow on the side of the road.

So, the answer? We are in serious need of inspiration. 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."-MLK jr. 

Because Martin Luther King Junior Day is in January too.

And,

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."-John 1:5

Eclipse

Dress: Gifted (Nordstrom) Tights: Nordstrom Vest: c/o CAbi Boots: Gifted (Steve Madden)

Some days are not as much fun as others. You know, THOSE days. The ones that are so un-fun they're just plain silly. 

Yeah, I have those too sometimes.

But today I heard a song I've heard a thousand times before and I caught something.

David Crowder's Oh, How He Loves Us

"And all of the sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions                                                              Eclipsed by Glory"

May your afflictions be eclipsed by Glory too, even on those un-fun, silly days.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Awkward:

 Forgetting to use swipe my ID card before opening the dorm door. Every. Time. Then having to put down my books, purse, bag, phone, and what have you to search for the card all while someone in the lobby looks on and eventually takes pity on seemingly new girl and opens the door for me. 

Wearing an exceptionally long skirt and having it get stuck under your chair as you walk away. Poor skirt, I probably stretched it out with all the times it got stuck today. 

Going to shake someone's hand who was not reaching for me. He was reaching for the woman standing a few feet away from me. Hands ran together and all I could say was, "oh, heh, intercepted." 

Remember those pictures I showed you from Julianne, Hannah and Elizabeth were visiting? Well here are the "blooper" versions:

             

Awesome:

The beauty of not putting things away: you find fun DVDs you didn't realize were at school with you! See Mom, putting three DVDs in one DVD case is not all bad. Unless you're looking for Everybody Loves Raymond and Mad About You at home. In which case, I'm sorry. 

My J-term class. J-term is 15 school days in the month of January where you can get 4 credits completed. It's great. I'm taking Law as it Applies to Special Education and it's so interesting! All about past cases and how they've influenced how we approach Special Ed today!...Ok, you can call me a nerd. It's OK, really, I can handle it. 

The beautiful weather outside this past week. Although everyone has said this already but 45 degrees in January? What a happy week! 

 Remember Julianne who visited this week? She's now in San Diego being trained to be a roadie for Invisible Children! She'll be driving around the country showing documentaries, selling Invisible Children merchandise and pretty much saving the world.

Driving. It's really one of my very favorite things to do. Even when I watch my gas needle sink, it's still so relaxing. I sincerely suggest that all of you go out and buy a manual car. You'll drive your stress away.  

"Right to Grow"

"The refusal to recognize the handicapped child's right to grow is a travesty of justice and a denial of equal protection under the law." -Senator Harrison Williams

My personal goal that has stemmed from my calling in life is to start the first special education program in Uganda (in Central Africa in general, actually). Quotes like this that come from my Law as it Applies to Special Education class only make me more excited to get going.

Visiters

My old roomate, the lovely Julianne (blonde below) and two of her three sisters (they're quadruplettes...I KNOW!) came to visit! Among many things, we made pinterest-y crafts, ate a lot of food and watched Baby Mama (have you seen it? It's a must. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at their best), we took pictures! So here's our photoshoot. 

Julianne, Hannah, Me and Elizabeth

  

Sweater: Pimark Tank: Old Navy Jeans: H&M Boots: Blowfish

 

Shirt: Old Navy Scarf: Ten Thousand Villages Jeans: Marshalls Boots: New Look

Sweater: TJ Maxx Jeans: Old Navy Shoes: Target Ring: Etsy

Arn't they adorable? 

All the outfits were inspired by the blog The Daybook by Sydney Poulton and her family. You should really check it out, you'll end up just as hooked as we are. 

Awesome and Awkward Thursday

Awkward:

Misusing the word "prolific" multiple times. Serious malapropisms. 

Walking between two star crossed lovers. Who stands 12 feet away from each other while they gaze longingly into each others' eyes?  And did they really have to do it in the door way?

Moving great big bags back into my dorm. I mean, how do you carry 4 bags and a computer gracefully? 

Awesome:

Finding silverware I thought I left at home. 

New Years Eve and pretty restaurants.

My Mom being a fashion consultant, it's an awfully nice help sometimes. Especially when her consultant friends give us samples of microderm- microdirmi- microdermibrasion kits. 

 Antique Mall-ing. An old suitcase with the initials "HF" on it for $15. "HF?" you ask, yep, Henry Ford. I bought Henry Ford's suitcase. No, I did not make that up...my Mom did. 

 Work Christmas party. Working at a toystore, Christmas time is kind of insane so our Christmas party is kinda like a post-Christmas party. It was so fun, dinner, telestrations (like telephone but with pictures) and engagement/wedding celebrations. 

Kisses From Katie

There are some things that you all should know.
I am leaving for Uganda in May.
I'll be gone for a month.
A year and a half from when I land in the States, I'll be going back to Uganda, to student teach.
I'll be gone for 11 weeks.
And about 6 months after I land in the states, I'll be going back to Uganda again. To live.

As soon as this book Kisses from Katie hit the bookshelves in October people started telling me to read it. "It reminded me of you," they would say, and the book looked great, it was on my Christmas break book list. So I'm reading it. All those people who told me "it reminded me of you" were under-exaggerating. In fact, this book is so prophetic of my life to come that sometimes I cannot read much, it's almost scary, like I'm receiving a letter from future me.

Katie and I have one difference though, only one that I can see. She went there not knowing what she was supposed to do, only that she was supposed to go, and I have an idea of what I'm supposed to do. My idea meant that I needed a college degree.
My goal is to start the first Special Education program in Central Africa.

Well, now you know.