Home Again

Already Hawaii feels like sooooo very long ago. I've been home a few days now and have begun to settle back into the routine here. It's fantastic to have little kids everywhere again, and although I'm still jetlagged, I'm still managing to get a lot of stuff done. Yesterday I took my siblings--most of them, anyway--to see "How To Train Your Dragon", and they loved it. It was their first time watching it, but I was also enjoyed seeing it again. I've promised my youngest brother a batch of cookies, and am determined to figure out how to make a cupcake version of Zippy's delicious haupia cake. Also, I have discovered so far that I got an A in Art, an A in Nutrition, and an A+ in English 321, so my grades are very satisfactory so far, even to my perfectionist self.

The only damper on all this happiness is that my grandmother spilled soda on my laptop on the plane, and so I'm terrified that he (yes, my laptop is a he, his name is Gareth--in hindsight I should have perhaps given him a less ominous name) is damaged. He's been shut off since the incident, so I do not know yet. He has all my writings and photographs and videos on him, and is infinitely precious to me, so please pray that he is unharmed--It's not really just a hunk of electronics you'd be praying for, it's a very important part of me.

As a result, I have not yet embarked upon the 'write a page every day' odyssey that I had set myself for my time at home. I did save my novel onto my flash drive before shutting down my computer, so hopefully I'll transfer that to our home computer soon and can get started on it.

I'll catch up with you again later! I am about to catch up on my weekly episode of "Lost" now. Oh, and I saw "Amy's Choice" on Sunday, due to me being in the air over the Pacific on Saturday, and it was excellent. The next two-part story looks great too--the return of the Silurians, yaaaay!

Prayer Request

If any of you who read this blog would be kind enough to offer up little prayers for my mother over the course of the next few months, I (and she, I'm sure) would appreciate it so much. I don't like to blab about private affairs on the internet, so I don't really want to say much more, but she's really wanting prayers and spiritual support right now. And I wouldn't say no to a prayer or two for myself as well, as I have some sudden and big decisions to make now. Love you all, and I'll try to seriously post some long over-due book reviews soon, okay?

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

If you're not wearing green, consider yourself pinched. 

Of course, I should let you know that my dance teacher's Irish father, who was one of the most prominent Irish dancers in the world, always insisted that good ol' Patrick wore blue, not green, and so therefore you should be wearing blue too. I've got all my bases covered; a silver Celtic comb holding up my hair, my Claddagh ring on my finger, green Celtic knotwork shirt, green shoes, blue jeans, and green leprechaun socks :D

But seeing as this day is not just about colors, but about St. Patrick himself, I thought I'd post "The Shield of Saint Patrick" today in celebration. Later I will be celebrating with good Irish food and dance and . . . erm, a microeconomics midterm, but why not start the day by celebrating the man himself and what he stood for?

The Shield of Saint Patrick

'I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,

by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

'I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,

His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,

His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

'I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to hearken to my need,

The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,

The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

'Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me;

Christ to comfort and restore me;

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

'I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,

Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;

Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!'

Please Pray

http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=9855335

Please pray for these poor people and for all of those who knew them and know them, love them, are worried about them, and are missing them.