An updated list...

Awhile ago I posted several books I was currently reading, mostly because I was bored and had nothing exciting to post. But I decided last night that I felt like updating my blog with what I've been reading/listening to lately...myspace lets you post those things but I don't use myspace for the blog, so I decided to carry that over to here....and because I know you all care oh so much about what I am reading through right now...

My new favorite CD is Lifesong by Casting Crowns--their lyrics are incredibly powerful, and this CD has re-reminded me how much I loved their first CD so I have brought that out again. Their songs speak so strongly about our identity in Christ and their new song Praise You in the Storm has become my new theme song and inspired the theme for my new bathroom :o)

This past week I broke out one of my old favorite books that I've read many times--Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers. It's a wonderful story about family dynamics, God's grace, and following your passions--a great mindless read for when I'm having a long week!

Last summer I read The Brothers K by David James Duncan and even though the book is long an it took me forever to get through, I loved it. Pastor Dan quotes it often in sermons and has talked about it a lot, and he's never recommended a book I didn't like, so I thought I'd give it a chance. It was amazing--theology, baseball, community, family and a coming-of-age story all in one. I laughed so hard sometimes I couldn't stop and other moments found me with tears that wouldn't stop--it is an amazing book. SO, I decided that since it is such a rich story I would re-read it this summer...it might take awhile, but it will be worth it!

This book by Marva Dawn (an amazing author who has written a lot about the church community and the worship-wars that are ravaging our churches today) is one I found when writing my final paper last quarter and it is probably one of my new favorite books about ministry--it puts so many of my thoughts in words and was an incredibly inspiring book to read--it reminded me why I care about chidren's ministry so much!

And because I know you will all want to join me in the world of New Testament exegesis, I'm reading a handbook for students and pastors--honestly though, I just started exegetical methods this week and already I am in love with it, despite the fact that it is insanely difficult (yeah my Greek isn't quite as wonderful as it should be!). I think I'm officially a nerd, but my exegesis assignment the other night was to spend a LOT of time with Philippians and translate part of it and the amount of stuff I realized from this one assignment was amazing--it's a totally different way of reading scripture and it is pretty incredible---now if only I could remember all the Greek I was supposed to have learned!

A Guilt-Free Sabbath

So this morning I woke up and realized that the cold I've been fighting all week is still hanging around, so I rolled over and decided to go back to sleep. It's Friday, the end of the first week of summer intensive classes, so it's been a busy week and I am pretty much exhausted--and I have no where I have to be all day long, no class, no meetings, nothing. So after sleeping for awhile longer I decided to move to the couch and pop in a movie and spend some time replying to some emails while watching Robin Williams inspire his young students in Dead Poet's Society. What amazed me was the overwhelming feeling of guilt I had while laying around in my pajamas on my day off. Where does that come from? What kind of world do we live in that says we are not allowed to take a day off and be lazy? Especially when we're sick!? Just a thought, but I think maybe we need to work on that as a society in general becuase I KNOW I am not the only one who has a hard time taking a day off now and then. We have this mentality in our culture that says the harder we work and the more busy we are the more successful we are, and to rest is a sign of weakness--something to feel guilty about. Never mind that God specifically consecreated a day for the sole purpose of allowing us to rest--that seems to be a discipline we have lost, especially in our culture today. Just thought I'd share what's on my mind---oh and I did give myself permission to stay on the couch--and it's amazing, and you all should try it!

Random End-of-the-Quarter Photos part 1

Spring quarter is officially over, which means, that I have officially survived my first year of seminary!! It has been an insane year, full of transitions, new friendships, lots of reading, Greek, church-shopping, amazing conversations, some So Cal fun, and a LOT of growing. No wonder I am feeling exhausted! I have had this past week off, and start summer classes on Monday, but this week was not the most relaxing as I moved as soon as finals were finished, but I am now settled in my new place, and have about 48 hours of freedom left before classes resume. I have several random photos from various moments these past couple months that don't really fit into any specific category, so I thought I'd post them for your viewing pleasure (in a very random and no particular order...) and maybe one day in the near future I will have more energy and creativity to post something reflective and meaningful...stay tuned...! Here comes the bride....wedding dress shopping for Megan over Easter weekend...Sophie & I have a new fascination with butterflies thanks to our time at Cursillo in Houston, so she has been on the look out for butterfly clothing we can wear when we return to Cursillo as staff members some day...yay for random obsessions!Enjoying dinner at Islands...Sarah, Bob, Reese, Sophie (and Kernie!)Dr. Ron Kernaghan, Denise, and Dr. Doug Nason decked out in their academic regalia before baccalaureatte (I think that's what they were dressed up for). These are 2 of our wonderful Presbyterian faculty members who continually serve our Presby students in many ways...and apparently Doug was hungry...good thing Denise keeps food around the office!So we went down to Santa Monica last week for dinner, and Alan and Reese decided to tell the waiter it was Becca's birthday (it wasn't...) but they brought her dessert and made her stand on her chair while she danced to the birthday song the Bubba Gump staff sung her...it was quite entertaining...here she is with Kernie who is sporting Reese's new hat...

I'm not sure where I got this photo--I think Lynn's myspace profile? But I love this picture because it has my wonderful Seattle friends (Lynn, Jen, Karen, Heather, and Darbee) all looking amazing as they're headed to see Les Mis...we'll see if any of them check my blog and see this....but if you do see it know that I miss you all & will see you in August!

Random End-of-the-Quarter Thoughts part 2

And here are more random spring pictures...

Over Spring Break, several of the Hanson clan met in San Jose to celebrate Vernita's 50th Birthday (sorry...her 40-10 birthday!) and Megan and Nathan were able to join us--here are the 3 of us at the German restaurant we ate at the first night in town.

My cousins Jacob, Joel and Joshua reading the poem they wrote for their mom's birthday recapping all the trouble they got in as kids--like burning down the house (literally, it really happened!) and various other mishaps and how much they appreciate their mom for always being there...awwww.....

On that Saturday several of us drove down to Monterey (one of my favorite places in CA) for the day--here are Uncle Vaughn, Nathan, me, Aunt Carolyn, Megan and my dad enjoying the beautiful day.Jenn (Pocket), me, Denise, and Sophie getting set for our 6 mile walk to raise money for the March of Dimes--oh and Kernie got to come too! That's him in Pocket's backpack...For some reason Sophie & I were playing dress up one night--I think she was cleaning out her closet, so here we are dressed for...I'm not sure what...

Becca, Reese, Sophie and I in Santa Monica last week--oh yeah, Kernie came too of course!A group of us went to Santa Monica for dinner last week...we ate at Bubba Gumps, so here is Reese I guess pretending to be Forrest...complete with Forrest's shoes...

My favorite picture from the night--Sophie, Kernie and Reese enjoying some time together before Reese leaves us on Monday to start med school in Tennessee this fall.

My future brother-in-law and Taylor at Nathan's Whitworth Graduation over Mother's Day weekend--congratulations Nathan!

hot dogs, volleyball, and not enough sunscreen!

Happy Memorial Day! (a few days late...) On Monday we enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous day--the weather could not have been more perfect for a holiday! The presbys sponsored a bbq picnic at Garfield Park and after enjoying a wonderful lunch a group of us played a LOT of volleyball. It was wonderful and relaxing and a lot of us were pretty sore the next day! Here are some photos from the day:

Ryan decided to steal Sophie's monkey, Kernie, and here's Aunt Jenn trying to rescue Kernie. Ryan just wanted to see if Kernie could fly over the net--he was returned safely by the way.

He was safe after his flying trip--thanks for saving him Pocket!

See Ryan, volleyballs are supposed to fly over the net--not Monkeys!

Look I hit it!

Dave & Sophie--I think they look like they are ready to start a line dance...

awww..yay for fun days outside!Practicing our balancing act

Kernie was hungry after all that playing in the sun! Time for a snack!

Denise & her beautiful, although large, Golden Retriever Daisy--another part of our presby community (we are very inclusive--monkeys and puppies are welcome!)

Tim took some time out to enjoy the shade--and to recruit people to bring food to another Memorial Day BBQ he was headed to...

Reese takes time out to puppy sit while Denise plays volleyball

Presby Graduation Banquet

This past week we had two great Presby events and I thought I'd post some pictures for your enjoyment :) Last Thursday we had our end of the year banquet to celebrate our graduating presbys which was a TON of work but a lot of fun too and it turned out wonderfully. Here is a recap in photos:

Three of our very talented students wrote a rap celebrating their time as part of the presby Fuller community--their group name? Westside Reformed.

And here they are looking very--uh--reformed?

The Group enjoying the entertainmentNext year's Student Advisory Board sporting our new very cool Fuller Presby t-shirts (the back has the Top 10 Signs You're a Fuller Presbyterian on it) Front row: Alan Armstrong, Ryan White, Dave Cameron, Rev. Dr. Ron Kernaghan. Middle row: Jenn Howard, me, Sophie Draffin, Denise Overholser. In the tree: Bob Rice and Lisa Nelson

Sarah, Sophie and Denise

Goin to the chapel...

I know most of my friends know this already, but I'm bored & felt the need to post this anyway! My little sister is getting married! Megan and Nathan will be married in Sacramento on August 5th and I finally get the brother I have always wanted--and he's a pretty amazing one at that! The 2 of them will be moving to Rhode Island in August where Nathan is going to start his PhD in Computer Science at Brown University, and I am super excited to have a place to stay when I go visit the East Coast, but I have to say I will be a little sad that they are moving so far away--at least my parents now live in Minnesota which is a good 1/2 way spot for us. So I just thought I would share my excitement--and for those of you who will be at the wedding they gave me permission to share my favorite story of them (well it really is my favorite story of Megan but it has to do with Nathan) in my toast--so I am very excited about that. And there's rumor that they're hiring The Dying Screech Owls to perform--so Brian, Christopher & I are working on ways to make their reception unforgettable...for all you family members out there who are now cringing, don't worry, my parent's told us that they couldn't afford to hire a band as wonderful as the Dying Screech Owls, so you might be safe...And here are some photos for your enjoyment:

My favorite photo of Nathan, Megan and Megan's dog Taylor--aren't they a cute little family?!

Nathan and Taylor on Halloween--Harry Potter and Oliver Wood

Her beautiful ring

Nathan came to visit our family at my parent's new home in Minneapolis this past Christmas--the two of them kept trying to build snowmen but Taylor kept thinking they were rolling the snowballs for him to jump on and destroy--I'm not sure how far they ended up getting!