Driving!

I officially am over halfway to my license (almost 2/3 of the way!)! I can test for it, on April 30! :o) I've had my temporary license since October 30. I have completed all 24 hours of classroom time- (8 classes, of 3 hours each)- the written test (94% on!)- as well as 2 of my 4 in-car classes... (2 hours each!) I have one in-car next Saturday, and then one more the following Saturday... and then I'm done, until April 30, when I have to take the test! Wooo!!! I'm so excited. I love driving... :o)

tag-photo!

I was tagged by Robin to do this!

The Rules:

1. Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4th folder.

2. Post the 4th picture in that folder.

3. Explain the picture.

4. Tag 4 people.

I must explain, but also let you know that this was the 3rd picture in the folder, as it was of the same picture as the 4th, but the other one was extremely blurry. So... this was a piece I created in art-class last year at school. It's done on special paper, that is black, but underneath is white, and you "scratch" out the black, to show the white. You use little blades and tools... and after hours upon hours of scratching... you get this. It's actually quite large-- about 4 feet by 2.5 feet. Now, I tag Melanie, Chelsea, Dani, and Laurent!

snow day!

i had the pleasure of waking up at 10am this morning... snow day! :o) i was so relieved. i desperately needed a snow day! i was supposed to have a spanish test today, that i was not at all ready for... so the extra day off is a huge blessing. i've been studying, and taking it easy, and working on longer-term projects for school to get ahead, and getting my cleveland clinic internship application all together.

i'm applying to a cleveland clinic internship for this summer. it's super competitive and intense... so we have no idea whether i'll even get accepted! but... i'm applying. it's an intense program, if accepted. 40 hours a week. 9 weeks. no vacation/ill days. but it would be an amazing experience. you work alongside some of the best doctors and scientists in the country, get assigned to a project, research it, experiment, follow doctors around, observe surgeries, meet patients, make rounds with the doctors... it would be incredible. but the application is extreme. i have completed the huge "student application" portion and submitted it online... and i have my parent, science teacher, guidance counselor, and volunteer site organizer recommendations completed. and i have the copies of my ohio temporary license, social security card, immunization record, science fair project, resume, all those copies completed. i just have to get them all into envelopes... and write my cover letter! and then we mail it off! the applications are due on february 6. so it's exciting! but so overwhelming, at the same time!

hope you clevelanders are enjoying the snow! i'm loving my snow day!

second blog!

hey, my blog-stalkers!
i have started a second blog! it's about my 2009 adventure. we will continue to post here, at Just Clay, on my day-to-day life, doctor's updates, random thoughts, school, tennis, friends, etc... but my new blog, The Year of Virtue, will be on my Year of Gratitude! an exciting adventure jesus and i are starting on! check it out! but don't forget about us at just clay!

the link to the new site is:
http://theyearofvirtue.blogspot.com
be sure to check out the first post, which explains the purpose of the site and 2009!
love to you all!
-piece of clay

cortisone...

i saw the orthopedic (kuivila) on friday... he gave me a cortisone injection for the hip. it was really terrible, the pain, from the injection... but he said that it will get worse for a few days, and then better. i'm currently in the worse. i was hoping the "worse" would have passed by today, but we are definitely still in it. i walk like i've been riding a horse for too long, it's more of a wobble. and every step and movement just radiates nauseating pain, up and down my leg and back. but, i am holding on to the hope that the injection will begin to help with the pain soon. its been a rough weekend, with the nauseating pain, that makes me tremble all over... but i'm hanging in there.

we also found out this week, on tuesday... that my body did not respond to the antibody treatment i received. so the immunologist wants to monitor me for a year, with some bloodwork, and i have to really try to avoid getting sick (loads of vitamins, antibacterial wipes, purell, etc...), and then if the counts are still too low, we will try IV treatment.

veritas tonight! which i'm in some need of. praying that i will be encouraged and strengthened, and that i would hear what my heart needs to hear, according to god's will, tonight. that my words, thoughts, and actions would be glorifying... that i would not be bitter or pitiful, but that i would have god's grace and mercy... that i would have the strength and comfort to get through the night. and that, especially during worship, my pain could be put aside, so that my heart can meditate on christ and my love for him, and not on earthly circumstances or aches and pains.

exam week is over! we did well!!!
health- 100%
english-100%
spanish-87%
history-96%
chemistry-87%
math-100%

stay warm and toasty, amidst this cold! :o)

lay down my pride

"lay down my pride,
my desires, my demise,
i'm ready now to see it your way
cause i'm done, i'm through, ignoring you,
now it's true, i'm kneeling at the cross of your grace,
lay down my pride." -jeremy camp

see the psychologist later this afternoon. it's my prayer that jesus would lay down my pride...my desires...my demise...i want to see it His Way... i'm on my knees before the cross... begging Him to lay down my pride. i don't want to do this my way... i want to be humbled and to have my pride layed down. will post more after the appointment.

overcome!

john 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have OVERCOME the world."
so i think it is pretty easy to just skim over this, and not think much of this verse. but dude, hold up. right here, jesus foretells us that we will have trouble, and then he goes, BUT, TAKE HEART! (exclamation point!), I have OVERCOME THE WORLD. how amazing is that. everything that hurts us, angers us, persecutes us, upsets us, worries us, ALL OF IT, jesus has already overcome it. it's incredible. i find such hope in that verse.

midterms have started! i had math and spanish today... so i was glad to get those out of the way. i have english tomorrow... and then health, chemistry, and history on thursday!

i guess my challenge for you today, is just... amidst your circumstances and struggles... whether they may be heart aches, physical aches and pain, family situations, work situations, relational problems, financial problems, or spiritual dryness... TAKE HEART! And rejoice in the fact that Jesus has overcome this world. He's overcome your pain. He's overcome your circumstances. He's overcome it all. He took the pain for you. And He's sitting right beside you... holding you in His Hands. it's my prayer for today... that I would always remember that Jesus is our living King and has overcome this world... and we've been set free. from this world. our afflictions are slight and momentary, in comparision to eternity. and praise god for that.

identity

"That's who I am
Forgiven and set free
It doesn't matter what the world may think of me
I got nothing to hide
I know my identity
Without a doubt I know His Blood has covered me
And that's who I am."

This is today's "theme" song, by Robert Pierre. I'm really down today... but I love this song, and how true it is. I'm forgiven and set free. It doesn't matter what the world may think of me. I've got nothing to hide. I know my identity. Without a doubt, I know His Blood has covered me. And THAT is who I am. i have conditions, but they are not me. i have them, they aren't me. i am god's. he has me covered. i love that. how amazing.