...

jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to bring you to an expected end.....

Above all powers...

Have you ever wondered? Do you ever wonder?

Why?

Why is it that some are blessed...and some are not. Some are happy...others not. Some oblivious...others too keenly aware. Why one, and not the other? What makes one better...or the other worse? Why should one have...and the other, have not? Why should one grin...and the other seethe?

Why?

Weddings, weddings, weddings

I went to a wedding this past weekend and took a ton of pics. This is my favorite, by far. I just love candles (I have waaay too many myself) and this scene just oozed romance.

IMG_1314
Originally uploaded by photoOdyssey

This circle of life...

I haven't even started yet and already I hate the process. The entire process. Are we there yet? Are we there yet?? Are we there yet??? SCREAAAAAM!!! Why does a process, any process, seem horrific when damn near everyone goes through the same process at some point or another. WOuldn't the fact that 80% of the population has gone through something and come out ok eliminate the fear of the same something for others about to go through it? Does any of this even make sense.

The lovelies

I have two nieces(and two nephews) and two nephews(from my brother) who live a few states away from me. This weekend I came into town and spent some time with the fam. I usually stay over at my sisters' so I hung out with my nieces( ages 6 and 2) more. I'm not sure if I just never studied both of them before or if this it's just that their relationship with each other is evolving but I was intrigued by their interaction. The 2 year old is constantly copying everything that the 6 year old does. I mean everything! It was bizarre. If the 6 year old sat/stood/danced/ate/read, the 2 year old sat/stood/danced/ate/read (well, she attempted to read). At some point, the 6 year old whispered something in my right ear so her sister wouldn't hear, and , you guessed it, the 2 year old came over to the same ear (odd since she was on my left side and closer to my left ear) and 'whispered' into it. I laughed till I cried especially because the 2 year old never actually said anything! She just (practically) blew air into my ear - probably because that's all she could make out when her sister whispered into my ear. It was amazing just watching them relate to each other. In mimicking her older sister, she's learning a ton. When even I am tempted to speak to her in 'baby speak', the 6 year old speaks to her in complete sentences and she understands everything. She also responds in kind as much as she can. I wonder if that's the norm in most families. Do the younger copy the older? Do they mimick their actions, words, mannerisms? Is this even a good thing? What if the person being mimicked has horrid behaviour? Is this how 'one bad egg spoils the bunch'. Are we as humans unable to build character without mimicking others or having examples to follow? This would explain why the bible says ' show me your friends and I'll show you who you are'. What about Jesus as an example? Maybe we also need folks around us with whom we can interact daily to help build our character. Upbringing vs. genetics. hmmm...

About the only thing the 2 year old wouldn't copy from the 6 year old was going to bed. For some reason, bedtime is always a chore with the 2 year old. As soon as she heard the words 'it's time to go to bed', she yelled 'No!' and started wailing. I tried to make her understand she needed to rest up for the next day but she wasn't buying it, her wailing intensified. Eventually, my sister heard the commotion and took her to bed ( with much wailing in tow).

Bye bye Birdie

Here is another picture I took at the park with my oh-so-wonderful Canon 450D. I must have taken at least five shots of this little darling because it just would not stay still! It kept jumping around and eventually flew away. This particular shot is my husband's favorite of all my park pictures. I myself cannot stare at the picture too long because after a few seconds, it kinda makes me dizzy :^) .

I cropped and slightly adjusted the exposure.

Foooood...!

It's 11am and I'm starving. Not good, especially since I had breakfast :(

Invite Sample

I dabble in wedding invitations and this is a sample of a wedding invie I worked on a few weeks ago. I love the colors.

new

Test

test

One step at a time...

...I'm climbing my mountain ~ TBD

Playing around with my Canon at a local park today. Here is a picture pre- and post- processing (ha, if you call fumbling around photoshop processing)

I stood pretty far away from the deer and zoomed in with my Canon EFS 55-250 lens. I tried to move closer but that bugger was watching me like it would bolt if I made a false move so I kept shooting from afar. I kinda like the shot. I'm not sure why the left eye is out of focus though. Boo
I'm by no means well versed in either photography or processing pictures but I'm taking one step at a time and researching online. Eventually, I'd like to get some books and take some classes.

Original shot
Post processed - Adjusted the white balance

Keeping it all together

I love Google reader. Manually Keeping track of all the blogs I visit was such a pain and I was only too happy to jump on the Google Reader bandwaggon. Its great having just one stop in order to read all the goodness from the blogs I frequent. The one downside I see is - given I don't actually visit these sites any longer, for the most part, (all their updated content is pushed to Google Reader via rss feeds), they're not getting any actual traffic hits from me . Now I haven't researched this so I can't say for sure how rss feeds are tracked and monitored - or if the sites get 'traffic' credits for each feed or per subscription- so for all I know, this may not even be an issue.

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?hl=en&nui=1&service=reader&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Freader%2F

Soon as I get home...

I'll make it up to you...
~Faith Evans


Per UPS's website, my camera is at home waiting for me =) =). (Doing a small dance!). Woooooot!!

Waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

Umm...12 noon and still not out for delivery yet.. What gives???

Twist and shout!!

~Beatles

I don't think I've EVER been this excited about any purchase I've made. EVER. I can't wait for my Canon to arrive. I just tracked the package online and it's already in my area (though not yet out for delivery - boooo!). I had half a mind to stay home today and just wait for the mailman but figured I better get my behind to work as I don't have many vacation days to spare this year. I'm soo stoked. I'm already picturing what my very first shot will be.

Did I mention I'm sooo excited!!

Baby I'm amazed by you

~Lonestar

I've been researching digital cameras for a little over a week. I love photography but I get easily overwhelmed by all the photography jargon. Exposure, ISO, Assist focus lamp, effective pixels, aliasing, live view, metering, aspect ratio, ... ouch...my head hurts already. Anyways I've decided to get a 'serious' camera and gently ease myself into understanding all the complicated photog speak. I scoured the web, blogs, user reviews, photography websites (btw, dpreview.com always rocks when you need indepth reviews of cameras/lens) and narrowed down my choices to two cameras. The Nikon D60 and the Canon EOS 450 (Rebel XSi). Both cameras are great on paper and have awesome reviews so it was tough choosing one.

A lot of users on photography forums recommend going in to a store to handle the cameras and then choosing the camera that 'feels' good to the individual (with regards to comparing these two cams specifically). Based on this, I went in to Best buy to check both cameras out in person. I quickly spotted the Canon and walked over to it. On picking it up I realized it was turned off and attempted to turn it on. When it didn't come on, I asked a sales rep for help. She played around with the camera for a few seconds and said, "I'm sorry, the battery is dead." Well charge the darn thing then, isn't that why you have the bad boy on display! But I didn't say that. Instead I kindly asked if she could charge it but her answer was that it would take too long. I was like WTH?! Too long for...? I then asked if they had the Nikon D60 and she went off to check. She came back with the Nikon but said it was broken. I couldn't even look at her for fear she'd see the sheer disgust on my face. This would never have happened at Circuit City. If my precious CC were still around I never would have ventured into Best buy in the first place. Needless to say my trip to check out the cameras in person was a waste.

After my futile visit, I did some more research and finally (after almost basing my decision on a coin toss) chose one!

The Canon 450D!




Images courtesy of dpreview.com

Totally drool-worthy no? I finally ordered it and it's scheduled to arrive tomorrow!!! I can't wait to start getting to know my new baby!

You raise me up

to walk on stormy seas ~ Josh Groban

I was watching a PBS special on David foster this morning and Josh Groban(!!) came on and performed his infamous 'You raised me up'. Words cannot express how much I love this song. God bless the writer, composer, Josh Groban for performing it, and everyone who had a hand in bringing this song to life.

Ooh I want you, I don't know if I need you but ...

~ Savage Garden

I'm in the market for a new handbag. I've looked high and low online, in stores, ebay, bag forums, friends, and the only thing I've seen so far is way beyond my budget. It's totally drool worthy, don't get me wrong, and I've been to the store a few times to check it out. The sales guy must think me weird for walking in, making a beeline for the shelf on which it sits, pulling it off the shelf, and holding it in my hands as I check myself out in the mirror (automatic bigz girlz status might I add=^). Then I gently place the beauty back on it's throne and walk out. Without further ado I present the holy grail of accessories...

...The Louis Vuitton Trevi GM (currently $2020)*

Affordability is not the issue, it's the unwillingness to part with $2000 for a mere ... accessory. All that cash for ONE item just seems so...wrong... but I've yet to meet a handbag that's made me drool this much in...forever. I wish I weren't so tightfisted and could just close my eyes and buy this baby but ...I don't think I have it in me. I should just stop day dreaming about the Trevi but it's hard! I want it so badly that I wish I had rich friends, or a rich uncle or something, lol. Until then though, a gal can dream...*groan*.


*Image obtained from here

Oops...!

No seriously, this site has the funniest collection of TMI crap...

STFU, Marrieds

I wanna sex you up

~Color me badd

Assumptions. Preconceived notions. They are all so annoying.

Why do folks use the term 'love life' in reference to having sex? (As in 'We have an active love life'.) Is that all there is to love? Sex? So as a single christian who believes premarital sex is a sin, am I incapable of love because I do not have sex with my boyfriend? After all, my answer to the 'How is your love life' question would be 'It's Non existent'. The use of the term 'love life' in reference to having sex is indicative of society's skewed values and increasing distance from God's mandates. Also, why do folks automatically assume a couple is having sex just because the couple live together? We're not all rabid animals lacking self control once we get within 2 feet of each other. Why can't I live with my boyfriend in peace (if I so choose) without being subjected to judgmental stares and snide comments? Why?

Too much information running through my brain ...Too much information driving me insane

~ Sting & Police

I totally cracked up when I saw this on one of the many blogs to which I subscribe via my Google reader. It's a hilarious site calling out sappy givers of TMI on FB. Click here -> Stfu Marrieds.

You know you know me know you

So that makes no sense and I don't really care cuz that's kinda what I'm going for.

As high school gals, my (then) best bud and I had diaries (or journals as we called them just so we'd sound more mature) into which we always poured our deepest thoughts. We also had younger brothers who made the secrecy of the contents of these journals impossible. Is the term nosy younger brother redundant? I think so. So we devised a means of hiding our journal entries in plain sight - via a code/cipher. Well, she had hers and I had mine. While, in light of today's methods of encryption, ours were below rudimentary, they served our needs quite well. Mine worked soo well, in fact, that you'd practically need a degree to encode and decode my entries. My bud's cipher, while not as strong as mine, was probably better suited to satisfying our two immediate needs. 1, keeping our brothers away and 2, enabling us to encode and decode on the fly , and without degrees. It made no sense to anyone but the two of us. We both decided to use her cipher and 13 years later, I still use it. I have to admit that I never totally discarded my cipher. I still use it for my super secret entries - all in fear that someone might decipher my friends cipher. In the event that happens, however, hopefully, my super secret thoughts will remain protected.

For years now I've thought of automating the encoding process. Creating a program which would eat up plain text and spit out text encoded by my friend's cipher. And alternately eat up encoded text and spit out plain text. I've thought about it for a while now but something always seemed to come up and distract me. Well, on Friday, I finally did it. It was pretty exciting as it took me back to high school and brought back memories of my bud. We've been out of touch for a while now... And while it was the easiest program I've written - save for the infamous 'Hello World' code- I guess nostalgia made it's coming to fruition so satisfying. Ah, It's the little things...

Write in a rush...

Little squiggly lines...to shaded-in unrecognizable figures, to names, to bits of phone conversations, to issues plaguing my mind, to random thoughts borne out of sheer boredom, I've scribbled it all. I 'm always writing ...BRB!

I love you, you're perfect...

...now CHANGE!

Well, not really a fitting title but...whatever.

When Mr. S and I were house hunting, we had a list of things we wanted in a home we'd call ours. Just as every house hunter does, I suppose. For starters, we knew we wanted a town house and not a single family home. Neither of us are ready for the responsibilities that come along with owning a single family home. We're not interested in mowing lawns or planting shrubs. Neither are we interested in watering the lawn or trimming trees. We knew we wanted a three bedroom home , with two and a half baths, a garage, a finished basement. What was most important to Mr S. was that it be an end unit. We finally found a house that met all our criteria, and in a very nice neighborhood at that. Given the market, we were able to negotiate a pretty good deal on the price of the house. We especially love the fact that we own an end unit and have no neighbors on one side of our house...just space and road. Well, there's a little playground thing about 15/20 feet from our house. A few days ago, when we had a warm spell, there were parents who brought their kids our to the playground thingy. It was cute...for all of 15 seconds or so, till we realized we could hear every noise they made. And if we leave our windows open, there'll be no privacy cuz they'll be able to see right in. Bummer, the summer's gonna suck big time if folks keep coming over to this measly playground thingy. Daggoneit!
Well, well. We also realized this end unit perk may not only be annoying in the summer. One afternoon, after a snow storm, a bunch of kids, along with their parents, came over to the side of the house and proceeded to go sledding ... really close to our house! Hmm, I don't know. We might have to tell some folks to back away from the house if I keep getting irritated. Man. Maybe I'm just jealous...I should have just gone sledding along with them.

That's Mrs. S to you!

Give me a name...and I'm yours forever
~ The Cadets

It only took four months and fifteen days but I finally did it! I finally dragged myself to the local SSA office and changed my name!!! Woo hoo! I was apprehensive as I've read soooo many not-so-nice stories about the name changing process with the SSA and thus was expecting a similar horror story. I got to the SSA office a few minutes after 12pm on thursday. A very windy thursday at that. I walked in and looked around quite expecting someone to point me in the right direction but as is the manner of uncouth people, everyone looked at me and then looked away not even acknowledging my greeting smile. That gets me everytime. Will a measley 'hello' damn you to hell for all eternity? Why not just say it! Why am I always digressing! Anyways, I walked in and looked around for some direction when the "Start here!" sign caught my attention. I moved closer to the sign and noticed the computer screen underneath the sign. On the screen were three options indication pretty much asking 'Why da heck have you come here to bother us today?'. I made a selection and out came a ticket with a number on it. I went to sit down while I waited for my number to be called. There were all of 7 folks in the waiting room, including one security officer whose job I assume it was to point people towards the computer to sign in. He was busy chatting away with a military guy talking about '...all them Koreans' and '...all them Chinese'. I tried not to listen as I didn't want to be inundated with mind numbing ignorance. Has any intelligent conversation ever contained the words 'All them Koreans'? Coarse rednecks.

Behind the counter were two SSA officials who were as slow as molasses! Cheese and crackers! When they were done with a customer, it took them a full five minutes to call the next person. What the heck?!?! Needless to say I was irritated at the lengthy wait and redneck talk it was all I could do to keep from walking out. I verified and re-verified that I had all the necessary docs. When I could no longer kill time by verifying, I watched Friends on the 13 inch TV in the waiting room. Do they still make those any more? (13inch TVs I mean) I made a mental note to myself to get the DVD set of all seasons of friends. "N130!" I jumped. Yaay, my number had been called! I walked up to the counter, gave the SSA official the form I'd printed and prefilled, a certified copy of my marriage certificate, and my passport. and that was all. I was out in 10 minutes. I spent a total of 30 minutes and now, I'm Mrs. S! My new SS card should arrive in the mail in two weeks.

I was excited until I went through my list of all the other stops on this name changing bus...and there are a LOT of stops. So many different companies and organizations to contact. Why on earth is this process so tedious? It's a wonder anyone actually changes their name? This process really should be streamlined and simplified.

Tearing my hair out...

...and it hasn't even started yet.

I was in the seventh grade when I had my first encounter with cramps. Well, not personally, but a classmate of mine was lying down across two desks, writhing in pain from menstrual cramps. She was in so much pain and no one could help her. When school was over that day, she had to be helped just to walk out of the school premises. Ever since that incident I've always felt MAJORLY blessed not to know the horror that is cramping. I've never felt cramps, in fact, if I'm not watching the calendar and being cognizant of the day of the month, my period has a tendency to ummm surprise me. Which is why I always have extra pads (yes, I'm one of the few who finds tampons pretty icky) in my bag and in my car. But I digress, as I said, I've never felt menstrual cramps before. That is, until a few months ago :(. On day one of my period i began to feel this dull pain that I practically ignored until it stopped me dead in my tracks and I almost couldn't breathe. I was rather surprised initially but it didn't take long for me to realize what it was. The dull pain would intensify, and then subside, intensify, subside. I knew i was officially cramping. Honestly, I thought it was kinda cool. It was nice to feel the same pain numerous females had complained about, missed school for, and called off work for. The nice feeling lasted all of 5 seconds...and then reality hit. Not. Fun. Not . Fun. At. All. But at least it only happened with every second period or so and then only the first and maybe the second day.

Fast forward to today. I'm cramping so bad right now, and my period hasn't even started !?! WTF!?! Is that even normal. Off to find my Aleve.

Intentionally untitled...

Sometimes I wonder...why?
Why do we act? Why fake it? What's so wrong with being...real?
What's wrong with being...truthful?
Why does no one speak the truth? but instead hide behind a facade of utopia
Where all is perfect and blissful and glorious
But that's the facade. Reality is much less desirable.
Why does she say - to all - that she's blissfully married
when - inwardly - she's constantly crying about her husband's addiction to <...>
I couldn't help but stare in disbelief at her as she attempted to propagate the lie...coupled with a huge smile... a farce. Why?
Why does she giggle and profess her marriage is grrreat when the truth is...her husband is an ass...if I do say so myself. An insensitive ass who ignores her half the time?
Why does she praise her husband all over town...when he, not too long ago, flew his girlfriend in from London and shagged her for a week or so.
Why?
Why the lies?
Why can't we all just tell the truth. James 5:16 - "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed" If we do not communicate the truth, how will we know to pray for one another? Why are we afraid ...or too embarrassed to be honest about our lives?? After all, the bible states in 1 Cor 10:13 - "You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it."
In essence, there is nothing you are going through that someone else hasn't gone through before. Whatever you are facing, someone else has been there! So why lie? How can we help each other out if we hide our testimonies??!

When I went through a very bad breakup I kept asking 'why me'? When my friend went through a pretty bad breakup very recently, I was able to relate and (hopefully) help her out because her situation was eerily similar to mine. Is the fact that I was able to help her out the answer to my "Why me" question? Did I go through all that heartache just so 4 years later I'd be able to help my friend out?Honestly, I don't know. Would I have been able to help her out if I hadn't been through something similar? No, no I wouldn't. Not to the degree to which I helped out anyways. It's best to communicate our issues. You never know whose life you can make better just because you've 'been there'. At least they'll know they're not alone and maybe, just maybe, there's a light at the end of that tunnel.

Fab Find! Dirt cheap greeting cards

Now anyone who knows me knows I'm a Hallmark gal myself. Give me a card and I turn the envelope over to look for the Hallmark logo before I even look at the card. I don't even do it consciously any more - I just hope no one's offended when I do that.

So I ended up at 'Tarjet' today and perused the greeting card aisles when I saw a section of 99cents and even better, 50cents! now, you'd ordinarily think these cards would be utter rubbish but they are sooo not! I had to take a few pics just in case I don't believe myself tomorrow, lol, as proof. Excuse the crappy pics from my camera phone - not sure why that last one pic is upside down but I can't be bothered to fix that right now...off to bed!

3 taha3naka 1ba45ta ya45 1lala taha3 ta3ma3

...
...
...
3ta da42sanata ha2lapa taha1ta 3 sa22 5 3na maya dara21masa
...
...
Xjmm j fufs gbmm pvu pg mpwf xjui zpv??

La3fa2 3sa 5nafa13ra

I wish I didn't wish so...

...

From every mountain top...

...let freedom reign



Below is the transcript of president Obama's inauguration speech:

My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations

Obtained from cnn.com

4nalaya Ga4da 1nada ta3ma2...

...ca1na ha21la 1 bara4ka2na ha21rata.


Why does hurt linger
Why does the pain not go away
Why the illusion of peace
when a mistaken glimpse results in a sharp intake
baited breath...a gasp
and running away
Why does hurt linger
when all have forgotten
all but one
when feasting is the order of the day on one end
outwardly
but inwardly, *what if's, maybe's, shoulda's, woulda's, coulda's*
Time...time...heals all
laughable that is
in this case, it simply is erroneous
simply untrue...inconceivable.
But the stark reality of it all
the hurt...it lingers

How many ways do I love thee...

...let me count the ways

*sigh*

I just love these chairs from west elm.



If only they were 50% off. *sigh*

SCREEEEEEAAAAAAAAMMM

Gossip girl returns tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!
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*shakes head* I can be sooooo pedestrian sometimes.....

Yes, yes we can...

Ahh...it seems as though i've finally snapped out of my post-wedding stupor and have returned to stalking blogs once again. Only it's now design blogs, not wedding blogs that are my weakness. I've been looking for some inspiration for our living room paint colors and quite fortunately stumbled upon this site. Tons of great ideas a community of designers have put together to be critiqued by each other. You can view designs for all the different rooms in a home and the best part is that the designers list the stores from which they have gotten all elements used in the decor.

Image obtained from http://www.designmyroom.com