Here's a short summary of my expierence in participating in the jr high retreat this past weekend. We had a nice bus ride there (camp Kawanis, near Cooper Spur...a bit higher though), until we got stuck, because we didn't chain up. But by all of us gettin of the bus, we were ok.
I was cabin leader to 12 girls. (6-8th grade). We had good devotion times. I had a very talkative group. I was the only girl adult leader who was young...so my group thought that was pretty fun. Last year there were about 80 kids with a 1:4 leader to kid ratio. This year there were 120 kids, with a 1:12 ratio. It was alot of fun though.
On Saturday we went up to the tubing area. At night we had a worship service, and our speaker Mike Miller, led the kids into the presence of God. They were crying, and praying for each other, and worshiping the Lord.
I had an excellent time with some of the moms of the jr. high girls. It's always good to talk and be with older, wiser people. There was actually only one other guy who was my age...quite different from last year, having 7 interns who went.
We concluded the weekend with a church service, and some more snow fun.
So yeah, it was a good time. Nice to be able to connect with the kids, and get to know the parents and leaders more.
2.28.2007
2.18.2007
Ya Hala
So I went with my friend Heather last night to this most amazing Lebanese restaurant called Ya Hala. It’s on 82nd and Stark in southesast Portland. Sweet mother it was amazing…however I suggest that you make reservations if you go. We had to wait 45min. But was it ever worth it…heck yes! We started off with some drinks, rose water is tasty (if you can imagine this…it tastes like roses smell…and, it’s pink!) and fresh baked bottomless pita bread…yum. Our salads were delicious and drizzled in a honey-rose vinaigrette. For dinner, I had Rack of Lamb, braised in a roses sauce, and laid in a bed of hummas. We would have finished the night off with some pistachio Baklava, however we were much too full. I didn’t even eat the half of my lamb…lunch tomorrow. For more info see www.yahalarestaurant.com
2.17.2007
Flavors of Me
Ok, ok, last blog for today. Or is it? So...how is it that Maria can be such a divided person? Ha, trust me...
On one hand, I'm the down-shome country gal whose constantly listening to Cash and Daniels. And yes, I've three pair of boots, chaps, spurrs, and a hat. And I love to ride bareback. I love the USofA, politics, and if you even think about disagreeing with Uncle Sam...well, you can take your traterous liberal butt to France, and Canada works as well. I am a firm believer inRKBA, and the peace sign is the footprint of the American chicken, if guns are outlawed, I'll be an outlaw. I am so not into environmentalist, tree-huggin, PETE joined, "I don't want to wear animal hide", "keep Portland weird", vegetarian hippies. And yes, tractors are sexy...and I want to paint my room in John Deere Green.
On the other hand, I love to dress up. Travel (including road trips) is amazing. Art, history, museums are incredible. French food is fantastic, and yes...including escargot, calamari, and caviar...yum! I like hotel hoppin', going to cocktail parties, dancing, playing poker, poetry, Dean Martin, VanGogh and Monet. World maps are um...wondrous. Operas, Broadway, and theatre is intense.
And then there's a small percent of me who would listen to Christsafari, run barefoot on a white beach in Jamaica, and sip some rum. (ok...that I made up...how bout kayaking instead)
And an even small percent of me could occasionally by a red Ferrari with tinted windows and headbang to Akon or Ludacris...while I drive to a ghetto dance club. ha.
On one hand, I'm the down-shome country gal whose constantly listening to Cash and Daniels. And yes, I've three pair of boots, chaps, spurrs, and a hat. And I love to ride bareback. I love the USofA, politics, and if you even think about disagreeing with Uncle Sam...well, you can take your traterous liberal butt to France, and Canada works as well. I am a firm believer inRKBA, and the peace sign is the footprint of the American chicken, if guns are outlawed, I'll be an outlaw. I am so not into environmentalist, tree-huggin, PETE joined, "I don't want to wear animal hide", "keep Portland weird", vegetarian hippies. And yes, tractors are sexy...and I want to paint my room in John Deere Green.
On the other hand, I love to dress up. Travel (including road trips) is amazing. Art, history, museums are incredible. French food is fantastic, and yes...including escargot, calamari, and caviar...yum! I like hotel hoppin', going to cocktail parties, dancing, playing poker, poetry, Dean Martin, VanGogh and Monet. World maps are um...wondrous. Operas, Broadway, and theatre is intense.
And then there's a small percent of me who would listen to Christsafari, run barefoot on a white beach in Jamaica, and sip some rum. (ok...that I made up...how bout kayaking instead)
And an even small percent of me could occasionally by a red Ferrari with tinted windows and headbang to Akon or Ludacris...while I drive to a ghetto dance club. ha.
2.05.2007
Scoliosis
“Well Maria,” my dad had said to me, “his is our last meal with a crooked spine,” as we were munching on sandwiches at a local Subway.
We had discovered that I had Scoliosis when I was about nine years old. Scoliosis is the technical term meaning: abnormal curvature of the spine. I also had abnormal rotation of the spine (forgot the technical term for it). The doctor informed us that I in fact, had two curves, one on the top (or thoracic), and one on the lower part of the spine (or lumbar). In other works, I had an S-curved spine. When I felt like I was standing up straight, my family said that I looked like I was going to fall backward. Also, one of my legs is longer, and one of my shoulders is higher, and one of my shoulder blades sticks out more…all effected by scoliosis.
About a year later, I went to another doctor to find out would our options were. The doctor said that since the degree of the curve wasn’t that extensive yet, (28 degrees for the thoracic, and 26 for the lumbar), the curves could be corrected by wearing a brace. The other option was surgery, if the curve exceeded 45 degrees.
My back had never bothered me, and didn’t cause me any pain. Because I have such a high pain tolerance, it’s a miracle that we found out that I had scoliosis at an early age. The degree of the curve increases with age and your amount of growth (and I didn’t stop growing until age 19!). It could get as bad as my becoming crippled someday.
Not long after, I was fitted for a brace, It was the most uncomfortable thing one could wear. It was much like a corset, worn under the clothes, but it was made of a hard plastic. It synched up with large Velcro straps in the back. The left side went up the armpit, so that it would compensate the curve. Now I felt as if I’d fall forward.
I wore the brace for a period of about fourteen months. I wore it at night at first, then gradually worked my way up to wearing it all the time, except when showering. It was annoying at times. I had to buy pants several sized larger. I also couldn’t bend over very far.
Though I must admit this brace (Boston Brace) was much better then the old-fashioned Milwaukee brace. The Milwaukee brace came up under your neck, so you couldn’t even turn your head. At least no one knew I was wearing this one unless they decided to punch me in the guts.
Wearing the brace had kept the thoracic curve at a steady 30 degrees. About a year and a half into wearing the brace my dad read something on the internet about the Copes Brace. It was a new and improved version of the Boston Brace. It was made of a light-weight thermo-plastic, so that I could bend, and be more flexible. The only drawback was that it was $78,000, compared to $2,000 (the cost of the Boston Brace).
Some time after finding about the Copes Brace, we got a second opinion from a local Chiropractor. He said that by coming in for weekly adjustments, we could correct the curve. So for about eighteen months, we did as he advised, until we were shocked with devastating results. The curve had gotten far worse. The thoracic curve was at 53 degrees, and the lumbar was at 46 degrees. We hadn’t taken an x-ray the entire time I went to the Chropractor, not knowing at the time, but it was a very unwise thing to do.
By this time I was about thirteen. Now it seemed that there was only one option: surgery, but we tried everything that we could to prevent it. I wore the brace for another six months. That didn’t help.
Now I only had one option. The surgery would consist of making a 10 inch insion down the center of my back, and inserting two three inch long titanium rods on either side of my spine.
I was fifteen years old when I had the surgery. The surgery went very well, it only took four hours instead of six. It corrected the curve to 32 degrees (thoracic).
If the curve stays the same for awhile, I’m good to go, if not I might have to have a second surgery, which would limit my mobility.
I praise God that the surgery and recovery went so well. I feel very fortunate. The surgery has not restricted me from any of my normal activities, except for Rugby (I’m sure I can live without that).
And no, I don’t set off the alarm while going through the security gate at the airport.
We had discovered that I had Scoliosis when I was about nine years old. Scoliosis is the technical term meaning: abnormal curvature of the spine. I also had abnormal rotation of the spine (forgot the technical term for it). The doctor informed us that I in fact, had two curves, one on the top (or thoracic), and one on the lower part of the spine (or lumbar). In other works, I had an S-curved spine. When I felt like I was standing up straight, my family said that I looked like I was going to fall backward. Also, one of my legs is longer, and one of my shoulders is higher, and one of my shoulder blades sticks out more…all effected by scoliosis.
About a year later, I went to another doctor to find out would our options were. The doctor said that since the degree of the curve wasn’t that extensive yet, (28 degrees for the thoracic, and 26 for the lumbar), the curves could be corrected by wearing a brace. The other option was surgery, if the curve exceeded 45 degrees.
My back had never bothered me, and didn’t cause me any pain. Because I have such a high pain tolerance, it’s a miracle that we found out that I had scoliosis at an early age. The degree of the curve increases with age and your amount of growth (and I didn’t stop growing until age 19!). It could get as bad as my becoming crippled someday.
Not long after, I was fitted for a brace, It was the most uncomfortable thing one could wear. It was much like a corset, worn under the clothes, but it was made of a hard plastic. It synched up with large Velcro straps in the back. The left side went up the armpit, so that it would compensate the curve. Now I felt as if I’d fall forward.
I wore the brace for a period of about fourteen months. I wore it at night at first, then gradually worked my way up to wearing it all the time, except when showering. It was annoying at times. I had to buy pants several sized larger. I also couldn’t bend over very far.
Though I must admit this brace (Boston Brace) was much better then the old-fashioned Milwaukee brace. The Milwaukee brace came up under your neck, so you couldn’t even turn your head. At least no one knew I was wearing this one unless they decided to punch me in the guts.
Wearing the brace had kept the thoracic curve at a steady 30 degrees. About a year and a half into wearing the brace my dad read something on the internet about the Copes Brace. It was a new and improved version of the Boston Brace. It was made of a light-weight thermo-plastic, so that I could bend, and be more flexible. The only drawback was that it was $78,000, compared to $2,000 (the cost of the Boston Brace).
Some time after finding about the Copes Brace, we got a second opinion from a local Chiropractor. He said that by coming in for weekly adjustments, we could correct the curve. So for about eighteen months, we did as he advised, until we were shocked with devastating results. The curve had gotten far worse. The thoracic curve was at 53 degrees, and the lumbar was at 46 degrees. We hadn’t taken an x-ray the entire time I went to the Chropractor, not knowing at the time, but it was a very unwise thing to do.
By this time I was about thirteen. Now it seemed that there was only one option: surgery, but we tried everything that we could to prevent it. I wore the brace for another six months. That didn’t help.
Now I only had one option. The surgery would consist of making a 10 inch insion down the center of my back, and inserting two three inch long titanium rods on either side of my spine.
I was fifteen years old when I had the surgery. The surgery went very well, it only took four hours instead of six. It corrected the curve to 32 degrees (thoracic).
If the curve stays the same for awhile, I’m good to go, if not I might have to have a second surgery, which would limit my mobility.
I praise God that the surgery and recovery went so well. I feel very fortunate. The surgery has not restricted me from any of my normal activities, except for Rugby (I’m sure I can live without that).
And no, I don’t set off the alarm while going through the security gate at the airport.
2.04.2007
Random Thoughts up for Debate
Some Random thoughts about Debate...
Yo!
I will herby say that, this is partly my opinion. Sorry if anyone is offended, and you can talk to me for further questions or comments.
Now time for Giraffe’s opinion. First of all, What is debate? 1. To consider something; deliberate. 2. To engage in argument by discussing opposing points. 3. To engage in a formal discussion or argument. See synonyms atdiscuss. (taken from “The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language”).
And yes, argue is here. So let’s have a look at what argue means. 1. To put forth reasons for or against; debate:, 2. To attempt to prove by reasoning; maintain or contend:, 3. To give evidence of; indicate:, 4. To persuade or influence (another), as by presenting reasons:. (again taken from “The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language”)
Assuming that we are talking about this form of debate…
Consider the following from Acts 15:2
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
This was in fact, about an internal issue of salvation.
Debate, in my opinion, can become both good or bad. Granted usually argument and debate are perceived as having a negative connotation. However, I do believe that they can be used for the good. This is in the context of two believers. One does not only define debating as just two parties trying to persuade each other to take his side. It is also just stating two opposing views, so that the audience can come to a better conclusion, by hearing a certain viewpoint, from a believer in that viewpoint’s perspective.
Also debate didn’t occur between believers and non-believers, persuading them to be saved. I’m not so sure that Jesus would want to have it that way.
But of course, as I said…this is just one man opinion’s. I really think that id could be good…possibly…maybe…
Yo!
I will herby say that, this is partly my opinion. Sorry if anyone is offended, and you can talk to me for further questions or comments.
Now time for Giraffe’s opinion. First of all, What is debate? 1. To consider something; deliberate. 2. To engage in argument by discussing opposing points. 3. To engage in a formal discussion or argument. See synonyms atdiscuss. (taken from “The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language”).
And yes, argue is here. So let’s have a look at what argue means. 1. To put forth reasons for or against; debate:, 2. To attempt to prove by reasoning; maintain or contend:, 3. To give evidence of; indicate:, 4. To persuade or influence (another), as by presenting reasons:. (again taken from “The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language”)
Assuming that we are talking about this form of debate…
Consider the following from Acts 15:2
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
This was in fact, about an internal issue of salvation.
Debate, in my opinion, can become both good or bad. Granted usually argument and debate are perceived as having a negative connotation. However, I do believe that they can be used for the good. This is in the context of two believers. One does not only define debating as just two parties trying to persuade each other to take his side. It is also just stating two opposing views, so that the audience can come to a better conclusion, by hearing a certain viewpoint, from a believer in that viewpoint’s perspective.
Also debate didn’t occur between believers and non-believers, persuading them to be saved. I’m not so sure that Jesus would want to have it that way.
But of course, as I said…this is just one man opinion’s. I really think that id could be good…possibly…maybe…
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