Reflection on the Fall 2009 Semester

CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR 2009

So many interesting and challenging this happened this semester that I'm not sure where to start.

This is me at a beach in San Francisco somewhat near the Zoo.



Random pic of the sunset at 3rd and highway 65 in my hometown.

This semester has definitely been a very interesting one.

I had signed up for 7 classes. (What was I thinking?) And I'm still passing all of them and this is the last week until Christmas break.

I was so glad that I could spend part the semester with my parents and my sister because in July I'll be opening a new chapter in my life and moving to a suburb of Boise, Idaho to attend Northwest Nazarene University.

The State Fair is always incredible :)
The trip to San Francisco was very interesting to say the least....we got a really good deal on the motel room...9th and mission...that area broke my heart. Homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk...I had to step over one guy who's legs were sticking out almost to the street. :'(

Yet, there's something about San Francisco, something that draws me there. Maybe it's the ocean that you can see from Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Maybe because I've been going there with my family since I was young.

My parents at the Eagle Cafe

Whatever it is....San Francisco is an awesomely broken place.

And may God be there for the people to reside, work and visit there. O;)




Life is one of those fragile things. Life mends, life heals.

Looking back on my crazy semester I can't help but think more about my relationships with my family and God rather than the interactions I've had this semester....although I do have a good friend now because of my Journalism class. :)

This semester I finished my Associate of Arts Degree for Deaf Studies...this week I'm finishing up my last required class Creative Sign and there are going to be some really good people I won't see anymore because our common goal is finishing.

I'm just glad that all these people that I'm come to befriend and trust are going out into the Deaf communities across America to help bridge the cap between the hearing and Deaf worlds.

Below is my favorite video from my semesters learning sign language. Enjoy! (It's a young woman preforming the theme song to "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" in ASL!)

GOD IS AWESOME!

Most of you know me pretty well, and for the last couple of years you have heard me talking about going to Idaho and going to Northwest Nazarene University to help better prepare myself for ministry in the Deaf community.

Friday, November 5th, I officially got accepted into Northwest Nazarene University!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Bad Habits

Habits are part of everyday life....some are in the from of traditions and others ones that you've picked up along the way in life.

Some don't harm in anyway...like twirling pencils when you are bored, or popping your neck or knuckles.

Some, however are harmful like smoking or pulling out your eyelashes and eyebrows.

Now, you wouldn't think that pulling out your hair around your eyes is such a big deal.
However, the reason why the hair is there in the first place is because it protects the eyes from little particles or other things that can irritate your eyes. (As I am sitting typing this, I am popping my knuckles...)

Anyway, I have been pulling out my eyelashes and eyebrows since I was 10 years old. (So half my life)
10 was when I was diagnosed with asthma. When I started gaining a lot more weight that I should have been and when my mom's side of the family stopped talking to me and my mom and my dad and my sister, because of something that I thought was my fault. (My aunt blamed me. Why? I don't know)

I started doing that as a stress-er...not intentionally as a stress-er, but that's what it turned into.

When I pulled out a little chunk of eyelashes, it was like the stress was leaking through the little holes where the hair roots were, and I felt better.

Now, I only pull out my lashes and eyebrows when I am stressed. And I have been stressed for a long time, over different things, because my eyelashes and eyebrows have never fully grown back. On a couple of occasions, in the summer for instance, I was able to buy mascara for the first time and use it...but then I pulled out my eyelashes and I have this mascara that I WANT to use but can't.

I'm not sure why I am always stressed. Different things, built up over the years, which caused my depression for the month of September. (Boy am I glad that's OVER)

I'm not even sure why I'm blogging about this...the Holy Spirit wanted me to blog about this.......
Wow



blogging about this is releasing some of my burden...hm...

(THANK YOU GOD!!!!)
Anyway, God bless all of you and thanks for all the prayers!
Cody Marie

Jogging Update...

Last week I failed to jog.


Part of the reason is that I'm scared. Why?
Because of my asthma.
When I was a child, I would wake up in the middle of the night, not breathing.
I have never been rushed to the hospital because of my asthma, but I'm afraid that I will.

I know exercise is VERY important for a healthy body and mind. However, I am not sure how to achieve it without sending me to the emergency room.

Any ideas? I'd love to know. Post them on here, Facebook, wherever you can catch me.


Maybe I just need to walk.
Maybe I just need to ride my bicycle.
Maybe I just need to do stretching and yoga.


What I do know for sure is that God wants me to cut ALL soda.
He gave me the BIGGEST hint this morning before I started blogging.
Yahoo! Health was one of the news stories that popped up on the page.
Here's the link...

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/20270/what-soft-drinks-are-doing-to-your-body/

(Just copy and paste)

Anyway, God bless you for reading this and please keep praying for me. Giving up soda is going to be MUCH harder than trying to stop pulling out my eyelashes and eyebrows. (That will be my next blog)


Peace and blessing for the month of November!
Cody Marie

Well, I told you that I'd keep you updated on my "jogging" progress.

My goal last week was to run Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

What I actually did: Wednesday and Sunday.

My jog Wednesday was rough; no denyin' it. Although my block is around 1/3 of a mile, it felt like I jogged a marathon. I went jogging before school at about 7:50 and I returned home about 8am. My asthma was acting up really bad, I had to take my emergency inhaler two times on my jog alone and another time when I got back. I was wheezing from the time I got back home until about 5pm, I couldn't stop coughing and it was a hard day for me.

Sunday, when I had the house to myself in the afternoon, I moved the coffee table so I could do stretching. But, being nervous and cautious I didn't run around my block again...instead I clicked on iTunes on my computer and I started playing a Skillet CD that I have and I jogged in place in my house to 3 songs (about 12 minutes)...I still got a major workout, but I did it in the safety of my own home and had a place to sit in case I had a "charlie horse" which I usually get when I overexert my calf muscles.

I checked the scale this morning, just to see if I had lost any weight and

Starting Weight: (10/19) 226
Today's Weight: (10/26) 221

I was really encouraged by that 5 pounds, so I made my lunch and brought it to school today. :)

Anyway, God bless and thanks for reading and praying.

Cody Marie