i want to add to the beauty

I’m holding a scrap of paper. Various names and combinations of names are scrawled across it in blue ink. Like any girl, I have spent time connoting concocting names for the children I hope someday to call my own. Who says my future husband will like these? I don’t know. But for now, I’m going to record these before I loose this scrap of paper. I say, it will be delightful to look back on someday.

Peter Blake — Peter means Rock and Blake means black or pale. No significant meaning attached here really.

Ethan Miles — Ethan is ’solid, enduring’ and Miles is ’soldier.’ Enduring Soldier.

Talitha Cumi — I came across this while reading in Mark a few weeks ago. These are Jesus’ words as he spoke ‘Little girl, arise’ to the young maid. I’ve since seen this used as a name, indeed John Piper’s daughter’s name is Talitha.

Cosette. I’ve thought this name beautiful for a long while. However, I can’t find a meaning to it. Thinking I like it as a middle name, though the duo “Cosette Ava” as a first and middle name sounds appealing.

Jacob Goforth — Not sure what Jacob means, and Goforth is a given.

Katherine, Heidi, Clara, Titus, Jane, Justice, Louisa, Charlotte, Samuel, Ellison, and Andrea are the rest of the names scribbled down before me. Katherine (with a K, mind you!) is definitely a favourite. :)

Girls, what do you think of my names? What are some of your favorite names, meanings, and combinations? What does your name mean? Katie is ‘pure’ and Marie is ‘bitter’. Hmm. :) I’m not sure what ‘Ktsia’ is– I’ll get back to you on that.

l to r: Matthew (my brother) Christina Boskovic, David Boskovic, Katie Marie, and Jake Smith.

The day spent with these dear people was a blast! Not to mention that the fellowship was delightful.

And imagine that! It’s 3/4 of the former ROC (Regenerate our Culture) Tech Team, together at once: Jake, David, and Katie Marie . Too bad Alex wasn’t there also!

This year’s New Attitude conference.

I’ve never been to one. And it’s just the past year of 2007 that I’ve been introduced to Sovereign Grace Ministries. Yet, the from what I hear and what I see, the conference sounds amazing and so full of truth. Yes, I want to go. Very much so. So much that I’m actually thinking of any possible way to save enough for that plane ticket out there, the hotel, and the conference fee.

But I don’t really have the funds this year…I reason, I can always go another year. Yet, the topic this year is on Scripture. As the site says, “This year at Na 08 we’ll rediscover the well-worn pages of our Bibles. We’ll spend time considering the certainty, sufficiency, and relevance of God’s word – that it may become to us a joy and our delight.” When I first read this, my heart leaped. Oh, I do want to attend this year, the topic will be different next year. I suppose I can always just listen to the messages afterward via mp3. But would that be the same?

Oh, what shall I do?

p.s. Pro? I could even spend some time with Hannah Schlaudt, that dear girl. Oh, that’d be amazing.

p. p.s. Con? I admit, growing up in Southern or Independent Baptist churches, the worship there might be a bit out of my comfort zone. Still thinking that over too.

I always find it humorous when someone hasn’t blogged for 3 months and then they post something like this:

“Hey you all! I’m not going to be able to blog this week, I’m taking a test. But I’ll be back after that.”

I always wonder…um, what about the last 3 months?

But here, I offer no apology. And no promises. But I do have something else to speak of: www.forthrightfixation.com . Enjoy! I’m contributing over there. :)

…I want to redesign the Cyber Hymnal.

I wonder what kind of database managment it has currently?

Of course, the site needs to retain a simplicity. But there are a few things aesthetically and otherwise that I’d love to have the opportunity to direct.

Like the fact that the midi files [ack!] start up automatically and freeze my browser up every time. And the blue clouds, oh, the blue clouds.

That said, to the folks who run Cyber Hyman: thank you for the work you’ve put into it; I’ve used it innumerable times and have found it a great reference.

I overheard this conversation between my brother, Matthew, and a young boy, who I am not acquainted with. I suppose him to be about 12 years old, and I will call him ‘Nick’.

Nick: So, do you have any systems?
Matthew: any what?
Nick: systems…you know, ps2, etc….
Matthew: Oh. No, I don’t really play video games. [sisterly addition: Matthew never plays video games; he doesn't own any.]
Nick: Oh. You know? Nobody does anymore…
Matthew: eh?
Nick: No one plays video games anymore, everybody now likes to play outside
[my jaw dropped]

—

Interesting, aye? My observations have been the exact opposite concerning youth and video games, and I wonder where this young man got this perspective. Maybe he was just talking to talk, maybe he lives in a totally different environment. Or maybe, he was just a wee bit sad and a tad bitter that Matthew wasn’t into video games.

The conversation continued with Nick explaining and attempting to discuss video games with Matt. The conversation didn’t last long.

Cheers to all the young men who are following the modern trend of spending their time enjoying the great outdoors instead of sitting in front of the black screen of death. :D

Yesterday, I turned in my last school project for the semester. I also received 2 new books. What a deal! Guess what I’m looking forward to doing this break?

The first I received was a copy of Blaise Pascal’s Pensees. Pascal has fascinated me for years, but I’ve never had a copy of his works to call my own, though I picked of Pascal’s works at the library a few times. The Pensees are the collection of his theological and Christian apologetics notes– each note is to be savored, thought over again, and then, also often laughed over. Indeed, I love his blend of wit and wisdom. I’ve been known to curl up on the couch with a copy of his the Pensees and burst into laughter as I digest the words I’m reading.

Like I said though, the only time I’ve previously been able to get a hand on Pascal was with that library edition. I say that library edition. I didn’t like it. The translation was unsatisfactory, and it had a bad habit of being due back at the library way too often. Thus, I was thrilled to receive a birthday package in the mail yesterday containing “The Mind on Fire”, a collection of Pascals’ Pensees (with selections from his Provincial Letters) all edited by James Houston– edited because I can’t read French. :) I can’t wait to spend some of this break with my own copy of Pascal, gleaning nuggets of wisdom and laughing over truthful wit.

The second book I’ll spend some time with is “A Passion for the Impossible” by Miriam Huffman Rockness. Remember how I mentioned Lilias Trotter a few months ago? I initially read a chapter about her in Noel Piper’s “Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God” and was immediately impacted by the life of this woman– Lilias Trotter, artist, missionary, not afraid of giving up anything in order to follow the call of Christ. Her faith has been an inspiration to me, and her focused life a rebuke to the self centered, scatter-brained world I find myself wrapped in.

Well, also for my birthday, Jessica gave me Lilias’ biography. I was so surprised, as I had only mentioned Lilias to Jessica a few times. Now, I don’t have to travel to MI to borrow the book from Anna. :)

What books are you reading this break?

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer,
With His blood, He purchased me.
On the cross, He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I’ll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.

Philip Paul Bliss, 1838-1876

And Ktsia is very, very much enjoying a few of Fernando Ortega’s albums tonight. These two.

“Christ is sufficient. We do not need support groups for each and every separate tribulation. The most widely divergent sorrows may all be taken to the foot of the same old rugged cross and find there cleansing, peace and joy.”

- These Strange Ashes, Elisabeth Elliot.

If I get a chance, I’ll write a review and synopsis of These Strange Ashes. I picked it up off the library shelf a few weeks ago and feel as if I discovered a gem!

p.s. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Elisabeth Elliot this month. :)

More than four in 10, or 43 percent, of teens who instant messaging use it for things they wouldn’t say in person, according to an Associated Press-AOL poll released. .. “If they freak out or something, you don’t see it,” said Cassy Hobert, 17, a high school senior from Frenchburg, Ky., and avid IMer who has used it for arranging dates. “And if I freak out, they don’t have to see it.” … “Fear of rejection — if you’re face to face, you can’t close out the window and disappear if you’ve been rejected” like you could if you were instant messaging.

Read the rest from FoxNews.com

Interesting. And quite sad. What do you think?