There's something about ...

There's something about Christmas trees
that bring excitement and anticipation,
There's something about the lights on the tree
that make the room all aglow,
There's something about ribbons
that liven a dull green background,

There's something about the ornaments
that brings a twinkle to the eye,
There's something about the star on top
that brings warm fuzzy feelings,
There's something about the holidays
that brings families together,

There's something about Christ
that He would lay down His life for us,

There's something about Christmas...

when a Baby was born in the manger
who would take on the sins of many
to bring peace on Earth and life everlasting.


put up my Christmas tree today. first put up the actual tree, then strung the lights, then arranged the ribbon, then the ornaments, and finally the star (well actually, my mom put the star up first before the ornaments cuz she wanted to make sure it would stay... but it's SUPPOSED to go last). my house is starting to feel a l'il more festive... my mom started putting the garlands up on the staircase, we're getting all the Christmas-y things out (i.e. a plastic carousel that plays Christmas carols when you press a button). overall had a pretty good day... did some work in the morning, or at least attempted to, till i got stuck on how to make something a duotone pantone image :/ ... then went out and just talked with friends for a while (good times at main street you guys)... then came home, did more work, put up the tree, had an awesome dinner with my WHOLE family (something we haven't done in a while), finished up decorating, took some pictures, and played Minesweeper Flags with a good friend.

just as my house is feeling more festive, i'm starting to realize that the holidays are coming! and with the holidays comes exams, Christmas shopping, card writing, Christmas parties, family trips, and the list goes on. and i guess with all the hustle and bustle of the season, it just hit me that for some people, Christmas may be the hardest time of the year.

i guess over the past couple of days, i've really been reflecting on the events of the past week. not really events that apply to me directly, but events that have turned the worlds of my friends upside down and inside out. and i've come to realize how much of a charmed life i truly live. i have loving, believing parents, caring (though sometimes seemingly uncaring) siblings, a chance to get a higher education, a job, a house, food, my health, and most of all a God who loves me unconditionally and unendingly. i know a lot of people can't say the same... and i can't believe that they are who they are today in light of all the things that they've been through.

to my friends that have gone through tumultuous times, you know who you are, i admire you all for your perseverance and your faith. you're an inspiration, and you all remind me to count my blessings daily. thanks for being who you are, and sticking it out. and to those that are currently facing tough times, as a family in Him, we'll beat this. :)

"... we are built to be together ..."
- nova science video segment

a lot has been on my mind as of late. not necessarily things that are stressing me, just a lot of reflection and what not. guess i've been on the bus quite a bit... and i haven't been napping as much, so that leaves a lot of time for thinking *cue scary music*. anyhow.. since i've been thinking about a lot and not blogging a whole lot, this may end up being quite the long read. maybe i'll spread it out over a couple of days. :)

SOOOO .... guess i should start with the above-mentioned quote. actually, lemme start with a quick analogy/story/thought:

ever come across cookies that aren't soft on the inside? they seem stale, but they come from a newly opened box. and well, as hard and tough as they are, you're hungry and you want something to eat, so you try anyway. and maybe instead of taking a bite out of it, you decide to break pieces off and munch on it that way (perhaps you're in class or something). only to find that when you try to break a piece of that tough cookie off, the whole thing just crumbles. guess the cookie wasn't so tough after all.

so the point in this demonstration: even the toughest of cookies will crumble if put under pressure/duress.

with the demonstration above, i guess you can say that sometimes this is how i feel. there are situations that i'm involved in at times that people feel as though they need to walk on eggshells around me, being careful what to say, when to say it, so as not to offend me, or hurt me. but in times like those i think... i'm tougher than you think i am... the walking on eggshells is really unnecessary. but then on the flip-side there are situations in which i break down into mush. and so i was wondering about why this was the case... that i'm tough in some scenarios and yet a puddle in others.. and well, that's when i came up with the whole cookie crumbling thing. and it's the truth, the toughest of people still have their weak points... they still have that one button that you can push that makes everything come crumbling down and breaks down that tough facade.

and now with the quote posted. i was watching a video from nova science as i was studying for my midterm.. and it talks about these things called mirror neurons existing in the human brain. and with these mirror neurons, they found that in monkeys, the neuron fires when the monkey is doing something in particular (e.g. picking up a banana), but also fires, when the monkey sees someone else pick up a banana. not to say that we're the same as monkeys here, but they have found evidence of the same thing in humans. when a person imitates a face that they see, the neuron fires, but even when they LOOK at someone else make that face, the neuron also fires. and so, the belief is that these mirror neurons are what help us empathize and sympathize with others.... e.g. when you're watching a football game and someone takes a hard hit, you cringe, even though you weren't the one that got hit.

i know this science lesson is a bit long-winded, but there is a point here. :) continuing... scientists/psychologists have concluded that these mirror neurons would really be useless if you lived alone... after all, why would you have the need to sympathize or even imitate another person's actions if there was no other person in the first place. and on this train of thought, they arrived at the conclusion that it must mean that humans are built to be together. we're social creatures, we were made that way. and the more i thought about this idea, that came from a science video... the more it makes sense. God built us to live in community with another... we always hear that "no man is an island" and how no Christian can get through life without the fellowship and support of other people... and well, now there seems to be a scientific explanation to back it up!

and with this in mind, i've been thinking a lot about my hermit-ness... usually a forced thing cuz of my program. it hasn't been so bad this year, cuz i've been forcing myself to not blow off people for the sake of doing my projects, and i've been trying to time manage better so that i CAN spend time fellowshipping and just hanging out with others... but i see the danger that comes from segregating myself from the world, which i sometimes do... pushing others away and hiding in my little corner of design. and i guess it's in these times that i build up my tough cookie shell. but lately, i've realized the blessings that i've been given of people that are in my life that are starting to chip away at that tough-ness and break through my hermit-ness... and well, without them, i'd honestly, be a wreck. not to say that alone time isn't good.. cuz it is, and it's needed.. but too much of it isn't healthy for the mind, heart, and soul. :)

and so my final words for the meantime... (still have more thoughts to share that i haven't covered... but i'll save that for another day)... tray, vels, thanks so much. and for Tightest (a.k.a. Titus), CCF, and ET ppl at CCF, thanks for making sure that i'm not a hermit. ;)

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..."

philippians 1:3-4