014

In less than 24 hours I will be boarding an airplane for a 6 week summer adventure across the globe serving the people of Cairo with only 3 shirts, 3 pants, 5 pairs of panties and socks, my Bible, and toiletries. This is going to be intense. If God can feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, I'm pretty sure I can get by with a limited wardrobe and comforts.

It hasn't really hit me yet but I'm sure it will once I am completely by myself. Dude! @_@
Rabena maak.

013

Spent the afternoon in good company and eating delicious homemade curry and macarones. My friend and I got to talking about our families, which brought me to tears. It's amazing how much our parents struggle for us no matter what they went through.

When I came home, I asked my mom about my dad's past. This is what she told me: "When your daddy was young, he was very poor. His dad was killed when he was very young. He had 7 siblings. His parents gave him away because they couldn't afford to take care of him. He lived with different aunts and uncles from month to month. He spent half his time in Vietnam living in a Buddhist monastery. One of the nuns, who was his aunt, stored up enough money for him so he could escape the Vietnam war.

He will never stray from Buddhism, no matter how hard you try Antoinette, because of this".

That Buddhist Societies class I took my freshman year never really gave me any deep understanding as to why my parents were raised Buddhist, but in the brief 10 minutes I spent with my mom, I understand now.

My eyes tear up whenever I think about the struggles my parents went through to become the people they are today. I'm always grateful.

Dad and I in Banff, Canada (2008)

012

So I just read chapter 498 of Naruto and I really liked it. No spoilers! To commemorate this week's chapter, I did a quick, little doodle. I will be sad when this manga ends but I think it'll be another 2 years before that happens haha.

Kishimoto, please bring back Sai too! ;^;

011 Dayne

One of my biggest pet peeves, next to not refilling the toilet paper while you're on the can so that the next person is only left with one square or an empty roll, is indecision.

Not saying that I'm not a victim of indecision as well. I dislike the feeling of being trapped deciding among choices, even if it's as benign as choosing what ice cream flavor I want to eat.

I can only imagine what a life of indecision would be like. It's impossible to truly be yourself if you're always in a constant state of ambivalence. How is it possible to find yourself when you're split in the middle? Maybe indecision comes from the ego and simply being is from the soul.

Indecision springs from decision's hesitation. Oh yes it does! So let's not live lives of indecision because at most, our lives would be interesting. I don't want interesting, I want a freaking adventure!

010

Jasmine is a Persian name. Its meaning comes from the flower that shares its namesake. People have said that the name Jasmine also reminds them of a pretty, gentle, and free-spirited girl.

Let me tell you more about the Jasmine I know.

"Pretty" does not do her justice, in fact, she is RADIANT. I would compare Jasmine to a clear night sky - shining, bright, face comparable to the full moon and hair like a meteor shower against a blanket of black velvet.

And like the night sky, the depth of our friendship is fathomless and beautiful. The blessings of this sisterhood is numerous like the stars.

Genuine, honest, trustworthy, insightful, loving, thoughtful, respectful, fearless, sensitive, emotional, curious, are a few words to describe her.

She shares a deep love for the world's peoples, justice, simplicity, and ridiculousness :) I don't know who else would dress up as a takami roll for Halloween, support a child in Thailand, speak out against the sex-trade, live in an apartment with the bare necessities, invite me to pick strawberries and green eggs, stalk old people with me while whispering in their ears, dress up as secret agents and pretend to be body guards, visit me even though we go to different schools, cry with me when I share my heart, laugh with me because we met a little boy who looked like Prince Zuko, or get fat with me while eating free samples at Farmer's market.

Any guy would be so fortunate to be with her! I'm so excited to see what the future has in store for my dear Jasmine.

This is a glimpse of the Jasmine I know and you should get to know her.

009 Jasmine

This is the Horsehead Nebula that is embedded in the vast and complex Orion Nebula. The "head" is actually a large cloud of dust.

It reminds me of a black knight piece escaping a chess board in the sky. Let's call him Nebbie.

Instead of being confined to a game where every move has been strategically planned out beforehand, Nebbie is saying, "Screw that! I'm jumping off this mind-game!" without knowing where he's going to end up or what he's going to do. I like Nebbie's boldness, even if it may seem haphazard. At least he's found a place in the sky with a nice view.

When they say that the sky's the limit, it really is.

008

Ever wonder why you were given the name you have? I used to hate my name for the longest time because it was so different from all the other kids.

This is the story of why my name is Antoinette:

When my mom was a young adult, she had to escape Vietnam during the Vietnam War in the 1970s. She escaped by means of refugee boats where she spent countless weeks out in the open ocean, forced to drink her own urine at times to survive. When she finally came to the United States, she lived in Mobile, Alabama with a sponsor family. She then moved to New York where her cousin was currently being supported by a different sponsor family. This family was part of a church and it was in this church where my mom met the pastor's wife who helped her with life skills and English. This woman's name was Antoinette.

Somewhere down the timeline, she met my dad. They decided to get married and start a family resulting in me. My dad wanted to name me Vicki after Jill Whelan's character on the Love Boat (LOL) but my mom said otherwise and named me after a wonderful, beautiful, caring pastor's wife.

After gaining more perspective on why I was named so, I've learned to love my name.

007 Wisdom

Brush Your Teeth by candysores

Went to the dentist's today to get my annual check-up. Fortunately, no cavities and my teeth are in good shape. However, my lower wisdom teeth are slowly growing at a slight angle which might impact my precious pearls.

Why are wisdom teeth called "wisdom teeth"? I asked my dentist and she told me to look it up haha

According to Dr. Florine, these third molars "...usually erupt in the late teen years, which coincides with passage into adulthood and is referred to by some as the age of wisdom; hence 'wisdom teeth'".

I'm 21 now and I have seen a lot of people my age do dumbass things, myself included. It makes me wonder that the standards at which this time was dubbed "the age of wisdom" must have been much higher than it is today.

Speaking of wisdom...though I am no King Solomon, I've been blessed to receive a few pearls of wisdom myself.

I cannot change people: I cannot make you stop cutting yourself. I cannot make you believe I am still your friend when you push me and everyone away. I cannot make you less immature, cowardly, or selfish. I cannot control what you do but I can control what I do. As much as I want the best for you, it is ultimately your choice to be the change you want to be, for better or for worse.

Forgiveness: Gaining the ability to forgive is no easy feat. In fact, forgiveness is not a one time choice and you may spend your entire life forgiving to settle the matter in your heart. It is better to be free from anger, sadness, and pain through forgiveness than to live a life filled with spite and bitterness. Also, forgiveness does not deny responsibility of behavior so if the one who hurt you continues to be a dumbass, it's ok, let it be and simply love them haha.

I cannot rely on my own strength: Human strength can only go so far until we collapse under the weight of all our burdens and responsibilities. When you rely on your own reservoir of strength, what happens when this resource runs out? Or if we place our strength in someone and they fail us? We are helpless, weak, and vulnerable just like how we came out of the womb. I feel that it is important to put our strength in a higher power that is unlimited, ever-flowing, and never-failing. For some that may be an idea, deity, etc.

The latter part of this entry pretty much sums up the major lessons I have learned within the past 5 years. Thanks Steve, Jasmine, Joline, and Mike.

006

It feels so good to be blessed with wonderful, caring, and supportive parents like mine. It has been a long road on this faith journey and it will continue to be so. This is a little praise post for the Big Man upstairs and to mom and dad.

During dinner, my family and I got to talking about my trip to Egypt and how I would be determining whether if I wanted to do the kind of work in Egypt in Vietnam or something.

My mom started saying how angry she got at my aunt who was discouraging her saying things like, "Once your kids graduate, make sure they get a job right away!" "Egypt is way too dangerous! Why are you sending her there?"

To which my mom replied, "I know she's my only child but if she doesn't go, who will?" and then my mom told me, "I'm really proud of you Antoinette". I almost wanted to cry. I'm tearing up a little right now even haha.

Even though my parents and I believe in different faiths, I am grateful we agree on the value of doing good for the world's poor and giving back to the community.

♥♥♥

005 Anna

In my general biology class sophomore year, I asked Dr. Thomas what the order for penguins was. He didn't know so I looked it up myself. It's Sphenisciformes btw.

Penguins are quite the little gentlemen. They're pretty much fearless, social, and stay true to their mate (at least for the breeding season). Plus, they sport fashionable tuxedos that would even make Fred Astaire jealous.

To be a penguin for a day would be glorious. But I don't know if I would be comfortable looking like everyone else lol. Except for that guy second to the right.

dude. by bri-chan