Dear Diary, Love Naomi

A Brand New Life

2011-12-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,

Well... here I am again... one month after I promised to update you more! O how I have failed... =/ Ah well... this is me updating you. ;)

How different my life is now than it was just a few short months ago! Almost every single aspect has completely changed. From a different bed to a different country, this has been an interesting transition. However, I am finally feeling as though I am settling in. I can sleep in the strange green room without my Thailand lamp on, and I can enter the fridge without feeling awkward. Things have certainly improved. =)

Sometimes I start to feel like I've always been here, that the life in Mongolia belonged to another girl entirely. What a strange feeling it is! I look around and get confused about where I belong. Sometimes I even feel myself beginning to slip up and call my guardians, Mr. and Mrs. Schrader, "Mom" and "Dad"! This has resulted in much inner chuckling.

All this has simply gone to remind me once again, that this world is not my home. This has been the lesson of my life... and now it is an even more concentrated lesson than ever! I only pray that it will serve to make me more heavenly minded and bold in my efforts for the Kingdom.

Til next time,

Love,

Naomi

The Birthday Blues

2011-11-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

I find myself slipping down into the dumps. You would think that with a birthday on the way I would be excited to say the least, but my birthday is only adding to my melancholy. As the day draws near, my homesickness grows and I can't help but be a little blue.

When I was younger, I never understood how a birthday could be sad. Sure, I understood how growing old and gray was not exactly cloud nine material, but how could a birthday not always be magical? Now I think I understand. It's not just growing older, it's the memory of happier birthdays of long ago that takes the shine away from the current one. How could anything compare with the birthday you had when you were seven? When everything was splendid, down to the last crumb of cake. But the older you get, the more gaps you see in the faces that surround you. Loved ones who should be there, friends who used to make every birthday sparkle. Perhaps this is why my coming birthday is so daunting?

But the trick is to not look for the gaps. Look instead at the people who are with you! And unless you're trapped on some desert island, I'm guessing there is at least one someone who is going to wish you happy birthday. And as I look around, (mentally of course) I discover bright, joy filled, new faces that will make my birthday just as magical as it was when I was seven.

So even though I haven't completely shaken the blues, I believe I've come to a good conclusion.

Love,

-Naomi

How Long Has It Been?

2011-10-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

My, my, my! How shamefully I have neglected you!

I know not when you slipped out of my mind. Perhaps it was the busyness of life, the moving through different countries, or the slow internet of Mongolia? Nevertheless, I forgot about you and I forgot about you completely. It wasn't until just a little bit ago when I decided to post an indignant comment on someone else blog that, lo and behold, I myself had a blog! Wonders of wonders! For two years you have been dead to me and now, in the fall of 2011, I choose to bring you back to life.

How much has changed! In the time that I have been away I have started a band, ended a band, gone to school, graduated from school, gone to Thailand, and last but not least, moved to the good ol' U.S. of A. Lakeland, Florida to be precise. Talk about new developments!

The past few months have been ones full of change... full of struggle. And yet, the Lord has remained completely and entirely faithful. My older sister is in Oregon, and the rest of my family is still in Mongolia. What a spread out brood we are! And soon it will be my younger sister's turn to fly the nest...

So, hello again my old friend. I look forward to getting to know you once again, and I am sure we have many more exciting times in store for us... =)

Love,

Naomi

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes...

2009-05-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

What makes a beautiful girl? Is it her hair? Her eyes? Maybe the way she dresses? These are the questions that people all over the world have come to the same conclusion on. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is this true? Surely it is true in some sense. One man may see limitless beauty in one woman while another man may find no attractive qualities in the same woman. This is the case when dealing with outward appearance. However, I believe that in the body of christ, beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder, but is also in the eyes of the savior.

Let me explain.

Outward appearance is fleeting. We all know this, and no matter how much people try to keep their beauty, they are not going to remain youthful and glowing for all of their days. So the question really is, what is beauty? Of course the world has its own definition of beauty... but as Christians, as followers of the truth, we have found true beauty.

We are not capable of possessing true beauty outside of the maker of beauty itself. Our Father in heaven is the creator of all things beautiful, and only in him is beauty to be found. A woman may not be blessed with all of the outward appearances that the world deems to be beautiful, but true beauty is something deeper. True beauty comes from the Holy Spirit which lives in us. Once we accept Christ into our hearts, we accept true beauty, and as the Holy Spirit takes over more and more of our lives, the more beautiful we will be. This is the wonderful process of life with Christ.

I will chose true beauty any day, over the fleeting and fake beauty of this world. When the women who are girls now, turn into wrinkled old ladies, they will still be girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes. They will be the most beautiful woman on earth, for they have true beauty in Christ.

Love,

Naomi

The Sun Shines Through

2009-03-27T19:38:00.001-07:00

Dear Diary,

Though the sky may be veiled with clouds, though everything imaginable may get in the way of our view of the sun, the sun will shine when we are trusting Jesus. The sun always shines when we are trusting Jesus. Even if we can't see it.... because eventually God will take away the clouds from our eyes and we will see the beauty that we missed all along.

Love Naomi

The Factors

2009-03-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

No, is a strong word. Yes, is a stronger word. Yes is stronger, because it not only changes the person you say yes to, but it changes you as well. Will you help your friend with their problem/project? If the answer is no, than your friend goes away in the same position, as do you. If the answer is yes, the person leaves with an improved position, and it changes your outlook as well. It changes your schedule, it changes your relationships, it changes your reputation, and it changes what I like to call, your Yes Factor.

What is the Yes Factor? Every time you say yes to someone who needs your help, or desires your attention your Yes Factor goes up a little bit. Its the ability to say yes, to stop what you want to do, and give your attention to someone else. You will find as your Yes Factor goes up, you will snap less quickly at your siblings, be a more appreciated friend, learn more from the things you say yes to, and last but not least, you will find yourself growing more humble, and less selfish. You will begin to think of others above yourself, and you will slowly begin to change into a servant of all.

Now, if there is a Yes Factor, there simply must be a No Factor. The No Factor, instead of referring to every time you say no, refers to the importance of saying no in the first place. The No Factor is vital to have. Will you hit that person that you are angry with? No. Will you help someone who should be working alone? No. Will you start another project on top of the 15 you already have going? No. Will you use those drugs? No. The list goes on. Which all brings me to, The Discernment Factor.

The Discernment Factor, brings the other two factors together into one very important conclusion. To have the discernment to say yes or no depending on the situation, is a true gift. Not all of us will say yes as much as we should, or say no the the things that we should say no to. But by the grace of God, and through the guidance of his word, we should always be going up in our Discernment Factor, so that when tough yes or no situations come upon us, we will be able to use our Discernment Factor to make the best decision possible.

Harry Potter, The Gray Area

2009-03-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

This is for both the movies, and the books. This is not a direct review, but a personal opinion of the controversy revolving around the reading and watching of these series.

I have heard many opinions. Some say that reading Harry Potter or watching the movies, is downright wrong for anyone. Others believe that it doesn't matter what you read or watch. I believe that these are the two extreme opinions. Here, is my opinion.

When a 12 year old child picks up a Harry Potter book and begins to read, I believe that the parent has the absolute right to tell their child to put it right back down. I also believe that any child should not be reading these books unless he or she is solid in their convictions and understanding. Depending on how the parents feel about these books, will determine whether or not the child reads it. In this case, for the child it is less personal conviction than it is obedience.

I do not believe that it is right for someone to condemn another for reading these books, or watching these movies. They are not stamped with the label, "sin". However, I strongly believe that these are not stories you should get into unless you know exactly what you're getting to.

They are written by a woman who, in many ways, would never be a woman with whom I would want to associate with. The contents of the books may inspire a desire for the theme of magic in your own life, which can lead to more dangerous spiritual desires. Etc etc.

If you feel, that you will be influenced badly by Harry Potter, do not read the books, or watch the movies. However, all because you feel this way, does not mean that the 30 year old next door feels the same way, or has the same struggle. This 30 year old may pick up the books, and rent the movies regularly, and not be effected in any wrong way.

Personal conviction is a tricky thing. We must not let ourselves become caught up so entirely in our opinions that we begin to think badly of others who think differently. But we must never ignore our hearts convictions.

Let me make one last statement.

In the matter of outright sin, it is not a matter of personal conviction. It is a matter of obeying the creator of the universe. Do not let all of the areas of right and wrong in your life become gray areas, some things are wrong and should not be done. No matter what someone might deceive themselves into thinking.

Love Naomi

Sibling Love. The importance of comparison.

2009-03-13T03:49:00.000-07:00

I love my family. I love my friends. Sometimes though, I find myself loving my friends more than my family. So when I snap at my siblings, and joke and converse with my friends, I realize that something is seriously wrong. So I will start now, to treat my siblings at a better and deeper level than I do my friends, as I should have been doing long ago. I encourage anyone who reads this, to prioritize your family relationships over your friendships.

God has given us the family we have for a reason, and we must never take that for granted. Don't get me wrong, friendships are important as well, but lets get our perspective straight and start loving our brothers and sisters as if they were our best friends.

American- what?

2009-03-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

The name itself should give it away. American Idol is a much watched, much loved show in more countries than the country named. With a subtle mix of celebrity dreaminess and a down to earth involvement of the viewers, American Idol has leaped its way to the top of the current entertainments of America. Every year it is the same. People from all over America come to show their singing stuff to the animated judges, Randy, Paula, Simon, and the new addition, Kara. Eventually, if the contestants make it far enough, America will then decide their fate. More accurately put, America will then decide who will be the next celebrity/celebrities to be worshiped. The name American Idol Hits the mark perfectly. There are positive and negative elements to this show. One element, is that America has a chance to raise up unlikely, and everyday people, to the world of fame. This is positive, and negative. The positive side, is that this element reveals that you don't need to have money, amazing good looks, or connections to become well known and loved by people you don't even know. All you need is the talent you were made with. That and some pretty good luck when it comes to the judges moods. On the other hand, fame is an unstable world, and the same people who were voting for you on American Idol yesterday, could and probably will be forgetting all about you tomorrow.

We all agree that the draw of fame and fortune is strong, we all, in one way or another, have held that hairbrush microphone and have danced in front of that flattering mirror. But when it comes right down to it, fame in this world is not fame in the kingdom of God. So when I see those poor players, who risk dignity and pride to appear on a show that is meant to get you famous with people who may hate you tomorrow, I will try and focus more on building up my treasures in heaven. Because those treasures will last forever.

Can you picture Jesus singing on American Idol? Probably not. Can God call Christians to pursue a life of music and song for Him? Absolutely. But does God call Christians to a life of worldly fame? Absolutely not. Fame may come, or it may not, but giving the fame to God is what we are meant to do. God actually calls us to do the opposite of pursuing worldly fame, to take up our cross and follow Him. And the rewards are greater than anything American Idol could cough up.

Fireproof

2009-03-07T23:02:00.000-08:00

What an awesome movie. What a light shining in the dark world of Hollywood. Many times I find myself finishing a movie and thinking one of three things. One, that movie was nice to watch. Two, I cannot believe I watched that, my mind is now slightly more corrupted, or three, that is an amazing movie, beyond words to describe it. I found myself thinking number three as I finished watching the movie Fireproof last night. The bottom line of the movie is, you're not going to get your relationships in life right, until you get your relationship with God right. And when you get your relationship with God right, He will help you change the way you live, and fix the mistakes that you might be making. How true that is.... I highly recommend this movie. If you are familiar with the movie Facing the Giants, you will like this movie a lot, because it was made by the same church, and has the same moral standards. This movie may just change your life....

Step one, two, three...

2009-03-06T20:32:00.003-08:00

Ah life. Life is like a staircase for a christian. You start out small, with the first step, but its a big first step. Then every step gets you closer and closer, higher and higher. Then, when your time has come and God calls you home, you have reached the destination of the staircase. What a comfort to know that every Christian has their own staircase, with different stairs and different numbers. How reassuring it is to know, that no Christian will die without reaching the top of their stairs. My steps are numbered, I don't know how high or low I am, but I know that God has labeled each step and that he will be the railing that holds me in place.

2009-03-04T23:46:00.000-08:00

The most beautiful thing in the world to watch is a bunch of young children captivated by something that interests them. In this case, it is cinderella.

2009-03-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,

Twilight. To say the name would send girls screaming and talking non-stop about the newest romantic story out there. Yes I will admit, I would probably be one of those girls. I have just recently finished Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight saga, and I have come to my own conclusion. Twilight is a wishful fantasy. For girls who are looking forward to nothing more than their own Edward later in life, and not the love of Jesus, Twilight is very appealing. Edward Cullen is a vision of the ultimate romance. He is dangerous, yet protective, he is handsome in every way, he is clever, and he is going to live until the end of the world! And last but not least, he loves our heroine more than "life" itself. What girl wouldn't want that? I have decided that the last thing I would want in a husband is someone who would love me more than anything else in existence. Which would mean he would love me more than God. The last person I would want to love, would be Edward Cullen. Because, vampire or not, he represents a slippery slope, falling away from our one true love, Jesus. Yes I will still squeal over the books, but I will always bring myself back to reality, remembering that not even Edward Cullen could love me as much as Jesus does.

Love Naomi

Through the unknown door

2009-03-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Who knows where life will take us? More appropriately phrased, who knows where God will take us? Many times in a persons life, opportunities will arise, along with questions and choices that must be made. As soon as a decision is made however, many people will then fret and worry over their choices. As a human, I worry like this. As a Christian, I know I have nothing to worry about. If I made the decision that I felt God wanted me to make, I don't have to worry about how it will turn out.

If God gives me a door, and says walk through it, I must walk through it, even though what lays beyond is unknown. Now that is faith.

Photo By Naomi

Wild Violets

2009-03-01T23:33:00.000-08:00

He picked some wild violets,

And got down upon his knees,

But she would not have him,

She ignored all his pleas,

He brought her a bouquet,

Of her favorite clementine,

He tried his hardest,

To change her stubborn mind,

But she would not love him,

Her heart was made of stone,

And next thing he knew,

He was standing all alone,

She was gone, gone, gone,

Gone with the sweetness,

Of the wild violets.

By Naomi

Alas... my desk

2009-03-01T21:49:00.001-08:00

Ah, it tis my desk. With its gizmos and gadgets, and its awesome beach towel cover. Aaaah desk, will you always be this clean? Probably not. Will you always be this dust free? Probably not. Will I always want you to carry an ipod, cell phone, macbook, mic, etc? Probably.

May I never value the things on my desk more than the Savior of my soul.

First Entry

2009-03-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,

Well here i am, sick as can be and yet blogging away. Today is March 2nd, and the sun is shining in U.B. Mongolia. People are just now recovering from Tsagansar, and are getting back into the groove of every day life. The school books are opened once again, offices are unlocked, and relatives and loved ones leave to return to their home in the country. Over the past few days, I have been amazed at how nonbelievers can joyfully celebrate occasions without knowing the good news of Christ. I come to the conclusion that celebrations are an excuse to have no work, to get drunk, to eat lots of food, and indulge oneself in every which way you want. As Christians, we are told to love work, to certainly not get drunk, to not idolize food, and to not indulge ourselves but to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus So when the holidays come around, we should all pray for those who are lost in this world, and we ourselves should always remember that our greatest joy is in Christ Jesus. And that our greatest holiday, is the day that Jesus Christ rose from the grave.

Love Naomi