Changed Sites

due to the need to consolodate and simplify my life, i have decided to make a different blog page. (doesn't quite make sense, but oh well... it would be too much to explain)

the new url is: bat-el-mel.blogspot.com

sorry for this inconvenience...

"Holland"

This may be lame and really anal of me, but when people refer to the Netherlands as "Holland" it really makes me cringe. The cringing may be due to the ball of anger toward their word misuse and desperation to set them straight which develops in my stomach at the use of said term in reference to the Netherlands. It gives me the overwhelming urge to immediately correct this blunder in hopes that they will be more cautious in future uses of this article.

However, I do understand that this is a word which has been widely accepted to mean "the Netherlands" and I can at this point only hope that one day they will realize that these words cannot be used synonymously. Also, I can agree that to say "the Netherlands" is far less efficient to say than simply "Holland", not only because of the syllable difference but also in pronunciation. Having to use -th- every other syllable is quite more taxing on the mouth.

To set the record straight, Holland is merely a province of the Netherlands, which is now split into Noord (North) and Zuid (South) Holland. So if you are going to Amsterdam (which is not an appropriate representation of what the rest of Dutch culture is like-- but that is an entirely separate topic) or Den Haag aka. the Hague then it would be appropriate for you to use "Holland" as your word of description. In contrast, if you are going to refer to the country as a whole, it would be better to use "the Netherlands", seeing that it is the country's actual name.

Anyhow, now that I have that all off my mind, I can go to bed. In the mean time, mind your Ps and Qs...

yay for blogging

It has been well over a month since I have last written on this blog and I figure it is high time for an update. This past month has been filled with many adventures and accomplishments of sorts, many of which are already known by you steadfast followers of my blog. But I suppose a little repetition never hurt anyone...

January/February involved:
-acceptance to Idaho State University, which means I am currently enduring my final tundra-like winter... this, of course, is just wonderful news
-turning 21 and celebrating with some of my closest friends of all time
-finishing the component of the Aesthetics course which I have been taking... now I am back to a more appropriate amount of homework for a Junior...
-planning and executing a bachelorette party for one of my closest friends... this was a success (according to her)
-receiving and almost completely consuming an entire 4 lb. jar of Jelly Bellies
-coming to several conclusions as to how I feel about current situations and learning how to engage properly in those situations
-speaking of engaging... engaging cultures is quite possibly one of my favorite (theology) classes I have taken during my career here at Dordt College-- that and major world religions
-on the other hand... Gen 300 has shown itself to be quite frustrating at times, despite the relevance of the topics
-I have come to the life altering realization that hot apple cider really isn't all that bad

Those are the highlights of the last month and a half, and here's a preview of my month (or so) to come:
-Piper's wedding (this Friday, in fact, is when I have to leave for that)
-spring break... which means I will be going to Mecca (otherwise known as Grand Rapids) to meet some more of Paul's fam and visit some of my friends at Calvin
-WiSE day... yeah...
-in general, getting things finished up to complete my transfer to Idaho State

Hope you all found this incredibly fascinating and inciteful. Love to all and keep up the good work! Peace out!

A lesson in humility to myself...

What should I do if I have nothing to say, but would like to say something anyway? Or if I do have something to say, but don't feel anybody cares about it as much as I do? or finds me silly for saying such things? or criticizes how I write or what I think? maybe outright or perhaps just in their heart and mind...

For the last few months I have found it difficult to be willing to say anything on my blog because of these thoughts. I don't like being criticized and I don't like thinking people may find those things silly. For some reason, I feel that some people won't be able to overcome their point-of-view or background in order to listen to what I truly have to say (not that it is always important). I suppose that being surrounded by elitists (or who I perceive to be elitist) at times has made a bit gunshy and uncertain about anything I think or feel.

One of the worst feelings in the world, in my opinion, is feeling as though you are being looked down upon or that you aren't good enough to be in the presence of some people. Its almost as though, if you do not reach a certain level of perfection in those areas you aren't even worth the time-of-day so to speak. How horrible that people treat one another in such an uncaring way. Like their thoughts and views on major (or minor) issues are invalid because they don't line up with yours. Like their grammatical errors make them less worth listening to. Like their not even a human being.

The saddest thing about this, is that I see myself doing the same to other people. Act as though I am better than they are and they have nothing to offer the world, much less me. I let the smallest things form my view of a person, and based on those stupid notions, I cast my judgment on them rendering them worthy or not. How abominable.

Lately I have taken to reminding myself of the verse out of Phillipians:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

I wish I could apologize to all the people whom I have judged like this, but perhaps it would be better to simply apply this passage in hopes of reconciling those thoughts and seeing the person for who they truly are and who God made them to be, regardless of what I think about it.

Well this has turned out completely differently than I first intended, but that's alright. Hopefully I will be blogging a bit more in the future, but we shall see about that. Until that next time... wear your snow shoes and feed your dog team...