ay ay

For all my avid readers :) - my blog was set as private because I had to create a blog for my Com 435 class.. and the TA commanded that we title it after our first and last name, which I had already done for this blog. And just in case there were any creepers in my class who might search for me (I also wasn't sure how I felt about the Professor or TAs looking at this blog), I decided to set it as private until I felt confident that they'd know for sure that my Com 435 blog link was http://www.sarenawahl435.blogspot.com!

But who knows.. perhaps there are a few stragglers here reading this.. although, I'm pretty positive that no one in the class cares enough to spend time looking me up! Whatever the case may be... I'm back.

I had the notion that spring semesters are always incredibly slow, but this one is going rather fast! Its only 5 more days until spring break.. technically about 4 now.. this coming Friday I'll be on a bus or in a van - ready for 35+ hours until Mexico. I cannot believe its been a year. Goodness gracious!

Now I know the question is.. why on earth am I up at 6:04am?? The moment I began working on my project (for that Com435 class, in fact), I knew it would be an all-nighter. Its just a research poster over an emerging technology, but the sleepiness is causing me to work half as fast as I could. However, I think the poster looks pretty decent so far although I think I have poster creating block now, and I'm not sure how to finish the last section. The first step would probably be to get off blogspot.....

Posted by Sarena in

ay ay

thoughts alone.

Thoughts I've had lately that I considered blogging about.. but not enough words or inspiration for a full blog (although after I finished these thoughts, they were kinda long!). So here are three jumbled together topics.


I've really felt like God has brought different people into my life. Some have come and gone. Some have gone and then returned later. A lot of these people have been used as incredible instruments in bringing me closer to Christ (perhaps due to endless prayers from my worried mom over the years:) But looking back, I really feel like God was bringing me closer and closer to Him before I even had a clue. I know the people we meet may be considered "coincidence", but looking back I see a lot of ways in which the people I met taught me so much about myself and others. I've also noticed that sometimes when I'm comfortable with the friends I have, everything is shook up and I'm moved to a new "stage of life". But thankfully there are some constants, and hopefully, after the realization how important both hellos and goodbyes are.. I will put more trust in God knowing that my future can be equally amazing as my past (or present).



I feel like God gives us moments (or weeks) to pursue Him. At times when we might feel like we're losing everything else.. it could be that He is giving us freedom from all the other cares and desires and passions so that He can become our sole pursuit. Lately I've felt like something I usually focus on too much is gone (vague:) and in a way in was scary.. but then it was freeing when I realized that perhaps God is giving me this time to make Him my focus.



If my friend jumped in front of a bus to save my life, I would probably read a note that he left for me. I mean.. if a stranger jumped in front of a bus, I'd read what he wrote for me. I would read it and re-read it. I'd probably spend my time wishing I had another moment with this person to listen to their heart and thank them for their sacrifice. Sadly though.. this happened. He lived His life for me (and you). He suffered brutally. He took the cross for me. He saved my life. He gave me a Book to learn about Him and the vast amount of love He has for me. And how much time do I spend with Him or His book?.......................... Its pathetic.

Posted by Sarena in

thoughts alone.

no purdue.

Indianapolis Children's Museum. Free.
Au Bon Pain. Olive & Chickpea Salad with Vegetarian Soup. Mmm.
Circle Center. Forever21 Vest.
CVS. Great Parking.
Avatar. 3D.
Katelyn and Janessa. Amazing :)

Posted by Sarena in

no purdue.

new happy year + 5 days.

Ever had someone let you down? Never? Me neither. Oh, come on now.. it happens all the time. As for myself, I build up certain expectations of how I'm supposed to be treated without any justification as to why I deserve to be treated at all!

2010 (I know.. a subject change, but I'll pull it back together)
I think we like new starts. Crisp. Clean. We decide to start the diet on Monday (or Sunday - whichever we feel is the beginning of a fresh new week). We decide we'll start working out on the first day of a new month. And for a new year, why, we write loads of resolutions. I think resolutions are silly - as silly as the word silly itself. If we know we need to change, why are we waiting for a certain date to begin that change? Start the diet now, work out now, and act upon resolutions now! And what do you do if you do drink some soda? "Aw, crap! I guess I'll try again in 2011"....

But there's usually a positive to a negative. Its positive to have goals. And I suppose if you devotedly consider them and choose to set them on New Year's Eve each year, its not all bad.. as long as you end up fulfilling them. In fact.. this may be the reason I dislike New Year's resolutions.

And here I begin to tie in my opening statement. As December 31st was quickly ticking away, I thought I should probably have a resolution.. just one resolution. Not just one because I only need to make one change, but I thought I could fulfill the resolution requirement with one. So I decided that I should probably stop evaluating people as much as I do. I seem to take things too personally. I think I deserve a lot better than the treatment I receive. And seriously, people do the weirdest things :)

It all went downhill from there. Suddenly, people were attacking me right and left.. literally. Well, not literally. But I felt like I was being let down.. a lot. And I definitely thought I deserved better. I deserved more attention. I deserved to be the most important friend. I deserved the VIP invite, and yet, I felt like I was getting the "if you want to come, sure, but.. whatever" invite instead. No one cared whether or not I was around.

I tried being louder. I tried being quiet. I tried witty comments. And.. I failed. I was no more important than the next guy, or girl. And then I broke my resolution. I started evaluating why I was getting such treatment. I tried to understand how my "best friends" had suddenly turned into someone else's "best friends". I came to several conclusions.. the final and most important one was.. who cares.

Not the apathetic "who cares" but the "you should not care". I learned (in the words of a friend) that "Its not smart to invest all your feelings into one person and try to make them be a good friend, it just doesnt work". Its not worth evaluating why people do things. Its not worth taking things personally.

I think I was getting too comfortable. I was relishing in the fact that I had a few "best friends". Perhaps God needed to remind me that He is, in fact, the only 100% Best Friend.

Friends have come and gone in my life. Some left and returned, and others left forever. But there's been a constant... God. And I believe His hand was definitely in most of my friendships throughout high school even before I committed my life to Him (I could write another blog on this!) But even the things given to us by God can become our focus, in place of God Himself. And I needed re-focused.

I still think people are weird.. and I still think I might catch myself over-evaluating things I take personally and consider rude.. and I can't figure out why on earth... but hopefully I stop and remember that people are incredibly human. They're not perfect. I'm not perfect.

and hey.. there's always 2011... :)

Posted by Sarena in

new happy year + 5 days.

I'm still here..

beneath my mound of blankets
cough syrup and throat lozenges
actually, I went to the doctor yesterday and got the real stuff
antibiotics and steroids
giving in, I know. But, after a week of a raw throat...

I'm not excited about the end of the semester. I'm not pessimistic.. but I really enjoy my PHIL 111 (Ethics).. and my HIST 351 (World War II) How is it that TAs sometimes end up being 10x (or more) better than overpaid professors? My PHIL has been amazing. I hardly ever speak because the topics cause so much thought... and then I speak about it nonstop when I get home.. much to the disappointment of my family. I've discovered that they aren't too interested in Kant's Formula of Humanity or Plato's perfect city. HIST 351 is taught by a professor, but he's good. I say this like its a surprise... but after 3+ years at Purdue, I've found most professors lacking... Another reason I'm not ready for this semester to end is that I've grown quite fond of my all 11:30am or 12pm classes.. I'm not ready for next semester's 8:30s in the cold and rainy spring!

It seems like this is the way it always goes... it takes about a semester to grow adjusted to a class.. to actually start talking with others in the class.. almost become friends (maybe some even become facebook friends :) and then.. its over. And, I realize all my friends in class were friends of utility (thanks Aristotle). We were only friends because we needed each other for the class. But there are some who last. And thankfully, there's always the PYG.. and they're pretty amazing this year.

Speaking of being thankful, I'll leave you with a picture of my Thanksgiving. We spent it at the Moores with the Lemans.. and a few friends. Somehow the photographer seemed to always end up smack in front... and the baby ended up blurry... but you can see the radiating thankful glow just the same :)Shiloh (Jeff and Sarah Stollers)
about the only non-blurry picture of her! :)

Posted by Sarena in

I'm still here..

October 31st

Despite the negativity of Halloween...
-the fact that we (Americans) find pleasure in searching for ghoulish costumes
-exploring haunted houses full of dark and creepy characters
-using costumes as an excuse to reveal more skin than what should be legal (college scene)
-stuffing kid's pumpkin baskets with sugar and more sugar
despite this, I really enjoyed this Halloween.

The door bell rang time and time again.. and the kids were adorable. Some were barely old enough to say "trick-or-treat"... and although I had thought mom quite lame for buying pencils.. the first little girl raced back to her mom shouting, "LOOK, MOM! A PENCIL!" And before long, we were out of pencils, candy, and goldfish! Out went the light.

Yet the light in my pumpkin glowed.. yes, I carved my first pumpkin this year.Abbie and Hannah came down later.. and we went for a walk. After that, we decided crêpes sounded amazing.. so Luke made them while Abbie, Hannah, and I created vanilla pudding (to go with chocolate or bananas) and strawberry cream cheese filling. Delicious...Following this.. we sang Karaoke (on youtube) and watched a few youtubes. And I decided to ignore homework... completely. And now, I'm thinking of all the reading I have to do while wondering why the computer clock hasn't switched back an hour yet.. hmmm.. come on, computer.. give me more time.

Speaking of homework.. it's probably the reason I haven't posted in ages! I don't have much homework homework, but I have lots of reading. I guess that comes with History, Philosophy, and Communications.

Ay ay ay :)

Hope you had a fantastic Oct 31.

Posted by Sarena in

October 31st