Reason

Something to create, nothing? I beg of you a reason to create, anything at all that I can call my own because it truly needs me. May I not know love because of its grace? Am I not worthy to see the depth of authenticity within someone I desire? I hope to follow my passion to love a girl because it is the one thing I am most afraid of.

I need to know what it is like to think nearly the same thoughts as a woman who understands me. Isn't it any mans goal in life to be connected to a lovely girl who belongs, who makes sense?

Reasoning doesn't work too well for me, but its the one thing I can do to help myself.

Consider

What thought is thought? Which one is brought, and tried to reach, through grains of sand along the beach.

Tried to drowned, because its worth the empathy, because its an art of loss? Proposed an issue of exaggeration.

Always consider the lilies. The least, though, how am I the most? Poem to song, but not thought what is wrong.

Space the breath in your lungs with the flower of gleaming sun. Don't let numbers weigh the ink towards your eyes, throw the great stress of the average comprehension aside.

Why let it be a lesson? Great artistry is conceived without understanding. Enjoy, but let the perfect drop of tension reach your mind.

Limit allowance of what you cannot stand. The statement of such writing that is taken falsely. Would questions of the ease of much essence suit to your leisure?

Let your contemplation adorn!

Life's Purpose

Its an odd thing, life is... It has values, and purposes, hopes and dreams, as well as responsibilities and consequences. Its has been thought of as merely a challenge to overcome, or maybe an amazing opportunity to enjoy. It really doesn't have anything to do with what other people think. Its your life, people are obstacles. Some bad, some good. An obstacle is always going to be something that stops you, but what it stops you for is up to fate. What you do about it is up to you. Things like, hatred, love, fear loneliness, inspiration, joy... they're all cards in the game of life, you're the one holding them in your hands with the power to make something out of your turn to live this amazing life on this amazing planet made by an amazing God, who created you to be who you are and what you will become.

 Live.

Autumn or Fall

Whatever you call it, autumn of fall, its a wonderful time, it keeps you enthralled. There's new colors on trees, and a different sort of breeze.  I can remember that flavor, something earthly to savor. Pumpkins and spice, you can't not want it twice. Warm drinks, and warm pies, but cool air and gray skies. Something cozy to wear, a thin coat and long hair. Now all you need is a place to feel snug, a welcoming home and a family to hug.

Glass Blowing

Its fun to work with glass, there is a lot to know about it. A lot to learn. I went to McMenimans Edge Field and learned several things from Alex.

She made a float, which is a little glass ball that can float on the water, or it can just be decorative. Then she made a bird, a cup, a flower ball, a plate, two special order glass balls, a vase, and another bird.

I made a flower ball after she did. Then a float, a shot glass, a paper weight, and a vase. The vase was my favorite.

The first step to making any glass object is to warm up the end of a rod. If you are making a paper wight or a bird or anything that doesn't need to be blown, then you use a regular medal rod. If you are making a cup, vase, bowl, plate, ball, or anything that does need to be blown, then you use a hollow medal rod with a plastic nozzle on the end. Warm it up until it turns red on the tip. Then go onto the next step.

Open the extremely hot and bright furnace filled with molten glass and stick the rod into it until you see its shadow. Then stick it in a few inches and turn it a full rotation. You have to do it pretty quick because it is so hot. Its really good to have a long sleeved shirt and sun glasses.

Roll the glob of glass on the metal table aiming to get it smooth and centered on the rod. Then roll that in some colored glass if you want to. There are some really pretty colors, but you can't always mix them. For example, white and yellow won't mix, but blue and white will, I really like blue and white.

You can heat up the glass by taking it to the fire hole. Stick it in and turn it until it becomes almost hard to control, but always try to keep the glass centered on the rod. Take it back to the metal table and add more color, sometimes it looks cool with several layers of color. Its also fun to add more clear glass after having color.

To make a Bowl, plate, cup, or vase, you now need to start the blowing process. Always keeping the glass centered on the rod, set it on the edge of the table or work bench structure and blow into the mouth piece with your thumb in your mouth prepared to cover the hole. Blow for a second or two and trap the air in the rod by covering the hole with your thumb.

It might take 10 or 15 seconds for the bubble to enter the glass. Once it does, you might want to blow more, this time without trying to trap the air in the rod. It also may take a while get bubble, if the glass is too cold it will be really hard. Something else to watch out for is if your bubble is too much at the end, it might pop if the end gets too thin.

Once you have an average sized bubble, depending on what you are making and how big it going to be, you can now start shaping it. There are many different tools that do many different things. One of the main tools are the jacks, which are basically really big tweezers. They are used to thin a section of the glass where it comes off the rod, or where you put a foot for a dish, or an extension from the top of a ball. An extension may also be made to take off so that a hole is left.

The diamond cutters are used when you really get down to where you need to break it off the rod, or a piece from whatever your making. They help to cool off the small section so that it will break easily. There are also tools that are used for shaping. Sort of like temporary molds. Wet newspaper is used as a shaping tool like using your hand.

The fun part about plates, bowls and vases, is that they get to be stretched out. Once you get the opening big enough, it will stretch out in the fire hole if you spin it pretty fast. Its my favorite part. Once you have it stretched all you have to do is let it hang down and the sides will fold into this really cool design.

There is a lot more to share about glass. I don't evan know much about it and I can already write 10 paragraphs. Thanks for reading, I might post more about glass blow as I learn more.

Remember to listen to my podcast.

Cooking

Yesterday four members of my cell group and Karly went to the clackamas mall to eat and watch a movie.

On our way into the mall, Karly and I met Darla and Chad. I was surprised to see them so randomly, Karly said it happens to her quite often. We came to a table where everyone else was sitting and my mom was surprised to see Darla, because they had just has a phone conversation, and not said anything about going to the mall.

I had orange chicken and chow mien from Panda express. My dad had cajun grill, my mom and sister had Sbarro, Ethan had Subway, and I'm not quite sure what Brenda had.

Darla and Chad left, we got up and went to the movie after we were all done eating. The group choice was to see Julie & Julia. It was a great movie. I love cooking so it was also inspiring to

me.

Today I boiled some potatoes and got out a noodle cook book. I found one recipe that had

sweet and sour sauce. I had most of the ingredients so I made it and put it in a wok with wheat noodles. I added a little chili oil and it was fantastic.

I wasn't quite satisfied with the way the sliced potatoes with rosemary and parsley were turning out, so I added some blackened seasoning. After that everything was great. I would like to go to some cooking classes next summer or maybe once I get into community college.

A journey down the road

Today I wanted to do something. So I charged my phone and my ipod and went on an adventure. I walked down Wiese rd all the way to the end. Except right before I got to the end there was a road that I had never gone down. I walked down the road witch I knew was a dead end, because of the sign which said so, and i turned around once it ended.

Turning to the left at the end of Wiese, I walked myself up to Tillstrom. I went for a ways, then I turned around. I was about to go back home, when I thought it might be interesting to take a mysterious road up the hill. It was gravel, so I thought it might be a drive way, but it was clearly marked as a road, actually a lane. Anyways, I went to the top, and there was a beautiful view. I was standing next to a house that was in the making. It was basically a construction site. I was on my way down, when I saw a guy with no shirt on, he looked at me. I took my head phones off and waved while I said the word "Hi." He said "What are you doing?" I said "Just looking." He said "What?" I yelled a little louder "Its a nice view!" He shrugged it off and said "Oh." I don't know if he was mad because I went up the road that was probably actually a drive way.

At the bottom of the hill, I thought about where I would go next. Bohna Park road seemed to take me. I went up a hill, then I saw 5 or 6 chickens in a pen. They were making noises that chickens make. I really like those noises. They are really funny. I felt like I should turn around, but I didn't. I Just kept going. I turned on Hacienda Rd. It went for a ways. By this time, I felt like I was getting pretty far away from home, but it didn't seem to matter anymore. I just kept going.

At the corner of Hacienda and 222nd, I pulled out my ipod and tried to connect to a wireless internet. Luckily I found one. It didn't have a strong signal, but I just needed to load a map. I discovered that 222nd led to 212. From the looks of the map I determined that it would probably be shorted to go to 212 and up Wiese then to go back from where I came. I was also interested in not backtracking, because, I like exploring, and seeing what I already saw just isn't nearly as fun.

222nd was long and there wasn't much shade. It was about 1:40 p.m. and 90 degrees. I didn't have any water with me, and my feet were getting tired. I was kind of nervous about crossing 212, but I did it, easily enough. The highway was hot and smelly. The pollution the cars on the asphalt reminded me of the description in the book, Warriors, where there were these cats who called the cars monsters and the road, a thunder path. They hated the thunder path because of its filthy stench, and because of its danger.

It was good to be back on Wiese Rd. I was getting thirsty, and I couldn't wait to get home. Down a hill and up another one, The shade was nice there compared to the other roads. I ran up to the door. I remembered locking it when I left. Apparently no one had unlocked it since. I rand the door bell, hoping that Karly was awake. She came to the door as I watched through the glass, which I had to bend over to do so. She asked me where I had been. I said "I took a long walk." She asked, "Where?" I said " Lots of places." I went to the kitchen and ate a raspberry and a few blueberries. Then I got some water. I took a shower, then I microwaved some frozen spaghetti and ate it with an english muffin as I watched Karly play Burnout on the X-Box.

It was an interesting day. I was tired, the day went on, I watched a movie with my dad and sister, I ate Ice cream, now I'm writing this. Life goes on... Its hard to know what to do sometimes, I guess I know what to do when I'm bored. I'll just walk.

The Humming Bird

So I was eating some corn, and I saw a humming bird eating at the feeder, and I got really close to it. Suddenly, it looked at me and got closer. It started hovering like 2 inches from my face. I stepped back and it flew away. It was really cool, but those humming birds can get really feisty. They make lots of noise, and it gets kinda chaotic. They could really be more peaceful if they wanted to. The food goes really quick and they all get made because they want it at the same time, but if they just took turns, they would be fine. Maybe their hearts just beat too fast, it probably makes it hard to take time to think, anyways, that was my experience, until next time, I'm Skyler, I use way too many commas, and I'm out.

The Art of Nothing

The great thing about nothing is that it can be respected because it is impossible to accomplish. Sadly I'll have to say that I have never done nothing. But you know its ok. I don't have to have do something that isn't possible. It is possible to do next to nothing, I can be really lazy but it would be an exaggeration to say that I was doing nothing.

Take Heart

The Trees sway gently,

The breeze is everywhere,

The birds sing a song,

Love is in the air.

For every word in the past,

a new word has began,

To know that every single one,

Will come around again.

When the moment finally comes,

It will be so grand,

I'll reach for the stars,

and reach that destined land.

With each and every day,

A new and brighter future comes,

Take hold of what you have,

And give all the world some.

Now remember each day,

Remember every single breath,

Take heart in the ones who care,

Love them long after death.

A composition by Matthias and Skyler,

written one line at a time.

Philadelphia, DC, New York, and Boston

Philadelphia was the second major city on the trip. We went through Chicago, but we didn't get to explore it. In Philadelphia we actually got to see the Liberty Bell and some people ate Cheesesteaks. It was amazing, though not nearly as good as Washington D.C.

I was in awe walking up to the Lincoln Memorial seeing that huge man made of stone sitting in that chair looking down the mall towards the Washington Monument. I actually kissed the washington monument, thankfully I haven't gotten sick. The white house was something else. I couldn't believe that Obama was probably in there brushing his teeth or looking over some important secret information. We all stayed on a Destroyer ship in Boston for two nights. We had to keep fire watch, it was pretty interesting. Watch this video!

New York the empire state. Though I never saw the empire state building up close, It was incredible walking through Times Square several times. The lights are everywhere, and my head is spinning with advertisements. On the first day we stood there in line right in the middle of it all, waiting to get tickets for The Phantom of the Opera. Later that day we saw it, and it was indeed like nothing I have ever seen before. The music and the chandelier rising to the ceiling giving me goosebumps. The whole thing was amazing.

In the four days I was there, I saw Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, lots of crazy street performers and Times Square.

Right now I'm in a school in the outskirts of Boston. The day before yesterday we learned a lot about the old fashion ways in sturbridge village, and yesterday we walked the freedom trail in Boston. I saw the sight of the Boston Massacres and many other historic places. Today I am debating weather I should go into Boston again, or just get caught up on homework.

Thanks for reading about this amazing journey Heartlife is taking. I will probably post one or two more posts during this trip.

Click here to see a video of our trip as though we were time traveling. Enjoy.

The 2009 Heartlife Road Trip

For the last three days I have been on an amazing road trip. So far we have come over 2,000 miles from Portland Oregon, to Chicago Illinois. I have been to 5 states that I've never been to before. I can't believe that I am this far already, its so exciting.

This trip isn't just a vacation. This is school on the road for 4 weeks, living life in the truest sense. Heartlife is a school committed to teaching kids like me all about character. On the road and all over the country, we're getting a chance

to use what we've learned, and we still keep learning at the same time.

I will probably make a few more blog posts through the course of this trip.

Thanks for reading.

Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Inspiration

I went to the Bridge House today and I saw people from school. For some reason it seamed like it had been a while since I had seen them. It had, I hadn't seen anyone from Heartlife in a week, except for Karly, but she is my sister so she doesn't count. I guess the only people from Heartlife that I saw were Lauren, Claire, Ethan M, Matthias, and Katarina. I saw other people that I knew, such as Ivan, Luis, Monica, Brittany, Dan, Jacqui, Marc, Christina, and many other people who I either forgot or didn't see.

When I sat down on a chair near the left side of the room in the second row, it took me a moment or two to realize that the first 5 or so rows were gone in the middle section. The walk in music had ended and the first song started. I don't remember it very well, what order things were in and I forgot who did what. I remember Chelsea saying something about learning auditory, visual, and kinesthetic, and say that you can worship in those ways as well. I was amazed at the energy in the room building. The music was growing, and people were dancing.

I was standing between Karly and Ethan and we were all having a great time. In that big empty space were the chairs were gone, that I told you about, there were people dancing their hearts out, living in the holy spirit. It was amazing, I could tell Ethan was thinking the same thing. We were doing the moves and being bold. It was extraordinary compared to other worship experiences I have had.

The worship ended for then, and Brittany preached an amazing sermon about how God takes the bad, evil things that we do and actually, unbelievably turns them into good through an amazing opportunity called grace. I would love to tell you more about what Brittany said, but I truly cant say it with the same excitement and enthusiasm that she exploited.

A video was played that made me nearly cry, and I felt what it meant to me, I wanted to do something right then and there. I wanted to be sent. Watch the video if you haven't seen it already. It is very inspirational. After the video was over, Marc went up and talked to us about being the church, what he said made me feel like I have a purpose. I can do things to help other people. I can take my experience and my sin and make the world a better place.

Here am I,

SEND ME!

Architecture

I went with my dad to Portland to look at architecture, because he wants to build a model skyscraper. We saw many interesting buildings, we even get half way to the top of one from inside an elevator before they told us to come down.

Below are 20 pictures that I took.

Thorns

Thorns, sticking out in the open air, thorns, that rip and tear, 

Thorns like those on Jesus crown, 

But just above can be roses blooming, beautiful life, like resurrection. 

From thorns to life and hope in heaven.

Awake at Night

Here I am, awake at night, Posting my homework, doing it right.

Here I am feeling so proud of myself, in the moment, it's actually fun

Tomorrow is Joy Day,

 Is it right to wait until this night

To finish my work?

I do sort of feel like a procrastinator,

But I'm getting it done,

How I long to join the 6 or the 12 or whatever number it may be,

But will it count, will Kevin believe that I have what it takes to look at...

JOY DAY

and just maybe leave?

A Magnificent Orange

A Magnificent Orange
Originally uploaded by Heart Life Pictures

This is an orange that grew on a tree, it had a great life and found its way to me;

This is an orange that I took from a pile, I took it with care and I held it with a smile;

I brought this orange home and I held it up high, I looked at it thoughtfully, and I knew just why;

I love this fruit with its bright orange and dark green, I love how it shines and how it loves to be seen.

I painted this orange with color on paper, I sprinkled the picture with salt just to taper.

This orange made me proud, it was oh so amazing, I ate it with joy and its takes was orange blazing;

It was sweet, it was sour, it was filled with orange power, it was delicious, I loved it, but it is gone in this hour;

It is gone, and I'm sad, but I can't stay that way, for the joy and taste of that orange will always stay;

I will remember that orange for as long as I live, and when I see people who need its joy, to them this story I'll give.

The Ballet

Heartlife headed out the door to go downtown, to see a ballet called "Bach meets Africa"

Randall came with us, he always seems find a way to make someone laugh.

We all waited right outside the door to the Keller Auditorium for about half an hour in the cold weather. It was freezing, some of us resorted to the warmth of a graphic flame on my ipod touch, or the last drops of Brendan's mocha.

We played games to pass the time

Finally we were let inside the auditorium. We went up a few flights of stairs and to aisle 4.

Watching the performers practice was something I had seen about 4 times already, but it is still very entertaining. They do so many things that I can't imagine being able to do. 

"Bach meets africa" was a pretty amazing show, the scenes were really cool, how they used shadows. Click here to learn more.

I enjoyed seeing the many tall buildings in Portland once again. I love architecture, who knows, maybe I will be an architect when I grow up.

Junk Drawers

All junk drawers are different. Some are clean and organized (like above, sort of)

Compared to those that truly have integrity in the sense of the word "Junk Drawer" (below)

Some drawers cause headaches at the first glimpse, and some make one feel peaceful.

Whatever it is that your drawer holds, it doesn't matter if it is organized well, as long as it works for you. 

If you have a messy drawer and it helps you because you know where things are even if they're location doesn't make any sense, then your doing perfectly fine.

  If you can't bare things not being organized, than that is perfectly fine as well, and definitely a good way to live. Everything is fine unless you try to persuade someone to change their lifestyle to be more organized.

Let's be Clear

0221091510
Originally uploaded by Heart Life Pictures

This is not a picture.
Its another place to get super fast mobile internet.

An afternoon at the mall

My dad took my sister and I to the mall after church this last saturday.

I think the main reason we went their was because Karly wanted to buy some shoes with the money that she recently learned she had from an old bank account.

 Next we went across the food court, down the escalator and through the koi pond area. We weaved around kiosks and crowds of people.

Finally we ended up at Journeys. Karly looked around at the shoes, and had a hard time choosing as always. She asked me which of two pairs I liked better. I liked the ones that she decided not to get. She got these black shoes with black and purple shoes laces. 

When I was in the store, I randomly bought a pair of bright yellow-neon shoe laces. I had to get something. Karly said they weren't made for tennis shoes. I had to admit they look a lot better on skater shoes or whatever you call them.

The three of us went back to the movie stand and my dad bought tickets for 'Twilight" It was a really awesome movie. And thats it for our day at the mall. After that we went home and did other things.