fiction available

FYI... I went ahead and posted my first fiction short story piece on my other website. It is still a second draft and in the works... but you get the idea. Note: it is FICTION. ;)

Rest

It's amazing what a few days of NO responsibilities aside from family chores can do to a person. Each day is a day of possibility, creative productivity, and above all - rest. Whether it may be working out, reading, writing, shopping, lounging, talking on the phone, getting a haircut, upgrading my phone, scrapbooking, or whatever... there is no doubt that this time is so restful for me. I'm currently sitting in the local coffee shop, Dagney's, typing away at my laptop, sipping iced coffee, listening to James Blunt on my headphones and reveling in this moment. I love the freedom to read whatever I want and write whatever I want...
And let's face it- the family time is amazing, as always. I can't get over how incredibly close we are as a family. Last night daddy and I went for a run on the bike path by Cal State Bakersfield. The air was cool and clear, perfect running weather. We talked about so much in those three miles under the stars: theology, parenting, school, books, etc... It is so wonderful to have the relationships I have with my parents. Anything and everything may be shared at any time... so rare.
My soul is being revived each day that I am home. God has overwhelmed me once again with His faithfulness, the certainty of His call, His radical beckon for discipleship, grace, love, and hope... hope in what is unseen and yet so sure. It is well with my soul.

Can't get enough of this guy

"The courage to live as a prophet and lover is beyond human reach. Without the grace of God, we cannot even desire God. Without the grace of God, I cannot walk the talk of Christ."

"Each future determination, each next step discloses itself only out of a discernment of the influence of God in the present moment. 'By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going' (Hebrews 11:8, italics added). The reality of life for Christian men and women requires that they leave what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walk into the desert without rational explanations to justify their decisions or guarantee their future. Why? Solely and simply because God signals this movement and offers it his promise."

Both Quotes from my favorite author, Brennan Manning. Just opened another book by him, The Signature of Jesus, and it's blowing my mind and rocking my world as much of his writing so often does. By the way, both quotes totally fit my life right now... I've forgotten the process and journey of faith- and how radical it might seem at times... the call may be absurd - but it is there nonetheless, and obedience may be my only response to the lover of my soul.
~On another part of the journey... new, exciting, confusing, absurd, radical, delightful, and governed by God~

sweet

Two things to share:
1) I'M DONE!!!!
2)I just found out Katie Hat reads my blog and it makes me really happy - this one's for you Hat ;)

New blog for writing!

I started a new blog just for my writing. the url is http://anneburdettewriting.blogspot.com
My first posting is the 15 page paper I wrote on Paul and the leadership of women. If you have time to read it, know that the content is solid though the writing is rushed (due to lack of planning on my part)... umm yeah learn about paul! check it out as i post some of my creative writing on it as well

Takes a Village

So you know the phrase 'it takes a village to raise a child?' Well, yeah story of my life. I have two moms (sometimes three or four), roommates who keep me in check, dear friends who keep me accountable... and when it comes to school...
My 15 page paper was due today. Paul and the Leadership of women - due at 4 pm. Now, for most of this paper I've been ahead of the game. My rough draft was complete on Saturday (UNHEARD OF), but for some reason I underestimated my revision time and come 3:17 I was still writing a conclusion and I was without a bibliography (keep in mind it is due on campus at 4 and the classroom is at least a 30 minute walk). Hilary comes in, sees the panic on my face, and graciously offers to type my bibliography for me. She's wonderful. We get to class on time, paper printed complete with bibliography and all, and... I flip through it to discover page 2 is completely blank, and page 1 is horribly screwed up. Panic. Now this is the same prof. who I've turned in a paper late to and had to meet up with in office hours to explain my flakiness - not wanting to do that again... so I call JD while I pretend to go to the bathroom and ask him to reprint it. Luckily, he's pretty great and willingly made corrections for me, printed the paper out, and drove it to me during our break so I could turn it in without Dr. Bartchy knowing a thing. So apparently it takes multiple people to get a paper turned in when it comes to me and Bartchy's class... haha.

On a similar note - today I finished a paper that drastically altered my perspective on the leadership of women in the church and Paul's writing. CONTEXT is HUGE! It's incredible how we've just contorted the initial meaning of some of Paul's letters to apply to our society today. Yeah so my thesis was: By understanding the context of Paul's letters, there may be no dispute that Paul was an advocate for the leadership of women in the church - or something to that effect. Bet you'd never think that by glancing at 1 Cor. 11, 14:33-35, and 1 Timothy 2:8-15... but after considerable reasearch throughout the quarter, a lot of concerns and questions and doubts and struggles have been reconciled to the truth that women, along with men, may be called to leadership positions in the Church as the Holy SPirit prompts. I'm going to try to somehow add a link for my paper, but i'm not sure how to do that... any suggestions? Getting late so I'm going to bed now...
The Corona with lime was much needed celebration with Hil after we SKIPPED to the car after seminar today... quarters with Bartchy are tough.

Dinner Tonight

Tonight we sat and talked. Four of us at one table; we spent a couple of hours chatting about life, God, and the vastness of His great faithfulness. I looked at each one and saw the beauty of Christ in them. Their presence set my heart at peace and I was easily content. Dinner outside at D&P’s has become a comfortable hangout for us girls of Westwood. The heaters were on, and though the night air was chilly, the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. We were engaged with one another. When we talk, we dream… Dream of life and the idea of being used for greatness. We’ll change the world – each one of us. Alana’s solid friendship, adventurous spirit, and nurturing heart will heal and restore those who have lost the excitement of life. Jeannette will experience Africa… her graceful presence will heal a nation. Nicolette will achieve goals many women can’t even fathom making… she will heal a broken misconception of worth. And I… I will write. I will write and pray that the words on each page will heal broken hearts, broken dreams, and broken ideals. We left and went our separate ways, each woman more enriched by the presence of sisters who share a bond that none on this earth can explain it as other than the bond of Christ.

And as I walked into my apartment tonight, I thought of the people God has placed in my life for such a time as this. It isn’t just the four of us who happened to be at dinner tonight who will change the world. I see it in others too. JD will teach others the beauty of worship, a life of service dedicated to loving God and loving others. Cait will share her story, spend her energy on ministry, and in turn, her treasure in Heaven will be a crown with many jewels. Jackie will pray, and her ears will hear what only few can dare listen to. Kyle will show the business world the meaning of Jesus’ presence on earth. Jennie will serve the outcasts, the untouchables. Teddy will be an advocate for those who have no advocate. Hilary will bring joy and laughter to children who have little hope left. Anna will rise high in the ranks of academics and remind the world that Jesus’ grace is sufficient, and she will use big words to proclaim this truth. Jenny’s writing will inspire the world to dream. Renee will teach inner-city children the passion of knowledge. The leaders in Athletes in Action will change this campus and will be known by the world. They will have ministries that God ordains and blesses. Garett too. He might not know it but God has a ministry for him that will change lives. I have other friends who are going places in the name of Jesus… friends who will be known by this world as workers for Jesus. They are brothers and sisters that I’ve encountered along the way and have partnered with in ministry… the body of believers is vast and countless. Its impact as a unit is significant and unbreakable. As an individual, I am quite small. But when as collected individuals we join together for a purpose far greater than ourselves, our significance is huge. And I am in awe of God’s great creativity and wisdom in constructing a powerful force that is victorious in all endeavors because of the One who called it into being.

snapshot

Christmas decorations adorn the entire apartment. 'Merry Christmas' greets the guest at the door with the wall full of neatly wrapped presents on the left. Freshly baked brownies sit on the kitchen counter creating an aroma of baked goods true to the Christmas season, and hanging on the front window for all of Westwood to see is a strand of garland with carefully taped snowflake ornaments sticking to the glass. The best part? Mistletoe hangs from every doorway... not to mention the entire basketful that sits on the entryway table. Aparently we love to enforce makeout sessions as much as possible with the leafy endorcements hanging on the ceiling (cuz who would do that? i mean really). This is our apartment right now. Apt. 101 - full of Christmas cheer.

Also at our apartment right now... 4 very frazzled girls who constantly sit at the kitchen table and stare at laptops for hours on end... glossy eyes and the whole bit. Books are strewn all over the floor and chairs, and the occasional 'I hate school!' sounds from each girl's lips as she frantically searches for the next word to type on that darn paper that is due within the hour (ok maybe that's just me at the last hour)... If an outsider were to peak in at the right time, all 4 laptops might just be turned to facebook or myspace for the necessary (?) study break that only encourages procrastination and extra stress in the long run. Not to mention the fact that the freezer and kitchen are full of goodies that may only be saved up and served during 10th week and finals week (yes, the ultimate study break/sanity keeper)... desserts and chocolate galore. It might be added that simultaneously to the eating of desserts, a lack of working out also occurs during this time of the quarter. Not a splendid combination, but true three times a year nonetheless.

And here I am at 12:40am on Wed. night. Page 0 has been written for the 15-18 to come by Monday (don't worry... outline and thesis done). It's been a beautiful day in the world of research, lunch with friends, a walk home from campus with that boy that I'm crazy about, a telephone convo with Cait that made my heart literally beam, good climbing with Alana, news that a baby will be born to my cousins Andy and Lindsey, a wonderfully healthy dinner with Alana as well as much needed confession/chat/prayer time with the girl who rocks my world here (and makes me climb climbs that appear way too difficult), and then of course the night can't end without those arms around me at least once before my head hits the pillow.

It's Thursday of 10th week and it is well with my soul.

Hey but this makes me smile! ;)

argh

bummer game yesterday. heartbreaker is a better word for it. Hilary is laying on the floor of living room pounding her fists on the floor exclaiming, "I hate school!" Yup. so it goes right now. sorry no signifance for the posts right now... gotta write an 18 pager.