Fantastic Words (and Where to Find Them)

With Spring Break nearly over and my final term just around the corner, I decided to share some of the words I learned this past term (or relearned). There are so many wonderful words in the world, and the more I learn the more I realize the current limit of my vocabulary. 

• Avarice: "excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain." Webster's Dictionary, Avarice (1828). (I know I've heard this word used, but never took the time to appreciate it) 
• Dereliction: "The forsaking of a legal or moral obligation with no intent to reassume [sic] it: abandonment (dereliction of duty)." Dereliction, Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).
• Oligopoly: "Control or domination of a market by a few large buyers or customers." Oligopoly, Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).
• Scienter: "A degree of knowledge that makes a person legally responsible for the consequences of his or her act or omission; the fact of on act's having been done knowingly, esp. as a ground for civil damages or criminal punishment. " Scienter, Black's Law Dictionary, (9th ed. 2009).
• Surreptitious: "(of conduct) unauthorized and clandestine; stealthily and usu. fraudulently done (surreptitious interception of electronic communication...)." Surreptitious, Black's Law Dictionary, (9th ed. 2009). (I knew this word before this term, but, again, never took the time to appreciate it)

Anyway, I shall try to finish my last term without dereliction of my duty to extend my best effort, and that without avarice or oligopic intent. Further, I shall attempt to avoid acting unethically with scienter in my studies or with surreptitious conduct. 

While I am uncertain I used all of those nice words in their correct context (or tense), I think you get the idea. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24 (English Standard).

Graduation is just around the corner, and my Lord is faithful!

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

March Madness...Or Something

Aha, it is March, and I am writing a blog post! While March hasn't ended yet, it has been quite packed...In addition to surviving my second-to-last subterm, I spent time with dear friends, road-tripped to the beach with Sweet Pea (to also be joined by the rest of the family later), and explored a nearby town with a dearest friend. 

My Lord is faithful, and has been revealing so much to me lately. Specifically, about just how sinful I am, how amazing his grace is, and the magnitude of His Spirit inside His children. I mean, how crazy is it that the Spirit of God -- the Holy God, the Creator of the World -- indwells those who are saved by Christ? God loves us so much that He gave His Son -- God in flesh -- to die a gruesome death to offer a means of salvation to humanity -- humanity who by nature live in opposition of Him! Seriously amazing.

In closing, here are some pictures from the first half of this month.

 Lovely spur-of-the-moment visit with this lady! We enjoyed exploring downtown, getting a free tour of a historic building, and even got a free truffle!

Spring is coming!

 Sweet Pea (16) and I had a lovely time road-tripping down to the beach to surprise our grandmother for her birthday! The rest of the family joined us about three hours after we arrived, and we all had a lovely time spending time with our grandparents, each other, and at the beach!

 Sweet Pea. 💗

 Amazingda, The Chunk (1), Strong Ox, and Mini-Man (11)

 The Chunk, Squish (4), and Strong Ox "playing" Frisbee with a boomerang...It worked decently well with those of us above 4 threw it around (as in, we didn't know how to throw a boomerang correctly so we threw it like a frisbee)...

 Love these two, so very much.

 The Chunk started eating the sand when no one was looking. Contrary to appearances, we quickly removed the sand from his mouth upon discovery.

 Strong Ox and I playing "Frisbee"...sort of. Let the record note that I do sometimes do sports! Also, when you're trying to compete against your big and tall older brother, he's likely to win if you're both headed toward the same frisbee and you value your life! 

 Auntie Sweet Pea and Squish reading before bed.

 A few of us stayed in a rented condo; this was the morning view of the backyard. It was truly beautiful.

 Sweet Pea, Munchette, and I briefly stopped in town after a morning walk on the beach.

 I seriously love this child!

 Footprints in the sand.

 This dear sister, the beach, and messy, windblown hair!

 Peachy and I found a Groupon in January for a fancy hotel in a nearby town! We planned this trip as a Christmas present for me from her, a birthday present from me to her, to celebrate her two-year graduation from nursing school, and to celebrate the beginning of my last spring break before graduation! 

 Our room had a balcony with a private hot tub!

We watched part of a "Spongbob Squarpants" show, and were slightly traumatized and also a smidgen amused...But mostly traumatized. haha

 Visiting the Saturday Market

 We also went to a fancy chocolate shop that has all sorts of (nice) chocolate...chocolate snob that I am, I ended up purchasing three (expensive) bars...oops....Peachy was wise and just purchased 1 bar and a shot of chocolately espresso.

After lunch at a vegan cafe (because I'm dairy free and we wanted something delicious we could both have), we discovered this lovely wall, so we took a picture of it. 

And this concludes my mandatory March report reporting much miscellaneous mischief! And now to wait for my grades from this last subterm to come through... 

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia