Help! Name change dilemma

I know I still have almost 4 months to go before I get my new name, but I've already started thinking about a new email address. After all, I won't be adsouto anymore. I will be adyuen. However, that email address has already been taken as there are many, many more Yuens in the world than there are Soutos. With that in mind, please participate in my new poll to pick a new email address. If you have other ideas, please vote "other" and leave a comment. Thanks for all the help!

Weather conditions

Today, I am wearing leggings, knee-high socks, regular socks, boots, jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt, and a turtleneck knit sweater. When I go outside, I will add leather gloves, a winter coat, a scarf and a knit winter hat.

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be wearing jeans, a t-shirt and flip-flops. I could wear shorts, but they are packed away for the winter.

Today I am in New York City. It is 20 degrees but feels like 8.

Tomorrow, I will be in Scottsdale, AZ. It will be 75 degrees and feel like 75 degrees.

Do you think it is the meteorologist who mathematically figures out "feels like" using factors like wind speed, pressure and humidity? Or, do you think it is the assistant meteorologist who walks outside and says, "hmm... feels like X"? My money's on the former, but I love the idea of the latter.

in another life...

I would like to be

* a National Geographic wildlife photographer
* a professional ballerina
* a board game developer
* a marine mammal trainer
* an actress
* a forensic anthropologist

No longer "under the law"

I often felt I lacked a good answer to why Christians don't follow all the Old Testament law anymore. I know that Christ came to fulfill the requirements of the law, but there are many laws that we still rely on to govern what is right and what is wrong. I really liked my pastor's explanation. Tim Keller said, "We also recognize that many parts of the Old Testament law no longer relate directly to us as believers. Since Jesus is the ultimate priest, temple, and sacrifice, we observe none of the ceremonial, dietary, and other laws connected to ritual purity. Also, Christians of all nations are now members of the people of God, and God’s community no longer exists as a single nation-state under a theocratic government. Therefore, the ‘civil legislation’ of the Old Testament is no longer appropriate. Adultery in the Old Testament was punishable by a death, but in the New Testament it is dealt with through exhortation and church discipline (1 Corinthians 6-7.)... The law of God simply shows us what human beings were built to do—to worship God alone, to love their neighbors as themselves, to tell the truth, keep their promises, forgive everything, act with justice. When we move against these laws we move against our own natures and happiness. Disobedience to God sets up strains in the fabric of reality that can only lead to break down."

Book Review: Dreamhouse Kings #1 : House of Dark Shadows

Title: House of Dark Shadows
Author: Robert Liparulo
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Category: Young adult, suspense

My Rating:****

House of Dark Shadows is Robert Liparulo's first young adult title and the first in a series called Dreamhouse Kings. I was pleasantly surprised with his debut and am looking forward to reading Book 2.

The story follows fifteen year old Xander King and his family as they move from Pasadena to Pinedale, Ca. At first, Xander and his brother David are upset about leaving the big city and all their friends to move to a small town in the middle of nowhere, but the house that the Kings decide to buy quickly entrances the two boys with its mysteries. The shadowy figure of a large man who appears out of nowhere, tricks of sound, and secret passageways make this just creepy and scary enough to be interesting without being too much for a young adult audience. At first I thought it was too fantastical, but Liparulo was eventually able to bring me to a place where my disbelief could be suspended. The book is heavy on movie and television references, which bothered me at first, but it really suits the main character, so I got over it.

I thought House of Dark Shadows was gripping, a page-turner, unexpectedly frightening at times and a great story.

Thankful

25 things I am thankful for this year:

• a faith that is sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see
• my salvation that I know I do not deserve
• a fiance who supports me and encourages me
  
• my family who have always been there for me
  
• loving and uplifting relationships with my friends
• a full-time job
• the education I'm receiving at NYU
• books
• freedom
• God's creation
• the people in my fellowship group
• Apple products
• Google
• Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Tim Keller
• the chance to live in New York and my awesome house
• great roommates
• the Tahoe
  
• the Internet
  
• triangle eared dogs
  
• delicious creamers that make my coffee tasty
  
• cell phones
  
• the colors of fall
  
• piano lessons at home
  
• great deals at Ikea
  
• Netflix
  

Book Review: The Faith of Barack Obama

Title: The Faith of Barack Obama
Author: Stephen Mansfield
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Category: Non-fiction

My Rating:***
There is no shortage of information out there about president-elect Obama, but I really appreciated Stephen Mansfield's fairly objective pre-election portrayal of our 44th president and his faith. Mansfield provides well-reserached details about Obama's life, family background and encounters with different religions, and he describes to the best of his ability what it is Obama believes and has faith in. The fact is, we all have faith in something, and Mansfield makes it pretty clear that Obama does believe in God and Jesus, and to him that means carrying out Jesus' mission to help the poor and needy and to fight social injustice. Mansfield tackles the controversial issues of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's influence on Obama as his pastor of many years and Obama's voting record and stance on abortion rights. He tries to highlight both sides of the arguments and provides a foundation of facts for the reader to make up his or her mind. One of my favorite chapters profiled the "four faces of faith in politics:" Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush. Though Mansfield tries to stay objective about Obama's faith, he does make the point that the political landscape in regards to faith and religion is changing, including the emergence and growth of the Religious Left.