Handle with care.

Life seems to be such a common aspect of everyday...well, life. When it is threatened, I am always surprised by it. Tonight there was a car accident at Judson, and two of the guys are in the hospital. The Judson community came to the chapel to pray for everyone involved in the accident. I was surprised at how many were there. Despite a lot of students being gone for the Harry Potter midnight premiere and it being so late, the chapel was filled with students. I was amazed at the response. I really shouldn't be though. Judson is an amazing community.

taken with a friend's phone at chapel.

After prayer from the President, we prayed in groups. Now, I rarely cry. I have gotten better at it, but just don't cry. I don't even know these boys who were in the accident, but tears were streaming down my face while we prayed and sang songs. One of the songs was Heart of Worship. Some students talked about how trials can help bring people closer to God. Lately I haven't been focusing my priorities on God. Tonight made me realize how fragile life really is. I could be gone tomorrow, or in 80 years.

When the music fades 

And all is stripped away 

And I simply come 

Longing just to bring 

Something that's of worth 

That will bless your heart 

I'll bring You more than a song 

For a song in itself 

Is not what You have required 

You search much deeper within 

Through the ways things appear 

You're looking into my heart 

I'm coming back to the heart of worship 

And it's all about You 

All about You, Jesus 

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it 

When it's all about You 

It's all about You Jesus 

King of endless worth 

No one could express 

How much You deserve 

Though I'm weak and poor 

All I have is Yours 

Every single breath 

I'll bring You more than just a song 

For a song in itself 

Is not what You have required 

You search much deeper within 

Through the way things appear 

You're looking into my heart 

I'm coming back to the heart of worship 

And it's all about You 

All about You, Jesus 

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it 

When it's all about You 

It's all about You Jesus 

Its all about you 

Jesus 

Please pray for everyone involved, but especially for Nick Schlegel, Derek Radesky, their families. Pray for peace. Pray for understanding. Pray for love.

Chicago

I went into Chicago in the beginning of November with three of my friends--I saw and heard a lot of interesting things. We were asking people if they thought God was real. The answers were always fascinating, especially one guy that was stranded in Chicago with no way to make money to get back home in Vegas. But for me, the most memorable moment happened very quickly. I saw a man digging through the garbage. I didn't really think much of it, but continued to watch as we walked by [people fascinate me] Right before I looked away, he pulled out a drink from a place like Sbarro. And he started drinking from it. I was so incredibly shocked. But it made me realize how incredibly blessed I am. There I was, walking around with an awesome camera and with friends from a school that I am blessed to be able to go to.

Yet, I complain.

Incessantly.

About the cafeteria food
About having "nothing" to wear
About too much homework

About having too much stuff

About not having enough time
About nothing
About everything

I am blessed and I tend to forget that.

The Banana Incident

Do I have a story for you! There I was, sitting on my bed, editing pictures. Harmless, right? WRONG. If you have a Dutch room-mate, that is. Now, like I said, I was just working and being completely innocent [it's a stretch, but also the truth]. Suddeny, out of nowhere, a banana is flung at my bed. I look up to see an evil grin from said Dutch room-mate. I am shocked. Usually so is so sweet and kind [lies!]. I pick up the banana because I care for it. Then, I discover the worst part. It's a banana split! After this knowledge, I decided to document it.

After this documentation, I decided consuming the evidence would be wise. But then a song came on and I started dancing. That's when the top half of the banana fell off--into Anne's garbage. I then fell to the floor in laughter. After which I tried to eat the other half but accidentally dropped it on the floor. And then I dropped the banana peel in Anne's garbage.

Justice.

Served.

last challenge day.

Day 26- What you think about your friends?

• they are insane and get cranky when they need sleep (quite similar to me)

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge?

• why not?

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

--------all of my pictures are needing to be relocated in another folder :'(

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned?

• i need to take better care of my body. [it's falling apart...teeth, knee, etc]

Day 30- Who are you?

• I am way too tired to answer this question effectively tonight [yes, I am dodging the question with an excuse]

22-25

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else?'

• i'm not that original. everyone else? really? is that even possible? please. i know people like to think they are completely unique and different, but the truth is no one is. [sorry, but it's true] we're all human, and we all have our weird tendencies. some are just a little more boring, and some are just insane.

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot.

• chipotle (i have decided to eat there less, too much of my money goes there. sadness)

Day 24- A letter to your parents.

• Dear Mom and Dad, I would appreciate money for my addiction (see number 23). Thanks a heap. Oh, you should skype me. How is Scott doing? [blog readers: he was in a 4-wheeler accident, but he is ok now] I wouldn't mind money for gas either. Okay, well I shall anxiously await your response. Sincerely, your one and only loving daughter, (nothing like putting on pressure to reimburse your addiction) Megan

Day 25- What I would find in your bag?

• 3 musketeers wrapper
• billfold
• homework
• random lint
• pens and highlighters
• a book
• depends on the day, my d-slr

Have you seen my aspirations?

I used to have so many goals for my life. Plans, aspirations. But lately, I have just become so very melancholy almost. Lack luster, boring, feeling "ehhh." I tend to blame this on school. Sounds like a good excuse right. The academic institution is sucking away my soul. Right, RIGHT? If I'm truthful with myself (which I really need to do more) I need to face the music that it's me. I've let myself get to this place. I've let myself just go through the motions. I am finally comfortable at Judson, and really know who I am (do you truly ever know who you are?). Is it good to be comfortable? When I get comfortable, that means changing out of my pretty clothes and into sloppy sweatpants. And in general, I just don't care how I look. When I first came to Judson, I took tons of pictures, always had my camera with me. In some ways, I think I was more outgoing back then. What happened? No idea.

I used to write short stories all the time when I was in high school. Since college, I've really just put those thoughts out of my mind. "I am a general art major, why should I write?" Guess what Megan, other things can inspire you. You don't have to do solely artsy things. (personally though, i think writing is a pretty artsy thing to do)

Well enough talk about all these things I used to do. It is time to do fun things again. I've made lists of things I want to do with my life before, but I think it's something interesting to look back on.

• continue to wear hats
• travel to [and across] Europe
• elaborate my short stories, maybe write a novel
• crochet instead of waste time on the internet
• cry more
• fall in love
• give grace to people that aggravate me
• learn to swim
• sketch, even if the drawings are terrible
• take pictures, all the time
• talk to people [be a social human being]
• expand my vocabulary
• teach myself French

Days 20, 21

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future.

• puts God first above all, even me


• humble


• servant's heart


• chivalrous


• encouraging


• un-manipulative (is that really a word?)

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy.

TOMS. this is an organization that gives a kid a pair of shoes every time you purchase a pair for yourself. In addition, these shoes will help to fund three new clean water wells in Ethipoia. The shoes are really expensive, but so worth it. I'm thinking of getting my first pair for Christmas.

500th post

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.

• my life is pretty awesome. I have enough problems living my own life, why go elsewhere when I'm starting to figure this thing called life out?

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have.

• move to England
• become a social landscape photographer
• the cliche (but beautiful) dream of finding Prince Charming
• travel all across Europe
• peace corps?
• get rid of all my debt from school loans
• be awesome

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them? LOTS

• Meggy eggy seggy peggy weggy zeggy (ask Trisha)
• Mugsee (rat/mouse) my loving cousin Matthew came up with it
• Purple [two guys were needing a third person in their group, i was wearing purple, and it just stuck.]
• Dakota [people can't get North or South straight down here]
• Erbele, Erbel Tea [people love my last name, erbel tea=er...be...le]
• CP [secret with my cousin Jessie]
• Marge [Anne likes my middle name, Margaret]
• shutterbug
• blurbly
• ....more to come I'm sure

missing home?

I think whenever I start to get homesick, I will just look at this picture. Apparently this is home, well nearby. It's of Scott's girlfriend's car. (my brother has a girlfriend...what?? :) Glad I am here. October, no snow. I tend to forget that I'm lucky to be seeing red leaves instead of white snow. I love being able to celebrate autumn for more than a week.

Challenge, 4

Day 14- A picture of you and your family.

a traditional portrait (2006)

Texas Trip, Christmas 2009. Mom made us stand by this sign. She thought it would be cool for her scrapbook. As you can see, I picked the correct footgear for the excursion.

California Trip, Christmas 2005. I am totally absorbed in camera. Playing with settings would be my guess. That was back in the day when I shot in film.

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play.

1. The Lucky Ones--Brendan James
2. Devastation and Reform--Relient K
3. All this Time--Maria Mena
4. Syndicate--The Fray
5. Something In The Water--Brooke Fraser
6. The Other Woman--Caro Emerald
7. Forever Young--BobDylan
8. Wicked World--Laura Jansen
9. Perfectly Lonely--John Mayer
10. Foundations--Kate Nash

(c) megan erbele design

Challenge, 3

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why?

------start reading the Bible more consistently

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

-----good grades on mid-term papers and tests

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad.

• -----Happy--> Absolutely Me-Caro Emerald
• -----Sad--> He Must Have Really Hurt You Bad-George Strait
• -----Bored--> I'll Be Your Crying Shoulder-Goo Goo Dolls
• -----Hyped--> Keep the Party Alive-Family Force 5
• -----Mad--> That's What You Get-Paramore

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends.

me & maggie on the way to pick up kids while at Riverwoods (2009)

just say no

30 day challenge

30 Day Challenge

Day 02- The meaning behind your Tumblr name.

--Invalid. :)

Day 03- A picture of you and a friend.

--These are two of my best friends. My room-mate and my mom.

At Homecoming, i tried to get Anne to run through the water with me.

this is my amazing mother =)

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have.

-- procrastination

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to.

it's pretty grand.

tumbling is fun

i started tumbling today

meganerbele.tumblr.com

i will still be blogging here. tumblr will be for pictures and quotes that inspire, as well as replies to formspring questions.

30 Day Challenge

my last 30 day challenge wasn't as up to snuff as i wanted it to be, so i am re-trying - just for the heck of it. it won't be everyday....just fyi. i found this on Chelsea's tumblr. i have been thinking about getting a tumblr.....

Day 1 - a recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

(no guarantee that these are interesting)

1. my hair has recently decided to be awesome. i don't have to do anything to it, and it will be wonderfully curly. but when i brush it....well, that's another story
2. i finished a six page paper (that i actually wrote 7 pages for) three days in advance. now i have another 6-page paper to write. different class, same professor  (i always write papers the night before they are due, so this one better get a good grade.)
3. sunday night i went to sleep at 8:30 in the morning, so last night i figured i would be able to crash at midnight, easily. FAIL. my roomie and i were up until 4:30 i think. bombastic fail.
4. my room-mate (anne) is from the netherlands, and i continually make fun of her accent, and she makes fun of how naive i am. quite the loving relationship we have.
5. i am an introvert....and an extrovert. lately, more so the latter. 
6. i hate papyrus [typeface]. the church i go to now is completely obsessed with it. i need to have a talk with the creative arts director. 
7. my ears are quite peculiar. one attached, one unattached 
8. fifteen facts about oneself is a lot 
9. after a week long digital cleanse with anne, i am less obsesses with facebook....but still am completely addicted to twitter. 
10. i wish i had time to read books i want to read 
11. i scream in the cinema at horror films, no matter how pathetic they are 
12. i am a film addict. anne and i have a movie map in our room of films that we need to watch to become whole adults. 
13. when talking about boys  men, the word sexy is lost on me, but suave.....i practically melt if the guy is anything like Cary Grant. 
14. i love writing, but haven't been able to because school takes up so much time 
15. i love cleaning when the room is very dirty. you can see progress, but if you vacuum everyday, it seems pointless.

When taking engagement pictures for friends, I climbed into a tree to get a different perspective. I didn't want to get down.

signs of the times

midterms that is.

Yes, my friends. Time is no longer a friend (when IS it a friend?) Later nights, more snacks, and maybe a catnap somewhere in the day. Wait, that's every day. Well, now people can understand why I am sleepy most of the time. Pictured above is my to-do list. So far, it is what I have to do for this week. LOTS. I finished a six page paper tonight, and one more to do (both for the same professor, different classes). Wish me luck. Or better yet, pray.

Fake Voices

In a future generation
Monophonic crowds emerge
With their metal throats
On organic flesh
Trading Originals for epigones
Real singers have become extinct

Fake voices
Fill the avenues
With Decepticon diction
Its a failed quest for perfection
Once the talent pool evaporates
Real singers have become extinct

This is a song by one of my friends, Curtis Bell. I especially love the line "It's a failed quest for perfection." Because really, isn't every quest for perfection doomed to fail? We can't be perfect. I wish more people would be broken and beautiful. Let the cracks show. God can use the worst moments of our lives for His glory. When we are weak, He is strong. Let's be honest, people. Let's be transparent--so transparent that people only see God's love through us instead of judgement and hypocrisy. Let people see your mistakes. Guess what? We've all made them.

lotsa books

Believe it or not, I'm actually kind of excited about these books (plus the 20 or so more titles I have yet to get from fellow Illinois libraries). I love books, so it's nice when I am enthusiastic about the papers I have to write, and thus research the background. (which includes watching lots of Alfred Hitchcock films :)

Eppie

*photo courtesy of epson

I have a tendency to name all of my gadgets and gizmos. There's Ian, Nellie, Steve, Veronica and Eppie to name a few.

Eppie. Well his given name is technically Epson Stylus nx420, but Eppie is his loving adoptive name.

He has proven himself well tonight. I printed off contact sheets and 15 prints for my senior proposal class tomorrow. And every single one has beautiful colors. Eppie and I go way back. We've been together for going on two months now. A very solid relationship. He is very good to me, sometimes more than I deserve. Sometimes I press too many of his buttons and he threatens to stop talking to me, and occasionally he will refuse to help me with my homework, but in the end there is a lot of love in our relationship.