My life as a Dilbert comic strip... I laughed outloud at this today. Maybe because this is what I am doing for my final reports. They ask us to quote so many cost figures on everything under the sun and how much you think the user is going to have to pay over the entire lifetime of the machine... and on and on and on. So yeah. A lot of it is guessing and using some formulas that sort of make it look more official. It still takes a long time.


This is the comic (thanks to Jared) that started me reading (and enjoying) Dilbert. heh.

C.J. Mahaney is awesome!! He is coming out with a new book soon that is called Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. It comes out in September. But he is previewing parts of the book on his blog right now. This is the 2nd of seven parts (he only has five of them up so far). I think this book sounds like it would be good for many small groups and young women. His latest section (section five) is about the father's responsibility to the daughters. Take your Dad shopping; it is fun. :) Anyhow, I really like this post. He gets to the heart of the matter. I think the American church is afraid to do that a lot of the time. We seem to treat the symptoms but not the cause. And a lot of us don't think because we don't struggle with the same thing guys do. That is dumb. God says to encourage both your brothers and sisters to Godliness. Anyhow, I like the way CJ puts this.

"Any biblical discussion of modesty begins by addressing the heart, not the hemline. We must start with the attitude of the modest woman.

This emphasis on the heart is front and center in 1 Timothy 2:9. Note the phrase “with modesty and self-control.” All respectable apparel is the result of a godly heart, where modesty and self-control originate. Your wardrobe is a public statement of your personal and private motivation. And if you profess godliness, you should be concerned with cultivating these twin virtues, modesty and self-control.

Modesty means propriety. It means avoiding clothes and adornment that are extravagant or sexually enticing. Modesty is humility expressed in dress. It’s a desire to serve others, particularly men, by not promoting or provoking sensuality.

Immodesty, then, is much more than wearing a short skirt or low-cut top; it’s the act of drawing undue attention to yourself. It’s pride, on display by what you wear.

Self-control is, in a word, restraint. Restraint for the purpose of purity; restraint for the purpose of exalting God and not ourselves. Together, these attitudes of modesty and self-control should be the hallmark of the godly woman’s dress.

In Paul and Timothy’s day, modesty and self-control were foreign to many women walking through the local marketplace, just as they were to Jenni and are to the majority of women at the local shopping mall today. And these concepts are certainly foreign to modern fashion designers, whose goal in clothing design is sensual provocation.

But for godly women, modesty and self-control are to be distinctly present in the heart. The question is, are they distinctly present in yours?

Such an attitude will make all the difference in a woman’s dress, as pastor John MacArthur has observed:

How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood?.... Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshiping God? Or is it to call attention to herself, and flaunt her…beauty? Or worse, to attempt to allure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshiping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance.*

Any conversation about modesty “starts in the intent of the heart.” So consider for a moment, what is the intent of your heart in purchasing clothes to wear? Does a humble heart and a servant’s heart dictate your wardrobe and appearance? Is your shopping informed and governed by modesty and restraint? Or is your dress motivated by a desire for attention and approval from others? Does your style reflect a lack of self-control?

There’s an inseparable link between your heart and your clothes. Your clothes say something about your attitude. If they don’t express a heart that is humble, that desires to please God, that longs to serve others, that’s modest, that exercises self-control, then change must begin in the heart.

For modesty is humility expressed in dress."

edit1: blue (May 6)

There isn't too much interesting stuff happening to talk about. Here is my list of things to do before the semester is finished (oh and I graduate...):

This week:
* I-Beam Built and tested (this Friday, May 2 - finished)
* 8 homework problems for Mechanics (Monday, May 5)
* Senior Class Homework - 3 pages essay on modeling methods (Tuesday, May 6)
* Senior Final Project Report Draft - we are up to 130 pages so far (single spaced) ... (Wednesday, May 7)
* At least a four page essay on Reliability and Absolute limits on parts (Wednesday, May 7)
* Build prototype of turbine (Wednesday, May 7)
* Programming code homework - I have never programmed before this homework is impossible, so far it is 150 lines of code... and I'm like half finished (Thursday, May 8)
* Final Senior Report Due (Friday, May 9)
* Beam Report - already written - 14 pages single spaced (May 9)


Next week:
* 4 homework problems (Monday, May 12)
* Reliability 4 homework problems (Monday, May 12)
* Grad Class Final (Tuesday, May 13)
* Final Presentation Due and Given in Senior Project (Wednesday, May 14)
* Mechanics Final (Saturday, May 17)

The next week after that:
* Grad Class presentation due (Monday, May 19)
* Reliability (grad class) Final (Wednesday, May 21)
* Reliability Journal Paper Due - so far this is 11 pages, single spaced, 10 font....yeah, bleh...(Wednesday, May 21)

*GRADUATION!!!

(Friday, May 23)

Gray text is stuff I have already finished and have marked off my list. The beam project is for my mechanics of materials class - we had to build and I-beam that held 1000 pounds and broke right afterwards. The team that had a beam that reached 1000 lbs and then broke the closest to it won. Out of 120 students, our beam broke the closest at 1069 lbs. It is funny to me since we didn't do any work on the beam at all. My beam partner and I are both seniors and have too much other work to do so we just built the thing because we didn't have time to do any real calculations. I mean, we did a few, but once we got a number that looked good we went with that and didn't try any other designs. So that was pretty nice. ha.

Today, I have spent almost the entire day programming in the wonderful language of Matlab (which really isn't a language... I don't know what you would call it). I am trying to get this wave to propagate over a board so that it can search for the quickest way to route a board with the least amount of wire and the most efficient way. It is SOOO frustrating because I know what I want it to do, but it doesn't do what I want it to do. It is sort of like my flesh. I am sure there is some lesson in this... like stick with battling against the flesh even when it is hard and you are discouraged.

Stef also called me today, which was awesome. I miss my good friend Stef so much some days. Almost as much as I miss my family. Life just isn't as much fun without them around. I am always so happy to hear from her and all about her new life. For some reason I have taken like no pictures with Stef. I guess since we are always on the move when we are together and don't have time for that kind of nonsense. heh. I'd post a picture of her and me, but I can't find any. Anyhow, I thank God for Stephanie Hornor and her friendship. It is a blessing and a great encouragement.

I got to see Derek Webb in concert last night with Sandra McCraken (his wife - my favorite song by her was Goodbye George) at this fun little coffee house right near Tysons Corner Virginia (Vienna I think). Anyhow, I liked Derek Webbs music before I went, but after seeing him in concert I like him even more. He and his wife both sang some of their solo stuff (with one of them playing in the background - they both played guitar and would harmonize with each other - it was really neat - if I could sing I think it would be awesome to write and play music with my husband). They were just so adorable together. It was so cute to watch. And then they sang songs together from their new ep called Ampersand (how cool is that?!?). I love the word Ampersand. Ampersand & ampersand. :D Anyhow, it was a really nice study break just to go down there with some of my friends for his show. He is really entertaining in concert.

And this is one of my favorite songs that we sing at RUF... I found them singing it on youtube. They sound better in concert.

Download the new Coldplay song for FREE tomorrow!!

Thanks Coldplay!

And a free show... details to come...

I love these people!!

These are my favorite six people in the entire world (and a random uncle in the first picture)!! I can't wait to come home and spend some of my summer with them! I miss them all so much. Aren't they beautiful?!? I love them each so much. I have the perfect family; I love being a Harr. It is a great life. Thank God for a family that loves me and cares for me and makes me laugh so often. What fun. I love you all!! I was sitting around thinking about how wonderful you are and how much I miss having you all around last night. It made me very sad. So I just thought I would take the time to tell you all how much I love each and every one of you. :D You are my favorite people in the entire world and I thank God for you all.

Things I LOVE about Spring:
* The smell of fresh cut grass
* Mud between my toes
* Flip Flops
* Dresses and Skirts
* Jumping in puddles
* Flowers in all colors
* Playing outside
* Open windows
* The smell and feel of warm rain

Praise God for changing seasons. Spring is always something to look forward to. I love spring. If I didn't have school it would be my favorite season. I think once school is out spring is going to trump summer and become my favorite season. :D So I guess this is summer's last year as number one. heh.

Blogger just ate my post.

Blah.

Went off to school and learned to serve the state
Followed the rules and drank his vodka straight
The only way to live was drown the hate
A Russian life was very sad
And such was life in Leningrad
-Billy Joel

I woke up at five, drove over 100 miles, waited in line for over an hour, and then found out that the FE was cancelled and postponed to a "later secret date". We will be informed by letter when that date is. So I guess I just sit around and wait for it and keep studying. That has to be one of the most maddening mornings I have experienced in a long time... They could at least offer to pay for gas money seeing as it is so expensive (I paid $3.39/gallon yesterday - or $63.97 to fill my whole car). It was a circus. We had to go to the bathroom before the exam because they said they wouldn't allow us to use the restroom during the exam (WHAT?). We weren't allowed to take anything into the bathroom and there could only be one of us in the bathroom at a time. There was only one toilet. It is held at this national guard armory which is made of stone and looks like a big fortress/prison building. I imagine life in the USSR to be somewhat of what I experienced today at this place. It was deary, dull, and people kept yelling at me to do certain things or to not do other things. We all stood in line quietly with our yellow permission slips of paper, our government issued photo ID, and hard candy (if anyone had food that would take it away from you). They were also making people take off their hooded sweatshirts and checking all calculators to make sure that they all conformed to the standards. Yeah, I'm surprised they were frisking us too. I never got up to the check in desk though, so they might have been. At least I know how to get up there now... I have such fun to look forward to at this later secret date...

Story: I got to this stone armory building and walked to stand in line around 6:45am. After waiting in line forever (excluding a bathroom break from hell - we basically had to stand next to the wall and put all our testing materials down on the ground and file one at a time into the restroom while people were yelling at us), we started getting worried because it was 7:45 and we were supposed to be seated by then. Finally around 7:50 a man sticks his head out the door and says, hold on, we are going to let you in in a minute. Then around 7:55 they let everyone in. They didn't ask for our IDs or check our permission sheets. So we all filed into the main testing room and they yelled at us not to touch anything. Once we were all in this old man gets up to the microphone and says, "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news, you have more time to study. The bad news, you will have to come back to take the exam." You can bet that wasn't met with the warmest welcome ever. ha. I mean, who announces a cancelled exam like that. We have had plenty of time to study! We don't want anymore time to study. That isn't good news to any of us. He then went on to say that they would contact us with a new exam day sometime... This exam is given national only twice a year. So to reschedule is going to be a big deal. I can't imagine having to take it again for at least a month. My best bet is sometime this summer. Woohoo! More studying. It is a good thing I don't really have any summer plans yet.

I guess I'll go start my four projects now or my three sets of homework due next week...

Thanks for your prayers! heh.

I wrote this nice post the other day, but the computer ate it. And since I am studying for this FE exam I figured that I had wasted enough time that day, however, I feel like I should update my blog with something. I was thinking about what I could write about that everyone might be interested in, I could talk about the beautiful cherry blossoms that the Howard's took me to see last week, or how I had lunch with Sarah Meadows yesterday, or about the four different projects that I have to finish before May 10th (three of which I haven't started (two journal papers on how film capacitors fail and the reliability issues with them (don't ask me how they work, I haven't quite figured that out yet), a powerpoint and paper on how to work this computer program that builds circuit boards and routs the wires (which I don't know how to use yet and need to learn), and a building bridge or smoothing structural (which the professor hasn't assigned yet) or how I love the gym or how John (the intern in the basement) and I have almost finished the tree puzzle.

I opted instead to tell you all how much that I like one of my good friends, Jared Shelton, and how I think he is great (and am very thankful that he is my friend). He drove all the way up this morning to come to church with me because he knew that I was all stressed out about the FE and school in general. So he drove two hours to go to church with me and talk to a bunch of people that he doesn't know just because he knew it would make me happier. (On a side note: I totally miss my church. It is amazing and I have never been to a church I like more. Please keep up with your friendliness. It is so boring to not have anyone talk to you and be interested in your life. I love my church.) I just think that is totally sweet and awesome and worth a blog entry. We went to church, then to Chris's house for lunch with RUF, and then to walk around IKEA to check out furniture for Jared's new house. Then Jared had to leave to get back to Sunday evening church, which I also miss like crazy! I always really miss my church on Sundays. Sundays make me homesick for Salisbury more than any other day.

So Jared, if you decide to read my blog this week, thank you for being a dear friend and thank you for driving all the way up here (in the rain) and back to spend six hours of your day with me and four hours driving. Thank you for making me smile and for being a big goober. Sometimes I just need to take a break and laugh. Also, thank you for being serious and listening when I need that too. I thank God for you and for everything He has taught me through you, both the good things and the bad. I start to see how ALL things work for His glory and the good of those who love Him.

46 days until graduation...

There is something very rewarding about getting down on your hands and knees and cleaning the kitchen and bathroom floors. I really enjoy it. I don't enjoy how my hands feel all dried out afterwards, but oh well. I think it would be fun to clean my own floors, well until kids come and then I don't have time to clean the floors and I start going crazy because there is so much to do and I don't have time to do it all. I appreciate being single (single in the sense that I am not married) and childless while I am in school.

And there is something else rewarding about going running at 7:30 in the crisp spring mornings. Ah! It was beautiful out this morning. God has blessed us so much by surrounding us with such beauty. Have you looked at the trees this year? Maybe there are just more of them around this area, but the pink and white cherry blossoms are incredible!! I love them.

Alright, I have to get back to studying for the FE. Two weeks and a few hours until it is all over. I still don't know how I am going to last through an eight how exam - does one's brain work that long? If you think of me in the next two weeks, please pray that I can think clearly for that long and that I get a good night sleep before the exam (April 12th). Thanks!

Oh and thanks to Anna and Emily for coming to visit me on Wednesday! That was so great. You make me so happy. :) I love seeing people I know from home. There is just something great about a little bit of home being here for just a short while. It makes it less lonely and foreign. Below pictures from our Ikea shopping trip (where we ate six huge cinnamon buns). We also went frolfing and to Chipotle!!!

Until next time,
Faith

I really like my name.

A few things I love and experienced over spring break:

* My dad and Mr. Harts Sunday School class
* all the people in the previously mentioned Sunday school class
* my mom's baked chicken
* pineapple
* Hannah and Patrick (and cheese)
* my mom's fudge!
* my brother's sense of humor
* cribbage
* Mrs. Shelton's Swedish pancakes
* finishing crossword puzzles with Jared
* long talks
* boggle
* my sisters
* long walks
* the Taylors (family and house)
* Mary's delight
* rummy
* UNC winning
* Leeland and Casting Crowns
* wearing dresses and skirts
* matching Jared
* chinatown
* flowers!
* getting to use my awesome vase
* wonderful family
* great friends
* sweet Jared

* oh and no classes :D

Remember this movie?

youtube song

We heard the tale since we were young,
Heard the songs that have been sung,
About an evil spell.

Someone beautiful is cursed
We feel sad through every verse
Til a kiss and all is well

The message that no one can teach
Is clearer to someone like me

There is no curse or evil spell
That's worse than one we give ourselves
There is no sorceror as cruel,
As the proud and angry fool.

And yet, we cry life isn't fair
Beneath our cries the truth is there

A power that will break the spell
We should know very well
Is locked within ourselves

Yet we'd rather blame,
And curse our faith and change
We run from everyone to hide from the pain
And all the shame

The story long we knew it well
About a wretched evil spell
A power that will break this curse
Oh I know all too well
Is locked within myself

I'm getting a new ring!!

This is from the order of the engineer. All I have to do is sign the pledge below, which is just common sense. The words in the pledge in square brackets are optional. But I really like the last set in brackets, "in humility and with the need for Divine guidence." I think that is great. The order gives out these rings, they are made of steel and worn on the fifth finger of your working hand, to remind engineers to think about the cost of their work. This started in Canada when a bridge collapsed because of bad engineering and shortcuts. They cut up pieces of the bridge to start making the rings. I like it. It comes in at the end of April! woohoo.

I am an Engineer, in my profession I take deep pride. To it I owe solemn obligations. Since the Stone Age, human progress has been spurred by the engineering genius. Engineers have made usable Nature’s vast resources of material and energy for Humanity's [Mankind’s] benefit. Engineers have vitalized and turned to practical use the principles of science and the means of technology. Were it not for this heritage of accumulated experience, my efforts would be feeble.

As an Engineer, I pledge to practice integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and to uphold devotion to the standards and the dignity of my profession, conscious always that my skill carries with it the obligation to serve humanity by making the best use of Earth’s precious wealth.

As an Engineer[, in humility and with the need for Divine guidance,] I shall participate in none but honest enterprises. When needed, my skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public good. In the performance of duty and in fidelity to my profession, I shall give the utmost.

UNC beat Duke!

Tyler became only the 3rd junior ever to score 2000 points.

On senior night.

Sweet!!

#1

I banned myself from facebook to study for midterms. It is amazing how much work I have done in just the last day that I have not allowed myself to go to facebook.
So far I have:
* written four cards,
* did the crossword puzzle,
* journalled twice,
* did homework for next week,
* read two and a half chapters of a book (not for school),
* did extra work on our project report,
* and I studied for the FE exam.

And that is just the first 24 hours of being banned from facebook. I am trying to go an entire week. I wonder what else I will add to that list? This should be fun. I like getting things accomplished.

Tonight I decided that I like lentil stew (made by Joe). He makes the chili too. They are both good, especially when we have Trader Joe's cornbread! I also am becoming a huge fan or Good Friends Kashi cerael mixed with Trader Joe's Vanillia Almond Clusters. I am becoming my Dad and mixing ceraels. The Kashi would be to branish for me without the clusters. heh. Jared told me that I should always eat breakfast. So I eat a banana and a bowl of cerael most mornings before I rush out the door. I love having 10 and 11 o'clock classes. It is the best. I get up between 6:30 and 7:00 and have the whole morning to do whatever I want. It is so great.

And I am a HUGE fan of the elliptical machine at the gym ever since I figure out how to read and workout. It is like the best thing since sliced bread. And finally, we sang this song at RUF last night and I remembered how much I loved it and the Newsboys. :)

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

We've all had a good laugh at me being misquoted in the Diamondback. I answered a whole list of questions and of the list of things they pulled out to phrases and stuck them in. I don't know what is funnier, the quote itself or how they described me.

"I like the stained glass windows," added Faith Harr, a senior mechanical engineering and regular member of the congregation. "It's classy."

We aren't really sure if I am a senior mechanical engineering major or a senior regular member of the congregation. Because if it is the second one, it is even funnier because I specifically told the reporter that I hadn't attended the church yet this year because I had been going home on Sundays. But somehow that translated into a regular member. We've been having a lot of fun with this article.

Thanks, Anna!
I hope you can use at least one of them for your photography class.
My sister is SO talented!
I am so proud of all my siblings.
And I am so happy, I have a new dress!!

This is the program that I have been asked to join and been accepted into for this year and next year. I've spent the last few months trying to narrow down a professor to work with... I have it narrowed down to two or three now. My top choice does not have funding right now to take me on in his lab. So that leaves the other two or I could TA and get my funding that way and do research for free. So, I sort of need to be making a decision sometime soon... please, pray for wisdom. And what the paragraph below doesn't mention is that:
1. I will get my masters in one year.
2. I don't have to take the GRE.
3. I get paid salary. :D
There are other cools things about the program, but those are just the few that stick out. I might also add that I get to play with really cool stuff and work with really smart people and learn all sorts of new things. Oh, and I don't have to write a thesis if I don't want to... hmmm... But then I have to take more classes... so it is either 5 more classes and 9 hours of reseach or 8 more classes and no research.

ENME Joint B.S./M.S. Degree Program

The combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree (B.S./M.S.) Program is available only to current University of Maryland undergraduate students. The minimum requirements for acceptance into the Combined B.S./M.S. program are:

At least a 3.70 G.P.A.
No more than 30 credits of ENME courses remaining for B.S.
No more than 6 credits of CORE requirements remaining for B.S.
At least 3 letters of recommendation
An essay or statement of purpose

This is the research I am thinking about doing. It is probably my second favorite. This is a link to a blog that one of the professors runs. I am going to add it to my blog list as well, but if you want to do some really interesting reading, go here now!! heh.

Yesterday Jared and I celebrated our 29th month anniversary. I thought it was pretty neat that we celebrated our 29th month, in a February, during leap year (so it had 29 days...). It is probably just my insane love of numbers that thought that was cool. Ha.

Oh and for all of you who are married... go run up to your husband and tell him how adorable he is to you and give him a huge hug! I think one of the best things about being married is going to be the freedom to run up to my husband whenever I feel like it and give him a huge hug and tell him how handsome and attractive he is to me. I think that will be great!! So for all of you married people who have the freedom to do that now, go do it!! Living with my best friend is also another great benefit that I look forward to. *sigh* I could come up with a bunch of other things, but I have to get to class. I have been thinking lately that I would really enjoy getting to cook every night, but while I am in school I come home so tired I don't feel like doing anything. ha. Maybe... someday.