Well, I am going to Bangkok Tailand. It is now official. I was going to go to China in June, but well... I like to do things last minute!
I am meeting Matthew and Hallie and my two Neices in Bangkok. I will be there a few weeks, I am going to help out with the girls while Hallie has some stuff done. I am so excited! Even though it is supposedly like 100 degrees there. ICK.
After Tailand I am hoping to go back to China for a while, see where they live, get involved with their work and do a little traveling with Matthew. I know he wants to capture my heart so I will never desire to leave ... well just see how that goes. :)
I will be accsible while I am gone. I will have my computer and internet when it is available. I also have a new telephone number, so write it down. It will direct you straight to my computer, you can leave me voicemails, I can call you back, its pretty sweet. The best part? It is a 503 number so it will cost you nothing to call me.
Hmmm.... So incase your wondering why you are just hearing about this, its because I am too! I just heard the idea like last thursday, then saturday I decided I would go, then last night I found out I was leaving in like 2 days! So I have been running and driving like a crazy lady to day. (crazy as in doing lots of things, using almost a full tank of gas... not crazy like unsafe) I still have yet to pack, and I am leaving tomorrow at noon! AHHHHH.
I am simply excited. There has been no time for pre-conceived ideas. I am just going. So I apoligize if I had plans with you... I guess they are being post- poned. Feel free to contact me the next two days by calling my regular cell, or email me any questions you might have. I am sorry I could not have written you all individually... there is just not enough time. I love you all.
I am leaving tomorrow with my parents to drive to San Fransisco where I will fly out from on Thursday. I will return May 26, then drive home to be here in time for Sharells Graduation. (She swears she would kill me with her own two hands if I didn't show up.)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hurting, Faking, Burning, Building, Freeing
All around me people hurt, people hurt
All around me people hurt, and they are crying out... to me?
I see their faces faking it, faking it
I see their faces faking it, but they are burning undearneath.
Every day a wall is built, a wall is built, a wall is built
Every day a wall is built, and I wonder of their hope.
Deep inside I know the truth, I know the truth
Deep inside I know the truth, and the truth will set them free.
1 year
March 10 marked the one year anniversary of me being home. Those of you who know me, know what I am talking about. Haha, its like I judge time by how far before or after it was from Hungary. Maybe I do do that, I judge time by my trips, and that was the biggest of trips. Hmmmm.
Anyways, I was thinking about a year ago, you should go check out some of my blogs from then. I wrote that sitting in the Seatle Airport. In the United States of America. 2 hours from HOME.
Some of it seems pretty silly to me now, what a big deal it all was. I love that I live in a time and culture where traveling is normal, where people dont make any big deal of me saying "I think I am going to go to China." And I am! If all goes well I will be there in June to visit my wonderful family.
When I got home last year, I claimed I would not be culture shocked. Oh but I was, the longer I was home the more shock that seemed to follow. Yes it was all as I rememberd, but I could just not seem to live the way that I had rememberd.
Last year Matthew and Hallie were living here. Zoe slept in the room right across from mine. I spent every day trying to find a job. My friends were all in school. I had no idea what I was doing with my life. Part of me wanted to go back to Budapest. I was pretty lazy for a while, and completely un-motivated.
Well, I have a job (3 actually) and a car, and I have plans for my future, and I am an only child again, and I am busy, and I am absolutly loving life. I have short hair. I am 20. I am starting to gain some authority and leadership again. Heather says I look so much older, I think I kinda do. I still dont like being called a Woman, that sounds like old and ... blah.
Some days, like today, I miss YWAM. I miss the community and the people and the smells and the noise. But I am so happy to be here, it is where I need to be for now.
Anyways, I was thinking about a year ago, you should go check out some of my blogs from then. I wrote that sitting in the Seatle Airport. In the United States of America. 2 hours from HOME.
Some of it seems pretty silly to me now, what a big deal it all was. I love that I live in a time and culture where traveling is normal, where people dont make any big deal of me saying "I think I am going to go to China." And I am! If all goes well I will be there in June to visit my wonderful family.
When I got home last year, I claimed I would not be culture shocked. Oh but I was, the longer I was home the more shock that seemed to follow. Yes it was all as I rememberd, but I could just not seem to live the way that I had rememberd.
Last year Matthew and Hallie were living here. Zoe slept in the room right across from mine. I spent every day trying to find a job. My friends were all in school. I had no idea what I was doing with my life. Part of me wanted to go back to Budapest. I was pretty lazy for a while, and completely un-motivated.
Well, I have a job (3 actually) and a car, and I have plans for my future, and I am an only child again, and I am busy, and I am absolutly loving life. I have short hair. I am 20. I am starting to gain some authority and leadership again. Heather says I look so much older, I think I kinda do. I still dont like being called a Woman, that sounds like old and ... blah.
Some days, like today, I miss YWAM. I miss the community and the people and the smells and the noise. But I am so happy to be here, it is where I need to be for now.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thank you at least
At Outback I noticed that I heard the word "thank you a lot" so last week one evening I decided to try and keep track throughout the evening. At the end of the night, I took my sticky note from my pocket and added up all the random numbers. I heard the phrase "thank you" 208 times within my 4 hour shift. Thats one almost every minute. Now, mind you that those were only the ones that I acounted for.
It just made me happy. It gets anoying yes, and repetitive, becuase with each 208 "thank yous" there were 208 "your welcomes". I answer every one. But, at least it was a decent phrase being exchanged. At least there is a level of politeness left in people. At least it was not F--- and #$@ and "BEEP". At least that. So, it may be a little over used, but at least it is used. At least that.
It just made me happy. It gets anoying yes, and repetitive, becuase with each 208 "thank yous" there were 208 "your welcomes". I answer every one. But, at least it was a decent phrase being exchanged. At least there is a level of politeness left in people. At least it was not F--- and #$@ and "BEEP". At least that. So, it may be a little over used, but at least it is used. At least that.
Friday, March 6, 2009
My Birthday!
So, Yesterday was my birthday. It was one of the greatest days ever.
My cousin Amanda come down and spend the night with me the night before. I was so happy to see her! At 5:30 am, Abbey texted me and I was so excited that I just kept texting her till good after 6. Then I fell back asleep. At 7:11 Heather and Lauren and my Mom came prancing into my room singing "its your birthday, your 20, its your perfect day outside, its raining, its your birthday!" And they were throwing balloons - at Amanda. I had to sit up so they would see which lump in the bed I was. So then we exited the room seeing that Amanda had covered her head with blankets.
Lauren brought me 2 coffees from Starbucks, see bought me 1 but brought me 2. I was happy for coffee seeing I had had less that 5 hours sleep. Then Sharell showed up late and complained that Heather and Lauren did not inform her well enough of the mornings events. HA! So I sat around with them until they had to go to school.
I took work off for the whole day and was pretty excited. My Dad wanted to take me to breakfast but I wasn't feeling much for food seeing I had had Applebees the night before, 2 coffees for breakfast and was in the middle of trying to make a cheesecake. You can still take me out to breakfast Daddy!
Amanda woke up and told me she "hated" my friends for waking her so loudly so early in the morning, ah its all good Amanda.
Her and I got in the car, went to Starbucks (she got me a breakfast sandwich I was not about to have anymore coffee) And we made our way to the beach. I am always amazed at how short a trip it is . So just over an hour later, we arrived and made our way all through the outlet mall, taking stupid videos the whole time. ( I am working on putting all those videos together to put on here. Then I had Mo's for lunch. Yum! Clam chowder and Mashed potatoes (and enchiladas for dinner!) We touched the beach, but it was really cold, then we drove home
At home I started to try and finish my cheesecake, but it ended up a total disaster, it didn't cook all the way and the oven got turned off at some point during the cooking and ya, it was bad... but I will make it again. The the girls came over, Kirsten was my present. :) I put a bow on her. Oh and Amanda made Aaron come too. Always the guy with all the girls, but I miss him. Then Sharells car got Saran wrapped and they started to do the van but someone went outside and they went away. We think they were guys from school who knew where Sharell was... obviously high school guys who still think I drive my moms mini-van. Which I don't. (See blog about car. Which by the way, I did buy... I will pay it off in a few weeks!)
I talked to my sister on the phone. And mommy potter left me a great message on my phone. And Hallie, Esther and Zoe called me through skype and Zoe sang me the happy birthday song and ABC's (mixed which Chinese things) like 3 times! And I talked to my Grammy for 41 seconds and it made me super happy!
Hmmm it was happy. My mom absolutely loved having people over, and giving Aaron food, and listening to us all laugh from the other room. I got a super amazing orange chair, I think I am going to take the cushion back and get a green one though, it is much more practical... but for today I will enjoy the orange.
Thank you Jesus for days where we feel blessed, for days when you shower us with your goodness. I was amazed by your glory yesterday, the rain, the sun, the rainbow, the friends, the food, the happy feeling inside. I know that every day can be like the when I am with you, but thank you for making yesterday especially great.
My cousin Amanda come down and spend the night with me the night before. I was so happy to see her! At 5:30 am, Abbey texted me and I was so excited that I just kept texting her till good after 6. Then I fell back asleep. At 7:11 Heather and Lauren and my Mom came prancing into my room singing "its your birthday, your 20, its your perfect day outside, its raining, its your birthday!" And they were throwing balloons - at Amanda. I had to sit up so they would see which lump in the bed I was. So then we exited the room seeing that Amanda had covered her head with blankets.
Lauren brought me 2 coffees from Starbucks, see bought me 1 but brought me 2. I was happy for coffee seeing I had had less that 5 hours sleep. Then Sharell showed up late and complained that Heather and Lauren did not inform her well enough of the mornings events. HA! So I sat around with them until they had to go to school.
I took work off for the whole day and was pretty excited. My Dad wanted to take me to breakfast but I wasn't feeling much for food seeing I had had Applebees the night before, 2 coffees for breakfast and was in the middle of trying to make a cheesecake. You can still take me out to breakfast Daddy!
Amanda woke up and told me she "hated" my friends for waking her so loudly so early in the morning, ah its all good Amanda.
Her and I got in the car, went to Starbucks (she got me a breakfast sandwich I was not about to have anymore coffee) And we made our way to the beach. I am always amazed at how short a trip it is . So just over an hour later, we arrived and made our way all through the outlet mall, taking stupid videos the whole time. ( I am working on putting all those videos together to put on here. Then I had Mo's for lunch. Yum! Clam chowder and Mashed potatoes (and enchiladas for dinner!) We touched the beach, but it was really cold, then we drove home
At home I started to try and finish my cheesecake, but it ended up a total disaster, it didn't cook all the way and the oven got turned off at some point during the cooking and ya, it was bad... but I will make it again. The the girls came over, Kirsten was my present. :) I put a bow on her. Oh and Amanda made Aaron come too. Always the guy with all the girls, but I miss him. Then Sharells car got Saran wrapped and they started to do the van but someone went outside and they went away. We think they were guys from school who knew where Sharell was... obviously high school guys who still think I drive my moms mini-van. Which I don't. (See blog about car. Which by the way, I did buy... I will pay it off in a few weeks!)
I talked to my sister on the phone. And mommy potter left me a great message on my phone. And Hallie, Esther and Zoe called me through skype and Zoe sang me the happy birthday song and ABC's (mixed which Chinese things) like 3 times! And I talked to my Grammy for 41 seconds and it made me super happy!
Hmmm it was happy. My mom absolutely loved having people over, and giving Aaron food, and listening to us all laugh from the other room. I got a super amazing orange chair, I think I am going to take the cushion back and get a green one though, it is much more practical... but for today I will enjoy the orange.
Thank you Jesus for days where we feel blessed, for days when you shower us with your goodness. I was amazed by your glory yesterday, the rain, the sun, the rainbow, the friends, the food, the happy feeling inside. I know that every day can be like the when I am with you, but thank you for making yesterday especially great.
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