Sunday

My Grammy died. She just turned 86.

The last time I saw her, it was Sunday. We were having a birthday party for her. She was really tired. She kept telling me she didn't know why she felt the way she did. But, oh Heather, you look so good! Look at how tan you are, how summery you look. What are you up to? What did you do today? Where are you going when you leave? And what are you up to? She kept asking. I think she just wanted me to talk, to talk about anything. So she would not have to. So she could focus on breathing. Breathing was really hard for her, on Sunday.

She let me sit and hold her hand. It was so small in mine. Mine once fit securely in hers, and now mine was a wall caging a scared animal. I told her she could rest, if I could just sit and hold her hand. Her left hand, the one with the crooked pointer finger, it gripped mine. Her right hand shook. Her eye lids fluttered. Her beautiful eyelids. I have never seen anything more beautiful than my Grammy. I have always adored her skin, the wrinkles, the lines, the smell of lotion. And I checked, her woman hair was still there on the back of her neck, on Sunday.

I went to kiss her goodbye. She said next time I saw her, she would be feeling better.
"Oh, and honey, I love you so much."

I love you too Grammy. And I know the next time I see you, you will be feeling much better.

Leaves fall.

I’ve been thinking about Fall. Its my favorite of the seasons you know. I am simply in awe of the sudden weather change and the shifting color in the leaves, from a bright green, to a deep orange – until they fall on the ground and turn brown.

I made a tree out of cardboard and construction paper for my hallway. As Katie picked it up a couple orange leaves fell off. “Heather, the leaves fell!” She exclaimed almost worried, with an unspoken question of whether I would fix the art project. I just responded with “The tree is dying Katie, the leaves have to fall off.” I’ve been thinking about how the tree is dying as it looses its leaves, and yet the dying process is so beautiful.

My Grammy is dying. She has always been a strong tree, and yet like fall, she is quickly deteriorating like a shocking shift in the weather. My initial response is much like Katie’s, I want to repair her with urgency – but she is dying, therefore her leaves must fall. She is the most beautiful in this dying process. Her wrinkles and scars and wounds are more attractive than I imagine her skin to have ever been in her youth. I am glad that our Lord made the dying process beautiful.

Wonderful Wednesday

Today was a good day. I woke up to it raining! I was in a great mood and well rested. I like Wednesdays, get coffee and have 2 classes back to back in the Library with the cozy seats. It is my only class with Courtney. I am done before noon. My dad showed up randomly and we had lunch at Burgerville, he came bearing gifts of humus and pumpkin bars. (Yes Katy, Pumpkin.:)

Then my favorite, afternoons with Grammy. She was super chipper today. I cleaned out her pantry and found a bottle Mapeline, stuff you use to make your own mapel syrup ... it was from 1979. Harm, can you believe that bottle has been sitting on that shelf since before you were born?! Volleyball was short today, then I cam back and took a BATH in the ARD apartment. Now I am sitting on facebook talking to two of my favorite people.

A week in the life of a college student

I am giving up on getting my computer fixed anytime soon, I cant even turn it on right now. So, I will revert back to this, a desktop, the computer lounge and a keyboard not quite accustomed to my fingers.

This week was really busy, it was mid terms week already, I couldnt believe it! Week 7 of 14 of this semester. That means I am half way through till Christmas!!!! (only 75 days by the way...) Speaking of, I was totally in Target this morning and one of those little CD preview stations was playing Christmas Music! Oh it was delightful to hear as I stood admiring the sweaters just accross the asile.

Sunday I went to Spanish church, and locked my keys in my car and had to call AAA. On the way home from that I met the homeless lady Joquel. We had a really good conversation and she told me she was just trying to gather $20.00 to buy bird food for her birds foxy and moxy. I am not sure if I believe her or not... but she was a dear lady and I got to pray with her and she was so thankful!

On Tuesday this week all classes were canceled due to an all school outreach day. We were all put into little groups and did outreach in our community (it was mainly yard work for elderly, or feeding the homeless downtown) I had a group of 4. We got our assignment, picked up our tools then loaded into my car. Not sure why we did that consdering I have a two door. We opened the sunroof and put the rakes and shovels in through through the roof, the guys had to climb in the back and hold them out of my driving visibility. We arrived at our house on 72nd st. And Karron waved to us as we parked our car, she was waiting for us to come. She met us in the back yard and we just started cleaning. Ivy was taking everything over, so we mainly just cleaned up, pulled weeds, trimed trees and bushes. She came out and sat on her walker and clipped bushes right with us.

The neighbor next door was another elderly lady who we also had students working for, it was so much fun to be right along side, us talking to the other students, the two elderly ladys talking to each other. We spent about three hours there and had a wonderful time, her yard looked really good. Courtney and I had a chance to pray with her as the guys carried everything to the front yard. It really wasnt an assignment for us to be there.

After leaving Karron I wanted to go back and chat with her. I learned that there use to be a ministry on campus of girls who did follow up with the elderly ladies from Outreach day. I got the information on that minstry and am looking into starting it back up. There seems to be interest here on campus from a number of girls, and there is nothing I would enjoy more then getting to spend time with elderly ladies each week!

Wednesday I was super excited cause it was my grammy day, but my car wouldnt start... I almost called AAA again.

Thursday I participated in a debate in World Christianity about whether Family or Ministry is more important. I had been placed on the Family side. It was fun, but I think it was kinda pointless. I dont think either one is more important, there just needs to be an equal balance. One person put it after it was all over "Ministry is more important but family needs to come first." Anyways I dont want to get in the debate again, but it was a fun experience and I got some extra credit...

Friday I finished up my last of 4 mid terms, then made a calandar for our dorm hall considering the one still up said August/September. Then we had our Senior Night Volleyball game. Mama and Daddy came, Daddy figured out what was wrong with my car (supposedly I have lights on my mirror and they were left on... I didnt even know I had lights there!) So we didnt have to call AAA after all.

Now (Saturday) I am headed to eat. Saturday Morning Brunch is my favorite meal on campus. There is lunch and breakfast stuff. Usually pasta and a waffle bar and so many other wondreful things! Then I get to go spend a few hours with my wonderful, beloved Grammy, She is my favorite person in the world and I feel spoiled that I get to even be around her at all! Then home for a wedding tomorrow.

Its been a good week...

Here I come

I am going to school this fall, and I am pretty excited about it. I never thought I would... go to school that is. I just wasnt something I wanted to do. I liked what I did. After I got back from Asia I realized I could not just keep working and traveling, eventually it would get old.

Harmony was the one who told me to go. She told me why I needed to. Why I would like it. Why I would not like it. She told me also what I would regret if I did not go. Sisters know sisters best. I decided to listen to my sister. Thanks Harmony.

I never realized that by going to school I would be doing so many of the things I have been longing to do : live in Portland, experience drm life, have a large group of friends my age, be closer to Grammy, learn spanish, lead, worship and grow. I am excited for school with a passion I have not felt for many other things. I know this is right. I don't know the answers to all the questions, I don't have it all figured out. But I know it is right.

Thank you Mama for talking to the Financial Aid Lady. Thank you Daddy for jumping on board. Thank you Sarah for giving me the low down on everything Multnomah.

College here I come.

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.