Yesterday during the basketball game, I went over and joined Seydu (in pic) and Mountaga in making and drinking ataya (tea). I haven't made it before and wanted to learn and just hang out with these two. So Seydu played "teacher" and I the "student" and he taught me. However, they both laughed like crazy when I went to do the mixing like Seydu is doing and I couldn't because the glasses were too hot for my fingers...I just don't have the African fingers. :) But the ataya turned out well, so I guess that was good. :)

This is Phil...the one responsible for helping me get this website up and going. He left today for Mali to see his family before heading back to the states to continue school. He's a great friend...pray for him as he travels and readjusts to life in the states. :)

Cori and I went to Goree Island this morning. I hadn't been there yet and couldn't justify living in Senegal for 2 years and not going. Goree is was the last stop for slaves as they were taken to America and other places. It was a somber place...but yet, a nice break from the busyness of Dakar. I'll post some more pics of Goree and other things in the "Photos" section soon...but as for now, I have posted a few for you to check out here.

A monument to freedom.

I got into an artsy funk today. The colors on the island were just beautiful.

The door of no return. Once the slaves were led out this door onto the ship, they never got the chance to return to African soil.

Great hair!

Last night, Cori, Phil, and I went to the beach at about 9:30 and just sat out there until about 11:30pm...the beach is disappearing and I'm sure reappearing down the way a bit as it does every year. As I sat there watching...I was struck with the way that the water carried out the sand...whether it wanted to go or not, it went. I guess its easy to compare it to the shifting sands of this life...and I guess that's what my mind and heart are on lately. A big change is upcoming...and I no longer have any idea what is next. I thought I knew...or had a direction, but I am no longer sure...sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no...and sometimes its completely unclear which way to go.

I think I have put these lyrics on before...but this is a song that has meant a lot to me this year. Its by Jill Paquette.

Easy isn't what I'd call this, who knows what easy means
The more I try to make this happen the less it's clear to me
The hope that keeps me moving is in Your promises to me
And right now that's enough, it's gonna have to be

Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes that's the way it goes
You're not giving any secrets away
Who's to know, who's to say, sometimes it's hard to live this way
Holding on, letting go
When it's sometimes yes and sometimes no

I wanna know just what it looks like, what the answer's gonna be
I wanna grab a hold of something to give me some security
And know it's You I'm hearing gently helping me to see
When everything I've prayed for is not Your will for me

And it's not poetic justice that has me waiting all this while
It's the way a loving father deals with his child
So this is how I'm learning holding on and letting go
Sometimes yes and sometimes no
It's sometimes yes, sometimes no

I find myself in a sort of blue funk today. Maybe I'm just exhausted after a week of far too many really late nights. Maybe I'm just worn out from a really long year. Or maybe this transition phase I am in is rearing its ugly head. I grew up 30 miles from where I went to college. I have some of the same friends now that I had when I was in second grade...and most of them from high school. Most of my friends stayed around Iowa after graduation...and those that didn't, I usually make a point to go see as often as I can...I love roadtrips. But this is a little different. It's a little more difficult to cross the ocean cheaply. :) I don't like saying goodbye. I don't really know anyone who does...but I think I'm especially bad at it. I want to spend as much time as I can with those I love the most...but I know that's not always possible. Pretty much, I'm dreading saying goodbye and I find myself blue because of it. My first hard goodbye will come this weekend when a friend leaves. Don't know when I'll see him again. I guess this is the life of MK's...but I wasn't an MK. It will be ok though. Just a little blue today.

Make sure to check out: http://www.pagescorner.com

I just got this up last night...er, this morning rather! Eventually, this blog will be the front page of that website, but I am still learning and Phil hasn't taught me how to do that just yet. :) Its pretty basic as the front page says, I'm just learning...but I'll be updating it as I learn more and making it a little more appealing. I'll also be putting more pics up throughout each day as I have time...those were the last things to go up last night...so there isn't much there yet. :)

Enjoy...let me know what you think...haha, eventually I'll make a link to do that from the website as well! :)

The days are starting to run one into another and all is becoming a blur as I keep my eye on the calendar and see the days quickly passing. Sometimes I just stop and let the world keep going around me and just watch and breathe deep all these people and places that I love and have become "home" for me. I wonder why it hasn't set in more than it has that I only have a matter of days left, but I know it will eventually. The walls in my room are bare, my closet is becoming more and more bare with each passing day...the nights are late as I spend every moment I can with those I love and the days are long and hot as I give my remaining energy to these little fireballs that call themselves my students. Its hard to stay motivated to teach and I find myself often tongue-tied and just plain 'ol goofy. Today I wound up on Barb's back with my feet flailing in the air as we were messing around in the office and she pretty much took me down. So maybe its not the most professional, but life is too serious and too hard to not have fun in the places where you spend most of your time. I'm learning to laugh again...and laugh more than ever before. I love this place. The final goodbye, when it sets in, will be a difficult one. But as a friend told me, "You'll get through it just fine." And I will...not because I'm me...but because I'm God's and He will give me the strength. I love knowing that I will see most of these people again...if not here on this earth...then for eternity in Heaven. Makes goodbyes not quite so hard. :)

Last night the Monday night crew (made up of Barb, Cori, Phil, and myself) got together and watched "Two Towers". Over the weekend we had watched Fellowship of the Ring. At some point in the next week we will watch "Return of the King"...but that is beside the point. As I was sitting there struggling to keep my eyes open, the part where Sam does this beautiful monologue came up and just struck me. It is beautiful. Here it is...be inspired. :)

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.
Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. (stands, leans against a wall, looking out into the distance) It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something.

Have you ever driven home late at night when you were really tired and when you got to your destination, you didn't remember the drive at all? I did that a number of times when I moved about an hour away from home. I came home about 3 times every week for different activities at my church that I was still involved in from a distance. There were so many nights when I would stay after and visit with my friends and family and then have to drive home dead tired. I would show up on my doorstep one hour later and not have the slightest idea of how I got there other than the clue of keys in my hand. I just couldn't remember it. I always said that God sent my guardian angel to drive me home...and I don't doubt that was true.

Last night, a friend of mine asked me if I had noticed a change in him first semester from last year. I tried to recall the first semester back here and I honestly could not recall a thing as I was so absorbed in my own heartache and depression. As I sat last night just thinking about this place and how much it means to me in light of leaving in 13 days, I found that it was very sad that the entire first semester was wasted. But then I stopped and realized that God allowed it to happen...and just as He would drive me home those nights when I was too tired to drive, He carried me through first semester and brought me through the pain to this joy that I am experiencing now. Had I not gone through the heartache that I did first semester, I would not be who I am now and I would not have the fullness of joy that I have now.

I guess in going back to Iowa, there is going to be a period of grieving all that I'm leaving behind...and also all that was lost when I was here. I think many days are going to be spent by the lake in the forest where no one but God knows where I am just processing this year and all that happened. Not kicking myself for losing the one so close to my heart, not kicking myself for becoming so self-centered and falling into depression, not kicking myself for missing out on so many great times...but instead, just time to consider what God has done in my life through the circucmstances He has given me. And I look forward to being able to praise Him fully for even the difficulty...and for the wonderful times that my friends here have given to me. These people are precious to me. Life will never be the same again...and I think I'm thankful for that. :)

This morning at church was a little discouraging after an incredibly good message from a pastor from New Orleans. His message was all about knowing-truly knowing-Christ, love, and coming together as the body of Christ. He spoke powerfully in his deep south accent. And as has been happening in the past months, some gentlemen who are disgruntled with the church leadership started to cause a ruckus. It was like they missed the whole message. Discouraging. Especially in light of only having 2 Sundays left. One now.

I went home and took down my pictures in my room as that is the "I'm leaving soon" phase of my transition time everytime I move. I honestly don't feel like I'll be leaving my Africa anytime soon, but alas, I only have 14 days left on this dark continent. I read a quote about Uganda the other day as I was searching into future opportunities and it went like this:

"Once you get Ugandan soil between your toes, you can't get it out."

I think Africa is just like that. You get it in your blood and you can't get it out. And no, the Ugandan soil is still between my toes as well. But now I have West African soil there, too. I wonder what the future holds...if I will ever come back here...but that is in God's hands...I'm open to where He leads.

As we were walking down the street, Cori tried out all the couches sitting on the side of the road. They weren't too comfy, she informed me, but this one at least looked fancy shmancy!

Cori and I went shopping all this morning...we were trying out some chairs and they thought we needed a picture. :)

Cori, Phil, Me, Ann, and Barb. We went out to eat last night and got all fancied up. :) I love good time with friends.

I have always wondered...today the truth came out!! :) Hehe.

I decided to take a minute and share the colors here at DA.

These are my favorites because of their color that didn't really get captured here...trust me, though, they are lovely!

My attempt at being artsy. Haha.

This is the FISH that was "bequeathed" to me by Ann...for some reasons that I don't care to share with the world...but she made me feel pretty wonderful. :)

Well, I said I would get this pic up so you could see the finished product from last weekend. Haha. :)

"Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable...The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."

-CS Lewis

" We don't wait until we have overcome fear to move out as God wants us to...Do it afraid."

-Joyce Meyer

Last night after coming home, I decided to go back to school and go for a run in hopes that I would be able to really sleep. When I got back from my run, I was pretty wired and was sitting talking to Cori when the phone rang. My heart instantly sank because it is rare for our phone to ring after 10pm. I ran out and answered it only to hear the voice of my mom...then my heart sank the rest of the way to my toes. It seems this year that everytime I have gotten a phone call, it has been bad news of some sort. After sorting out that I had not left a message, but that indeed one had been left for me, she told me what it said. :)

She told me that CIU had called to let me know that I have been accepted to the seminary program that I had applied to!!!! After we hung up I ran into Cori's room and started jumping on her bed and laughing. This is just step one...step two has to also fall into place before step three of going there happens...step two being the financial side of things. But I was encouraged this morning...

I read Romans 8:28 which says, "And in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." This year did not go as I wanted it to. But it has gone the way it should have. I don't know if the financial side of things will work out or if I will get to really go to CIU, I know that I hope it all works out...but even if it doesn't, I can stand here knowing that God is good and that there is a reason for what He is doing...and He does what He does out of love.

Today right after school two of the field leaders from NTM are going to come and debrief me. I know it will go fine and I'm not on trial or anything...but I always struggle with how much to tell people. I see my story as one that was intensely painful to walk through and I was completely walking around as a broken person for months on end...but I see it also as a total story of God's grace in my life. Without His love and strength, I would have gone home before Christmas and not returned, but He provided me with the strength I did not have and is upholding the promise He gave to build me up again so that I will be rebuilt and will again dance with the joyful. I know my first several weeks at home are going to be prime processing time and I look forward to it. But alas, I come back to the question of "how much do I tell them about what happened?" I guess it will go how it goes and I will say what I say...and everything will be just fine.

In talking to a friend over the weekend at the retreat who knows everyone involved, I found that he pointed out things to me that made me thankful that God does what He does even when we are stubborn. God really is good in all things...even when it appears that He is just being plain ol' mean, He's loving with reckless abandon. I love that...and in retrospect, I see it clearly...and am thankful that He takes certain things and gives others. Where one door shuts, another will open.

I just got an email from my mom today that she had bought me a plane ticket to fly to Florida with them this summer on a little family vacation. I wasn't going to go due to emotional issues I have with Florida this July, but I decided to suck it up, deal with it, and spend some great time with my family...particularly my niece, who was pretty much my deciding factor. I have missed too much time with her over the last 2 years and look forward to Disney World with her and lots of time at the beach. Three weeks to go and I get to see my family again...its really starting to set in that time is drawing to a close...as excited as I am...as always, I'm torn. This has been home to me for 2 years and as hard as some of the memories are for me to deal with here, I do love it and the people. But I guess that's part of life...closing one door, and walking through another. No one said it would be easy.

Well, we made it back from the retreat...it was a nice weekend...but not overly restful!! I think we are all wishing that we could have no school tomorrow...and we have reason!

THE ACSI TEAM IS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE BE REACCREDITTED!!!

So that is the good news. It is not for sure yet, but we are being recommended and that is rarely turned down. They won't know for sure until February...but all looks good. :)

Anyhow, below are pics from the retreat. It was a fun time...Cori and I got tatoos as you can see...and I will take a better pic later this week so you can really see it. It was just really nice. The first night we were there the electricity went out and I was able to again see Africa sky...it was a beautiful thing. I love Africa sky at night out of the city. 3 weeks. That's it. Wow.

I guess this is a clearer pic of what happened. :)

We got a flat tire on the way back from the retreat...it is a pretty normal thing...I don't know that there has been a single trip this year that they haven't broken down!

These kids are used to vehicles breaking down. :) They just make themselves right at home on the ground, in the trees....you gotta love it.

Cori and I got tatoos. I figure Dad would kill me if I did it at home...so yes, we got tatoos of Africa with a cross in it...more to come on that in the next few days! Haha, you never know what will happen on a MS retreat!

The kids playing a charades game of sorts...

Cori and I got into a marshmallow fight. She lost!

CONGRATS KASEY!!! Kasey Kates (on the left) is now a married woman! :) I hope everything was beautiful for your day!

Well, Cori talked me into going on the middle school retreat this weekend with her, a few other adults, and about 50+ kids...of middle school age. As I sit here now I'm asking myself what I have gotten myself into! It should be a fun time, though...I mean, when you are staying at a place right on the beach, you can't really go wrong. :) Anyhow...I guess we will be back Sunday sometime....and undoubtedly purely exhausted...its ok, only 3 weeks more to go after this weekend! Wow, time is flying!

Still no word from CIU and heading there in the fall...so I'm praying about it still, they have all of my paperwork and are going through it now! ACSI is here this week. This is their last day and after school we will hear if they are going to recommend us to be accreditted or not...but of course, about half of the staff (including me) won't be there bc of the middle school and high school retreats...but we are all curious to see what will happen. Please be praying...this is the only accreditted missionary school in West Africa and if they don't accredit us, it will effect A LOT of families!

Have a good weekend!

After another restless night of sleep, I woke up early this morning and just laid their praying. The image came to my mind of when I was in high school and taking the test to pass my lifeguard certification. There was one test we had to do where we had to tread water with a 10 pound weight in our hands, that had to stay above water. I have been swimming since I was about 2 years old...but this was a tough test. I managed to pass just fine, but I remember the feeling of having to kick harder and adopting my dad's philosophy of "if you think you can do it, you can"...so I never let myself think I couldn't. But I was thankful when they took the brick from my hands after those 60 seconds! I felt like that this morning, my mind was plagued with thoughts and I felt like I had to kick extra hard to give them over to Jesus. I know if I will do that, He will relieve me of the weight that I bear. Fight the good fight.

Here are some thoughts from others from the morning that I just feel like putting out there:

"There are times in life when all you can do is gather up everything you know to be true and simply get back up and keep running. Often we are gifted with moments of grace, when Christ's presence seems very near, and at other moments we just keep running because God is worth it.
"The reality is part of our lives on this planet. Falling is part of the race. There will be moments when our love for God will be tested in a furnace. Will we still love and serve Him even when He doesn't do what we ask Him to do?"

"I'm not very gifted," [Heather Mercer] had said to the Lord before she went to Afghanistan. "Can you use me?" Jesus simply asked her if she could love the poor and serve them in His name and weep with Him for the lost. Her answer was a resounding yes!"
-"All that Really Matters", Sheila Walsh

"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way. " Psalm 142:3a

"Set me free from my prison, that I may praise Your name." Psalm 142:7a

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

And I have shared this one a few days ago...but God just keeps speaking it to me with each passing hour...

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.
Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."
Jeremiah 31:3-4

I tip toed into Cori's room last night, her lights were off as I softly said, "Cori?" I was hoping against all hope that she would answer. She did. Then I said, "Something just crawled across my bed and it was about this big," as I showed about 4 inches between my index finger and thumb.

She dutifully got out of bed, with Oliver (aka "Fat Cat") following behind. As we entered my room I explained what had happened. "I was just sitting there working on something on my computer and all of the sudden something crawled across my bed. I nearly dropped my computer it scared me so much! I know I'm exhausted and may be hallucinating, but will you help me look?" So we tore my bed apart...looked under it, under the mattress, on the walls, in the blankets, pillow, and in my Bible.

We found nothing and she headed off to her room after an offer of sleeping there. Being stubborn, I told her that I would be fine, I would be in a much happier place if I woke up dead. Oliver stayed behind, probably sensing my need of protection and thinking that he could offer it, made his bed on my pile of dirty clothes.

Thankfully, the night passed without another incident...just a little restlessness that seems pretty normal anymore. I still don't know if I was haullucinating or if something really did crawl across my bed...and honestly, I think I won't think about it anymore! :)

Happy Birthday, Lucas!!

Today is my buddy Lucas's birthday...welcome to the ranks of your fellow 27 year olds, Luke. :) I hope you have a fantastic day! See you soon!! :)

"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives."

--Albert Einstein

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
I will build you up again
and you will be rebuilt,
O Virgin Israel.
Again you will take up your tambourines
and go out to dance with the joyful."

Jeremiah 31:3-4

I have been meditating on this verse for the last several days. God showed it to me the other day when I was really struggling with some issues in my life. And He totally encouraged me through it about how He does pursue us with His love and His kindness (even though it may not always look like kindness). He encouraged me that He will rebuild me after all the brokenness of this year and that He will restore joy and I will probably be overwhelmed and dance with that joy! I can already feel Him doing these things...He has restored the "joy of my salvation" and continues to work...I'm amazed at how faithful He is to us. I'm amazed at how recklessly He pursues us and how free we can be in His love. :)

On a lighter note...my flip flops broke again this morning while I was teaching english...I think they are finally beyond repair. I don't know what I am going to do now!! They only had another 4 weeks to go...but I guess they have served me well and deserve their rest. Ah, the sadness of it. :)

To all of you mom's...particularly my own wonderful mom...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

You are the best. :)

As for diseased chickens...last night I had the pleasure of joining the Ibsen family to watch the high schoolers put on "Fiddler on the Roof". They did an INCREDIBLE job! I wish you could have all seen how fantastic it was! While watching it, two things stuck out to me....Cori and I decided that arranged marriages may not be so bad after all! :) And second...the main character played by Brandon last night was wonderful. My favorite line from him was, "YOU CAN KEEP YOUR DISEASED CHICKENS!!!" Seriously, though, I think it was perhaps one of the best high school musicals I have ever seen! And I've seen my fair share of them!!

This weekend is the "6 hour Dakar", known to me last year as the "Dakar Rally"...I can hear the cars racing on the autoroute as I sit here typing this. Well, this morning at 8:30, we had to drive clear around the city because of the race and roads being closed in order to get to a place we call the "secret beach" for the baptism of 10 of our students. There was an impressive crowd there to witness these kids publically declare their faith in Jesus. I've never been to an outside baptism, particularly one in the Atlantic...and it sent chills down my spine to participate by watching. As I looked around, I couldn't help but think of our brothers and sisters around the world who really do have to go to a "secret" place to publically declare their faith and who risk persecution for this declaration and display. It just reminded me all the more of how we need to be praying for our brothers and sisters all over the world who risk their lives daily to spread the Good News of Christ.

This is Kyle, Cori's brother, and their dad and Uncle Dave. The waves were huge and this presumably French woman was out swimming and certainly did not feel the need to scoot over at all. :) So she is in all the pics of today! Haha. It's all the more memorable, I guess!

These are all the kids who got baptized today.

"Your heavenly Father is too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes."
-Charles Spurgeon

Last night I was reading a book that a friend sent me called "Hearts on Fire". Its about 8 women who have given so much for the sake of Christ. The story I read last night hit me really hard as the woman was only a few years older than I when she went to the mission field. She ended up getting married to a guy she met on the field and 3 children later, lost her husband and two sons to a violent mob who burned them alive. She has a powerful story of forgiveness and often mentioned the song: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow..." Though she mentioned that the day she had to speak at her family's memorial, she was really thinking the words, "Because He lives, I can face today."

I find this in myself often lately. Life is not unbearable for me. I have not lost my family. Yet all the little things add up quite sufficiently. As Spurgeon said though, God "is too good to be unkind and to wise to make mistakes." It seems I will never be finished learning the lesson of trust with God. He will always take us deeper to know Him more. And that, to me, is worth the temporary discomforts of heart, mind, and body that we face with each day.

Yesterday, we had a meeting put together by the "Fun Committee"....it had an interesting start. They put together 5 or 6 teams of two and had us put on aprons and huge rubber work gloves. Then they told us what we were doing. We had to throw this 2 foot fish back and forth to each other and catch it 10 times. The first team to get to 10 won. Well, obviously they made Cori and I a team because we love to have fun together...we only made 4 catches...and as one would expect, the dorm dad's won. You gotta love throwing fish at your best friend. :) Later, Cori and I were nominated as "Most Playful" on the staff by the staff. Haha, we have fun...like games of Red Rover in the hallway...or racing Phil down the hallway in his rolling chair...or marker wars. Yeah, so its childish...but who laughs more?? :)

The pics below are of my kids doing some activities when I saw a need to step away from the seriousness of class and start having fun and trusting each other. It was interesting. :)

Today I thought the kids needed to work on cooperation. So we did a trust circle where they got close in a circle and all sat at the same time...well, half of the circle worked anyhow. :)

Next, we tried a human knot...it took them awhile...

...and after much hollering, they finally got it! :)

Have you ever felt that maybe you made a mistake. But deep down you know you haven't? Have you ever knew where you were going and then you didn't? Have you ever felt aimless in life? Maybe its just the lull in the day. Maybe its just this transition that I'm preparing for. Maybe its a lot of things. Bethany Dillon has become one of my recent favorite singers. This song is a bit melancholy...but some days, I get in a funk and feel this way. God is always enough. Always. Some days I just get a little blue and wonder about my life. I know God has it under control...but I guess its just a bit of a blue day. Its all good. Tomorrow is a new day, full of new possibilities and new adventures. This is not our home...and blue days make me long all the more for my real Home. I leave you with the words to the song "Aimless" by Bethany Dillon:

The curtain falls, down she goes
So long worth
All the applause seems beautiful
It’s got a hold on her
She whispers, “I’ll go home”
And then she’s reminded
That she doesn’t know where that is

Thought she belonged
But she knows she don’t
Thought she had love
But it is not enough
The pain inside is speaking to her
How could she feel like this
So aimless

His glass falls
Breaks into a thousand pieces
Spilling out all he’s tried to hide
“I only wanted to be strong, to be brave
But it’s driven everyone away”

Thought he belonged
But he knows he don’t
Thought he had love
But it is not enough
The pain inside is speaking to him
How could he feel like this
So aimless

I’ve been him, and I’ve been her
Covered up under the dirt
I want to get out
I want to be free
And know where I’m going

Thought I belonged
But I know I don’t
Thought I had love
But it is not enough
An aching inside speaking to me
How could I feel like this
So aimless

They’ve always known this wasn’t home
I’ve always known this wasn’t home

Last night I made "lait" for the first time. It is a really soothing drink that consists of mints, condensed milk and some water. That is the green looking stuff in the shot glasses. It turned out pretty well, though I think it needed a little more water and a little less milk. :) It was pretty rich, but still yummy! It would be perfect for a cold winter night just before bed. Don't worry, I'll be bringing back my little teapot and glasses and the little fire thing and of course plenty of mints! You'll love the stuff!! Yum.

Cori and I saw a rat on the way to school. And this one wasn't dead as all the other ones we have seen this year. But we think it was struggling. Rats aren't nearly as ugly as I always thought. It looked like an oversized mouse. Not that I want to be friends with it or anything, but its not a hideous creature as I always pictured.

I'm wearing tennis shoes today in hopes that my knees won't hurt at the end of the day. It's an experiment. One of my kids noticed. Kids are interesting creatures. They just say what is on their mind. "Miss Page, why are you wearing tennis shoes?" She probably has never seen me in tennis shoes. My usual footwear is still my $3 black flip flops from Old Navy that are being held together by paperclips and duck tape. Yes, they are still holding together rather well. But we can hope that the tennies will work out. Does it look silly to wear tennis shoes with a skirt or dress? I need to do laundry. I hope we have water tonight when I get home.

You planted the seed long ago.
You watched as she struggled to grow.
Until one day, she broke through the dark earth that blinded her.
She quickly grew and blossomed into a most beautiful flower.
But she was weak and you saw it necessary to strengthen her for the fight ahead.

The winds blew and tore off the beauty that she had taken pride in.
The rains came and threatened to drown her.
The winter came and she died.
But spring always follows the harshest winter.

She poked her head out of the thawing ground to dare life again.
And you grew her.
The way you longed for her to be.
Full of strength, because of your hand.
Full of beauty, because of your love.
Full of life, because of your desire for her.

She does not look at the time of the winds and rains and winter and curse it.
Instead, in her new strength and beauty, she thanks you for it.
And blesses the wind, rain, and winter.

In her weakness, you were made strong.
In her faithlessness, you were shown faithful.
In her death, you made clear life abudant.

How beautiful.

The 24 Crew. Every Monday night, the 4 of us get together and watch 24. Last night we finally finished season 2 and I think we are all a little curious what happens in season 3! And yes, the toucan in Phil's hand and the lizard in Cori's generally watch with us and sometimes get a little rowdy. :) Oh, for those of you who don't know my friends...this is (from L-R) Barb, me, Cori, and Phil.

The adventures never cease to end! Today after school I drove Cori and Lisa to the other side of the city to get a drum fixed. There were many adventures on the way...that's what I love about this place. It's never boring when you go out and about.

The horn on our little car was not working and I was honestly very fearful for our lives because of that very thing. There are so many things you use a horn for here..."Beep beep, I'm here." "Beep beep, the light is green." "Beep beep, you need to choose a side of the road, the middle is not an option." "Beep beep, hello." Finally, after pushing it enough, (giving it CPR as Cori said), it started working again. And all ended well.

On our way back I got a craving for "pan au chocolat" (bread with chocolate inside), so we pulled over to one bakery that told us they were closed on Monday. That was a little odd since Monday would be the one day of the week you would think most people would need a little "pick me up"...so we went on to another one and got the pan au chocolat. Then as we were walking out, I saw some rotisseire (sp?) chicken that looked really yummy and we went in and ordered that. As Lisa and I were looking around, we found the name of the little place was "Quick Fast-Food". Creative? Yes, the name was even in English! It wasn't overly quick...and not really what would be considered "fast-food" by American standards...but as Lisa stated, its not really about how fast they can make it, its about how fast you can eat it...that's why they put everything all onto one sandwhich...fries, meat....and whatever else happens to be around!

I love adventure. And there is no lack of it here. I might miss this after I leave. Hm. Yes, I might.

Peace. Doesn't this picture just almost audibly speak the word to you? I'm thankful for the peace amidst the range of emotions that are coming at me.