I am a Snowboarder

Already an accomplished skier (at least I was in 1997), I somehow got roped into snowboarding over my Christmas break. Here are the pictures to prove it.

Minnesota was in the middle of their third warmest winter on record (piping hot at 35 degrees), so as you can see clearly the only snow in the area was the man made stuff on the Afton slopes.

As soon as we parked and got out of the car, Melissa asked me if I was regular or goofy. Good question. While I was pondering into her inquisitive prodding, she shouted "look at that van over there" and then shoved me from behind. I was like "what the crap Melissa are you doing" and basically she was proving to me that I was "regular" which means I would snowboard with my left foot first. When she shoved me I stepped forward with my left foot. I was hoping learning this stuff would be much simpler from there on out.

Snowboarding was indeed a lot more fun then I thought. My cousin Jamie and I were assisted by her sisters and snowboarding experts, Melissa and Sam, who taught us first how to stop and then how to do the "falling leaf" which is the motion you make going down the hill. It really is as pleasant as it sounds, until you hit a rough patch and slam face down into the snow.

I never got off the bunny hill the whole time and only made it down the hill twice without falling, but it was worth it. Somehow I felt a little "cooler" being on a snowboard then skies. Oh yeah baby. I snowboarded for about four hours total, until Jamie mentioned she was bruised enough and could probably give it a rest for the day. She has a season pass though, and I didn't. But she could realistically use this skill, and I can't.

But be on the lookout for me next year, slicing it up on the 'board, regular-style.

For Carly and Steven, who will be in Kenya this week...

One of my fave team pics...

Travesty

If you go to my cousin Beth's blog, you can see how much snow Minnesota has right now. Travesty. Maybe I can avoid the potential doom of me being on a snowboard after all...

New Husker Neighbors

In an effort to enjoy ever last minute of the 70 degree weather we've been having this month in Atlanta, I got ready to go for a brief jog before Gates came to take me to the airport. On my way out of the house I spotted a couple walking into one of the units across from me that has been for sale for several months. What was super cool was when the guy saw me he waved so I waved back and asked if they were moving in. Turns out, they just bought the place and moved to Atlanta from Omaha, Nebraska!! I had to ask them if they were into Husker football and OF COURSE they were. I had my long sleeve Minnesota Gophers shirt on so they asked me if I was from Minn, and I told them I did live there but I was born in Nebraska and they were pretty stoked. So I'm excited to get to know them better after I get back from Minnesota.

Now that's sweet

While I was packing for Minnesota I found a spare scarf I wanted to bring since my cousins want to teach me to snowboard this year. The only extra pocket I had was on the back of my suitcase that I never use so I jammed it in there and felt something crinkely. Two twenty dollar bills and my itinerary from my trip to Sweden in July of 05 was what I found. Sweet rockin'.

Redneck Gingerbread House

This might just happen in Georgia..

Still on my mind to the max

I have been surprised to discover how much Kenya is still on my mind. Thoughts about it seem to float in out of nowhere. I find myself suddenly smiling at a memory to dazing out for longer then I meant to. Our theme song "You said" by Shane and Shane is being played over and over on my ipod.

My teammate Carly went down to Kenya last Sunday and sent an update email with all the people she got to see. I think I've read it now like three times. Just to think of her being there and getting to spend time with the people we loved brings feelings of warmth and fondness. Of course I wish it could be me, but I know that when the time is right I'll go back.

Sometimes I wonder if thinking about it creates dissatisfaction with my life now. However, it seems to bring comfort more then anything. Psalm 77 talks about the importance of remembering God's goodness and faithfulness from the past. To me, that's what my experience was all about. It was all about His work. It was His idea, for His glory, and done by His grace.

The Christmas season is also not one of my favorite times of the year. I think to dwell a bit on Kenya and the other blessings of my life over this past year brings much joy where there could be sadness and pain. God continues to be the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gifts we get from Him are good and always more then what we deserve.

Christmas in Australia

In the summer of 2000 I spent eight weeks in Brisbane, Australia building relationships with students at the University of Queensland. I still get updates from the missionaries there and this morning I had received their Christmas update in my inbox, which included this hilarious tune:

Below is the Australia version of Jingle Bells – well known and sung here. (Definitions in parenthesis)

Dashing through the bush, (bush = the country)
in a rusty Holden Ute, (an aussie version of a flatbed pickup)
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot, (esky = cooler)
Kelpie by my side, (Kelpie = aussie breed of dog)
singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs (singlet = tanktop; thongs = flip flops [aren’t you glad])

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey! (try 100+) Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!, Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Engine's getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard, (swaggie – hitchhiker)
he is welcome too.
All the family's there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way, by the barbecue. (a barbecue in Australia is the grill – has nothing to do with sauce)

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!, Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go,
we take the family snap, (snap = picture)
Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing up. (hurry and leave before the dishes are washed)

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!, Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

News

As most of you know, I have been pursuing a Masters Degree in Professional Counseling at the Psychological Studies Institute (PSI) since the fall of 2005, while still working where I've been working at Mission to the World. After my prayer, thought, and input from caring friends and family, I have decided to begin taking full time classes in the spring of 2007 and no longer work at Mission to the World. I am excited about this change but at the same time sad because I will be leaving a job and work environment that I've loved for the past five years. I look forward to graduating in May of 2008 and hopefully using my degree in ministry, missions, or non-profit work after that. Also, for those of you who will be in Minnesota over Christmas, I will be there Dec 23-30 so hopefully I'll get to see many of you then.

And if you live in Atlanta, look for me at a coffee shop near you because I'm thinking of working at one for a part-time job!!

On another note, I officially changed my email to a gmail address, so if you don't have it let me know and I'll email it to you.

Driving a Cruise Liner

Heather and I spent a crazy and hilarious hour at work today together.

She was pretty stressed out because she had to ship A LOT of materials to the MTW recruiters who are going to be at the Urbana conference. The main problem was that most of the materials she needed have now been moved to our offsite storage unit, which until today, always seemed to be quite a nebulous place to me. The materials were in large, heavy boxes, so her first move was to try to recruit a guy to help her. Due to some unique circumstances, I somehow became her guy.

The next problem was figuring out how to fit 2 boxes of devotionals and 4 boxes of water bottles into her Nissan Altima. Luckily, my boss Jack came to the rescue and offered the use of his large Lincoln Towncar that can easily fit six adults in his trunk alone.

Heather was too short, so I got to drive the beast. It was so cool. The thing actually floats. It was like driving a cruise liner. And Heather and I felt like the mofia, especially when we arrived at the storage unit. No one was around. We entered the code. "Access-granted." We floated to the unit and started packing the stuff in, one box at a time. Finished. Looked around, and got the heck out of dodge.

We had to also go to Ka-bloom flower shop. On the way, we were passed by a woman driving Jack's exact vehicle. She was clearly no less then 89 years old.

Someone also got really gutsy and pulled out in front of me. After they saw the beast barrelling down on them while honking, I'm pretty sure they needed a towel.

Ka-bloom was uneventful. Flowers order for Julie who is leaving us. That stinks, but the flowers are cool.

Got back. Unloaded drug shipment, I mean, materials. Gave keys back to Jack. Jack confirms that he sees his car all the time and it's always being driven by someone who is like 30 years older then him. Hilarious.

Survived. Back to being a girl.

The Dead Parent Club

I know this sounds totally insensitive to write that. However, if you've lost a parent I think you'd agree that there's something about that experience that makes you feel like you're a member in some weird club that you never, ever wanted to be in. Most people my age, in America, have both of their parents stilll living. They might not have the best relationships with them, or get to see them much, or even know who they are, but they are alive.

My coworker and friend, Allie, is dating this cool guy named Mark. He came up to visit us at MTW this week for lunch. Mark actually went to Berry like Jamie and I (a bit before our time though) so we were asking him how he ended up at Berry, etc. Through this we discovered that Mark's dad passed away when he was only 18. Later on, the conversation turned to me about how I got to Berry, and then it somehow also came out that my mom died when I was 22. Mark said that he actually heard me mention this before, when he and Allie and I were at our work Christmas party, apparently I said something about "when my mom passed away." Mark said that when I said that, his ears immediately perked up. It's just funny because I know exactly what he means. When I hear about people who lose a parent at a young age I feel connected with them in a strange way, because it's rare thing to have that in common with someone. Mark phrased it as "being in the dead parent club".

It's odd hearing it, but true and real in the same way. I'm in the club. With Mark, and few others.

Just in case anyone's counting

In regards to weddings, I have, in the past year:
-received ten invitations to go to a wedding
-was able to go to five of them
-four of those five I did attend were just since September
-in two weddings I was honored to serve as a bridesmaid
-in one I was an awesome attendant
-five of the ten weddings were for first cousins
-three of these cousins are either currently pregnant or have already had their first child
-one of the ten was to my brother and sister-in-law's wedding (my fave, if you were wondering)
-one wedding I got to ride in an H2 Hummer limo (the above, clearly)
-only one of the ten was in the actual city of Atlanta where I live
-the last wedding attended in this cycle was today, which was the one that was finally in Atlanta
-I shouldn't get more invitations, that I know of, in 2006

So yes, don't worry, when I get married, you're all invited! And it's going to be one HECK of a party =).

Things that I love

Facebook.

Blogging.

Gmail.

Sitting next to Jamie, Soxie, the fire and the tree.

Being done with this semester in five days!

MTW.

Missionaries coming to visit this week and next!

Enriched soy milk.

Coffee.

Mi Taco.

Friends.

Family.

45+ first cousins and 14 second cousins (Malachi born just this week!).

Seeing the above in just a couple of weeks.

I watched her litter box go up in flames

I've been noticing lately some new things in me that I'm not..quite..sure..where they came from.

I suddenly got a hint of excitement on our way to Home Depot to get a Christmas tree with Jamie on Sunday. Usually I'm quite the Christmas scrooge.

We got a Frazier fur, which I've never had before, and I wanted to try.

I actually wanted to decorate, and then loved how it looked when we were done, despite our earlier fear that our tree looked ghetto. I especially loved the fireplace and finally getting a screen for it so Soxie can no longer go in there and use it as a litter box. Then we had a beautiful fire and destroyed any reminant of this alternate litter box.

Jamie played some of her new Christmas music CD in the car on the way to church on Sunday, which I...LIKED. Then I had to recant my earlier comments to her, which went something to the affect of her (and Nathan) being "lame" for buying it.

I really like cooking and voluntarily ask to cook things. For example, I had the idea to make Kate's awesome enchilada's for Heather's birthday last Saturday and they were a big hit woo-hoo!!

I've been exploring the possibility of using gmail as my email address. Basically, from what I can see it totally rules school in comparison to yahoo. So be looking for a change on that front as well soon.