Yesterday I was beginning to feel like I had had enough of this place. I was annoyed by the beggars, frustrated at the staring men, angry with the greedy taxi drivers, sick of the insane traffic, and impatient with anyone in between.

Honestly, there are days when I love this place and then there are days when I want to cry, scream and/or pull my hair out. On a really "good" day, there's quite possibly the combination of all 3 of those reactions running through my mind.

Today it was the combo.

I'm writing this post, not from the comforts of my own room, but the room I've been staying in for the past 2 weeks. After a very long morning waiting at the airport, they canceled my flight... for no reason!!! I tell you, there has not been a single trip that I have made in and out of this city since my return, where at least one of my flights was not canceled. Grrr.

For those of you who think I'm a saint for doing what I do, you should have seen me today. I was anything but!

I guess I should be happy that this gives me one more night to hang out with friends, but I think I'm really just ready to be "home." I'll try again tomorrow and keep you posted if it happens.

"I'm finished," she said as she took off her gloves and turned back to her desk. "For good?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. A huge sigh of relief and gratitude filled the air as this long and seemingly, drawn out, process of a root canal had come to a completion.

I felt like doing a little dance right then and there in the dentist's office. But seeing as how I could never even get her to crack a smile the entire time leading up to that point, I decided against it.

Instead I headed straight over to the airline office to book my return flight home. I went in...explained to the lady that I needed a ticket to the Ancient City...she asked when...and then without hesitation, told me that there were no seats available for tomorrow's flight. WHAT??

I kind of thought to myself that this wasn't even funny any more, but what was I to do? So I booked my flight for Wednesday which, on the plus side, means that I'll make it home just in time for the weekend. :)

What a crazy ordeal this has been! 2 weeks. 2 weeks since I left the Ancient City for a "3-4 day" trip! And to think that I was so proud of myself for not over-packing this time around!

But besides the pain and dental visits, my time here really has been a blessing. One that I wasn't planning, but one that I believe was an unexpected gift from Above.

Here are just a few highlights:
1. An afternoon that consisted of lunch at the Thai restaurant (my fave) followed by iced coffee and great conversation at K Coffeehouse with H.
2. Being silly with S. (You haven't seen half of our Photo Booth shots!)
3. Sharing music with J.
4. Movies, movies, movies (and the first season of Grey's Anatomy).
5. Sitting out by the fountain and garden of the fancy hotel at night with H and J.

I'm sure I could go on, but I think I'll leave it at that for now. My heart is encouraged and I've been refreshed just by being here. Who knew a root canal could bring such blessings?

Word of Advice: Never see a dentist that's having a bad day. It can only mean that a lot of pain will inevitably follow.

Good News: The mean dentist finished the root canal part of the process today. I have to wait a day and then she'll put the final filling in on Monday. (Hopefully I'll be back in the Ancient City on Tuesday.)

Bad News: My Beloved Cards have had a rough week. I'll give them that. If you don't know, one of their pitchers was killed in a car accident last weekend. At this exact moment, they are playing the Houston Astros and I just checked the score. I may or may not have cussed.


Feliz Cinco de Mayo...and National Scrapbooking Day! (How nerdy am I?) :)

Ramblings from an Insomniac

Another silly photo from photo booth. That little camera on my computer is way too much fun, I tell ya! Hours of entertainment.

This is the second night in a row that I can't get to sleep. It's 1am and I'm not in the least bit tired. Not good for my body clock but perfect for moon gazing (and catching friends online).

Right now the moon is shining so brightly through my window that I think I could read a book by its light. It's lovely. A few bright stars twinkle in the distance. Silence fills the cool night air. It's so peaceful. Moments like this remind me exactly why it is that I love the late hours of the evening.

Nothing much in the way of news from here. The last 2 days have been pretty low-key. Just chilling with friends...watching movies...laughing...listening to good music...reading books. Soon I'll be heading back to life as normal. I'm trying to enjoy the last remaining days of this "holiday."

Tomorrow (well, today actually) I'll be re-visiting the dentist. I'm hoping that I'm healed enough now for her to finish her work. We'll see! My teammates are threatening to open some packages I've received if I'm not back by Monday. :) It is time to get "home."

So it was interesting tonight as a group of us were sitting around talking about life in this place... how it changes us for good or bad. We were sharing how it's hard to fit in when we are back in the States, as both parties have a hard time understanding the life of the other person. Someone pointed out how even something as simple as dental work takes so much more work/thought in this place. I can't just call up the doctor and see her that day. No, I have to book a flight...get a place to stay...not know how long I'm going to be there...etc., etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. And I do have very dear and precious friends in the States that I love and connect with. It's just that sometimes these worlds are such a contrast. Often times I don't even take into account the variety of stress that I experience here. Why would I? Isn't this normal? It is for me.

This is my life. Weird, I know.

Fun Times with Photo Booth...

Remember that time when I thought I was going on a 3 day trip
and it turned out to be 3 WEEKS????

Seriously. I didn't pack for this.

I don't really feel like writing about my dental issues at the moment. All I will say is that I'm now here in Ktown until at least Sunday...maybe Monday.

I'm ok though. Just hanging out with friends. Line dancing. Watching movies. Drinking milkshakes. Life really isn't all that bad.

The Saga Continues

Scene from today...

Dentist: (Begins drilling or picking or pulling or something on the tooth) How's your tooth today?

Me: (Gauze plus two hands in mouth) umm...it's ok. It's really sensitive to pressure though. Like, I can't touch it or bite down on it or anything.

Dentist: Hmmm. OK. (Carries on drilling or picking or pulling or something.)

Me: (Flinching while mentally thinking that this pain is not real)

Dentist: Do you need anesthetic today?

Me: Well....ummm...(thinking that I can tough it out)...are you going to be working a lot on this?

Dentist: No. This won't take long at all.

Me: OK then, no.

Dentist: (Begin pushing right on the nerve)

Me: (nearly jumping out of my chair) YEAH, I need anesthetic!

Dentist: (Proceeds to work for the next HOUR and a HALF!!!)

Me: Mentally--Did she really ask me if I needed anesthetic? What kind of a question is that? You work for over an hour on my tooth and you think I don't need drugs???

And...SCENE.

*************************************************************************
So it doesn't look like things are progressing as nicely as I had hoped. The dentist said I need more time to heal before she can do the rest of the work. I have to wait until Thursday to see her again which means I may or may not be able to head back to the Ancient City on Friday.

Oh the joys of dental issues!

I guess it's also a good thing I like chocolate pudding and milkshakes. :)

The dentist had a cancellation today and was able to get me in earlier than expected. I think it took her all of 3 minutes to determine that I needed a root canal. She began the process this afternoon and informed that I had finished the worst of it today. At that moment I looked much like a stroke victim, with the entire left side of my mouth numb. I naively thought that it wasn't really all that bad and couldn't figure out what everyone was always talking about.

Now, 6 hours later, I get it. I'd do anything for another shot of Novocaine. My guess is it's going to be a loooong night.

FYI: Root canals hurt. A lot.

The end.

Will the real dentist please stand up?

It was a good thought. This idea that I could go to Ktown for a quick 3 day trip...see the dentist, get my tooth fixed, enjoy some quality time with friends, and return home in time for another week of work. Then reality strikes and I'm thrust into the knowledge that I am living within a country and cultural context that never seems to work on my time table.

And so I find myself still sitting in Ktown. Still waiting to see the dentist.

Apparently the phone number I was given to contact the dentist here was incorrect. I should have known when the man who answered didn't speak English, but I asked him 3 times if this was the dentist and 3 times he confirmed to me that it was. So, trusting this to be the case, I set up an appointment for Friday at 9am.

Friday morning I made my way over to the other side of town, found the office, greeted the guards at the gate, and was promptly informed that it was Friday and the dentist was not at work. I explained that I was told to come at this time and they asked me to call that number again and ask about the situation.

The same national guy answered the phone. We exchanged greetings. I told him I needed to see the dentist and that he had told me to come at that time. He then said that he wasn't at the office. It hit me in that moment, that perhaps, he was the dentist. (The foreign dentist I was/am planning to see is female.) I asked if he worked for this certain company and he said no.

Bummer. He was a dentist, just not the one I needed/wanted to see. So since Fridays are like Sundays and yesterday (Saturday) was a national holiday, I could not get through to the real dentist until this morning.

I now have an appointment set for tomorrow morning at 8:15am...I think.

On the plus side of all of this, I've been enjoying some quality time with friends. Late night conversations, coffee, eating out, bonfire at the "Shhh," DreamGirls, truthful moments of "kiss and tell." What more could a girl ask for?!

I'm just hoping my tooth doesn't fall out in the meantime! :)

I'm going on a road trip, of sorts, in the morning. It's a bit of a spontaneous adventure. Not one I had previously been planning (or even thinking about), but one that has been brought on by the fact that I'm having tooth issues. (Read: a little bit of my tooth fell out yesterday and since I've been avoiding the increased pain for the past several weeks, I figured time was running out.)

So yeah, I'm headed to the dentist. Only there isn't one in this city. (Well, at least not one I'd trust.) So this morning I booked a flight for Ktown and will hopefully be seeing the one and only foreign dentist in this entire country some time in the next couple of days.

I'm just grateful that I don't have to leave the country to get help!

In between my time with the dentist, I plan on seeing lots of friends!! (Yay!) I might even be too busy to write on this thing. (Gasp!)

Just when I've started becoming predictable, I go and throw a curve ball ;)....

"Honesty...is such a lonely word."

Anybody remember that old school Billy Joel song? (And don't worry, you don't have to be afraid to admit you all are as old as me. Well, at least some of you. :)

Anyway, it just popped into my head. Randomness. That's what I'm all about.

So here's my honesty...

I've been missing my friends lately. (I think I might have mentioned that a time or two these past few days.)

I hate to use the word "lonely" because, really, how can one be "lonely" when one's surrounded by people ALL the time? Besides, it sounds so desperate. So weak. So...like I need people. And we all know that tough girls like myself don't "need" people. Right?

Wrong.

I'm learning this. If ever so slowly, I'm learning. It's how we were designed. To live in community with one another and with our Father. It's just like my future husband (who still doesn't even know my name or that I exist) Donald Miller says, "We are relational indeed."

The other day, my dear friend T blogged about her own desire for community. I remember Little J and I spending hours talking about it and longing for it while I was living in JoMo. And I even think the "Patio Gang" has joked about it at times.

But what does this actually look like? And how do we get there?

And more importantly...When am I going to have a friend close by who'd be willing to go jump in the fountain with me late at night or do the Thriller dance at the drop of a hat??? OK, I'm just kidding. Kind of. But, no, seriously...any takers? ;)

I could have written about this yesterday, but for fear of looking like a total nerd (save the comments please) posting twice in one day, I decided to hold off. That does not, however, mean that my joy has wained. In fact, I'm still smiling as I type.

Technology is an amazing thing (when it works for you). And yesterday morning it did just that, as I actually got to video chat with some of my favorite people in the whole world. To say that it made my day would be a HUGE understatement. I think it made my week….possibly even my life! (OK, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point.)

The thousands of miles between us seemed to disappear, if only for a few moments, as everyone sat around the fire pit, enjoying their spinach/artichoke dip, s’mores, and fun beverages (like my morning coffee)….catching up…cracking old jokes (Scott, the "tree" comments never get old, huh?) and some new ones (Janet-courtesy of Laffy Taffy)…sarcastic comments…awkward moments (thanks Pete for always trying to hook me up with the “nearest” eligible bachelor)...and laughter.

For about an hour, I was back in B/N. Man, it does a heart good.

I do have to confess, while I'm writing about my "mini-break from reality," that a dare was laid on the table. Unfortunately I was unable to complete it yesterday. I kept trying to think of ways to throw in a line from “Baby Got Back” into ordinary conversation, and while it was great at cracking me up on the inside, outwardly it just didn't happen. It probably would have been lost in translation, right? So I'm going to try and make it work when I'm around predominantly English speakers. I'll keep you posted. It *will* happen.

So that's it. That is/was the highlight of my week. Now if only I could transport everyone HERE. My life would be complete. ;)

Plans. Often times they are overrated.

Last night I arrived home from work early. I was feeling productive after running a bunch of errands so I thought I would go with that feeling and work out while I still had some adrenaline pumping through my veins. It doesn’t take much to unmotivate me from working out, so I thought I’d help myself out by avoiding temptation. (Remember our plan, Tricks? I’m trying to follow through.)

In the midst of my routine, thoughts ran through my mind as to how the rest of my evening would look. And I have to say; I was pleased.

5:00-5:30pm—Finish working out and take a shower
5:30-6:00pm—Make & eat dinner
6:00-??pm—Read, help J with the kids, and enjoy a leisurely evening at home.
9:00pm—Go to bed early so I can get up super early in the morning to catch the crew on the patio!

And for the most part, I was right on schedule. Until 5:30pm.

Knock on my door. (It’s J.) She informs me that one of the neighbors had just stopped by and invited us to her brother’s second birthday party. It starts at 7pm.

Me: (In my pajamas, hair wet, no make up) Really?
J: Yeah. She invited us all.
Me: OK.

Change of plans.

I got dressed. Put some makeup on. Helped J get the kids ready and by 7pm we were walking down our alley to the neighbors.

They were thrilled to see us.

The next 2 hours were filled with conversations, dancing, laughter, little boys with sharp objects (they actually gave the 2 year old the knife to cut his own cake!), more dancing, and pictures.

We left their house at a little after 9pm, just as they were insisting we stay and eat dinner. (Sometimes it pays to have kids with bed times. They are great for excuses!)

So like I said…plans are often times overrated. It’s the unexpected invitations that could make your evening something worth writing about later.

Guess what?

YEP, you guessed it...I'm smart! I figured out the problem with the profile pic. :) Whoot Whoot!

And guess what else?...I downloaded the clean version of Avril's latest hit, "Girlfriend." I'm rockin' out in my office as I type. (Thanks for the recommendation, Trix!) I'm a sucker for anything that sounds like it has a cheer in it. "Hollaback Girl" being a case in point.

And guess what else?...If all goes well, I will be hanging out on the Gaff's patio with some of my favorite people in the whole world in the morning (night for them) via ichat. It's the backyard season opener there in B/N and I can hardly wait!

Oh how I miss my friends. Seriously. Like, a LOT. I miss them. As in, "you can't even imagine how much," I miss them.

And lastly...guess what?... That's it. I don't have anything else for you to guess. :) But I am trying to figure out how to have some fun in this place. Life can be too serious at times. I get consumed with work and home and the dramas that come with living here. I need some form of escape.

Anybody have any ideas or dares for me? Something I can do and post pictures of or write about? (And yes, I'm fully aware of how I ended that sentence with a prepositional phrase. Bad. Very bad.)

Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?

So I've been trying to figure out a way to post a new photo in the "About Me" section, but have been unsuccessful up to this point. I'm going to try it here and see what happens. Sorry to disappoint if you thought I had some great, exciting news to share. :) I'm just really bored with all these old photos. AND...looking at that Starbucks pic makes me want to go there. I have to tell myself that someday I'll be enjoying my favorite location once again.

***********************************************************************************
OK...so I just tried it and it still didn't work. For some reason the URL's are not working these days. Anybody have any tips on this???

T.G.I.W.! It's the start of our weekend here and I couldn't be happier! Whoot Whoot!

It's been a long week. I'm ready for bed and it's...4:20pm. Is that bad? Although I just downloaded the latest Regina Spektor album and it's taking me to another world. (Thanks for all the new i-tune cards, people!!). I love it!

So today was *interesting* to say the least.

I came into work early, as my CDP staff and I wanted to run to the hospital to visit Sally before we left for the village. It took a few minutes of research, but we soon found out that Sally had been released yesterday. PTL! So we headed off to the "dE."

We arrived in DS and were setting up the room when, guess who walked in?....Yep, Sally! She was wearing a bright green outfit, sunglasses and a huge smile. She looked like a miniature movie star. I was thrilled. It was like seeing a completely different person than the one who lay unresponsive in her hospital bed just 2 days before.

According to her parents, the doctors had told them she had a tumor before looking at the x-rays. (Nothing like the medical system here, I tell ya!) After they examined the x-rays, they decided that she actually had typhoid...not a brain tumor. WHAT???

In that instant, part of me rejoiced while the other part of me was really ticked at those STUPID doctors!! Can you imagine the emotional roller coaster of this family?! Arrgh. It makes me mad just thinking about it.

BUT she's better. Sally is better! And here's the other cool thing...when her mom came into the women's meeting today, she thanked me profusely and then basically commanded me to pray for her again (in front of about 20 other women that had arrived previously). My co-worker said it might cause problems later, but I told her I couldn't refuse an opportunity to pray for someone.

So I did.

Now, I don't know what that means...or the effects of my simple words. But there are seeds planted. And I was obedient to the H.S. in that moment. (Who knows, I may be home sooner than you think! ...Ha!)

And then, beyond all of that, there were the conversations. Today, around the lunch table and again on the drive back into the city, serious discussions with my national co-workers took place. I can't go into the specifics of them here (And, no, none of them have changed their minds on anything), but they were open. And Truth was shared.

Looking back now, today just seemed like one of those days when His presence seemed so very near. And I don't mean the kind of nearness that fills you with peace...but the kind that makes you want to take your shoes off and bow. For I was almost certain that the burning bush must have been right around the corner.

Today seemed THAT big.

Green Acres...

I'm a city girl at heart. Small town girl by nature of where my parents raised me. And country/farm girl....umm....never.

Well, except for when I'm out in the village.

It's strange really. Maybe it's just a temporary fascination. Like when you go on vacation or during the honeymoon stages of marriage (so I've heard). The change of scenery seems to make everything come alive...if only for a moment.

Today I found myself standing on a hillside, smack-dab in the middle of about 200 sheep and goats, as we arrived to the "dE" in the height of their work day. Men, women and children were working all together, hustling the animals to and fro...cutting their hair, getting their milk, and moving them along to the next step. The animals themselves were making quite the commotion...a symphony of bah's and boo's, grunts and groans...blending together to make a kind of music of sorts.

And there I stood. A bit lost in the moment, yet completely at home in the foreign-ness of it all. I was struck again with how much I love this place and these people...especially those under-served.

Sure I know that I spend, on average, about 24 hours out of my week in the village. That leaves...well, that leaves a lot of other hours remaining. (Sorry all my math friends, I didn't want to think that much.) A lot of other hours that I spend in my nice office or comfortable house. Hours on my computer that's powered by city electricity. Hours in the bathroom where I have more than a hole in the ground and water that runs freely (and HOT water at that!). Hours in my bed...traveling in a car.

Hours that are a far cry from the realities of village life.

So...like I said, maybe my love for the village is a temporary/momentary fascination? For some reason, though, it doesn't seem to stop me from dreaming of living there some day. (Of course, I'm pretty sure the villagers aren't quite ready for a foreigner to move into the neighborhood, nor am I quite ready for such a transition.)

But there's the thought.

And maybe that idea will never come to pass? Maybe a few months down the road I'll look back at this post and ask myself what in the world was I thinking?

But right now...in this moment...I'm basking in His goodness and the privilege I have of spending 24 hours of my week investing in these areas.

For such a time as this...

Request...

A few weeks ago I, along with my national co-workers, were walking along the muddy road of DS village. As we rounded the corner, the cutest little girl, around 12 years old, came running up to us with a plate full of homemade yoghurt. She greeted each of us with her precious smile and warm embrace and then told us that her mother was sending this dish as a "thank you" for our help.

"Thanks for what?," you're asking?

Rewind with me to a couple weeks before that, when our CDP staff had been doing a house-to-house survey in this particular village. Upon arrival into one of the homes, they informed our team that their daughter was ill. After listening to the symptoms, our staff recommended the mental health hospital that was not too far away and was run by another NGO in town (the one they formerly worked for).

The following week, this family took their daughter to that mental health hospital, where she was examined and given medicine which apparently was working. (Hence, the "thank you" plate of yoghurt.)

Until yesterday.

Yesterday our team was back out working in DS when we were told that this little girl had become extremely ill over the weekend. The family had to bring her all the way into the city, where she was/is currently being kept at the hospital.

A little bit ago, I went with one of my co-workers to visit. The sparse conditions of the building only added to the feelings of anxiety and despair that filled the air. After a room-to-room search of bunches of sick little kids, we finally came across "Sally."

Instead of her sweet smile, we were greeted by her mother, as Sally lay their limp and unresponsive. My heart broke.

Sally apparently has a tumor on her brain. The doctors have suggested radiation. The family is trying to decide what to do.

As I sat there, holding Sally's hand, I was at a loss for words. I asked her mom if it would be ok if I prayed for her, and she agreed. It was all that I could do...and everything that I could do.

HE is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine.

So now I'm rallying the troops.

Would you please join with me in asking Dad to heal this sweet little girl...."Sally." Would you ask that His power be shown in and through this situation and that somehow, somehow, He would be seen. Would you ask that He would use me and our team to be His instruments of love and peace and presence in this time?

Thank YOU!

I'll keep you posted as I find out more. Until then, I'll meet you before the Throne as we intercede for this precious child and her family....

I just returned from another fun-filled day in the village. My brain is fried, as usual, after 6+ hours of speaking and listening to another language (well, maybe 2 other languages when you consider the villagers practically have their own). I brought my ipod with me today and on our way back in to the city, I informed my co-workers that I was taking a trip to America and would be back by the time we reached the office. They all laughed. I was serious. My head felt like it was going to explode and I needed an escape.

Music. Sweet music.

Now I'm back from my journey and finishing a few things up at the office. I don't really feel like writing out a play-by-play of my day, but I thought I'd share with all of you faithful blog readers some random thoughts that have passed through my mind since this morning. In no particular order....

*Did she really say 10 years old is a good age to get engaged?

*Oh, look at the baby camels grazing on the mountainside!

*The hills are soo green right now. (OK, not "green" like IL in the spring "green", but "green" for the fact that I live in a country which has been in drought for the past 20 years "green.")

*Yep, that little boy definitely just lost his pants in a room full of women. I'm guessing he'll be embarrassed about that some day. Maybe.

*I could use a shower. The second one of the day. Is it really this hot in APRIL??

*I wonder what these women would do if I walked over there and smoked their hooka pipe?

*THIS is exactly what called me to this place 5 years ago. I wonder why it's taken me so long to get here?

One last picture from my day.

Nothing too exciting to blog about. No piercings or tattoos this year. However, I did receive some STRAWBERRY TWIZZLERS! And I even got to share them with my favorite 22 month old...The "D."

Man, I love this kid!!

Just because...

It's my birthday...

I'm...
*Listening to Will Smith's "Switch" on my computer. (And I don't even feel guilty).

*Remembering the fact that this is my 4th birthday since 2002 that I've celebrated in this country. (The picture to the right is from that first trip.)

They've all been memorable. Feathered cakes, salsa dancing, karaoke, dancing in our living room, a Dairy Queen run at the military base. Ahh. Good times. Good times.

*Eating some Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies that I received today in a package from home. Perfect. Simply perfect.

*Looking forward to a grilled chicken ceasar salad for dinner. The month of lettuce has begun!! :)

*Grateful for the well wishes I've received from people near and far. If for nothing else, birthdays are great for getting happy messages from your friends and family! I love it!

Happy Easter Everybody!

It's been a lovely day here in the Ancient City.

Quite a few of the ex-pat community took the day to travel into the countryside a bit and enjoy some time praising Our Creator in the midst of His creation.

And as we sat there--soaking up the beauty, fellowshipping with one another, and savoring some delectable food we brought for a picnic, I couldn't help but be reminded of this...He came to give us life. And not just life meaning the mundane activities that fill up our days. But life in abundance.

I personally hope to continue walking in that abundance...in that goodness...in that fullness of Him.

And I hope that wherever this finds you, you will be able to do the same.

Rejoice! He has risen!

On a positive note...

Sorry if I've been a bit down these last few weeks. It seems like it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride around here lately.

But today is Friday (like Sunday in the States). And it's gorgeous outside. And I'm feeling good.

I spent some time on my rooftop this afternoon--soaking up the Vitamin D, reading "Velvet Elvis," and listening to some happy music.

And even though the challenges of life here don't just seem to disappear, it's nice to have some moments of refreshment in the midst of them.

Rob Bell writes about how being a good "cross-cultural" worker isn't about transporting God from one place to the next. It's about pointing out where God already is. He goes on to say that, "You see God where others don't. And then you point him out."

I love days like today. Days when God is so visible in all His goodness.

He is here.

I just need to help point Him out.

And sometimes...sometimes....I need others to do that for me.

Sometimes my life seems so far out of my control it's not even funny. I'm sure that's how it's supposed to be, what with God being God and all. But still...

Right now I don't really have the words to express all of the reasons why I say that. I just have a heavy heart.

My friends had to close their coffee shop here in town yesterday.
A & J had to move out of their house due to some serious threats on their life.
And in a matter of 3 days my friends' lives have been turned upside down.

Some days the wicked web of sin is so visible in this place, I can hardly stomach it.
And some days it seems as though evil prevails.

But it doesn't.

And I have to fight to convince myself of that.

As I sat with my friends yesterday, offering up chocolate for happiness, I was reminded how little control we have over anything.

Our lives are not our own. The battle is not *ours* to win.

It's HIS.

And in the end...

It all comes back to Him. The One who conquered death to give us life victoriously.

To the one who is “more than just a pretty face”… To the one who has traveled with me to China, Europe and the Middle East… To the one whose mouth once “tasted like a chimney”… To the one whose college roommate believed she was Mary… To the one who has finished 2 Chicago Marathons… To the one who loves McDonald’s as much as I... To the one who was always questioning Owen’s whereabouts, but had no problem following Donna and Dylan as they ran around 90210… To the one who hates Boggle but loves math…. To the one who is a closeted Britney fan… To the one with whom I can do absolutely nothing and still think it was the greatest day ever… To the one who “keeps it real” for dreamers like me (i.e. Why can’t they pick up their trash?)… To the one who can get even the hardest of people to bend with her sweet talk…. To the one who deserves to be the "Golden Apple" teacher every year... To the one who may or may not have tried to look as though she had a "thyroid problem"... To the one who sent the Indians running with her wicked tennis serves... To that "one," I'd just like to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

May your day be filled with sunshine, laughter and sweet moments of celebration for a life well-lived. (Of course, cake and ice cream would also be nice!) I love and miss you!!

Photos from the "Day"

In Dari, the word for "village" is pronounced like the English word "day." Appropriately enough, here are some pictures from the "day/ dE."

Besides the fact that my voice sounds as if I've been chain smoking since the time I was in the womb...I'm beginning to feel better!

Some may say it's thanks to the meds, but I'd like to think it's happening because my AMAZING FRIENDS--A & J--brought over CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SOUP yesterday!

Yep, Campbell's Tomato Soup has finally arrived in the Ancient City!

So in honor of the Prophet's birthday (and an extra day off work)--I stayed in my pj's, ate that amazing soup, and scrapbooked. I also may, or may not, have watched several episodes of a t.v. show that I'm ashamed to admit I love (but it starts with: Dawson's and ends with: Creek).

All in all, it's been a lovely day. Tomorrow it's...back to work...April 1st...AND....(drum roll, please)...the CARDINAL'S OPENING DAY!!!!!!!!!!! I should go to bed now to prepare for it all!

Yesterday I thought I was dying. Well, sort of.

Ok, so two days ago I definitely felt some sinus issues coming on. No big deal. I usually end up with a sinus infection or cold this time of year. I could handle it.

However...I was not prepared for the full-on fever, aching, sinus problems, and stomach issues that were to follow! I promise you that there were parts of me hurting that I didn't even realize I had! I'm guessing that my eating out in the villages is finally catching up with me.

The last thing I remember from yesterday, is that before I fell asleep, I prayed..."Please God, take this from me."

Pathetic, huh?

Well, it worked. Almost. My head is still majorly congested, but at least it doesn't hurt to move!

And as I sit here, thankful to be alive :), and finishing up some stuff at the office that I wasn't able to do yesterday, there are a few things that are making me very happy...

1. Rain and cooler temperatures.--I LOVE days like today!
2. Joss Stone (her new stuff and "Soul Sessions") and Jamie Lidell's "A Little Bit More." --If you're looking for some pick-me-up music, try them!
3. The realization that we have a 3 day weekend ahead of us! --Happy Birthday, Mohammad.

So I've been waking up super early these days. Like 5 am early. I don't do that on my own...usually. But the sun's been shining through my windows bright and early and my room has been a little too warm for comfort. (Note to Self: Get some curtains made ASAP!)

I am confident that it will be His grace, and His grace alone, that gets me through the coming summer months. Of this I'm sure.


In other news...it's spring! I love spring (even though it feels like summer right now). And since it's been a while, I've decided to give you some "-ING's." (Don't ask me how "spring" and "-ing" words connect?)

Right Now I'm...
*Display-ing a picture from Busch Stadium on my computer background. (YAY! Go CARDS!)

*Wear-ing my cute, new, polka-dotted flip-flops that Special K sent, along with my cute, new, green head covering that I bought in the Desert with Babs' Birthday money! (THANKS TO YOU BOTH!!)

* Drink-ing a very cold Pepsi. (Well, it's sitting on my desk next to me. I wouldn't want to spill it on Mac now, would I?)

*Watch-ing turbaned men drive by on motorcyles...3 women in burqas walking along the street...and 2 little girls holding hands as they walk to or from school. :)

*Work-ing on finishing up our project's financial reports for the month of March and on a more fun note, I'm creating a new video, which hopefully will be posted on my other website soon.

*Smell-ing lunch being cooked downstairs. It definitely smells like french fries, but the rest will remain a mystery. At least for another 15 minutes.

*Plann-ing what I should bake for tomorrow. My teammate L is leaving next week to go back to the States and get married. We're having a bridal shower for her that will be for both ex-pats and national ladies alike. (I'm just hoping no stupid games with toilet paper are involved!)

*Wish-ing that all my friends would understand Dad's call on their life to come to this land so we could all live nearby and have barbecues and rooftop parties and lots and lots of time to laugh and be.

And last but not least...

*Think-ing that I should get back to work. Even though this time of day is my most unproductive, I should probably try and focus. :)

Sometimes my life is so...what's the word?...extreme. Today, like many others, I find myself coming up short in the word department as I feebly attempt to express what I've just seen and experienced.

This place is such a contrast of beauty and destruction...hope and despair...life and death.

Besides the moment when I watched two old ladies swinging punches at each other and the subsequent conversation I had with my co-workers concerning the WWF that followed...today has been full of heartbreaking stories.

*I surveyed 20 women today and all of them...*ALL*OF*THEM*...have had AT LEAST 2 children die.
*I met with a 12 year old girl who was just married off to a 25 year old man. (TWELVE YEARS OLD!)
*ALL of these families get their drinking water from the sewage ditch.

While the list of stories could drag on, I think I am personally finished for today. My heart is hurting too much. And while I know He is calling the weary to Himself, there are moments like this when I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.

In case you were wondering, I am alive.

The last 2 days of break with Trickie were packed full of fun. And even though as I type, I’m having a hard time remembering what we actually did…I’m certain that it was good. Right, Tricks? Unfortunately the saying still holds true and all good things really do come to an end.

I said goodbye to my friend late Thursday night (Tricks, I miss you already!) and early Friday morning I made my way back to Ktown. I was supposed to fly out to the Ancient City on Saturday, but after sitting in the airport for 6 hours, they finally just canceled the flight. This seems to be a trend for my traveling adventures in this country so I guess I’ll chalk it up to that.

I eventually made it home on Sunday and on Monday afternoon the family that I live with, along with a team of 7 doctors and nurses from the US, also arrived to our house. I’m convinced that nothing says “Get back to work,” like taking a short-term team out to 2 villages for a 2-day adventure. Somehow I found myself thrust back into the thick of the culture here, as the ladies needed a female translator and there was no one else to help out.

But even though it’s been a chaotic start back into life here, I am happy to be home. I honestly think this is one of the first times since I’ve been working in CA that I can say that after a break and it feels good. It feels very good.

Today begins our weekend and as I sip my freshly brewed Starbucks and prepare to spend some quality time with Dad, I am once again reminded that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

So I'll leave you with that for now. Happy New Year's & SPRING Everyone...
(March 21st is the first day of the year for the calendar used here. The year is now 1386.)

It's been a busy couple of days here in Vacation Land. For all of you keeping track out there, here's the scoop.

Day 1: Tricks arrived late. And after enjoying Christmas in March with me (thanks EVERYONE for the goods!), we headed off to sleep.

Day 2: What better way to get rid of jetlag and to be initiated into this city than...to shop. We spent the entire day at the largest mall in the world outside of North America. (Correction: Trix just said that we were "probably only at the mall for 5 hours." Apparently that's not a lot of time!) Afterwards we waited in traffic for what seemed to me an equal amount of hours. Uggh. Our attempt at finding the horse racing was to no avail but we did manage to see some camels and eventually made it to another location where we watched "Flashdance" on the big screen under the stars. The movie wasn't the greatest but it was so fun to be outside, sitting on a rooftop in bean bags, enjoying the amazing weather!

Day 3: Sunshine and surf. Ok, not really, because I was too afraid of the freaking jellyfish that were lining the shore to actually get in and swim much. I kept having memories of that "Friends" epidsode--the one where Joey gets stung by a jellyfish and someone has to urinate on him to make the sting go away. Yeah. No thanks! We did manage to enjoy lots of sunshine..a highschool dance off (picture in your mind "West Side Story")...and the lack of gawking men thanks to the fact that it was "Ladies Day."

Later that evening we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and enjoyed the live music. Check out the "Rockstars" pictured here. (Don't look too closely or you might notice that our signs are a little off.)

Day 4: It started out with a leisurely morning hanging around the house. Trix napped and I did laundry. (Special K sent over Tide AND Downey Simple Pleasures!!! I'm in heaven!) We hit McDonald's for lunch and then headed off for a desert safari.

A few highlights from that adventure include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Dune Bashing...driving sideways, straight up, and straight down and any other way the driver could take us to get a squeel.
2. Camels & Sunset
3. Knee injury from trying to climb a steep dune to see the last of said sunset. (see photo)
4. Crazy Indian dancers
5. Henna tattoos (nasty, according to Trix)
6. Shisha Pipes (AKA "henna pipes" according to Trix)
7. A much calmer ride back to the house

And now lots of laughs as we've relived these memories trying to share them with you. :)

Isn't life grand?

Vacations...Vacations.
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways...

*Sunshine
*Starbucks
*Cute clothes
*Freedom
*Late nights
*Sleep
*IKEA
*Shopping
*McDonald's
*Laughter
*Outdoor dining...napping...and anything else I want to do
*The Ocean (well, Gulf)
*Fresh pineapple and strawberries and avocado...oh my!
*Swimming
*Rest
*And in just a few short hours....

TRICKIE!! :)

And THIS is why I love this show...

"We all think that we are going to be great.
And we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met.
But sometimes our expectations sell us short.
Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected.
You gotta wonder why we cling to our expectations.
Because the expected is just what keeps us steady…standing…still.
The expected is just the beginning.
The unexpected is what changes our lives. "

~Grey's Anatomy (Episode: Great Expectations)

A Photo and Memories

All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget.
In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings.
Paintings record what the painter remembers.
Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it.
~John Berger

Above you will see an image of my sweet friend and I hanging out last week. Just looking at it brings a smile to my face and reminds me just how very much I love that girl.

Although it had been over a year since I last saw her, it seemed like mere days upon our reunion. The hours that we shared ran together with laughter...conversation...new music...coffee...God...men...dreams...apple pie...and Apple computers. Dad has led us on quite the journey since our days teaching across the hall from each other at KIA. And while I'm still waiting for HIM to place us back together in the same location (Remember your email J!), I'll take any moment I can get to enjoy the blessings of this sweet friendship.

Now, I'm not sure what you see when you look at this picture. But if the quote above holds true, then I'm guessing the meaning for you is something different. Now, I'm not really into telling people what they should see or think. But I'd really like to hear your thoughts.

You see, The Crushing One and I challenged each other to blog about our day and see who could get the most comments. Of course, neither of us are really that into rules, and so it's not really clear as to how we will determine the winner. All I know is that, in the end, the loser owes the winner a dinner out on the town. (I'm pretty sure we just wanted an excuse to go out!)

So...click on her name above and see what she had to say about our time together. Then leave a comment for whoever you thought said it better. :)

I know what I think when I look at this picture. And I also know that no matter how much time passes between our visits, I won't forget. I couldn't. This girl has left her mark. And I'm a better person because of it.

Thanks J!!!

I don't remember whose idea it was to go by bus from the north central region of the country to Ktown (read: my own stupidity), but I was pretty sure I was going to die before I actually arrived. (Obviously that didn't come to pass.) I made it. After 3 slips on the ice and 1 semi-accident which involved our bus sliding off of the road and hitting the wall of the mountain tunnel (just a bit)...Ktown never looked so good. Who knew 10 hours could feel like eternity?

But I made it. PTL! And for the next few days that followed, I enjoyed good friends, fresh snowfall, and lots of coffee in the city that I once called "home." Ahh. Good times.

So here are a few pics from my time in the north.
*The kid in the picture above has the most amazing eyes.
*The ladies that you see with me were also attending the seminar. Their nationalities are Irish, Kazakh, German/Romanian, & Korean. We went out for dinner that evening and around the table sat 9 people--8 different nationalities and the ability to speak 13 different languages. It's moments like that which give me a true picture of His very culturally diverse Bride. I love it!
*And lastly the picture to the right is of a man outside the mosque. I'm not sure if it's his job, but he sure had a way with those birds.

Now I have one picture left to share from my last 2 weeks, but I will save it for a post all its own. Maybe tomorrow?

4 more days until I get to see Trickie!!! :)

“Everything you love is what makes a life worth living.”
~John Eldredge

Things I Love…
Rainy days
Sunshine
Green, green grass
Gerber Daisies
The Ocean—the sound, its vastness, the smell, etc.
Ice Cream
McDonald’s
God
My family
My friends
Children—everything about them—esp. Little D, H, C&C
Music of all kinds
Going fast
Motorcycles
Concerts
Dancing
Flip-flops
Baseball—and everything associated with it
STL Cardinals
The changing of the seasons
Snow
Chick Flicks
You’ve Got Mail
New York City
Starbucks
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The Gap
Shopping
Pink
Blue
Green
Blue Skies
Fireside chats
Star gazing
My Macbook
My ipod
Skirts (with no pants underneath)
Bookstores
Magazines--InStyle, Real Simple, US Weekly, Time
Convertibles
Scrapbooking
Margaritas
Downey Simple Pleasures
Clean Sheets—hung on the line
Twizzlers
Charleston Chews Minis
Grilled pork chops & steamed asparagus
Laughing/ laughter
Candles
White twinkle Lights
Christmas
Dreams
Movie Star Sunglasses
Photographs
My nose ring
Bubble Baths
Hot Showers
Long drives—either alone or with friends
Gilmore Girls
Grey’s Anatomy
Dawson & Felicity
Deep Conversations
Doing Laundry—in a real machine
Pottery Barn Catalogues
Mountains
Art
Italy
Pepsi over ice
Good writing
Life
Grilled cheese & Campbell’s Tomato Soup
Packages sent from home
Staying up late
Spending all day on the water—in a boat or on jet skis or swimming
Lazy Mornings
South America
Central Asia
Starting out a story with, “Back in ‘Nam”
Traveling—seeing the world
Thinking outside the box
Acoustic Guitars
Children’s Books
Wireless Internet (the faster the better)
Wearing my hair down and not covering my head
Electricity
Playing tennis
Slumber Parties
Daring my friends (and vice versa)
Chili's
Staying up late
Sleeping in

This list was brought to you by a very bored Strawberry Blonde sitting hours on end in a training seminar.
This post was based on an idea seen by a fellow blogger
and
has successfully taken the author's mind off of her current situation.
THANK YOU!

It’s snowing here today. I’m in a different city. It hardly ever snows here in this particular place, but there seems to be a trend. Whenever I travel within this country… snow happens.

I’m not complaining. It has reminded me that it is still February. I just wish I wasn’t cramped into this small room and very bored with my 8 hour-a-day training. Uggh. Where’s Starbucks when you need it?

BUT apart from my lackluster training experience, I am enjoying seeing another part of this country. This city is what I would picture for a Central Asian nation, with a large influence coming in from its northern neighbor. The people look more Asian. Horses are used for the transportation of both goods and people. A delicious, round style of bread is sold on nearly every corner. And while I’ve only seen a small portion of this place, it's reminded me how incredibly diverse this country truly is.

It’s been a blessing to spend some time with some dear friends from my early days in Ktown who have been living in this city for a few years. They are always encouraging…always challenging…and great at asking good questions. I’m now praying that Dad will direct them to the Ancient City!

I’ve also been staying with a couple that, before now, I had only heard about from others. They are gentle spirits and hospitable beyond words. They are people who have lived through being held captive for 6 months, a massive attack of grenades and bombers, and the list could go on. Still they choose to live here. Still they choose to love the people who have caused them an infinite amount of pain and hardships. I’m humbled in the midst of these faithful saints and so very grateful for this time to learn from them.

Then on Thursday I’m hoping to go by road from here to Ktown with my Kazakh co-worker. There’s a bus that leaves early in the morning and depending on the weather and road conditions, we should arrive within 7-10 hours. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful trip and a fun little adventure. My thought: Why fly when you could have the possibility of being stuck in a snowed-in pass for several hours on a bus with hundreds of other nationals? Imagine the fun!

Stay tuned for more stories…

Last night a group of us were hanging out. It was Barista N's last night in the city, K had unexpectedly landed here for 24 hours on her way to Ktown, and I was successfully avoiding some guests we had staying at our house. (That's terrible, I know. But I don't feel like explaining the situation.)

Anyway, we started talking about food and restaurants we were missing from the States. (This kind of conversation occurs on a regular basis.) I made the comment that, very soon I would be eating McDonald's. I proceeded to say that, "Unfortunately, the McDonald's where I'm going does not serve Shamrock Shakes."

And that's when the crowd turned on me. First in disbelief. Then in laughter. Nobody in the room had ever heard of such a treat!

I went on to explain that every year, from mid-February to the end of March, McDonald's serves this incredible "shamrock shake" that's green and mint flavored. I told them this tradition has been dated at least as far back as my freshman year in college. The mob (aka my friends) then pointed out that that was a long time ago. I believe one person even went so far as to say, "You remember this because you were in college. We only cared about what came in our Happy Meals at that time!"

So, I'm old. Older than everyone in that room, at least. But I WASN'T making it up!

As this discussion continued, I forced A to get online and google "shamrock shakes McDonald's." I thought then my point would be made.

Wrong.

Then THEIR point about my age was only made stronger as this is what was written on some website...

In days past, when the world was young and light of heart, old and young alike could walk down Main Street in early Spring with the birds singing and the flowers just starting to bloom. Invariably, those walks would end at the quaint burger shop on the corner, the local McDonald's. And on those days in March, a special treat would await those who braved the drizzle: a tasty, frothy, Shamrock Shake. Oh yes, and what a treat it was. Peppermint flavored and colored green, the Shamrock Shake was a celebration of Irish heritage at its best. No green colored Budweiser or stupid pilgrim hat painted green for the change of season could compare to the purity that was the Shamrock Shake. So delicious, the whole family would climb into the wagon (or minivan, whatever) and each get a large scrumptious taste of St. Patrick's Day.

Alas, those carefree days are gone. McDonald's is no longer the 'shop around the corner' serving up a wholesome burger and fries while you hang with your high school gang. It's now some faceless, greedy, multibillion dollar, 39 cent hamburger factory. No, those days have past, and we must move on. The Shamrock Shake has gone the way of the poodle skirt and the Hammer pants. But we shall never forget thee, you taught us what St. Patrick's Day was all about and announced the coming of Spring to all who would listen.

---

Yeah. I lost the argument.

I did, however, prove that Shamrock Shakes do indeed exist. Mainly in Ireland and to this day in a limited number of locations. I guess, lucky for me, IL was just one such state!

SO the moral of the story is this...

Eat, drink and be merry.
For you never know when McDonald's will stop serving your favorite treat!

I hate cilantro. Hate it. And don't tell me that I should give it a try. I lived in South America for over a year. It NEVER grew on me.

Today we had cilantro in our lunch. I tried to pick around it but it was to no avail. And now...an hour and a half later, that flavor lingers on. Uggh.

So I just want it to be known that this is me. The Strawberry Blonde. Lover of coffee...all things creative...chick flicks...Cardinal's baseball...McDonald's...etc. Hater of cilantro.

Take me or leave me.

My thoughts are muddled right now as I've sat down to write about my experiences of this past week. I am not really sure how to begin or where to end. I feel as though every day has been full and worthy of expressing and sharing, yet somehow...words seem insufficient in this moment.


This week...
I spent 4 days out visiting 10 different villages with my 4 other national staff.
Man, I wish you all could see this place...these people. (And those of you who have only been in Ktown…there’s a whole other world that we’ve missed out on!) I found myself wanting to take a million pictures as we drove off into these seemingly uncharted territories. I refrained for cultural and relational reasons, but I just kept thinking how National Geographic would kill to get a glimpse of what I was seeing. But I am also confident, that even if I did get some shots, a camera wouldn't do justice to the beauty that was before my eyes.

Seriously. The landscape of this country continues to take my breath away. Of course, there’s the obvious beauty found in its rugged and desolate terrain. The way the mountains cut into the sky…the clouds that cover the road at a certain altitude…the river that rushes by as the snow melts from the beginnings of spring. But I tell you; it’s the faces of these people that have captivated my heart. Their espresso eyes…lines on their faces…toothless smiles. I found myself mesmerized a million times over this week.

This week…
I watched women hope--most for the first time in who knows how long.
After a thousand and one greetings and a mile long list of needs (clean water, doctors, medicine, education, jobs, cars, etc.), our team shared with these ladies the hope of empowerment. Instead of bringing a doctor to this village for one month or two, we’ll figure out the root of the problem (i.e. what’s causing them to be sick in the first place) and learn how to stop it. It’s education in its simplest form. But in the period of our hour-long conversation, I saw their countenance change and their spirits lift. There IS a way out of their suffering. There IS a reason to hope once again.

This week…
I moved to a new house.
This is the fifth time I’ve moved since November, and I’m happy to say that I think this is it for a while (barring any major outside issues that may arise). Lord, let it be so.

This week…
We moved to a new office.
Yes, that’s right. Not only did we move houses, we also pretty much simultaneously moved office buildings as well. Needless to say, things have been a bit chaotic and un-orderly for the past several days!

This week..
Our team has been wrestling with how to help a brother who has come to us because his life is being threatened because of his beliefs.
Man, they don't teach you about this stuff in college. There are no pat answers. But oh, how I wish there were. My heart aches at the realities of this nation. But I am also encouraged, because I know that HE is working in this place.

So that's a brief overview of my week. I'm exhausted and would appreciate your prayers.

Tomorrow we will be hosting a national couple for the remainder of the week and on Thursday, Lord willing, I will head out to another city for a week of training and then on to Ktown and then to see Trix in the desert region! :)

Yesterday.

I don't know what it was, but the world seemed to be against me. It probably all centered around the fact that I didn't have my morning coffee, but that's neither here nor there.

I was frustrated.
No electricity. Nosy government workers. No clean laundry. A dust storm in FEBRUARY. Interruptions.

Yesterday was just one of "those days."

And just when I had pretty much resigned myself to a day of accomplishing absolutely NOTHING and remaining frustrated in spite of my mental "10 Things For Which to be Thankful" list I made while walking home from the office, everything seemed to change upon opening my front door.

It was his excitement. His adorable face. Hearing him yell "LoLo!!" Those big blue eyes. The way he came running out with open arms to greet me. Sigh. It was exactly what my heart needed in order to remember that the world really wasn't/isn't all that bad.

Little D. The cutest 20 month old I know. And all the reason a person needs to smile.

So after asking permission from his mom, I took Little D down to the coffee shop (yes, we have one of those here). He went crazy for the donut holes. I went crazy for the double shot caramel macchiato. We sang "The Wheels on the Bus." We visited with N, our amazing barista. :) We looked at pictures in National Geographic. And on our way home, we bought naan. (The D's favorite!)

So what if I didn't accomplish anything? I had a date with Little D. And that...that made all the difference.

So I've been trying to figure out a way to post a new photo in the "About Me" section, but have been unsuccessful up to this point. I'm going to try it here and see what happens. Sorry to disappoint if you thought I had shared some great, exciting news on life in this place. :)

It's February, people! Can you believe it? I can't. Maybe it's because these past 2 weeks have felt more like March or April, what with the 70 degree temps and abundance of sunshine. Perhaps my brain just skipped past the last part of winter?

Nope.

It's back. Today the rain is pattering quietly outside my window and the temperature is a bit colder. I have Joe Purdy playing in the back ground. (If you're not familiar with him...you should be.) His song, "I Love the Rain the Most" is perfect for a day like this. If only I didn't have work and language lessons today. I could curl up with a good book...a steaming cup of coffee...and I might possibly be ambitious enough to make some homemade chocolate chip cookies. It would be great. If only.

I think I am in a dreaming mode as of late. Both day-dreaming (as my mind is full of random distractions) and big dreaming. And this disposition was only encouraged when, on Wednesday, our team spent the entire afternoon together reflecting and praying over questions such as the following:

If the Kingdom of God were to come to this city, what would it look?
How would things look differently?

It was a wonderful time. And one I hope that we continue in the future.

Visions and dreams are how He often works in this place. I wonder how come I rarely ask Him what His are for today?