iceland is beautiful. i have only a few spare moments but i thought i would blog quickly and say I have loved the past couple of days here. first day a nice icelandic man named Stephan took us in his truck on the golden circle tour of iceland - giving us the chance to see some of the most beautiful places on the earth. (I posted some pictures on Facebook and will here when i get the chance). Yesterday Genevra and I walked around downtown Reykjavik - and shoot I gotta go. we are doing some sort of TV and radio thing and then going to the Blue Lagoon today.
more later.
Showing posts with label traveling stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traveling stories. Show all posts
11.07.2008
11.02.2008
woo woo hoo hoo!
Today was a full day of traveling to get Arin at the KC airport, which I will return to again on Tuesday morning but this time for my own flight purposes. That's right friends and virtual friends, I am for real going to Iceland! I'm excited to go, and due to lack of time and my current brain-fried status in light of how fast this is actually happening, I am not putting together a good blog about all my excitement...sorry to disappoint. This post won't even be as big as the map picture accompaniment. (go ahead, make the 'wa wa wa' noise) And by the way, I know your worried - as you should be - that I am leaving on Tuesday, which happens to be election day (which of course you know. unless you've lived under a rock and can't fog a mirror and even then you probably know), but don't worry I have already voted at my local court house. Which is by the way a very beautiful building that I had never previously been into. Very cute and Springfieldianish. (Springfieldianish should be a word because it's fun to type)
I'm also really excited that Arin is back and has been rocked so much from his experience with z hop. there is a lot to look forward to. I'll write along the way. promise.
10.30.2008
9.03.2008
My New-To-Me Car
I got a car! The search is over! No more evenings spent on car searches! (That might be one of the best parts)
It's a 2002 Honda Accord EX Coupe with 85,000 miles on it. I'm so thankful to my uncle who helped me through the process because I was a fish out of water throughout this whole experience. Michelle and I went to Kansas City this extended Labor Day weekend and had numerous run-ins with cheesy car salesmen...it was no bueno. And after much (much much) searching in Kansas City my uncle saw this on autotrader.com.
I'm excited. I love it. It's perfect. I keep thinking that something is going to go wrong with it or I'll have one of those bad stories were I have the car for a week and I get in a wreck or something. It's funny how having something new makes one extra cautious.
8.19.2008
country roads: the tale of the flying deer
After americano olympics last night I went on a little drive with my friend Arin out of the city limits. The coffee shop started to get quite loud and crowded. And to be honest my americano wasn't very good. I actually bought a coke to redeem it. Anyhow, I love taking long drives on beautiful nights and it seemed like a good idea. It was a perfect night for some loud worship music in the car, rolled down windows, and back country roads. My thoughts were flying a million miles a minute and then....so was the deer that I hit.
My awesome perfect night turned into flashes of flying deer (I'm not kidding that thing hit air!),deer fur on the hood of my car, and a nice antifreeze leak, broken headlights, and smashed front end, all the way home. But I'm glad Arin was with me - knowing just what to do, say, and pray. And I actually laughed more than was stressed about it - I surprised myself. I was thankful that it wasn't worse and that the car was halfway drive-able.
So I woke up today and took my car in, and luckily my sister isn't driving her car any time soon so I get to snag it for the week.
The End
My awesome perfect night turned into flashes of flying deer (I'm not kidding that thing hit air!),deer fur on the hood of my car, and a nice antifreeze leak, broken headlights, and smashed front end, all the way home. But I'm glad Arin was with me - knowing just what to do, say, and pray. And I actually laughed more than was stressed about it - I surprised myself. I was thankful that it wasn't worse and that the car was halfway drive-able.
So I woke up today and took my car in, and luckily my sister isn't driving her car any time soon so I get to snag it for the week.
The End
7.03.2008
flying is lame 2
Man I was going to post some pictures as to not further discuss my flying woes yesterday...but Blogger isn't working with me on the whole uploading thing. So I will elaborate a little on yesterday - because other than unpacking today and sleeping I'm not going to lie, haven't done much.
So I finally rolled into Springfield at 5am this morning. Which makes the following statements true:
1. I flew yesterday to Kansas City three times. 3rd times a charm right?
2. Went to Wichita twice
3. Spent 7 1/2 hours in one plane.
4. Spent a grand total of 14 hours traveling yesterday. Which means that I could have made it faster if I would have driven.
6. Was in the following cities yesterday for over 2 hours: Charlotte, Atlanta, Wichita, Kansas City, and Springfield.
5. The airline system on a whole is a very broken one.
Mkay, I'm done complaining now.
It's nice to sit here on my bed with Lilly laying next to me asleep. Which I think is what I'm going to go do now. By the way, happy Independence day! Go blow something up.
So I finally rolled into Springfield at 5am this morning. Which makes the following statements true:
1. I flew yesterday to Kansas City three times. 3rd times a charm right?
2. Went to Wichita twice
3. Spent 7 1/2 hours in one plane.
4. Spent a grand total of 14 hours traveling yesterday. Which means that I could have made it faster if I would have driven.
6. Was in the following cities yesterday for over 2 hours: Charlotte, Atlanta, Wichita, Kansas City, and Springfield.
5. The airline system on a whole is a very broken one.
Mkay, I'm done complaining now.
It's nice to sit here on my bed with Lilly laying next to me asleep. Which I think is what I'm going to go do now. By the way, happy Independence day! Go blow something up.
7.02.2008
flying is lame
oooh i very strongly in my deepest of feelings don't like (I try to stay away from saying the word 'hate') flight drama. there is rarely a time I fly anywhere stress free. And of course I'm stressed now. I feel like I just took off every piece of clothing i had on at security and completely unpacked and packed again - like it's their strategy to make me stay in their line power for over 30 minutes... And that's not really it, I got to my gate only to find out that I am most likely going to miss my flight from Atlanta to Kansas City. AAaaaannd Airtran will only allow it's passengers 1 piece of checked luggage for free, so I'm carting around this unbelievably heavy awkward back pack full of my should-have-been Iceland clothes.
I need some meat.
I need to stop whining.
My conclusion: Flying is lame.
highlight: At least I'm drinking some Jamba Juice.
ps. I'm really not that miffed. I'm more just whining.
---------- updated 9:00pm --------
So I made my flight to Kansas City just fine. But get this...I'm in WICHITA! No, not Kansas City. Wichita.
I'm here because there is a crazy storm in Kansas City that we couldn't land in. I've been here at the Wichita airport for over an hour now, with no word of leaving. Also, security won't allow us to go past the checkpoint because we don't have a Wichita boarding pass. So no food or drink for any of us.
My conclusion: flying is still lame.
I need some meat.
I need to stop whining.
My conclusion: Flying is lame.
highlight: At least I'm drinking some Jamba Juice.
ps. I'm really not that miffed. I'm more just whining.
---------- updated 9:00pm --------
So I made my flight to Kansas City just fine. But get this...I'm in WICHITA! No, not Kansas City. Wichita.
I'm here because there is a crazy storm in Kansas City that we couldn't land in. I've been here at the Wichita airport for over an hour now, with no word of leaving. Also, security won't allow us to go past the checkpoint because we don't have a Wichita boarding pass. So no food or drink for any of us.
My conclusion: flying is still lame.
7.01.2008
daniel fast
My time in Charlotte is drawing to a close. I'm sorta sad about it. God knows it and I know it. Maybe I'm supposed to be here?
Anyway.
So the house of prayer is doing a 40 day fast and i'm Danieling it up with them for the next 40 days. I wasn't intending on doing so. Actually I didn't even know that they were on the brink of doing one - I'm not gonna lie - the Lord actually told me Himself before anyone told me. Wanna hear the story? I generally don't share these types of things on my blog...esp. about fasting - but why not. Right? Right.
So when I first got here - actually when I first stepped into the prayer room here - the Lord put a phrase in my heart:
"You have purposed in your heart. He has purposed in His heart."
At first I thought it was something really illuminous and serious that the Lord was speaking to me about. And after telling a few choice people about it and searching the scriptures I found out that in the first chapter of Daniel it uses the phrase "Daniel purposed in his heart..." when talking about not eating defiling food when King Neb was picking his chosen men. So then I asked God if He in His mighty goodness could be calling me to do a Daniel fast. Of course out of my lack of desire to actually do so - particularly while I was getting ready to celebrate living for 26 years - sort of left it at that. I did, but God didn't.
Anyway - a couple of days after my discovery I heard the buzz around here that on June 30th Z h o p and other ministries around and abroad would be calling a 40 day fast. At the same time the buzz started going on, (you know if you've ever been a part of a fasting community that people start major conversations about what they are going to do) there was the conference in which Corey R. came and spoke at. Last Sunday morning he was speaking on the benefits of fasting and weakness before the Lord. During the alter call I was hanging back after quasi-babysitting for 30 minutes or so - and Corey caught my eyes and gave me the stern pointed index finger - and said "get up here girl!" So, of course I did. And he said this, "You think you've been taking a vacation but your going to fast. The Lord has already told you you are going to fast." And I was like - okay - case closed. I know what the Lord meant by "You have purposed in your heart."
So tomorrow I leave. Right now I'm in the master suite here in the house with an open window listening to the Cause do their thing outside. It's something like 30 days of night meetings under a tent in which they play amazing loud live goodness for all to hear. It's like half a mile away from my house and I can hear it clear as a bell. This place is such a trip! I love me it.
Okay, all for now dear friends. Soon it will be picture time.
Anyway.
So the house of prayer is doing a 40 day fast and i'm Danieling it up with them for the next 40 days. I wasn't intending on doing so. Actually I didn't even know that they were on the brink of doing one - I'm not gonna lie - the Lord actually told me Himself before anyone told me. Wanna hear the story? I generally don't share these types of things on my blog...esp. about fasting - but why not. Right? Right.
So when I first got here - actually when I first stepped into the prayer room here - the Lord put a phrase in my heart:
"You have purposed in your heart. He has purposed in His heart."
At first I thought it was something really illuminous and serious that the Lord was speaking to me about. And after telling a few choice people about it and searching the scriptures I found out that in the first chapter of Daniel it uses the phrase "Daniel purposed in his heart..." when talking about not eating defiling food when King Neb was picking his chosen men. So then I asked God if He in His mighty goodness could be calling me to do a Daniel fast. Of course out of my lack of desire to actually do so - particularly while I was getting ready to celebrate living for 26 years - sort of left it at that. I did, but God didn't.
Anyway - a couple of days after my discovery I heard the buzz around here that on June 30th Z h o p and other ministries around and abroad would be calling a 40 day fast. At the same time the buzz started going on, (you know if you've ever been a part of a fasting community that people start major conversations about what they are going to do) there was the conference in which Corey R. came and spoke at. Last Sunday morning he was speaking on the benefits of fasting and weakness before the Lord. During the alter call I was hanging back after quasi-babysitting for 30 minutes or so - and Corey caught my eyes and gave me the stern pointed index finger - and said "get up here girl!" So, of course I did. And he said this, "You think you've been taking a vacation but your going to fast. The Lord has already told you you are going to fast." And I was like - okay - case closed. I know what the Lord meant by "You have purposed in your heart."
So tomorrow I leave. Right now I'm in the master suite here in the house with an open window listening to the Cause do their thing outside. It's something like 30 days of night meetings under a tent in which they play amazing loud live goodness for all to hear. It's like half a mile away from my house and I can hear it clear as a bell. This place is such a trip! I love me it.
Okay, all for now dear friends. Soon it will be picture time.
6.18.2008
trip in the freezer
As my witty friend Mark in Iceland put it --- "sorry your trip to Iceland got put in the freezer."
Yes that's right...the team isn't going to Iceland. Sorry to disappoint. (Don't worry, I am WAY more disappointed than you are) I guess what happened was the sponsorship for the festival fell through and they couldn't pay for the whole team's tickets. So - no Iceland. I've known for a couple of days but I've been too sad to spread the news. And now it's out there. And for lack of better terms I'm pretty bummed about it.
So here I am enjoying my home away from home here in Charlotte for another two weeks. So far I've been sleeping in way past what should be legal, enjoying a workless and email-less environment and spending time with God and friends.
But it's kind of weird actually. Which I suppose you'll think is pretty normal when I explain what is weird: You know how there is always something that sneaks into our egos when a place exists just fine in our absence? Like somehow are hard work and diligence made the world go round? This is a little of what I'm experiencing now with the House of Prayer. Sick I know - but if you sit back and put yourself in the situation I would think this is sort of a normal human complex. In my defense though that hasn't been my main weird. Maybe not so much as pure nostalgia. The other day all of my friends had to go to a leadership meeting that for the first time I didn't have to go to. I felt a mixture of sadness and relief. Mostly sadness though. Thinking about how this place was my life for 2 years and now all the sudden I don't have to go to the meetings and listen as the thing gets formed. It's like watching a baby grow.
It has been making my head turn a lot. I'm trying to remain in a place where I am calm before the Lord, not begging for too many answers but just asking questions. It seems to be working out pretty well. I've been focusing on the Spirit of Wisdom and some other personal things the Lord has been speaking to me about. But I'm fighting to get away from the question of whether or not I SHOULD be here. Whether or not this weak human can hear the Lord and make wise choices that come from Him. Whether or not I want to watch this baby grow - not because I am NEEDED, but because the Lord WANTS me.
I miss it here.
Yes that's right...the team isn't going to Iceland. Sorry to disappoint. (Don't worry, I am WAY more disappointed than you are) I guess what happened was the sponsorship for the festival fell through and they couldn't pay for the whole team's tickets. So - no Iceland. I've known for a couple of days but I've been too sad to spread the news. And now it's out there. And for lack of better terms I'm pretty bummed about it.
So here I am enjoying my home away from home here in Charlotte for another two weeks. So far I've been sleeping in way past what should be legal, enjoying a workless and email-less environment and spending time with God and friends.
But it's kind of weird actually. Which I suppose you'll think is pretty normal when I explain what is weird: You know how there is always something that sneaks into our egos when a place exists just fine in our absence? Like somehow are hard work and diligence made the world go round? This is a little of what I'm experiencing now with the House of Prayer. Sick I know - but if you sit back and put yourself in the situation I would think this is sort of a normal human complex. In my defense though that hasn't been my main weird. Maybe not so much as pure nostalgia. The other day all of my friends had to go to a leadership meeting that for the first time I didn't have to go to. I felt a mixture of sadness and relief. Mostly sadness though. Thinking about how this place was my life for 2 years and now all the sudden I don't have to go to the meetings and listen as the thing gets formed. It's like watching a baby grow.
It has been making my head turn a lot. I'm trying to remain in a place where I am calm before the Lord, not begging for too many answers but just asking questions. It seems to be working out pretty well. I've been focusing on the Spirit of Wisdom and some other personal things the Lord has been speaking to me about. But I'm fighting to get away from the question of whether or not I SHOULD be here. Whether or not this weak human can hear the Lord and make wise choices that come from Him. Whether or not I want to watch this baby grow - not because I am NEEDED, but because the Lord WANTS me.
I miss it here.
6.13.2008
As I write I am sitting here in KCI waiting for my flight to board.
Last night my friend Arin and I went to the Sigur Ros concert here in kansas city. A little preview of Iceland. :) I wasn't sure what to expect, I know their music but it's so different... but the concert blew any notions away. that falsetto voice, the bowed guitar, the drums, the string quartette and all the brass...and we had good seats. great. great. grand. I think at one point I cried (in a good way). I would post some pictures but i didn't bring my camera plug in. boo. that means no pictures until i come back.
Today Arin and I went to ihop-kc. That too was great. He got some prayer and i just sat in my chair and listened to a Misty devotional and meditated on some Proverbs. I got some where with it, maybe abstract at the moment and more questions...but more on that later.
My stomach is turning, i'm not sure reasoning. the only thing i can come up with is my head is in a lot of different places. the past two days underneath the surface i can feel waves of emotions and desires, agendas, uncertainties, and wonderings. I think it will be good for me to spend some more time surfacing those in the best place i can think of: before God in the prayer room.
mkay, all for now. i'm going to start reading and try and make this stomach ache subside by quieting my brain.
Last night my friend Arin and I went to the Sigur Ros concert here in kansas city. A little preview of Iceland. :) I wasn't sure what to expect, I know their music but it's so different... but the concert blew any notions away. that falsetto voice, the bowed guitar, the drums, the string quartette and all the brass...and we had good seats. great. great. grand. I think at one point I cried (in a good way). I would post some pictures but i didn't bring my camera plug in. boo. that means no pictures until i come back.
Today Arin and I went to ihop-kc. That too was great. He got some prayer and i just sat in my chair and listened to a Misty devotional and meditated on some Proverbs. I got some where with it, maybe abstract at the moment and more questions...but more on that later.
My stomach is turning, i'm not sure reasoning. the only thing i can come up with is my head is in a lot of different places. the past two days underneath the surface i can feel waves of emotions and desires, agendas, uncertainties, and wonderings. I think it will be good for me to spend some more time surfacing those in the best place i can think of: before God in the prayer room.
mkay, all for now. i'm going to start reading and try and make this stomach ache subside by quieting my brain.
5.13.2008
almost there
Yesterday i found out that they have found my replacement at my job. you know, the one I quit a month ago - i know you might have forgotten about that, i almost did. And consequently I didn't really expect it. Although of course i did at some point, maybe just not yesterday. maybe not so soon. or maybe i expected it sooner and then it didn't happen so i then i was lingering. i thought about going up to my boss yesterday (before my replacement was in for her second interview) and telling him that i would stick around even longer, that it really wasn't so bad. I know i was just trying to tell myself that of course. I happen to think that God shut the door for me.
So at the end of May I will be done with my chocolate experience. Thus begins my wandering and praying for the right thing to come. i have a feeling that my life is going to take some huge turns (of course that would be expected to a certain extent - but more so than just a job change) however i don't know quite yet what those are.
The best way I've come up with to explain how my life is playing out right now is the way one feels when getting ready to climb a big, fat, long, craggy peak. You know if you've climbed a peak that as you rise early from your Mountain Hardware sleeping bag and matching tent, that there are feelings of excitement. And then you get to the trailhead, you take a good look around, maybe get out your topo map, and you see the peak ahead. You think it looks pretty from the trailhead - look at the pretty snow and endearing clouds that cover the top of it - not so much close to a friggin nightmare (okay I'm being dramatic) to actually summit. You look around and see streams and valleys and the path ahead - and there's a thrill in the fact that you are about to accomplish something - i mean birds are singing. Then, of course you walk. And walk. AND WALK. And walk so more. And and some point, there are scary places. The air is thin, there are craggy rocks, your low on water, your cold, and there are multiple thoughts of stopping....
I'll jump ahead to where this is going for the both of us: you get to the top, don't worry. It just isn't a cake walk. It's a mountain. So I'm thinking that I'm somewhere in the middle of this thing walking.
Anyway, I'm optimistic after talking to some close family members and friends. Thanks to those of you who have been there for me in this weird part of life. I think I've grown from it way more than I even realize.
So at the end of May I will be done with my chocolate experience. Thus begins my wandering and praying for the right thing to come. i have a feeling that my life is going to take some huge turns (of course that would be expected to a certain extent - but more so than just a job change) however i don't know quite yet what those are.
The best way I've come up with to explain how my life is playing out right now is the way one feels when getting ready to climb a big, fat, long, craggy peak. You know if you've climbed a peak that as you rise early from your Mountain Hardware sleeping bag and matching tent, that there are feelings of excitement. And then you get to the trailhead, you take a good look around, maybe get out your topo map, and you see the peak ahead. You think it looks pretty from the trailhead - look at the pretty snow and endearing clouds that cover the top of it - not so much close to a friggin nightmare (okay I'm being dramatic) to actually summit. You look around and see streams and valleys and the path ahead - and there's a thrill in the fact that you are about to accomplish something - i mean birds are singing. Then, of course you walk. And walk. AND WALK. And walk so more. And and some point, there are scary places. The air is thin, there are craggy rocks, your low on water, your cold, and there are multiple thoughts of stopping....
I'll jump ahead to where this is going for the both of us: you get to the top, don't worry. It just isn't a cake walk. It's a mountain. So I'm thinking that I'm somewhere in the middle of this thing walking.
Anyway, I'm optimistic after talking to some close family members and friends. Thanks to those of you who have been there for me in this weird part of life. I think I've grown from it way more than I even realize.
4.26.2008
Iceland summer
Guess what everyone...
I get to go to Iceland this summer! And not just anytime - but over my 26th birthday. And not just with anyone - but with my very favorite people from ZHOP. We are traveling to do a worship festival called the big gospel festival in Reykjavik June 22-29th. I'm so excited I'm about to fall over. This past week things have started to look up and I have been trusting the Lord. And really circumstantially, but this week my heart turned a corner and walked around for a victory lap. Nothing really changed - I just decided I would. Finally, I feel like the winter has past and the time of singing has come. You know, that picture above looks a little like the mountains the shulamite had issues with in SOS. Humph.
If you get a chance, visit my friend Mark's blog:
http://internationallocals.blogspot.com
He is a prayer missionary in Iceland and one of the coolest guys I know. (Oh and please note the "donate" button on the right side of the page. They are raising their own funds to be in one of the world's most expensive places to live, believe in night and day prayer for Iceland, and anything you give sows into prayer for Iceland.)
3.03.2008
going to charlotte
i'm going to charlotte on thursday for katie and kenny's wedding. i'm really excited. Katie and Kenny are one of my all time favorite couples for who they are as individuals but who they become when they are together. I love hanging out with them so much and it's been one of the things I miss the most since i've moved from charlotte.
I actually took their engagement pictures. See:
So, I'm excited tI get to be a bridesmaid in a pretty dress and up there my favorite pair of people. Plus of course, be back at the place I love so much and so recently moved from. I can't wait to see my friends and to be in the prayer room, play the drums, drink the coffee from the coffee machine at my old house, and just be with the people i love.
I actually took their engagement pictures. See:
So, I'm excited tI get to be a bridesmaid in a pretty dress and up there my favorite pair of people. Plus of course, be back at the place I love so much and so recently moved from. I can't wait to see my friends and to be in the prayer room, play the drums, drink the coffee from the coffee machine at my old house, and just be with the people i love.
11.24.2007
Rwandan Conference
Currently I am listening to a Rwandan preacher, who I believe lives somewhere in Europe, give the word of the Lord here in Atlanta...
I am part of a team from ZHOP that has traveled to Atlanta for a Rwandan conference that we are speaking at and doing some worship for. Here in Atlanta there are probably 150 Rwandan, Gana, and Uganda peoples assembled to fellowship, worship, and hear the word of the Lord.
Thus far, my favorite part of this weekend has been dancing as all the Rwandans go nuts with the sweet 6/8 time. All the sudden the room erupts and though I don't understand a word, somehow my hips do. :) We've done some of the worship, lots of dancing to the sweet African music, and lots of listening to translators. I love being an observer of different cultures and this is definitely a schooling lesson in African culture. As I have observed I've noticed several things. First of all, they seem very connected to eachother. Though most of the people who have traveled - at great distance for most - to come to this conference and don't know eachother, they act as though they have known eachother for years. Maybe this is because they have shared so many of the same experiences, the same sufferings, and thus must come together in love. I spoke to a guy here, around my age, who was a refugee in Kenya at age 13. When I asked him tonight over dinner how long he was in Kenya, he responded with, "a long 5 years." I can only imagine what he actually meant by that...
And of course, secondly, there are the zoot suits. With the Rwandans, the men are almost as decorated as the women! I've seen bright blue, red, and pin stripe suits - long and decorated, big and blingy. Tonight I saw a teenager in a zoot suit taking lots and lots of pictures of himself in front of a Christmas tree. He seemed like he was wearing a BMW or a million dollars.
And lastly, they are the most smiling people I have ever seen. So loving and so joyful. They smile as they sing, smile as they cry, smile as they pray, smile as they eat...oh and wow. the donuts they make...I think that's the only thing I've eaten thus far. A little bready goodness.
That's all for now from me. I'm getting back in the dancing line!
I am part of a team from ZHOP that has traveled to Atlanta for a Rwandan conference that we are speaking at and doing some worship for. Here in Atlanta there are probably 150 Rwandan, Gana, and Uganda peoples assembled to fellowship, worship, and hear the word of the Lord.
Thus far, my favorite part of this weekend has been dancing as all the Rwandans go nuts with the sweet 6/8 time. All the sudden the room erupts and though I don't understand a word, somehow my hips do. :) We've done some of the worship, lots of dancing to the sweet African music, and lots of listening to translators. I love being an observer of different cultures and this is definitely a schooling lesson in African culture. As I have observed I've noticed several things. First of all, they seem very connected to eachother. Though most of the people who have traveled - at great distance for most - to come to this conference and don't know eachother, they act as though they have known eachother for years. Maybe this is because they have shared so many of the same experiences, the same sufferings, and thus must come together in love. I spoke to a guy here, around my age, who was a refugee in Kenya at age 13. When I asked him tonight over dinner how long he was in Kenya, he responded with, "a long 5 years." I can only imagine what he actually meant by that...
And of course, secondly, there are the zoot suits. With the Rwandans, the men are almost as decorated as the women! I've seen bright blue, red, and pin stripe suits - long and decorated, big and blingy. Tonight I saw a teenager in a zoot suit taking lots and lots of pictures of himself in front of a Christmas tree. He seemed like he was wearing a BMW or a million dollars.
And lastly, they are the most smiling people I have ever seen. So loving and so joyful. They smile as they sing, smile as they cry, smile as they pray, smile as they eat...oh and wow. the donuts they make...I think that's the only thing I've eaten thus far. A little bready goodness.
That's all for now from me. I'm getting back in the dancing line!
10.22.2007
Mistakes are no fun
Yesterday I traveled back with the team from Macon, GA. We (Katie B's team) were at a conference there called "The Gathering" hosted by the Macon House of Prayer. It was an incredible refreshing time. I don't really know how to describe it other than that - it just reminded me again of all the reasons I truly believe in the House of Prayer and the prayer movement. Simply stated: I love and believe in what I do.
So today I made a huge mistake. The kind that happens completely unknowningly, but costs other people hurt feelings and general all around messyness. As a result of my horrible mistake I feel terrible tonight. Ah gees - making those kind of blunders - the kind that are about as intentional as breathing air - feels dreadful. I don't have any sound reasoning behind it, no excuses, just a straight foward miscalculation that makes me feel about two feet tall minus a couple inches.
I wish Jesus weren't the only one who had rights to being perfect.
Tonight I think I am going to finish the painting I am working on, work out, and watch Heros. Maybe by then I'll forget about being a doofus.
Oh and I'll have to take a picture of the painting when it's done - it's of an apple tree orchard. Based off of Song of Solomon. I dig. Maybe you'll dig too.
Lastly, here is a link I must share with you: http://corgilicious.blogspot.com Please please read. It's by my favorite Sammy Houghton.
So today I made a huge mistake. The kind that happens completely unknowningly, but costs other people hurt feelings and general all around messyness. As a result of my horrible mistake I feel terrible tonight. Ah gees - making those kind of blunders - the kind that are about as intentional as breathing air - feels dreadful. I don't have any sound reasoning behind it, no excuses, just a straight foward miscalculation that makes me feel about two feet tall minus a couple inches.
I wish Jesus weren't the only one who had rights to being perfect.
Tonight I think I am going to finish the painting I am working on, work out, and watch Heros. Maybe by then I'll forget about being a doofus.
Oh and I'll have to take a picture of the painting when it's done - it's of an apple tree orchard. Based off of Song of Solomon. I dig. Maybe you'll dig too.
Lastly, here is a link I must share with you: http://corgilicious.blogspot.com Please please read. It's by my favorite Sammy Houghton.
10.18.2007
Grandfather Mountain
Greetings from the Mariott in Macon, GA. I'm here with KT B's team doing worship for a conference.
I thought as I kill some time before bed I'd write a little picture post from yesterday. Where was i yesterday you ask?
Well, good question. So yesterday two friends and I went to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. It was our Wednesday off and It was only about 2 1/2 hour drive from Charlotte. Very well worth it I might add. It was so amazingly beautiful with all of the fall colors, which by the way is something I'm not seeing in the arid-dry-yet-some-how-moisty-airish Charlotte. We went on a great hike to the top of the mountain in about 2 hours or so and as a result my legs are all achy. It was sort of a hard climb. I don't know, it didn't seem bad to me though it was labeled "strenuous". Maybe it's all that working out i've been doing eh? I'm hardcore.
by the way, eating is such a wonderful thing after hiking you know? even this rice cake tasted like a little bit of heaven.
I thought as I kill some time before bed I'd write a little picture post from yesterday. Where was i yesterday you ask?
Well, good question. So yesterday two friends and I went to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. It was our Wednesday off and It was only about 2 1/2 hour drive from Charlotte. Very well worth it I might add. It was so amazingly beautiful with all of the fall colors, which by the way is something I'm not seeing in the arid-dry-yet-some-how-moisty-airish Charlotte. We went on a great hike to the top of the mountain in about 2 hours or so and as a result my legs are all achy. It was sort of a hard climb. I don't know, it didn't seem bad to me though it was labeled "strenuous". Maybe it's all that working out i've been doing eh? I'm hardcore.
by the way, eating is such a wonderful thing after hiking you know? even this rice cake tasted like a little bit of heaven.
9.19.2007
in transit
Well, I just got back into Springfield from Kansas City. I would say "I just got home" but I don't really have a sense of where that is right now. Somewhere in the skies between here and Charlotte? I'm not sure. I've been in MO for about a month now...minus one quick week in Charlotte. I'm finding myself missing two things: the prayer room and a routine to get into.
Today I thought I was excited to get alone after all of the funeral activities, family, etc that have been whirling around me. Now that I'm alone I feel strange. I think my grandpa's death hasn't really effected me too much personally - other than watching my grandma and mom go through many tears. I cried with them, but they were more shared tears than my own. There was one time on my way to the funeral i got out a good cry. I was feeling very sick from my sinus infection (yeah that was fun to have in the midst of all of this) and started to cry from the pain...then I just kept going through the funeral. Feeling thankful and sneezy at the same time.
So here I sit, in Springfield again. Alone with my thoughts and hopefully I can drink them in.
Today I thought I was excited to get alone after all of the funeral activities, family, etc that have been whirling around me. Now that I'm alone I feel strange. I think my grandpa's death hasn't really effected me too much personally - other than watching my grandma and mom go through many tears. I cried with them, but they were more shared tears than my own. There was one time on my way to the funeral i got out a good cry. I was feeling very sick from my sinus infection (yeah that was fun to have in the midst of all of this) and started to cry from the pain...then I just kept going through the funeral. Feeling thankful and sneezy at the same time.
So here I sit, in Springfield again. Alone with my thoughts and hopefully I can drink them in.
9.10.2007
WV and dreams
I got back from West Virginia yesterday around 5:30pm. Spent the rest of the night watching a movie (Snatch) and then finishing a book. West Virginia was great. We had some really good time with the church's (Voice of Praise in Bluefield, WV) Pastor and his family while we were there. On Sat night we didn't have a meeting so we spent our time talking over coffee and playing scrabble on recliners. Yesterday we did the church service there and the worship was great along with an A-game preach by Bekah about the Holy Spirit.
I dreamt this morning that Sarah Jessica Parker was my older sister. Just thought you should know. I thought it was strange because I typically don't dream unless it's significant and has some crazy deep spiritual meaning -- which of course wasn't the case here. At the house of prayer we do a weekly meeting in which we share our dreams that may have any kind of corporate meaning. It's so interesting how a theme usually develops in each meeting and is hugely benefical to what is going on at the house of prayer, etc. Until I came to Fort Mill I never considered that God still speaks through dreams. But i know He still does - probably not through random dreams like SJP being one's sister, but you know what i'm saying.
I dreamt this morning that Sarah Jessica Parker was my older sister. Just thought you should know. I thought it was strange because I typically don't dream unless it's significant and has some crazy deep spiritual meaning -- which of course wasn't the case here. At the house of prayer we do a weekly meeting in which we share our dreams that may have any kind of corporate meaning. It's so interesting how a theme usually develops in each meeting and is hugely benefical to what is going on at the house of prayer, etc. Until I came to Fort Mill I never considered that God still speaks through dreams. But i know He still does - probably not through random dreams like SJP being one's sister, but you know what i'm saying.
9.06.2007
Planes and Deeogies
So..
on the way home I was in the lucky 50% that didn't have to be subject to delayed or canceled flight status. Lucky me. I actually had a ticket with the right gate numbers AND the right time. Watch out. Could this be a turn around for the Nation's popular form of transportation? (probably not)
I wasn't so lucky though as far as seat selection goes. I got to sit next to the most fidgety lady who smelled like alcohol and stale cigerettes. She also happened to have a wonderful cough that made it into my personal space more than I care to recall. Today I'm not feeling so hot and even though it's not a cough I want to blame it on her. And if it could get any worse it did - but I won't tell you about the people that crazy cough lady and I sat behind... Lets just say they were crazy bar dancers. I was begging for more time to use my ipod so i could not listen to their revealing (and loud) conversation.
Well here I am back in Charlotte, NC. Mostly safe and mostly sound. Today I slept in, did some laundry, and went to the grocery store. Exciting. Actually it was a little - I really really like grocery stores and if you get me in the right mood I actually enjoy shopping for food. However it's a trade off because typically when I enjoy it I spend more money but whatever.
Now it's time to jump into the world of the emails that piled up over the weeks. However before I do that I must share with you some pictures from Springfield. This time it is of the deeogies that I spent time with...
This is Lilly Seifert - the new addition to the Seifert family. My dad thinks it's going to be a hunting beagle but my mom thinks that all Lilly will do is go shopping with her. Lilly proves to be as aborable as my parents. :)
Sam Houghton the deeogie. i miss him at the moment. he's a love bug. all he lives for is to be petted. Oh and behind him is a painting that I worked on while home and finished. I'm really excited about it. I'll post some pics of the finished product on the next bloggie.
Michelle and Sam Houghton.
on the way home I was in the lucky 50% that didn't have to be subject to delayed or canceled flight status. Lucky me. I actually had a ticket with the right gate numbers AND the right time. Watch out. Could this be a turn around for the Nation's popular form of transportation? (probably not)
I wasn't so lucky though as far as seat selection goes. I got to sit next to the most fidgety lady who smelled like alcohol and stale cigerettes. She also happened to have a wonderful cough that made it into my personal space more than I care to recall. Today I'm not feeling so hot and even though it's not a cough I want to blame it on her. And if it could get any worse it did - but I won't tell you about the people that crazy cough lady and I sat behind... Lets just say they were crazy bar dancers. I was begging for more time to use my ipod so i could not listen to their revealing (and loud) conversation.
Well here I am back in Charlotte, NC. Mostly safe and mostly sound. Today I slept in, did some laundry, and went to the grocery store. Exciting. Actually it was a little - I really really like grocery stores and if you get me in the right mood I actually enjoy shopping for food. However it's a trade off because typically when I enjoy it I spend more money but whatever.
Now it's time to jump into the world of the emails that piled up over the weeks. However before I do that I must share with you some pictures from Springfield. This time it is of the deeogies that I spent time with...
This is Lilly Seifert - the new addition to the Seifert family. My dad thinks it's going to be a hunting beagle but my mom thinks that all Lilly will do is go shopping with her. Lilly proves to be as aborable as my parents. :)
Sam Houghton the deeogie. i miss him at the moment. he's a love bug. all he lives for is to be petted. Oh and behind him is a painting that I worked on while home and finished. I'm really excited about it. I'll post some pics of the finished product on the next bloggie.
Michelle and Sam Houghton.
8.20.2007
Northwest Airlines
well --- surprise surprise. my flight to Detroit is delayed so here I sit in CLT.
I'm hoping that i don't miss my connecting flight to Kansas City - though I probably will. I'm REALLY hoping I don't have to stay alone in some hotel in Detroit. (one of my least favorite cities in America)
good grief. airlines have issues these days.
I'll probably write more later since I will be here for atleast 2 hours sitting on my bumb.
I'm hoping that i don't miss my connecting flight to Kansas City - though I probably will. I'm REALLY hoping I don't have to stay alone in some hotel in Detroit. (one of my least favorite cities in America)
good grief. airlines have issues these days.
I'll probably write more later since I will be here for atleast 2 hours sitting on my bumb.
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