I'm Moving In The Rain {you know the tune}

Hey! Remember that time

I told you I was thinking about moving?

Well, that thought turned into

ACTION.

And that action is taking place this week.

Right in the middle of a midwest Tsunami.

So...

Please pardon my absence.

I'm moving over here!

See ya after the holiday.

I'll have some funny stories.

Or maybe just one.

And maybe not funny, but more awkward.

It confirmed another reason

why I'm moving.

Let's just say

I've seen far too many old men

in their underoos here.

I'M OUT! 

Wednesday Things

Blogger still hasn't fixed their site to include spell check. We'll see if I care enough to go back and correct mistakes.

1. I'm currently listening to Whitney Houston playlist on Spotify because I'm missing the Whitney Houston tribute concert at the park. I feel pretty sorry for myself, except for the fact that I didn't even know it was happening until like 5 hours ago. So...

2. I ran in The Color Run! I mean like I jogged in the beginning for .5 miles and then really ran the last .5 miles. Like hurdeling someone who was rolling on the ground in yellow, dodging people and trees, running on sidewalks. I couldn't stop my legs when I saw the finish line. I bolted and it was the best feeling ever! Who the what am I?!

3. Things just recently fell into place to move A--GAIN. So, I move next weekend! What the what?! Brilliant idea. Pack and move in one of the busiest times of the year for me. When else would I do it? Why not get overwhelmed with everything all at once and then be settled. We'll see if this is bad logic. I already have an inkling. (I could really use spell check for that word.)

4. A moment of brutal honesty: 1) I shop at Walmart. And I like it. I even sometimes buy grocieries there because it's so convient to get everything I need in one spot. One of my favorite shirts is from Walmart. Scandelous I know. 2) I love McDonalds. I've tried to deny it but I'm just tired of that. My fave meal, the classic: cheeseburger with fries and a diet coke. It is maybe one of my absolute favorite things in the world. In fact I took a picture of a McDonalds bag when in Boston returning from London. I deleted it because I was embarassed of how happy I was to have McD's. 3) I also really like White Castles. I can't even begin to explain it, it just is what is. 4) We've talked about my love for Quick Trip. Originally it was for cheap gas and pellet ice. But let me just tell you QT has some mad game. If you haven't had a slice of cheesecake from there you must! I've only had it once in my life because A slice was 800 calories.... so not super healthy but TOTALLY delish.  5) I reuse ziploc bags. * It feels really good to confess all that.

5. I've made my bedtime 9pm because I like to get up at 5am well rested. This plan won't work on Monday's because of a bible study that doesn't get over until after 9, Tuesdays because of a late night show, Wednesdays because of small group that ends at 9, or Fridays because who goes to bed at 9 on Fridays? The plan works brilliantly on Thursdays.

6. I'm still in mourning over the Olympics. I'm so grateful though for friends who send me pictures of gorgeous athletes.
*** I really tried looking for a good picture to put here but the only great ones I found were from sites with domain names involving sexy olympic men. How true degrading.*** 


7. I went to the library and found a hilariously inappropriate book called Haiku for the Single Girl. Some poems were hilarious, others too raunchy, and still others that were a little to close to home that they hurt a little bit.

I feel its approach,
Inevitable as death:
Internet dating.

8. I may or may not be on the lookout for colored jeans. I hate it when I break my own fashion rules but I just can't stop imagining myself in a pair. I'm thinking green, although that may draw out my green undertones and make me look ogorish. It really happens and it's really not pretty.

9. Until I get those jeans I pretty much only want to live in sweat pants these days. I don't know what happened. Except that I do. And let me tell you this phase gets ugly. It comes with a cold, no interest in folding laundry or cleaning, or showering for that matter. It happens to me throughout the year, when I really have to convince myself that it's good to get clothes out of the closet rather than out of the hamper. Oh lazy phases.

10. I think the entire world is giving birth from the month of Decemeber to February. I however am not. I read of a group who is getting together to ban baby pictures on Facebook. Ummm... I'm not apart of the legitimate baby hating group, however all the status updates about the progress of babys is about to drive me mad. I can't eat a plum without thinking Peggypregger's baby is about this size.

11. In 4 months I'll not be able to say I'm in my twenties anymore. I'm not sure how to feel about this just yet. I already round up because I feel like words of a 30 year old are a bit more credible than words of a 29 year old. I mean what do they know, they're still in their twenties. I'm totally accidently an ageist. I really just realized this. Anywho, it's one thing to fake 30 for street cred. and another thing to legitimately be 30 and single with no prospects or children or a house or a nightly face washing routine.

12. I blame one of my students for the Justin Beiber playlist that is now on my spotify. I blame her for having me add to it everyday. I blame her that its stuck in my head. But I can't actually blame her when I listen to it at home... dang it Bieber.

Happy Tuesdays?

I hate Tuesdays but I still really love it that my dad wants to protect me from dangerous places. "I'll let you do it, but I'm not happy about it." This is what he said to make my Tuesday happy. I really love that man.

London {chunks of my heart} part 4

We spent one day out in Central London exploring. I was on a tour with my new friend Ed (whom you'll see in pics.) and others. I typically don't like touristy places so we spent alot of time in East London. Specifically Brick Lane area then headed into central and at least caught a glimpse of everything else. When I move there maybe I'll take time to visit things.... but maybe not.



Wednesday Things

1. If ever you should have to survive on an island with an average Jane chef that has limited resources you should choose me. I made ravioli with spinach and tomatoes in an electric skillet with a spatula! I've had to make lots of things in this little skillet for the past year with a spatula. Today's conquest of pasta was a success.

 2. Let me not lead you astray, that island mentioned above would have to have electricity and a store that sold frozen ravioli and spinach and canned tomatoes. I don't garden, I kill things. And I mean I kill plants, not like I hunt. Cause I don't do that either. I also don't swim in oceans.... you know what, come to think of it, I may not be your best choice if you're looking for survival.

3. This weekend is The Color Run.... I already told you my feelings on that.

4. I've been walking at a park near my house. Everyone else there is jogging. Blah. Today I went right after work because I felt laziness setting in and knew if I came home I'd never get back out. So, yes, I went in my work clothes, which today consisted of a frilly blue tank under a coral deep cut tank and a maxi white skirt with my Toms. Needless to say I didn't look the part of an athlete. At least when I'm in my "workout" clothes (which also double as my bedtime clothes and cleaning clothes) I can pretend I'm cooling down or gearing up for a big run. In this getup, everybody knows the non-athlete.

5. Sitting on the bench after my walk, a woman with a rambuncous dog that I feared was going to start dry humping my leg said I looked so peaceful. Those words were all I needed to justify my walking in my flower power skirt. To others who passed by with their jogging and bike riding I imagined them, inbetween their sharp breaths and rythmic feet thuds, thinking I was so peaceful instead of thinking who's the hippy on the bench!?

6.The dogs are barking upstairs and I would gladly punt each of them out the door to shut them up. And I mean that in the nicest, most animal freindly way.

7. This past weekend was filled with birthdays, avoiding weddings, brunch, and great friends. Went to this new to me place, Rooster. If you are a St. Louisan you must go here. If you're stopping by St. Louis swing by here. It's mostly out of the way unless you're hanging out in the downtown area but it's delish. Crepes oh plenty and other things that I didn't care about because I was craving me some crepe!

8. I'm pretty much obsessed with this now.

9. Numbers 29 and 33.

10. Did you watch the closing ceremonies. Can't get this out of my head.

11. My spellcheck here just stopped working. You wouldn't believe the fury that ran through me. I'm pretty much laost withouts sit. Dang it!

And I really, really, really wanna zingazingahh. 

London {chunks of my heart} part 3

I didn't feel quite as awful at book tables as I did at door to door. In various communities we set up book tables, handed out leaflets, and prayer walked. Along most of the sidewalks were so many others handing out things it didn't seem so out of the norm to be handing out another leaflet to people, even if this one they received brought up questions about their god(s) and Jesus Christ.

We were encouraged before going that we are not peddlers. 2 Corinthians 2:17 "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God." It was so hard to keep this in mind standing near others who were selling their goods and in some cases their gods. How do I make God look better than what they're pushing? I confess, this was a mindset I went in and out of. Realizing I was trying to "out sell" them I'd repent and return to humbly handing fliers and smiling, as that crosses all language barriers. My God, the God of the universe, is better. He is I AM and there is not one thing I can add or take away from Him that would make Him more appealing. HE IS. Period. Evangelism, it really brings out my sin issues.

It had been a long day. An apprentice had partnered himself with me to make me step COMPLETELY outside of my realm of normalcy to do surveys with people on the street. AHHH. I'm SO grateful he was there with me though, as I felt like a bumbling idiot trying to speak without a fake English accent and listen to/understand a real English accent. What was I doing here? A question that surfaced many moments of his leading the conversation. I resisted the urge to drop the clipboard and run, though that may very well have been what happened to 2 guys who I was surveying later. In the middle of the conversation one literally just walked away while his friend stayed. Then moments later the friend, without looking at his phone said he needed to take a call and ran like the wind. Ok, maybe he didn't run from me, but he sure did disappear quickly.

Anywho, by the end of this day I was more than happy to close down the book table, and head back to LST for a concert of prayer. I had my back to oncoming pedestrian traffic as I organized bags of books from the table. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see a Pakistani ( she later told me) woman beaming and winded a bit. She asked if we were the evangelizers. I, slightly surprised by the new label as "THE EVANGELIZERS" (said in the most precious British accent), nodded questionably. I saw she had a book in her hand from our table and my brain, racing to write her conversion story, began to think of questions to ask her.
Me: So, did you read that book?
Her: (out of breath from being so excited) Yes, I..
Me: (thinking oh my goodness she's read the book and now wants to be a Christian holla! I interrupt her.) Well, do you have any questions?
Her: Yes
Me: (oh ya, this is making a brilliant story)
Her: Can I do evangelism with you?
Me: what?(......)

So it turns out Her has a name. Kay. Kay was born in a Christian home but didn't become a believer in Jesus Christ until 3 years before that very moment. She had wanted to do evangelism but hadn't found opportunities to. Kay's sister walked by the table, saw the books, picked one up, took it home in the next community over. Kay, just happened to be home. Her sister told her about the evanglizers down the way. So Kay, aching to do evangelism, hopped in her car and came down. Now, I don't know if you know about London traffic, but to get 10 miles might literally take you an hour. AN HOUR! So, just as we are closing down the table, calling it quits for the day, I feel this tap on my shoulder.

Enter Kay.

Hearing her story, we sent her with an apprentice (the same one I had been a bit pissed with because of  the surveys but actually ended up being really grateful for because of the surveys. Funny how that happens.) She ended up being invited back to LST to join us for dinner and the concert of prayer.

When I walked into LST she was there waiting for all of us to come. I went and sat with her. Now, I know women in other countries do this, but we Americans, even the touchiest, don't do this. But we held hands and literally just kept looking into each others eyes giggling and telling brief versions of our stories to each other. It was the weirdest, most special moment I've ever had with a stranger. That sounds so phony but I'm so for real! She came along and did evangelism with us for the remaining days. I LOVED getting to know this precious lady and really developing a friendship with her.

When it was time to say our final farewells to each other it was one of the most dramatic things I've ever been apart of, and I was in a theatre troupe! I couldn't find her anywhere when it was time to go. I was already one of the last ones because I'm always one of the last ones and I needed to say MORE goodbyes. So I started running for the bus, parked blocks down. As I'm running I hear some one calling my name. I turn around and she is running towards me waving. I, maybe from seeing her run and having already been in running mode, turn around and run to her. We meet in the middle with a huge hug, lots of panting, laughing, and talking. I couldn't help thinking how I would have much rather have this dramatic moment with a man, but I digress.

So tears started to come AGAIN, as they always do. With the rush of me being the last one on the bus, the people ahead of me yelling the bus is going to leave soon, my legs tingling because I'm not a runner, nor is it easy to run in awkwardly tied Ssekos, I invited her back to LST because I couldn't bare this being our last interaction face to face. So, she came back, and thank God all the drama had worn off because it was actually quite anti-climactic. But she came back, took some pictures, and we were able to say goodbye without the threat of me being in lost in London because of a missed bus.

I've been back almost a month now and we communicate several times a week. She is still doing evangelism with one the teams in London and is loving it! And I love that God chose to collide our lives together; forever impacting both of us and His kingdom for good. *Another one of my favorite stories from London.*



Kay, on her first day of evangelism.





Kay makes an endless photo shoot.



Kay makes herself at home.



Kay makes connections.





Kay provides entertainment, teaching some how to juggle.



Kay is "quite lovely!"



Waiting On The Sun

I love beginnings. I also love middles and ends because I love stories. But there is something special about beginnings, especially in life. It's officially the end of summer and the beginning of school. Students come back Monday, for better or worse.

I love the planning that happens at beginnings. Like New Year's resolutions. Only here, you work extremely hard not to let good habits slip by the way side after a month start. So, like the good teacher I am (though I gladly threw in the towel on that, so like the good teacher I am at heart) I have visions of what I want my mornings to look like so that I can maximize my days. So I bought a new planner and began planning, because a new plan cannot be implemented without a new planner. :) From the start the plan had a major kink in it though

The plan was to get up at 5, go outside if it was nice, read my bible, pray, walk, have some tea. Just enjoy the morning. Then I'd come in around 6 get ready. 7 make lunch. 7:30 be out the door so I don't have to speed to school everyday. Brilliant! Except that the sun isn't up at 5..... so.....

It was one of the more ridiculous moments I've had in my life. I woke up first thing to my alarm. Looked out my window letting my plan inspire me out of bed only to find pitch black. I hadn't thought of the sun!

A simple flip in the schedule solved things but as I got ready for the day I just kept thinking how often I do this. I live, making plans and decisions, as though the sun rises and sets on my watch. Of course this translated to my relationship to the Lord. I do feel there are great things to be done in my life, a beautiful story being written, and I am rip rearing ready to go after them but sometimes I have to wait for the sun. That doesn't mean I lay back down in bed and wait for it. But that I make adjustments so that when the sun comes I'm ready for it. I heard once this phrase that makes sense this morning, "Get busy and wait." So shall it be in my life.