i have issues...

The other day, just a day or two after returning here to the good 'ol U.S of A i was in my car and pulled up to the gas station. (My lovely car...oh how i missed you my sweet!)

It was mid-afteroon at the time of this gas fill up of mine and as i pulled in to the station i looked around to see that i was the only car there. No big deal. I noticed the attendent was sweeping at the pump right next to me.

I stopped at the pump, rolled down my window and turned off my car. I reached over, grabben my purse, got my card out...and sat there.

Nobody came.

I looked over and the guy was STILL SWEEPING! I wanted to shout "HELLO!!! DON'T YOU SEE ME!?!?!?!? COME PUMP MY GAS!!!!!!"

He didn't hear any of that, although i'm pretty sure my glare was nearly audible.

I huffed, and puffed...and slouched in my seat. "COOOOMMMMMEEEE OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!!!!!!" was what i angrily whispered in my car.

Then.
It.
Hit.
Me.


HEIDI! Wake up! you are in america...act like it!!!! They don't pump your gas for you! They make you do it all by yourself! RUDE, i know.

I got out of my car. stomped to the pay station. punched (as much as you can punch ) the keypad to get my 3cent discount (thank you safeway and mom's phone number) yanked out the pump, shoved it in my car, and put it on the lock position and leaned up againt my car. arms folded. grouchy face in place and talking to myself.

I may or may not have been saying things like, "stinking country...it's not that hard to hire a few more people to pump gas for paying customers" "don't you think the economy could get a little boost and make lots of jobs if they did that!" "i don't WANT to miss the song on the radio just to pump my stinking gas...i want to somone ELSE to do it"




After that was over. I went home.


And took a nap.

I have arrived!

Hi Friends!

As most of you know by now, i am home. I am back at my parents house for a few weeks while school is on a break. I finished my finals and was able to leave Cape Town on Thursday May 27th and arrived on May 28th in Seattle. The flights were long and boring and filled with many emotions, but in the end, i and my luggage made it home safe! And noe of us got searched! Well...ok, i did....twice. But oh how suspicious i look, don't you think?

I have had a busy week here at home and am looking to this week where i can finally relax a bit. Surprising lots of friends is hard work actally! Did you know?

I have lots of free time and am pretty much over my jet leg, so feel free to give me a call and we can chat it up!

I'm not sure how often i will write on here, because...well...Seattle is not as exciting as Cape Town. Hearing that all i did all day was sit on the couch and watch tv, somehow just has a better ring to it when i say that i did it IN SOUTH AFRICA...and not in my parents living room.

We shall see....

I will be leaving Seattle on July 26th to head back to campus. So two months home will be a great break. While home i get to go on a missions trip to Haiti with my parents and sister which will be awesome! Please pray for us and our travels.

Thanks Friends!

The Easter Bunny gave me a headache

Well...at least i'm going to blame it on the Easter Bunny! That furry pawed fellow is a mean hearts player. Super sly...letting me think sympathetic thoughts about having no actual thumbs. But then he just comes out of his hole and wins 5 games straight. Blah!

I hate hearts. I'm done.

No, but really, i have a nasty headache tonight. It's so bad, that i think i might thow up in about 4 minutes. (when this post is complete) I don't know where it came from but it has only gotten worse as the day has gone on. I rarely ever get headaches and when i do, it comes with 4 bouts of the hic-ups, which just intensifies it.

It's midnight and i don't know what to do. I sit up and want to throw up, i lay down and can't sit still cause of the pain.

And, i'm whining. Sorry.

I was talking with the Academic Dean today and we went over my classes. Did i already tell you about this? I had some classes, but then decided that i want different ones.

I have decided to stay here at CTS for two complete years. I will graduate in Nov 2011 with my AA. It will be equivalent to the American AA at least. Here at CTS, that program is a 3 year course, not a two year one. So i had to rearrange some classes so that i'm able to get all the hard ones in that i need to.

The following is my schedule for next semestr:

New Testament
English II - Essay writing
God and Angels
Hebrews
Intro to Psychology

Should be a pretty hectic semester! I'm excited about all of the classes. I hear they are really good.

You wanna hear what i have to take next year? It's even better!

Pauls Salvation Letters
Biblical Interpretation
Major Prophets
Pnemuatology
Soteriology
Apologetics or Christology or Biblical Theology of Prayer
Evangelism
Intro to Pastoral Counselling
Prep and Preaching Bible Messages
The Churches Educational Task
Intro to Islam
Church History I


annnnnddddd....now i have to throw up.

But here is a picture of my class. (except the lady on the left...she was only there for like 3 days and one happened to be picture day)


Till next time.

I Want To Harm Santa Clause

Hearts.

Have you ever played? Cause i have. Actually, since i learned how to play yesterday, i have played about 5 hours worth. Kinda sounds ridiculous.

So when i open up the game on my computer, there are three other players. Their names starting on my left are West, North and East. Original, huh.

Well last night, around hour 2, i found out that i can change those names! Did you know that?!?!?! So, i thought about who i would like to play. Maybe family members, maybe Bible charactrs, maybe nations of people, like Chinese, Greek and the Canadians. But, in the end, i decided that it would be more fun to pretend this was an underground game of forbidden Hearts played by non other then the Tooth Fariy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause. And myself, of course!

People...it got INTESNSE! When i was no longer playing against a "direction" and there were NAMES and FACES to go with these mysterious players, IT. WAS. ON.!

I am a pretty good trash talker when it comes to card games. Thanks to good
'ol Gramps for that one!

I was up in the game and taunting the tooth fairy to just TRY and beat me....just attemp it with your little flutering fairy ways and i will CRUSH YOU! Then, the Easter Bunny...he is a lousy player. I don't worry about him. No skill i tell you. It must be hard playing with paws, and not hands.

But Santa Clause. He is a master. We have had some interesting conversations and don't be fooled by his jolly demenure that ONE day a year. He is RUTHLESS!

Have you ever played a card game on your computer sitting on your bed at 2am cursing at Santa Clause for his cunning and ruthless ways?!!?!? I think NOT! So let me tell you. It's invigorating!


and its sad. I'm sad. This place is turing me down right looney.

Some pictures to prove it!


Megan, Tatum, myself and Cloe


Cloe and I


Cloe and I

Happy Birthday Rueben!!

Rueben and I

So, i went to a birthday party tonight! It was great! I had a lot of fun. It was the brother of one of the students here that i have gotten to know because of the Power Encounter Church. So i also knew a lot of the people that came. It was nice cause it felt like i was there with friends, you know, like i have people here that i can call friends that are not just on campus. That is important to me. I can't let my whole world be surronded by the school walls. I would go crazy!

They do birthday's here so different then they do in the stats. Here, presents are just a maybe, if you have money, but not really a big thing. I only saw one present and i gave a card and i was the only card that i saw. And there were like 30 people there. It's more of a time for fellowship. It's really cool. So we got there and they were setting up the food and then when it was all ready they had us all sit around and there was a long prayer blessing the food and the birthday boy. Then we ate the first course. After that was over, we got back in the circle and had a time for people to come up and say how much they appreciat Rueben and who he is and then after tat he gave a speech and then there was a short, like 10 minute, message from the pastor, Michael, and then we all prayed for Rueben and then they opened up the other table of food for the rest of the night. Then we all just sat around and talked. It was really nice. We were there for about 3 hours and we were the first to leave. We had a great time but since we live an hour away, we felt the need to go home. As it is i didn't get home till midnight.

It's such a personal day here, not the self gratification sort of thing like it is in the states. It's more about the birthday person letting all their friends come over and he feeds them. The best present to bring is a hungy tummy! I like it.

he rest of the day i didn't do much...unless you count teaching myself how to play Hearts on the computer "much". I always wished i knew how to play it. I never did win, but i think i am getting the hang of it. Someday i will have to try and play real people. =)

Tomorrow will include a LOT of studying...i PROMISE! Monday is my English exam and i am doing the worst in that class! I just don't get it. I wish i had Tiesha's brain! She would ace it! I am going to be happy if i pass! Like happy as in overjoyed and praising Jesus on my knees rejoicing! ;)

studying? ....for what?

So last night...around about 7:30, my body had somehow tricked me into thinking it was around 11:30...i did not fare well with reality. I wanted to climb into my bed and get all snuggly warm and drift off to sleep. But 7:30? Really? I just coundn't. For the principal of the thing! So i stayed up and online for another two hours. Then went downstirs and kept a friend company while he ate his late night dinner of Top Ramen (cause i'm not the only one that doesn't like what is served for dinner around here)

After my return to my room, i glanced around and decided the clutter could wait till the next day! I got in my pj's and climbed into bed. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. You know those type of nights. I slept so good. I awake on my own, no alarm at 8am and checked my phone. I had a missed an SMS from a friend and asked if they wanted me to get up and get online so we could talk and they said they had just gotten into bed and we would talk in the morning. Well...it WAS my morning. And my 8am is Seattle's 11pm, so i decided that because we weren't going to talk for a while, i might as well try to get some sleep while you are! So i nicely fell right back into my warm slumber.

I awoke at 1pm.


1pm people! I didn't just fall back asleep for like an hour or 30 minutes. I slept for another 5 hours!!!!! Crazyness!!! I don't know what is making me sleep so much! I just don't understand it!?!

After waking up at 1, i decided that even though i was sleepy and wanted to just stay there still, that i HAD to get up and be a productive person! After all, i'm right in the middle of finals! I should be studying like the rest of the students here! Right?!

I got up and wondered down to the libray. I had a book that i had read the night before and there was one left in the series and i wanted to read it. So, i grabbed the book off the shelf, sat down, read two chapters and decided the book would be better enjoyed from the comfort of my bed. But don't you agree!?!?!

Back in my room, it being 2pm by now, and i again was back in bed. =)

I sat and read the book till 6pm. I decided that since i had not eaten or drank anything all day that i should at least make an appearance at dinner. And note: while there, i had several people ask if i had been around the last few days. Apparently me reading in my room is entitled "hiding" around here.

I got some dinner, but just pushed it around on my plate till the cook went back into the kitchen and i could safely throw it in the trash without her glaring at me. I then grabbed an apple and headed up to my room. I was at a good part in the book and wanted to get back to it.

For the next 4 hours, i sat in my bed and finished the book. It was wonderful! I love reading. The series i was reading was the O'Malley series. They are Christian mystery novels. So good. I greatly enjoyed them.

It's now 10:45pm and i have not started to study yet. I think tomorrow, if i get a bad grade on my final, i deserve it. I REALLY need to figure out a way to make my priority list...well...a priority. Good thing this was the last book in the serious huh!

Tomorrow i am writing my Public Speaking class final. And you all know how much i LOVED that class! I did pretty well on all the tests so i am not worried about it really. I'm sure even if i didn't study at all i would do ok. But, don't worry, i WILL study. I promise. Since i slept in till 1, i have several more hours before i will go to bed. I just hope i don't decide to clean my room before i start studying...


I NEED TO FOCUS!!!!

1 down...4 to go.

So i had my first final today. It was Old Testament. I think the test i took was not the same course they taught us. Before going in, i prayed for a good grade, and after i got out, i was just praying for a passing grade! It was HARD! It's only 100 questions, but still they can really make you feel stupid with just 100 questions! I don't know what happened in the 12th Dynasty of the Northern Kingdom to the king that came after the current one and why he died. It's was all so confusing. I knew, like KNEW only a few of the answers. I had a pretty good guess on a lot and i just sort of did einy-meny-miny-mo on the rest.

I have public speaking exam on friday, so tomorrow will be filled with studying. Now that i kind of know how the tests go, i think i will be better prepared.

i'm off to sleep now.

NOTE: There are changes being made to the layout of my blog, so don't worry, it's not your computer...it's me. =) Please bear with me!

blonde.blonde.blonde.

Drugs, Alcohol, Food, Smoking, Swearing, chewing your fingernails, adding too much garlic while cooking...all HORRIBLE addictions.

I have recently become aware of an addiction that i have. (and no, it's none of the above!)

I am a complainer. I complain about everything! Did you know that? I'm sure you did, cause you have to listen to most of it! I complain about the awful food, i complain about the noise, i complain about my teachers, i complain about the traffic, i complain about my dorm room and how small it is, i complain about the mall hours (really...what sort of mall closes at 6:00pm everyday, and then on Saturdays stay open till 7:00 like they are doing us a favor?) i complain about my school work and stupid research papers i have to write, i complain that it's too hot and then complain that it's too cold. I am constantly complaining!!

I'm sick of it. I am going to take a hiatus from complaining. Well...at least i will try. I going to use this weekend to not say a bad word about anything, anyone or anyplace or weather condition. I don't necessarily have to go the extreme and try to love it/them, but at least i might make my personality better by not being so negative! Good Grief!

Today, being Thursday, and my favorite day, i only had two classes. Then, seeing as it's our last Life Group we decided to go to a coffee shop a little ways away. It was so nice! We got back around 11:30 and i didn't have anything planned until 3:00. So i wandered. I checked my email in the computer lab...a few times, and i talked to the librarian, and i had a meeting with the academic dean and i sat in the hallway talking to anyone that would stop and chat. And then finally, i went back to my room. I walked up to my door, got my keys out of my pocket put them in the lock and proceeded to turn. Nothing. The key would not turn. I took them out, looked at them (as if my glare would help) then put them back in the lock and tried again.Nothing. Then, as we all do, i pulled on the handle to see if i needed to pull the door towards me or push it a little just to line up the lock, even though i had never done it before, and still. Nothing. I took the keys back out, looked them over, KNEW they were my keys, and then thought...i was gone for a while...did they change the locks? They never said anything like they were going to and that is just strange anyways. I searched my other pockets to see if had a different set of keys and maybe someone had my same key chain and i just grabbed the wrong ones. Nope. No other keys. So again, i glared at the keys in my hand and tried again. Nothing.

I gave up. I turned around, leaned my back against the door and tried to decide what to do. I finally decided that i would go to the front office and see if they had a spare key for me to try. I had my book bag with me, so i just hung the bag strap on the door handle and being that my bag was a little too heavy, it fell off, promptly pulling the handle down and opening the door.

It was unlocked.


Stupid stupid stupid! (sorry mom, i know that is not a nice word)

I looked around really quickly to make sure nobody had seen the whole episode and kicked my bag into the room.(hard.) I closed the door and just fell onto the bed. UGH! Frustrating!!!!! Sometimes i just can FEEL my blondness!

As we are drawing near to the end of my semester, and actually there is just two weeks left, and i need to send out a warning that i may not be able to receive mail that often. With nobody on campus to get it everyday, they will only be checking the post office once or twice a week and the person that does that doesn't eve usually bring the mail to school until the next semester starts up again. So...please limit your card sending while i am on break. I just don't want it to be a hassle for the lady to have to bring me my mail. Thanks!

I have a little bit of homework left to do tonight and then one more day of classes and then TA DA! Finals! I'm so excited!!! And sort of nervous. My English teacher showed us part of final today and made us all nervous. It's daunting. But i will get through it, I'm sure. Hopefully with a passing grade.

So...two weeks of cramming and test taking, and then two months of....NOTHING.

Research Papers. What's the point?

So, you know that research paper i have been complaining about non-stop that i think is stupid and doesn't make sense and has taught me nothing and blah blah blah? Well i turned it in last week and got it back today. I got a 96 out of 160. THAT IS 60%. FAIL. But, it was just a first review, so she let us take them back and fix all the stuff. And honestly,i think she was too harsh. And she graded me down for things she said were missing but they weren't. So...how does that work? Will my grade improve a lot? Or just a little? Why should i be graded down because she likes to grade papers late and night and can't consentrate? I might just fight this one. Depending on my new grade. I shall keep you updated.

Oh, and she was just grading on form and style, the content has not even been looked at yet. Jeeze!

It's Wednesday, it's cloudy out, it's cold, i'm craving a bagel and cream cheese and i have no desire to leave my room the rest of the day. Too bad it's only noon.

Happy Mother's Day/Brain Condensation/Orbit and GO!

I have had many thoughts today. Which, normally doesn't happen. Normally, in whatever state i wake up in, i just go with it. Thinking only of what needs to be thought about and no more. But today, it was different. I let my mind wonder to every corner of this strange place.

I woke up at 9am this morning. No alarm, which you all know is the best way to wake up, and i immediatly sat up and said (out loud, yes) 'I need to shave my legs!'. so i did. I ran a bath, and shaved my legs, and then got in the shower to wash off all that bath water...cause really, baths don't settle well with me. Sitting in your own dirty body water...i just don't get it. or like it. But with the showers being of the small sort, and only closed off by clear see through curtains, i decided that trying to squat down with leg outstreatched or even bringing said leg up to head heigth on the wall was impossible, so now, when i want to shave, i must take a bath, do the dirty work, and then shower.

I don't shave that often.

After 40 minutes of pruned hands, clean freshly shaved legs and underarms, squaky clean long blonde hair, i was back in my room. I thought about drying my hair, but then thought it was a good day to just let it go free! I put my sweats on and went down stairs to get some breakfast! I know, amazing huh! me, eatting breakfast! It's a new thing i'm trying.

I was all alone, eating my toast and corn flakes. I had not seen another person since i awoke and hour earlier. However, with that thought, i remembered that i was in the bath/shower for 40 of the 60 minutes and i am sort of GLAD i didnt' see anyone else.

I finished my breakfast and made my way back to my room. I sat at my computer and tried to start some homework but was ever so distracted by my blog reading and google searching of whatever i fancy. At 11:00, i decided that i had been awake long enough, it was getting ridiculous. So i went back to bed. I slept till 3:00pm.

And by slept, i mean i fell asleep only to be awoken by girls in the dorm thinking they know how to sing and having pointless LOUD conversations right outside my door. But still, i was persistant. And though all of that on again off again sleeping, i managed to be asleep for the hour of lunch. Shame. I arose out of my bed at 3pm. but only because i was leaving at 4pm for church and i still had to do something with my wild hair. Air drying is not always the prettiest way to go. Especially when you sleep on it. Kind of kinky. I flat ironed my hair, make-uped my face and dressed my body and was out at the parking lot waiting for my ride by 3:45. My ride didn't show up until 4:10. stupid africa time.

Church went well. It was a long sermon but really good. Michael did a really good job, as always!

The church was FREEZING COLD! Everyone was in large coats over small coats over long sleeve shirts over short sleeved shirts over tank tops...with a scarve. Somewhere about halfway through the service, my nose started to run...but....i am not sick. It was one of those 'out of nowhere here it comes running down your upper lip cause it's too cold to keep the stuff up your nose' kind of runny noses. It got me thinking...what is it exactly...is it water? is it snot? is it a mixture? why is it also cold? why doesn't it warn me it's coming? and WHY O WHY does it come only when i'm freezing cold? Then it hit me. Brain Condensation! You know, like when you have a water bottle with ice in it, it's so cold on the inside, that the outside has condensation...well...it's so cold on the outside of my head, that my brain produces condensation on the inside, and it comes out my nose.

I'm pretty sure thats fact.

Tonight, i put some teeth whitener strips on. And i sneezed. I ALWAYS sneeze when i whitten my teeth. Not with dust, not with pepper...just teeth white strips. Have YOU ever sneezed with those on before? It's like if you don't know what you are doing, they will just fly right out of your mouth! I know this from experience. Those things don't stick very well! I promise! I have had lots of practice! I now have a routine. I stand in front of the sink, put them on and then stare at myself until i sneeze. Cause i know it's coming. And when it is about to blow, i open up my lips and place one finger across my upper line of teeth and one finger across my lower line of teeth, hold the strips in place and do the most ridiculous sneeze ever. It really must be a sight to watch me. Which, so far, i have not allowed anyone the pleasure.


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

My mom. I love that lady! I have gotten to talk to her for only about 5 minutes today. But that is ok. She is a busy lady. Working and getting ready for Haiti. Amazing women. She never stops. But, i guess, that is what defines a mom, right? Someone who never stops. Even when they are sitting down resting in a chair, they are forming list upon list in their heads of what they will do once they have left the comfortable chair. I admire and look up to my mom in a way that i don't do for many people. And not just because she is my mom.

Mom, you have done a wonderful job with us kids, and even though, like most kids, we can drive you crazy and think of you as a bank, you never let us forget that you will always love us and be there for us. (and that you are in fact NOT a bank) You have been a huge support to me while i am off having my adventure here in Africa. Thank you for being my biggest supporter and fan.



I love you worse!

i hate speaking

I have a speech on Monday. It's for my public speaking class. We have a written final and a spoken final. I wish it was all written. I got the topic of Global Recession. So it's not a hard topic, but it's just the fact that i am going to have to talk about it in front of people...we are judging me. The teach has brought in 3 other teacher/staff members to help judge us. I'm totally NOT excited. It's bad enough doing the speech in front of my friends and the one teacher, but to do it in front of others...oh my.

I also have my Old Testament Notebook that i was supposed to work on today. I didn't get to it though. I will do it tomorrow. maybe. It is due on like tuesday or wednesday, so i am not rushed. I worked in the library today and i got bored sitting at the front desk so i grabbed a novel off the shelf and started reading it. I had already read it, but forgot how it ended, so i just read it again. I read half of it and then had to close the library and then came back to my room and finished it. It was 310 pages. I like that i read fast, but sometimes, i get so into it that i lose track of time and i lack in self discipline greatly so i can't just put it down. Even if it's a stupid book. I have to know what happens and i can't just read the last chapter, cause that means you miss all the details, and that is what makes a book good....and ...i'm rambling. Sorry. So, yeah. I read a whole book again today.

i was able to go over to Greg and Emily's house on tuesday night. It was nice. I did my laundry and had a good meal and was able to relax. So great to be able to get away for a bit. When i got back to my room that night, i decided that as i was cleaning my room, i would put on my jeans that i had just washed and dried so that i could stretch them out a bit cause you know how dryer jeans are so tight and stiff till you wear them a bit. I hate that feeling. Especially in the morning when i am just starting out my day. I don't want to have to squeeze into my jeans. So i put them on that night and guess what.......they were not tight! Like...it felt as if i had not even dried them. It was so strange. I think i am losing weight. I can see it in my face. I think. Or maybe it is just hopeful thinking. Being wildly hopeful about soemthing can tend to cloud your juegement sometimes. So i don't know...i guess i will have to weigh myself and see. But it's not that much weight, and it's only becuase i don't each much anymore. It's not like i'm doing anything healty. I eas once a day. And have one or two cups of coffee. And i usually just eat a sandwhich, or few pieces of fruit. The food here is ... well...you know, gross. I could eat it and be unhealthy and gain weight, or i could not eat it and be unhealthy and lose weight. I think i will take the latter.

I just watched the movie What About Bob? last night. I forgot how much i love that movie! You should go watch it, cause i'm sure you haven't in a while, and it's a classic.

i am headed to bed now, but i will try to do another update tomorrow. Being Mother's Day and all!

Have a wonderful day!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNY!!!! LOVE YOU!

Boost Africa Foundation

So here is the update you have been waiting for!

The gallary has closed.

so sad.

The gallery is on a residential road right up against the beach in one of the most popular areas here where i live. It's a prime spot for the shop as most of the houses that surround it are rentals that tourists rent and then come to the shop and spend all their wealthy money on things that in turn help Boost Africa. Prime spot! Well, one of the neighbors didn't like that there was a business in the residential area so they went to the municipal building and reported that Boost was running a business without a business lisence. Which was true, but it has not been a problem for nearly two years, so it's just these crabby ol white gezers that didn't like it. Shame on them for reporting on such a well meaning helpful place. It was discussed about getting a business lisence, but the landlord said that if we did, that we would need to pay the difference in taxes for the propery which was double what the payments we were already making. So, not possible, plus, in order to get a business lisence in a residential area, you need written permission from the neighbors...and since they were the ones that turned us in, that would be a no go.

Mary was given a 30 day notice to stop the business. She has done so and is having all the artists come and pick up their stuff.

Now, along with all this, Mary was planning on starting up th After School Program which normally starts in Feb but this year, the school that we do it in decided they didn't want to open up their classrooms. So we were looking for a venue. We found a building in the neighborhood that is like a community center. It's just one room with restrooms and a little kitchen area. Perfect. Mary went to the municipality and asked them to donate the building to us for the two hours twice a week. They agreed and said that we could have it starting mid April. We were so excited! The day finally arrived for our first after school program and as we were driving to the building, one of the other volunteers called that had already arrived and said that there was someone already in it. So we made a few phone calls and found out that the municipality had double booked it. And the other party was in there everyday until mid June. RIDICULOUS! We decided to go to the building anyways that day as the principal was supposed to make an announcement in the school assembly that day to the kids about it so we wanted to be able to tell the kids that we would not be having it today. So we stayed there for an hour, no kids came. We finally saw one of the kids that normally comes and he said that there was no announcement. It's amazing how you try to do something good for these people, and it's like they do everything they can to not help you and hinder your effort. You would think that they would appreciate the help. Oh well. So Mary called me last week and said that we were going to have the after school program this last tuesday, which we did. We had about 25 kids come and they all seemed to have a good time. We are going to be doing it again this coming tuesday, and then it will happen the next wednesday and then the next tuesday and then school is out for the holidays. I unfortunatly can not help on the last two dates as i have finals, but just the two will be fun. I am so glad that i am involved with the program and can't wait for next semester when it becomes a regular thing.

This country is crazy sometimes and i don't understand how they run things and get away with it, but it's such a different culture and it just takes some adapting on my part.

Please keep boost africa in your prayers!

I smell funny

HUGE CRAB!


HUGE STAR FISH!

Today was a good day. It was a day full of plans, but not so much execution. Do you ever have those? Days with the best intentions...that never seem to come to furition? (is that how you spell that word?)/ (is that how you USE that word?)

THE PLAN:
Leave for church with Monica at 8:30 to go to His People in N1 City. (His People is the name of the church, N1 City is the branch of said church) Then i was to come back, drop Monica off and go bring the baakie to Henry so that he could then drop me back off at school and have baakie forever more. (did i tell you about that? that i no longer have use of te baakie? well...it's true) Then i would do homework all aftenoon until i had to leave for church a 4pm at Power Encounter Fellowship.

THE REALITY OF LIFE:
I got up at 7:30. Took a shower and got ready and had some breakfast and then at 8:27, i left my room to go see if Monica was ready. As i am walking down the hallway, i see Monica come out of the bathroom...in her towel...fresh out of her bath. She seems me and gets a look of a deer in headlights. I have a stern, quizical look on my face, as if to say..."please tell me you are a mirage and not really just coming out of the bath 3 minutes before we have to leave". But alas, it was true. She said, "i will just be two minutes". I ignored her. Cause there is real time, there is africa time, and there is Monica time. Of which Monica time is the worst! So i went back to my room, re-evaluated my outfit, changed my shoes and then just sat on my bed. Purse on my shoulder....just tapping my foot. I gave her 10 minutes, then sarted to head down the hallway. I told her that i was going to go warm up the baakie and to come as soon as she could. See, church started at 9am. It was 20 minutes away. I didn't know how to get there so i was going off directions from a friend that doesn't even live around here. He just sort of knew. I was hoping for that extra few minutes to find the place. 8:45 Monica finally came out to the baakie and we pulled out of there. We got as far as we could, to the point where the directions became a little sketchy and hit a dead end. We tried a few more roads and got more and more lost. Then i called my friend, and described where i was. He had no idea. He said to get back on the freeway and head towards Cape Town and it should be the next exit called Ockovango. So we did so. (only to find out later that ockovango is the 4th exit down in the OTHER DIRECTION!) We were on the freeway for a while and then i just KNEW that we had gone too far. We were passing the mall, and i just know that it was before that somewhere. At this point, it's nearly 9:20. I turned to Monica and said "we are having our own church! Start singing!!!" And she did! We sang a nice song a few times through as i kept driving towards cape town. We soon were downtown and so i asked if she wanted to go to Signal Hill and since she said that she had never been there, i decided it was time for her to experience one of my most favorite places! It is a mountain top that you can see all of Cape Town and the water and Robben Island and it's BEAUTIFUL! We got there and had a nice long talk. She told me all about where she came from and how she came about attending CTS. Very interesting story! Then we decided that we should head back to college since it was already after 11:00 and we had a few errands to run before we got back, and i was supposed to have the baakie to Henry by noon. We did our errands and was back at CTS by 12:15. I had not heard from henry yet. (he told me he would call me around noon when he was home from church) so i called him and he said that he was not going to be back at the house until aftr 5pm. I was leaving for church at 4pm. Problem! He said that he would try to come earlier to the campus so that i didn't have to drive it to him and i said i would see if i could leave a little later for church. Turns out, the pastor, my friend Michael, needed to leave at 4:30, so i was able to wait a little longer. But by time i left Henry was still not there, so i just left the keys under the mat and texted him about it. As i was pulling out of the campus, i passed Henry entering, so that worked out well i guess.

I was able to take a nap in the afternoon, instead of doing homework, and felt great for church! Michael did a wonderful job preaching and we were even out of there early and back to the college before 10pm. WHOO HOO!

So, in the end, i did not go to His People, and i did not get any homework done, but i was able to have a great day still.

My friend Otniel, one of the pastors at Power Encounter was opening up in prayer tonight and was saying a few things to start out and what he actually said was "God's arms are not too short to come down and save us" however, he has a lisp. So what i heard, was "God's arms are not too short to come down and SHAVE us". It took me nearly two minutes to figure out what he was talking about. Then i laughed out loud..and disrupted prayer time. It was funny!

I have not done my laundry in two weeks. My basket is SUPER full. I normally do it at Greg and Emily's house, but Emily has been up in Rustenburg for the last two weeks teaching the MA students at a school there. She will be gone another week. I might have to break down and wash them here on campus. I just hate too cause i feel that they are never really truly washed. The washer takes MAX 15 minutes. And then the dryer takes like 2 hours. And the dryer makes my clothes smell funny. Maybe i will just do a jeans and underware load to get me by till Emily is back. Maybe.

I smell funny. You know how everyone has their "smell". It's not that they stink so much, it's more that they just have a smell...that is unique to them. Well i knew my smell. And it's gone. Now i have a new one, and i don't think i like it. It's like...old musty dorm room/sweat/cool water perfume/shampoo...and it's strange. Maybe i will just start wearing more perfume.

i got sunburnt...i think. I was outside most of the day on Friday (more to come about that) and then i was outside on Saturday and then again today on the mountain...and when i took a nap, my skin felt funny, like it does when i am sun burnt. But i'm not red. I'm tan, but not burnt. it's a strange feeling. Not really sure why i felt the need to share that one.

I miss Bubble Yum

Jenny and Emily, i love you dearly and i'm so sorry that i have not written back to your "letters you write at work when you should be working" letters. Both of them! I here by proclaim that i will write back this week! (ha ha ha...i here by proclaim! Can you tell i read the Bible much?!?!?)

We have two weeks of classes left and then it's two weeks of finals. The finals schdule just went up today. I have one on wed the 19, then friday the 21st, then Monday the 24th, then wed the 26th. then i am DONE! Can you believe it? I would have made it through my first semester of college! That is huge for someone that thought they would never make it TO college,let alone get through part of it! I'm excited! I'm also happy that i have time between the finals so that i can study. I'll know which ones to study for on which days. Public Speaking is on the 21st. YUCK! And English is on Monday the 24th. Double Yuck!

I got a progreess report for my English class last week, and i'm getting a B. I don't believe it though. I think its wrong. I think i'm getting a D. Or at least it feels like it. Although i do awesome on the assignmetns, like writting an essay, but then testing me on it, i bomb! Who cares if a word is a past participle gerund from the future? And i know nobody cares what comes before and after whatever word that is! I'm super nervous for that final. I just need a 70% or better to pass, and right now i have an 84%. I have a few more assignmetns to bring it up a little and then i might be able to afford a bad grade on my final. But i promise i will study really hard! Promise!

Ok, i am sleepy now and i have to get up early for a skype date, so i shall speak to you all tomorrow!

The two pictures above are from my trip to the Aquarium. And it took the whole time of me writing this to upload just those two. Hopefully that explains a little why i don't upload that often. I don't have the time!!!!! I have lots more, so those would make morse sense, but they must wait till anoter time. I might just have to do a link to my picassa or something.

Peace, love and JOY!

Heidi

Did you know...?

*A truck here, is called a Baakie

*A trunk is called a Boot

*The hood of your car is the Bonnett

*A movie ticket to the theatre is $6...for the expensive time!

*Gas is about $5 a gallon

*These people are wimps and DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT COLD IS!!!!

*There are three ways to respond to people about time. If someone asks you to come see them and you say "i will be there JUST NOW" that means that you will get there eventually, but it might now be for a while and it might actually not even happen. If you say "i will be there NOW" it means, i'm coming, but i am going to finish up what i am doing and then be right there. Most likely. But if you say "i will be there NOW NOW" that actally means "now". Like, for real, i'm coming right now.

*In Zambia, if you tell a lady "it looks like you are packing on the pounds!" it's a compliment.

*It's harder to keep a small room clean then it is to keep a whole aparment clean

*Meatballs, when prepared properly, can have the same effect as poison to a students body

*I have been told that i would do well if i wanted to learn Xhosa. Cause i can do all the litle clicky clicks with my tounge in the middle of the words.




now...for those of you that are the daily stalkers, and check my blog in the morning, just in case i wrote something while you were sleeping, and then check again in the afternoon, just to be sure i have not written while you weren't looking and may or may not check once more before bed, i want you to know that i will not be posting again until Monday, and then, at that time, it will be a long one. So reading it while a work is not recommended. Take the weekend off. Ignore your computer and play outside! Cause i will be.

Love,Peace,JOY!

Heidi

ooooohhhhh

I am in class, right now! NOT paying attention! This is the sort of crazy things i do with myself now. I feel SO rebellious! It's a rush!

sick day

Today, i was in bed for nearly the whole day. I don't feel well AT ALL! It's just a crampy tummy, but still, that is worse then having the flu sometimes i think. Along with the fact that i have awesome teeth and face skin, i also have been blessed with the ability to only get cramps every 4th or 5th period. And, as you all know, i don't have many periods, so...that means i get cramps like, once or twice a year. But when they come, they knock me out!

I understand that it's hard to feel sorry for me, but please, do try! I could use your prayers and your happy thoughts! Please and Thank You!

Tomorrow is Jake's Birthday!!! I love you so much Jake! I hope you are celebrating this weekend! Cause you KNOW dad will make you work on your birthday!

I have been out of bed not nearly 20 minutes now and i am in so much pain i have to go back. I shall post another longer post later. I just am praying right now i can make it to classes tomorrow!

Love you all! - Goodnight.

76

Yesterday, Monday, it rained. Just like a light rain that would come and go, but it was overcast and lasted all day! I felt as if I was at home! I loved it! It is starting to get chilly a bit, but not too bad. I still wore a t-shirt and jeans and flip flops. I leave my room, go downstairs, and pass a friend in the hallway on my way to class that has a HUGE jacket on. I thought it a little much, but whatever, they were walking in from outside so I just thought that maybe they just put it on for their quick errand. Then I get to class.

People….they were more bundled up then we are when we go skiing! It was hilarious! Imagine, my whole class is sitting at their desks, all in jackets, long pants, hats and scarves and gloves. I walk in, in a t-shirt. I laughed out loud! Come to find out, some of the students didn’t even come to class because they said it was too cold to get out of bed. They were willing to risk their grade because they could not deal with the weather. RIDICULOUS! These African’s need a real dose of cold!

Today, I had classes and then went to the after-school program with Boost Africa. Remember how I said I have a big update on that place? Well…I’m not ready to tell it yet, so I will make you wait longer. Just remember to keep it and the people running it in prayers.

I have been debating if I should mention something here on my blog. Sometimes I am just not sure how personal I should get. But, since I think I know most of you, and I know that you are good prayer warriors, I think I will share.

A few weeks ago I went to an OB/ GYN. Ever since I was young, I have had an irregular menstrual cycle. I have never had a regular schedule of my periods and I have just gotten used to it. However, last June, I was away with some friends for a weekend and I started my period. It proceeded to last for 40 days and nights. (Almost sounds biblical!) After that I called my dr who I had there in the states and she said don’t worry about it and put me on a low dose of birth control. It worked for a while, as long as I took it, but then I forgot the pills when I went on vacation and it just got messed up again. Shortly after that is when I decided that I was going to move here to Cape Town, so I never went and refilled my prescription for the birth control. So in review, beginning of June i start my period, middle of July I stop my 40 day period, end of august I have a period. Then I don’t have one again the rest of 2009. THE DAY I LEFT THE USA…not the day before, or a week before, not when it would have been convenient, but the morning of my flight, I started my period. It lasted a full 7 days and then it was done. Great. Like it was trying to tease me. Ever since that week in January, I have not had another one the whole time I have been here. So finally, I, and Emily and my mom all decided that it was time to figure out what is going on with me. So I went in to see the dr. She did an ultra sound and found out that I have cysts all over my ovaries. Which is PCOS. Poly cystic ovarian syndrome. She has put me on a high dosage of birth control and said that I will most likely have to be on it for the rest of my fertile life. At least I should be if I ever want to have kids someday. I have talked to a few friends and they say that it can be controlled with diet and exercise sometimes so that I don’t have to take the pills, but I think it all just depends on everyone’s body. I don’t know what mine would do, and since I can’t really control the meals that are prepared here, it’s hard to get a steady intake of healthy foods. I shall just be on birth control for now I guess.

Yesterday I started my period. For the first time since January. I don’t know if I am happy or sad about it. I hate having my period.

I got a zit. And for those of you that know me and my skin, you know that I hate zits. And this month, I got two! Oh gosh. I had not had a zit or blackhead or anything since January, now…they are back. Stupid period. I have good skin and good teeth. I hate washing my face. I don’t like it to get wet. It’s just a strange feeling to me. I don’t wash it in the shower, and I don’t use wash rags. Once every three or four days, I will use a baby wipe to clean my face really quick but that is just usually when my mascara didn’t wipe off on my pillow completely the night before and I need to re-apply. So me only having one zit a month is pretty awesome. I SHOULD be having them all the time. I think i have some sort of miracle skin, cause it never feels dirty or anything. I even went to get a facial once and she said it looked good.

And my teeth. My poor teeth. I forget to brush them all the time. I usually remember in the morning, but at night…not really. And I use dental floss for scrapbooking, not for clearing my teeth of plaque of whatever the floss is used for. I hate flossing my teeth. The last time I went to the dentist, which was about a month ago, they said my teeth look great and that if I wanted to I could come in for a cleaning. (IF I WANTED TO!...lol!) So I did. I like the dentist. They told me, “your teeth look great, keep up whatever it is that you’re doing!”

Sorry, I got off track a little…

Now that I know that I have a syndrome, (like many of you always thought I did, just weren’t sure which kind) I can start researching it and finding out ways to get around it and combat it. Please keep me in your prayers as I start this journey. Thank you!

On another note…I saw a big Mac Truck today, like the kind that carries cars and stuff…and guess the name of the company. It was Weirda Cargo! HA…I laughed for so long. Cause I don’t know how you pronounce it, but I say it like “Where da car go?” I would NOT want to give my vehicle to a company that can’t keep track of its merchandise! HA HA HA. But then I found out that they pronounce the W as a V and they say it like “Verda” instead of the funny way. But now I shall laugh every time I see it.

It is only 8:15 and I am going to go to bed now. I am super tired and think that a good nights sleep will do me well. It felt like a long day.

Tomorrow, the first year class is going to have a Braai (BBQ) at one of our classmates house, so that should be fun. I will try to take some pictures and post them.

Sorry that there are not more pictures. I get in trouble if I load too many cause it uses the internet bandwidth or something silly like that. They just asked that I limit it.

And since i have already shared somer prety peronal things, i'm sure it won't be too much if i just mention that right before i started this blog post, i got into my pj's and noticed that i have been wearing my thong underware backwards all day. Not inside out, which is understandable, but BACKWARDS. No wonder i was in a strange sort of pain...i just chucked it off as cramps...stupid blonde!

Just some thoughts...

You know how I was a bad person yesterday???....well…I’m over it.

I had to move on, and I didn’t even think about it once today. I prayed last night before I went to bed that I would get over it and move on or that He would show me what I need to do about it. I do believe I have been forgiven, as there really isn’t much I can do.

Remember that list of stories that I had lost? I FOUND IT! And while reading it, I got bored. So I am not going to share it. You can start thanking me now.

I bought a new address book. The one I was using before was just a notebook. (some of you may remember putting your own addresses in it at my goodbye party) and honestly, it was good, but not great. No real organization. So I upgraded. I got a real, adult like, address book. With the different sections in it and everything! You know the kind, where it separates the sections by letter. And really…there are no instructions, so I just had to decide on my own if I wanted to go with first names, or last names….or heck, both! Seeing as it’s an adult address book, and I feel like an adult with it, I made my choice with confidence!!!

I chose last name.

If you have received a letter from me, I have your address. If not, please feel free to send it to me so that you too can be part of my adult life that I have started!

There are so many big girl things that are happening to me…it’s sort of scary! You know what I have come to realize? Whenever I make an adult decision, or do something that the “under 25” crowd of kids just can’t do, the first person I want to tell, is my mommy. Kind of defeats the “adult” part of the situation, doesn’t it? Oh how I do hope that it does not negate it though. I like being an adult…I think.

(Adults can drive to the store and buy an ice cream and EAT IT BEFORE dinner if they want to…just sayin’)(not that I have done that….this week)

They use Celsius here….did you all know that? It’s crazy! I don’t get it. Students will go around saying, “Hey, tomorrow it’s going to be 35 degrees! It’s going to be a scorcher!” HA! I think, “darn, wish I brought ear muffs” but then…slowly, it comes back to me that I’m not in Seattle anymore. And then, after that realization, I realize something else! That, when we are having 35 degree weather, so are YOU!!!! HA HA HA HA…just not in Celsius! You can KEEP you stinkin ear muffs!

Tomorrow starts two weeks of MA students here on campus. Let me explain in detail, please!

Currently, we have 40ish students attending college here at CTS. That 40, is made up of 4 year BA students, 3 year BA students and 2 year Diploma students. (and one student that is just so confused with life that she doesn’t know if she will be here for another week, let alone a whole 4 years….yours truly) Out of those 40 students, about half live on campus and half live off. Then we come to the MA program. Most students are in the MA program for 3 years. This school is based off of Global University out of Springfield, MO, and is intended to be a correspondence school, so it makes it easier for the MA students that all the material is geared towards that sort of thing. Anyway, once a semester, they have to come on campus for two weeks of INTENSE classes. They have class from 8am to 4pm and have to write 1 – 3 papers A DAY and also read 4 books a week. (big thick study books) Many of the MA students get into the habit of 20 minute cat naps every few hours for the whole two weeks. I have heard that they get VERY crabby towards the end. HA! Normally, they are here the two weeks after the BA students are done with classes so that they don’t have to mix and they MA students can have the library to themselves and it will be quiet. This year, because of the World Cup, they had to mix us. I’m totally excited! New People!!!! I hear there will be about 30 of them! Whoo Hoo!

I’ve been listening to Christmas music all day!

I met a lady today that asked me what made me come here so I gave her my quick summary of my life and why I am here and what I am doing and then she said “can I hug you. You just need a hug I think” and normally, I am fine with hugs, but this lady didn’t let go…she just held me and squeezed really tight and it was super awkward and …well…that’s it.

For Public Speaking, we have to give a speech for our final. It’s not written, it’s spoken. Blech!!! We were given a list of topics and then told that the teacher will go around on Monday and we will draw one out of a hat to see what it will be that we have to speak on. Here is the list:
1) What impact does the world economy have on South Africa’s currency?
2) African conflicts can and should be handled by African countries themselves, and not by third parties. Yes or No?
3) What impact will the 2010 World Cup Soccer have on South Africa? Positive or Negative?
4) Discuss any recent tragedy and the world’s response to it.
5) Discuss the current Global Recession.
6) Divorce creates serious long term effects on children.
7) The social impact of HIV/AIDS
8) Gay couples should/should not be given same rights as heterosexual couples in adopting children.
9) Alcohol has a greater negative impact on society than drugs like Tic, dagga and so on. (Meth, cocaine)
10) A balanced view of poverty vs. prosperity.
11) Exams give no real indication of one’s ability or knowledge.
12) Fast food or home cooked meal?
13) Marriage is/ is not an outdated institution.

It’s not just you that is confused with #10. I hope I don’t get that.

I tend to doodle on all my pages of whatever I’m doing. So many times I can flip through a notebook or study guide and find all kinds of art work! The page that has all these topics listed, I for some random reason, drew a prison cell…with cement block walls and everything!

I’m running low on coffee, so if for some reason you decide to send me a “have a nice day” card in the mail, feel free to slip a packet or two of the Starbucks single serve coffee’s in there. Please and Thank You! (I tried to write that as nice as I could. But really, if you could just read between the lines and see/hear the begging in there, I would appreciate it!)

I started a diary. I know, I know, I just got done talking about being an adult and then I go and tell you that I’m 12 again and have a diary. I live a confusing life. I have only written one entry. (but that is cause I just bought it yesterday) I re-read it today, and I laughed out loud. Did you people know that I’m funny! I thought diaries are supposed to be ubber dramatic…ha…not this one. I don’t even know how I come up with these things. And I promise that I am not telling my diary too many things that I am not telling you. Just maybe a few. Like things that I’m not ready to admit in a public setting.

I need to do homework now. And I’m sure that many of you are reading this at work when you should be WORKING! I’m cutting you off for the day!

Love you all!

i am a bad person.

Today, i lied to someone.

I have this overwhelming sense of guilt, and i'm not sure how to get rid of it.

It's all i think about.

What would make me lie? Was it really that big of a deal that i needed to lie?

Could i have gone about it without lying and gotten the same result?

The following is a true story.

Today, I went to the mall. (surprise) I had to meet my friend there for lunch to go over a presentation we have to do next week. Before she got there though, i went to the book store that i had gotten the book yesterday from.

I retrned the book.

People.....i had already read it! It was a 400 page book or something close to that and i read it in 7 hours and then retrned it!

I told the guy at the counter that i bought it for someone and they already had it.

LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE

He said "ok, do you want cash back?"

Guilty, i said " yeah, that would be great" (and yes, i was smiling and doing that stupid head bob that blonds do to indicate that they know they are blonde and make REALLY stupid mistakes, all while being overly peppy.)

I took my cash and left.


Seriously. I'm a horrible person.

Maybe i could have said, "oh, i already read it" but then wouldn't i have to imply that someone else bought it for me? cause why would i buy myself a book that i had already read, him not thinking that i meant i read it within the last 12 hours. and if that is the case, then why would i have the reciept?

Did i really feel the desire for the money back was greater then my integrity? Apparently i did. At that time.

Here are my justifications that i have come up with so far. (and you all know you have them when you do something or get something that you know you should not have!!!!)

1.) I'm nearly positive that people return books there all the time, after they read them. I can't be the only person to do that. I just can't!!!!!

2.) It was in perfect condition. No bends or creases or anything. (except that one page that has a small coffee stain in the middle of the page)

3.) I'm a student. I need the money more then i need the stupid book, and really, i should not have bought it in the first place. I was in a low spot and it was what i thought i needed at the time to make me happy. And i was happy! For those 7 hours that it took me to read it. Then.....nothing.

4.) I just plain wanted to, alright!!!!!


and thus, the true story ends.


I have no idea how to get this guilty feeling to leave me. Do i go back to the store and tell them. How would THAT conversation sound?

"Excuse me, but, i bought a book here on friday, and read it that night and then returned it on saturday, but i shouldn't have, cause that is wrong, so if i could please just buy the book back, even though i don't need or want it, that would be great". They most likely would look at me and ask me to repeat all of what i had just said. And then still they might not get it. This is Africa. People are not that honest.


Oh what to do, what to do.....


your thoughts???

LET ME OUT!!!

Do you ever feel that sometimes, you could just blow! Not in the "i have to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW" sence, but in the, "if i don't leave this place right this second, i am going to go crazy and totally lose it" sence. I used to have it when i worked downtown Seattle. It doesn't happen that often here, but sometimes, when it hits...i just gotta go. Not tell anyone, not take anyone and just leave.

I did that today. We were graced with no 4th period, and asked to attend the Islam class, instead, i just took off. I got my purse and keys and left. (Thank you Lord for a vehicle!!!) I was not sure where i was going, i just left. When i was at home in the states, i would just drive and get lost and find a little obscure coffee shop somewhere and then eventually find my way home from wherever i ended up. Here however, is not as safe as back home. I don't trust getting lost here and so i don't like to venture very far from college. So i went to the mall.

I wandered around for a bit and realized how much i don't actually like going to the mall anymore. Unless i have a purpose. However, they do have a Seatle's Best (as best as Africa can do it, it's not like the ones back home) inside of a book store. As soon as i walked by, i KNEW that it was what i needed. I needed to do something NOT school related. That had no impact on my life in anyway. Something alone. Something just for myself.

So i bought a stupid looking book (an easy read) and then sat in the coffee shop. I bought a sandwhich and an esspresso and started my book. When i sat down, it was 12:30. When i got up...it was 5:45. I got halfway through the 400 page book. It was utterly amazing! Not the book, i was right, and the book is stupid, yet very entertaining, but just the fact that i was able to have some ME time! I found myself laughing out loud many times there in my big leather chair. The book is actually really funny. It's called "Getting Rid of Mr. Right" It's about a girl that got dumped and then went into stalker mode because she thought he was Mr. Right. The things she did to try and get him back are just hilarious! I will most likly finish the book tonight.

My friend, Simon, came to the mall as he had to meet some friends later on for a movie but he wanted to go shopping for a new suit. So i met up with him and we went shopping. It was actually sort of fun. Not as thrilling as buying clothes for myself, but hey, i'm good at spending other people's money too! ;) He looked very nice! We got him a whole suit from J-Crew. Pants, jacket, shirt and belt. It only cost him around $200. So that is good i thought. HIm being from Switzerland, didn't bring a suit with him and needs one for a class presentation for Public Speaking.

Then after he got that, we went to dinner together. Shared a pizza that was not very good. Then he met up with his friends and i left.

I just now got back to college and am going to get in bed and finish my book.

For a day that started out sort of yucky, it turned out well.

Living here in the dorms with people around me 24/7 is really hard. I am used to being on my own, in my own apartment. It's a hard adjustment. So these little moments that i can sneak away, i find rewarding.

oh, and...i came back to college to my graded Old Testament essay. I got a 39/40. (i messed up on my reference list, which i knew, i just didn't have time to fix) So that was good news! Thanks Tiesha for your help! I really appreciate it!

Things have been going well this week. My first week back at classes. We had so much to do and turn in, that it sort of feels like i'm relaxing, being back in classes and having a normal amount of homework.

I am working on a research paper right now that is kicking my butt! Here, i will let you in on it so that you can see what i am dealing with!

What: Research Paper
For Who: Adrian Paris, Man and Sin teacher
Why: To teach me something, i'm sure of it!

Objectives:
Write a 1300 - 1500 page paper (that would be 3-5 pages) with 5 references plus a bible reference plus a study guide reference and we can only use three books, one periodical and one internet source. (currently, i am working on my notecards, you know, where you find books on the information and write it out on notecards so that you can formulate an outline easily? except...my teacher want's 30 of them...) Ridiculoous!

Topic:
1. Discuss two alternative views on the origin of man by comparing it to what Scripture states about the origin of man; also describe from Scripture what created man is like. (note:that last part doesn't even make sense)
2. The Biblical account of creation states that man is created in the image and likeness of God. Explain from scripture what is meant by man being created in the image and likeness of God.
3. Considering that the fall of man has evoked much discussion on the essential nature and origin of sin, from a biblical perspective discuss the following components and effects of sin.
* The causes of sin
* The character of sin
* The results of sin prior to ones death
* The ultimate result of sin


Now....just my own thoughts, i'm sure i could get 3-5 pages on EACH of those topics. He wants me to put them ALL into one paper. However, it's a research paper, so it's not my opinion, it's everyone elses, just in my own words.

Just the notecards are due tomorrow...all 30 of them.

I have 5.

It's going to be a long night!

Oh, and my friends Leif and Julienne had their baby yesterday!!! YAY!!! Ezekiel Gray Anderson, WELCOME!


oh, and i have a big update about the gallery....for another time.

who just said that?!!?!?!?

So far, on this blog, i have recreated spider killing stories, told of my many activities off campus and on, and let you see just a little bit about what my days are like. One thing that i have not done, is talk about God in a personal way. I was conflicted on the choice of sharing or not.

On one hand, i feel that if i share something that i am going through, that people might then assume that my actions should follow in the lesson and that might not always be the case and i might feel judged. I have a fear of being judged. Maybe it's because i automatically will size someone up just after i have met them. I don't let what i decide influence me in my interactions with people, but i do not always feel comfortable with people doing th same to me. I think this is a syndrome of too much thinking.



I am hearing voices. Not my own. Like, i am hearing God..i think. Well, i have always heard him, but i never gave him the credit. Today is a prime example.

This morning i woke up at 7:00am because a friend of mine decided that i needed to get a text telling me to have a nice day. I like this friend, just wish he slept in a little more. I was not able to get back to sleep, and if you know me at all, you know that is amazing. Cause i can sleep anywhere for any amount of time, no matter how many times you wake me up. I had to be at the Chiropractors this morning at 9:30 and seeing that the day before i had scrunched my hair and that uses a GREAT deal of hairspray and gel and the second day is usually a rats nest, i needed to take a shower, then dry my hair, then flat iron it. Otherwise it is just silly looking. So i layed in bed till 8:15 and then got up and got in the shower. I stubbed my toe in the shower, while i was in there someone came and started to take a bath, which sucks all the hot water, and i realized that i REALLY needed to shave but didn't have the time and didn't bring a razor with me even if i did have the time. So i got out, wrapped my towel around me and limped back to my bedroom. I was able to get dressed, get my hair all done and apply some make up and still be ready to leave on time! Which would allow me to be ten mintues early to the doctors. So i grabbed my purse, left my room and sarted walking down the hallway. That is when i remembered that i was supposed to bring my passport number for my medical files at the dr's office. So i went back. Then i left again. I got to the bottom of the stairs and rememberd that i was not coming back after the appointment and that i had told Mary that i would work in the gallery till 1:00. So i went back to my room and gathered some study material and left my room again. (oh, did i tell you i was in flip flops? It was sunny from my window in my room) I got all the way outside and it was pouring down rain. I didn't want to go back to my room, so i just kept walking toward the truck. I got there, and realized that i had never grabbed the keys for the truck. Ugh! I walked back to my room. I grabbed the keys in a huff! and walked out my room and down the stairs. Halfway down, i realized that i never locked my room. So i yet again, went back. I finally made it IN the truck and ready to go. I made it to the dr's with 2 minutes to spare. I was drentched and a little annoyed at ...well...life, at the moment. I walked in and sat down and the reception lady said, "Hi Heidi! The dr is running about 15 minutes late, hope that is ok!" What if i said it WASN'T ok?!?!!? What then?!?!!?! I sat there patiently and waited my turn.

Once in the room, the dr said that my pelvis had gone back to the other position, the wrong one, and that she would need to re-align it again and that she wanted to do the vibrating patches again and also she was going to dry needel me. HOLD THE PHONE! DRY NEEDLE?!?!?!!?!? I am NOT in the mood for someone to put a needle in me! And actually, i can't think of a time i was EVER in the mood for a needle prick! Apparently dry needleing is when they put a needle in you and then let it stand there and then "flick" it like it was a little bug. It sounds stupid, and i don't understand why i had to pay her to do it to me.

We finished up the appointment with her giving me some more excersises and telling me to come back in two weeks. I paid and left. In pain and not wanting to head back out in the rain in my flip flops. (cause no, out of all the times i went back to my room, i never rememberd to change my shoes)

I got out to the truck and guess what!?!?!? I left the lights on so it had a dead battery!!!! Just my luck! I had no idea what to do, so i called Mary, told her that i might be late for my shift at the gallery and then called the only person i knew to call. Uncle Greg. He just lived down the street and i knew he would know what to do. I asked him if i should just walk to the gas station just down the street but he said that they are not prepared to handle crazy things like dead bateries here in the good ol South Africa. He said to hang tight and he would come help me out. I was so thankful and yet felt bad he had to go out in the rain. I was in a single row of parking spaces and so the only way to get to my hood was to go from the side. Or the rear, but who has cables THAT long? The spot next to me was open so i took a moment, and said a little prayer. "Lord, let that spot be open for Greg so that he can fix my dead battery. Just hold it for him, ok?" Just after i was done praying, i opened my eyes and a car had pulled in. WHILE I WAS PRAYING FOR IT TO STAY OPEN! It was like God was laughing at me. Or at least it felt that way. I swear God is up there saying "neener neener neener" sometimes. I just glared at the car and waited for Greg, figuring he is the smart one, he can figure it out. I saw him pull around the corner onto the street that i was on. Also, just as that happened, the lady that owned the unwelcomed car next to me, came out of the office building. She pulled her car out just as Greg was pulling in the parking lot.

Fine. God has better plans then i do. It's just frustrating when i don't get my way.

I got out of the truck and greeted Greg. We looked all over for the hood lever. It was nowhere. This is an old Nissan. Hardley anything is labled anymore and it's so hard to find things. We both looked all over and then i had to give up and call Mary. It's her truck, so she should know. She said it was just a little black stick coming out of all the wires. We got the hood popped and greg told me to go sit inside the truck, and to rest and not get my hair wet. At first, i was upset by this. I want to do my part. I am not a girly girl and i don't care about my hair and if i am sitting in the truck while you are out there doing everything, doesn't that make me lazy? And ungreatful? But i followed orders. And, really, i did care about my hair, cause i had dried and flat ireoned it all nice like. The rain was somewhow being nice to it. So i sat there while he hooked it all up, tyring to watch best as i could, as if i was interested in what was happening. All i know is that i just wanted my car started and to go back to bed.

We got the truck started and Uncle Greg came over to my window and said just what i needed to hear. He said that he was more then happy to help cause it was all that dad's could do sometimes. The manly stuff, like saving a daughter in distress. I said he scored major daddy brownie points today! Then, as he walked away, he said "oh, and you look very pretty today". I don't know why, but that made my whole morning. I had felt so stressed and in pain from dry needling and frazzled about the rest of my day, and then to have someone bring you back to reality and say someting so nice, true or not, was just plain helpful! I had my initial reaction when people compliment me and in my head i said to myself "Liar! what do you need?!!?" but the, instead of saying that out loud, i just said Thank You and left.

I drove to the Gallery and was there just a few short minutes after i said i would be, so that is nice. I thought that i would be there and be able to get some studying done and feel productve. Not the case. I got my book out and started going over it and just fell flat. I had no energy to read, no energy to write. My butt hurt from the chair i was sitting on and i was restless but not wanting to walk around on my leg cause it hurt. I stayed sitting at the desk and just stared out the windows. I started counting waves. Even more boring then it sounds. Just before i left, i had a talk with Mary and with me driving the truck now, she put me on the insurance and put my address for where it will be parked and by doing that it made the price jump up more then double. See...i live in a not so good part of town...she lives in an all white gated community. A lot safer. So, we have not figured out what to do, but i may have to give the truck back. Which will be sad, and will cause a lot more stress. I just can't afford to pay more on it. I am paying for half, and at the cheap rate, my half was $46, at the expensive rate, my half would be $120. More to come on that one.

At 1:00 i left.

I went back to school and to my room. I had to plan the rest of my day.

Here is what i had on my plate. I had signed up for a Kids Ministry training that night and all day the next day, however, i also have 4 papers to write, a test to complete and a paper that i have to re-do by Monday morning. Also, i am still 8 books behind in my Bible reading, also i have to figure out how to download a video to a CD that doesn't want to cooperate. And..........i wanted a nap! I really wanted to go to the Kids Ministry training as i had registred and didn't want to be rude and not show up. They were providing food for all that attended and i know having planned events before, that you get irritaed if people don't show up when they say they will. And, if i went tonight, i would have to go all day tomorrow cause then i would have met people shown my face and then they would have a face to put with the loser that didn't show up for the full day of training. I could either not go to either, or go to both. I sat on my bed and prayed again. I said "God, i don't want to go tonight. I have too much homework to complete before sunday night and i can't afford to lose tonight and all day tomorrow. Please show me a sign that i am not supposed to go, but if you do want me to go, at least could you stop this rain? I have no idea where i am going and it's a sketchy part of town and i dont' want to travel there alone in the dark and in the RAIN!, thanks" Then, i promptly took a nap. I set my alarm for 3:00. That was an hour nap. I would get up, do a little homework and then leave by 4:30 to get there by 5:00 ish when registration opened.

I woke up at 4:30. (decided it was a sign that i was not supposed to go)

The rain had stopped. (decided it was a sign that i WAS supposed to go)

I got up, still not sure what i was going to do, and took one look at my paper that i had to write and decided that i would rather go to the training. So i got dressed again and headed out the door. Got to the bottom of the stairs, and remembered the keys to the truck were on my bed. Again, got to the bottom of the stairs and remembered that the truck needed gas and i keep my truck money in my dresser, so had to go back and get that.Put it in my pocket. Left my room and got to the truck, got it started and was in reverse when i realized that i left the directions on my bed as well and that i had moved them in order to pick up my keys. (i am thinking this must be a sign that i am not supposed to be going) (i seriously thought about going back to bed) (i have a splitting headace) (i don't have any pain meds in my purse, they are in my room) I put the truck back in neutral, turn it off, lock it up, get out and go get the directons. I get down the stairs and remember that i wanted pain medication. But i was too frustrated at myself to go back. (making the headace worse) I got out to the truck and as i am putting the keys into the lock, i accidentlly drop the paper with the directions on it...it floats like a leaf down to the ground, but not without first going directly UNDER the truck. At this point, i literally drop my hands to my side, slup my shoulders and tip my head back...looking up. Eyes closed i say out loud "WHY?!?!?!?" (remember, it has just rained for the last 12 hours. the ground is very wet.)

I bend over and find the paper directly in the center of the truck on the ground. I get in the truck, start it up, reverse it until i can see the paper, and then put it in neutral and get out. As i step out of the truck, it dies. I huff my way over, pick up the paper, walk back and throw it in the truck. Have you ever tried to throw a piece of paper? Not very satisfing.

I finally am on the road. There is a gas station right on my way, which is nice. I pull in and say "fill r up, unleaded, and check the air in my tires, the front one looks funny" The guy called someone over and he had a look at my tires and said "you got a spare tire? this one is flat!"

Are you kidding me?!?!

I said no, i don't. Just fill it up and i will be fine. I did not want to deal with it and felt that ignoring it might change things, like we all do sometimes. He looked at me funny and said, "oh, ok".

I go to pay and put my hand in my pocket to get the cash and it's NOT THERE! It's not in my other pocket, it's not in my wallet it's not on the seat. I don't have enough cash to cover the gas in my wallet so i pull out my card. Not wanting to put it on my card. I don't trust gas station card machines. As the guy is walking away to get the machine, i find the cash, sitting atop the E-brake, on the floor. I put my hand out the window and try to call him back. No luck. So another guy comes over and i give him the cash and say, sorry, and quickly drive away. As i am passing the store part of the station, the guy is coming out with the card machine. I felt bad, but not enough to stop and explain it to someone who does not understand english.

I am back on the road. I only sort of know where i am going. The direcions were very good, but never having been in the area, i was still nervous. As i am driving, i am thinking about all the things that have just happened to me. Remembering that earlier, i had prayed for a sign as to what i should be doing. Go or stay. So i was thinking to myself, was the forgetfulness of things in my room from God, or from Satan? Cause, really, satan does not want me to go learn new ways to minister to kids. So ofcourse he is going to try and stop me. Was the flat tire a sign? Is the fact that it looks like it could pour down rain again any moment a sign? Am i crazy? I really could not figure it out. I decided that i would drive until it started to rain, and then at least i would be able to figure out my way back.

I made two wrong turn, but made it to the building just fine. I parked in the back where the parking lot is and was about to get out of the truck and then noticed just down the sreet a group of guys next to their cars watching my truck. I got nervous. I also could not see an entrance from the back, where i was parked. I decided that i would go for a little drive around the building. Plus, there were only like two cars in the parking lot, not what i was expecting. I drove around front and was able to get a spot directly in front of the doors. I saw a guy with a notebook go in one of the doors and assumed i had the right spot. I got out of the truck and walked inside. I followed all the signs and found the room. It was in the back of the building right next to where i was parked the first time. bleh! I saw my friend that i knew who is tomorrow's speaker/trainer and asked, where should i park? She said, obviously, right outside the door where i originally was. So i made my way back to the front of the building and get in my truck and go park where i was before. This time, knowing wehre i was going, i didn't feel so scarred of the dudes down the street. I went upstairs again and registered. Guess who walked in right after me? The dudes from down the street! They were attending the conference. What a waste of emotions on fear.

What i failed to notice on the registration form when i saw what time it started, was that registration was for an hour and a half. They did not start the meeting till an hour and a half after i got there. And registration? Yeah, that was just telling someone your name and them hanidng you an address label with your name on it and you putting it on your chest. The end.

I sat in a chair all by myself for the remaining time. My friend Charmaine, ended up coming and sitting next to me just before it started, so that was nice. She sat with me the whole time.

The training was AWESOME! Just after it started, i realized that God will never give me a sign to NOT attend something that will further my knowledge of him and give me a bigger heart for kids and teaching them ways to learn more about Christ.

I need to stop looking for signs, and just go with what i know i should do.

I am now going back again tomorrow and helping Charmaine with her sales table. It will be nice to feel useful. I am excited to learn what she has to teach all of us. There are about 200 people attending, so it's cool to see all the different types of people that God has used in Children's Ministry. I also have decided to attned the church that the meeting is being held at on Sunday. I really want to get plugged in somewhere and this will be a great start on my church hunt.

It is now 11:30 pm and i still have not written my papers or done any homework. I think that because i still have a headache, and that i have to leave at 8am tomorrow and wont' be homw till 8pm, that i will just go to bed.

Homework will get done.

On sunday.

ugh!

I hate homework. I got the to library at 9am this morning and it's now 2:45 and i still have not completed my paper. Correction: I have completed my paper, i just have not been able to come up with little bit's of nothingness in order to make it go from one page to four pages. How do i make up three pages of nothing? Ridiculous!

then i have two more papers to write, a public speaking book to read, 8 books of the bible to read and 45 pages of study guide work to do.

I wish i was not a procrastinator.

I stupidly made plans for Friday night and all day Saturday. So that just leaves me with today, tomorrow mid-morning to afternoon and Sunday to complete everything, and you know how awesome this school is...the library is not open on the weekends!!!!! Goodness!!!!

I'm frustrated and just needed to vent. Thanks for listening!

update on my leg..

It is now 10:40pm and i just wanted to let you all know that my leg has felt great today! I did not notice it much at all! Which was nice! Now that it's late at night, i am sort of noticing it, but it is not hurting as bad as it has been. Thank you Lord for Chiropractors! Maybe tomorrow i won't wake up in pain! Thank you all for your prayers!




3 posts in one day...wow...even I am impressed!

Human PopRocks!

Oy Vey! I went to the Chiropractor today for the first time in my life! Two weeks ago, i was cleaning my room and i was squatting down on the floor and tried to stand up and promptly fell over. My left left/hip gave out and i could not get up without using my bed post to pull myself up. I am only 27...not 72. I should have a good hip! I should have TWO good hips! I ended up laying in bed all day for two days in horrible pain. Pain killers were consumed as if they were candy and never once changed my pain. By the third day i HAD to get up and move around. I had stuff to do. So i just dealt wit it. I was screaming on the inside.

It's now been two weeks and i still am having issues. The pain is not going away and it gets worse little by little each night. Emily suggested that i go to the Chiropracor. Seeing as i have never been to one before, i said, yeah, sure, as long as it doesn't hurt more! So we made the appointment for today and i went. She was very nice and explained everything to me. She said that my left leg is shorter then my right one, and that everyone is like that. We all have uneven legs. Did you know that?

She did some pulling and streatching and then put these patches on my back with a heating pad and turned this machine on and it kind of made my back spasm a bit, but then i guess it was massaging the muscles or something. She left me there for 10 minutes while she saw another patient. It was not uncomfortable, but i would not say that i am looking to do it again. She then said that she needed to align my vertabre and that if i heard a popping noise, don't worry. Deep breath in, long breath out.....POP POP POP POP POP POPOPOPOPOPOPOP...they never ended! Goodness! I didn't really feel it as much as i heard it! Then she said, ok, let's do your neck. "huh?!?!?!?" i like my neck. I get grossed out at people who can pop their necks. It's gross and should be done in private if at all!

She grabbed my nack and said deep breath in, long breath out. Then she twisted my head in a direction i didn't even know existed! It popped as well. A lot. The other side did the same. Who knew i was like an unused sheet of packing bubbles?!?!?

She said that over the next few days i should start to feel better in my leg and back, and i have a follow up appointment on Friday morning. I don't know that i can say that i LIKE going to the chiropractor, but at least i can now say that i see WHY people go.

Just a reminder

I was reading a friends blog today at www.natthefatrat.com and one comment she made about getting pregnant hit me hard. Here is what she said.. "People keep telling me that these things are all on the Lord's schedule. When I told an older lady in the ward I was "finally!" expecting, she screwed up her mouth at me and said, "Now, don't go insulting the Lord, this was his timing after all."

It makes me wonder how many times have i said "It's about time God!" like as if i was annoyed that something happened or that a prayer was answered but that i thought it took forever. Why do i doubt God's timing?

God knows best.
Always.
The End.

Stories of my Life - Part 2

i have been trying to take notes of my life. Things that i think you all might find interesting. I did pretty well for about a week, and then i wrote about a few of them in Stories of my Life - Part 1...and promptly lost the list. So, someday in the future, i shall make a post about very outdated stories. Oh, but won't that just be delightful!

Now i have to think of something on the spot.

Update on homework. I STARTED!!!! well...i read a book. And by book, i mean half of one chapter of a book. I am practicing my speed reading, so i really don't remember most of what i read, but i am getting pretty good! I am down to one and a half minutes per page! That is good for me! I love to read, so if i could learn to do it faster...then... hey hey hey...yay!! Homework would go so much faster! There is SO MUCH reading here!

I wrote out what i have to do again. I think it's a glitch somewhere in my brain cause if i am going to make the effort of making a list, i tend to make it in like, 5 different spots! I have written out what i have to do in my homework notebook, in my diary in my purse, in a notebook where i keeep...well...notes, and then also on my white board hanging on my wall in my room. Maybe i think that if i keep re-writting it it might change...so far, it has not. I still have t do it all!

Today i helped a friend with her shopping! It was super duper fun! I loved running errands for her and feeling as though i could go to the store with purpose and for a reason other then to just get more fruit in order to try and eat healthy here. It for some reason felt like work, in a good way. Like i was doing something productive. It was a wonderful day! Then i came back to the school and did some more reading. (finished chapter 1) and then literally just sat on my bed and daydreamed for a good 10 minutes. I did nothing excpet stare at the wall. Currently, i would not be able to tell you what it is that kept my attention for ten minutes, but there was a point that i just came back to reality and got up and grabbed my keys and left. I needed out again! I was feeling trapped. So i left and went to the mall. Realized that i needed NOTHING there as i had alredy been there today and so just walked around. Then i came back. Exciting life...i know!

Now i am here, about to read another chapter in my book and then go watch a movie. Then maybe bed....maybe not.

This post is full of nothingness! I promise to find my list...then write something interesting for next time!

Have a wonderful day!

Stories of my Life

Teddy the Toothless Toad

I went to the Aquarium the other day. They had a lone toad in a glass box. I thought…hey, maybe there is something REALLY COOL about this toad to be all by itself. I was wrong. The sign, next to the box told of a story about this toad, whose name is Teddy, and how he had been hit by a car. When I think that a frog got hit by a car, the first thought to mind is “who cares!” but apparently, the driver of the car that hit THIS toad, did not feel the same. They thought it was a tragedy apparently because they took the toad to a vet. Who found that Teddy had half of his tongue cut off, and his jaw was broken. The vet was able to repair the jaw, but the tongue had to go. Sad…I know. Now, Teddy lives in the aquarium in a glass box all by himself. Safe from all the cars out there. He has a lovely view of the Penguins and seems to be enjoying himself greatly.

I don’t know where I was going with that story.



HEIDI! WAKE UP YOU DUMB BLONDE!

Do you ever yell at yourself? When you make stupid mistakes? Like out loud yelling? I am finding that I am yelling at myself a lot more lately. It is because lately, I have been making some really stupid mistakes. Like…slammin my foot in the door….while looking at it the whole time. Taking 15 minutes to look for my car keys, while the whole time holding them in my hand. Driving like a South African and thinking that the shoulder is a lane. I am finding that the longer I am here at school, the more I am talking to myself. Strange…I am surrounded by people every minute of every day and i choose to talk to MYSELF! Something is wrong with me!!!


The ‘RENTS!

For two weeks I got to hang out with my parents! It was so awesome!!!!! I loved having them here. Mom and I got to stay up late and chat, and we went shopping and went out to dinner with the team. I loved having fellow people around that were American, not to mention that they were my favorite American’s!!! I didn’t realize how much I had adapted to the why things are here until they came and showed me where I am from. The first day dad was here we went to the store. He wanted to see how I was doing on my driving skills now that I have learned to drive a stick shift. I came out to the truck barefoot and didn’t think anything of it. We were just going to the store, and maybe stop for lunch somewhere…no big deal, right? Dad looked at me like I was crazy. I go barefoot everywhere. I have gone for 3 days straight without wearing shoes. I go to the mall, or to the store or out running errands and don’t even think about it. If I was home in the states, I don’t know if I would even walk outside to my car barefoot, let alone go anywhere. I wonder at what point I changed.
Also, another thing that I noticed was how fast mom and dad and the team was. Every morning they would meet and talk about what they were going to do and have times that it was going to start and end and …they did it. Like, on time. Every day. I used to be like that. I used to be able to tell you my months schedule off the top of my head. What I had to do, where I had to be and at what times it was going to happen. Now, here, I just go with the flow of the day. I wake up, and if I feel like breakfast I go eat. If not, I just go to class. After class, I see what there is to do. If nothing, then I just hang out. If there is something, maybe I will do it and maybe not. It’s like plans here are only pretend…if it happens, great, good for you. If not, then we can do it tomorrow, or the next day. No biggie!
I think coming home is going to be a BIG culture shock! The pace of my life now is NOT as fast as it used to be, and I am thoroughly enjoying it!


R&R does NOT stand for Rest and Relaxation!!!!

I am on a two week school break! They call it R&R here, but it stands for Reading and Research, not Rest and Relaxation! Most students have lots of projects to do and papers to write so this is a time to study and not be interrupted by classes. Normally it is just one week, but this year, they are trying something new and gave us two weeks! Myself, being a first year, do not have that much work to do. Just like maybe two days worth. Needless to say, I have not started yet and R&R is half over. Today is Sunday, and tomorrow is a holiday so the library is not open so I will focus on all the things I can do without using the library. (which is most of my homework) and then on Tuesday and Wednesday I will be in the library working. Well…that is the current plan anyways. We shall see what really happens.

Although…I have been coloring a lot. And really…coloring is Homework. I’m sure of it! See, for my Old Testament class, we have to turn in our notes at the end of the semester for a grade. Our teacher said the more creative we are in creating this nice notebook, the better the score. So I went out to the store and bought an Old Testament coloring book and am now coloring pages that correlate with the stories that she went over so that I can paste the color pages in my notebook! Good idea, huh! See…coloring IS homework!


Café Prada

I have a coffee stand. Well, I claim it as mine, but really, Ian owns it. He runs it and he gets all the profits. I just drink the coffee. But, in the ways of Seattleites, once you have THE coffee stand that you like, it then becomes “your coffee stand” am I right? Yes, I know I am. Ian and Café Prada is only open from 9am to 3pm. I am in school from 8am to 1:30pm. That does not leave me with much time for a coffee run, now does it? I have had to surrender to just having good coffee on the weekends. Sad. I had my mom bring me a tub of Ghirardelli’s White Chocolate powder as that is my favorite back home, and I brought the tub to Ian and had him make me a white chocolate mocha. HEAVEN ! He and all his customers had never seen white chocolate powder. It’s now on Ian’s menu and he is able to attract more business with it. I was going to just leave him with a little container of it, but then figured that the only time I am going to drink it is when I go to his cart, so I might as well leave it all! He knows to ALWAYS save some for me. It’s nice to have the little things that make fell remember home! Ian is a crazy dude! He has a new exciting story every time I see him! Last week when I was there he told me all about spending 8 months in Kenya living in a shack helping build a house for tribe. It was strange, and so so exciting to listen to. He is a Christian and loves the Lord. It’s awesome to see him witness to the people that come up to his stand. He has said many times, “Hi, can I get you a cup of coffee, a cappuccino or some Jesus Christ?” He is so bold and so fun to talk to. His coffee stand sits right outside the door of a surf shop. So, sitting there I get to see lots of nice looking surfers….that might have a little something to do with why I go…maybe.


Letters Home


I wrote down a list of people that I need to write cards to. It’s 28. 28 PEOPLE! 28 CARDS! Oy Vey!! I love to write, but I think that i should try and stay on top of it more than leaving till I have 28 cards. I knocked out 8 yesterday, so that will help! I love it. I asked my mom to bring me some little note cards so that I could write home a lot easier. I like to make cards, but it’s so hard to find the time and the energy to do it. Especially since all my craft stuff is in three different boxes under my bed and I have to bring all of them out, make the mess and clean it all back up again. I don’t like that. I liked having my craft room at home and leaving everything set up. Plus, my room is so small that I feel cramped and not creative. And if I take the craft stuff out to the lounge, I have to explain what I am doing so many times to people passing by, that it no longer is fun. So, I asked for note cards. I was expecting maybe 3 or 4 little packets where you get like 10 of the same cards in one package and then I could use those. What mom brought me, was a garbage bag FULL of cards. I think there might have been about 150 cards in there. She told a friend, who also got me cards and stickers and wonderful things like that. It was awesome! And my friend, Jenny, sent me a package that had cards in it without even knowing that I needed them. God is good!!!!


I have lots more stories, but I feel that this will do for now. More to come!
Sorry for the lack of posting. I was hardly online while my parents were here, and then since R&R, I just have been lazy. Thank you all for sticking with me!!