#012: Realizations...

I tend to romanticize people. When I see people who do things that I think are interesting or adventurous, or who are just in a position that I consider of greater value than my own life position, I tend to turn them into some perfect being in my head, marveling at their life and wondering how (if) I will ever be as good or exciting as they are.

But then reality hits and something happens that makes me realize they're only human. It's usually something small and pretty insignificant: an unkind word, a doubting thought, an altogether-human aspect of their being. They are probably still awesome and exciting, but not the perfect person I thought them to be.

And this is sometimes disappointing. But also very relieving and comforting.

Because now I know I don't have to be perfect either. 

#011: Oatmeal.

My best fasting friend.

#010: Sisters

#009: Being loved, even from afar.

I talked to Susan & E-bear on the phone.

I chatted with and Skyped with Brynjamin.

I had lunch with Thom in Indiana.

I fb'd Coll (this one's sub-par Coll... we gotta step it up!)

Even though we live hundreds or thousands of miles away from each other, when I talked with each of my Uganda remas (or remis? I don't remember!) it was just a breath of fresh air, a reminder of what has been

and what still can be. 

#008: Little angels & nice bus drivers

Two very small events in my past week made me realize that goodwill and small gestures can make a huge difference in someone's day.

1: Last week Andrea and I got our (actually our roommate's) car stuck in the snow. We were standing in the street, obviously in need of help, frustrated, almost late, clearly not strong enough to get our care out of the snow, and calling out for help. Several strong-looking men walked right past us without even offering to help. We were about to give up and go home to get help when a girl our age walked up and asked if she could help us. "Sure..." I said, knowing that this tiny, skinny little lady wouldn't be able to help us. Andrea got in the car and started driving, and the girl and I pushed from the back. After 3 big pushes, the car was free as could be. We thanked her and she humbly walked away. "Maybe she was an angel," Andrea said.

2: Walking out of church on Sunday, we saw our bus approaching, just about to pass us as we walked out the door. Unfortunately, there is no bus stop on the corner of the block our church is on, so despite our waving arms, the bus driver couldn't stop for us. We thought we'd have to wait another 20 mins for the next bus, but the nice bus driver waited at the next block for us to hurry down the icy sidewalk and climb aboard. 

#007: Spring in February

After church on Sunday we shoveled the snow off of our porch and sat in the sunshine and did our homework and listened to She & Him.

 It was 40 degrees out.
And it was wonderful.

#006: Little Inspirations.

I've been having a little trouble getting back into the swing of things with school and reading for hours every day; I slipped this picture into my most difficult and longest book as my inspiration: I need to read this book so I can get my degree and go help more babies like this one. 

It worked. 

#005: Pink Strawberry Ice Cream

Her almond shaped eyes squeezed so tightly as the upturned corners of her mouth pushed them shut.

No one could miss her excitement; that smile drew a smile to the face of every passerby.

Though she only came up to the knees of most in the crowd, her understanding of something important in life soared above their heads: joy.

She looked at me; looked excitedly down at her pink strawberry ice cream; looked back up with those little white baby teeth and that little crinkled up nose. “Lookit what I got!” her face exclaimed wordlessly.

Where did her simple joy come from? It’s just ice cream… and it’s freezing cold outside, little girl! The logic tried to creep in, make “sense” of a situation, and take the joy out of it because, of course, you’re not supposed to be that excited about ice cream… it’s just ice cream.

Oh, to think like a child again… how much more exciting would life be!

#004: New Beginnings.

About a week ago I moved into a new house with seven new roommates. Packing up and moving out has been a good way to try and really implement what I'm supposed to be learning during this year. I went through all my stuff and tried to only bring with me what I really need. Of course, I still have WAY too much stuff... to many clothes, shoes, scarves, knick-knacks, books, etc. But it felt good to kind of purge my life of all the excess things that I just had laying around my bedroom at home but really didn't need.

I'm trying to prioritize my life around the things that I really want to spend my time on, but it's difficult because there are so many things that I want to do. School, Bible study, small group, tutoring, working, church, babysitting, building community at home, working out, cooking, spending time with people... all of these things are important to me, but I feel like I just can't do them all! How do I simplify my life and still make a difference in the world? This is my question for the week. 

#003: Great men with great boldness.

 

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others? 

-Martin Luther King, Jr. 

#002: Cups of Coffee.

"Our friendship can be measured in cups of coffee. Most people say, 'Oh, I've known you for a year.' But our friendship is more like 'I've known you for 200 cups of coffee." -Abbey

One of my favorite things to do is have a cup of coffee with someone. I love sitting in coffee shops - I love the din of people talking, cups clinking, keyboards clicking, and pens scratching as people share laughs, work on papers, and enjoy a hot mug of coffee. It's my favorite way to get to know someone because all you can do is talk and ask questions and learn from one another.

Abbey and I recently spent three weeks in Germany, France, England and Ireland, and in every city we'd wander around, look at pretty buildings, maybe go into some shops, meet a few people, and, inevitably, drink a cup of coffee (though it is rather difficult to get a cup of black coffee in Europe - they almost always only have lattes and capucinos and americanos... it's weird). We would sit and tell each other stories of the past four months of our lives - she about Germany and I about Uganda - or read our Bibles or reminisce about friends and our kids from the Mission and last year. Europe is beautiful and lots of fun, but my favorite parts of the trip were these moments, the relaxing, hanging out and just being together.

I love you, Abbey girl! Thanks for the wonderful time together :)

#001: The Sunrise.

Every morning in Uganda I would wake up and read my Bible in the church way back behind all the huts and watch the sun rise through the trees on the border of the African bush. I would listen to the birds singing and watch the mist rise up from the ground and see the little dew drops on the edges of the blades of grass and smell the fresh, clean air and feel the cool breeze that sometimes made me shiver.

The sun rises every morning. Every morning. And the colors and clouds and shadows and patterns are always different, always more beautiful than the last. An unimaginable beauty put on display for us by a Creator who loves us.

Every night the sun goes down and it gets dark and cold and still. And every morning the sun bursts up from its hiding place and warms the earth and brings forth life.

It's something that happens every day and so we sometimes let it happen without noticing it. But it's a simple, daily reminder of His faithfulness... there will always be a dawn.