#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.