Trinkets, Treasures and the Life of Heather

Memories of The Night Before Christmas

2011-12-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

I do not have any recollections of this for I was just a child; but every year I hear the story told. My mema tells of sleeping in my bedroom with me when I was just a little girl & on Christmas Eve, I said, "Mema Santa Claus is coming!" She says that we laid in my room listening for Santa & his reindeer to land on the rooftop. Apparently, it was at that time that I told her, "Mema, I'm getting married." When she asked me who I was marrying, I replied with "Jeff Pool." Jeff was a guy a good 10-15 years older than myself that attended church with us. Again, I don't recall either of these things but I get to hear about them each Christmas. Aside from being reminded of the "cute" things I said way back when, I have lots of memories of Christmas Eve's gone by.

For as long as I can remember, my mema, late papa (my papa went home to be with Jesus in June 2000) & my Uncle Roger would come up from Alabama on the day before Christmas Eve. With them, would be my Uncle William's parents; also from Alabama. Christmas Eve would consist of scurrying around to buy last minute gifts (this still continues today unfortunately), a dinner in the home, piling in the van to go look at Christmas lights (while my dad played cassette tapes he compiled with all of his favorite Christmas music) & last but not least; opening presents from the family. Christmas Morning was reserved solely for opening the gifts from Santa.

Years later, the traditions remain pretty much the same. Really, the only difference is the process of unwrapping presents. No matter the tradition, the biggest blessing is simply being surrounded by family & the memories created year after year. Always is enjoyable to look at pics of ourselves & see just how goofy we looked, what gifts we were ecstatic about & most of all; reflect on the time shared together. As I consider that within a few years that I'll most likely be living overseas, the time with my loved ones here becomes that much more precious. As precious as it is, I await the day I'll be on the other side of the globe creating new memories with an adopted family & celebrating the significance of this time of year with new friends.

So Long Albert...

2011-12-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Nearly a week ago, St. Louis became shell-shocked when Albert Pujols signed with the Annaheim Angels. I will admit, I was not only surprised but disappointed. Honestly, I was even angry. 1 week later & though I will miss going to the ballpark & seeing #5 come up to the plate, I'm over it. A friend had posted a comment that a friend of his had made & hopefully he doesn't mind that I've chosen to use it...

"My last thought on Pujols: This is a perfect reminder of how silly our love of sports can be. Many of us are feeling 'betrayed' by him, but I would guess that few of us would have turned down a guarantee of 25 million dollars a year for the next 10 years. Ultimately, this is a bunch of grown men playing a kid's game for A LOT of money--and we're the suckers for devoting so much of our lives to it when there are so many better pursuits. Honestly, I'm glad for the perspective that this has provided me. If I care that much about Albert, it is too much. I need to be focused on what God has in mind for me, not what the Cardinals are doing (but I'll still enjoy them)." - Chris Bond

Many of us (myself at the top of the list) have been quick to judge this situation & insist that it was all about the money. Even if it was about the dollar sign, do we know Albert's heart & what he intends to do with the money? Is it even our business to begin with? Over the last 11 years, Albert has proven that he is dedicated to not only helping in the community but to aiding his home country of the Dominican Republic. Why should we think that his doing so would stop just because he will be in a different city? Have we forgotten that there are lost people in the City of Anaheim? Do we not care about the children in California that have Down Syndrome? Are we aware that there is a much larger Hispanic population in California than here in St. Louis & perhaps God will use Albert to minister there?

If you know me, you know I'm a HUGE baseball fan. I have a great love of the game & just like many others, admire Pujols' accomplishments in the game. At the same time, if I allow myself to be consumed with his leaving, I have taken my eyes off of Jesus. I will miss Pujols. I'll miss the thrill of his coming to the plate & the suspense that comes from wondering if he would knock one out of the park. I am thankful that I had a chance to go to Florida & see Albert up close. I'm happy that I live in the city that housed one of baseball's finest for 11 years. I was not alive to watch Stan the Man Musial play but I was here to see Albert. I'll have great memories for many years. I wish Pujols & his family the best though & pray that God uses his family in mighty ways to impact the City of Anaheim & that he would be a light to his Angel teammates.

While on a date a number of years ago, I was with a guy who was preparing to go to seminary. His desire was to one day move to Africa serving on the mission field. Opposed to baseball (he saw it as a waste of time), he wanted to know if I'd be able to be away from the game. I believe baseball is America's great pastime & I'm proud that my sister & I have had many years to enjoy watching games...watching them with our dad to be more specific. However, my desire for the nations to know Jesus far outweighs my love for baseball. I pray that as many are hurt, bitter & furious with Albert; they would pause a moment to first ask themselves when they were given permission to be Albert's judge & secondly, move forward knowing that there are things that are much more important. There is anger that is righteous & anger that is not. Being angry at Albert for leaving is not righteous. Daily, many are dying of starvation in North Korea, Eritrea, Haiti, Yemen & many other places. Everyday young children are exploited & sold into sex slavery in Sudan, Iran, Korea...again; all over the world. Right here in America, precious babies lives are cut short before they're even given a chance to live. Abortion runs rampant. I think these things provoke the anger of God (& should cause us to be angry) much more than Albert Pujols leaving St. Louis. God has called us to something far greater than baseball. I pray that our hearts would be weeping over lost souls; not over Albert's departure. Millions await the good news of Jesus Christ & His plan to give them life everlasting...such can't be found in baseball, Albert Pujols or millions of dollars. By all means, I've had to bow my knee & my heart in repentance for my attitude about this situation but I'm thankful to God for reminding me of that which truly matters.

Surprise! Quick Trip to the Southland

2011-10-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Bewildered when I received my schedule a few weeks ago & noticed that I was going to have a 4 day weekend, my first thought was that I MUST travel to Alabama. As some of you know, my mom was born, raised & lived in AL until marrying my dad at age 19. All of my mom's family (including my mema & uncle) reside in AL. Due to only receiving 2 weeks vacation/year & a number of other factors; I had not been down to visit in 2 years+. As I prepare for life overseas, these next few years will be hectic for me; I'll most likely have even fewer opportunities to travel south. I had hoped to find someone or several someone's to keep me company for the drive. Unfortunately, such was not possible. Still, I did not let being alone stop me from going. GPS was ready & off I went.

As I made the drive, many things crossed my mind. I saw the sign that said "Trenton" & could remember my parents stopping there on our road-trips when Haley & I were kids. Just like "Trenton", "Clarksville" was another town that I remembered from our childhood. I pictured Haley & I sitting in the back of our mini-van (beige/yellow in color) & then our full-size van (burgundy) eating Nabisco's Better Cheddar's. Those were ALWAYS a snack for the 8 hour trek to Ft. Payne. Sure, we had other snacks as well but those are the ones I vividly remember. I can't express the nostalgia that took place when I entered Dierbergs (a local grocer) about a year ago, was walking down the Cracker/Cookie Aisle & saw the Red Box with the Yellow, Round-Shaped Crackers that said "Better Cheddar" across it. Though expensive, I bought a box & hurried home to share them with Haley. I'm pretty sure she was just as enthused as I was.

Above: Visiting my Aunt Lottie. Her husband (my Uncle Charlie; my papa's brother) passed away in early September. Due to everything going on with my dad, none of us were able to be at the funeral or burial. I don't remember a time when we would go to AL & not see Aunt Lottie & Uncle Charlie.

Though the trip was brief, I had a nice time visiting with my mema & Uncle Rog as well as my Aunt Wanda, Uncle Bill, Aunt Lottie & Cousins: Kristy, Melissa, Scott & Meleah. Just so happened that the Cardinals had just made in into the playoffs as the Wildcard Team & while I was down there, they had 2 games against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mema, Rog & I sat on the sofa watching both games intently. 1 game had a not-so-great outcome; the other was perfect. Notice: Mema proudly wearing her 2006 World Series Champs shirt in the pic below.

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year that I was hoping to capture a bit of that through the camera lens. Rog was kind enough to take me to DeSoto Falls to enjoy the splendor of the turning leaves.

He & I had quite the adventure there. Those who know me well know that athletic, coordinated, graceful & adventurous are not words usually associated with me. I proved that yet again during our walk through the park. I'm sure that if you each could have seen me trying to jump from one rock to another over a very small rush of water, you would have been well-humored. After a tiring day of rock climbing & hiking, we went home & mema prepared one of my favorite meals for me: Homemade Chicken & Dumplings, Fried Squash & Shelly Beans (green beans). I know, a very healthy balanced meal. Hey, I get it once every 5,6 or 7 years (if that). I think it was OK!

After 2 full days in Alabama, it was time for me to meander back home to St. Louis. Not unlike many return trips home, the day started with rain. I just prayed that God would cause the rain to cease for it it continued on, the drive home would be that much more difficult for me. Thankfully, by the time I reached Franklin, TN to meet some dear friends of mine for lunch; the rain began to stop. I never saw another drop of rain again. As I switched from station to station, CD to CD, I again had flashbacks. My dad has always been a fanatic about Christmas music. That is something he has passed down to both of his daughters. Haley & I LOVE Christmas music! Each year, when we go to AL for Thanksgiving, our return home would consist of 8 hours of Christmas Music while my mom would say, "It's too early to be listening to this stuff." Yet, listen we would.

So many memories, such special times throughout the years. Those thoughts coming to the surface after so long made me all the more thankful for God's goodness to our family in the healing miracle of my dad's health over the course of these last few months. The times I've shared with all of my family for the last 31 years are times I will cherish for a lifetime.

As good as it was to visit AL, it was nice to return home. When reaching St. Louis, I did not immediately come to my house. Instead, I went by the university as the meeting with the International Students was taking place & many of them had contacted me asking when I'd be returning. As I raced to get to the school & the students were on my mind, I got to thinking. I was so pleased to come home after just a few days. I can't imagine the homecoming I'll receive & the happiness I'll feel when I one day come home after being overseas for years. As I approached St. Louis, I could see the Arch. When I see the Arch, I know that I'm almost there; almost "home." I wonder, what do you see in your city or state that lets you know you're almost home when you've been away? The Arch was a pleasant sight for me to behold but I'm anxious for the day when, for a period, something else will represent "home" to me. Will it be the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley? Could it be the Taj Mahal in Agra, India? These things I do not know yet. I look forward to the future with a happy remembrance of the past & great eagerness for the road ahead.

Memories of 9/11

2011-09-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

In 2008, I shared my memories of 9/11. Again, I share my reflections as recorded 3 years ago. A decade after the most horrific day I've watched yet, I say "Happy 10th Birthday Victoria Rose!" When September 11 approaches it year, it is always a time to remember. Every year, my heart aches for those that lost so much & prays that many would find hope in that which is everlasting - the hope of Jesus Christ. My memories of 9/11:

September 11, 2001 is not a day that any of us will most likely ever forget. Now, 7 years later, it almost seems unreal that so much time has passed. I'm sure throughout the course of your day, like me, you have conversed with someone about your memories of 9/11. For me, I was headed into work. I am sure I was listening to a CD rather than the radio because otherwise, I probably would have heard something about all that was taking place. I pulled into work & as I opened the door & walked into the store, I could hear what sounded like a television. Sure enough, as I approached the back of the store, my boss & another coworker were looking upward--to the TV mounted on the wall. I saw smoke coming from one of the Twin Towers & as many did, figured it was a movie or something. Neither one of the ladies said a word but kept their eyes glued to the TV. Within minutes, we heard the news anchors stating that an airplane had just flown through one of the Towers. At that time, they still were not thinking it was a terrorist attack. Even as the time approached to open the store for the day, we kept the TV on & remained in the back focused on what we were viewing. As things kept unfolding & we learned more, our hearts ached & we fought back tears. I remember a numbness sweeping over me as I saw the horrific images repeatedly. During this time, Michael W. Smith's first worship album had recently released. Naturally, we were playing it in the store. We already had the music on & I vividly recall that as we watched the Towers crumble, the song "Forever" was playing in the store. As I listened to the song, I began to sing along there in the store with my voice shaking..."Forever God is Faithful, Forever God is true, Forever God is with us, Forever." Further along, the song says, "But by the Grace of God we will carry on, His love endures forever." Indeed, 7 years later & Praise God, there has not been another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. In the good times & the bad, He has remained faithful, true & with us & without a doubt, His love has & always will endure.Despite the many lives that were lost that day, I am pleased that God brought our Rosey-Posey into the world on that day. Today, Rose is 7 years old. While we watched New York City, the Pentagon & Pennsylvania from work & home, my Cousin Chanda was in Oklahoma giving birth to her firstborn daughter. Even still, she watched from her hospital room. I venture to say that no family member will ever struggle to remember when Rose's birthdate is. I am so glad that God blessed our family with this little girl. Not only is Rose beautiful on the outside, she has such a sweet spirit that loves to help people. Today, September 11, I say, "Happy Birthday Rosey-Posey!" So these are the things that will always come to my mind each year on 9/11.

May My Tongue Be Set to Praise

2011-08-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

Just a few weeks ago, a 21 year old member at the credit union to which I work, told his younger brother that there was nothing in life worth living for any longer. Not long after, that young man went to the rooftop of the 25 story condo building in which he lived & jumped off plummeting himself to his death. When I entered into my workplace to learn of this news, I was told that the young man “fell” off a tall building & died. We’ve since come to learn that he did not fall; he took his life. I’ve known this family since I started my job in 2007 & even if I did not know them, my heart would still ache for their loss. I do not know the reason(s) why this guy felt there was nothing to live for but I question whether or not he knew his worth. As I’ve spent time thinking about this sorrowful story, I’ve thought much about words. Just as a small spark can ignite a great fire in a forest, so can the tongue (small as it may be), cause immense damage. I’ve oftentimes battled reading the book of James in the Bible as I’m heavily convicted about the things that roll off my tongue. As children, many of us learned the saying “Sticks & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I don’t think anything can be further from the truth. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to just how powerful our words can be; they have the power to heal or to destroy. What comes out of our mouth may be a determining factor of life or death for someone. Daily, I enter into work & face a co-worker who irritates me like no other. I believe God has used the death of this young man to remind me how much He values each life. James 3:8 - 11 says, "No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise Our Lord & Father, & with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise & cursing. My brothers & sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water & salt water flow from the same spring?" These scriptures have been at the forefront of my thoughts. As I face individuals, I pray that God would help me to see them through His eyes & to treat them as persons of great worth, persons that were created by God & persons that are loved deeply by Our Maker. I carry around a key chain with Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing your sight, O Lord, My Rock & my Redeemer." Jesus, help the words that flow from my mouth be words that not only please You but edify & build up others. May others know of Your great love because of my love. Amen.

Below, I've included a video of a song that I first heard recently. I think this songs speaks greatly to the power of the tongue.

Oh My, The Horror Of It All!

2011-07-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

While at work today, a member brought to life a horrific discovery about myself. Usually, when people attempt to guess my age, they guess incorrectly. Generally, I'm guessed to be an average of 25 years of age. This morning, one of our regular members came in to make a deposit. She was ranting, raving, moaning & groaning over the expense of having a kid in college. She then looked at me & said, "Do you have kids in college yet?" I'm not easily offended but I must admit, I did want to pop her! I controlled myself & politely said, "No, no kids period yet." She left & as I shared this story with my co-worker, I began doing some calculating. I then realized something. I'm old. As I sat there in disbelief that the member would ask me such a jaw-dropping question, I realized that if I had given birth at the age of 13 or 14, I could be the mother of a 17 or 18 year old today. Which, they would either be a senior in high school or a college freshman. My goodness, I am old enough to be the mother of a college-aged student!! Though I've been viewing some of the students I work with as my little brothers, I'm really old enough to be the mother of the some of them. After the reality of all of this set in, so did sorrow. Again, I'm old.

An Unlikely Motivator

2011-06-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

For months, several individuals quite close to me have been prompting me to move myself from the sofa to the track - encouraging me to at least do some walking. At times, I've been irritated listening to them bark at me like hound dogs. However, I know they do so not because they wish to upset me but only because they love me. Knowing of my past health problems, they are greatly concerned for my health & well-being for both now & the future. I have repeatedly talked about walking but it's all been talk with no feet moving. As my dear friend Pratik said, "Heather, I'm not interested in hearing you say you want to walk, I want to hear that you are doing it!" Well, tonight was the night. My sister & our friend, Amy, have been walking/running together for months now. Due to weather, schedule conflicts, etc. they had laid off of it all over the last couple months. Days ago, I received an e-mail from the both of them inviting me to join them in walking. Though a coworker & I've been discussing walking, we have yet to begin. I decided to quit putting it off & go to the local high school track with my sister & Amy tonight. They intended to walk 12 laps (3 miles). I knew that since I've not done any walking in nearly a year, 3 miles was going to be a bit much for me. I committed to 8 laps (2 miles). Which, that is great for me & my first time. As soon as we started, I spotted people (obviously). By that, I mean...not just any persons but Internationals. Haley knew what running through my mind & reminded me that we had come there to walk, not talk to people. While I understood that, I also know that I'm drawn to Internationals. When I see them, there is a strong yearning to move towards them. I began my walk & Haley & Amy were long gone from me within a matter of minutes. At one point, they made it back to me & Haley reminded me that I had 3 more laps to complete my 2 miles. During my walk, I was making eye contact with a few Internationals - primarily a family that I figured to be from India. In particular, I was most intrigued with a little boy that looked to be 2 or so. Each time I would pass by, he would begin to wave to me. Took everything within me to continue walking & not just stop to engage in conversation. As I approached my last 2 laps, my mind was focused on the desire to speak with this family. I was in high hopes that they would still be on the premises when I got done. I used my desire to speak with them as motivation to not only complete the 2 miles but to get around those last 2 laps much faster. Sure enough, after praying that they would still be there when I finished; they were. I walked over to them & greeted them by saying "Namaste". They seemed rather impressed & wondered how I knew to say such. I stood talking to them for a while. They were surprised that I was able to pronounce their names & that I knew some about their culture. They had been there for quite a while prior to our arrival & with 2 young children, they were ready to head home for the night. They did let me know that it was great meeting me & they hoped to see me again sometime. The lady suggested that should we meet again, maybe we could walk together. I walked away from the evening feeling superb - not just physically but mentally & spiritually. When I decided to go tonight, I never dreamt what would be awaiting me. My outlook & perspective on walking might be seen in a whole new light now. Perhaps there's a mission that awaits me just around the corner at the track?

Patience....Say What? You want me to be patient?!

2011-06-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

After making the announcement that my thoughts of moving into the mission field are going to be more than just a mere thought now, it seems my life has wreaked havoc. Days after I decided to "surrender", my closest friend/coworker jumped ship to go off to further training with the Army Reserves. I have told him this but want to publicly compliment him....I've worked with many people over the last 17 years or so of my life & while I have developed great friendships & gotten along with most of my coworkers, I've never worked AS well with someone as he & I work together. The knowledge that God is calling me to something else & I can't immediately go to it, is making my time at my job that much more unbearable. Without Zach's presence, the days are far worse. Within the past 2 weeks, I've been overwhelmed with emotions - happiness, joy, excitement, anxiousness, worry, stress & much more. Through it all, I've never lost faith that I'm beginning a journey down an unbelievable road; a road that I am full of enthusiasm over. As eager as I am, I realize I must wait. As I await talking to the Missions Pastor at my church & give great consideration to going through our church's training program to be sent out, I understand that the completion of the program will take a minimum of 36-48 months. In my struggles (primarily at work), I've thought "Honestly, I have to wait 3-4 years?!" However, I know that the program will do nothing but benefit me & better prepare me for the road that lies ahead so that I can best be equipped & fully used by God. Should I choose to go through this particular program, I've MUCH reading to do. I'm ready...so ready. I just want to grab the books & dive in. This morning, as Pastor Bob preached on Joshua, he said something that really struck a chord with me...."Time waiting is not time wasted." In my mind, I've thought that anything other than the mission field is a waste for me. Such is not so as God will continue to use me during these "waiting days" as long as I continue to make myself available to be used for His glory. God, help me to be patient knowing that You have a plan for my being where I am at this very moment & that I must go THROUGH this Jericho to get to my Promised Land. Thanks Pastor Bob for your words of encouragement this morning as well as every Sunday since your arrival at FBCH!

I Surrender - Take Me Lord, I am Yours!

2011-06-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I had no interest in anything mission related. Just the thought of having to listen to a missionary speak was enough to nearly bore me to tears. However, as Christ has changed my heart, so has He changed my thoughts, desires, interests, passions & all that I long for. 7 years ago, I felt God calling me to go to Colorado for a week to lead a Vacation Bible School for primarily Hispanic Students. Though frightened & feeling inadequate for the job, I went. God blessed that time. A year later, I found myself a world away - in Taiwan. Again, I was nervous & not certain that I was the best person for the job at hand. Yet, God showed me otherwise. That point was proven when one of the missionaries in Taiwan asked me to pray about moving to Taiwan to join their team. I returned home to St. Louis giving great consideration to what Wes (the missionary) had asked of me. I realized that as badly as I wanted to go, I would have been doing so for the wrong reasons at the time. In 2006, I returned to Taiwan again for a week. My task was the same as the year prior - to use the Bible to teach English to students of all ages. Though the mission was the same both years, the trips were very different for me. At the end of the week, I said my farewells & headed back here to St. Charles....my heart missing the many I had met in just 2 weeks over the course of 2 years. I began praying that God would give me an opportunity to work with Internationals here in my own community. Yet, I had no clue where to look or what to do. As most of you know, I've been volunteering with ISI (International Students, Inc.) since October 2009 & I have loved every second of it. ISI was the answer to my prayer of 3 years. I would hope that the students I've met over the last year & a 1/2 would sense my love for them & know how much I enjoy serving them. My greatest moments come from building relationships with them & loving them because Jesus first loved me. Which, my first mission trip in 2004 to Colorado, my trips to Taiwan, my work with Backyard Bible Clubs, VBS' & now ISI have all led me to where I am at now....longing for something more.

Daily, my thoughts are of the nations. Still, I reflect back to hesitantly walking into to teach the Bible at VBS in Colorado. I remember how scared I was that the kids would not like me & I'd not be able to relate to them as I'd never worked with children. I think about the adorable Joel who took to me immediately & was attached to me for a solid week. I see the beautiful Alejandra's face & in my mind, see the tears falling from her face when we said goodbye. Everyday, I think of my time in Taiwan & the many students I taught - students that I still communicate with via Facebook. They ask, "Teacher, will you come back to Taiwan?" When I'm at work, I'm wishing I was with the International Students from Lindenwood. These are my consuming thoughts. Pastor Bob (the pastor of the church to which I belong) has said on more than one occasion that God is not afraid to make us miserable in order that we would surrender (don't quote me on that...close but not word for word). I have reached that point. I've sat through 2 Mission Conference Weekends at our church over the last few years & have felt like I was to be moving in the direction of full-time missions. I've went & sat in the sanctuary, listened to Pastor Bob preach &have felt very uncomfortable at times because I've felt that he was speaking directly at me & though I heard every word, I was not taking action. Over the course of the last couple of years, I've had a number of people that have questioned me as to why I'm not overseas serving. These persons have seen within me that which I've been running from - the truth that my heartbeat is for the globe & God has made me that way. I've had a lot of excuses. My sister is the one with great faith that just picks up & moves. I am not that person. I've known for quite a long while where my heart is - my heart is with Internationals. Still, I've found a need to debate & tell God exactly why it is I CAN'T do what I believe He wants me to do. I need health insurance. I just bought a car last year & it's not even close to being paid off. I have debts. I don't have a college degree. I'm not smart enough. I don't speak another language. The list could continue for days. This past Sunday, Pastor Bob preached a story that most of us are familiar with - the Story of Noah & the Ark. Towards the end, he told how his son asked him what he would do if God asked him to build an ark. He shared that he hoped he would be obedient & do as God asked. He also said that while God had not asked him to build an ark, he felt that he had an "Noah & the Ark" moment when God told him to leave the job that he had & move his family to Kansas City to attend seminary & pursue ministry. As I sat there on Sunday morning, I KNEW that it was no accident or coincident that I was sitting there. God wanted me in that seat at that very moment to hear that specific message. As he spoke, I knew immediately what my "Noah & the Ark" moment was. As Pastor Bob pointed out, Noah did not debate or question God; he simply did as God instructed. God is not asking me to worry about the details or consider all the "what- if's" I tend to focus on....He's calling me to surrender & trust Him.

With this being said, there are no definitive plans but I have began researching, requesting information & looking into various mission organizations. I will not be on a plane booking it out of the U.S. tomorrow morning or probably even soon. For now, I need to begin to see what the options are, where I sense God leading me (if it is overseas or remaining here in U.S. working with an organization) & move forward. There are definitely a few cultural groups that I've taken a great interest in & I know that God has allowed that for a purpose. Still, I need to let Him direct my steps in this adventure & show me exactly where it is He wants me to be. I would be lying if I said I'm not nervous. However, I know that if it is God's plan for me to "GO", He will provide all that I need & so much more. As I end this, I share the lyrics to Chris Tomlin's song "I Will Follow" as I want to be the one who who says, "God, I'm Yours, whatever You ask of me, I will do." Will you pray for me as I seek to be obedient to the One who deserves my all, my everything?

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone

In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow.

True Beauty Lies Within

2011-04-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

"For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

As humans, I think it is our nature is to oftentimes judge a person based upon their appearance rather than their heart. It's hard to appreciate someone for who they are as a person when we do not know them & have not even made the attempt to get to know them. Yet, it's not difficult to look at them & decide whether or not we like what we see visually. While earlier in the year I met someone that is quite easy on the eyes & that was what first stood out to me, as I've taken the time to get to know him, his character far outweighs anything else. I have watched this person endure some hardships & all the meanwhile, he's remained strong in his faith & has maintained a positive attitude. His deep concern for people in general is amazing. He is, by far, one of the most grateful individuals I've ever met in my life. When I talk to him, my soul smiles because he is so extremely passionate about Jesus, his family, life & the world. What I saw 3 months ago was a good looking guy. What I've come to see now is a guy who I am blessed to have met. To my friend, your true beauty comes out & is evident in the way you treat those around you. I know very few people like you in my life. When I talk to you, I am led closer to the heart of Our Father, Jesus. Thank you for that. Thank You, God, for putting this person in my path & for allowing me to see what makes this person truly beautiful--Your light shining from within him.

Big Faith

2011-03-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Our pastor has been preaching a series on Spiritual Gifts. As we have learned more about the specific gifts & hopefully discovered our gifts individually, I've come to know that "faith" is not one of my spiritual gifts. While I have faith, I do not have the spiritual gift of faith. I've known that for a long time. However, I do know that there are many that God has given that gift to. At this point in time in my life, there is something that I long for and yet, I have little confidence that God can work in the situation. Yes, I am the "Oh Ye, of little faith" person. I know that God cares about every detail of our life. Both the big things & the small things--the things we deem insignificant our close to His heart because WE are His beloved. While that which is on my mind may seem unimportant to many, I know that it is huge to my Heavenly Father for He desires the very best for me & has my best interest at heart. May I seek to trust that His will, WILL be done in this situation as well as every other area of my life if I will just wholly submit.

Reunited & It Feels So Good

2011-02-09T16:43:00.002-08:00

"A brother does not have to necessarily say anything to you-he can sit in a room and be together with you and just be completely comfortable with you." - AnonymousA little over a year ago (on January 12th to be exact), I entered into the apartment of a friend of mine & was introduced to 3 new incoming students from Nepal (Dilesh, Narayan & Ishwor). Though I felt kind of like a mother hen immediately with a need to watch over them & make sure they'd get adjusted, I never would have guessed the effect they would have on me. As I sat there trying to get them to open up to me, I would never have dreamt that I would or could love them so deeply. My bond with them grew quite strong over just a few short months shared together. My heart ached badly when they decided to leave Lindenwood & transfer elsewhere for schooling. Saying goodbye last May was rather difficult as truly, it was as though I was sending off family members-brothers. Every student I meet is special, no doubt about that. However, as with any relationship, there are those that we are naturally closer to. This is true of the many Nepali students that arrived here for the Spring Semester of 2010. Daily, these students still come to mind. Many months later, I still miss them. For the majority of them, I quickly became a big sister. Nearly every day, at least one of them would call me to inquire into whether or not I'd be coming to campus. I may have just been there the day prior but they would want me to come again. Most of the time, I would gladly oblige. We would typically just sit talking with one another. Sometimes, we would watch Hindi music videos. The main thing was just being together. Being far away from their own families, they loved getting to see Haley & me frequently. As I've already mentioned, these students have all gone from here. 2 of the 3 that I first met, moved to Fairfax, VA. As I prepared to vacation in West Virginia, I checked on the distance between where I would be & where those 2 lived. I found they were roughly about 5 hours away. When I first began planning, we were going to meet halfway to spend a day together. However, I soon realized something. In the dead of winter, there was not going to be any sufficient place to meet halfway to spend time together. Most likely, the only place we could meet would be at a restaurant & it was highly unlikely that they would allow us to sit there for more than a couple of hours. Really, to only meet for a couple hours would not be worth the 2.5 hour drive for anyone-especially if one had to battle through snow for the meeting. Narayan rushed to say that he & Dilesh would drive the 5 hours to come visit me in West Virginia. They were determined that we would be meeting. When I landed in West Virginia, the ground was covered in snow. I feared that the guys might have difficulties making it to me. I was ecstatic when my phone rang & it was the two of them calling to say they were just a couple of minutes away from my friend's house. At last, I saw them coming up the road. Already, tears were beginning to well up. I laughed as Narayan attempted to make it up the snow-packed drive-way & was unable to do so. His tires were spinning like crazy. Finally he just backed out & parked on the street. I got huge hugs from both of them & tried oh so hard not to bawl like a baby. The date was January 17th & there I was, reunited with 2 that I love a lot. Narayan had asked me to try to find something we could do...a park to go to, something, anything. My friends that I was staying with mentioned the New River Gorge Bridge to me. Though we got lost on our way there, we did find the place. Before we had even got out of the car, my prediction came true when I heard one of them say, "It's so cold outside." I had told my friends, PJ & Kasey, that the boys would be complaining about how cold it was outside & they'd not want to be out there for long. Too funny - that we weren't even out walking around yet & I had foreseen what would occur! Unfortunately, due to lots of snowfall there in West Virginia prior to my arrival, the park was closed & we were not able to walk to the base of the bridge to look upwards for pics or anything.

The park ranger said they had been closed for a couple of weeks due to the stairs & pathway being covered in ice. We spent a bit of time there anyway just trying to enjoy what we could. As we were there, one of the guys mentioned that he thought it had been exactly a year to the day since I had taken them to the zoo here in St. Louis. I thought for a moment & he was pretty close in his guess - I had taken them on January 17th, 2009. Amazing that right at a year later, we'd be back together. After we spent some time at the park, I checked the guys into their motel room. I'm sure we were all tired since we all managed to fall asleep. Narayan was the first one to take a snooze. Dilesh put on a movie for he & I & low & behold, I looked & he was no longer watching the movie as he had dozed off. Within minutes, I too had drifted off. The noise of some rustling around awakened me & when I looked, I saw Narayan sitting up in his bed looking over at Dilesh & myself. He said, "Let's move, let's go eat." We went to try out the ONLY Indian Restaurant in Beckley, WV. Doing so, really made me wish they were still here so that we could share Indian & Nepali food together often. We hung out some more & at one point, I was afraid the guys might be a bit bored. I asked them if they were bored. Narayan once again brought tears to my eyes with his answer. He replied, "No. How could we be bored? We are with you."

Again, with them, it only matters to be together. I guess it was probably nearing midnight when they returned me to my friend's house. They'd discussed driving back over the following morning to tell me bye. However, as we were out running around, the snow had begun to come down again. Both had to be back in D.C. for classes by noon the next day so they needed to get a move on things. They chose to say their goodbye's to me that night. I had a hard time letting go of them. I only got 1 day with them & yet, those few hours meant the world to me. Neither will ever know how grateful I am that they took the time to come & see me. Happiness was mine during the time we spent together. Though we'd been apart for nearly 8 months, it felt as if nothing had changed. By far, one of the greatest days I've had since they left St. Louis last May. Dilesh, Narayan: I love you both.... a lot. Thanks again for making my day. I'll not forget it.

Up, Up & Away

2011-01-19T16:05:00.001-08:00

Having not boarded a plane since July of 2009, my travels to WV were long overdue. When all other options of vacation places failed (haha, sorry PJ & Kasey) & I decided to then come here to mountain country, I then had to decide which route I wanted to take to get here. Flying was obvious but should I go through Chicago or Atlanta? I opted with Chicago simply because the layovers were longer & I have a great fear of things going badly & my missing a flight. For me, the longer I have to catch a plane; the better. St. Louis was to get snow around the time of my departure & I was nervous that my flight might be delayed or cancelled. Thankfully, neither were the case. I made it to Chicago O'Hare just fine & all went smoothly getting to the next gate. I had a couple of hours to kill before the plane was slated to take off to get me here to WV. I joined many in watching the Bears vs. Seahawks playoff game. Being in Chicago made the intensity of the game a bit more exciting though I really had no preference as to a team to win. I was a bit surprised when over the P.A. system came an announcement that there would be a interdenominational Christian worship service in Terminal 1 at 11:30 a.m. Maybe all airports do this & I was just unaware? Had I not have been in a completely different part of the airport, it may have been interesting to go & check it out. I, however, did not venture that direction. While sitting there, I got teary-eyed when there was another announcement asking everyone to welcome back a Staff Sgt. that was returning from Iraq. They played God Bless America over the system & people began to cheer & clap for the soldier who had finally made it back onto American soil. I only wish I could have seen the celebration when he was reunited with his family. Having been at the airport for a while, it was time to use the facilities (aka, the bathroom). When Haley & I were kids, we used to inspect every bathroom everywhere we went & rate it. I remember my dad even making us up a checklist to carry around with us...guess he found humor in what we were doing. Haley would have LOVED this bathroom. I was fascinated by the toilet & honestly, I nearly got my camera out to video that which was before my eyes. Perhaps I just don't get out much & lead a shelter life but did you know they make automatic toilet seat covers? Yeah, not even kidding. I made my way into the stall dragging all of my carry-ons with me & immediately saw a sign instructing me on usage of the toilet. Wave hand over the sensor & when doing so, watch in amazement as the seat cover rotates. I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E! Definitely the highlight of O'Hare. St. Louis is not so advanced yet. My flight was to leave at 1:49, boarding at 1:30. At 1:30, I was still sitting at the gate. Flight delayed due to aircraft delay. Rescheduled departure? 2:00. 2:00, still sitting there. Flight delayed again. At last, 2:10, I boarded the plane. A quick 1 hour & 3 min. flight to WV & we touched down on the runway & I saw the smallest airport I think I've seen to date - Yeager Airport here in Charleston, WV. Thus the beginning of my WV adventure.

My Brother, Durga dai

2010-11-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

For those reading, you may wonder when I acquired a brother. While I have many brothers now, I have only one big brother. No, we were not separated at birth (to my knowledge, my mom never birthed a son!). In fact, we only met a little over a year ago. I can't recall our meeting place. I only remember thinking that the individual standing before me was someone special. Over the last year, I have come to know just how remarkable Durga is. Like many of my new found friends, Durga is from Nepal. Different from others, he is older than me. "Dai" in Nepali refers to an elder brother. Just as many Nepali's refer to Durga as "dai", so do I. With age comes maturity. Maturity and wisdom. Durga has always been quick to help & ready to listen whenever I've needed a friend or someone to talk to. In addition to his "being there", he is someone from which I love to learn things from. At one time, Durga was a translator in his country. As I desire to learn Nepali, he's been patient in trying to teach me as well as giving me resources that can be of assistance to me. Durga dai to many, appears to be a quiet, timid, reserved individual. He can be all of those things. However, with me, he's extremely funny, talkative and loads of fun. If you were to ask many of the Nepali students to name people that they had utmost respect for in their circle, you would surely hear Durga's name. I have great trust & admiration for Durga dai. When my journey with Nepali persons began I started hearing about Everest Cafe (the only Nepali Restaurant in St. Louis). I'd hoped to go for a long time but never was able to make it. Finally, after a year, I made it there. My first trip there was with my brother. I am so glad that I was able to go with someone so dear to my heart. One day, Durga will leave St. Louis. On that day (& many days after), I'll be sad. When that time comes, I'll know that I've not only made a friend for a lifetime but I, for a short time, enjoyed life with the big brother I'd always longed for. For now, I'll continue to grab hold of every second I can spend with Durga, cherishing every moment.

Dashain Party 2010

2010-10-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Dashain Party 2009 was my intro to the Nepali culture. Dashain Party 2010? I was excited to be in the presence of & celebrating a year spent with some astounding Nepalese persons. My dear bahini (little sister), Grishma, got me a ticket to the event & her doing so, made me feel quite honored. My Nepali friends (both old & new) have been so good to me over the last year - welcoming me, treating me as one of their own. Odd as it may seem, I have a family-like atmosphere with many of them. From the moment I first learned about this years party, I had high hopes that I would be fortunate enough to go. Last year, I felt a little like a duck out of water. I was in an unfamiliar setting amidst a roomful of strangers from a completely different walk of life than my own. This go around, I felt "at home" if you will. While I certainly did not know everyone in attendance, I knew a a fare percentage of those that were present. Just as they have done time & time again over the last 12 months, they greeted me with kindness & a friendly spirit. This year, I bought a ticket for a friend of mine - an American friend. Zach had been in my home when one of the Nepali's cooked, he'd been around some of the Nepali's...only seemed appropriate to invite him along. I was sure to let him know that he would probably not understand a word spoken through the evening as most of the program would be in Nepali. I failed to mention, however, that he could just disregard whatever "time schedule" may have appeared on his ticket. If there is one thing I have learned over the last year, it is that the Nepalese do not run on American time. I am not saying that harshly nor is such a statement true of every person from Nepal. However, I think that many of my Nepali friends could agree with me on this though. I have grown accustomed to how things are done & I'm OK with it now that I have an understanding of things. That being said, our tickets stated that we would begin eating dinner at 8:00 p.m. As the clock kept on ticking & our stomach's continued to growl with hunger, Zach questioned when we would be eating. I then remembered from the year prior that I had asked the same thing when sitting at the table with Suman. As I thought back to the year before, I began to laugh. I broke the bad news to Zach--it was probably going to be a while. If my memory was correct, we did not eat until nearly 9:00 the year before. On another note, when we finally did eat, the food was delectable! I think Zach would admit that though the wait was long, the food was worth the wait. He, like me, loved the Goat's Meat. Only disappointment of the evening was that Zach left before the after-hour dance party started. I was really looking forward to watching him show off his moves on the dance floor. I had already insisted that I would NOT be dancing. In fact, I said I would "NEVER" dance. Lesson learned yet again in life..."NEVER say NEVER!" Though I'm not sure one could call it dancing, I was on the dance floor & moved slightly. All in all, I would total my minutes of "moving" to maybe 5. 7 minutes top.

(Pankaj was, no doubt, the dancing machine. He tried his best to try to get me to moving. He was successful for a minute or two.)

Instead, I was much more at ease taking my pictures. At one point, some guy I did not know came & grabbed me by the hand & attempted to drag me out there to dance with him. I told him I was busy. His words were, "You've taken enough pictures, it's time to dance." He got me out there--it was short-lived though. Every fiber of my being wishes that I had rhythm & knew how to move without looking like a complete fool. I heard the music, liked the music, could sing along to the songs & was dying to get out there. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I wonder....are there Dance Lessons for Dummies?

(My sweet friend, Pawana. She let me know that there are just a few "basic moves" that I need to learn in order to "hold my own out on the dance floor." She'll have to be the teacher-not an easy task!)

Despite the fact that I did not dance the night away with my friends, I had a fantastic time with my many friends. The party ended shortly after midnight & after driving here & there to return friends to their "homes", I finally tucked myself in my own bed at 3:30 the next morning. I had just as good of a time (if not better) as expected. I am so jubilant that I was able to go share such a special time with people that are so close to my heart. A year away but I'm ready....Dashain 2011!

Rolling On The River

2010-10-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

11:00 a.m. : Check-out time at the hotel in Cape. I made it out just minutes before 11 & then pondered what to do & where to go next. Remembering Keshav's pictures from his stay in Cape, I wanted to make sure that I explored the riverfront. Darpan was unable to go with me & Samikshya was fast asleep unaware that her phone was ringing. I've never really been one to allow being alone to stop me from doing something. While many won't go to a restaurant by themselves, I will. Certainly, I was not going to pass on the opportunity to see some more sights. The murals painted all along the wall at the riverfront were a nice addition to the area....great concept depicting different historical aspects as well as famous persons born in the state of Missouri. I enjoyed sitting & watching the river roll along. Though the town was ghostly due to SEMO being on Fall Break & students being away, there were no shortage of couples. Not even a clue as to how many couples I saw that were walking around posing for engagement photos. I hate to say it but that got to me. Had I have had someone, ANYONE with me, things would have been fine. Instead, I had no one to take my mind off of all that I saw which only brought to the forefront that yes, I'm single. Though this is a reality daily for me, most days it does not bother me. Unfortunately, it did on this day. Since my camera was out of commission (accident-it was dropped), I had to use my cell phone camera to try to capture the scenery. If I would have had someone with me, we could have taken some cool pics down there. After walking around, hunger set in. As I walked, I saw a place selling ice cream, shakes & malts. Seeing as how I'm quite passionate about ice cream, I knew I should stop there. I walked in & as soon as I stepped foot in the door, the aroma of BBQ hit me. I don't get to enjoy BBQ too frequently as some in my family do not like it. I decided to enjoy lunch there & cap things off with a shake to go. I was the only customer in the place when I arrived, only one there when I left. Which, that might lead many to believe that the place was not worth eating at. However, I'd go back there in a flash as it was quite tasty. Before exiting Cape, I made 2 stops-1 at Darpan's dorm & 1 at Samikshya's house. I thanked them & said my farewell. Moving along.....

Chillin' in Cape

2010-10-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

Over the last year, I have developed friendships with many students from Nepal. As I have gotten to know them, I've received friend requests on Facebook from many of their friends/family members back home in Nepal or in other places around the world. I've accepted some of those requests & have conversed with a great number of these individuals. 2 of the Nepali's I'd been in contact with live here in Missouri in the town of Cape Girardeau & are attending Southeast Missouri State University. Wishing to meet them, I figured while time allowed, I would do so. I first met Darpan. I learned about Darpan over the summer when my little brother, Narayan, called & asked me to pick up his friend from the airport. Ready & eager to do so, I learned that Darpan was not in St. Louis as Narayan thought. Instead, he was in Kansas City (for those unfamiliar with this place, Kansas City is about 3.5-4.0 hours west of St. Louis). He was also not attending college in St. Louis as Narayan had misunderstood him to say. Needless to say, I did not meet Darpan at that time. Our moment to meet had finally arrived & he was just as I envisioned that he would be - quiet & shy. He suggested that we go to a nature conservatory & I was enthused by his effort in trying to develop a "plan." We made it to the center & he quickly caught on to one thing--I love to take pictures. I told him from the beginning that he was going to have to deal with that. I had to smile when after a few shots, he would finally hand the camera back to me & want me to take his picture. Though awkward meeting at first, he began to warm up to me as the minutes passed by. As soon as we sat down to eat some Indian food at the Global Cafe', Samikshya called. In the spring, my other little brother, Keshav, flew to Cape. He spent several days with Samikshya. I was eager to meet her as Keshav so enjoyed his time with her. She hurried to the cafe to join Darpan & myself. She was not timid at all-maybe due in part to the fact that she has been living here in the U.S. for a few years & it is a bit more accustomed to life in America? After eating, we went to Samikshya's home where I met several of her friends. I met yet another Manish & another Sameer (I say another because I already have 2 friends with the same name). I had a great time getting to know all of them. Samikshya was adamant that I try on her saree (sari). I'd been longing to try one on for quite sometime as I think they are stunning (just like the Nepalese people). While it looked "OK", I think it would have looked much better had I have had the proper attire for underneath it. Whatever the case, many of my Nepalese friends have paid me compliments on it & for that, I'm quite appreciative. Their positive feedback might be the confidence I need to attempt to wear such again sometime. Maybe I can move beyond a house & out into public while doing so as well. We'll see...no guarantees. Of course, I did tell a couple of my Nepali brothers that they could buy me one & mail it to me. I suppose if they do so, I'll have no choice but to wear it out of my respect for them. Though my stay was brief, I am so very glad that I had the opportunity to go beyond simply chatting with these 2 Nepali's & actually spend some time with them. Much thanks to Darpan & Samikshya for welcoming me & treating me as one of their own.

Autumn Splendor with Rico Suave'

2010-10-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Vacation, Day # 3: My third day of my vacation was meant to be spent amidst the Amish in a town a few hours from St. Charles. As with all things, plans oftentimes change. This particular day was no different. A day prior, my traveling companion contacted me to let me know she would not be able to go after-all. Knowing that I was not just going to sit around wishing that I had something to do, I took action. I remembered that a friend of mine had said he was free for the day. After verifying with him that he was still available, I began to consider options of what he & I could do for the day. Seems quite common for my international friends to say "Heather, you are the one from St. Louis. You know what there is to do. You decide something." When I questioned my buddy Roshan (he enjoys going by "Rico") as to what he wanted to do, he did not let me down. He too, said the same thing that most others have said. I pondered what we could do that he had probably not already done. Having been here a few years, he's seen the Arch, been to the Zoo & for whatever reason, was uninterested in frolicking through the flowers with me at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. A'las, a light-bulb went on inside my ole' noggin & I decided we'd make our way to the Elephant Rocks State Park. From beginning to end, the day was picture perfect in every way. I first saw Roshan about a year ago at the Dashain Party (a Nepali Festival). Our stories differ on our first meeting but whatever the case, we met. For the last year, we'd seen each other a few times on different occasions but had never spent any time together. We talked about hanging out numerous times but our talk was just that-talk. Finally, we took some action. I assigned Rico the duty of picking a place to eat for lunch & I was delighted that not only did he do so, he did quite well with his choosing. The place he picked just so happens to be one of my favorites! Before eating, we bumped into a friend of mine from church. Along with him was his friend, Olya, visiting from the Ukraine. I had hoped to meet Olya but due to other commitments, I was unable to do so at the time that was set to celebrate her time here in St. Louis. No coincidence that she & Doug were found in the Delmar Loop hours before her departure back to her country! Though short, our brief introduction & visit was nice. Olya, happy to have met you! After enjoying some Mexican (thank you again Rico for my meal), Rico & I got back in my car & I began the drive down I-55. I had to laugh when we had not been gone for very long & Rico asked if we could stop to get a drink. Of course, I was more than willing to stop & I did. I just had to chuckle. Seems I cannot manage to arrive anywhere without first getting lost. Same was true yesterday despite having not only directions from off the internet but a GPS as well. I think I took us about 15 miles out of the way before finally determining that I thought I should turn around. Thankfully, Rico did not mind the detour. Eventually, we made it to our destination. We parked & hit the trails.Though there were cars in the lot, we did not see any other people until we had completed the first trail. After a quick bathroom break (which, Rico was REAL pleased with the restroom facilities), we took off onto the other trail. Well, I'm not sure that there actually was a trail. We more or less just climbed all over the place & went our own way. We spent a while there & once we had seen everything, I attempted to take Rico to another state park. Unfortunately, when we arrived at 5:57, the gates were already closed as the park was closing at 6:00 p.m. On our return, Rico & I had great conversation & I'm happy to report, found our way back without any missteps. As we were heading back, we discussed plans for dinner. Rico mentioned German food. However, since it was getting late, we opted to play it safe & go somewhere that did not involve the risk of possibly not liking the food. Rico again did the choosing--Vietnamese food. I had never had Vietnamese--I quite liked it. The restaurant closed at 9:00 & Rico & I shut the place down as we were heading out the door minutes after closing time. I said farewell to Rico & then moved down the road to visit some friends of mine (one in particular...a different Roshan). I did not stay for long but even for the short time span, it was good to see the guys. I am glad that over the summer, I met such wonderful individuals. Enjoyed visiting with Roshan, Pankaj & Ujjwal. I had hoped to return back to St. Charles no later than 6:30 in order to attend a function at the college. However, when Rico & I didn't even make it to the park until nearly 3:00 p.m., I knew that there was no chance that I'd be back when I had desired. In the end, I'm more than content with the happenings of the day. I could not have asked for a more gorgeous day, breathtaking scenery or better company. I wish I would have been able to just stay down there at the park & camped out for the night...out in the country with nothing but open sky. I'm sure the stars would have been incredible. Though it is a bit of a drive, I am more than anxious to go back there within the next few days if anyone is up for it. Day 3, you took the cake!

Riding Solo

2010-10-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

First day of vacationing & I, like Jason Derulo's song states, found myself "riding solo." For various reasons (some of which were mentioned in my previous post), I am having somewhat of a "stay-cation" as some would call it. Not my ideal way of spending my time off but in the end, if it saves me a few dollars & gets me one step closer to Nepal, I'll be OK with it. Thanks to my dad's love of traveling, my sister & I are quite accustomed to "going & doing" things. That being said, I can't just sit here. Pondering what to do with my time, I began to research things & found places relatively close that I have never been to. Yesterday, I set out on the open road..just me, myself & I. Well, kind of...Jack Johnson was with me on the ride there & Taylor Swift rode back with me. When I was younger, it was tradition for all of the girls in the family to do a ladies trip every once in a great while. The weekend was a time for me, my sister, my mom, aunts, cousins & my grandma to get away. On one of the trips, someone thought it would be great fun to take us younger kids to see a covered bridge that some relative built (shows how much I enjoyed it--I've no idea which family member built the thing). I would guess that I was probably around 14 at the time. Looking back, I don't know if we could have done anything more boring. 17 years later or so & guess what I've an interest in? Covered bridges. Yep! I would LOVE to go to the Northeast & tour the many covered bridges in the autumn & see the striking fall foliage & beautiful hues of red, yellow & orange towering overhead. My trip yesterday was no such thing. However, I did admire the transition of summer to fall that has taken place as I drove down the road. I've included a few pictures. While I did enjoy myself, I must confess that I would much rather have had someone with me...someone to sing with, laugh with, see the sights with. Looking forward to having a friend join me tomorrow....will be good to have company for the day.

Dreaming Big

2010-09-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

I do not remember a time in my life when a year has passed without my going on some kind of vacation. Some years, my family has done really large trips while other years, I've just spent a week or two visiting family in Alabama. For the first time in many years, I've yet to go anywhere this year. I had planned to be boarding a plane next month traveling to Indonesia. However, things do not always go as we plan. Due to various reasons, the trip to Indonesia was cancelled & I will not be going there after-all. As the trip to Indonesia began to look less likely day by day, I began giving greater consideration to flying to Dallas or to Virginia to see some of the Nepali students that became my brothers last semester. However, just as I lead a busy life, they do also. Seems no one would have much time to visit with me. With that being said, it seems pointless for me to spend a large amount of money on a flight, hotel, car rental & food & not even get to see those I have made the trip for. Over the past year, I've grown very close to many Nepali's. From the moment I first met someone from Nepal & began to learn about his country, there was an urge to visit the land. The more I've seen pictures & videos of Nepal, the more interest I have in the country. As I've built friendships with so many Nepalese, my desire to go there has only intensified. I wish to meet the mothers, fathers, sisters & brothers of these wonderful people. I long to let the landscape take my breath away. I am eager to sit down & enjoy Nepali food with my hands amidst other Nepali's. I want so badly to ride an elephant inChitwan Park. I want to clothe myself in stunning sari's (saree). Mainly, I want to take in all that Nepal has to offer. Though I'm disappointed that I've yet to go anywhere special this year & I won't be, I trust I am making the right choice. I've decided to forgo one of my vacation weeks this year & carry it over to next so that I may go to Nepal. God-willing, as long as I am able to save enough money for a plane ticket, I will be up in the air flying across the world next summer or fall with the destination place being Kathmandu. In the meantime, I will continue to befriend Nepali's, learn more about their culture & home & hopefully, pick up some of the language. I'm ready to tour Nepal in 2011-the year of tourism for the country!!

I Could Really Use a Wish Right Now....

2010-09-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars, I could really use a wish right now, wish right now"- lyrics from the song "Airplanes"

I too, am looking for a wish to be fulfilled. As everyone knows by now, I absolutely love Lady Antebellum. After seeing them early this summer, I was elated upon learning that they would be returning here this month. Yes, Lady A will be back here in STL on September 30th & the Fabulous Fox Theater. I want nothing more than to go see this amazing group yet again. However, I must ask myself...do I need to spend the money on it? The answer (sadly) is "no". I'm going to hold out hope that I somehow manage to score some tickets so I'll be seated there at the end of the month hearing one of music's finest. Wish me well!

Summer Whirl

2010-09-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Summer has come and soon it will end. The summer has been nothing at all like I planned on it being. I expected that I would spend my summer at home-relaxing, taking it easy. As I recently shared with my family, I think I have been more active this past year than I had been the previous 30 combined. Do not misunderstand me, I have loved every second that I have been able to enjoy time with students. However, sometimes I am in great need of rest. Which, I've not succeeded well in getting. I figured that with so many students having left LU for good & many gone elsewhere for the summer, there would not really be anyone around for me to share my time with. While I did not see much of Lindenwood students, my entire summer has been devoted to meeting & getting to know students from other campuses (Fontbonne, UMSL, Maryville & Wash-U...for those unfamiliar with St. Louis, all are universities in the area here). I've met students from Nepal (of course!), Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea & Thailand. We have dined out together & some have welcomed me into their homes & prepared meals for me. Though these last few months did not go as I intended them to go, I am very grateful that I've been given the opportunity to get to know all of these wonderful people. Now, I have even more friends!

The Little Things

2010-08-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've often been asked why exactly it is that I blog. Many reasons. First one being the fact that I enjoy writing. Also, I hope that something I may have to say might be of encouragement to someone, bring laughter in the midst of a rather uneventful day or for those curious, allow them the opportunity to be enlightened a bit more into who I am. Some things I may write about may seem pointless to others. I'm OK with that. If you read this, it is your choice. You can also choose not to read. Either way, I'm fine. In my younger years, I often journaled & for a number of years, kept a diary. Just as my cousins & I have had the opportunity to read our Grandma's entries & see what life was like back when she was young, perhaps there will be some youngster that comes behind me that wonders what I did. For those reasons, I write...I blog. I am aware that people read my blog from time to time...probably thinking I'm a bit long-winded. I am. Recently, I learned that someone had spent an entire evening staying awake reading my words. They did not go to bed until 2:30-3:30 in the morning. I was extremely surprised when they shared such with me & even more amazed when they began questioning me about some of the things I had written. Even I had forgotten about some of the stuff! I'm a simple gal....always have been, probably always will be. For me, it's the little things in life that impress me or make me happy. The same person who ruined their sleeping out of interest for what I had to say, called me last week to let me know they had a surprise for me. They said what they had for me was going to make me really happy & they just knew I would love it. They said that "SOMEONE" had told them I wanted this gift. I racked my brain trying to think of what I may have requested from someone. I came up empty. While talking the other evening, the person said they had a bell for me. For those unaware, I collect souvenir bells. I knew I had NEVER mentioned that I collected bells or verbalized that to this individual. That being said, I was a bit confused as to how they knew that. I then remembered, my blog. A while back, I wrote about my bell collection. While reading every entry from the last 3 years, they saw that & took note of it. I have to give them credit....that is quite impressive. I can't believe someone paid such close attention to every word I wrote. I do not write in order that someone will read my words, see my wants & desires & then seek to grant me those things. However, it means a great deal that someone wanted to know "me" & that crazy as it seems, they spent hours & hours reading that which to many, may seem unimportant. Again, it's the little things in life.

Coming Soon.....

2010-07-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

From my understanding, this is the time of year when many international students are visiting the U.S. Embassy in their country to interview & apply for visas to come to America for what could be the opportunity of a lifetime for many of them. Some, will already have made it through the interview process, obtained their visa & are now preparing for a huge move to the United States. In less than a month, 100-200 new students from all around the world will step foot onto the grounds of Lindenwood University. Most likely, I will meet just a small number of those new students. Still, I will greet new faces. I will eagerly await getting to know some of them at the airport as I'll pick them up & give them a ride to their new "home" at the college. I will meet some for the first time at an ISI meeting & others, I'll meet through various people. Though I am missing so many of the students that are no longer here, I am anxious for those that I know to return from their summer travels & for new students to arrive. I am excited for the year ahead & for the memories to be made up the road.

The Miles Between Us Do Not Stop the Memories

2010-07-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

I was told this would get easier. While in some ways it has, many days are difficult. I know you are not here. How could I not notice? You may think I have moved on, that others have taken your place. Others have entered into my life but no one will ever be you. Though you are not here & adjusting to that truth has become easier, I miss you no less than the day you left.

I miss having you sitting beside me in Busch Stadium to watch the Cardinals play.

I miss dancing with you.

I miss going to ISI Dinners with you.

I miss not being able to take you to the Zoo in warmer temperatures.

I miss playing in the snow with you.

I miss helping you prepare Nepali meals.

I miss sharing those meals with you in my home and your home.

I miss relaxing in Spellmann with you - sitting on the sofas outside of the computer lab or down in the Connection.

I miss helping you with papers, projects and reports.

I miss waiting for you to appear at ISI meetings.

I miss you showing me your favorite Nepali music videos.

I miss you trying to teach me Nepali.

I miss you laughing at me as I tried speaking Nepali.

I miss seeing you looking sharp in your traditional Nepali clothing.

I miss getting to celebrate birthdays with you.

I miss your hugs.

I miss you telling me of your hopes and dreams of the future.

I miss hearing about those you love the most - your family...your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister.

I miss being honest and sharing things with you.

I miss your trusting me & your opening up & sharing the difficult times of your life with me.

I miss you being here to care for me, give me advice, encourage me & attempting to protect me from those that aren't the best for me.

I miss playing board games with you.

I miss your being at my house till 2 or 3 in the morning while I try to keep my eyes open.

I miss your not wanting to leave our house to return to school.

I miss asking you questions to get to know you and then hearing your responses.

I miss you waiting for my answers to those same questions.

I miss you making up your own questions.

I miss grocery shopping with you.

I miss going to the movies with you.

I miss allowing you to get in the driver's seat of my car and drive around.

I miss the smile that came upon your face when I told you that you were doing a good job driving.

I miss driving down the road wondering if you would ever decide where you wanted to eat.

I miss hearing you say, "Let's move."

I miss hearing you say, "Let it be."

I miss eating Indian food with you.

I miss having slushies with you.

I miss going to Steak & Shake with you.

I miss your going to church with me.

I miss your being in the Realm with me.

I miss searching the Loop for things with you.

I miss singing Taylor Swift songs with you ("You Belong With Me", "Romeo & Juliet", "White Horse") in my car.

I miss hearing you sing James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"

I miss hearing you sing Guns & Roses "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"

I miss hearing you sing Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do, I Do For You"

I miss singing "Must Be the Money" (Monkey!!) with you.

I miss your getting excited when my phone would ring & play "Boom Boom Pow"

I miss picking you up at the airport after returning to St. Louis.

I miss you always wanting my camera so that you could get "snaps."

I miss you making me pose for photos.

I miss walking with you, hiking with you...you patiently waiting for me.

I miss sitting on the grass of the riverfront letting the cool winds blow through our hair.

I miss fighting with you in the kitchen as we got icing all over each other...and water...and ice.

I miss photo shoots with you.

I miss your holding your country's flag proudly while allowing me to join you for a picture.

I miss you asking me about my day at work.

I miss showing you the St. Louis Arch.

I miss beating you at tennis on the Nintendo Wii.

I miss singing Karaoke on the Wii with you.

I miss getting to watch the joy on my parents faces when they see you.

I miss watching you play football (soccer).

I miss hearing you talk about Cricket.

I miss seeing you uneasy with "Easy" around. Funny time.

I miss picnics with you.

I miss sitting with you on a park bench and sharing our hearts through conversation.

I miss driving you to the India Market and your introducing me to new things there.

I miss hearing you say, "I love you."

Mainly.....I just miss your being here. I miss everything about you. Miles may be between us but my love for you is no less. My thoughts of you are not less frequent. Actually, my thoughts of you are daily. You may not be here but you can rest assured that I certainly have not forgotten you. Each day, these things above or the thinks I think of. There are many more that I did not even mention too. They come to mind and I smile, laugh or fight the tears. You are remembered. You are loved.

I Wanna Be a Billionaire

2010-07-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

"I wanna be a billionaire, so freakin' bad. Buy all of the things I never had." These are the first couple of lines to a song being played on the radio regularly today. Go figure that immediately after our pastor preached on materialism & covetousness, I would hear this song on the radio. Though I am not a fan of the vast majority of the lyrics, I must admit that the tune is rather catchy & I cannot get the song out of my head. I know a few of the other lines from the song sporadically but don't really know the song. I just find myself singing the opening lyrics repeatedly. Pastor Bob asked on Sunday morning if God were to never give us another blessing, would we be satisfied with what we have. I was thinking for certain that I would be. I am not a materialistic individual...of course I'd be content. Until....he mentioned relationships. If I were being honest, I don't think that I would be satisfied if I were to never marry. I long for that precious gift. Facing the hard truth, I know that this is continually an area of my life in which I must ask God to give me peace & acceptance about. Moving beyond that aspect & back to the thought of wanting more money & more possessions, I did examine myself for a moment. Thankfully, my parents raised my sister & I emphasizing that money was not the most important thing in the world. Yeah, there were times when Haley & I requested certain things (Umbro shorts, Adidas jackets, Hypercolor t-shirts, a Nintendo, etc.) but for the most part, neither of us have sought to have the best of everything. As I think about the things I own, I truthfully cannot even think of one thing that I own that I would not easily be able to walk away from if need be. Of course, I'd like to be able to have my computer to communicate with everyone around the world but if I had to give it up, I could. Aside from my laptop, I don't have anything that I absolutely couldn't bear to be without. Days ago, one of the international students and I were in a discussion about my car. The suggested that I should love my car. I let them know that I like my car but I don't love my car. I'm pleased to have a car for getting to & from & I'm pleased that it is a nice car but the car is not my life & the car has no soul. The car is not my baby, child or anything else. The car is temporary & I choose to invest more time in people. All this being said, I'm thinking about that billion dollars. Would I love to have a billion? Of course, who wouldn't? Most likely, I will never be financially wealthy (& if I am it will not come by way of lottery or gambling since I do not play) & even if I were, I don't see myself wishing for the finer things in life. No, I don't care about an expensive car, diamonds galore do not appeal to me & I don't need a mansion in Malibu. Instead, I would immediately quit my job & embark upon a journey around the world. To do so, is a dream of mine. A dream that I am doubtful will ever become a reality. Even still, that would be my wish. While traveling, I would not only want to see the many sights but also be able to leave a lasting impact on all that I would encounter...an eternal impact. For now, I'll choose to trust that God has given me all that He wants me to have. I may not be a billionaire in the eyes of the world. My bank account does not have zero after zero behind it. However, I am rich....much more wealthy than I ever could have imagined. Rich in my walk with the Lord, rich in family, rich in friends. Rich in those things that truly matter.

Summers Gone By

2010-06-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

Lastnight, I was at the home of U.S. Congressman Todd Akin for an Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration. While sitting there, as the sun began to set and the sky darkened, a flash of light lit up in front of my eyes. Aha! Lightning bug. I saw several more fly by and I began to think back to my youth. Summer after summer, Haley & I would go to Alabama to stay with our grandparents. I remember many a nights that we would take a jar outside & spend forever catching fireflies. I'll even go ahead & admit that we did kill a few just for the fascination of seeing the neon light as we smeared them with our shoes. Yeah, I know....so horrible were we. One of my favorite things about summer was going to bed at night with my bedroom window open falling asleep to the sound of fireflies & Junebugs being fried by the bugzapper. I know, I'm sounding more and more morbid with every word I say. Truly, I thought the sound of those little critters sizzling was a thrill. I remember our family traveling to Vandalia, MO (extremely small-population less than 2,000) & my cousins and I walking through the cornfields snipe hunting. As we did so, we struggled to find our way out. Haley & I spent the majority of our childhood at 12 Asherton Drive in Saint Peters, phone #: 928-0489. One doesn't forget that kind of thing. The subdivision in which we lived was humongous. We would ride our bikes up and down the streets day after day. If we weren't out roaming the neighborhood, we were rollerskating in our garage pretending to be running our own beauty pageants. One summer, while my sister & I were in Alabama, we returned home to find that our parents (with the help of our aunts, uncles, etc.) had built us a playhouse in our backyard. This was no average playhouse. The house itself was built of wood, about 8'x 12' with windows, a skylight complete with a carpeted rug, a chalkboard, school desk, kitchen set, etc. We ran an electric cord out to the house so that we could have lights at night. For hours, Haley & I would play school...always fighting over who was going to be the teacher. Just as we bickered over that, we too argued over who would be the cashier when we played store. Yes, we had a play cash register in our house as well. These are just a few of my memories. Those were special days....days that at times, seem so long ago while at other times, I recall them as though it was just yesterday.

Stardom Is Not For Me Unless It's for Him

2010-04-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday night, I ventured to Lindenwood (as I do every week) for our weekly ISI meeting. After arriving, a young girl approached both Haley and myself and introduced herself while stating that she had heard much about us. She is a college student from our church and had even seen us around before. She let us know that we are famous at the Realm (which, the Realm is the worship area/hangout place for the college kids at First Baptist Church of Harvester). I was taken aback in hearing such as Haley & I have spent little time at the Realm and little time with the college kids from our church. However, I am sure that the college kids see us with the international students frequently. I've never aspired to be famous. Within me, there has never been a longing for everyone to know who I am. In fact, just the opposite is true of me. I would rather go unnoticed and be able to avoid all eyes being upon me. As I thought about being recognized by everyone, I began to realize something. Though I wish not to be popular or a celebrity, if I am going to be known by all, may I be known for loving. I pray that if I am to be famous, it's for the right reason....for serving others and loving others as my Savior Jesus does. When others look at me, may that not see "me" but see "Him" (Jesus Christ).

I'm Not a Flower Hater!

2010-03-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Birthday gift to my Mom!

Hydrangea

Stargazer Lily

Despite the fact that I have on many occasions stated that I would not want someone to spend their hard-earned money on gifting me with flowers (my reasoning is this: flowers die within a matter of days. As nice as they are to look at, if someone is going to choose to spend money me, I would rather them do so on something that will last longer.), I DO actually have favorite flowers (which, they are shown above) and I see the beauty of flowers. While vacationing in Washington and B.C. in 2006, one of our stops was at Butchart Gardens. I must admit that I was not exactly looking forward to spending hours in a flower garden. However, once I was there, things changed. I discovered just how fascinating the garden was. I had no idea that there were so many different types of roses alone...each one with a different name. Many of the flowers had signs stating what flowers were cross-bred in order to make that particular flower and the year in which it came to be. Who knew flowers could be so interesting? I certainly did not! Now, while I do love to admire flowers, I do not claim to even have the slightest idea about names of flowers and so forth. I proved such yesterday when entering into a local florist to order flowers for my mom's birthday. Having looked at the arrangements in the case and not been impressed, I agreed to allow the florist make something special for me. She asked me what I would like and I started things by picking out a vase and then giving her a price point. She then began to name off flowers and ask me what I would like. Meanwhile, Haley stood beside me in laughter knowing that I didn't have the slightest notion as to what the flowers looked like by the names the lady was rambling off. Haley finally informed the lady that I knew nothing about flowers so I wouldn't know what she was talking about. Thankfully, the florist was kind enough to actually show me what the flowers were and tell me their names. I was able to point to one and tell her it was one of my favorites..she had to clue me in on the name of it. After seeing the options, I still was not able to communicate what I wanted (I think that was my indecisiveness coming into play) so I allowed the lady to do whatever she wanted. I think my mom's birthday gift turned out rather well. Apparently, others thought the same. As Haley & I were returning home, while stopped at a stop light, a lady in the lane next to us glanced over, saw the flowers & gave me a thumbs-up, nodded & smiled at me in approval. Good job me!!

Ring-a-ling-a-ling

2010-03-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

Some people collect stamps. Some collect shot glasses. Others collect thimbles. Me? I collect bells. As a preteen, I began purchasing bells everywhere I would go. Over the years, I have had many friends and family members that have gifted me with bells. Recently, a couple of students from the Ukraine have been so very sweet in having bells shipped from their hometown for me. A number of people have expressed interest in knowing about my bell collection...specifically wondering where I have bells from. I've included some pics of my bells as well as the list of locations that I have bells for.

Foreign Bells From:

Vienna, Austria

Rome

Victoria, B.C.

Amsterdam, Poland

Gdnask, Poland

Switzerland

Korea

Jerusalem

London, England

Ukraine

Nicaragua

Kuwait

Israel

Budapest, Hungary

Aruba

Germany

Nova Scotia

El Salvador

U. S. Bells From:

Gulf Shores, Alabama

New York

Leavenworth, Washington

Idaho

South Padre Island, Texas

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Maui, Hawaii

Washington, D.C.

Jupiter, Florida

Maine

West Virginia

Boston, Massachusetts

Smoky Mountains

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Alaska

Sanibel Island, Florida

New Mexico

Minnesota

Colorado

Illinois

Pennsylvania

Kentucky

Indiana

Sea World-Orlando, Florida

North Carolina

Tennessee

Arizona

Las Vegas, Nevada

Iowa

Missouri

South Dakota

Utah

If you are heading out on a trip and think of me, I would love a bell from wherever you may be going. If you get me one, I'll surely pay you back as I'll just be happy to have another bell to add to the collection!

My Best Pal

2010-03-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

Some 15 years ago or so, while I was at my aunt & uncle's house, I was introduced to a girl named Crystal. That moment doesn't really stand out in my mind but thankfully after being around one another at church, a friendship blossomed between us. Over the past decade +, Crystal and I have been on quite a journey together. There was a period in which we did not speak or spend time with one another for a few years. Thankfully, God restored our friendship and we have grown that much more close--so close that Crystal is not just a friend to me, but just as much a sister to me. We have shared many laughs, tears, heart-to-heart conversations and memories a plenty. I'd like to share some of those things...some of the good times we have had. Both Crystal & I love to sing & have done duets in church with one another. One of my most vivid "music" moments with Crystal came years ago when she & I went for a day trip to Sikeston, MO to eat at Lambert's Cafe. She & I wrote a song about the dead bug on my windshield. Come to think of it, we've written a lot of songs. Together, we are an unstoppable creative songwriting force. One day, our compositions will be heard all over the world...of this I am sure. We are similar in many ways--specifically our choice of clothing. We easily can shop for one another & pick out the perfect outfit. It's always a great thing when I come home with new attire and show Haley & she says, "Well, I don't like it but we know Crystal will." Crystal was the first (& only) friend to travel with us to Alabama for a vacation. We had a blast together. Crystal convinced me to go on my very first mission trip (which was a trip to Colorado) and I was glad to have her beside me as my cheerleader and encourager. A couple years later, we went to the other side of the world together to teach English in Taiwan on a mission trip. We've been stuck together in a traffic jam on the streets of San Francisco while trying to catch the boat to Alcatraz. We've rolled in the snow like little kids. We've helped educate our guy friends on girlie issues. We teamed up to convince one of our friends to allow us to stay in his apartment while he & his new bride were on their honeymoon. Meanwhile, we set their place up for a fun welcome home (hanging tampons from light pulls on lamps, placing fake rats and snakes around the house, saran-wrapping the bed after placing hundreds and hundreds of feathers on it, spelling out a message on their bed with feminine products, changing light bulbs from regular to colored, etc.). We have t.p.-d (for those unfamiliar, that is taking toilet paper and going to someones home or vehicle and covering their property in the toilet paper) many people without ever getting caught. We rode through the swamp in Florida together. We have root, root, rooted the Cardinals on to many victories while sitting in Busch Stadium. There are far too many precious moments to record them all here. I simply want to say that I am so richly blessed by the friendship Crystal & I share. I never have to question if I can call her in a time of need. I look forward to many, many more memories with my best friend. God-willing, she'll one day stand beside me as I commit my heart to someone forever. However, even if that day never comes, I trust that she'll still be there..be my buddy..my Ethel! We can hit those cruise ships & stroll along checking out the old geezers. Haha. Love ya friend!

I Don't Get It

2010-02-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

Lies, lies and more lies. Lately, it seems that I have been exposed to a number of lies. And today, I stood amazed once again listening to someone speak and utter more words of dishonesty. I listen and ask myself how people can lie continually. I'm not saying that I have never told a lie...I have. However, when I have done so, I generally have felt bad afterwards. Guilt starts to creep in and my conscience does not enable me to rest. As I overheard someone lying again today, I about exploded because I was so upset over the matter. Day in and day out...it never ends. There are people that wonder why their relationships are so problematic. Just a suggestion....start telling the truth and things may go better for you. Trust and honesty is the basis of almost any friendship/relationship. Without that, you have nothing..it is only a matter of time before things will fall to pieces.

My Country Makes Me Smile

2010-02-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

Daily, I enter into my workplace with stories to share about the international students I have become friends with. Regardless as to if I have seen the students the day prior or not, they are oftentimes on my mind. I love to tell of my times with them. Each student is unique. Each one brings something different to the table of friendship. As I ramble on and on about them to my boss and coworkers, questions arise. Those that work alongside of me are just like the students themselves-curious. Days ago, I was asked what the screening process was for the students to enter the United States. I knew that they must go before the U.S. Embassy for an interview but I had no idea what questions they must be prepared to answer. Several nights ago, 2 of the students treated me to dinner (so sweet of them!). As we visited during our meal, I inquired about their entry into America. They shared with me the questions they were asked by the embassy (for those wondering, let me know and I will fill you in...only 3 questions were asked of them) & said that whether or not they passed the interview was dependent upon the mood of the one conducting the interview. While both of the students I was speaking to made it through on their first try, some of the other students were not as fortunate. After we discussed the embassy, I began my own interrogation of them. Not really...I promise. I did wonder some things though and they were kind enough to allow me to ask questions. Having met a great number of students who have siblings or other family members pursuing an education in Australia, I questioned why that was as well as why those here in America selected our nation for schooling. Without taking any time at all, one of the students quickly responded by saying that the U.S. is the greatest nation in the world and that he knew he would have more opportunities if he came to school here. I must admit, I felt prideful. I felt as though I ought to pull out an American Flag & begin to wave it and begin chanting "USA! USA! USA!" One of the other students had shared with me months ago that one of the things that impressed him most about our country was the fact that someone who was raised in poverty with nothing could one day, become one of great financial wealth and success. In his home country, such would never happen. If you were born poor, you would die poor. As the Olympics are days away from coming to an end for 2010, I've had a chance to watch a number of the competitions. Like most, I love my country and sit on the sofa watching the TV in high hopes that the Americans will bring home the gold, silver and bronze every time. Right now, we (and by "we", I mean the U.S. For some reason I feel I am a part of that "we") lead all countries in the medal count with Germany closing in behind us. Our German friend, Claudia, has been over to watch some of the Olympic Games with us & she's commented that we (again, "we" meaning America) always win the most medals and she doesn't understand why someone else can't win. I just about slapped her silly one day. I was quick to let her know that she need not be upset about our hogging all of the medals..she should be happy for us. Then again, there is absolutely no enthusiasm whatsoever that flows from me when her country (or any other country for that matter) wins a medal rather than us. When we win a gold medal & our athlete stands upon the podium and our flag is raised and our anthem plays, each and every time, it is an emotional experience for me. Tears begin to spring up within and a smile comes across my face. I may not always agree with our government and like all things, it's easy to find negatives. Overall though, there is no place I'd rather be (unless God calls me elsewhere...which, some friends of mine are praying that he calls me to China to be with them) than in this....the land of the free, the home of the brave...The United States of America.

Lady Antabellum

2010-02-23T16:20:00.000-08:00

I am not one to generally jump to get the word out about bands and/or artists, nor do I usually find an album in which I like each and every song. Lady Antebellum came onto the music scene a while ago and when I first heard them, it was while watching the Crook & Chase show on a cable TV show. I was less than impressed. The hosts of the show spoke of them being the next big upcoming group in country music and they raved about them. I could not understand why. Months after, I heard their song "Run to You" on the radio & thought it was "just OK." The more I listened to the song, the more I liked the song. In fact, I grew to love the song. Some time ago, their song "Need You Now" began to be heard on the radio and immediately, I loved it. Not recognizing their voices, I wondered who it was singing. Back in October, I ventured out to buy the CD which had that particular song. I bought a CD..not realizing that the song was not on there. However, I listened & became a fan of every single song on their debut CD. I learned that "Need You Now" was not yet out..it would not be out until January of this year. From October until January, I listened to their first CD pretty much non-stop. A friend would often ride with me & he would say, "Do you always listen to this?" No, I did not tire of it. On the day that their new CD came out, I booked it to the store to get a copy. Since I picked it up, it has been playing continually in my car as I drive. Not one song has been a disappointment to me. Below are a few of my favorite Lady Antabellum songs. If you're not familiar with the group, check out their music...they are incredible. As I said, it's very rare that I can say I like everything that a particular musician does...I can say that for this trio. I eagerly await their concert here on June 19th.

Nepal Has My Heart

2010-02-18T17:32:00.000-08:00

Me & the Nepalese crew

Back Row: Dilesh, Smriti, Bharosa, Arpit, Ishwor, Me, Narayan and Pratik

Front Row: Parmeswor, Prasoon, Durga and Keshav

Little Brother Dilesh and his didi (big sister)

Me & Ishwor

Bharosa and myself

Me & the guys..Pratik (or The Rockstar as Haley calls him) and my Little Brother, Narayan

Me and another little brother, Keshav.

Again....me & Narayan

After meeting Suman last semester, I got to know other Nepalese students quickly thanks to his introducing me to many. Soon, I had built relationships with them and had grown rather fond of my new friends. As I said goodbye to some great guys (miss you guys...Rabin, Sulove, Santosh, Pankaj...and more), I have said hello to new ones. Over the course of the last few weeks, it has been a true joy to get to know the new students from Nepal. They are an amazing group. I have seen such hearts of gratitude from them as well as very caring spirits. I was nearly brought to tears this past Tuesday night when one of the students (Dilesh) asked me if he could call me "didi". I asked why he would want to do that and his response was this: "Didi means big sister in Nepali and you are my big sister." For a few weeks, he had simply referred to me as "sister". When he asked to call me "didi" that let me know that I am special to him. Dilesh likes to joke around a lot so I had to make certain that what he was telling me was true..that "didi" did indeed mean "sister." He was being honest. So, I agreed....he may now call me "didi". The same night, one of the other guys gifted me with something I had been wanting badly...a specific item from Nepal. The day prior, he had heard me speak of wishing I had one of these caps and he decided to surprise me with one. I was so excited and did not even know what to say aside from thank you. I couldn't believe he was giving his cap to me. In addition to those two, one of the other guys sat with me and we shared a heartfelt discussion in which he asked me a few questions about something and was very honest in letting me know that he cared for me. Even if they have studying to do or work to tend to, if they know that Haley or I are present at the campus, they make it a point to come say hello to us. They greet us with a hug, they leave us with a hug. The time in between is filled with laughter, love and learning. To my new friends from Nepal: I was introduced to your homeland by those that came before you. Through your loving-kindness, I am falling in love with you and your country. Meeting people like you all makes me even more anxious to one day visit Nepal. I just hope that those I encounter there will be half as great as all of you. I know you speak of all that we do for you but you've no idea what you do for us. That you are eager to see us, you call us to check on us, you miss us when we are away, you call us your sisters.....that brings such a smile to our faces. You warm my heart more than you know.

Way Up There

2010-02-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

During our trip to the Science Center back in October, Suman made mention to me that he hoped to visit the St. Louis Arch one day. After learning that he would be moving, I knew it was important for me to make it a priority to get him there. Days before he boarded the airplane to leave St. Louis, I picked him up for a day of surprises. The day began with a trip to the Hindu Temple in St. Louis. Having heard his friends speak of going there, he wanted to do so. I was more than happy to take him there and see for myself what some of the practices of Hinduism are. While I did not engage in worship myself, I was respectful and observant to all that was before me just as he was when attending church with me. Once we left the temple, I got back on the highway and headed to the city. Along the drive, Suman asked, "Where are we going?" As we approached Busch Stadium, he asked if I was taking him to a baseball game. I informed him we would not be attending a game as baseball was not in season. Within a few minutes, he figured out that we were going to the Arch and he seemed to be happy about that. On our trip to the baseball game, he had inquired much about the Arch asking when it was built, how it was built, how tall it was, etc. I figured he would probably be interested in watching the documentary that would answer all of the questions he had. I was right. We watched the film and he found it to be quite informative. Then, the day began to fell apart. Not unlike our trip to the Science Center (to know what happened during that trip, go back to my blog entry titled, ) things could not go as I hoped....tried twice to do something thoughtful and twice, things did not go as planned. However, I knew it was going to be a bit of a disappointing day when I awakened to see the sky overcast, cloudy and full of fog. Just as I suspected, when purchasing tickets to ride the tram to the top of the Arch, I was told that the visibility was almost 0%. Despite knowing that we would be unable to see anything at all from the top of the Arch, I still wanted Suman to have the experience of riding the tram. Over the years, we have taken many, many people to visit the Arch and every time, my favorite part is seeing the look on their faces when they see the capsule that they will sit down in to climb the 630 feet in. People often ask, "Do you ride an elevator to the top? Escalator? Climb stairs?" To each, the answer is, "No." How to describe the tram though? Not a clue. As the tram began to move to the top, Suman looked out the window and was looking downward as if he was uncertain about the stability or the safety of the contraption he was in. Meanwhile, I found it all quite comical. After 4 minutes or so, we had reach the top only to step out and have confirmed that which we were told....visibility was near nothing. Suman was understandably disappointed though he made a good effort to not let it show much because he knew I was upset about it. . .upset that again, things had not went as I had hoped. We continued to stare out the windows and every once in a while, things began to clear enough for us to spot vehicles, the river, and a few surrounding buildings. Things never were good enough for us to see the ballpark though. We stayed up at the top for nearly a hour and I don't think visibility ever even probably made it to 10%--it was rough. Finally, we called it quits and rode back down to the bottom and began to tour the museum in the base of the Arch. Once done there, we were both ready to eat. I suggested that I take him to a well-known tourist attraction for dinner. We headed back outside and began our walk along the riverfront to the Landing (business district full of bars, restaurants and stores) there on the river. As we made our way to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner, we stopped to take some pictures. Dinner went just as every other meal with Suman...he made me order for him..placing his trust in me to order something that he would like. However, by the time his meal actually made it out he had ate so much salad and bread that after one bite of his pasta, he was done with it. Which, it was fine..I brought it home with me and it became my lunch days later. :) We left the restaurant and the temperature had dropped yet again and we had a bit of a walk back to the car. Outside of the restaurant were 2 horse-drawn carriages. Suman thought we should have them give us a ride back to my car. I let him know that for a nice price, they would gladly do so but we would have to pay them...they would not let us ride for free. So...we walked back to the car and the day was done. I was proud to have introduced one more person to some landmarks of our city. St. Louis may not be Chicago, L.A. or NYC but we do have some things of value. Hopefully in his time here, Suman saw some of those things. There are many other students who are eager to visit the Arch and I can hardly wait for the moment when their eyes are wide-eyed as they look at that tram & climb in as well!

Stepping Up to the Mic

2010-02-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

Haley, Kurtis, me & Zach singing "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"

After pondering what to get us for Christmas, my best friend Crystal decided not to give us individual presents but to instead, give us something that we could enjoy as a family. I was ecstatic when the gift was unwrapped and there before our eyes was Karaoke Revolution for the Wii. I saw no reason for us to waste time...we needed to bust it open and get to singin'. We had a blast playing that the first night. Days after, my coworkers and I were talking when one discovered there were other editions available as well. Though costly, I broke down to buy another one and my good buddy, Zach, was kind enough to contribute to the cost. We have had a number of international students in our home who have "stepped up to the mic" and performed for us and Haley and I have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves whether listening to others or singing ourselves. From Suman's singing "You're Beautiful" to Uyanga doing Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours", Claudia doing "Rehab", Zach's stellar performance of "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" there has been no shortage of laughs. However, no one can compete with Kurtis' 100% score on "Time of the Season" or "How to Save a Life." Which, two times of a perfect score is the very reason that Kurtis was declared the American Idol Winner of Karaoke. Hats off to Mr. Hoagland! I have come to learn that perhaps I don't know some songs quite as well as I thought I did too! Despite butchering some songs big time, it still is great entertainment.

Monkeying Around At the Zoo in St. Lou

2010-02-17T15:55:00.000-08:00

Naryan, me, Dilesh and in front is Ishwor

As one semester came to a close and another was to begin, new students began to pour in from all over the world. I was quite excited when Suman called to inform me that there were 3 new Nepalese guys who were staying in his apartment with him until they were able to move into their dorms. Wanting to meet them as soon as possible, I rushed over within hours of his notifying me of their arrival. Though I was with them just a short time, I left feeling as though they were my little brothers and it would be my job to protect them. I hated walking out the door that day...knowing that they would remain inside with nothing to do. Several days later, I made it a priority to get them out for the day. Though Ishwor was not able to join us due to working, Suman, Narayan, Dilesh and I had an enjoyable time at the St. Louis Zoo. As I listed options of things we could do, all things were forgotten once the zoo was mentioned...they were set on wanting to go there. Though we arrived just a couple hours before the zoo was to close and the temperature was not ideal for walking around looking at animals, we still had fun. Of all the animals to be seen, it seemed that they were most fascinated by the peacocks...continually chasing after them in hopes of getting close enough to get a photo with them. I learned that Dilesh and Narayan love the camera....love having their picture taken. Time after time, they would ask to borrow my camera or go stand, pose and ask me to take their photo. I had more fun laughing at them than I did actually seeing the animals! While we did cover a lot of ground in 2 hours, we were not able to visit every part of the zoo. In addition, many of the animals were not out due to the cold weather. I have vowed to take the guys back to the zoo once warmer days arrive. Having spent more time with these guys since our zoo trip only makes me more excited for whatever time we do spend together....they're a fun group!

Standin' In the Need of Prayer

2010-02-15T20:20:00.000-08:00

An old gospel song says, "It's me, it's me, it's me O, Lord, standin' in the need of prayer. It's not my brother, not my sister, but it's me O, Lord, standin' in the need of prayer." I've never been one to request prayer for myself often. While I know I need prayer (as do we all), I generally feel as though by asking others to pray for me, I'm being selfish. Right now, I'm pushing all pride aside as well as the idea that by asking for prayer I am being self-centered. Instead, I am calling upon you, my friends, and asking you to please pray for me. While I will refrain from going into details here on my blog, I will just state that due to following my heart rather than my brain I allowed myself to travel down a road that I did not expect to journey upon. For the last couple of months, life has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride and over the last few weeks the ups and downs have been all the more frequent...a bumpy ride it has been. I was forewarned by many that the predicament I find myself in now would happen if I continued on with letting my heart lead and well...I did not listen and the predictions were accurate. Which, for that reason, I've no one to blame but myself and I am not seeking sympathy from anyone. I'm just asking that that those of you who love me, pray for me at this time. I've had great difficulty moving my mind from the situation at hand but am thankful for those who have already been praying for me and for those that have encouraged me and challenged me to remain strong. I know that in time, things will get easier but right now...the days are tough. There is much to be learned from this experience and while I already see some of it, there is much that I have yet to understand. To those that choose to pray, I thank you in advance. I hope that one day, when you are in my shoes and you are "standin' in the need of prayer", you will know that you can call upon me and I will answer.

M-I-Z....Z-O-U

2010-02-08T07:35:00.000-08:00

For a number of years, Haley and I have been desperately wanting to go to a MIZZOU basketball game. However, time and circumstances never allowed us to do so. Still desiring to go, I got online and began to check on ticket availability and found some decent priced seats for the January 2nd game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Since I had that day off from work, I went ahead & ordered the tickets and let my dad and Haley both know that their tickets were a gift from me for their birthdays (my dad's birthday was New Years and Haley's is on Valentine's Day). We made the drive to Columbia on an extremely cold day and before we could go to the Hearne's Center for the game, I led dad to the Columbia Mall. We had lunch in the food court and better yet, enjoyed some Lollicup. Though uninterested in a slushee at first, after tasting mine, he decided to go ahead and order one for himself. Oh Lollicup...how I love thee! Parking for the game was an adventure as every entrance we came upon was reserved and we were unable to to park there. Finally, we found a lot and parked while we wondered if we would be in trouble for parking in that area. As we walked into the Hearnes Center, we received free t-shirts compliments of Fox Sports Midwest. Not a bad deal....cheap tickets + a shirt that equaled the cost of the tickets themselves...oh happy day! For our first basketball game, we could not have asked for a better game. The Tigers kicked some Bulldog butt!! We had an awesome time and it was good for my sister and I to be able to spend some time with our dad. Go MIZZOU!!

Ringing in 2010

2010-02-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Ringing in 2010

Typically, my New Years Eve's are spent with family. However, having made so many friends through ISI, my sister and I decided to host a New Years Eve Party at our home. Our guests came over and as usual, for quite some time, everyone was on a laptop doing something. Some listened to music, others talked to family and friends on their web cams, some watched TV programs online, etc. Eventually, we got around to playing a couple of board games. We looked up and saw that we were minutes away from midnight and quickly moved into the other room to count down while watching the TV to see the ball drop in Times Square. We toasted one another, hugged and celebrated the new year that we were ushered into. Many of us stared at the television wishing we were in NYC partying with the millions that were there. 2009 flew by and well...sure 2010 will also.

Glancing Back at 2009

2009-12-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Early 2009 brought about a period of adjustment as I still was getting used to the absence of my sister. Though Haley had been living in Nicaragua for several months when they year began, I still missed her immensely. I am forever grateful for friends from church that I grew closer to in the time that Haley was away. The first few months of the year were fairly uneventful. As much as I enjoy the winter months, I was anticipating spring for one reason and one reason only--Cardinals baseball. I managed to get tickets for me and my dad to go to opening day and it was, without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable opening days that I had ever been a part of. Snow was falling down and the temperature was quite frigid. However, even the cold could not stop us from enjoying the game. And how could I go without mentioning...my first hotdog for the baseball season. Mhmm....

Spring also brought about a great change as Pastor Bob was called to shepherd our church. Since his arrival, God has used him to speak straight to my heart week after week. Never before have I looked forward to hearing a pastor preach as much as I do with Pastor Bob. I feel so blessed to be under his leadership.

Some of my Sunday School class and me with Pastor Bob & his wife, Jana.

Never having much time to travel around and visit with friends, I found time in the spring to make the drive to Kansas City to spend the weekend with friends Ben, Shellie & their 2 kids. We had a wonderful time visiting with one another and were up into the wee hours of the morning reminiscing and laughing.

Me & Brother Ben (one of my best friends)

For sure, one of the highlights of the year was when St. Louis played host to Major League Baseball's All Star Game. Though I was not able to afford tickets to the game itself, my dad and I were able to take part in some of the festivities..such as FanFest. FanFest featured baseball memorabilia from many eras, hands-on activities, free give-aways and opportunities to get autographs from baseball greats. In addition to attending FanFest, my dad, my cousin and I went down to the stadium and sat outside to watch the HomeRun Derby on a big screen and just soak in the atmosphere. Who knows if the All Star Game will ever be played in St. Louis again during my lifetime. So, for me...just merely standing back & watching from afar was a treat.

In July, I celebrated my 30th birthday. Knowing that should I remain at home, a birthday party would probably take place, I was smart enough to book a flight out of the country. I took a week and flew to Nicaragua to visit Haley as well as to meet her fiance' for the first time ever. We had the time of our lives while I was there. I did not expect to like Nicaragua and yet, I walked away having fallen in love with the country. While there, I spent a week getting to know Haley's fiance's Cousin Luis too. When Haley was not present, Luis did a great job acting as my interpreter.

Luis & me

Having heard much about Jesus (Haley's fiance'), it was a pleasure to finally meet him. He is the real deal...a genuine nice guy with a heart and love for Jesus. Though we do not speak the same language and had a difficult time communicating with one another, we shared many laughs.

Me & Jesus. Wearing the hat he picked for me to wear at the market & we just had to have the wooden armadillo in the picture!

My 30th birthday--spent with beautiful children

My 3oth birthday was everything I hoped it would be--no big affair. We ventured out in search for a waterfall that Jesus thought he remembered and in the midst, came upon some beautiful children. The kids followed us all over the place and were eager to have their pictures taken and then rush to our side to see the image appear on the screen. We had so much fun loving on those kids--even though our time together was short.

If you have known me for any amount of time, you may gather that I am probably not the most adventurous person on the planet. If anything, I may be one of the most cautious, careful individuals around. Danger never goes with my name. Risk do not come into play with me. For me, deciding to do the zipline in Nicaragua was probably the most daring thing that I had ever done or ever may do. Surprisingly, once I jumped off the platform to "zip" down the first line, I felt no fear. There was a rush that came with doing such and I would do so again in a heartbeat.

By far the most exciting thing that took place in the year was the return of my sister to the USA. I was so happy to have Haley back at home. Yes, we talked via the webcam, through e-mails, etc. while she was away but it was not the same as having her here. Knowing that she'd been missing out on baseball, one of the first things I did was take her out to a game. It was so good to have her by my side rooting on the Cards!

At the beginning of September, Haley and I ventured out on a roadtrip-just she and I. On our way to Alabama to visit family, we stopped in Nashville to stay a night with our friends Greg & Jen. I was so glad to see them as it had been a long time since we had seen one another. I had a blast playing with their daughter Cali. Even though we had little time to visit, our time together was so sweet. Me & Cali

Thanks to facebook, some time before we went to Alabama, I reconnected with an old friend of mine named Mandy. Mandy and I were good friends through the middle school and high school years. After having not seen one another in about 12 years or so, I was delighted when Mandy and her 2 sons paid us a visit.

Mandy & myself

I had heard much about the Georgia Aquarium and some relatives had raved about it after visiting there earlier in the year. I was envious of those that had been while I longed to go. I love aquariums. My uncle gave Haley and I a huge shock when he surprised us with tickets to the aquarium. We spent a day in Atlanta looking at all the fishies in the deep blue sea and enjoyed some pasta at the Spaghetti Warehouse. T'was a special time.

Uncle Rog & I encompassed by sharks and fish.

Generally, our visits to Alabama our so quick and short that we are not allotted much time for seeing people. Haley and I were very excited to have our Cousins Emily and Tabatha come by.

After having been asked numerous times when I would come for a visit, I finally made visiting my friends Greg, Rox & their 3 children a priority. While there, Greg & Rox took me to experience something for the first time ever...a state fair. I must say, I was quite intrigued by it all. Greg was more than eager to have me try a deep fried Oreo (or maybe it was a Twinkie..what was it Greg?). I am so richly blessed by the friendship of the McGhee's..I love them dearly.

Above: Fun at the fair!

A number of years ago, I began writing and sending care packages to soldiers overseas in Iraq. Of those that were recipients, was a man named Matthew. While he was away, Matthew and I spent a fair amount of time corresponding one with another through both e-mail and snail mail. It was my hope that I would one day get to meet him face to face and thank him for his service to our nation. I finally was able to do so on my drive home from Dexter, MO. Matthew and his family do not live too far away from my friends Greg and Rox. I touched base with Matthew and the plans were made. On a Sunday afternoon, I pulled into the driveway of his home and was thrilled to meet not only him but his wife and one of his sons as well. We shared a delicious meal together (thanks to his lovely bride) and had such a sweet time of fellowship.

Big thanks to Matthew for his willingness to serve our country!

In the early fall, a friend of mine from church approached me with a flyer and asked that I pass it along to those in my Sunday School class and see if anyone would be interested in helping out. I had no idea what he was talking about. He told me he did not have to ask me to help because he already knew I would--he knew my heart. Brother Doug was absolutely right. Moments later, I looked at that piece of paper and did not even have to think about whether or not I was going to volunteer. That which he had brought to my attention was that which I had been praying for. For nearly 4 years, I had asked that God might open the door and show me some way in which I could be involved with internationals. A'las, the time had come. Towards the end of September, Haley and I began working with ISI (a ministry that reaches out to international students at universities all over the nation) as volunteers. You may be wondering what that entails? Basically, we attend meetings every Thursday evening and just hang out together. Sometimes we play games, watch movies or thought-provoking discussions. In addition, Haley and I have spent much time both one-on-one with students as well as rounding up groups for activities such as: hayrides, bonfires, game nights and pumpkin carving. The first student that I spent some real time with is a student named Suman. Suman is from Nepal and has quickly become one of my best friends. Just a couple weeks after meeting, Suman invited me to attend a Nepali Festival with him. Loving learning about other cultures, I jumped at the chance to do so. To read about my experience there, please look in earlier posts here on my blog as I have a full entry with many more pictures devoted to our time there.

I have developed such incredible relationships with so many of the students. I definitely have felt like I have been adopted into the Nepalese family though as all of the guys (I am not sure why I rarely see the girls) have welcomed me with open arms. Just as I was getting to know a few of them better, they moved outside of the state. They've only been gone a couple of weeks and yet I miss their friendly faces.

Jeremy (Missions Director at FBCH), Sulove, Rabin, Ishwor, Durga, me, Aprish and Achyut at an ISI Dinner in St. Louis.

L-R: Suman, Rutendo, Simba, me and Kwaku

Celebrating Kwaku's 20th birthday!

ISI has afforded me the opportunity to meet students from so many places all over the world: Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nepal, Mongolia, China, Japan, Italy, Georgia, Paraguay, India, Iraq, Germany and more. I have found great humor in watching the African students try to adjust to the winter weather of St. Louis. I eagerly await the first big snowfall so that I may get them for a time of sledding and snowball fights!

Theo and me

For my 21st birthday, my parents gifted me with a guitar. Unfortunatley, I never took the time to learn how to actually play the instrument. I had been thinking for a long time of giving the guitar away but was unsure who to give it to. While sitting in IHOP eating a late night dinner one night, Theo expressed that he had always wanted to learn how to play the guitar but he did not have one. As Theo spoke, the wheels in my mind were turning. Haley said she knew right away what was going on in my mind. She was right. The following day, Theo was ecstatic when I gave him the guitar. Theo is yet another one of the many students that we have been blessed to have met. He is from Ghana.

In case you were unaware, Haley does some photography on the side. She thought it would be fun for us to do a photo shoot with some of the students and also allow the students to have pictures taken of themselves that could be made into a book to be sent to their families back home. Below is one of the many pictures taken at Forest Park.

L-R: Suman (Nepal), Claudia (Germany), me, Del (Mongolia), Haley

and...Kwaku from Ghana is on the ground.

Back Row: Parmeswor (Nepal), Durga (Nepal), Haley, Volter (the Ukraine), Del (Mongolia), Bold (Mongolia), Nara (Mongolia), Oyunaa (Mongolia) and Oyunaa's boyfriend.

Front Row: Suman (Nepal), me, Galyna (the Ukraine) and Bold (Mongolia)

Thanksgiving was a busy time but a blessed one. While my parents traveled to Alabama for Thanksgiving, Haley and I remained here at home and opened the doors to welcome 11 students in to spend the day with us. Our Aunt Sheryl, Uncle Arlon, Grandpa & Cousin Rob & his family were here with us as well as our Cousin Lisa & her son, Noah. We could not have done everything had it not been for all of Sheryl's help. Celebrating Thanksgiving was a new experience for the students and I think they more than enjoyed themselves. Seemed everyone loved the food (as most had seconds and some had thirds!) and they loved speaking with our family members. I think all of our family would agree that allowing the students to join us was one of the greatest things ever. Working with ISI has afforded me the opportunity to get to know people from my church that I otherwise, still may not know. I have loved meeting Bruce James (Associate Pastor/College Minsister) & Jeremy Tosh (Missions Director) and seeing their passion for people of every walk of life. One of the things Haley and I have tried to do is to invite the students to join us in taking part in activities that are traditional to our country and our holidays. We were pleased to take several to the City of St. Peters Tree Lighting Ceremony where they heard Christmas music being played and sung by area choirs. A couple of them took advantage of the opportunity to sit on Santa's lap. Everyone watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" as well. Of course, Christmas lights is a common thing here in America. Some of the students joined our family for a ride to go see lights one evening. Over this last weekend, Haley and I took a few students to Belleville, IL to the Way of Lights Park at Our Lady of the Snow. We were able to observe Christmas trees that portrayed trees throughout different eras. We had a group photo taken just as though we were one big happy family. Though none of the students expressed interest, Haley and I decided to spend the $5.00 to ride a camel. If you have not ever been on a camel and are considering riding one at some point, I will give you forewarning that they are uncomfortable. I was only on the animal for a few minutes and yet, it was long enough for me to determine that I would never venture out across the desert by way of a camel. Still, to be able to say that I rode a camel is all that really matters to me...especially since most people would never envision me doing such.

One of the biggest surprises of the year has been the friendships I've developed with a few unlikely coworkers. Though we've worked together for quite a while now, it has just been within recent months that we have started to associate with one another outside of the workplace. It has been great fun getting to know them further and share many laughs with them. I have also enjoyed watching them interact with some of the international students as they have been somewhat involved with ISI too. Everyday, they keep me laughing. I truly enjoy working alongside of them.

Me with 2/3 of my coworkers (Kurtis, me, Zach) at the ISI Thanksgiving Dinner

Overall, 2009 has been a terrific year for me. Never would have I guessed that at this time, this is where I would be...constantly busy, staying up late and hanging out with college students. The year has had it's highs and lows as every year does. In the end, I can only be thankful for all that God has carried me to and through. While my heart has not been broken, several experiences have in some small manner, bruised my heart a bit. Through the pain, God has only opened my eyes more though. For that, I'm thankful. I have experienced things that I never dreamt I would and I could not be any happier than I am now. I know with all certainty that at this time, I am right where God wants me to be. There is such peace in following that which He calls you to do. 2010 is just days away. We never know what lies ahead..sometimes, things do not go as we had planned and sometimes, things go better than we ever could plan. I look forward to continuing on in my efforts to reach out to people from around the globe and keep loving on them. I have already began saving to hopefully make a trip overseas at some point next year. Destiation is not nailed down yet but I am looking at a sight-seeing trip to Nepal or a mission trip to either Indonesia, China or Thailand. Whatever I endeavor upon, I hope that one thing will remain-the desire to share the love of Jesus with those that I encounter whether it be by my words or my actions. I am excited about being summoned to jury duty for the first time ever and look forward to hopefully being selected to a case. Anyway...I pray for each of you this Christmas season. May God richly bless you and yours in the days, weeks and year ahead. Love to you all.

Wagons, Weenies, S'mores & More

2009-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

Every year, the singles group from church goes on a hayride & has a bonfire. This year, after some individuals cancelled, I inquired as to if it would be alright if we invited some of the international students along. I figured that more than likely, they had never experienced a hayride. I was told there were 5 slots open & quickly, I had those openings filled. I was certain to stress the importance of the students wearing layers of clothing so as to not freeze to death. I made sure they understood that we would be outside all night long & that the temperature would probably be very cold. While it was a bit cool outside, it was no where near what it could have been. Got lucky with that! The students seemed to really enjoy the hayride (for the most part--Claudia, from Germany, runs track & for her liking, the ride was a little too slow. She said, "I could run faster than that.").Volter, from the Ukraine, was seated next to Haley. Haley said that he was taking in the fresh, country air stating that it reminded him of home. Suman tried multiple times to stand up while the wagon was moving & I had to yank him by the pants to get him to stay seated. One of the members from our Sunday School class threw some hay over on me & that led to somewhat of a "hay fight" between everyone. I am sure some would disagree with me but it seemed as if I went home with more hay in my hair & clothes than anyone. Which, no complaints about it...it was fun. After our ride, we stopped at the fire pit to roast some weenies & enjoy s'mores. Having never cooked hot dogs over an open fire, the students had to be shown exactly what to do & taught how to know when their hot dog was ready to be eaten. The s'mores were a huge hit. Claudia said, "I think I could eat 10 more of these!" While many of us visited one with another, Kwaku (from Ghana) entertained the youngsters that were present. The kids took a liking to Kwaku in a hurry & Kwaku was having the time of his life arm wrestling them, chasing them & loving on them. We returned to the church parking lot & continued having ourselves a good time. I am not sure how it came about but while standing around, I suggested that Haley & I teach them how to play Leapfrog. So, Leapfrog we played. Then, the guys taught us some dances...I attempted to follow their lead & do the dances as well. Unfortunately, I am not sure I did the dances much justice. We all had a wonderful time & for those that chose to talk to & get to know the students, I think they too, were probably blessed. I am so glad we were able to allow them to be a part of something that we oftentimes do here in the fall time--hayrides & bonfires.

All Night Long

2009-11-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

I come from a family that LOVES playing games-games of all kinds. Over the years, Haley and I have received many games as gifts and have purchased just as many as we have been given. As we continue to get to know international students, we try to think of things we can do for fun. After teaching Suman how to play Uno, we knew that Uno is a game that is easy enough for anyone to play...it is universal. A while ago, we invited a few students over for an evening of games. We introduced them to games they had yet to play...Yahtzee, Jenga & of course, Uno. While no one got "Yahtzee" while playing the game, we still had a good time.

Rutendo (from Zimbabwe) playing Yahtzee

Jenga was hysterical. After losing Yahtzee, Kwaku was determined that he would win Jenga. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him contemplate which piece to remove from the tower while Rutendo joked with him non-stop. Each time Suman went to get a piece, his hand would tremble. I did fine removing the pieces but the moment I would have to place them on top of the tower, I too, would begin to shake. Suman suggested that we remove the center pieces but Haley rarely did so. More often than not, she was daring and went for those pieces that I would dare not try to remove out of fear that we would see it all go crumbling to the floor. Fortunately, I was not the first one to make the tower fall...Kwaku made that achievement! I will be forthright in stating that the next go around, I was the one who messed it all up.

Suman plays Jenga very carefully

Having already taught Suman how to play Uno, he was anxious to play with Kwaku (Rutendo was unable to stay for the entire evening). Kwaku caught on fast and finally at nearly 2:00 a.m. we had finished the game. Though a tiring evening (old folks like myself are not used to partying into the wee hours of the morning!), it was a pleasure to teach these students something new and to share many laughs with them!

Kwaku takes a look away from his cards to smile at us!

Sinking at the Science Center

2009-11-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

One of the exciting aspects of building relationships with those of other nations is getting to teach them about our culture, show them places of significance to where we live, things we enjoy and so forth. Several weeks ago, Suman and I set out to go to the St. Louis Science Center. Due to road construction, I was forced to have to take a highway different than the one I would typically take en route to there. The directions I received were poor and therefore, I managed to get us lost. After stopping at a gas station to ask for guidance & after having to turn around numerous times, I finally managed to get us to our destination. By the time I parked & we walked in, the time was 2:45 p.m. Knowing that Suman had probably never experienced something quite like the Omnimax Theater, I really wanted him to have that opportunity. I got our tickets & after Suman waited in line patiently to buy soda & popcorn, we found seats inside to watch Mystic India. I could tell that he was unsure as to what to think about the theater. The film lasted 45 minutes. Afterwards, Suman insisted that we find a place to sit to finish the popcorn & carry on a discussion about the film. We got up from the table at 4:20 and heard the announcement that the Science Center would be closing in 10 minutes. We walked down a flight of steps in order for Suman to have his picture taken in front of the dinosaur & then we had to leave. I was not happy at all. I was very disappointed that Suman did not get to look around-he did not get to see anything. I apologized repeatedly but Suman kept saying, "It is OK..do not be upset."Seems I was much more troubled about the situation than he was. Having seen nothing, we left there (& I was still mad) & went to Forest Park. We only made it there by accident. Yet, we enjoyed ourselves. We took a nice walk (Suman would say that he MADE me walk all around the lake) & sat down for a while & enjoyed watching everything that was going on (at least 10 bridal parties were there getting wedding pictures done). The weather was a bit crisp that day so we chilled fast & decided to leave. The heat went on high as soon as we got in the car--neither of us had gloves so our hands were freezing. Though Suman did not get to see all that I had hoped for him to see, he was OK with that & seemed to be happy with how the day went. I have promised to take him back to the Science Center another day--a day where we can see it all!!

Dinner with Diversity

2009-11-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago, we opened up our home to some of the international students and invited them to join us for dinner and a movie. Throughout the years, our home has hosted people from Germany, Morocco, France, Estonia and South Africa. T'was a delight to look around the table and see faces from all around the world. We were ecstatic to have with us: Volter and Galyna-both from the Ukraine, Suman from Nepal, Kwaku from Ghana and Nara from Mongolia. Haley had prepared a dish called Chicken Spaghetti which everyone seemed to take a liking to. Knowing that most of the students are not to keen on American food, we had frozen pizzas on hand (they had told us they did like pizza) just in case. While we did bake a couple of the pizzas, it really was not necessary. Along with the pizza & pasta, we served salad. I found it most amusing that Volter sampled each dressing before deciding upon which he wanted to use. I think he settled on Thousand Islands. Apparently, before that evening, he had always had salad without dressing. Salad dressing is not used in the Ukraine. After dinner, Haley & I led the students on a tour of our house allowing them to ask any questions they desired. Some seem to be quite intrigued by our collage of photos from each of our school years. When seeing the acoustic guitar in my room, they inquired as to if I played guitar or not. Sadly, I had to be honest and say that I do not. I was hoping that one of them would have had the ability play but there was no such luck. Once the tour was done, we returned back downstairs to watch The Notebook.A couple of the students had already seen the movie but did not mind watching it again. Everyone enjoyed the movie. The guys even had a hold time withholding tears. The movie was over, the credits rolled and out the door we went. I am glad that our evening was full of diversity and that we were able to come together and have such a wonderful time. I am sure the evening was the first of many great dinner and movie nights to come!

A Whole New World

2009-11-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

Suman holding the bat used in the game of Cricket.

On October 10th,I stepped into a whole new world. My new found friend, Suman, invited me to attend a Nepali Festival with him called Dashain. Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess. Being raised in a home with Christian parents and brought up in a church practicing Christianity, until my trip to Taiwan in 2005, I had never seen firsthand practices of other religions or cultures. Attending Dashain was no doubt, very different for me. I arrived a good bit early and was fortunate enough to meet Suman's friends who were all a part of the band that would later perform. Each of the guys proved to be welcoming to me--specifically Santosh and Nitesh. I enjoyed watching some of the guys play a little Cricket outside. Suman tried to educate me on the game. Unfortunately, until I am able to see the game live, I do not know that I will ever comprehend it all..I try though. The festival got under way & I approached the buffet table with an open mind. Suman stated that I must try everything. I had no problem doing so. My biggest fear beforehand was that I might not like the food. Luckily, I liked it all--specifically the chicken & the goat's meat. I was quite pleased with Nepali food.

I was exposed to a number of cultural dances performed from students from various universities. All were unique and interesting.There was much music and as the evening progressed, most of the tables cleared and all the people were on the dance floor. All the people except for..me. No surprise that I did not dance! After much prodding, I finally persuaded Suman to go dance. I told him I felt like he would have a much better time if he would go dance. And so...he did. Meanwhile, a whole table full of guys came & tried to get me up to dance with them. I am good at sitting so I had no problem politely declining & remaining seated. Around midnight, the crowd began to thin out & the party was dying down...it was time to say goodnight and head on home. In a room full of 400+ individuals, I was certainly in the minority. Yet, despite being one of the few Americans, I had a wonderful time and still feel very honored that of all the people Suman could have invited along, he chose me. I was pleased to learn a little more about a land on the other side of the world; a land very special to my dear friend. Meeting Giresh (a popular Nepali rapper).

Sad Ending, Happy Beginning

2009-10-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the Cardinals failed to give we the fans a victory for their last regular season game. I was looking forward to seeing the team end on a good note. Then again, can't get much better than ending as the Central Division Champs and heading into post-season play! However, I much rather the boys struggle now and get it all out before the playoffs start on Wednesday. If all goes well, they'll be on their way to another World Series Championship title. Though the ending was sad, yesterday brought about a happy beginning in another sense. Having met a number of international students over the past couple of weeks, I am anxious to get to know them more and strengthen the relationships that we have begun to develop. Last week, a young man from Nepal (for those asking, "Where is Nepal?", Nepal is landlocked between China and India)named Suman entered into the room for the ISI meeting and eventually was seated beside me as we participated in an activity together (a scavenger hunt). Suman and I spent some time talking and I felt as though I had been friends with him for many years. Every now and then you meet people that you just have an instant connection with. For me, Suman is one of few that such has happened with. Knowing that I had an extra ticket to the baseball game yesterday, I was needing to find someone to fill that seat. I did not have to think for long to know that I wanted to invite Suman to come along. When offering, Suman accepted and was excited for a new experience. For those that have yet to spend time with those from another country, I encourage you to do so. I had never been to a sporting event with someone from another nation and doing so was such a treat. I was able to help Suman understand the game and watch him clap, cheer and laugh while having fun. Before going to the game, we walked around downtown a bit (for those that do not live here in St. Louis, you may wonder what I mean by downtown. By downtown, I am referring to the City of St. Louis. The area that is home to the Arch, Busch Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome, Savvis Center is considered "downtown." I live in a suburb of St. Louis)so that Suman could view the city as he had not yet been downtown. Suman was very inquisitive as to why the Arch was built, how it was built and so forth. Unfortunately, time did not allow for us to go inside of the Arch but I have assured him that we will one day return so that he may take the tram to the top and see the movie about the construction. Throughout the day, Suman had many questions. Questions that I was happy to hear him ask and to answer. I took pleasure in asking questions of him and learning about he, his family and his country also. Many laughs were had but the highlight of the day came when Suman informed us that because of the day, he felt like he might not miss his family as much. While we cannot fill the void that is left in his heart from being thousands of miles away from his home and those he loves, we can extend a helping hand and friendship to him. As I so enjoyed the day with Suman, I wait anxiously for what adventures lie ahead with not just Suman but the many other international students that I am coming in contact with.

My Heart, My Desire

2009-10-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Since my trips to Taiwan in 2005 & 2006, there has been a deep yearning in my heart to be involved in building relationships with those from other cultures-specifically Asians. I have been lost with where to go or what to do. Several had mentioned that I should head to Lindenwood University & work with the International Students. While that sounded great, I had no idea what I could do or who I would even need to talk to that could help me. A few months ago, a friend of mine approached me at church & handed me a flyer. He did not ask me if I wanted to take part in this ministry or if I would even be interested. His only request was that I get the word out to others about the ministry that our church would be partnering with. Doug did not have to beg & plead with me to jump at the opportunity because he knew my heart. He knew that I would not have to think about it or hear more details. That which was being presented, was what I had prayed for long ago! 2 weeks ago was the beginning of fulfillment for me as I walked into the room at the Spellman Center at Lindenwood & met a number of International Students. Strange how I am generally an introvert & when in a group, say nothing but when put in a room amongst many internationals, I have no problem being outgoing. I find myself walking right up, extending my hand & introducing myself. I long to talk to them, find out where they are from, learn about their country, hear about their interests & so forth. All of these things have been pouring out of me as I have gotten acquainted with my new friends. As I continue to spend time with these students & our relationships deepen, I pray that God stirs their hearts & that He uses me to share His love freely. I think back to 2006 when I came home from Taiwan & began to write of my experiences & mail those out to you, my friends. Included with my letter, I sent out picture prayer cards that had both myself as well as one of my students. On the card, I had the following scripture: "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. " - Romans 10:1 Three years later, my prayer remains the same for the Hakka in Taiwan & 3 years later, my prayer is also the same for my new found friends. When I think of them, immediately the song above (in the video) comes to mind. Truly, that is my heart, my desire.

Entering the World of Gaming

2009-10-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

Who'd have thunk that I would ever be entering the world of gaming? By gaming, I mean video games. Yes, I have succumbed. Early in the summer, I ran into an old friend (well, more of an acquaintance really) at a store. Over the last few months, we have begun to spend more time one another. Of his many interests & hobbies, is his intense devotion to playing video games. Having never really played much, he's been kind enough (if that's what we should call it) to allow me to join him in playing. For someone who is an avid player such as he, having to play with someone who has not a clue about remotely anything has to be frustrating. Yet, at the same time, I think he is pleased to show me up as well as laugh at how pitiful I am. On our first night of game playing, we played Mario Kart.I am keenly aware that Mario Kart was designed with children in mind & that many kids play the game. I, however, might not learn as fast as most. While it is true that I drive a car nearly every day & seem to operate it just fine, managing a tiny steering wheel for a video game is a bit more complicated-at least it seems to be for me anyway. After not fairing well in Mario Kart, my friend allowed me to drive his Lamborghini in the game Need for Speed. He was quite amused that in a game requiring speed, I was finding it hard to move beyond 65 mph. Even at that, I felt a need to slow things down. In my attempt to play things safe, I managed to crash into the wall numerous times & go the wrong direction several times (I might add that I was not even aware that I was going the wrong way until my friend pointed it out to me). My first evening of "gaming" was less than stellar. Apparently my friend felt that I needed some more practice because he offered to let me return for more games. Last week was round two. For some reason, we did not play any racing/driving games...I wonder why? This time, he picked out games that he thought I might be more suited to. I do not think he would tell you that I was great but I do think he would say that I was better at some of the other games than that which we played the first night. In my second attempt at playing video games, we did Lego Batman...he was Batman, I was Robin. Good thing it was not real life because I did not make a very good sidekick to Batman.We played Peggle (which, in my friends words, was easy enough for me) & I absolutely loved it. As the night went on, we tried out some other games as well. While I am not going to be beating anyone in these games anytime in the near future (or ever more than likely), I am enjoying trying them out. Who knows, now that I've started on this ride, maybe I'll set out to watch Star Wars, Star Trek & jump into the world of comics next. Then, when the next round of Beauty & the Geek airs, maybe I'll be "geeky" enough to enter as one of the geeks...I'll walk in as a Superhero or something. OK, so perhaps that might be a bit overboard. I think Sci-Fi is out of the question for me-no one need fear that I'm going to be moving into the nerd-herd.

Better to Have a Broken Heart?

2009-09-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Working with the public, I hear anything & everything. People seem to feel an openness to share their entire lives with us regardless as to whether or not it's something we need to know or even care to know. From time to time though, individuals do bring about conversations with us that are pleasant, comical or leave us wondering a lot. Today I experienced such. A man a year younger than myself (for those asking how old I am, I'm 30...there, I said it!) came in & presented both cash & checks for deposit. One of my coworkers rushed up to begin speaking with him. Evidently, the two of them went way back. The money going into his account was given to he & his fiance' at a recent bridal shower. On October 17th, he will become a married man. As he & my coworker talked there at my station, I was obviously privy to everything that was being said. My coworker was asking him how he found the place that the reception was going to be held at. After telling her all about it, he then informed her that when her oldest son "finds the one", he should look into renting the same place for his wedding reception. The two then began to discuss her son's broken heart. After dating a girl for a couple of years, the girl had broken up with him. His mom seemed to think that he may finally be over the girl. At this point, the young man told her that he believes that no one should ever get married until they've first had their heart broken. He spoke of dating many girls & giving no thought to dumping them back in the day. He said that after ditching so many girls, he was finally the dumpee once & his heart was crushed. He then realized what it felt like & that he caused a lot of pain to a lot of girls. Upon this realization, he said he called every girl he had dumped carelessly in the past & offered them a heartfelt apology. Because he had been through heartbreak himself, now he was able to love & appreciate the one he was in love with. Call me crazy but I think it will be just fine with me should God bless me with the love of my life without my having to bawl my eyes out & sit in misery over someone that has decided to trample all over my heart. Have I been in love yet? No. There was someone that I think I probably believed I loved at a point in time in my life but those feelings were not returned (after a few years, God has shown me that though a great guy, he would not have been good for me). I have had interest in many wonderful guys but they have never expressed interest in me past friendship. While that can be disappointing at times, I've not been devastated over it. No matter how much I may desire someone, I realize ultimately that God is in control & I'm better off letting Him lead. As most are aware, I've yet to be in a serious relationship. Therefore, I've not had my heart broken. Some may say this is a bad thing. I, on the other hand, see this as God watching over me & protecting me from hurt & pain. So, while this fella today feels everyone needs to have their heart broken, I think I'm going to disagree. I don't consider myself a prideful person but I can honestly say that I am proud that, with God's help, I have kept my heart guarded & that still to this day, the only hands I have placed my heart in are those of the hands of my loving Jesus, who will never break my heart. I trust that I will one day (Lord-willing) be rewarded for my patience in waiting on God's man for me. Then, in that moment, will I share my heart with another.

Dweeb to Dancer

2009-09-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

In just a while, I will turn the channel on the TV over to ABC to watch the season premier of Dancing With the Stars. While I had heard of the show, I failed to watch the first couple of seasons assuming that dancing would be of no interest to me. I don't recall why I finally tuned in to the program. I only know that when I did give it a chance, I was roped in. To see those that have had no previous dance experience (for the most part) attempt to rise to the level of professionals is not only humorous at times but riveting. When speaking of sports or athletes, most of us would mention things like baseball, basketball, boxing, Tiger Woods, Eli Manning, Albert Pujols and the list goes on. I can't say that I've ever heard anyone spout off the names Cheryl Burke, Derek Hough or any other ballroom dancer when talking about sports. Until watching the program, I never in a million years would have thought dancing could be so physically demanding. I've been a fan of the show now for several years & each time I watch, I see the endurance that the dancers must have as well as the strength required for the dances. Truly, dancing is not for wimps or sissies. Hysterical it has been to watch big ole' boys like Warren Sapp step on to the dance floor & admit that dancing ain't easy....it's hard work. I don't need to tell anyone that I've no coordination--we all know that. I've no rhythm. I can't dance. Yet, each time I watch the show, there's a piece deep inside of me that longs to be able to glide across the floor doing the Vienesse Waltz, rage with the bull in the Paso Doble or trot smoothly doing the Foxtrot. In all reality, I know such will never happen. I'm simply far too clumsy to even try to dance. Yet, I can dream. I never went to a school dance & that's fine with me. I've never gotten up to dance at a wedding reception & I even managed to talk my best friend out of having a bridal party dance at her wedding because I (her Maid of Honor) did not want to have to dance. I am not the girl that longs to be held in the arms of my loved one for a first dance (or any dance) at my wedding reception (should I ever marry) & I can only hope that if the Lord blesses me with a mate, that gentleman will not want to dance before a roomful of people. Perhaps, one day, we can just jive across the kitchen together. Anyway...here's to another season of dancing hopefuls. I'll soon make my prediction as to who I think will take home the infamous Mirror Ball Trophy at the end of the competition.

Teach Me O, Lord

2009-09-19T19:53:00.001-07:00

Been quite some time since my last entry...apparently I've not seen the importance of recording my thoughts. Days have been busy & I have been tired. The last 5-6 months have proved to be a bit of a roller coaster ride for me. I've allowed myself to get my hopes set high only to see them come crashing down. Disappointment has set in. I've anticipated much & in doing so, been let down. Throughout these times, I've been reminded repeatedly of James' words: " Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it's perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1: 2-3 While every step of this journey has taught me something, my prayer is that first & foremost, I would allow God to use every moment to mold me more into His image. When the tears want to stream down my face, may I remember that my Heavenly Father has my best interest at heart & as much as I would like things my way & in my timing, His plans for my life will always be better. Lord, help me to wait patiently, trust wholly & be joyful always.

Feliz Cumpleanos a mi' (Happy Birthday to Me)

2009-08-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

July 18th...welcome to the thirties Heather! Yep, I awakened that Saturday knowing that my 20's were gone & I was now..over the hill. Smart as a whip, I planned my trip accordingly so that I would be out of the country during the momentous event. I knew that I would be able to avoid all the fuss & escape the birthday being a big deal. I am so glad that I chose to go to Nicaragua over my birthday. I could not have had a greater celebration. For me, a lack of celebrating my birthday is a grandiose occasion. Haley & I were ready to head out for the day but had to wait on the gentlemen to shower & get dressed. Having not really "seen" much of the neighborhood, Haley & I took a walk around so that I could see everything. We then left for the City of Leon. Again, we saw more old church buildings, etc. Another beautiful town. Trying to think up other activities, Jesus' remembered visiting a waterfall as a child. He & Luis began asking around to try to discover where the waterfall was located. We kept driving, driving & driving & finally turned on a dirt road headed back into the fields. I was beginning to get a bit concerned & eventually asked Haley if all of those they had spoken with were pointing us in the same direction or if we were getting conflicting stories (obviously I did not understand a word that was being said since they were speaking Spanish). She said that everyone was saying the same thing..."It's back this way." We kept getting further & further back & I wondered if we would be able to get out once we were back there. We were passing shack after shack, countless numbers of wild animals & yet, I did not see a river, a lake, a stream or even a dribble of water. We came upon a man & Jesus' learned from him that the waterfall that we were in search of was in the yard of the home of a man nearby. We had passed the house already. We turned back around & found the proper house. Luis got out & approached the home & returned moving the fence in front of us so that we could pull into the yard. In the yard, were dogs roaming around. I love dogs & am used to dogs. I, however, am not used to being on property with pigs. Yes, there were pigs. The grass was tall & the place looked dirty. Everyone jumped out of the vehicle & I posed the question, "Are we really getting out here?" Haley laughed & said, "Yep!" I then became aware of the fact that to get to the waterfall, I was going to have to walk through the weeds. For me, doing so is not an everyday occurrence. I don't consider myself prissy or high maintenance but I certainly would not refer to myself as an outdoors woman. Having not put any insect repellent on thus far in my stay, I figured it was probably an appropriate time to do so. Once Haley got me all sprayed, we were ready to go take in the fall. We quickly had a whole slew of kids around us. They were all staring at us as we got out of the car & the very minute I flashed my camera towards them, they took off hiding. They'd peek around to check on us & just laugh. Haley invited them to come have a picture with us. Once they did so, they stuck to us like glue following us all over the place. They would strike poses waiting for us to take their picture & then hurry to our sides to see the image on our digital cameras. When the image would appear, they'd erupt in chuckles at themselves.Off into the woods we went...with the kids tagging right along. Ahead of me, I saw a downhill slope & wondered how I was going to make it down there without tumbling. You must know, I'm not the most graceful individual & I move at a snail's pace. To come across a hill is to me, the equivalent of having to walk on ice--I'm unable to do that also. Nice as he could be, Luis climbed back my way & gave me his arm & helped me down. Pathetic, I know...just like a little old lady (maybe I was just living up the expectation of my body falling apart since I was turning 30). And then we arrived & the sight of the waterfall left us speechless. It was a sight like I'd never seen before. I've never been to Niagara Falls but I can't envision it topping this waterfall. See...here it is: Yeah so, Nicaragua had not had enough rain for there to be enough water to produce a waterfall. Not quite the scene that Jesus had remembered it being. So, we drove all that way to see that! Ridiculous as it may seem to have done so, our time there was by far, my favorite memory spent in Nicaragua. I had hoped that I would get into an orphanage to work with some kids or at least be surrounded by Nica children at some point. That was the only time that such happened. For me, that was all the birthday present I needed. Watching those gorgeous boys & girls smile & seeing their innocence filled my heart with such joy. As we walked back to the car, one of the older girls was encouraging the younger kids to use what little English they knew. The kids repeatedly said, "Hello" & "Thank You."After more pictures, we got in the car & waved goodbye to the line of kids that were gathered to say farewell to us. Though we had no intentions of winding up back in the sticks with people we did not know, it was a huge blessing & delight.

Tip-Top, Trees & Thirty Nearly

2009-08-20T12:14:00.001-07:00

Whether for business, pleasure, a mission trip or whatever, two of the most frequently asked questions to the returning traveler are: "How was the food?" & "What did you eat?" That is why I felt it important to try to photograph as many meals as my mind would allow me to remember to do so. As atypical as I thought it was to be eating fried chicken in Nicaragua, it was just as uncommon to me to be sitting down ordering chicken strips. One might question if I really left North America & was in Central America! Tip-Top is Jesus' & Haley's favorite chicken place in Nicaragua. Naturally, they wanted me to share in that which they love. I was quite taken with it too. As far as the atmosphere or style, I would compare it to our KFC or Popeye's Chicken. Unlike here, you sit down there & a waitress comes to take your order. Where we would generally have our food within a few minutes here in the states, you could be waiting a while there-just like an actual restaurant. Tip-Top was "mucho bueno" (very good). Jesus' will actually begin working soon at a Tip-Top near his home. Before we left there, I went to the front of the building to snap a shot of the Christmas tree made out of lights. As I flew into Managua, I saw one of these trees from overhead. I was surprised to see so many of these as we drove around. According to Jesus', they like to celebrate Christmas all-year long there in Nicaragua. Once we made it back to the house, I decided to put on a little show for the guys. Throughout the day, the topic of my birthday being the following day had been discussed numerous times. At one point, after asking how old I would be, Jesus' stated that I looked like I was going to be 40 rather than 30. Some have seen these pictures & questioned if we were spinning around the bat & then trying to run in a straight line or what was transpiring. The bat was being used as my cane. However, as I tried to set myself up for portraying an old lady, Jesus continually caused me to burst into laughter breaking up my ability to keep a straight face. After multiple tries (which I did not post them all on here), we finally got a good one--what a beauty.

Chilled at the Catarina

2009-08-20T11:39:00.001-07:00

We left Granada & wound up near Masaya at a place called the Catarina overlooking Lake Nicaragua & the Apoyo Lagoon. Haley, Jesus & Luis had been there several times prior & were aware of the significant drop in temperature. Haley warned me that it was going to be cold. As we were driving up the road to get to the Catarina, it was quite hazy & foggy out. When we got out of the car & headed over to look out over the lagoon, the view was not clear thanks to the clouds. I was just fine...actually, I was much appreciative of the cool weather. The others though, were chilled...freezing. It was extremely windy there (below is a video taken at the Catarina. Turn the sound up & you'll hear the wind). So much so that you really could feel the wind pulling you as you would try to stand. We traveled down a path for bit & then began to head back to the vehicle when the drizzle of rain started up. Of course, that only made the trio even more cold. Before we could leave, we had to sit down in a restaurant so they could order coffee for themselves in order to warm up. As we sat there, Luis proposed a most interesting question to me (& one that I will never forget). There I sat with no drink. No soda, coffee, hot chocolate..nadda, nothing. Luis looked at me & said, "Are you normal?" Immediately, I began laughing & thought I was going to wet my pants. Haley was cackling too. While I knew what he was getting at, it was rather entertaining. My response was, "I don't know, my family would probably say I am not." Of course, he was really just wanting to know if I was OK temperature-wise...not too hot, not too cold since I did not order a drink. Once Haley explained to him that if such a question was asked of a person here in the U.S. that it would mean you were wondering if they were alright mentally, he understood why we were giggling so hard. That was an unforgettable moment for sure. Once the eskimos got heated, we said goodbye to the Catarina. Though the view would probably have been much more grandeur had it not been overcast & hazy (although, I prefer those rainy, dreary, cloudy days that the majority of the world dreads), I still found the location to be gorgeous. As Haley & the boys stated, "It's romantic." Now, I had no one to share in romance with while I was there but perhaps one day, I will return there with a love & find that yes, it is a romantic place.

Granada

2009-08-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the lengthy amount of time that has passed since my last post. I am returning now to telling the tales of my travels. Now, where did we leave off? Oh yes, monkeys. After our boat ride, we went to the town square in Grandada. We stopped in a little cafe' to grab a bite to eat. Which, the meal I had there was, hands-down, my favorite meal while in Nicaragua. As you can see, I've included a picture of the dish. You are probably looking at the plate trying to guess what is on it. There was chicken in a habenero pepper sauce, squash salad (similar to our potato salad-only made with squash rather than potatoes), rice, veggies and fried plantains. As we ate, a storm blew in & the wind was whipping like crazy causing the door to the cafe' to slam shut, tents outside to fall over & things to tumble down the road. Within minutes, the sun was back out & all was well though. We walked around briefly taking pictures of the historic churches & government buildings that are, as you can see, very vivid. This was my first opportunity to check out souvenirs as well. While I did look, Haley shared with me that things were generally less expensive at the market. Therefore, I kept my purchases to a minimum-only buying a hand-painted shot glass for a coworker of mine whose wife collects shot glasses. As we moved from table to table, a little girl kept eying us & following us around. Finally, I wrangled her in for a picture with me. She was a doll. We had our fun there & were ready to move along...to the Catarina.

I Spy...Monkeys!

2009-08-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Day two found us taking a boat ride out on the lake in the City of Granada. Haley had been to the location before & knew that what we were going to do would be something I would enjoy immensely. As the boat rode the waves (lake was a bit choppy. Thankfully, not bad enough for me to get motion sick), we saw people in their swim trunks that were waist high deep in the water carrying machetes & baskets...they were fishing. We passed some beautiful homes...many of which belong to Americans. From what the skipper said, many Americans buy property there since it's so affordable. They then build homes to vacation to. After riding for a while, we finally pulled up alongside a little island. Haley said, "Heather, see the monkey?" I was nearly straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of one but I saw none. She pointed out to me that the monkey was right in front of me (I was looking further back in the trees & off to the sides). I felt like a little kid in a candy store...my eyes must have been wide! For most, the only monkeys they'll ever see are ones that are at the zoo. However, I was seeing them up close, out in the wild. Haley had bought some coconut candy that we were able to throw out for the monkeys to eat. Jesus & I did so. As the boat moved even closer in, Jesus reached right out to one of the monkeys. Now, I may have done the zipline but that was as far as my adventure streak would go. I was not about to touch the monkey (I realize I had immunizations before I left but I'm sure I did so for a reason!). Who knows if I'll ever experience something like that again...I hope I do.

Zippin' Right Along

2009-08-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

Prior to my trip to Nicaragua, I had been informed that there was a zipline that we could do during the course of my stay in the country. However, after hearing that the zipline was over an active volcano, I quickly opted out. Haley then stated that there was, however, one closer to her home & that it just went over a lake. I thought that might be a possibility. On my first full day in Nicaragua, the four of us went to the town of Sandino to do a bit of looking around. After driving around forever in search of how to get to the top of this big hill, we made it to a parking lot & got out of the car. We began to walk around when Haley said, "There it is." I wondered what she was talking about & asked, "There what is?" She replied with, "the zipline." I looked & sure enough, there it was...the zipline. Already, fear was creeping in. I was already considering following in my usual footsteps-being a chicken. Jesus went over to the desk to ask a dozen questions or more & as we all stared at the pictures on the wall that featured the course, etc. we were hesitant. We stood there for a rather lengthy amount of time discussing, debating & trying to decide whether or not we were going to go for it or walk away. I finally reached the point where even if no one else was going to go, I was. I kind of figured it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me & well, it was time to live a little (afterall, I would turn 30 in a few days!). Once everyone agreed to go, we began to plan out in what order we would go. I wished to go near the bottom of the pack so that I might watch those before me. If I saw them plummet to the ground & die, I would know not to step up there. The order was set..it would be: Haley, Luis, me, then Jesus. The guides got us all equipped in the harnesses & we were ready for a few pictures. The guy that had been "dressing" me in my gear had been rather friendly with me so I was in full expectation that he was going to be going with me on the zipline. I just had that instinct. As Haley prepared to take a picture of me, the guy ran over to be in the picture with me. At that moment, there was no question left in my mind. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was mine. We finished snapping photos & all climbed upon the platform. All of a sudden, my guide climbed a step higher, reached for my hand & said, "Let's go." I said, "No, I'm going 3rd." He let me know I was not going third, I was going first..with him. I think the others thought that was fairly funny. I'm sure that my sister got a good kick out of it. The biggest scaredy cat of the bunch being picked to go first. So, off we went. I screamed to the top of my lungs. I was not frightened; just energized. We made it across & then watched the others at they zipped down the line. Then, it was time for the 2nd line. We went in the same order once again. When we got to the 3rd & final line, my guy decided to change it up a bit. While Haley had been last each time, she went first. Jesus & Luis went 2nd (they went together with a guide) & my guide saved he & I for last. He asked if I wanted to do the "Superman" pose & I said, "What the heck, might as well." After getting me ready to switch to that position, we were set. He said, "Just let go" & I let my hands fall from the line & we were on our way. While the first 2 lines did not bother me at all & were great fun, that final line was not so great. I think I should have stuck to my original position because as soon as we started flying down the line, I felt like I was going to throw-up. Needless to say, I did not really enjoy that a whole lot. Thankfully, I made it to the end without getting sick. Once I landed, the guide looked at me & said, "You're shaking." Mission accomplished-4 of us went up & 4 of us came down; all still alive. We had been told that we would have to take a taxi back up to the top but the guides were catching a ride back up on a truck. They were kind enough to allow us to ride with them. I knew I was not climbing in the back with everyone else because I knew the guide I had would not allow me to do so. Before I could even attempt to hop in the back, he was leading me by the hand to the front of the truck. He opened up the door & helped me in. I rode in the front of the truck with the driver-we had a silent trip as he knew no English & I did not know enough Spanish to even bother trying to converse. Once we got back up to the top, I waited because I knew full well that the guide would be rushing to open the door & lend me his hand to get down. I was right. I decided perhaps I should get a couple of pictures taken of he & I without all of the gear on me. We took the first shot & then he asked for another one. I was totally unprepared for the fact that on the 2nd one, he would be pressing his lips onto my cheek. I'm sure the look on my face must have been priceless at that moment as I was in utter shock. I think it's safe to say, that fella was smitten with me. I won't lie, he was definitely easy on the eyes. He gave me multiple hugs & repeatedly told me their hours & that if I'd come back, he'd gladly take me up there again. While we did not return there again during my visit, I am so grateful that we went. I don't think there are many out there that would dispute that I'm not very adventurous. For me, probably the most daring thing I will ever do. I was able to do it in the midst of beautiful scenery with a handsome guide amongst good friends. I would go back there & do it again in a heartbeat. I'd probably skip the "Superman" pose though! I had not planned on taking such a risk so early on in my visit but the fact that we did so, just made the week that much greater.

Rise & Shine!

2009-07-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

After visiting for a while, the four of us finally tucked ourselves in for a night's rest. Throughout the night, I heard many noises. I do not recall the time, but I remember learning something new while it was still dark outside. What is is that I was educated on before sunrise? I learned that roosters crow at all hours, not just at daybreak. I thought that maybe I was the only one naive enough to not realize that they crow anytime they feel like it but I feel a lot better about myself knowing that after having asked others, they thought the same thing-that they crow when the sun comes up. As I tried to sleep, I began to hear people in the streets yelling things (they were shouting out items for sale...tortillas, tomatoes, watermelon, etc.). Then, I heard music blaring from outside. I awakened asking Haley what time it was. The clock read 6:00 a.m. I then realized that in Nicaragua, they do not believe in sleeping in. I believe 9:30 was as late as I slept & that was only after waking up & returning to bed later. I knew that each day, we'd be up & at 'em early. The above picture is a shot of me after such realization. For breakfast, the guys walked to a nearby store to buy bananas & milk.

There, the milk comes in a bag (seen in the picture). After getting ready, we headed out & stayed fairly local visiting some sites in Managua.

Overlook en route to Haley's house

Haley's home

The Beginning of a Grand Adventure

2009-07-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

After many hours, I finally had landed in Nicaragua, made my way through customs & given my $5.00 to enter into the country. I hurried to the baggage claim to retrieve my luggage & then began to roll my cart in hopes of finding my sister. As I walked, I noticed a window. On the other side of the window, I saw a familiar face-that of my sister! However, I did not see a door in which to enter into that particular area. I continued walking on & wound up outside of the airport & was approached quickly by many offering me taxi services. Haley realized I had walked outside & made her way to me. We embraced & then Jesus hurried over to hug & greet me. I noticed Luis standing to the side so I walked over & opened my arms to him for a hug as well. The guys were quick to grab my suitcases as we headed to the car. I climbed in the backseat with Haley & was in immediate search for a seatbelt. I did not find one though. I questioned Haley & she said that only those riding in the front had to wear one. I let her know that I already did not feel safe. Yet, she assured me that all would be OK. She asked if I was hungry & because I'm me, the answer was, "Yes!" We then stopped at a Mobil On The Run filling station for my first meal in the country. I wondered what we would eat. My meal consisted of fried chicken & fried potato wedges. I never dreamt that I would be eating such in Nicaragua--much less right after I arrived! As Haley & Jesus waited in line to order our food, Luis & I remained at the table with one another. Unsure of what to say, I said very little. Luis would occasionally ask me a question or make a statement to me but that was about it. Once Haley & Jesus returned to the table, the ice began to be broken. We made it back to Haley's home & shortly after getting in, Haley opened the cover to her stove top. When she did, a friendly little mouse went scurrying on it's merry little way. Luis grabbed the broom & was trying to get the mouse (meanwhile, Haley was standing on a chair in hysteria). The rodent decided he was not ready to leave though & made himself at home behind the refrigerator leaving himself unable to be reached (though everyone tried to get him out). At this moment, I knew this was going to be a wonderful week--I was embarking upon a great time & there would be much fun had.

Up, Up & Away...

2009-07-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 16th - Since I had such a long layover in Miami, I felt it best that I record all my going-on's. Why I thought I should do this, I've no idea. Call it boredom, call it stupidity.

2:30 a.m. : Alarm sounded & I woke up

5:40 a.m. : Boarded plane at Lambert International Airport

6:20 a.m. : Flight departed

6:40 a.m. : Began feeling ill thanks to turbulence. Thought I was going to have to get out a bag & vomit.

9:40 a.m. : Flight landed at Miami-Dade Airport

10:00 a.m. : Off plane

10: 05 a.m. : Bathroom stop & search for something for breakfast began

10:15 a.m. : Settled on Dunkin' Donuts after learning there was no B.K. or McDonald's within the airport-they are on the outside.

11:10 a.m. : Finally frozen-had to pull my sweatshirt out of my carry-on luggage & put it on (who would have thought that I would have lasted that long?!)

11: 45 a.m. : Handsome Middle-Eastern looking gentlemen sat down across from & I admired him for a bit.

12:01 p.m. : Fire alarm went off & P.A. system announced the following: "Alarm that has been activated is under investigation by the fire department. Please stand by for further instructions." I am a bit worried.

12:07 p.m. : Fire alarm finally shut-up

12: 27 pm. : I find myself shaking my head in disbelief as the lady that was too crippled to walk to the gate so she was wheelchaired over. Moments later, I watch her stand & walk with no problem whatsoever.

12:40 p.m. : Began visiting all nearby concourses scoping out lunch options.

1:20 p.m. : Decided upon Chinese & sat down to enjoy Fried Rice & Oriental Chicken.

1:50 p.m. : Back @ gate after visiting with a youth group from Ft. Wayne, IN headed to Haiti on a medical mission trip.

2:45 p.m. : Nice surprise occurs. As I'm on the phone with a friend, I notice someone headed in my direction that I know--Phil Moore (the father of a friend of mine-also the wonderful man who had the patience enough to teach me how to drive)! I called out his name, he came over & we chatted briefly as he made his way for his flight to St. Louis (he's a pilot).

3:50 p.m. : Visited Hudson News to purchase gum so my ears wouldn't pop (I had forgotten to carry some with me & when my flight left St. Louis, it was so early that no stands were open to buy anything). Bought a candy bar & Iced Tea with lemon.

3:55 p.m. : Returned to the gate & asked worker if, as far as he knew, this was still the gate for Managua. He then joked with me & said, "Girl, you been here all day & I'm just now meetin' you?

3:57 p.m. : Sat back down at the gate & continued reading a book..Trapped In Hitler's Hell.

4:45 p.m. : Decided it was time to break out the MP3 player & listen to some tunes.

5:45 p.m. : Begin boarding aircraft

6:15 p.m. : Plane takes off headed for Managua, Nicaragua

6:50 p.m. : Touchdown (Nicaragua is one hour behind CST)

7:30 p.m. : Estimate but I would guess this is around the time that I finally was through customs & had seen my sister's face!

Stay tuned for my many exciting stories.

From Tears to Smiles

2009-07-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, I began looking at volunteering my time at some of the children's hospitals in the St. Louis area. As Christ has changed me & continually been at work in my life, I find Him softening my heart to many different areas-one of which is the area of children. As I called around to get information, I learned that I could not just come on occasion to read stories to the kids but I had to make a commitment of 6 months or so. Unfortunately, I did not have the time then to do so. When my Cousin, Lisa, gave birth to her son, Noah, last year, Noah had to be moved to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in Downtown St. Louis due to being born prematurely. I remember the day I went to see Noah. As we were leaving the hospital, a young girl was sitting outside in a wheelchair hooked up to an IV bag that was being rolled with her. She looked to be about 11 or 12 years old. She had no hair. I would assume she probably was a Cancer patient. I choked up & could hardly stand it. I then knew that perhaps I might not be cut out for visiting children's hospitals. I became fearful that if I were to do so, I might become attached to the children & then, if they did not make it, I'd take it real hard.

Recently, I learned that one of our members at work has a 4 year old son who has a brain tumor. Each week, he must go to Children's Hospital downtown for treatments. Today, the little boy was in with his dad. He kept acting bashful-hiding & then peeking around his father to look at me. When our eyes would meet, he'd flash a cute little grin & quickly hide behind his dad again. As his dad approached me to be waited on, I began to talk to Elijah (the little boy). I gifted him with some toys that we had. As I proceeded going about my business & finishing the transaction, I really had to pull myself together as tears were welling up within me. Elijah's tumor is visible & sadly, his scars from many previous surgeries are as well. I began to think about his parents & how my heart aches for them. I was able to compose myself enough to give his dad the receipt & say goodbye to the two of them but as soon as they walked out the door, I nearly lost it. There Elijah stood..smiling, laughing, care-free. Yet, days from now, he'll be back in the hospital hooked up to IV's, machines, etc. undergoing treatment again. Once they left, I was thinking it was going to be a rough rest of the day as my mind would continue to drift back to little Elijah. But...as only God has a way of doing, He provided me with the perfect ray of sunshine during a cloudy moment in my soul.

As usual, I returned home for my lunch break & as I do every day, I signed onto facebook. When I did, I had an instant message that was popping up on my screen. I looked to see who it was from & low & behold, it was from Dabby. In 2005, I met many incredible kids & had wonderful students in Taiwan. Dabby though, was by far, my favorite.Dabby's English-speaking skills were far greater than most of the other students. Dabby was very diligent in her studies and with each thing Crystal & I said, she was entering the words into a translation computer to learn more. I remember Dabby having novels in her back pack. Novels that were written in English. As we inquired about them, she was reading a series. She was very interested in learning everything she could from us--specifically in regards to English. Dabby also was a very gifted artist. On our final day together, she presented both Crystal & I with pictures that she had drawn for us. Her fine detailing was amazing. Clearly, she was a young lady full of talent. Upon my return home in '05, Dabby & I kept in touch from time to time through e-mails. She was very excited for my return visit in '06. Disappointed, we never did connect while I was there in '06. My friend Megan & I walked up & down the streets of her neighborhood yelling her name & asking people about her. No one had any information (this was most likely because of the fact that we were using her English name which she would not be known by to anyone in the area. We did not know the kids' given names). I left Taiwan without having seen Dabby again. Last time I had heard from Dabby was about a year ago. Today when I received her instant message, I was ecstatic. My heart was leaping with joy. As she wrote, it was 1:30 a.m. in Taiwan. We were not able to talk for too long since I had to be back at work. However, we had a nice little visit. She apologized for it taking her so long to type in English. I encouraged her by telling her she was doing a great job (which, she really was. I know people here in America that can't type as well or as quickly as she was). I shared that I would love to be back in Taiwan but I also wish she could visit here one day. Dabby said that she would like to do so but it is much too expensive for her to come to America. I told her she would need to begin saving so that she could one day come and she & I could go visit Miss Crystal (to the students, we were Miss Crystal & Miss Heather. Though, for a long time Dabby has referred to me as "teacher."). As I prepared to say good-bye, Dabby wanted to know if I was on MSN. Her words were, "we can talk visible." I finally figured out what she meant. She wanted to know if I had MSN Messenger so that we could talk via webcam. At one point, I was set up for that but I'm not sure that I am still. I assured her that I would check on it & let her know. I went back to work on cloud 9 after that treat. I have since returned home to see that Dabby's status on facebook states "The world is so beautiful and full of love. I'm happy that I choice sleep late or I won't visit my teacher." For those of you that have not worked with or been around Asian people, you may be trying to decipher that--essentially what she is saying is that she's glad she chose to go to bed later because if she had not of, she would not have been visiting with me. Apparently, she was just as delighted as I was for our meeting today. I've always said & will do so once again...there are no accidents or coincidences with God. He purposed such at just the right time for a specific purpose. I may not know just yet what that purpose was but I'll forever be grateful for that nice surprise. I know not the spiritual condition of Dabby's heart. To my knowledge, she did not receive Christ while Crystal & I were in the class with her. I can only pray that those things which we taught her, the Bible she was given, the love we showed her & the continued opportunities to speak with her will be blessed by God. If Dabby has yet to do so, may this very special young lady come to know the One True God rather than the many gods that so many of the Hakka people bow down to & live in fear of. Please, pray for Dabby.

(Crystal & myself with our afternoon class in Taiwan-Middle School aged).

No R.S.V.P. From Me!

2009-07-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

In walked a girl today that just got my blood boiling. The more I thought about how appalled I still was at what she had done, the more upset I became-yet again! What did she do? Several weeks ago, this young lady came through the drive-thru at my work & asked the guys back there if I was working. After informing her that I was indeed there, they summoned me back to speak with her. I looked out, saw who it was, turned the microphone on & said hello to her & asked if I could help her. Her reply was, "I'm sending you an invitation to my graduation party." I simply said, "OK, thanks" & then turned the microphone off & began to rant & rave in disbelief. I'm sure you are wondering why I was so bothered by this (& still am apparently!). I'm disturbed because I hardly know her. My relationship with this young lady is this: her aunt used to be my neighbor many years ago. As a child, she would sometimes be at her aunt's house when we would be over to visit or whatever. Until I began working at my place of employment, I had not seen this young lady since she was a kid--probably at age 5 or 6. She had been in on numerous occasions & never knew who I was until her mom came in with her one day & clued her in on the fact that her aunt used to live by me. As you can see, it's not as if we are friends-barely even acquaintances. The guys couldn't grasp why I was so upset about it all-who knows, maybe it's a girl thing. Or, maybe it's just me. Call me crazy but is that not extremely rude & impolite? For years, people have been telling me I need to write a book. I'm beginning to think I ought to consider writing one on etiquette...not that I'm an expert or anything but seriously...you don't send an invitation to someone you barely know! If I were getting married, I would not dream of inviting people that I had only met a few times. The guys said, "Heather, are you gonna go to her party?" I replied with, "Not a chance that's going to happen!" They encouraged me to at least send a card. Now, let's be honest here...a 18 yr. old high school graduate...do you think she wanted a card--especially from someone she hardly knows? I don't think so. We all know that she wanted the goods that would come enclosed in the envelope with the card! HELLO--I didn't come in off a turnip truck! The invite said to R.S.V.P. if you would NOT be able to attend. I didn't bother calling. I had already envisioned that (not that I ever had any intentions of calling to begin with though)-I would call & say, "This is Heather Wood just calling to let you know I won't be able to make it to your party." Then, she'd say, "Heather who? Who are you again?" I had it all planned out..I'd then say, "And that is exactly why I will NOT be attending your party!!!" So, the party was a couple of weekends ago & it goes without saying, I didn't make an appearance, nor did I send a card. Still, I'm honestly offended that she actually had the nerve to invite me. Might as well just send in a note saying, "I'd like you to give me some money!" Fast forward 2 weeks & there we were today. She came walking up directly towards me as I was the only available one to help her. She let me know that she came inside because she didn't think the drive-thru was open & plus, she wanted to see me (or, as she said, "I was like, I can just go in & see Heather!"). I think a maximum of 25 words were said during the whole transaction (if that many) & then she walked out the door. I stood there shaking my head..still dumbfounded by it all. We're so close that we had nothing to even say to one another. Please folks, when you are having an event & make your invite list--have some class!

A Step Back in Time to Remember

2009-06-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

This past Friday evening, my dad, aunt, uncle & I made our way over to Town & Country to Congressman Todd Akin's farm for an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration. We parked in the lot designated for all those attending & took a trolley to the Akin's property.As we stepped off the trolley, we were greeted by those wearing clothing most likely appropriate to that of the American Revolution time period.As instructed, we carried covered dishes for a potluck picnic. Talk about food galore! What a tough decision it was trying to determine which line to jump in as there was table after table full of good eatin's! There was no shortage of things to see or do...plenty for all ages be it a walk to see the little piglets at the petting zoo, the replica boat from the Lewis & Clark Expedition, representatives from the military there with their luggage, equipment & gear for all to see (which reminds me, as I listened to one of the soldiers tell about the things on his table, a young boy pointed to an item & asked what it was. The solider replied, "That's a tape recorder, son" & began to tell him how it worked & what it could be used for. It was at that moment, I no longer felt young-not comforting!), etc.For me, the highlight was the drum & fife corp. I was feeling the red, white & blue even more when they played my personal favorite, The Battle Hymn of the Republic (I might add that the song used to be the song I would regularly sing while showering).Throughout the evening, there were many speakers who recited various readings or poems made famous throughout the history of our country. We all joined in singing a number of patriotic songs.A cavalry was present & showed us some of their maneuvers. It was amazing to see just how precise they were with each & every move. Also, how well-trained the horses were was fascinating (which, we learned that a number of the horses present has been in major motion pictures such as: Glory & The Patriot). Everyone was eager to see & hear from Congressman Akin but he had yet to arrived & he was in flight from D.C. after a day spent in filibuster. Todd's wife, Lulli, kept everyone informed as to Todd's whereabouts & finally, when word was received that he was approaching the lawn, everyone stood to their feet to give him a hearty welcome. After we Mr. Akin spoke, we began packing up our belongings to head home. We jumped back on the trolley & were en route to our car when we were held up thanks to fireworks (due to where the fireworks were being shot off at & the closeness in proximity to us, no cars were allowed thru). I expected the showing to be over within a few minutes. I was wrong. Lulli was not kidding when she said Todd loves fireworks. The display lasted about 20 minutes & for a private party, I would say it was better than good. By the time we made it home, it was nearly midnight. But..it was well worth it. Apparently this was the 12th year that the Akin's had hosted such an event. Though I had not been before, I look forward to going back again next year. 4th of July has always been my favorite Holiday so to experience something so great...honoring our country in such a way, was wonderful. Thank God for Christian leaders like Todd Akin that are carrying the torch so that truly, His truth will continue marching on!

Underground

2009-06-22T14:56:00.001-07:00

As I sit here thinking about my friend Don's trip to China, I see a DVD sitting near me. The name of the DVD is Underground Reality Vietnam. I have been a subscriber to the Voice of the Martyrs magazine for several years now. I am always eager to receive the magazine & read of those who are exercising such great faith-especially in the face of extreme persecution. Last year, I ordered the DVD mentioned above after seeing the trailer posted here. I was blown away by the DVD. The images I saw, the stories I heard..moved me to tears. I know that I recommended it to many of you before but I'll throw it out there again. If you've not seen the film, I highly suggest it--specifically for teens or those interested in the mission field. I think that once you see something like it, it is a reminder of how fortunate we are to worship freely here in the United States. For those interested, you may purchase the DVD at http://www.vombooks.com . For more information on Voice of the Martyrs of to subscribe to their free newsletters, go to: http://www.persecution.com

Pop's Day-2009

2009-06-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is nearly over for the year & yet, it's been a busy day. As soon as I'm done writing this, I intend to go watch Jesse James' new t.v. program with my dad. We both enjoy the show very much so it's a special time for us to share together (plus, I think I've a crush on Jesse James. Who knew I was into the bad boy type? Just kidding--I don't really have a crush on Jesse though he does seem like a nice enough guy & I do find him hysterically funny). I was pleased to go into the Lord's house this morning. I went to Sunday School & was overjoyed when I learned we were beginning a new study--on Paul the Apostle. Paul happens to be my favorite person in the Bible (well, next to Jesus of course) so I know I'll enjoy this series. I confess...I did not stay for the church service. I came home & after a while, my aunt arrived here at our home to meet us to go to Stumpy's BBQ for lunch (or dinner--whatever you call at 3:00 in the afternoon meal). My aunt came in & found me & offered a hug & words of advice & encouragement to me regarding the situation I'm in prayer about. I thank God for the amazing family He's blessed me with...each & every one of them. We then went & met the rest of the family for our meal. I had a ball watching the kids play. Who knew that rolling high chairs all over the place could be so much fun? Yet, the kids were laughing non-stop. After our meal, we all went back to my aunt & uncle's house for dessert (cupcakes & homemade ice cream-YUMMY!!). Jordan (a friend of my cousin's) arrived a little later & began setting up beauty/barber shop in the home. Jordan is currently in Cosmotology School so it's good for her to be able to get practice in. She cut both Noah & Lisa's hair. I came close to allowing her to do mine tonight (she was ready to do so) but I backed out when I thought about the fact that I might want to wait until after my trip to Nicaragua so that while I'm there, I may pull it up when I'm dying of heat. I don't know...I may wind up calling her before my trip asking her to go ahead & chop it off...never know with me. Now, we're back at the ole' homestead (as my mom calls it) & I'm in the midst of doing laundry-Oh joy. Have I mentioned that I HATE doing laundry? Well anyway, Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!

May I Bless His Name Even Through Pain

2009-06-21T12:14:00.001-07:00

Due to traveling out of town to take part in the birthday celebration of a family member a couple of weeks ago, I missed church that Sunday. Therefore, I also missed hearing Pastor Bob's first sermon from his series on the book of James. That particular Sunday, he was preaching on understanding trials. Days later, I attempted to listen to the sermon online. I tried numerous times to listen but each time, I'd only make it about 20 minutes in before something would occur leaving me unable to hear the rest. At the time, I joked saying that God really must have had something in that first half of the sermon that He really wanted me to hear since I was unable to move past it for the ending. I didn't really think that I had any trials or difficulties at the time, none that came to mind any way. Finally, nearly 2 weeks later, I finally was able to hear the conclusion of the message. And then.....surprise, surprise, a trial found me. Without going into great detail, I'll simply say that things had been going rather well in life & there was much I was looking forward to. Days ago, disappointment set in when that which I was eager for, came to a screeching halt. My first reaction was anger. While I am still disappointed, I understand that God is in control & He is allowing this trial to grow me in Him as well as make me stronger in other areas as well. Pastor Bob said that your reaction to trials sometimes reveal whether or not you are mature in your faith or not. I pray that even though my heart is still a bit hurt, I would be found faithful in praising & blessing His name. James tells us in James 1 that we should, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it's perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4). Zechariah 13:9 states, "And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, And I will answer them; I will say, "They are My people,' And they will say, "The Lord is my God." Even in the midst of this difficulty, may I be put through the fire so that my faith will be refined & that in the end, I will say with confidence, "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" not just in the good times but in the bad times as well. For now, I express gratitude to the many individuals who have e-mailed me, sent me messages on facebook, etc. to let me know they are praying--even if they do not know the specifics. I myself, will continue to be in prayer about this particular area in my life--that God would keep leading me in the right direction & granting me wisdom.

Brad Paisley Climbing Up the Ladder of My Heart

2009-06-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Last summer, my sister surprised me with tickets for my birthday to see Brad Paisley. That was the first time I had seen him in concert & I was more than impressed. If you've heard me speak much about music, you may know that Alan Jackson is my favorite singer all-time of any genre of music. Over the last couple of years, Brad Paisley has slowly climbed his way up & moved into my heart ranking in a close tie with Alan. Like Alan Jackson, I've yet to hear a song by Brad Paisley & not like it. I think he is, by far, one of the most clever, creative song writers (if not the most) in the country music industry. Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night Tour rolled into town here this past Thursday night with Jimmy Wayne & Dierks Bentley as the opening acts. My dad was kind enough to go with me to the show after my friends were unable to do so. The crowd was much larger this year-packed house. I knew it would be though. I think that Dierks Bentley has a bigger following than Chuck Wicks, Julianne Hough & Jewel did a year ago when they were the openers. All the girls love Dierks (& yes, I'll include myself in that. I know I'm not alone in saying that Dierks is easy on the eyes). Once again, Brad Paisley put on a phenomenal show-nothing less than the best from one of the best. Below, is Brad's latest single. I first heard "Then" when he performed it on the CMA's. I fell in love with "Then", then.

A Want To Go

2009-06-20T21:23:00.001-07:00

So Daddy Don-ish. Gotta love it!! The only thing that would have made this better would be to have had Brother Doug sitting beside him in one of the other small chairs.

Growing like a week. Adorable, adorable!!

This past Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of traveling to the home of some friends' of mine to hear another friend tell of his recent mission trip to China. Apparently, I was not present at church the day that all of the upcoming mission trips were presented to everyone. Had I have been, I know I would have been jumping on board-or at least getting information on the trip to China. I did not learn about the trip until the team was already established, tickets were already purchased & the group was nearly on their way. Since my return home from Taiwan, there has constantly been, within me, a fascination for Asian people. I desire to talk to them, learn more about them & establish relationships with them. I've been saying for the past 3 years that I would LOVE to go to China on a mission trip. My friend, Daddy Don (the name a group of us girls gave him as he chauffeured us around Taiwan in 2005), had an excellent presentation complete with pictures as well as informative material for us regarding his trip to China. I was so blessed to hear of the doors that God opened for them there in the communist country. I only wish that more would be able to hear about the team's trip as I believe more would realize that, as Don said, you don't have to be a pastor, a Sunday School teacher, a farmer, etc. to go on a mission trip. Basically, you just have to have a heart for people & want to plant the seed. You may not think you have anything to offer that could be of benefit to the group or the mission-if you know Jesus, you have all you need. I listened to Don share about 2 brothers who were along on the trip-both excelling in Tae-Kwon-Do. Neither probably went on the trip expecting to really use their skill much. However, as Don spoke, it seemed that their Tae-Kwon-Do was something that enabled them to get more involved while they were there & to begin building relationships in order to share the gospel. Who would have thunk it? God using Tae- Kwon-Do? Their trip has come & gone-another team may return next year. I'm already in prayer seeking whether or not I shall be on that team. On another note, I had not been to Rob & Kristina's in nearly a year. Though there to hear Daddy Don speak, it was great to see their daughter Evelyn. I remember 2 yrs. ago when many of us greeted them at the airport when they brought Evelyn home from South Korea. She is getting so big--such a precious child. She found my keys immediately & carried them for the longest time. Once I showed her the pig keychain that has the ability to light up & "oink", she was really happy. A blessed evening of fellowship was had there within the Simmons' house as I was so delighted to be spending time with people I love very much. Those that were there were all a part of the Taiwan team & the time we spent overseas is something I'll cherish always....there's a very special bond that was formed between us all.

Hiding Them In My Heart

2009-06-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I set out to by this book as a gift for someone. As I began to look at the book myself, I knew that I couldn't resist--I too, was in need of a copy. I'm sure you are thinking that I'm a bit old for a children's Bible Story book. The book itself is not what I was really desiring; it was the enclosed CD with 100 Bible songs. I knew many of the songs were songs that my grandma had taught me as a child. They were songs that were still in my memory thanks to grandma & time spent in church. I bought the book...yep, a grown adult buying a kids book for thyself. I'm not ashamed to admit it! I'm also not embarrassed to say that I have listened to the CD many, many times. Several weeks ago, I pulled disc 1 out to play in my car. I've been singing along to those songs for days. This morning, it was time to switch to disc 2. As I sang songs like "I'm the Lord's Army", "His Banner Over Me is Love", "Do Lord" I thought about being in Young Musicians at Edmundson Road Baptist Church a a kid singing those songs. I thought about time spent at Mt. Carmel Baptist in Ft. Payne, AL for VBS & singing those songs. Even as I was on my way to church & "I'm in the Lord's Army" came on, I found myself trying to do the actions (marching in the infantry, riding on the cavalry, shooting the artillery, zooming oer the enemy). Though taught to me long ago, they still resonate within me. Simple songs of yesteryear that still are impressed upon my heart.

On the Move

2009-06-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

Noah's been walking for a while now & Drew just started walking this past week. I'd not filmed either of them taking steps yet but tonight, while at my aunt's house, I thought I'd capture them walking. Unfortunately, it slipped my mind that I needed to make sure that I had the camera pointing horizontally rather than vertically. So, my apologies to you for your having to tilt your head to view this sideways. Next time, maybe I'll do a better job. Still, here they are....Drew & Noah, on the move!!

Jubilee in the Open Air

2009-06-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, we receive a mailing from the city with information as to activities that will be taking place in the community & so forth. Months ago, one of these mailings arrived & my dad looked through & noticed that there would be a number of free concerts at the park by the City Hall. A couple of weeks ago, on a Thursday evening, my dad & I loaded up the car with our lawn chairs & made our way to join the many others who were there to enjoy some music.

The band that was playing (a local band) was Sins of the Pioneer. They did a bit of Creole/Cajun music as well as R&B. I've never been to New Orleans but the music they were playing made me think of that which I envision hearing down in the bayou. I gotta say, kind of made me hungry for some gumbo, Jambalaya, red beans & rice too. Now, the band was not the best band I've ever heard by any means but for no charge & for something fun to do in the evening, it was good. In a couple of weeks, there's another concert--Broadway showtunes or something..should be good. In August, there's a night of Golden Oldies & Country music. I'm hoping to make it to all of those.

Partyin' It Up at the Wade's

2009-06-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Shelby & Cody sit outside awaiting the rest of their family for group photos

One of their 2 Black Labs (not sure if this is Ace or Indy)

Me & Cody Wade...perhaps the next Steven Spielberg?

In addition to the birthday party we had in store last Saturday, we also had a graduation party to attend...to celebrate Shelby's graduation from Francis Howell High School (which, had we not have moved...would have been the school I would have graduated from. I'd have been a Viking rather than a Bulldog!). The Wade family & our family go back many, many years. My dad & Mike have been friends since childhood & still today, remain good friends though they rarely see one another. Mike's wife, Beth, likes to tell (as she did during the party on Saturday) that I am in all of their wedding pictures...I was probably no more than 2 years old at the time. Our families have been friends for a long time. I remember when I was a kid, we would go to their house & they had a houseful (or so it seemed) of Labradors. I was terrified of them for the longest time & over the years, I grew to love those dogs. Whenever I would think of going to Mike & Beth's, I'd anticipate & look forward to seeing the dogs. Those dogs are long gone now but they have 2 other Labs. I was more than excited to get to play with them on Saturday. Mike has always been very funny & always a jokester...a lot of fun to be around. Growing up, I was the oldest so when Cody & Shelby came into the picture, I never really had anything to do with them in the few times of seeing them. It seems unreal to me that, like myself, they are not kids anymore either. Cody was leaving on Sunday to head to L.A. for an internship with the American Film Institute. I went ahead & requested a photo of he & I...just in case he should ever become someone famous! Shelby will be starting college in the fall. Though I would loved to have been able to stay & visit longer with the family, I'm glad for the time we had together. The Wade's are treasured friends for sure.

Laughter Filled the Park

2009-06-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Adrianna showing off her new sunglasses received as one of her many presents.

Like Father like son

My lil' Buddy, Noah

My Hannah Bug swingin' away

Amazing what a 6 yr. old can convince people to do--our silly faces at the request of Adrianna!

Someone wanted to be goofy for our picture together.

Me & Ian-lovin' the new do kiddo!

My flight through the air

This past Saturday was a rather busy one. After attending a graduation party, we headed to Civic Park to celebrate Adrianna's 6th b-day. Is it me or do kids seem to grow up way too fast? We had a tasty BBQ & then Adrianna got busy opening her many gifts. She is now well-stocked on Hannah Montana items. As we all know, that is important--kids just "have to have" everything Hannah Montana. She also got some new outfits as well. However, those didn't seem to impress her as greatly as all of the Hannah Montana things. Once all the gifts were opened & we had sang a beautiful rendition of "Happy Birthday" & ate cupcakes, everyone did their own thing. Some played catch with footballs & softballs; others played Frisbee. Then, there were people like myself--who opted out of the sports arena & went straight to playing with the kids. Hannah Bug asked me to take her swinging so I walked her down to the swings & pushed her. Hannah's a talker...she rambled on & on to me about anything & everything she could think of (she's almost 4) as she was swinging. I couldn't hear or understand half of her conversation since she was flying back & forth past me. I did catch on to her ratting out her baby brother as she told me that Baby Drew cries a lot & he bothers her stuff. That little lady kills me she's so funny. After I wore myself out pushing her, it was off to help Adrianna & Rose on the big kid swings. Finally, my turn had come. I sat my tush on the swing & was ready to go. Seems that swinging is not nearly as easy as it was when I was a child. As a kid, I don't think I really ever noticed how much upper body strength is needed to propel yourself up in the air. Needless to say, I was lacking. My cousin's friend, Jordan, was kind enough to give this big kid a push. She pushed alright...got me high enough that I was screaming. Then the laughter came. I could not hold in my laughing. I'm pretty sure that my family looking on was finding the situation quite amusing. It had been years since I'd been on a swing! The weather could not have been any nicer out that day & I think everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. Chanda...good work, the park was a wonderful idea!!

Pondering the Past 30

2009-06-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

All too soon, my 20's will be gone & I'll be 30 years old. 30...can it really be? While 30 really is not old at all, I like to exaggerate the idea of it a bit. I find it hard to believe that so much time has passed by. For whatever reason, I have felt the need to think about my life & the years behind me....reflect a bit. I have found myself sitting at the park on a park bench pondering my life...asking myself if my life has been of value & worth. Have I made an impact in the lives of those around me or those I've come in contact with over the years? At the end of my life, will I have left a "legacy" as Nichole Nordeman states in her song below (which, I kind of consider as my theme song)? I pray so. As I've done my thinking, I've been reminded of many wonderful times. I remember helping prepare & serve food during the floods of '93. Then, 15 yrs. later, I found myself carrying food to an area effected by flooding just last spring. I think about my former Sunday School class going to a senior citizens home to make Easter picture frames with the residence & my dressing up as the Easter Bunny & how much joy that brought to those older people. I never dreamt that they would want their picture taken with me & that they would plan to insert that particular picture in the frame they had made with us! They had the time of their lives' with me as I hopped (& yes...I really did hop like a rabbit) around the room though. I recall the countless number of times I have either went to sing in nursing homes or low-income housing areas & the people request song after song & have just been happy to see a "young" face & have someone "young" to talk to that would listen to their stories. I see myself downtown at the men's homeless shelter serving food & then mingling with the men as we laughed & joked together but later praised the Lord together through songs & testimonies. I remember going with some college students to unthinkable areas to search for homeless people to deliver food, clothing & most importantly, the Word of God. I think about my first ever mission trip--to Colorado, teaching Bible to children & at the end of the week, learning that the student I had grown closest to (Joel), had prayed to receive Christ into his heart. I picture myself helping lead a missions class during VBS at FBC O'Fallon & loving on those kids. I remember being assigned to a home in which I set up camp everyday for a week to serve as a leader during a Backyard Bible Club. Daily, my cousin & I led the kids in songs, Bible stories, games, crafts, etc. I think about the time when I volunteered to lead a group during a Disciple Now weekend & after having been assigned to lead middle school girls, I wondered why I volunteered. Though that was my most trying experience, I realized why I did it when weeks later, one of the girls came to salvation. Of course, I think of God calling me to the other side of the world to use the gospel to teach English to Taiwanese students. Still today, I hear from many of those kids that I fell in love with quickly. In my years working at One Way, there were opportunities day in & day out to be used by God. Having worked there 10 years, my mind overflows with stories....whether it was helping someone purchase their first Bible, teaching someone how to use a concordance, praying with a customer about a wayward teen, listening to someone who was just lonely & in need of a friend, etc. . . there was always plenty. Of all that I experienced at One Way, the most difficult time had to be when I helped a young couple find an appropriate song for the funeral of their stillborn infant. As I suggested the song & they listened, tears streamed down their face as they told me it was "perfect." Weeks later, I received a thank you note in the mail expressing their gratitude towards me for my help. Another memory I have is that of a mother entering into the store in search of a book that she could give to her daughter to help teach her about grief as she had just lost her grandmother. As I did some research & the mother browsed the store, her daughter (who was probably 5 or 6) wandered to the front & began to cry. I asked the little girl what was wrong & she told me her grandma died & she was sad. I went around & wrapped my arms around her & began to share with her that I too, had lost my grandma. I talked to her about our grandma's being in heaven with Jesus. When her mom returned to the front to talk to me again, I had found a book that I felt might work. The title was "Sarah's Grandma Went to Heaven." The lady was in disbelief at how fitting the book was...her daughter's name was Sarah. After the funeral had come & gone, the lady & Sarah returned to the store to personally thank me for taking the time & effort to find a book that would help & to thank me especially for the time I spent comforting Sarah when they had been in before. I am so incredibly thankful for each & every opportunity God's blessed me with. I boast not in myself for none of these things would or could have been done apart from Him loving others through me. However, I am glad that over these years, God has seen fit to include me in His plan & to use me. I'm far from where I need to be & where I hope to be but as I move forward, I pray that I will be all that He desires for me to be so that He gets all the praise & glory. My prayer is that of David in Psalms 34:2-3, "My soul will make it's boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it & rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together." May I, however many years I have left on earth, be about the Father's business.

Music that Moves

2009-05-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

Perhaps like me, from time to time you come across an artist whose music really ministers to your heart. A couple of years ago, while on myspace, I began to search for some new music. As I did so, I was introduced to the voice of Kari Jobe. The first thing I noticed was that her voice held my attention--not often achieved by female vocalists (nothing against ladies...I just like very few female artists). The second thing that I noticed was the fact that I was captivated by the songs I was listening to. I waited for her to release a CD & finally, she has done so. I was quick to buy it & was looking forward to listening to the song that is featured in the video above. I was slightly disappointed to discover that particular song is actually not on her CD. However, I have fallen in love with the rest of her songs. Each time I listen to her music, I am taken into the presence of Our Father. I have found myself singing those lyrics (I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand, lay back against You & breathe & feel Your heartbeat...) time & and time again over the last few months. Her song below, My Beloved, is another one of my favorites. While I find the entire song to be moving, I love the line that says, "I see no stain on you my child." How great a God we serve that He should cleanse us of all our filth & and dirt. Isaiah 1:18b states, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be white as snow." Psalms 51:7 says, "Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." As I think about my life as well as others in my life & consider things we have done, how incredible to think that when God looks at us, He does not see us as dirty, for we have been made clean. Praise God! For those of you that are searching for some music that will lead you to the Father's heart, I encourage you....check out Kari Jobe. Truly, her music is a gift from God that is touching the lives of many for His kingdom I'm sure.

Chillin' @ Ben & Shellie's Crib in K.C.

2009-05-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

After a detour around town (thanks to my talking on the phone & not listening to the instructions of the TomTom), I finally pulled into Ben & Shellie's around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. The drive there was nice as I listened to a couple Todd Agnew cd's & sang along. Anyway, I arrived at the Bextermueller residence & was greeted by Ben & his son Jase at the door. That was my first time meeting Jase who is 7 months old. I had not been there very long when Ben left for the day to head into work. Shellie & I had never spent any amount of time together without Ben so it was enjoyable for us to get to talk & learn more about each other. I am grateful for the time we had. While Ben was away, we went to Maggie Moo's for ice cream. Shellie & I got the same kind & boy was it good! I had lots of fun with Addie (2 1/2 yrs old-almost 3) who was just as entertaining as I figured she'd be. Ben finally made it home from work about 8:00 p.m. & was nice enough to cook us supper (which, by the way, was quite tasty--hot dogs). After Shellie & Ben put the kids to bed, we stayed up till nearly 2:00 a.m. talking--Ben & I filling Shellie in on days gone by. We had a blast reminiscing. Ben was bent over double almost in tears laughing as I told Shellie the "onion ring" story that Ben was dying for me to tell her about. Sometimes, it seems as if those times were just yesterday & at other times, it seems like it was a lifetime ago. We told her all about our many t.p. outings (for those unaware of what t.p. stands for--that would be toilet paper) & so much more. Finally, we were all tuckered out & headed to bed so that we could wake up for church. I was pleased to get to go to church with Ben & Shellie but disappointed that I did not realize we were in KS until Ben informed me we were (I did not see the state sign as I was not looking that direction at that moment). I told Ben that I was really bummed out because he could have stopped & Shellie, the kids & I could have piled out to have him take our picture in front of the state sign. Apparently he was not interested--he felt he had enough of that on our trip to FL when Haley, Crystal & I made him stop at every state sign so we could get our photo in front of it. No fun at all! Aging is making him so dull & boring! (Only kidding Bro. Ben, you know I love ya). I liked the church & the pastor's sermon was great. I will say that going to bed at 2:00 a.m., waking up at 7:00 a.m. & trying to walk into church is not an easy task. Shellie & I both were fighting to stay awake during the service. For every prayer that was prayed, I kept thinking, "Hurry up or I'm gonna be out!" Lesson learned? Don't stay up till 2:00 a.m. talking to your friends & then expect to be able to stay awake in church. I had a great visit with Ben & Shellie. The highlight of the visit had to be watching Ben with his children & seeing how much love he has for them--that gave me incredible joy. Not that I thought Ben would be a poor dad, I just never envisioned him as a dad period. I think that simply is because I never saw him around children. Likewise, many would probably say that about me-that they had never seen me with kids. To watch Ben with their kids, was a true delight. He is an amazing dad to Addie & Jase. They're blessed to have Ben as their father. Sunday afternoon, it was time to head on out & move along to Jeff City to stay the night at Crystal's. I was pretty tired at that point-thankfully I was able to talk to a few friends along the way & that kept me awake until I made it to Ethel's (aka..Crystal). That was the first time I'd visited with Ben since he married & I don't know when I'll made it back to visit again but I'm grateful for the time we all had together. I'm blessed with such wonderful friends & it's good to know that no matter how much time passes between visits, we can pick up right where we left off & still have the closeness we always have had. Ben & Shellie....thanks for a good time!

Always a Kid At Heart

2009-05-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure when I'll grow up. I'm nearing 30 & while I feel old (& am depressed about that number...30), I often times like to act like a child. I love to play & have fun. When I see a playground, it calls out my name. Swings are inviting. Things to climb on beg for me to come towards them for a photo opp. I've not outgrown the silly side of who I am. As my Cousin Chanda, her husband & 3 kids met us in Sikeston, we had fun outside of Lambert's taking pictures. Chanda's youngest, Adrianna, is a natural--the camera loves her & she loves the camera. She LOVES to strike a pose & say, "Ready" as you rush to snap a shot. After a while, we moved the party to a local park--not much to rave about. The equipment was designed for 2-5 yr. olds (at least that's what the sign said) but it did not stop all of of grown-ups from playing around on it. Nothing broke so I think we're OK. Shhhh...don't tell anyone we were there! Anyway....got some decent pictures of us all monkeying around. What a family!

Lamberts - Home of the Throwed Rolls

2009-05-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

In an effort to try to assist my parents Sunday School class in their ability to use the church bus for their day trip to Sikeston, MO to eat at Lambert's Cafe, I agreed to join them so that they may get closer to the number of people needed. It's a rough job--having to go down there to get stuffed on fried okra, fried taters, rolls, etc. But...someone had to do it & because I'm so very kind I offered to take on the task. Surprisingly, the joint wasn't crowded upon our arrival-that is highly unusual but hey, no complaints. We piled in to the booths & threw our hands up in the air to catch some rolls. Everyone ordered & before long, the tables were filled with food. My meal consisted of frog legs (yes, I ordered frog legs--you can't find them very often-take advantage of it whenever you can!), candied yams & of course...green beans. I talked my Cousin Chanda & her son, Ian, into trying the frog legs. Chanda thought they were decent while Ian was not too fond of the taste. As I told him, even if he didn't like them, at least he could say he'd tried it. The food was wonderful--as it always is. As I took pictures, my dad informed everyone present that the photographs would be posted on my blog. Apparently he just expected that I would find them worthy of posting? I suggested that he may want to begin his own blog rather than attempting to control mine. He seemed to have a lack of interest in doing so--not much of a writer. So, for those that were waiting in anticipation for these pictures...here they are!