in the midst

I am still crazy busy with schoolwork (as evidenced by my dream this morning that I won't recount here), but I wanted to take a moment and share two "letters" with you. When Sarah and I were in Mongolia, we started each of our Bible studies with a letter from a book called "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King." For anyone who knows an adolescent girl, this is a great book ... and even if you're more of a "young woman" than an teen/preteen, it still can provide moments of poignancy. I keep the book out in my room, and I read one or two occasionally. I was really struck by the ones I read today -- I just read in order, so I hadn't picked them out or anything -- and how applicable they are to my life right now.

My princess, you need rest.
I know you often grow weary. I hear your heartfelt cry for more energy to make it through each day. You, My tired princess, must trust Me with all your many worries and responsibilities. Rest when I tell you to. I am your heavenly Father, and I know what My girl needs. So listen to the One who loves you the most and knows all about you. I want you to take a step of faith by setting aside a day each week to rest from all your work. If you will obey Me in this, I will multiply your time and supernaturally energize your efforts to get everything done in the following days. Welcome this opportunity to give your mind, body, and spirit a rest. Consider it My love gift to you, and relax in Me!
Love,
Your King and your Resting Place
"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'" Matthew 11:28

My princess, your time is valuable.
The time that I have given you is of eternal importance. Your life matters, and the most valuable asset you can give to someone or something is time. Remember, My royal one, I want all of your appointments to be in My perfect will. Not all good opportunities are from Me. Keep in mind, My love, that there may be many ways to make more money, but you can never buy back time. So invest your time wisely. Think about what you are doing and how you spend your precious life. Are your days full of the things that matter most to you? Now is the time to take control of your schedule and live a life that matters. If you will sit with Me, I will help you remove the things that are holding you back from doing what's most needed in this season of your life. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing, so come and experience success with divine direction.
Love,
Your King and Eternal Timekeeper
"Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile." Titus 3:14


So, although I still plan to spend the majority of next two weeks studying my absolute hardest, I am going to take a moment here or there to appreciate the important things. Starting with tomorrow -- I'm going to take an hour or two to enjoy my wonderful roommates while we decorate for Christmas, make puppy chow and celebrate the season together. I hope that those of you who are hectic and crazy like me will get the chance to take this rest as well.

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i will rejoice and be glad in it

I'll be completely honest ... I didn't feel extremely joyful this morning. I've got two hard weeks ahead of me (just realizing that I'll be done in two weeks is exciting and panic-inducing all at the same time). I'm going to be stuck inside with my books 24/14 (that's 24/7 x 2). And for the first time in 23 years, my family is decorating for Christmas and I'm not there.

We've done our Christmas decorating at some interesting times. Last year our tree was up and the house decorated by November 3 (since I was home for Homecoming but wasn't coming back for Thanksgiving, I suckered my family into doing it then). And in 1998, we decorated our house on Christmas Eve ... after all, we had only moved in that morning! But I've been there for all of them.

This year, it just wasn't realistic to decorate at Homecoming (because L & I had gotten there a day earlier, we each were leaving a day earlier than we had last year). Plus, my dad had more to do during the weekend than he ever had before. And we were all utterly exhausted by the time we got back from the football game. It wouldn't have been fun for anyone (even me), and I wasn't about to ask my family to do it.

But then I realized what I was missing out on today. So instead of focusing on what I'm missing, I want to rejoice in the day(s) that the Lord makes for us. And first I'm going to say thanks for my yesterday.

I woke up early to try my hand at Monkey Bread. I messed up the recipe a little (I was reading it in one room and implementing it in another, so naturally I made a few mistakes), but it still turned out well. Sara and I prepared the turkey (we made this herb butter rub that involved me sticking my hand all the way between the skin and the meat), put it in the oven, then settled in to watch the parade (let me tell you, DVR makes cooking while parade-watching so much better). After Santa made his grand entrance (you can't miss Santa!), we finished up our preparations and Garrett (our friend from school) arrived. Dinner turned out really well, and we had a good time just hanging out around the table talking and laughing together. I've included a few pictures of our handiwork.












After cleaning up (my least favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal), we headed off to see Four Christmases. It's not my favorite movie of all time, and there's a lot of people I wouldn't recommend it to. But it was okay, and there were some really funny moments. Once we were back home, we brought out our homemade pies (apple and chocolate meringue) and ate as we watched the last half of Home Alone (one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies). We followed that up with Christmas Vacation (and a little more pie), then I headed upstairs for the night to read and relax.

It was a really good day. I missed my family occasionally, but I was so blessed to have such a fun and relaxing day here in Williamsburg. I'm looking forward to decorating our house for Christmas (we'll do it - quickly - once Myra gets back from Fredericksburg), and then hopefully finals will fly by (in a good way) and I'll be winging my way back to Texas.

So now I'm going to rejoice in the day(s) that the Lord has made, yesterday, today and in the future, and I will rejoice in the days in which -- someday -- I'll put all of this studying to good use : )

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name them one by one

I don't think that it's news to anyone that Thanksgiving is tomorrow. And since I doubt I'll be blogging tomorrow (after all, there's a lot of cooking and parade-watching to partake of on Turkey Day), I thought I'd go ahead and count my blessings on this Thanksgiving Eve.

I am thankful for:

• people who challenge me. Some don't even know that they are an example to me, but they encourage me to strive for more in every area of my life.
• my education. I wish I could say that I never take it for granted (I do), but I am humbled when I remember how blessed I am to have had all of the chances to learn and grow.
• family, both in the biological sense and within the body of Christ. Though I am far away from many of those whom I love, I am still one of the lucky ones. Though I get frustrated, lonely and hurt at times, I know that I am loved. It was truly a gift of God that I've grown up in both a earthly family and a spiritual family that calls Jesus their Lord.
• the beauty of His creation. And the way that it causes me to stop and appreciate His beauty in my life.
• God's provision in my weakness. So often I worry about my needs, and yet He gives in abundance.
• the reminder that we are not meant for this earth. We are placed here for such a time as this, but we have a greater purpose than can be measured by the world.
• hot showers, good books, encouraging friends, Christmas music, and words of affirmation. All things that have the power to soothe, uplift and bring joy to my soul.

I'm not sure who reads this blog, or who might stumble across it in the future. But to all those who have held me up when I am weak, laughed with me in moments of joy and prayed for me as we've gone through this life's journey together -- may you be blessed as much as you have blessed me. Thank you for your precious gift of love. And Happy Thanksgiving!

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two equals eight and three equals five?

*updated* finals schedule:

tuesday, dec. 9 (9 am to 2 pm EST) -- Business Associations
thursday, dec. 11 (8:30 am to 12:30 pm EST) -- Evidence
friday, dec. 12 (9 am to 5 pm EST) -- Legislation

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ps I just turned in my Note! Thanks to anyone out there who reads this and prayed for me. I'm so happy to be done, and now I just have to make it through the next three weeks ...........

ode to a whirlpool tub

When I'm stressed out with a lot on my plate (typically due to long days of studying), I have a number of guilty and not-so-guilty pleasures to cope with the stress. One of my favorites is taking a warm shower or bath to relax and escape from the books, the deadlines and the pressure. Last year during Write-On I was the cleanest I've ever been, averaging 3 to 4 showers a day.

So fastforward to tonight. When we were shopping for houses last spring, we settled on this one for a number of reasons. But the amenity that was the metaphorical icing on the cake was the whirlpool tub in the "master" bedroom (aka my room). Back in July, I promised my mom that no one would use it until we had gone through the recommended "sterilization" procedures. I thought about breaking my promise once, but I decided that somehow all-knowing mom would know (or that I would sheepishly admit to it once upon a guilt trip). All of this is completely over dramatizing what would actually be a fairly unforgettable subject, but you get the picture.

Life ultimately got in the way and the craziness of a jam-packed semester kept me from cleaning the jets. I never thought much about it until this week ... when the stress of my PPF paper and Note sent me into the shower at least twice a day. Alas, today I obeyed my mother and finally got to use this special perk -- and my newest guilty pleasure was born.

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the art of procrastination

In my lifetime, I've known my fair share of professional procrastinators. People who can put off the smallest task until the very last minute, type up a 40-page paper in just one night or juggle ten deadlines at once without sweating a drop. I've never been a very good procrastinator because I break the cardinal rule of procrastination: thou shalt never stress out over what you've put off 'til tomorrow, because tomorrow's not today. See, I'm great at dilly-dallying and occupying myself with various other things if I want to avoid a task. Currently, I am working through an aversion to my Note. I don't even like to open the document on my computer, much less figure out how to make it a coherent work of legal scholarship. But as I avoid this task at the top of my to-do list, I am still concerned. Concerned that I won't finish. Concerned that my editor will think I'm a brainless fool who should never have made Law Review. Concerned that the longer I procrastinate, the more stressed out I will become.

I'm going to try to do better as I prepare for finals. Not necessarily at being on top of things because that's no fun. But to adopt a que sera sera methodology. That's the true art of procrastination.

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humbled

I found out some heartbreaking news about a sweet friend yesterday. I'm not going to share it here, because it's her story, not mine. But the thing that has absolutely blown me away is the absolute trust and joy she has in the midst of this trial. In a situation where I would absolutely crumble and where I can't help but ask "why?," she has unfaltering faith.

I am so humbled by this example. Here I've been complaining about my schoolwork and stressing out over things that have no eternal value. Yes, I believe it brings glory to God when I work hard and use the talents He's given me, but ultimately it doesn't matter whether I get an A or a B+ or even whether I graduate. It's supposed to be about Him, and so often I make it about me. I put my plans ahead of His, for the day, the week, the year and my life. I tell Him where I want to go and then ask Him to make it happen, instead of walking in childlike faith down whatever path He lays before me. I say that I'm stopping to listen, but then I race on ahead and wonder why I've lost the peace that comes in trusting in Him.

Today I thank the Lord for this sweet woman of God. I praise Him for the way she loves and follows Him, and for her radiant example of what it means to seek after Him. She truly stores up her treasure in Heaven.

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saying thanks ... four months later

Tonight, the roommates and I had a little Thanksgiving celebration. It wasn't the traditional Thanksgiving dinner; although there was turkey, it was ground up and seasoned as part of taco stack. Yummy.

Anyway, the point of the dinner was to say thanks to all of those who helped us move out at the end of last year or helped us move in this summer. I finally met two of the five people (I know the other three) who moved all of my stuff in this summer. It wasn't anything super fancy or formal; we sat around in our living room, talked about random subjects and ended up playing BuzzWord. But it was important to me, to all of us, to let these people know that we really appreciate them, and I hope that they were blessed, even just a little, by it as well.

It was a good evening. It was the first attempt at combining Myra's friends with Sara's and my law school crowd, but with the infusion of discussion about the pregnant man, and entertainingly embarassing subject, everyone really got along well. There were a couple of moments of awkward silence, but nothing that you don't experience in any big gathering. It was fun and refreshing to entertain, so I think we'll try to do it again ... after finals, of course.

Tomorrow is a day of hard work! I'm going to try to write my Presidential Public Financing paper so that I can take it off my to do list and focus 110% of my energy on my Note. Sarah and Diana are coming tomorrow night, which I'm so excited about, so I've got to be super-productive during the day so that I can enjoy the Mariah Carey, cookie dough and laughter that will be flowing freely. They'll head out early the next morning, but it will be a wonderful refresher in the midst of a study-filled weekend.

Until next time ...

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why i hate the paper chase

So today I was offered the chance to do a group outline for my Legislation class. Which is great for the following reasons:

1. Of all my classes, Legislation is the one for which I have the fewest class notes. So it will be good to get other peoples' opinions on what they've gotten out of the class, too.
2. Legislation is only 2 credits (my other graded classes are 3 and 4 credits each), so I would probably spend the least amount of time preparing for it.
3. We've had A LOT of reading for this class, and it would be somewhat overwhelming to have to outline all of it. Although I won't rely solely on the group outline, it will be nice to have that as a "baseline" and then supplement with my reading and class notes.

So with all of those wonderful reasons to join in, why would I even hesitate? Because of the Paper Chase. The horrible movie and the way it depicts group outlining. I've already had to deal with the way it portrayed law school classes. And then law school exams. So now I have to overcome my fear of group outlining. Which wouldn't have even existed ... if it weren't for the Paper Chase.

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praying for daylight

deadlines/finals schedule:

Nov. 21 -- Presidential Public Financing Paper due (my "final" for a seminar this week)
Nov. 24 -- Law Review Note due
Dec. 9 -- Business Associations final (8:30-12:30 EST)
Dec. 11 -- Evidence final (8:30-12:30 EST)
Dec. 12 -- Legislation final (this is an all day exam, probably 9:00-5:00 EST)


that's all the time i have to post for now. more later. or perhaps not until december 13.

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we'll march forever down the years

Last weekend was incredible. To be completely honest, I was exhausted about halfway through the weekend. There were some early mornings, late nights and a lot of energy expended in between, but it was so good to catch up with special friends and be reminded of the blessings of those people who've touched your life.

THURSDAY:
After my wonderful friend Kate dropped me off at the airport, I made my way to Waco (via the DFW airport and Chick-fil-A) to start off the weekend's festivities. When we stopped by 7th & James to get the house keys from my dad, we ran into a few BRHers so the reunion began a little early. I'll leave someone out if I attempt to list all of them here, but I'll just say it was such a fun surprise : )

That evening was Pigskin! It was a weird feeling to go to Pigskin without knowing every detail of the acts that I'd be seeing. Liesl had done a pretty good job describing the various acts when she went to Sing last year, but it's not the same as being there in person. I was disappointed in a few acts (the guys never seem to prepare as much as they should for Pigskin), and I was pretty impressed by a couple. TriDelt's act was a lot of fun, really sharp and high energy. It got me so excited for Courtney's act this spring; I'm hoping to make it to the show in February, so we'll see ...

I saw so many friends at Pigskin. There's nothing like the hug you get from a friend after it's been awhile -- and in most cases a year -- since you saw them last. It's absolutely precious, and reminds me of the many ways I've been blessed.

FRIDAY:
My one complaint about Friday involved the weather. Although some would say it was a beautiful day, I was disappointed in the temperature -- it was too warm! I had a cute outfit all picked out, but luckily I had done some last minute "just in case" packing. It wasn't the outfit I had planned, but I think it was okay ; )

My mom, Les and I decided to go out for breakfast in order to spend a little time together as just the girls. Although it took a little while to settle on Cafe Cappuccino (we didn't know that the Olive Branch had moved), it was such a wonderfully refreshing time with no agenda, nothing specific that had to be discussed, and just us. I love my family.

Probably my favorite event of the weekend was my small group lunch that afternoon. I was shocked when everyone showed up to Teriyaki Park. I never forget how much I love them, but it's nice to be reminded why I love them so much. They are an amazing group of women with beautiful hearts and each is unique and precious. I caught up on their lives, caught them up on mine, heard stories from Trinidad, talked about the future and of course laughed a little in the process. Love them, and can't wait for our Christmas party when I get home (to Waco -- that's weird!) for the break.

The main event, of course, was Singspiration. If I even tried to list all of the people I saw I would fail miserably and inevitably leave someone out. So I won't try. I will say that the BRH Alumni Choir sounded awesome. There were a number of former BRH directors there to lead worship, and I was incredibly humbled to be counted among that group. Unworthy, yes, but humbled. It's a great family and tradition to be a part of; it's the best part of Baylor to me, and the place where I continue to be most blessed as I come back each year.

Bonfire was loud -- I'm getting old : ) But I saw a few people, then headed back to the house for some hangout time with the extended family (a.k.a. the Machens).

SATURDAY:
An early morning. DDD Breakfast. I'm a little too old and too young for the breakfast; too old to know many current members and too young for my alumni friends to sacrifice sleep to get there in the morning. But I saw Carrie and Emily, my mom ran into a number of her friends, and then we made our way to the parade. After grabbing the traditional kolache and Dr. Pepper, we stood on our typical side of the street and cheered on my cousin's winning float (good job Blake!), the BRH trolley (<3) class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">DDD/PhiChi float (love you Catherine). It was fun, I was tired but it was thoroughly Baylor.

We had a BRH Reunion lunch that was a lot of fun. The current choir sang and they sounded AMAZING. They actually are recording this weekend, and I can't wait to hear the finished product. After some great catching up with members past and present, it was time to say goodbye to BRH for the weekend. Off to the football game for fellowship with the Bushes and Machens, a really good effort by the Bears (we got edged out in the last two minutes) and more Homecoming tradition.

Saturday night we crashed. Nana had given Liesl and me some "Trick-or-Treat" money (her words, not mine), so we treated to pizza delivery and I was in bed by 9:45. Plus we had the time change, so life was sweet.

SUNDAY:
Back to the airport and back to the real world. Laughed a lot on the way to Dallas, watched Mom and Liesl cry as they said goodbye, gave my own hugs and goodbyes, then boarded the plane. Kate was sweet, again, and picked me up from DCA, dropped me off at my car, and I was on my way back to Williamsburg.


As always, I got tired of typing the longer I got into my post, so I'd be impressed if anyone in the universe - even some crazy Internet stalker - made it through the entire post. I might post my musings on the election sometime in the near future, but then again I may not. I'll probably let you know my finals schedule, and I might even let you in on the exciting life I'll be leading in the 'Burg for the next few weeks. But if you don't hear from me for awhile, don't fret; you're not missing much anyway.

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dallas 2009

It's officially official and all that jazz ... I will be at Baker Botts in Dallas (downtown to be more specific) for summer 2009. I'm really excited about my decision, and I'm even more excited to be around so many friends and family for the entire summer!

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PS Homecoming post coming as soon as I have the time to give it the attention that it deserves ...

stalling

For some reason I felt the need to blog this morning. I don't know why exactly; my life just really isn't that interesting. I'm pretty sure it's just an excuse to put off studying for a few minutes longer. S'okay by me : )

In probably the most important news of the past few weeks, I've officially broken out the Christmas music. Actually, I love this website called Pandora Radio. You type in a song (mine is "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey) and they "create" a radio station full of songs that are similar. Basically, it's a streaming radio station without commercials (or djs for that matter) ... not gonna lie, it's pretty fabulous.

I also feel pretty blessed. I haven't written about it much, but I have the best roommates and a pretty great house as well. Sara and I have pretty similar schedules (although we only have one class together, which is probably a good thing), so I finally have a roommate that I can just hang out and watch tv with or stay home and watch a movie on a Friday night. We went shopping last night to finish out my Homecoming wardrobe (no, I didn't buy all new clothes, but it's always a great excuse to update the closet just a little bit!) and it was wonderful to just do a simple task but still enjoy hanging out together. I figure if we've spent this much time together already and she hasn't gotten bored yet, then maybe if I get married (in the future), I have a fighting chance that my husband won't find me too boring either once he has to hang out with me all the time : )

Other than that, I'm just attempting to get caught up on life now that the job search is over. I've got about a hundred things on my plate and, since I'm taking next weekend off and I've got a seminar in a couple of weeks, I need to get caught up sooner rather than later.

I'm sure that I will post next Sunday or early the following week to catalogue what I'm sure will be an incredible Homecoming weekend. I can't wait for the time with family, friends and a whole lot of Baylor spirit -- I'm just sad that then it will be over for another year.

Let's fling our green and gold afar ...

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to-do list

Anyone who really knows me knows that I am an avid to-do list maker. We're talking multiple times throughout the day, making a list from scratch. It's generally pretty detailed. And there's nothing better than the thrill of checking something off my list -- it's cathartic and serves as a physical representation of accomplishment. But I digress.

Because my to-do list has been overwhelmingly long these days, I haven't gotten back to my most recent attempt at online journaling. I don't feel like I've necessarily deprived the world of any great insight, but that's not the point. This journal is for me and for anyone who cares enough about the mundane and not-so-mundane moments of my life that they care to read it. So go ahead and get comfortable, this is going to be a long post.

1. I am done with interviews!!! After 11 callback interviews, 10 plane flights, approximately 850 miles on my car, and a handful of awkward moments, I am done! I don't ever want to drive to the Richmond Airport again (I'm flying out of DCA for Homecoming, so I'll actually get my wish for that trip), I'm not wearing heels for at least a week, and my trusty "interview pantyhose" will not make another appearance until my Moot Court tournament next spring -- unless I decide to throw them away! I've met well over 100 attorneys - it's actually probably somewhere between 130 and 150 - and I've told the same stories about student speech, Mongolia, and working for a legislator over and over again. I've gotten nauseous from smiling too much (seriously, that's a story in-and-of itself, but I'll spare you) and I come home mentally and physically exhausted. I am so glad to be finished, and I don't even really care if there is something brilliant out there that I've missed. I have some offers pending, I'm waiting to hear back from others, and that is the universe from which I will make my decision. The end.

2. I am going to Homecoming!!! I can't remember when I booked my flight, but it is official. I will be listening to the angelic voices of the Baylor Religious Hour Choir once again. It will be exhausting and exhilarating all at once. There is nothing like the feeling you get with the chill of fall in the air, the glow of the campus (and the bonfire) at night, and the warmth of far-away friends who are close together again. It's perhaps my favorite weekend of the year.

3. I went to a Martin football game! I hadn't been back to my high school for a game since my freshman year at Baylor. As I was walking into the stands (feeling like somewhat of a novice since I'd never not come with the band before), I couldn't believe that it had been six seasons since I had directed on that field! It was such a big part of my high school experience, and becoming a drum major was probably what I considered to be my biggest accomplishment during that time of my life (even compared to NMS). It was so wonderful to be back in those stands, reminiscing about the joys and triumphs it brought, feeling the change in the weather and realizing that, although I wouldn't trade it for anything, I didn't feel like those were "the best days of my life" like so many others do. I'm so glad we went, and I hope my parents are too : )

4. I got to see Alli! There's not a lot to detail here because it mostly consisted of private conversations and the like. But my sweet friend was thoughtful enough to drive up to Dallas while I was in town interviewing. We went to lunch, enjoyed some time catching up face-to-face (which is so much better than over the phone) and she even took me to the airport. I was so blessed by her willingness to take that much time out of her busy, busy day to come see me (she's BRH president this year and has a lot on her plate). She is such a precious friend to me.

5. Fall is here! It should be no surprise that this would excite me because two of the paragraphs above have addressed fall weather. And at the risk of ripping off other people's blogs (and because you're probably already tired of reading) I won't go into an exhaustive list of why I absolutely love fall. But I'll list a few: Homecoming, my red pea coat, leaves changing (it actually happens here in VA), the smells, the beginning of Christmas and the crispness in the air. Only in fall can you be certain to drive with the windows down and radio up. It is a miracle season to me.

6. I am busy. I have a million and one things to accomplish today, and I have already exceeded my allotted "blog time," so I'll have to write about them later. But there it is, a recount of what I could tell you and allusions to the things I could not.

Until next time ...

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breaking news

BRH is going to South Africa!!!

Now that's the kind of jet-setting I can really get into!

Good job Kristy and Greg!

jet-setting

When you hear the term "jet-setting," you probably picture first class seats, champagne, Florence and Dolce. Or perhaps, if you're like me, a certain challenge from Project Runway season three comes to mind, boasting an alarming mix of disastrous get-ups among suave and elegant styles.

I doubt that any of you pictured me, in jeans and a t-shirt, commuting from Richmond to DFW three times within three weeks. The 3Ls are right -- the first time it's fun, the rest of the time it's just a pain.

Okay, I'm not complaining. Technically I guess I am, but I don't mean to complain. I mean, what could better than an all-expenses paid trip home, right? Plus, the places I've gotten to stay are pretty swanky (to date, I've stayed at the Ritz-Carlton twice and the Fairmont Dallas once). I say it in all humility -- I actually think it's kind of ridiculous how much firms spend on recruiting law students -- and I've definitely had moments where I promise that people are looking me up and down and trying to figure out what in the world I'm doing in their upper-escheleon world. But I know that I better be careful, because my teacher mother, phD-seeking sister (who will have to pay her own way throughout the country when she goes on her internship interviews, though she'll be much cooler than I am and should get the star treatment) and social worker best friend will probably start to yell at me.

Seriously, though, I'm tired of fancy meals and endless small talk. There was one interview over lunch where I really, desperately wished I could get a burger. Probably not the classiest move in the world.

Thank the Lord for these two weeks I've had away from the Richmond airport. Away from fancy foods and thoroughly immersed in my Bagel Bites, naked spaghetti and Dr. Pepper. Really, this is the life.

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Under Construction

I think I want to come back and actually blog again. Not that I ever really blogged in the first place. So I guess in reality, I think I want to start blogging. Yesterday in Advanced Brief Writing they asked us what kind of writing experience we had. And I gave a little schpeal (*I don't think "schpeal" actually has a proper spelling, and if it does, don't tell me because then I will have to come back and change it*) and actually dug up some speeches that I wrote in my independent study speechwriting class. And I realized that I miss writing. A lot.

So maybe eventually I'll come back to my journal entries from Mongolia and finish inputting them. When I do, I'll probably delete this post because it's really just a place saver for my completed Mongolia recount. But until then, this site is under construction. I don't know what it will turn in to. Perhaps just an account of the interesting things in my life -- though I doubt anyone outside the halls of Marshall-Wythe would characterize anything in my life as such. Maybe it will just turn into an online journal, spilling my deepest desires and most protected thoughts onto the online page. Of course, if that's the case, then I'll be changing every post to "private," which pretty much eviscerates the need for an online blog.

But I want to write. And so I guess, for now, that's all the direction I need.

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June 3, 2007

Yesterday we were afraid that today would be nearly just as slow. But it ended up being pretty full, even though our original plan for the day was changed somewhat.

We joined all of the kids for church out in Khongor. Though we didn't know the Mongolian to any of the songs, a good number we were able to sing along with in English. I had a brief moment of hope when Mindy waved over one of the Mustang boys to translate for us. However, he ended up only translating the verse references so the American contingent was left to figure out for ourselves what was being preached on.

I have to admit I was somewhat distracted during the sermon for fear of being pushed off the bench. It was sweet how Abigail and her friend wanted to sit with us; unfortunately, it made the 1 1/2 hour church service extremely uncomfortable.

After church, Sarah and I prepared lunch (rice) and made plans for tonight's introductory Bible study with the girls. They tried to have us pushi it back to tomorrow, which was somewhat perplexing to us. We ended up striking a compromise on 8:30 pm.

At 2:00, we met Bryce and Susannah for a walk up the hill/mountain! It was actually really refreshing to get away and sort of relax (even though it was tiring!) after our first week in Mongolia. Throughout our trek we discussed different matters of Scripture. I am constantly challenged to become more diligent in my daily walk.

It was exciting to me that Susannah suggested going for ice cream. Even something as simple as learning where the good ice cream is helps me to feel as if we are less like "vacationers" and more as if we actually live here. And I think it's good to spend time with other people, too. Let's face it, Sarah would probably want to kill me by the time she leaves if I'm the only person (American, at least) that she gets to see.

We also discovered a new restaurant at the top of the Nomin. It was pretty good (and the chicken was okay) so we'll definitely be back.

At 8:30 tonight, we began our Princess study with the girls. I think that it went well, and I am excited to see where it leads. I am somewhat concerned about Susan. Whatever walls she has built up around her, I hope that we can break through them throughout the rest of our time here.

We are starting into full-fledged Bible study tomorrow. I am praying that the girls will be open with us and we all grow through our time together.

June 2, 2007

A day of quiet and contemplation.

We're still working on preparing ourselves for leading the girls. Susan, most of all, seems anxious to begin our Bible study. It is incredible to see her excitement. I hope that all the girls will be as fervent.

We spent the afternoon with the girls again. After a group game of Uno and Pigs, the girls asked to learn the words to "Come, Now is the Time to Worship." It was fun to see them stumble over the silent "k" in "knee" and work to pronounce "tongue." [Editor's note: English is a funny language, isn't it?] But they were valiant in their efforts.

They wrote out the words for "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High," and now Sarah and I have an assignment. I'm confident that we'll be successful, though perhaps not as successful as the girls.

I'm struggling right now with finding a place to be alone to think and pray. In Belize, I finally found my porch. Right now, the only place and way to be alone seems to be plugging in my iPod and stationing myself on my bed. It's just not quite the Belize rainforest, but I'm trying to make my heart right and find time with God regardless.

I am afraid of missing my purpose and never fulfilling my passion. Lord, help me to hear Your voice and follow. And give me peace that when I do, You will fulfill the desires of my heart.

June 1, 2007

Happy Children's Day!

Last night, I thought a tornado was terrorizing Darkhan. At 11 pm, the windows starting banging and the trees began to sway forcefully. Sarah was able to secure all the doors and windows ...

and thus we were introduced to the winds of Mongolia.

Sarah and I took a little time last night to prepare a list of games for the kids today. We found out fairly quickly that such a list would not be necessary; due to the low mercury level, outdoor children's day activities had been cancelled.

The morning had already started slowly, and the prospect of adding even more down time to our day was not a welcome one to me. But, throughout the day, I have been convicted. How often do I truly sit in silence, praying and listening to God's voice? Why am I afraid of inactivity?

I think the Lord will use this time for more than just discipleship for the girls. He will use it to mold me into a woman after His own heart, even if I resit with all my might.

Maybe that's what the silence is for.

Once again, the girls were jubilant at our arrival, perhaps even more so after being confined indoors due to the cold weather. They practically pounced on us as we settled down to play Go Fish, Uno, Dominoes and Pigs; even the house mom joined in! About an hour into our visit, they brought out food and milk tea for us to eat. There was a heaping mound of potato salad and "sea cucumber" for us to eat, and a plante of donuts and dried fruits as well. Though potato salad certainly does not tickle my palate, the generousity and excitement with which they give makes it wonderful.

The time that we spent together was precious. Amidst the chaos of three kindergartners vying for our attention (and intently braiding my hair), the girls asked us to sing for them (I sang "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid) and they sang for us. They kept listing off worship songs for us to sing first in English and they would follow in Mongolian.

After awhile, they asked us to teach them the words to "Every Move I Make." Susan asked me to write it out in her little copy book, and the other girls copied it down intently. Then they recorded Sarah and me singing it and joined in with us the second time. It was so sweet to see their hunger for that song.

We attempted to get a phone card at the post office, but we'll have to return with a translator.

I wanted to try out the Texas Pub so we invited Susannah and Nara to join us. Dinner was good (although distinctly un-Texan), and we enjoyed the chance to talk with Susannah about her plans for the house mom Bible studies. She has some great ideas, and I know the Lord's going to bless them.

Our fishing trip for tomorrow was cancelled (the forecast predicted cold, wind and rain) so we'll probably try to spend some more time with the girls. It will most likely be another slow sort of day, but hopefully we'll get a lot of studying and preparation done. And then on Sunday we begin ...

May 31, 2007

Day #3 in Darkhan, and already Sarah and I feel like old pros in Mongolia. Well, almost ; )

We began our day somewhat casually again, taking our time to get ready for the day. Nara cooked biscuits before she left for the office so we scrambled some eggs and had a filling meal.

At 10:00, we knocked on the door of 7-23, unsure who we would find there and who would be at school. We were greeted by sisters Sarah and Abigail, neither of whom speak much English. Somehow, however, we stumbled through the instructions for Go Fish and enjoyed playing and laughing together. Once I produced my Uno cards, they excitedly urged us to play that instead. Again, the language barrier was somewhat prohibitive, but through pointing and gestures we were able to learn their variations on the rules.

The house mom, who speaks no English, asked the girls to pick up the three little ones from kindergarten. Sarah and Abigail took us along with them, and, while we waited, we learned how to play Mongolian hopscotch.

At lunch we had muuton buuz which are dumpling-like rolls with mutton in them. Sarah struggled to swallow even a bite of the meat so, taking my cue from her, I ate 1 1/2 in order to cover up for our discomfort.

After a quick stop at the internet cafe and supermarket (both of which we navigated entirely by ourselves), Nara took us to the office for our long-awaited meeting with Dawa. Although communication is slowed significantly when using a translator, we left excited about our work with the girls. We pretty much got permission to do everything we wanted to do with the girls, and we can't wait to see where all of it leads!

Since tomorrow is children's day, Dawa had asked us to go with Susannah, Nara and herself to deliver the gifts to all the children's centers. So we piled into a rickety old van with plywood floorboards and set off to play Santa Claus.

Our first stop was to the "babies" -- a loose descriptor since the youngest there is two and the oldest age 7. They sang for us and then lined up by height to receive their gifts. Next we went to the teen girls, the mid-girls and then finally the zoo boys, where much the same happened at each center. It was fun to finally be introduced to the mid-girls since we will be working closely with them as well.

Nara, Sarah and I played Phase 10 and cooked rice for dinner. I was shocked to discover that Nara had never had soy sauce before, but she seemed to enjoy it.

I am so excited to begin our work with the girls. It seems as if already so many days have slipped by. But I know the Lord is at work in me, and I cannot wait to see where He leads!

May 30, 2007

Cupcakes for dinner (last night). Rice with raisins for lunch. And ... raisin juice?

Well, let's just say I'm not eating like a king. My stock pile of food has already come in handy. But it's fun to experience diferent foods and combinations. And everyone is so generous when they offer.

Today we met the girls! Nara and Dawa took us over to meet the teen girls, and we fell in love. Susan (16), Daisy (15), Mindy (17), Sarah (15? or 16), Abigail (13), and Rose (12) sang for us, ate with us and told us a little about themselves. They asked us when we each accepted Christ. They showed us crafts they had made and picture albums thye had saved. They hung all over us and welcomed us into their lives.

I cannot wait!

After an ... interesting ... lunch, Sarah and I returned to our little 10-42 and talked through a plan for the girls. Most importantly, we compiled a list of questions for our meeting with Dawa tomorrow. May the Lord bless everything we do with these girls.

We enjoyed dinner with the Americans at Susannah's apartment, and then picked up the girls to play volleyball (adding in Julia, 19). It turned to a volleyball version of monkey-in-the-middle that was somewhat terrifying. The girls protested when we had to take them home, but we assured them we'd be back tomorrow. And so they walked us home to our apartment and we called it a night.

I love these 7 girls and cannot wait to know their hearts.

PS I met Aggie tonight. The girls had her sing for us, and she is precious! Can I please adopt her?

May 29, 2007

Welcome to Mongolia!

Although we arrived in Darkhan yesterday, I feel as if our real introduction to Mongolia began today. We started the day late (Susannah had suggested resting, and so we took our time getting up and getting ready). I had a brief flashback to Belize because the sun rises early here as well -- around 5 am. Our room has a large window with a very thin curtain, so it was difficult to sleep past that.

At 12:30 or so, Susannah took Nara, Sarah and me to a restaurant (I can't remember the name of it right now). [Edited note: the restaurant's name was Sondor.] Sarah and I learned quickly that our definitions of things vary greatly from others. Our "spaghetti" tasted like pasta with shrimp cocktail sauce. But it tasted okay, and, hey, it was food!

After lunch, the three of us went to the Change the World offices to meet everyone. The first person we met coordinates all the humanitarian efforts. I'm hoping to have a chance to ask her name again, because it totally escapes me. We also met Dawa, the woman who is charge of all the children's centers. We told her very briefly about our general ideas for working with the girls, and she told us a little bit about each of the children. It is so evident that she loves each kid as if he/she were her own.

We also met Fred Abbot, the former military personnel who is running the ship while Jerry is away. I think that I am supposed to know him from Bear Creek, and he looks somewhat familiar. But I still can't place him. [Editor's note: I can now : )].

Once we met everyone and changed some of our money, Nara said she would take us to the "birge" -- essentially, the flea market. It was absolutely ridiculous how much was available there. And while I fully intend to go back and restock my wardrobe, Sarah and I each only bought a few essentials.

I almost forgot to include the most entertaining part of going to the market -- the taxi! We were just walking and talking with Nara when all of the sudden a beat up old car pulls to the side of the road and Nara climbs into the back seat. Another girl got in the passenger's seat and, although we were terribly concerned, Sarah and I piled in the back. There wasn't any sort of marking or lighting that designated the car as a cab, but we learned that it is simply instinctual. It costs approx. $.20/person no matter where you are going (200 tugrugs).

After the market, we went to the supermarket to get a few groceries. We also stopped at the intenet cafe so that each of us could email our loved ones and give them our personal assurances that we were alive and well. The internet connection was running really slow (proving once and for all, if there had been any doubt, that we are not in America anymore) and so it took forever to read 4 and send 2 emails. It was good, however, to be connected in some way, even if it was only briefly.

When we got back to the apartment, Sarah and I had the chance to talk for a little while. She confirmed what I suspected -- she had a freak out moment this morning of "oh my goodness, what did I get myself into?!" I had been expecting to experience that during the drive to Darkhan, much as I had on the way to Jaguar Creek, but it never came. I know that it is only through God's grace and love that I have been given a peace and a confidence about our purpose here. I have no idea, specifically, what He has in store -- but I know it will grow me in immeasurable ways.

May 28, 2007

I am in China!

I am currently sitting in a smoky, air condition-less airport terminal waiting for my last (of 3) flights to depart for Monglia. I can hardly believe that I am here, and what is even more incredible is the ease with which we arrived.

We started out early yesterday morning (we left the house at 4:45) and arrived at the airport only to find a ridiculously long line at the United Airlines counter. Luckily, the long wait (and fears that we might not get checked in on time) was the worst of our travel ... so far.

One thing I had been concerned about going into today - er, yesterday - was the probability of missing our flight to Ulaan Baatar because we were having to recheck our bags (and ourselves) through Air China. But the desk agent was great; not only did she check our bags through with no pleading, but she secured us an exit row with plently of leg room and no third passenger. Sure, there were kids kicking the backs of our seats, but the leg room was definitely worth it.

Our flight arrived in San Francisco ahead of schedule, a feat which is all to uncommon in airline travel these days. We took an airport shuttle for international connections and found our gate easily. Since there wasn't anyone at the desk, we both went to find lunch. I ended up getting a burrito, which probably seemed odd to some since it was 9:30 in San Francisco. But it was good and didn't mess with my stomach at all, which was something of a miracle.

I was a little stressed out when I discovered that the United agent in DFW had torn up my boarding pass for Beijing unintentionally. Luckily, we didn't have seat assignments yet, making a new boarding pass even more necessary. Sarah probably thought I was losing it a little bit as we stood in line then sat down ... and back and forth ... and back and forth. But our names were finally called to get our boarding passes and seat assignments. Although we had requested seats together, we learned pretty quickly that the likelihood of that happening was not very good.

Well, once again, God worked all that out! Not only were we seated together, but, in order to do so, we were upgraded to business class! I can't even explain how much of a blessing it was to be able to stretch my legs, get up and go to the restroom or even just put my elbows on the armrests without bumping into another person. Instead of counting down the hours and minutes until I could get off the plane, I was able to relax and be refreshed to begin our time in Mongolia.

Once the 11+ hour flight was over, Sarah and I sped through the Beijing airport towards customs, somewhat concerned about missing our Air china flight due to a long line. And then another miracle happened - there was a kiosk for international connections just before you turn the corner to go to customs, and the woman there told us that we didn't have to do customs but instead would simply have to go through security again. There was no line at the security checkpoint, and we pretty much breezed on through.

Sso it is at this point that I write, waiting to board the shuttle to our flight to UB.

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I was so jet-lagged! Sarah and I both crashed as we waited for the shuttle to the plane. It was good that we thought ahead to sitting right in front of the counter because otherwise we might still be snoozing in the Beijing airport!

Our Air China flight was one of those that you board via steps in the middle of the tarmac. Oh, Belize ... I was nervous about wehther or not I would have to check my carry-on (which I had reconciled myself to already), but, somehow, it fit! Sarah and I both got aisle seats (I was 8C and she was 8D), and I was completely unable to keep my eyes open! Surprisingly, I woke up for drinks and the meal, but, other than that, I was a complete zombie.

Upon arriving in UB, we once again had a little bit of a scare when we realized that the immigration form asked for our visa information. Although we both have Chinese visas, we never actually got visas for our time in Mongolia. After a little bit of discussion, we just left it blank. And neither of us had any problems getting through ...

I had asked Dad how we would know who we were meeting and he said the names of a couple of people who would greet us. I couldn't remember any of the names, but I was pretty sure we were supposed to look for an American girl. Sure enough, one of the first faces I see as we walk through security is an American with two Mongolians, smiling and looking as expectantly at us as we were at them. Baagi was the first to come up to us, and from that moment on I knew that I would like him. He was all smiles and excitement, clearly glad we were there. Next we met Susannah, a 32-year-old taking a sabbatical from Ernst & Young to serve here for a year, and Nara, our Mongolian translator and roommate.

Though we were looking forward to bed, they suggested continuing on to Darkhan, assuring us we'd be most comfortable once we were settled into Nara's apartment. We set off on the three-hour journey, stopping only once to go to the bathroom. What we found in the outhouse was a board laid across a deep trench with a slat cut out for ... personal business. I think that Sarah had an intense moment of culture shock due to her expectations of ... oh, a seat ... but she made it through with flying colors.

We made the rest of the trek to Darkhan, our rear ends being the only casualties. It was about 11 pm when we got to our little apartment that will be our home for the next month. Sarah and I each have our own twin bed (we share a room), and, though Sarah's bed is pretty firm and our pillows are somewhat uncomfortable, we are cozy, welcome and taken care of. Who could ask for more?

*Disclaimer*
Not all this was (or will be) written on the day it describes. However, it will detail the events of that specific day.

we interrupt this journal ...

Happy Palm Sunday!

Okay, so before I move on to my Mongolia journal (and then come back and finizh Belize), I just wanted to share something that is going on right now ...

WE GOT A HOUSE!!! Sara, Myra and I went house-hunting all day Friday, and we found a house for the next two years. It's so cute, I'm so excited to live with them and it's such a relief to have it taken care of. I love crossing things off my to-do list ; )

Things are coming together for tomorrow and next year ... and now I just have to make it through the rest of the semester and get the last few details ironed out. I'm so looking forward to my internship, and I can't wait to go home for a few weeks and spend time with my family and friends.

Life is good, and I am blessed.

May 24, 2007

(to be completed)

May 23, 2007

(to be completed)

May 22, 2007

(to be completed)

May 21, 2007

(to be completed)

May 20, 2007

(to be completed)

May 19, 2007

(to be completed)

May 18, 2007

I have spent much of the day wishing I could be two places at once. We finally split up between the two work sites and so much of my heart wished I could join in the work in Armenia as well. The roofers made it through the day without any major injuries, aside from the hole in Ben's foot from stepping on a nail. I guess Alli didn't do as good of a "mom" job as I thought ; )

Work in St. Margaret's was slow but intense. We spent the morning mixing and pouring concrete and the afternoon attempting to move an entire mound of rocks onto a square of maybe ... 15' x 15'? Due to a lack of supplies, we ended up using cement bags and digging out rocks and dirt with our bare hands. I think I'll be finding gravel under my fingernails for weeks to come.

This evening we sang at Church of the Nazarene in Raoring Creek. After a couple of delays (mainly due to a miscommunication about what time we were supposed to start along with the typical Latin American tardiness), we finally began the concert around 7:45 pm. although there were few people in the audience, they all were fervently engaged in the worship taking place. They joined in on Days of Elijah and, so I'm told (since I occasionally miss out on what's going on behind me), they were truly rejoicing along with us.

Our evening debrief began humorously. We decided to play a game of telephone which eventually led to funny stories about the day and inappropriate jokes. Even so, it was the perfect "refreshment" for BRH at the working midpoint of this trip to just laugh and simply go to bed happy.

This trip has truly been blessed. We've had a few minor glitches, but all-in-all I feel we've been effective and diligent in the work we set out to do. I know it is only through the prayers of those around me that I have made it through -- and I hope that all we have done has and will bring glory to God.

May 17, 2007

Tonight was incredible! The kids from King's Children's Home (an orphanage in Belmopan) came out to Jaguar Creek to eat with us and to listen to us sing. In spite of the craziness of kids moving around behind me and literally causing chaos at dinner, it was such an amazingly refreshing time.

We crammed so much into this second full day in Belize. We started the 1st of three 30 minute concerts at Belmopan Baptist High School. The coolest part of that time (which is something of an oxymoron considering how hot we were!) was that some of the kids began singing along with us on songs that they were familiar with. Even though I couldn't see it (which is one of the few inconveniences of directing the choir), I could hear and sense their participation.

We then travelled to Armenia Government School to do two concerts for the kids there. First, however, we got the chance to play with them and just be reminded of how blessed we truly are. Even though the school room we sant in was full of stagnant, humid air, it was such fun to sing for those kids and teach them songs about Jesus. The best part of the morning came at the end of the concert with the older kids. Their teacher had them sing us a song about "J-E-S-U-S is the one for me." It was so fun to hear these children sing about Jesus and His gifts to their lives.

We spent the afternoon again at St. Margaret's finishing up digging the trenches and getting everything ready to cement. It was a lot of hard work but everyone pitched in and the only complaining that might have happened was about not having enough work to do.

The night started off kind of rough; the kids from KCH were supposed to arrive at 5:00 and ended up getting here around 7:15. Even amidst the hunger, it turned into a really neat bonding time for BRH because we were stuck in this room together for four hours of socializing. I don't know if I will ever forget Daniel's attempts to teach Edwin "Rock, Paper Scissors" and his adamant refusal to allow him to cheat.

The time with KCH was nothing short of phenomenal. Even with its rocky start, BRH stepped up and served the kids to the utmost. They dished out spaghetti, poured juice and even accompanied little ones to the less-than-pristine public restrooms. It was such an incredible thing to sit back and observe, especially in the moments following the concert. I stood back for awhile and watched Garrett's fan club (three teenaged orphan girls) lead him and a few others in praise and worship and saw various other BRHers utilizing all of their different talents to connect with these Belizean kids who have so little - and want nothing more than to be loved - sing about their thankfulness for Christ's blessings in their lives. It was a huge "pillar" kind of moment in my life. When I realized how much I have and take for granted - including BRH and all of its stressful joys. I definitely broke and, when I saw someone looking at me, had to sneak away to gather myself. It was only our third day and already I found myself on my second set of tearful emotions.

Debrief made it clear what I already expected - everyone else had been similarly touched by what they experienced. The stories and lessons shared by many were poignant and touching. We have all been challenged immeasurably in the short time we have spent in Belize.

I guess that's the story for tonight. Tomorrow is another day ...

May 16, 2007

I am absolutely amazed by what the Lord is going to do. Our first full day in Belize has come to an end. I'm lying on my short little bed with a towel wrapped around my head and a mosquito net tucked beneath my mattress. And I can't help but think ...

The Lord has brought me here.

A little over a year ago, when I learned of my position as a Tour Coordinator, I had no idea what to expect. Now I can't imagine a greater honor than to lead BRH into a total ministry eexperience. I feel as if all of it was only for this one day, it would be worth it ...

This trip is not about me.

My prayer is that I will completely get out of the way! The plans for tomorrow have changed, but I am so excited! We have incredible opportunites in store for us.

Today we sang at St. Margaret's Village School and it was incredible! The kids were so attentive to our songs. Afterwards, I got to speak with three girls (during recess), and it was such fun to get to laugh and be silly together.

We also dug the trenches for the foundation of the expansion to the medical clinic. It will be fun to see the progress we'll make during the next three days!

I am completely blessed. And while I am sad for my BRH-life to end, I feel like May 15-24, 2007 will bring it to a perfect conclusion ...

May 15, 2007

Well, we're approximately 30 minutes away from landing in Belize. I am so excited and, admittedly, a little nervous too. I have been planning this trip for so long; it's hard to believe it's almost here.

My prayer for this trip is fervent. I want us to leave having been used to the fullest. I don't want to feel like a single opportunity was wasted to minister to Belize and to each other. I know that things will go wrong and we'll get tired, but I truly believe that we have been called to this place of ministry.

There also is so much rolling around in my head. Details that need to be ironed out, friends I want to spend time with. Not to mention that I leave for Mongolia in only 12 days. The Lord has so much for me this summer. I only hope to be a good steward. I want to be filled with a light and a passion. I want to be used!

Lord, make me a servant ...

Journal entries

I was reading through my journal from Belize and Mongolia, and I thought I'd share my entries with those who might be interested. I've edited it slightly, but for the most part it's a true reflection of what I wrote when I was in the midst of these two tremendous mission opportunities. Sometimes it's very difficult to share with others exactly what you experience on these types of trips. And try as I might, I've never done a good job of sharing it with those who have asked. And for those who were there with me, I hope that my recollections will remind each of you of what you experienced there as well.

So here they are ... my experiences from Belize (May 15-24, 2007) and Mongolia (May 27-July 9, 2007). If you choose to read them, I hope they are a true testimony of what God can and did do.

In Him,
Krysta

PS It might take me awhile to actually post all of them, since I've got class to focus on! But I'll get them all up as soon as I can.