So I've just been hanging out at home, recuperating, the last week and a half. In this time, I have enjoyed simple things. Things like making strange new things to eat. One thing I made is called "oat cakes." It's like a biscuit or a pancake, but with less calories. I just took a handful of oats, a little flower, a little warm water, and a sprinkle of salt. I mixed it with my hands and added oats or water until it had a good texture... moist, but not sticking to my hands too much. I buttered a skillet and turned it to medium heat. I cooked my little ball o dough until it was a little brown on both sides. Then I ate it with some strawberry jelly on it. But, it might be delicious with some honey as well! It was quite tasty and healthy indeed. I'll try to add a picture or something later.
The last week and a half I have been processing life over plates oat cakes and cups of coffee. I've been thinking about what happened the last five months, and what I'll do next, and spending time with God and with my family. It's been a nice week and a half.
What are some fun foods you've made in your free time?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A New Day
Aaah, it's so nice to be home. It's funny, but Georgia has it's own smell. It's like grass, fire, and something else. It's a great smell.
Right now, I'm contemplating what to do with my day. I tend to not do so well when I don't have structure, but I guess I need to learn how to make my own. So far, my mental options involve the park and the library. Isn't Hamilton Mill a magical place? Because there is in fact a library WITHIN a park. Fantastic!
I was reminded/encouraged yesterday by my good friend Michelle. While I was in Hawaii, I really discovered how much I was missing by not spending time just being with God. He really is a treasure. But, China took a lot out of me, and I lost some of the passion and daily dedication that I had while I was in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, if it got to be the afternoon and I STILL hadn't spent time with God, I was stressed to the max; life felt meaningless and confusing. I would have to immediately run away to be just me and Him, at least for a little bit. So is it any wonder that now, as I am faced with sorting out my feelings and thoughts as well as trying to decide what to do next, I am not at peace and often find myself confused? Don't get me wrong, I still spend time with Him... but it's not enough. I need good, quality time with Him everyday. That's what I had and it was great. It's difficult to start back into it though. At times it can feel like you're just... sitting. But He's worth feeling like I'm just sitting sometimes.
By the way, this is my desktop background at the moment. I took it in ol' Hee-why-ay.
Right now, I'm contemplating what to do with my day. I tend to not do so well when I don't have structure, but I guess I need to learn how to make my own. So far, my mental options involve the park and the library. Isn't Hamilton Mill a magical place? Because there is in fact a library WITHIN a park. Fantastic!
I was reminded/encouraged yesterday by my good friend Michelle. While I was in Hawaii, I really discovered how much I was missing by not spending time just being with God. He really is a treasure. But, China took a lot out of me, and I lost some of the passion and daily dedication that I had while I was in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, if it got to be the afternoon and I STILL hadn't spent time with God, I was stressed to the max; life felt meaningless and confusing. I would have to immediately run away to be just me and Him, at least for a little bit. So is it any wonder that now, as I am faced with sorting out my feelings and thoughts as well as trying to decide what to do next, I am not at peace and often find myself confused? Don't get me wrong, I still spend time with Him... but it's not enough. I need good, quality time with Him everyday. That's what I had and it was great. It's difficult to start back into it though. At times it can feel like you're just... sitting. But He's worth feeling like I'm just sitting sometimes.
By the way, this is my desktop background at the moment. I took it in ol' Hee-why-ay.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Transition
I'm almost home! I'm just sitting in San Jose, waiting to hop on my last plane. To attempt to debrief the last two months in one blog post would be insanity, so I will start with the clearest thought at the moment:
I am, officially, a seasoned traveler.
It's true. I will proceed to give bullet style advice for anyone who has limited traveling experience and intends to travel for long periods of time in the near future.
1) You don't need everything in your bag. Whatever you have packed, get off the computer, go back to your room, and take out about half of it. You probably won't need it. If you do, either: learn to do without, borrow, or (if you must!) buy. It is absolutely miserable to drag a heavy bag around everywhere you go. And you don't want to be wasteful by throwing perfectly good things away! Plus, you will probably find that the people in the place you go won't have as many clothes as you do anyway. And if they do, they will note that you are a traveler and not care much about your clothing anyway.
2) Train stations do not check baggage like the airport. Actually, you won't get to check it at all. You drag it with you then hoist it above your seat... like carry on luggage. Aaaand, where I was, there are usually no elevators/escalators. So you lug your gigantic, overstuffed bag up and down stairs more than once. Please re read suggestion one at this time.
3) Korean Air is, hands down, the best airline EVER. Just a little sample of the awesomeness: When you get to your seat, you will find waiting for you a nice blanket, a pillow, a water bottle, and a goody bag with slippers and a toothbrush. Oh yeah.
4)Don't get a big bag. It will tempt you to bring more than you need. Please refer to suggestion one.
5) Keep your passport handy at all times.
6) Keep a baggy with all your transportation necessities. In mine I have: a pen, my passport, my frequent flier card, my tickets, my baggage receipt, my itinerary, and any other little oddities you may need quickly when maneuvering airports/bus stations/train stations/life.
Those are all my tips for the moment. I may think of more later.
China was cool. That's all I can really manage to say at the moment. I was inspired to write this little blog by my beautiful friends, the Morgans. I can't wait to see them again. Mary Anne took two pictures that I feel like really describe my place right now. The explanations sort of go hand in hand. China, and leaving friends over and over again, has left me rather disillusioned. I've asked myself a lot of questions the past two weeks, most of them to God. The journey can be very difficult and sometimes it's hard to remember why you even decided to leave the house. Thoughts arise like "Where was I going?" "Where is everyone else?" "Why did I leave?" "I need to sit down." I feel like I need to just lie down in the middle of the "road" for a minute and figure this all out. At the same time, I desperately want to turn my face to Daddy. Just look at Him. Let Him see my face and heart. Tell Him that it's still His. I feel like a little sunflower after a heavy rain. Sunflowers aren't that strong. I want to see the sun again.
Oh Christ, be the center of my life. Be the place I fix my eyes.
Amazing love, stronger than mountains, deeper than oceans, reaches to me.
God's Message, the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies, laid out the earth and all that grows from it, who breathes life into earth's people, makes them alive with his own life: "I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations, to make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons. I am God. That's my name. I don't franchise my glory, don't endorse the no-god idols. Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled. I'm announcing the new salvation work. Before it bursts on the scene, I'm telling you all about it."
He, God, will take hold of my hand and lead me in righteousness. I am not alone.
Sorry for being so mushy.
I am, officially, a seasoned traveler.
It's true. I will proceed to give bullet style advice for anyone who has limited traveling experience and intends to travel for long periods of time in the near future.
1) You don't need everything in your bag. Whatever you have packed, get off the computer, go back to your room, and take out about half of it. You probably won't need it. If you do, either: learn to do without, borrow, or (if you must!) buy. It is absolutely miserable to drag a heavy bag around everywhere you go. And you don't want to be wasteful by throwing perfectly good things away! Plus, you will probably find that the people in the place you go won't have as many clothes as you do anyway. And if they do, they will note that you are a traveler and not care much about your clothing anyway.
2) Train stations do not check baggage like the airport. Actually, you won't get to check it at all. You drag it with you then hoist it above your seat... like carry on luggage. Aaaand, where I was, there are usually no elevators/escalators. So you lug your gigantic, overstuffed bag up and down stairs more than once. Please re read suggestion one at this time.
3) Korean Air is, hands down, the best airline EVER. Just a little sample of the awesomeness: When you get to your seat, you will find waiting for you a nice blanket, a pillow, a water bottle, and a goody bag with slippers and a toothbrush. Oh yeah.
4)Don't get a big bag. It will tempt you to bring more than you need. Please refer to suggestion one.
5) Keep your passport handy at all times.
6) Keep a baggy with all your transportation necessities. In mine I have: a pen, my passport, my frequent flier card, my tickets, my baggage receipt, my itinerary, and any other little oddities you may need quickly when maneuvering airports/bus stations/train stations/life.
Those are all my tips for the moment. I may think of more later.
China was cool. That's all I can really manage to say at the moment. I was inspired to write this little blog by my beautiful friends, the Morgans. I can't wait to see them again. Mary Anne took two pictures that I feel like really describe my place right now. The explanations sort of go hand in hand. China, and leaving friends over and over again, has left me rather disillusioned. I've asked myself a lot of questions the past two weeks, most of them to God. The journey can be very difficult and sometimes it's hard to remember why you even decided to leave the house. Thoughts arise like "Where was I going?" "Where is everyone else?" "Why did I leave?" "I need to sit down." I feel like I need to just lie down in the middle of the "road" for a minute and figure this all out. At the same time, I desperately want to turn my face to Daddy. Just look at Him. Let Him see my face and heart. Tell Him that it's still His. I feel like a little sunflower after a heavy rain. Sunflowers aren't that strong. I want to see the sun again.
Oh Christ, be the center of my life. Be the place I fix my eyes.
Amazing love, stronger than mountains, deeper than oceans, reaches to me.
God's Message, the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies, laid out the earth and all that grows from it, who breathes life into earth's people, makes them alive with his own life: "I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations, to make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons. I am God. That's my name. I don't franchise my glory, don't endorse the no-god idols. Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled. I'm announcing the new salvation work. Before it bursts on the scene, I'm telling you all about it."
He, God, will take hold of my hand and lead me in righteousness. I am not alone.
Sorry for being so mushy.
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