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| so new england has slowly been proving itself to be worthy of my attention this summer. i'm staying here at school working at a cafe in manchester which is right by the beach-sounds too good to be true right? i thought so too, but for the first two weeks we had about 4 days without rain. it was so miserable and i am too affected by the weather for my own good so i was in a bad mood and missing the southland. but now it's blue skies and sunshine and i am remembering why i love it here so much. does anyone kind of plan out little things they want to do over the summer that more or less involve being alone? i don't know why i predict being alone for parts of the summer but subconsciously i plan to read books, go exploring to find a cute cafe, meditate, but so far this summer i have been working so much, and when i'm not working i divide my time among this new fellow in my life, my friends and my sister. so for one of the first times in my life i've craved alone time like i never have before. i dont know when was the last time i sat down and truly had a deep, thoughtful time with god. i'm enjoying knowing him through other people and throught the beauty of creation around me but to be alone in his presence is something i'm wanting and need to actually schedule in. yesterday the priest at my church read the sermon on the mount from the message for his sermon. didn't preach beyond that, just read straight from the bible. i was skeptical at first, but it was so refreshing to just hear the words of Jesus with nothing but a modern twist on the words to manipulate it. anyways, today i have to help at a party for this family i work for from 12-7 and some of my duties involve manning the moon bounce (brings me back to cali where everyone and their mom seems to have a "jumpy house") running games, picking up trash and anything else they decide they want from me. not exactly what i planned for my memorial day but that's the theme of the summer so far right? i miss all of you... | | |
| so i was ok with 241 days since my last update but now that it's hit 242 i thought enough is enough : ) i foolishly thought that we were home free from the snow here but i woke up this morning to about 3 inches and its been going non stop since. i can't deny the snow's beauty but i could do with a little sunshine. everyone here is just hanging on for dear life until spring break. anyone taking or has taken sociology classes before? i love them but it can be pretty tough talking about so many problems in the world when your life seems so distanced from them and when you want to have all the answers for them but can't know them until you really understand the problem. its a good way to learn patience and true compassion and humility. it looks like i'll be going home to north carolina with a few friends. i can't wait to show them around my hometown--that should take about half a day so i hope we can figure out stuff to do. im jealous of all the fun the baylor kids are going to have with sultan and all of the other afghan families though. this weekend was a lot of fun because one of my friends is housesitting so of course we moved in immediately. good times playing truth or dare, making pancakes, playing a weird board game call wits end (adventures in odyssey flashback anyone?) my roomate and i had a great conversation this weekend that i was so thankful for. god seems to reveal how much he knows about me in situations where confrontation is necessary. im not so good at it and never know how to bring it up but god has provided the perfect time and the perfect words this year when i have needed it. im so relieved to have that relationship restored to the great friendship it hasnt been for a while. i hope everyone is doing well. i miss all of you | | |
| ATTENTION ALL CALIFORNIANS....i'm definitely coming to visit over my christmas break! i'll be there from december 30th to january 5th. i hope i'll get to see everyone and i can't wait to be back. hope everyone is doing well, i love you all | | |
| hi everyone, time is going by so quickly here at school i can't believe im almost halfway through the first semester. last weekend i made a little weekend trip to london for my sister's wedding. don't worry, i realize that's crazy. she's married a british guy so the wedding was there and it was so much fun. very glamorous. i wish i had pictures to show of all the women in their huge hats, the BEAUTIFUL reception hall and the even more beautiful jillian griffenhagen, now jillian convey. so it was a blast but far too short of a trip. a couple of nights ago i got to see rilo kiley in concert and i must reccomend them to everyone. if you like postal service or bright eyes, the lead singers of rilo kiley are in both of those bands. here's the coolest part about them though....anyone watch way too much tv as a kid like me? well then you may recall the character pinskey from salute your shorts. he's the guitarist and singer of this band!! and that's not all. in the hit film troop beverly hills : ) the main character, the girl with the red hair is the girl lead singer!! needless to say the band was incredible but it was an added bonus to have child stars up there too. today we played a team from dallas for any texans that might be reading. it was a tough tie that we definitely deserved to win but oh well. i got my pictuers back from california (thanks becca!!) so im feeling more nastalgic for my persians and afghans. hope everyone is doing well, time for a paper for me
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| hello all, i know its been a while but im here now to let you all get some sleep at night. nothing too big has been going on here--im mostly busy with soccer all of the time which has actually created some semi big thoughts for me recently (not sure if i want to play next year) its been a lot of fun though. yesterday we won 5-0 so that was a nice little victory although i was bored out of my mind playing keeper : ) my team went to one of the girl's house in new hampshire for the night for a little bonding time and that was tons of fun full of eating of course. my classes have been great although i still cant seem to get into this whole school mindset yet...how long does that take to set in?? my roomate has a boyfriend now which is the cutest thing ever. he's a little emo boy, why are they so irrisistable?? i just got off the phone with some of the afghan families which is always interesting. i called one family and only the grandmother was home which wouldn't be that bad, if we spoke one word of the same language. our conversation basically consisted of me asking how she was and saying i was fine and then her going on about who knows what so i was just laughing not knowing how to finish the conversation without hanging up on her. it did end with a thank you so it was ok. its already getting really cold here at night making me miss california sunshine, although i did have an awesome nap on the beach today. right now i am so eager to do so much "for god" but he's helping me realize how valuable the time i have right now is for preparation if i just let it be that. now its time to sing in the dark (don't be scared, something my school does) | | |
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