Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
In the Rockies
Well, Sylvester now has Colorado plates, and I have a Colorado license, and all my mail is coming to a Colorado address. It's bittersweet, but I know it's only the first small step of a larger step of leaving Minnesota.
Yesterday was my day at the DMV (only took three visits). Today will be my day at WorldVenture headquarters where I'll sign all the final paperwork and have my exit interview. I'm about 2% away from receiving clearance to book my plane ticket (which happens at 100% monthly support)! I still can't believe it myself. God's timing is flawless, isn't it?
The Rockies are beautiful. I'll never be able to explain it, but seeing mountains or being near them makes my heart sing in a way it just plain can't on the plains. I feel blanketed and yet free-er at the same time, perhaps because they're so familiar. Pikes Peak already has snow on it. I love winter and the general changing of seasons. God's creation is wonderful, isn't it?
Yesterday was my day at the DMV (only took three visits). Today will be my day at WorldVenture headquarters where I'll sign all the final paperwork and have my exit interview. I'm about 2% away from receiving clearance to book my plane ticket (which happens at 100% monthly support)! I still can't believe it myself. God's timing is flawless, isn't it?
The Rockies are beautiful. I'll never be able to explain it, but seeing mountains or being near them makes my heart sing in a way it just plain can't on the plains. I feel blanketed and yet free-er at the same time, perhaps because they're so familiar. Pikes Peak already has snow on it. I love winter and the general changing of seasons. God's creation is wonderful, isn't it?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Advice from my elders
In no way do I mean to demean my aunts and uncles with this post, but it was too funny:
I saw 6 of my aunts and uncles in the last 24 hours. It was intentional so that I could say good-bye before I head out for Germany (whenever that is). At some point before the actual good-bye, each aunt and uncle separately came up to me, placed a hand on my shoulder, got a very serious look on his/her face, and said, "Drive carefully, young lady/missy/Katrina." Obviously, in the context of my cousin's recent car accident, I know where they were coming from and very somberly replied that I would.
As I slid into my car, my Dad called to check on my estimated time of arrival at their home in Colorado. We talked for a few minutes, and then, as we were saying good-bye, he said, "Drive fast!" I was so shocked I laughed out loud. I love my Dad!
I saw 6 of my aunts and uncles in the last 24 hours. It was intentional so that I could say good-bye before I head out for Germany (whenever that is). At some point before the actual good-bye, each aunt and uncle separately came up to me, placed a hand on my shoulder, got a very serious look on his/her face, and said, "Drive carefully, young lady/missy/Katrina." Obviously, in the context of my cousin's recent car accident, I know where they were coming from and very somberly replied that I would.
As I slid into my car, my Dad called to check on my estimated time of arrival at their home in Colorado. We talked for a few minutes, and then, as we were saying good-bye, he said, "Drive fast!" I was so shocked I laughed out loud. I love my Dad!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
What every Husker fan dreams of
My first Husker game was a success! I've only been a fan since birth, thoroughly brainwashed and dressed in red since Day 1. Going to the game last weekend really was a treat. Thank you Uncle John, Aunt Janet, Uncle Butch, and Aunt Lori!
Pictures: me with Tom Osborne and Brook Berringer, the Sea of Red with the band on the field, balloons after the first touchdown, and me with my Aunt Janet.
Pictures: me with Tom Osborne and Brook Berringer, the Sea of Red with the band on the field, balloons after the first touchdown, and me with my Aunt Janet.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A grateful heart
I haven't been less grateful recently for the new gifts or commitments from supporters. It's just that I'm so busy and stressed thinking about all I need to accomplish in possibly less than 3 weeks. So, whenever I was notified of a new donor, I was more focused on the numbers and percentages and the pressure of whether it will be enough to leave by October 5th. The grateful heart got buried.
Yesterday, I confessed and asked God to give me a new heart. He came through! I received word that a whole slew of people I have never met but who somehow heard of my ministry gave over and abundantly in the last week to the tune of $1,300 in one-time gifts. How does a clean, new heart hear that kind of news and not break? I'm overwhelmed, God! You CAN do this and you ARE doing this!
Yesterday, I confessed and asked God to give me a new heart. He came through! I received word that a whole slew of people I have never met but who somehow heard of my ministry gave over and abundantly in the last week to the tune of $1,300 in one-time gifts. How does a clean, new heart hear that kind of news and not break? I'm overwhelmed, God! You CAN do this and you ARE doing this!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Persuasion
I bought the final Jane Austen book I haven't read the other day, as a treat for the plane ride to Germany, but part of me doesn't want to read it. Then it'll be over. No more Jane Austen treats to look forward to.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
5 things
5 things I've eaten recently
1. green tea mochi ice cream
2. left-over Indian food
3. bugs (on my bike ride this morning)
4. banana
5. Milka chocolate
5 emotions I've felt recently
1. fear
2. paranoia
3. joy
4. grief
5. compassion
5 interesting things I've done recently
1. watched the Princess Bride for the gazillionth time
2. drafted a fantasy football team
3. shopped online on behalf of a friend who's looking on behalf of another friend
4. wrote a will (?!?)
5. danced with my i-pod in the kitchen until I heard the garage door signaling Jim and Lori were back
5 embarrassing stories
1. When I worked in the library, I was once carrying a stack of books that blocked my line of sight, but I thought I knew where I was going. Yep, ran right into a pole that knocked all the books out of my hand and made a huge noise.
2. the awful story of when I drove my scooter through freshly poured cement (ask me about it sometime)
3. In high school cooking/serving class, we had to create mixed drinks and were practicing on real guests. I was assigned to the table with the principal and her mother. I poured the drinks all nice and neatly for full marks, but as I was going around the table to set the glasses down, one spilled all over the principal's mother's back, soaking her from neck to waist in sticky, gooey cherry syrup. Lovely.
4. the time I made a joke about my friend's funny last name right as the room went quiet, and no one laughed
5. dancing on stage to the song "Chicky chick chicken, bok bok, chicken!"
5 hopes for the near future
1. connect with friends and family I love
2. pack well and not forget anything important
3. transition well to Germany
4. find a German church to plug in to
5. build relationships with my students
1. green tea mochi ice cream
2. left-over Indian food
3. bugs (on my bike ride this morning)
4. banana
5. Milka chocolate
5 emotions I've felt recently
1. fear
2. paranoia
3. joy
4. grief
5. compassion
5 interesting things I've done recently
1. watched the Princess Bride for the gazillionth time
2. drafted a fantasy football team
3. shopped online on behalf of a friend who's looking on behalf of another friend
4. wrote a will (?!?)
5. danced with my i-pod in the kitchen until I heard the garage door signaling Jim and Lori were back
5 embarrassing stories
1. When I worked in the library, I was once carrying a stack of books that blocked my line of sight, but I thought I knew where I was going. Yep, ran right into a pole that knocked all the books out of my hand and made a huge noise.
2. the awful story of when I drove my scooter through freshly poured cement (ask me about it sometime)
3. In high school cooking/serving class, we had to create mixed drinks and were practicing on real guests. I was assigned to the table with the principal and her mother. I poured the drinks all nice and neatly for full marks, but as I was going around the table to set the glasses down, one spilled all over the principal's mother's back, soaking her from neck to waist in sticky, gooey cherry syrup. Lovely.
4. the time I made a joke about my friend's funny last name right as the room went quiet, and no one laughed
5. dancing on stage to the song "Chicky chick chicken, bok bok, chicken!"
5 hopes for the near future
1. connect with friends and family I love
2. pack well and not forget anything important
3. transition well to Germany
4. find a German church to plug in to
5. build relationships with my students
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