Happy Birthday to Me:)

I was able to travel to Sibiu, Romania for a few days around my birthday with a friend. The city is the cultural capital of Europe for this year and it is beautiful! I loved being in a city with a slower pace of life and beauty!

Shaved Head Spirituality

I want to share with you a passage from Brennan Manning’s The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus quoted from Paul Tillich that jumped out to me this past week.

Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness and it is as though a voice were saying: “You are accepted. You are accepted by that which is greater than you….Do not seek for anything; do not perform for anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.”
If that happens to us, we experience grace. After such an experience we may not be better than before, and we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed.

As I think about my decision to shave my head, I am amazed. What may seem like a momentary lapse in judgment, has opened my eyes to many new things. God's grace is alive in my life--accepting me as I am.

Spirit Week 2007

For Spirit Week this year I decided to shave my head for "Crazy Hair Day". To make further use of my bald head, I came as a Buddhist monk for "Around the World Day" and Mr. Clean for "Fictional Character Day". It certainly gave the students and staff quite a shock-and still does I suppose. I am enjoying the shorter shower times and expect a great savings on shampoo!

A Child Shall Lead Them....

Our building fund received its first donation today-from a 3rd grader. How neat to hear the story of him emptying his coin purse because he wanted to be a part of the new building! Truly a special kid! 45 bani gets us started (about 20 cents)!

You can be a part of our building program too! Check out the information at:
BCA's Website

100 Posts

So, this is my little song and dance because of this truly amazing landmark:) Hope you can all celebrate with me...

IKEA

I am becoming very fond of IKEA. Although they haven't had the tupperware I am looking for the last three visits, I still love to go and wander through the store looking at things that are colorful and beautifully arranged. I went a couple weeks ago and had my eye on a corner bakers rack. I went Friday morning, picked it up, carried it home on the bus, and assembled it. It now sits in my "balcony" with all my plants. My "balcony" was looking a little sparse so I ended up going back to IKEA yesterday to buy a comfy chair and small table to sit on the opposite end. My "balcony" makes me smile:) I also bought some new pots so all my plants aren't in the standard brown plastic pots anymore-yeah!

Preview of Bucharest

I came across this one day while searching for some other information. I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of my city:)

Train Companions

Here we are all snuggled together in our shared compartment:) Don't you wish you could join us?

Train Ride

How long is a 1.5 hour train ride from Sinaia to Bucharest?

Last weekend I went up to Sinaia with two other women. We were awed by the beauty of creation all around us during the ride. The trees were changing colors and the mountains are always beautiful! We had a wonderful day together-touring the castle, walking through the shops, stopping at the monastery, and eating lunch together.

We decided to take the 5pm train back to the city, bought our tickets and waited. It appeared that all would be normal for our train ride. We arrived at Campina 30 min later and stayed at the station for an hour-much longer than the standard 3-5 min stop. I had heard there was some construction being done on tracks so I didn't think too much about it. No information is given, so you just sit and wait-there really isn't anything else you can do.

We finally pulled out and continued toward Bucharest. 5 min into the journey, we heard some strange noises and then in another few minutes. The second set of noises were quickly followed by a thump and a slowing train. It isn't unusual to stop between stations, but this stop was rather extended and people started looking out the windows and even getting off the train. We later found out that the power lines had fallen, cracking the front window on the train. We would be unable to move until they were righted. There was the option of walking to the next major road to catch another form of transportation, but it was getting dark and raining.

So, we waited. There was an American team on the train-further toward the back. We went and sat with them to get regular updates from the Romanians traveling with them who went out to talk with people and take pictures.

The repair train showed up some time later and finally we were able to make our way toward Bucharest. Instead of arriving at 6:40 as planned, our train pulled in at 10:00. So, the 1.5 hour ride was 5.

Answered Prayer-Where are the dogs?

It took me a couple nights, but I finally realized that it was much quieter around my apartment. When I left Bucharest in June, there was a pack of dogs that hung out behind my bloc and barked anytime anyone walked past them. It made for restless nights of sleep and annoyances during the day. So far, there has only been one night when I've heard anything. They don't seem to be prowling around either. Wow! Praise God!

More Than You'll Ever Know

Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways
you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's ok to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been with God
and that's the way it ought to be, yeah


Cause you've been more than a friend to me
you fight off my enemies for me
cause you have spoken the truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
more than you'll ever know
Yeah, yeah, yeah, more than you'll ever know
Yeah, yeah, yeah

You had faith
when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
and all the while I've been hoping that I'll
do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
and that's the way it ought to be, yeah


You have carried me
You have taken on a burden
that wasn't your own, yeah
may that blessing return to you
A hundredfold
oh oh yeah, a hundredfold

(Watermark)

These words echo what is in my heart from my time in the US this summer. I can only imagine what the prayers of so many have done on my behalf. I am amazed and overwhelmed! Thank you!

Bugs

I think today confirms it! I am not a bug person. After getting up, I headed to the bathroom. After turning on the light, the first thing that met my eye was a huge beetle/cockroach/BUG crawling across my rug. This wasn't any ordinary bug. It sure seemed like it was the length of the first two knuckles on my fingers--although I admit I didn't take the time to kneel down and measure it.

I admit that my first thought was wishing I had some man nearby to come get rid of it for me. However, that not being the case, I knew I had to get rid of it because I certainly didn't want it wandering around my house all day-who knows when it would have reappeared. There are far too many dark corners to hide in!

So, my first idea was to slide a piece of paper beside it-hoping it would calmly keep walking and let me dump it into the toilet. My coordination skills in slow movements are somewhat lacking since I bumped this bug and it scurried to the first dark corner it could find-behind the trash can.

My next thought was to get some sort of tongs or some other contraption so I wouldn't have to touch it. I went into the kitchen and grabbed the first thing that made any sense to me-two serving spoons figuring I could scoop it into one and then manage to put it in the toilet.

With this grand idea, the first try was somewhat flawed and this bug headed toward the doorway. I was in no way ready to let it leave the confines of the bathroom so I took a spoon and tried flinging it back into the bathroom. Fling it did-so much so that I didn't know where it had landed.

After finding the bug once again-hiding behind the sink, I tried this strategic maneuver once again. This time I was successful in capturing and disposing of this huge, horrendous bug. I think it only took the next 20 min before my heart slowed down. I guess I can almost laugh about it now, but I certainly wouldn't look forward to seeing a bug in the morning.

Blessed Be Your Name
Tree63

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

I was hard at work this evening sitting on the couch in my living room-enjoying the breeze drifting through the open window. My mind has been a bit frazzled lately, so it has been good to sit and be still.

As this song played, I thought about all that I have learned this year. Although I wouldn't have chosen much of it, I am thankful for what God has done in my heart. It has only been recently that as I sing this song, I think about all that God's name implies. Not only is it His name, but it represents His character, the very essence of who He is. Even with the hurt in my heart and the tears in my eyes, I couldn't help but lift my hands in worship to the God who is.

Big Things

For the longest time I have always had a hard time accepting when people would talk about wanting to do big things for God. It seemed to be the talk that fired up youth. I couldn't figure out why doing 'little' things wasn't enough for some people. It seemed to me that the focus was more on the big things than God.

Perhaps I allowed the pendulum to swing a bit too far the other way in my own life. I wasn't looking for big ways that God could use me. Rather, I was content to do the 'little things'. Not that I see teaching as a little thing, but I didn't figure that I would end up in any book about people who changed the world. I realized recently that I had been content to do those things within my areas of strength. Instead of being forced to depend on God alone, I was leaning on my own strength far too much. I am still trying to 'figure out' what all this means for me. I do know that I want to be depending on God much more than I am.

ReachGlobal Missionaries

Here are my missionary colleagues:)
We had a wonderful time together this weekend away in the mountains.

Beautiful

One of my family members (thanks Kent) recently sent me this description. I thought it was such an amazing way to look at our Father's love so I wanted to share it. Life isn't always easy, but we can trust our good God and Father!
Blessings to each of you today!

Somewhere in God’s plan, a father holds the child’s hand and looks deep into the eyes as the nurse inserts the needle, and although there is pain, the look of love and the feeling of the hand hold helps to make it through something that “is best for us”. If we believe literally that we are created in God’s image, then I will hold onto this image, I will hold onto his hand and watch the look of Love as I experience this moment in time…..hopefully with the faith of the child that this is what is “best”.

Valentine's Banquet

Just sharing the creativity of the 9-12 graders with you:) The following are 'shared stories'. After writing one line, the papers were folded and passed around the table. While the below is just a small sampling, we did have a few good laughs. Hopefully I will get a few pictures posted soon for you to see.

Kelly
was wearing boots.
Brennan
was stupid.
They met in a dumpster
He said, "Oops!"
She replied, "Thank you very much."
Then a giant sumo wrestler burst through the bathroom door and shot them.

Bertha
was as thin as a stick.
Wentworth Miller
was awkwardly lanky.
They met on a arm.
He said, "Hey baby, I think you made me drop something: my jaw."
She replied, "Oh, Raspberries!"
Then she ate her falafel.

Suzie
was sweet.
Austin
was retarded.
They met happily.
He said, "Are you going to eat that?"
She replied, " I'm fine with that."
Then they jumped off the train.

Emma
was rude.
Dan
was buff.
They met in a bar.
He said, "I don't like spam."
She replied, "Yeah, this is pretty boring."
Then they moved to Saskathawan.

Stand In The Rain
She never slows down
She doesn’t know why but she knows that
When she’s all alone it feels like its all coming down

She won’t turn around
The shadows are long and she fears
If she cries that first tear
The tears will not stop raining down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it’s all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won’t drown
And one day what’s lost can be found
You stand in the rain

She won’t make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself
And the fears whispering if she stands she’ll fall down

She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything
She’s running from
Wants to give up and lie down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it’s all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won’t drown
And one day what’s lost can be found
You stand in the rain

Thought for the Day

The mystery of life is that the lord of life cannot be known except in and through the act of living. Without the concrete and specific involvements of daily life we cannot ocme to know the loving presence of Him who holds us in the palm of His hand...therefore, we are called each day to present to our Lord the whole of our lives.

Henri J.M. Nouwen

Free Pizza

Jerry's

For many who have lived in Romania, that word alone brings to mind many different images. For others who are oblivious to the pizza chains on the other side of the world (which is okay) it has no meaning.

For me, Jerry's is a bimonthly ordeal. Student council orders pizza for students and staff who choose this alternative to bringing their own lunch. Last week, I walked into the office at 11:10 (5 min before elementary lunch starts) and was dismayed that the smell of Jerry's was missing. As the trampling of little feet climbed the stairs, we waited wondering what might have gone wrong (lost driver, misplaced order...). As our cherubs waited, the delivery man arrived, handed me the bill, and I rushed the first batch upstairs to start serving. Half way through serving elementary lunch, I realized that not only did we have an extra pizza, but the bill was only for 13-we had ordered 15. I was perplexed and stunned.

After lunch and my 1/2 grade music class, I returned to the office to try and sort out what had happened. It turns out that Jerry's decided to give us free pizzas because we had such a large order. Mind you, this had NEVER happened before. Sadly, I realized that I had counted out money for the price we were quoted over the phone so we had paid more than we needed. Had I only been paying attention.

I just can't seem to let go of things like that, so it has been drifting around in my mind and I made an interesting comparison that I would like to share with you. Earlier that week, we had been studying verses about the gift of grace in chapel. I realized that in a way, the gift of the free pizzas was similar to grace. Jerry's was freely offering free pizzas. They even showed a reduced bill. I simply chose to ignore it and kept my eyes focused on what seemed important at that moment-the hungry kids ready for food. Instead of accepting their gift, I paid for it.

I think in some ways this comparison works. God has canceled our bill and extends his grace and love to us. At times, we simply choose to focus on other things and try to continue to pay the bill. Paying for free pizza is one thing-because we can, but we can NEVER "pay" for the grace God offers. If we choose to keep trying to pay-through good works or any number of ways-we loose out on that gift.

Are you still trying to pay for grace?

Devoured

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I don't know if you've ever felt that way, but I certainly felt devoured today. It hit me toward the end of the day-as I was sitting discouraged-that I had been devoured, or at least toyed with. Why didn't I see it earlier? Why did it have to go on so long before I finally realized what was happening? I wonder sometimes if I will ever get to the point where I am strong enough and then I realize that my only strength comes in standing in the shadow of the cross-hiding behind my savior and allowing Him to fight for me-to rescue me. Jesus, please come and protect me.

Recently, I received this song in an email. I was a bit embarrased to look back and realize I had listened to this song multiple times and let the words slip by without really hearing them. As I read the words today it really fit with the place where I am at. It fits with what I am hearing and with what I sense God showing me. May you be blessed and encouraged as you read these words.

In Me
by Casting Crowns

If you asked me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If you ask me to go
Preach to a lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If you ask me to run
And carry your light into foreign land
If you ask me to fight
Deliver your people from satan's hand

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
and to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory