Hello friends!
If you've come here from Facebook or via email, welcome!! So glad you stopped by. If you are wondering if what I'm going to announce is that Baby Shunk is on the way ... you would be right!
I'm 13.5 weeks pregnant with Baby and so far everything is going well. Unless, of course, you factor in that I've been sicker than 99.5% of all pregnant women this first trimester. But if we just talk Baby, as far as we know, he/she is doing great! Heartbeat is strong and we've seen him/her on the sonogram screen as a little 2.6cm blip growing normally. Should be the size of a peach this week.
Saturday I start into the 2nd trimester! Glory, hallelujah. I'm praying that with that comes relief from the annoying nausea that's still holding on.
Wait, let me back up.
((So, this ISN'T my pregnancy blog, although it will probably be updated until October mostly that way. Yes! Due date: October 30, 2010."Why?" you might ask. "Well," I would say, "I have two friends who've left me for Asia, several friends in Europe, and plenty of family who won't be able to see the progress in the next few months." Mostly, it's for them, but if you wish to follow, please do! I'll write for you too. :-) And, if you live anywhere in the Midwest and want to swing by Kansas City on your way somewhere to see the baby belly, feel free. But don't come yet. I don't have anything to show.))
So I've been diagnosed with hyperemesis of pregnancy, and frankly, it stinks. I've spent 6 of the last 7 weeks throwing up, force feeding, and crying miserable because I've been so sick. It's been sort of like a bad stomach flu combined with motion sickness and a migraine without the headache. I couldn't eat, drink, read, write, watch tv, get online, or sometimes even talk without being horribly sick. 8 days of March were spent in the hospital getting IV fluid and nutrition. 10 lbs gone off my already thin frame.
All of that to say, I do believe I am finally on the mend. I did have to quit work for 2 months - something a bit stressful on our family and finances, but I'm hoping to go back mid-May. I still am working on building up my ability to be in front of a computer for several hours (something my job requires) without feeling too sick and my stamina. But I am feeling 350% better and I'm up 6 pounds. I'm able to eat and drink fluids on my own and get around the house well. I've even been cooking and doing the dishes.
So, this post is more about me than the Baby, but that's been the story. One day we'll look back and it will be only that: a story. I will feel normal, be able to run around and go-go-go and ride in the car without thinking twice.
As for now... I am contemplating everything I take for granted while I feel well. Many of us do. But more on that later.
So as for now, we've made Baby public. :-) Ask all the questions you'd like. (And yes, pictures will be posted shortly).
Facebook quote
1.14.2010
If anyone wants to know where God is today- He's pinned under rubble, he's hurt and afraid, he's hungry and homeless in Haiti.
Inside the Box
1.10.2010
I'd really like to be the one who is artistically and creatively out of the box. Someone who inspires people to think deeply - to step out and be confidently themselves. And be one who doesn't care what people think if her own notions are so "out there."
'So there's 'out of the box' which is often merely a variation of the same thing. And then there are those who think and feel and live and create from a different place. They've had their boxes smashed until they had no other option but to imagine a totally new tomorrow.'
Why?
I'm still so 'inside the box.'
'So there's 'out of the box' which is often merely a variation of the same thing. And then there are those who think and feel and live and create from a different place. They've had their boxes smashed until they had no other option but to imagine a totally new tomorrow.'
~Rob Bell, Drops Like Stars
***
And tell me Rob Bell, why, why does it take smashed boxes to imagine a new tomorrow? Why can't it come out of the passion of being, rather than suffering? Why smashed and not whole?
Why?
New Series: Drops Like Stars - Vol. 1
Rob Bell's books always inspire me. His last two have been incredibly thought-provoking. Not to mention his Nooma videos - which I also love and have been wanting to start a small group around (which might happen soon! we will see).
So if you haven't picked up Jesus Wants to Save Christians or Drops Like Stars, I recommend them. Highly. I didn't even know that the latter (Bell's latest book) even existed, but lo and behold, thanks to my fantastic husband, I opened it on Christmas morning.
Want to borrow it? You should!
I've decided that my life isn't always as thought provoking as I would like - sometimes there are days and days at a time when I don't really have any good thoughts - let alone things to write down. Thus, reading a great book and responding is my way of "thinking good thoughts". Even if they don't come out profoundly.
And, actually, I HAVE been thinking a lot lately. About life and work and passion and contentment and suffering and creativity ... so, why not? Responding gives me a platform to jump from. So, ya ready? I'm jumpin'! And here's the first food for thought:
(Will be back soon.)
"There's a phrase we use when we're describing something we consider new and fresh and unexpected. We say it's 'out of the box'. The problem with the phrase is that when something or someone is judged to be in or out of 'the box,' it reveals that 'the box' is still our primary point of reference. We're still operating within the prescribed boundaries and assumptions of how things are supposed to be. 'Out of the box' is sometimes merely another way of being 'in the box.'
And then there are those who come from a totally different place. They ask another kind of question:
'There's a box?'
~Rob Bell, Drops Like Stars
So if you haven't picked up Jesus Wants to Save Christians or Drops Like Stars, I recommend them. Highly. I didn't even know that the latter (Bell's latest book) even existed, but lo and behold, thanks to my fantastic husband, I opened it on Christmas morning.
Want to borrow it? You should!
I've decided that my life isn't always as thought provoking as I would like - sometimes there are days and days at a time when I don't really have any good thoughts - let alone things to write down. Thus, reading a great book and responding is my way of "thinking good thoughts". Even if they don't come out profoundly.
And, actually, I HAVE been thinking a lot lately. About life and work and passion and contentment and suffering and creativity ... so, why not? Responding gives me a platform to jump from. So, ya ready? I'm jumpin'! And here's the first food for thought:
(Will be back soon.)
"There's a phrase we use when we're describing something we consider new and fresh and unexpected. We say it's 'out of the box'. The problem with the phrase is that when something or someone is judged to be in or out of 'the box,' it reveals that 'the box' is still our primary point of reference. We're still operating within the prescribed boundaries and assumptions of how things are supposed to be. 'Out of the box' is sometimes merely another way of being 'in the box.'
And then there are those who come from a totally different place. They ask another kind of question:
'There's a box?'
~Rob Bell, Drops Like Stars
dirt.
11.20.2009
sometimes we have to deal with a little "dirt" in our lives.
sometimes we have to deal with a LOT.
and we can, yes we can, become clean again. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.
sometimes we have to deal with a LOT.
and we can, yes we can, become clean again. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.
RE: India
11.17.2009
**So, a friend from Haiti is still reading through his inbox ... and I got a note replying to this (see below) email. It's from May 2007! However, I enjoyed reading it again, laughed at him, and thought I'd post it for you to see too.
May 2007: Visited Pune, India at a Nazarene Youth Congress.
______________________________________________
I'm convinced, despite its economical state, India is rich.
Last week, while reflecting on the six days I spent there, I realized that the richness I discovered wasn't complete without experiencing it through all of my senses -- and I was able to go and do this, in part, because of your support, financially, through prayer and encouragement. Thank you! The rest I can thank God for; He has blessed me so much this year!
Toting our own personal rolls of toilet paper, more skirts than I've ever worn in one week and communications seminar materials, Simone (Miss Amazing Writer) and I (Simone's Sidekick) flew to Mumbai (Bombay) on May 16. Our site for the Nazarene Youth Congress was on a Bible school campus in Pune, India, about a four-hour bus-ride from the airport. As soon as we deplaned, it was obvious that we'd left the cool and clean land of Switzerland (and western Europe for that matter) and entered into the world of humidity, mosquitoes and rickshaws. Yet it is a place where spirituality is an essential of life and where God is working to draw more people to Himself.
Feeling India. In Switzerland, our crackly skin requires daily lotioning. I've decided that "humidity" is almost synonymous with India -- our hair and skin were completely without need of anything but air. May and June are the warm season in the country that houses one sixth of the world's population and we were smack dab in the middle of it. Fortunately, it was only about 30-35' C in Pune (90-95' F) instead of 45 (113'F!) as some participants said they'd come from. It was still HOT, but we were blessed, most nights, with cool breezes and if not there was enough electricity to run our ceiling fans all night.
Western girls in India, no matter if we were "disguised" in Indian clothing, are an attraction, and as I expected, we felt eyes following us wherever we went. However, most were not inhospitable stares. We were drenched in hospitality from the Indian people, maybe because we were foreigners, but the care was obvious.
"Have you eaten breakfast? Do you need more?"
"Take my seat."
"Oh, you look so beautiful in your Indian clothing!"
"Thank you so much for coming and talking to us."
Tasting India. Without a doubt, Indian food is unique and I loved it. The first afternoon we went for lunch after waking up very late, we were alone in the dining hall. Given no utensils, it was obvious that we were supposed to use our fingers to eat, but neither Simone nor I knew how and no one was around for us to subtly spy on for tips. The next meal we confessed our ignorance and had several people show us how to eat rice with our fingers -- not without a mess, but so fun! Curry sauces and more rice, white bread and chipate (tortilla-like flat bread) than I've ever eaten before. Some of the sauces were spicier than others -- yum(!) but every meal my runny nose reminded me of the heat. Fruit (not to mention veggies) was rare, but the bananas and mango slices we did have were a treat! We drank and drank and drank and drank bottle after bottle of water. No dehydration. Praise Jesus.
Smelling India. Third-world smells, if you've never experienced them, I've found are very similar, even on the other side of the world. On the windy and dirty bus-ride to and from Mumbai, smells assailed us. Some of the unkind smells (trash and sewer and diesel exhaust) were obvious but other smells I recognized from my time in Haiti but were undefinable beyond "familiar". New smells of fried chipate and curry sauces filled the air before mealtimes, roasted nuts along the street and even the smell of the wet air after a thunderstorm! The thunderstorm was a special treat -- none of those in my Swiss village.
Seeing India. India is undeniably beautiful. And the beauty is the people. Dark skin, shiny black hair and tiny children. The land is brown and green and cities dirty and grey, but the bougainvillea flowers in bright pinks and oranges save the landscapes. Not to mention the extraordinary and colorful dress of the women. Eastern fashion was so fun to observe -- flowing sarees and salwar kameezes (a typical Indian outfit -- pants and long tunic tops with a scarf cover) paired with sparkly jewelry. Add that to traditional dancing and I had a moment of realization that probably nothing will ever duplicate what I was experiencing. If I would smile, faces would light up -- the beauty of the creation of people was so evident.
Hear India. Honking car and rickshaw horns kept us awake the night we drove in -- the driving was insane. (Simone commented that if her brothers had grown up in India, they wouldn't have needed to play video games, they'd just need to drive!) A bird, which at first we couldn't quite peg as a monkey or a bird, sang to us and the skinny campus cat screeched at all hours. Lilting songs (amazing what they could do with their voices) and beat of the drums added new sensory worship experiences, Hindi and chatter from local dialects filled the times when English was not spoken (although as English as its second language, India is a place friendly to native English speakers!), cheers from competitive cricket games, laughter, hallelujahs and more filled our ears.
Amidst all of the almost overwhelming surroundings, we saw God, asked for his help, interviewed people and taught four seminars on communications -- attempting to convey the importance of telling our stories. Stories of what God is doing in our lives and communities so that our own people and the world might hear and know and believe.
May 2007: Visited Pune, India at a Nazarene Youth Congress.
______________________________________________
I'm convinced, despite its economical state, India is rich.
Last week, while reflecting on the six days I spent there, I realized that the richness I discovered wasn't complete without experiencing it through all of my senses -- and I was able to go and do this, in part, because of your support, financially, through prayer and encouragement. Thank you! The rest I can thank God for; He has blessed me so much this year!
Toting our own personal rolls of toilet paper, more skirts than I've ever worn in one week and communications seminar materials, Simone (Miss Amazing Writer) and I (Simone's Sidekick) flew to Mumbai (Bombay) on May 16. Our site for the Nazarene Youth Congress was on a Bible school campus in Pune, India, about a four-hour bus-ride from the airport. As soon as we deplaned, it was obvious that we'd left the cool and clean land of Switzerland (and western Europe for that matter) and entered into the world of humidity, mosquitoes and rickshaws. Yet it is a place where spirituality is an essential of life and where God is working to draw more people to Himself.
Feeling India. In Switzerland, our crackly skin requires daily lotioning. I've decided that "humidity" is almost synonymous with India -- our hair and skin were completely without need of anything but air. May and June are the warm season in the country that houses one sixth of the world's population and we were smack dab in the middle of it. Fortunately, it was only about 30-35' C in Pune (90-95' F) instead of 45 (113'F!) as some participants said they'd come from. It was still HOT, but we were blessed, most nights, with cool breezes and if not there was enough electricity to run our ceiling fans all night.
Western girls in India, no matter if we were "disguised" in Indian clothing, are an attraction, and as I expected, we felt eyes following us wherever we went. However, most were not inhospitable stares. We were drenched in hospitality from the Indian people, maybe because we were foreigners, but the care was obvious.
"Have you eaten breakfast? Do you need more?"
"Take my seat."
"Oh, you look so beautiful in your Indian clothing!"
"Thank you so much for coming and talking to us."
Tasting India. Without a doubt, Indian food is unique and I loved it. The first afternoon we went for lunch after waking up very late, we were alone in the dining hall. Given no utensils, it was obvious that we were supposed to use our fingers to eat, but neither Simone nor I knew how and no one was around for us to subtly spy on for tips. The next meal we confessed our ignorance and had several people show us how to eat rice with our fingers -- not without a mess, but so fun! Curry sauces and more rice, white bread and chipate (tortilla-like flat bread) than I've ever eaten before. Some of the sauces were spicier than others -- yum(!) but every meal my runny nose reminded me of the heat. Fruit (not to mention veggies) was rare, but the bananas and mango slices we did have were a treat! We drank and drank and drank and drank bottle after bottle of water. No dehydration. Praise Jesus.
Smelling India. Third-world smells, if you've never experienced them, I've found are very similar, even on the other side of the world. On the windy and dirty bus-ride to and from Mumbai, smells assailed us. Some of the unkind smells (trash and sewer and diesel exhaust) were obvious but other smells I recognized from my time in Haiti but were undefinable beyond "familiar". New smells of fried chipate and curry sauces filled the air before mealtimes, roasted nuts along the street and even the smell of the wet air after a thunderstorm! The thunderstorm was a special treat -- none of those in my Swiss village.
Seeing India. India is undeniably beautiful. And the beauty is the people. Dark skin, shiny black hair and tiny children. The land is brown and green and cities dirty and grey, but the bougainvillea flowers in bright pinks and oranges save the landscapes. Not to mention the extraordinary and colorful dress of the women. Eastern fashion was so fun to observe -- flowing sarees and salwar kameezes (a typical Indian outfit -- pants and long tunic tops with a scarf cover) paired with sparkly jewelry. Add that to traditional dancing and I had a moment of realization that probably nothing will ever duplicate what I was experiencing. If I would smile, faces would light up -- the beauty of the creation of people was so evident.
Hear India. Honking car and rickshaw horns kept us awake the night we drove in -- the driving was insane. (Simone commented that if her brothers had grown up in India, they wouldn't have needed to play video games, they'd just need to drive!) A bird, which at first we couldn't quite peg as a monkey or a bird, sang to us and the skinny campus cat screeched at all hours. Lilting songs (amazing what they could do with their voices) and beat of the drums added new sensory worship experiences, Hindi and chatter from local dialects filled the times when English was not spoken (although as English as its second language, India is a place friendly to native English speakers!), cheers from competitive cricket games, laughter, hallelujahs and more filled our ears.
Amidst all of the almost overwhelming surroundings, we saw God, asked for his help, interviewed people and taught four seminars on communications -- attempting to convey the importance of telling our stories. Stories of what God is doing in our lives and communities so that our own people and the world might hear and know and believe.
Wedded Bliss (or something like that)
11.06.2009
SO two weekends ago, my BFF Elizabeth got married to her Mike.
They're a good pair. Trust me. (*wink)
And I got to freeze whilst taking these pictures outside. Yet! I will not complain. It was the only not rainy day in weeks (and seriously, my calves/thighs were sore for 3 days ... after "walking" on squishy ground in those heels!) and I got to be in some of the pictures.
Yay for me and yay for them. Ha.
And, um, pretty much, their photographer was amazing. Click the picture to see more of Erica Rankin's work that day! They said she was good ... but holy crap. She's AMAZING.
:-)
*sigh* BFF is married off... phew!
They're a good pair. Trust me. (*wink)
And I got to freeze whilst taking these pictures outside. Yet! I will not complain. It was the only not rainy day in weeks (and seriously, my calves/thighs were sore for 3 days ... after "walking" on squishy ground in those heels!) and I got to be in some of the pictures.
Yay for me and yay for them. Ha.
And, um, pretty much, their photographer was amazing. Click the picture to see more of Erica Rankin's work that day! They said she was good ... but holy crap. She's AMAZING.
:-)
*sigh* BFF is married off... phew!
summer
7.22.2009
I really do like summer.
But I have to admit that it's much more fun when you're a kid. And it's SUMMER. And it lasts SO long! And you can't wait to get out of school ... and then back to school!
WAIT! back to summer. My summer means full-time work. Watching the hired mowers cutting the grass. Turning my heater on when 71 degrees is too cold for me. Wishing I was home.
But sometimes it's...
Finding your first ripe tomato!
Fresh green beans from your tiny garden.
Having a Jackson who loves to eat green beans. :-) Yes, he loves them
.
Summer. It's good. :-)
But I have to admit that it's much more fun when you're a kid. And it's SUMMER. And it lasts SO long! And you can't wait to get out of school ... and then back to school!
WAIT! back to summer. My summer means full-time work. Watching the hired mowers cutting the grass. Turning my heater on when 71 degrees is too cold for me. Wishing I was home.
But sometimes it's...
Finding your first ripe tomato!
Fresh green beans from your tiny garden.
Having a Jackson who loves to eat green beans. :-) Yes, he loves them
.Summer. It's good. :-)
Fabio
6.11.2009
an obvious boy/girl exchange this morning while I'm combing my hair.
J: "aw man, I can't imagine having hair that long."
L: "do you want hair this long?"
J: "no"
L: "Yeah, and I don't want hair as short as yours."
J: "Yeah. Well... if I had thick hair, I would like it long."
L: "EEEEEEEW."
J: "Ohh..... FABIO!!!" (Kiss on the cheek.)
No, Jeremy, I prefer bald men.
:-)
J: "aw man, I can't imagine having hair that long."
L: "do you want hair this long?"
J: "no"
L: "Yeah, and I don't want hair as short as yours."
J: "Yeah. Well... if I had thick hair, I would like it long."
L: "EEEEEEEW."
J: "Ohh..... FABIO!!!" (Kiss on the cheek.)
No, Jeremy, I prefer bald men.
:-)
For Today...
6.09.2009
Outside my window... drops of rain and wind-blown trees.
I am thinking... about going home.
From the learning rooms... why I can't be anything I want to be. I can only love being who I am designed to be.
I am thankful for... good people.
From the kitchen... week old brownies. :-)
I am wearing... my black $3 Ann Taylor LOFT shirt with tan & gold capris. Brown and Black -- I love you Europe!
I am reading... in blogland.
I am hoping... to have fun with my husband.
I am creating... living room curtains.
I am hearing... computer buzz and ladies talking.
Around the house... is my puppy and his hairballs.
One of my favorite things... laughing with my love.
A few plans for the rest of the week... seeing friends and a Saturday wedding.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Love from Slovenia. :-) Georgeous, isn't she?
I am thinking... about going home.
From the learning rooms... why I can't be anything I want to be. I can only love being who I am designed to be.
I am thankful for... good people.
From the kitchen... week old brownies. :-)
I am wearing... my black $3 Ann Taylor LOFT shirt with tan & gold capris. Brown and Black -- I love you Europe!
I am reading... in blogland.
I am hoping... to have fun with my husband.
I am creating... living room curtains.
I am hearing... computer buzz and ladies talking.
Around the house... is my puppy and his hairballs.
One of my favorite things... laughing with my love.
A few plans for the rest of the week... seeing friends and a Saturday wedding.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Love from Slovenia. :-) Georgeous, isn't she?
number one
6.05.2009
If you check out the picture two posts ago ... you may notice a white dress. :-)
May 24 we celebrated number ONE! And, honestly, it was surprising for both of us how special it was. Ha, we couldn't stop smiling at each other. And I pranced around in my wedding dress for a little bit.
It was our "paper" anniversary. So he put a gift (such a lovely gift!) in a pretty paper bag and I wrote love notes on a roll of toilet paper. To read when ... well, you know.
I'm not sure that I can put a finger on what made it so special, but it was like this intimate knowing that we'd made it through one (really tough) year and we really did love each other. I've heard this a ton ... but I do think that I love him more than I did last year.
A-mazing.
Not to say that we've not had our ups and downs ... but, it was just good. Thank you for your goodness God.
And thank you JEREMY LEE for loving me!!
:-)
May 24 we celebrated number ONE! And, honestly, it was surprising for both of us how special it was. Ha, we couldn't stop smiling at each other. And I pranced around in my wedding dress for a little bit.
It was our "paper" anniversary. So he put a gift (such a lovely gift!) in a pretty paper bag and I wrote love notes on a roll of toilet paper. To read when ... well, you know.
I'm not sure that I can put a finger on what made it so special, but it was like this intimate knowing that we'd made it through one (really tough) year and we really did love each other. I've heard this a ton ... but I do think that I love him more than I did last year.
A-mazing.
Not to say that we've not had our ups and downs ... but, it was just good. Thank you for your goodness God.
And thank you JEREMY LEE for loving me!!
:-)
about being you.
5.30.2009
I unashamedly heart Henri Nouwen. Here's what he has to say about being you.
"Speak from that place in your heart where you are most yourself. Speak directly, simply, lovingly, gently and without any apologies. Tell us what you see and what us to see; tell us what you hear and want us to hear. Trust your own heart. The words will come. There is nothing to fear. Those who need you most will help you most. You can be sure I will."
"...hear these words spoken to you with all the tenderness and force that love can hold."
Something has changed. Am I more insecure? I want to write so badly, but (obviously) it doesn't happen. No inspiration in the last year of my life. However, I think, "Shouldn't it have been more inspiring than all the rest?" It wasn't.
It was angering, hurtful, confusing and depressing.
Well, not every part, but most.
And here I am, on the brink of something large, waiting, hoping and filled with anticipation of what the Father just might have in store for me.
"I've got more than you can even imagine." Really, seriously...? What could I imagine? Traveling? Ministering (for real)? Being a presence in peoples' lives? Doing something meaningful? Being a mom? Owning a creative business on the side? Inspiring people by... speaking??
There's a lot I can imagine, God. Surprise me. I'm yours.
"Speak from that place in your heart where you are most yourself. Speak directly, simply, lovingly, gently and without any apologies. Tell us what you see and what us to see; tell us what you hear and want us to hear. Trust your own heart. The words will come. There is nothing to fear. Those who need you most will help you most. You can be sure I will."
"...hear these words spoken to you with all the tenderness and force that love can hold."
Something has changed. Am I more insecure? I want to write so badly, but (obviously) it doesn't happen. No inspiration in the last year of my life. However, I think, "Shouldn't it have been more inspiring than all the rest?" It wasn't.
It was angering, hurtful, confusing and depressing.
Well, not every part, but most.
And here I am, on the brink of something large, waiting, hoping and filled with anticipation of what the Father just might have in store for me.
"I've got more than you can even imagine." Really, seriously...? What could I imagine? Traveling? Ministering (for real)? Being a presence in peoples' lives? Doing something meaningful? Being a mom? Owning a creative business on the side? Inspiring people by... speaking??
There's a lot I can imagine, God. Surprise me. I'm yours.
it's been almost a year
2.27.2009
i almost can't believe that i've neglected my blog for almost a year. (and geez, enough has happened)
and by "neglect" i really just mean, i-haven't-had-the-motivation-or-the-need-to-blog. plus, my husband read in his high-tech-y magazine that blogging was SO 2004. how intimidating is that? but actually, i think now, who cares? i'm feeling the need and really mommyBLOGS keep the world going 'round. i love them. i can't help it. must be the little mommy me inside. ha. (no worries, no babies yet...)
but another reason is, it's okay to blog now. i don't have to worry about being honest and having *someone* run into it that shouldn't be reading it. not that i would be writing anything horrible, it's just ... well... it's been the last year of my life. stifled. discouraged. wanting to beat a wall down but knowing it wouldn't help anything.
and now, i sit, job-hunting, avoiding huge dog slobbers, and scouting out craigslist for good deals i still can't afford. i have friends, but they all have lives now. responsibility. KIDS. for heaven's sake! :-) it's a good time of life, but also confusing and hard.
here's how it went.
quit job, moved to Idaho
had no friends, had no job
got married in May (*highlight*!)
got discouraged in June
stayed that way
made one friend
got a job in November
he got let go in December
moved to Kansas City
no job, some friends.
May His light be our guiding path because at least I know, I haven't a clue.
more squirrel watching
3.23.2008
so, maybe i have a secret love.
of squirrels.
seriously, it's strange. everytime i look out the window and see my little friends scampering outside, i just could sit and stare at them for awhile.
i think i was squirrel deprived. haiti, kansas, switzerland ... none can compare to my little waterloo, iowa front yard.
just the other night i watch a squirrel diligently carrying mouthfulls of leaves up and down, up and down to his (her?) nest in one of our trees. how he got all those leaves to STAY there all bunched up, is beyond me ....
i woke up the next morning and guess who i saw working away again? Mr. Squirrel.
it almost made me feel lazy. is that supposed to happen? squirrels making me feel lazy???
wow, weird.
of squirrels.
seriously, it's strange. everytime i look out the window and see my little friends scampering outside, i just could sit and stare at them for awhile.
i think i was squirrel deprived. haiti, kansas, switzerland ... none can compare to my little waterloo, iowa front yard.
just the other night i watch a squirrel diligently carrying mouthfulls of leaves up and down, up and down to his (her?) nest in one of our trees. how he got all those leaves to STAY there all bunched up, is beyond me ....
i woke up the next morning and guess who i saw working away again? Mr. Squirrel.
it almost made me feel lazy. is that supposed to happen? squirrels making me feel lazy???
wow, weird.
good things
2.12.2008
it's been awhile. blogging makes sense when you're in the midst of so-called "adventure". but ... i've just kind of faded into the midwestern sky after my year in Switzerland. and maybe that's what i needed -- to just fade into the distance for awhile.
but definitely it doesn't mean that my life isn't an adventure. it hasn't stopped and won't, i don't think. this is good. and also scary.
today i registered my car with the state of Iowa. got a driver's license, the whole she-bang. except that it cost me a GOOD $275 to do it. cars are EXPENSIVE! but here is a sneak peak at my new little toy ... the one I've been waiting for since I sold my first car at 17. seven years is a long time to wait.
so this car has been a HUGE answer to my prayers since September. i've borrowed a car since then and 5 months is definitely enough time to wait. and to borrow.
idaho, here i come!!! (end of march, stuffed full with my things, driving 1600+ miles, 22 hours in the car... lots of CDs to play.)
but definitely it doesn't mean that my life isn't an adventure. it hasn't stopped and won't, i don't think. this is good. and also scary.
today i registered my car with the state of Iowa. got a driver's license, the whole she-bang. except that it cost me a GOOD $275 to do it. cars are EXPENSIVE! but here is a sneak peak at my new little toy ... the one I've been waiting for since I sold my first car at 17. seven years is a long time to wait.
so this car has been a HUGE answer to my prayers since September. i've borrowed a car since then and 5 months is definitely enough time to wait. and to borrow.
idaho, here i come!!! (end of march, stuffed full with my things, driving 1600+ miles, 22 hours in the car... lots of CDs to play.)
.:heart-shaped sugar cookies:.
usually, it's Mom and I. i remember in elementary school ... my mom, the coolest, would make heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink frosting. and she'd "write" every single classmate's first name on them. the next day, i would proudly bring them to school. getting a yummy cookie frosted personally for you is one thing ... but giving them out is another.
we'd make the dough and chill it. roll it out and start cutting hearts. my dad always would poke his face into the kitchen and while my mom wasn't looking i'd sneak him some dough.
oooooh, the joys of baking.
roll 'em out, cool 'em and frost 'em. and, of course, in the process, eat some dough, eat the broken ones (which may or may not've been broken on purpose) and lick the frosting off your fingers.
this year, however, Valentine's day will be one I spent alone. (my parents are in Haiti). tonight i made the cookies. i ate some dough and a broken one, frosted them and licked my fingers ... but without anyone to help or sneak cookie dough to, it's just not the same. tomorrow however, i bet giving them will be fun. grated, i didn't write all of the names of the mechanics in my office on them (that'd be a little weird.) but, nonetheless, they'll love 'em. big, dirty mechanics eating pink heart cookies. yeah, it's a one-up for me. pink hearts, white with red sparkles, and one special one. :-) :-)
we'd make the dough and chill it. roll it out and start cutting hearts. my dad always would poke his face into the kitchen and while my mom wasn't looking i'd sneak him some dough.
oooooh, the joys of baking.
roll 'em out, cool 'em and frost 'em. and, of course, in the process, eat some dough, eat the broken ones (which may or may not've been broken on purpose) and lick the frosting off your fingers.
this year, however, Valentine's day will be one I spent alone. (my parents are in Haiti). tonight i made the cookies. i ate some dough and a broken one, frosted them and licked my fingers ... but without anyone to help or sneak cookie dough to, it's just not the same. tomorrow however, i bet giving them will be fun. grated, i didn't write all of the names of the mechanics in my office on them (that'd be a little weird.) but, nonetheless, they'll love 'em. big, dirty mechanics eating pink heart cookies. yeah, it's a one-up for me. pink hearts, white with red sparkles, and one special one. :-) :-)
The AMISH are coming!
10.29.2007
You think the Amish stay in their communities and have only limited contact with the world. It's not true.
It was 7:14a and I was jarred out of a nice morning sleep that would've lasted until at least 9 o'clock if the noises coming thru my ceiling hadn't disturbed me. "Noises" sounds mild compared to the tyrannosaurus-rex pounding and scrapings we were serenaded out of bed this morning with. It wasn't even light enough to see the roof, let alone steal my sleep!
Okay, okay. So my dad told me they were coming. But I forgot ... I called him at work and yelled, "The Amish are coming!!" He had no pity. At least tomorrow I won't have a problem being to my new job on time. Geez.
However, Amish men on top of your house is kind of interesting. Beards, suspenders and all. I'm trying to convince my mom that it would be utterly annoying to be stared at by us, but she just laughs. And my curiousity has perked up too... I've read about these so-called "simple" people and really I do just want to go out and talk to them. See their reactions to me (a worldly girl) -- see what they would tell me, how honest they would be about their lifestyle. It really is intriguing.
In two days they'll be gone. I hope they like the oatmeal-raisin cookies I'm going to bake for them. And then, we'll have slept a little less, gotten out of the house a little more (especially when the air hammer starts shooting), but have a nice roof job to boot.
:-) and, today, i'm painting a garage. i KNOW all of you envy my exciting life. haha. until then.
It was 7:14a and I was jarred out of a nice morning sleep that would've lasted until at least 9 o'clock if the noises coming thru my ceiling hadn't disturbed me. "Noises" sounds mild compared to the tyrannosaurus-rex pounding and scrapings we were serenaded out of bed this morning with. It wasn't even light enough to see the roof, let alone steal my sleep!
Okay, okay. So my dad told me they were coming. But I forgot ... I called him at work and yelled, "The Amish are coming!!" He had no pity. At least tomorrow I won't have a problem being to my new job on time. Geez.
However, Amish men on top of your house is kind of interesting. Beards, suspenders and all. I'm trying to convince my mom that it would be utterly annoying to be stared at by us, but she just laughs. And my curiousity has perked up too... I've read about these so-called "simple" people and really I do just want to go out and talk to them. See their reactions to me (a worldly girl) -- see what they would tell me, how honest they would be about their lifestyle. It really is intriguing.
In two days they'll be gone. I hope they like the oatmeal-raisin cookies I'm going to bake for them. And then, we'll have slept a little less, gotten out of the house a little more (especially when the air hammer starts shooting), but have a nice roof job to boot.
:-) and, today, i'm painting a garage. i KNOW all of you envy my exciting life. haha. until then.
garage sales.
10.06.2007
so, tuesday this week, i talked my mom into a garage sale. (after it's all said and done, I'm avoiding being ALMOST sorry for being so convincing. I'm tired!) So, every day this week we worked our tails off trying to get ready for the big day. I found out today that when you have a garage sale you come across some interesting people!
Like:
- a little boy who walks up the driveway with his mom and yells, "HEY! Do you have any cars?!" (His mom explained apologetically that he was looking for Hot Wheels. I thought it was hilarious.)
- an old lady, with one eye closed, who wanted to buy a two-person outdoor glider chair and had no way to get it to her porch and the random, big-gut old guy in suspenders (putzing around, wasting time with his buddy, probably waiting for their wives at the hairdresser) who offered to drive it to her house for her.
- another old guy who sounded like 50 cents was ridiculous to pay for an 8-piece egg poacher set. (he bought it anyway.)
- five Amish women with three children and their "chauffeur" (i suppose because they aren't allowed to drive) who were so sweet and let my mom hold one of their SWEET baby girls while they 'shopped'.
- a girl (with her boyfriend) in a oversized marijuana t-shirt that read,
"God made weed.
Man made beer.
In God we trust."
(followed by the classic weed picture.)
oh, she bought a precious moments mug. haha.
- and, finally, last but not least (literally!), the skinny hippy old guy with long wiry hair and long dangly earrings and his girl who were SO excited to buy every last one of our jars of shells. shells, you might be interested to know, that were hand picked by us from black sand beaches in Hawaii. 25 cents a jar. they were thrilled.
"Oh! i make earrings outta these!"
More good times in the life of Lisa. Tune in soon for more next time.
Like:
- a little boy who walks up the driveway with his mom and yells, "HEY! Do you have any cars?!" (His mom explained apologetically that he was looking for Hot Wheels. I thought it was hilarious.)
- an old lady, with one eye closed, who wanted to buy a two-person outdoor glider chair and had no way to get it to her porch and the random, big-gut old guy in suspenders (putzing around, wasting time with his buddy, probably waiting for their wives at the hairdresser) who offered to drive it to her house for her.
- another old guy who sounded like 50 cents was ridiculous to pay for an 8-piece egg poacher set. (he bought it anyway.)
- five Amish women with three children and their "chauffeur" (i suppose because they aren't allowed to drive) who were so sweet and let my mom hold one of their SWEET baby girls while they 'shopped'.
- a girl (with her boyfriend) in a oversized marijuana t-shirt that read,
"God made weed.
Man made beer.
In God we trust."
(followed by the classic weed picture.)
oh, she bought a precious moments mug. haha.
- and, finally, last but not least (literally!), the skinny hippy old guy with long wiry hair and long dangly earrings and his girl who were SO excited to buy every last one of our jars of shells. shells, you might be interested to know, that were hand picked by us from black sand beaches in Hawaii. 25 cents a jar. they were thrilled.
"Oh! i make earrings outta these!"
More good times in the life of Lisa. Tune in soon for more next time.
white spots and asphyxiation
9.14.2007
painting, painting.
this is my life. (well, it's probably not true, but bear with me here) my parents are, sweetly, paying me to paint. today was the first day that i think i hated myself for agreeing. we got up, i ate cereal, then we sanded, vacuumed, and painted sticky white primer in our sun-room. for basically the rest of the day.
this room needed a change. it was dark and ugly and ... well, i was convinced and used my convincing powers towards change. positive change. except this change involved me. painting. a LOT. and breathing in so much nastiness that i thought i probably shouldn't take a nap because i was afraid of not waking up. well, not quite, but it was pretty bad. (even now the smells of fresh paint are wafting through from the other side of the house. ick.)
BUT!! i learned a valuable lesson that you all should know about. this ooey, gooey sticky white primer is nasty stuff. but not only that, my mom mentioned that it was hard to get off of her arms.
it didn't register. until ... i was finished with the priming job (my mom long gone at an interview), covered with tiny white spots from the paint roller and exhausted from sanding, cleaning and painting. i was "washing" out the brush and the little plastic pour spout in our stainless steel kitchen sink when i realized, "OH. it's oil-based." the paint was just swirling around in the water. and sticking to the bottom. and my fingers.
now, for all of you 1) artists, familiar with oil paints and 2) people smarter than i you probably wouldn't have don't that. but i did.
i knew this: oil paint and water don't mix. but, i didn't pay any attention. until it was too late.
so, i ended up scraping the sink out with my fingernails (which are no longer as nicely shaped as the Asian man at the mall made them). and i learned my lesson. hmm.
this is my life. (well, it's probably not true, but bear with me here) my parents are, sweetly, paying me to paint. today was the first day that i think i hated myself for agreeing. we got up, i ate cereal, then we sanded, vacuumed, and painted sticky white primer in our sun-room. for basically the rest of the day.
this room needed a change. it was dark and ugly and ... well, i was convinced and used my convincing powers towards change. positive change. except this change involved me. painting. a LOT. and breathing in so much nastiness that i thought i probably shouldn't take a nap because i was afraid of not waking up. well, not quite, but it was pretty bad. (even now the smells of fresh paint are wafting through from the other side of the house. ick.)
BUT!! i learned a valuable lesson that you all should know about. this ooey, gooey sticky white primer is nasty stuff. but not only that, my mom mentioned that it was hard to get off of her arms.
it didn't register. until ... i was finished with the priming job (my mom long gone at an interview), covered with tiny white spots from the paint roller and exhausted from sanding, cleaning and painting. i was "washing" out the brush and the little plastic pour spout in our stainless steel kitchen sink when i realized, "OH. it's oil-based." the paint was just swirling around in the water. and sticking to the bottom. and my fingers.
now, for all of you 1) artists, familiar with oil paints and 2) people smarter than i you probably wouldn't have don't that. but i did.
i knew this: oil paint and water don't mix. but, i didn't pay any attention. until it was too late.
so, i ended up scraping the sink out with my fingernails (which are no longer as nicely shaped as the Asian man at the mall made them). and i learned my lesson. hmm.
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