prayer ::

Somehow, even when I read Scripture with the intention of application, I still tend to be surprised when situations come up that test how well I’ve absorb what I’ve learned.

Case in point.

I was reading through the first few chapters of Nehemiah the other day. God calls Nehemiah to work to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. As opposition came to him, Nehemiah’s first response is prayer. Then his naysayers come to him numerous times and he stuck to what he knew he needed to do. So much of this is because of how he covered his life and work in prayer.

So often prayer is not my first response.

So today I ponder this: What does it look like for me to live a more prayerful life? One where my first response, not my last, is prayer? Where I pray before situations where I know I am weak, rather than relay on desperate prayers in the moment?

done .//

confession ::

I’ve been in the States a few weeks. There are certain thing that I missed over the last year and then got home and wasn’t in a huge hurry to indulge in (like Starbucks, I still haven’t had any). But, there are some things that I forgot how much I missed. Here’s a short list in no particular order…

• Tijuana Flats
• Chipoltle
• Moe’s  (I’m sensing a pattern…)
• Dr. Pepper
• Thrift Stores & clearance racks

I drove from Iowa to Florida this week. I feel like I’m finally recovering, it was a little rough…but, all things considered the trip went really well. We arrived almost exactly 24 hours after we left. 1500 miles in 24 hours…not too shabby!

Specken Dicken ::

Growing up we used to go to my grandparent’s house New Year’s Eve for Specken Dicken. I was pretty excited when I saw an article and corresponding video about it today. I couldn’t figure out how to embed the video. But here’s the link:
http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2718249

I found a recipe online. As a vegetarian, I’d hold the meat. But, can you even buy lard anymore??

SPECKEN DICKEN

1/2 c lard
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp anise extract (optional-may
also use anise seeds)
1 heaping tsp baking soda
4 c whole wheat or graham flour

Add enough sour milk or buttermilk to make thin as ordinary griddle cakes. Have ready slices of bacon or smoked small sausages fried or summer sausage. Drop pieces of each on cake when on the griddle and then turn when very brown.

hope for 2009 ::

A year ago today I was driving to Iowa for my last couple of weeks in the States before I headed off to South Africa. The weather was a lot like today, cold. And my driving skills in winter weather were a lot like they are today, not great.

But, today I’m already in the Hawkeye State. I spent the new year in Ankeny with family. We had dinner at Yanni’s and then a little James Bond action. 

I’m excited for 2009. 2009 will mark my 25th year (then, I suppose I’ll officially be in my mid-twenties…). 2009 means seven years since I graduated high school. This year my little brother will turn 20.

But more than all of that, this year I am hopeful. Hopeful that I will do a better job of standing on the God’s promises. Hopeful I will cling more to Him. Hopeful I will learn more of what it means to find joy and contentment in my Creator, rather than in people and things. Hopeful I will be able surrender and give up control, and allow God to write the story, rather than feeling like I can do better.

Let your unfailing love surround us,Lord, for our hope is in you alone. — Psalms 33:22

stuff, and lots of it ::

One of the things I really wanted to get done while I am home this time is organizing all of my stuff.

It seems like every time I move somewhere it starts out as temporary and then turns permanent. I intended on staying in Florida six months and that turned into nearly five years. Needless to say, with each move, more and more stuff gets put in my parent’s basement.

Over the last couple of days, I have been going through boxes. A lot of it was from my apartment in Florida, so I’d seen it fairly recently. But, tonight I hit the jackpot.

Notes and my journal from high school.

Enough said. I can’t believe it’s almost been seven years since I graduated.

Oh and I found a bunch of amazing photos. I’ve got to figure out this scanner….

done. //

quote of the day ::

“I hope if you ever have a son, you name him Vern. There should be more Verns in the world. I could teach him my profession-welding. Well, not really the welding part, just the burning part.” — My dad. 

These are things I miss out on while I’m half-way around the world…

I finally stepped foot into my parents house last night, it felt good to be home. I had 15 minutes to shower and get out of the house for Christmas Eve–that part wasn’t so great (especially when the ‘ole baby powder in the hair to hide the grease didn’t work out so well–but that’s another story…).

My dad grew up in a country church that my grandparents still attend when the can (they’re in a nursing home now) and it’s been family tradition for us to go their Christmas program on Christmas Eve for years. It was fun to be back–and as usual, I got the giggles. It’s probably good we walked in late and the rest of the family was on the other side of the church, our laughter was a little less contagious that way.

Today was fun too. I throughly enjoyed the after presents game of Cranium and my mom acting out “low rider”. My brother humming “somewhere over the rainbow” and Grandma Fluff impersonating Bill Clinton were also highlights. There’s more, but I don’t think anyone will find it quite as funny as I do. I will say Grandma Fluff is a force to be reckoned with in wii bowling (pictures to follow…).

I feel really blessed to be home for Christmas this year. It’s been amazing to spend the last week with friends and family. It’s nice knowing that this isn’t the usual quick trip and that today, when we left my grandma’s, it wasn’t goodbye, but see you later.

I’m anxious to get back to Africa, but for now, I’m really excited to be home.

welcome to minnesota ::

my 5 year old cousin, Luke, was taking photos of the lovely landscape on our drive yesterday. 

jealous?

good friends ::

only the best friends show up at the airport with signs…

 

I love it!

It’s been a week since I left South Africa. It’s gone by really fast. Primarily because I still haven’t spent more than a couple of nights in the same place. 

I’ve been in Orlando since Thursday. I’ve eaten at Tijuana Flats three times. Shopped at Ross. Worked a lot. Gone to Status. Worn a tacky Christmas sweater. Sang Christmas carols. Stayed on the correct side of the road driving. Hugged old friends. Gone line dancing. Played ultimate Cranium. 

It’s been good.