Tomorrow at this time I'll be on my way.
I can hardly contain my excitement! I still have piles of clothes in my room and I need to clean, pack and go through some stuff. About on schedule for me (a perpetual procrastinator). As long as I'm not up til 2am finishing stuff, I'll be ok.
And to welcome me back to the Midwest, and connect me with my roots, I'm going to a Twins - Yankees game. :-D
Now I'll get off the computer and down to the nitty-gritty.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
What a difference a day makes.
It's interesting how one little change can lead to many others. It seems that in updating the blog, changing the background and the 'about me' stuff on the side, I am inspired to write more. Maybe because I don't have the feeling of the dreaded 'catch-up'...or trying to fit into a mold that is plain old outdated and irrelevant to my current life.
Whatever the cause, I am thankful.
Since being back in the States, one of the hardest things for me has been how stranded I've felt. I really don't know how much of it is reverse culture shock, the waiting (and not quite knowing) part of transition, trying to get reacquainted with a life that has never really been mine (in VA), dealing with relational issues, and the list could go on...
In any case, I've kind of felt frozen. Relationships are so important to me, but since coming to the States it's like I've had no energy to put into them (outside of family and a few close friends). There are many people who I've been meaning to call. I just haven't had the energy. It seems like I've lived a lifetime, in some ways, in the last year and a half. If you are one those who have not heard from me in awhile, know that it's been a rough few months.
But I feel like I've just come up to the top of the hill, and I can see the other side. Maybe part of this is the anticipation of going to MN on Wednesday. I can't even begin to express how excited I am. I love my family, I do, but MN is filled with people who I love and who know me as an adult. It's community. I think that's what I've been lacking here. I came from a tight-knit community in Bosnia, to a place where the only people who know me are my family (although I've been involved in their church, and I'm so blessed by them!). But MN. That's another place of community. I can hardly wait! It's interesting how 'home' changes over time. My idea of 'home' is where I am connected to people. It's an interesting thing, growing up. Home isn't my parents' home. At the same time, home could be a great many places. I miss my homes. But I get to revisit one of those this week (for a month!).
I'm so ready for this.
And to pick up that phone and start making those calls I've been thinking about.
Whatever the cause, I am thankful.
Since being back in the States, one of the hardest things for me has been how stranded I've felt. I really don't know how much of it is reverse culture shock, the waiting (and not quite knowing) part of transition, trying to get reacquainted with a life that has never really been mine (in VA), dealing with relational issues, and the list could go on...
In any case, I've kind of felt frozen. Relationships are so important to me, but since coming to the States it's like I've had no energy to put into them (outside of family and a few close friends). There are many people who I've been meaning to call. I just haven't had the energy. It seems like I've lived a lifetime, in some ways, in the last year and a half. If you are one those who have not heard from me in awhile, know that it's been a rough few months.
But I feel like I've just come up to the top of the hill, and I can see the other side. Maybe part of this is the anticipation of going to MN on Wednesday. I can't even begin to express how excited I am. I love my family, I do, but MN is filled with people who I love and who know me as an adult. It's community. I think that's what I've been lacking here. I came from a tight-knit community in Bosnia, to a place where the only people who know me are my family (although I've been involved in their church, and I'm so blessed by them!). But MN. That's another place of community. I can hardly wait! It's interesting how 'home' changes over time. My idea of 'home' is where I am connected to people. It's an interesting thing, growing up. Home isn't my parents' home. At the same time, home could be a great many places. I miss my homes. But I get to revisit one of those this week (for a month!).
I'm so ready for this.
And to pick up that phone and start making those calls I've been thinking about.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Makeover
As you can see, the blog has a new look.
New look for a new season.
Sometimes change is just what is needed to motivate.
This change has been a long time coming. And it's not over yet. Stay tuned for more features and updates to come.
And Happy Fourth of July to all my fellow Americans! Enjoy the holiday weekend. I'm gonna spend all tomorrow with my sister. Whether you spend it with family, friends or both, enjoy time spent together. That's what life's all about.
Check ya on the other side of the weekend!
New look for a new season.
Sometimes change is just what is needed to motivate.
This change has been a long time coming. And it's not over yet. Stay tuned for more features and updates to come.
And Happy Fourth of July to all my fellow Americans! Enjoy the holiday weekend. I'm gonna spend all tomorrow with my sister. Whether you spend it with family, friends or both, enjoy time spent together. That's what life's all about.
Check ya on the other side of the weekend!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Where I'm at: In Waiting.
This is truly one of the hardest times of my life.
It's not that I haven't been through transition before. It actually seems like I'm in that place more often than not. But this time it's different. It's more difficult, and definitely more painful.
The cost of waiting, the cost of obedience, is higher than it's ever been. And my faith is being tested. My trust too.
Do I really believe that God is good? That His ways are best?
Well, as much as I'm struggling, I have to choose to believe this. Because I know it's true, no matter what I'm feeling at the moment--or for that matter, what I'm feeling during this season.
In the meantime, I'm writing ALOT of songs. Anguish, fear, disappointment and hurt are good fuel for creativity, let me tell you.
Bittersweet surrender. I think that sums up the season I'm in right now. Except, it seems a lot more bitter than sweet most days.
It's not that I haven't been through transition before. It actually seems like I'm in that place more often than not. But this time it's different. It's more difficult, and definitely more painful.
The cost of waiting, the cost of obedience, is higher than it's ever been. And my faith is being tested. My trust too.
Do I really believe that God is good? That His ways are best?
Well, as much as I'm struggling, I have to choose to believe this. Because I know it's true, no matter what I'm feeling at the moment--or for that matter, what I'm feeling during this season.
In the meantime, I'm writing ALOT of songs. Anguish, fear, disappointment and hurt are good fuel for creativity, let me tell you.
Bittersweet surrender. I think that sums up the season I'm in right now. Except, it seems a lot more bitter than sweet most days.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
"...the beautiful mystery: we have a God who chooses to need us. We have a God who doesn't want to change the world without us. We have a God who longs to cooperate with us, to allow us to fail and flounder and who promises to make up for our shortcomings, but nonetheless wants us. It's the story of our faith. Certainly nothing hinges on our own ingenuity or strength; quite the opposite--God works through weakness.
This is the great paradox and humor of God's audacious power: a stuttering prophet will be the voice of God, a barren old lady will become the mother of a nation, a shepherd boy will become their king, and a homeless baby will lead them home. God works not in spite of but through our frailty."
(Epilogue, Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers: Prayer for Ordinary Radicals)
Monday, April 6, 2009
Bihac
A couple years ago, they redid the center of town, and are still beautifying the town :-)
Here's a glimpse of the town, as it looks now (from my trip last week), for those of you who have been and haven't been back in awhile.
And here's Bihac (Bee-hotch), the town where I spent about 9 months a few years ago working with OM. It's in the northwest of Bosnia-Herzegovina, for those of you who aren't quite sure.
In any case, enjoy!
The center of town
Here's a glimpse of the town, as it looks now (from my trip last week), for those of you who have been and haven't been back in awhile.
And here's Bihac (Bee-hotch), the town where I spent about 9 months a few years ago working with OM. It's in the northwest of Bosnia-Herzegovina, for those of you who aren't quite sure.
In any case, enjoy!
The center of town
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