Accident Prone

It’s a week of accidents…so far.  My limbs are getting roughed up.  For some reason even with living normal life my body is taking a beating.

Sunday I was helping my roommate with making applesauce {super easy} and moved the pot with the metal handle.  Obviously I wasn’t thinking.  The burn on my right index finger at first didn’t seem that bad.  For the past 3 days I’ve walked around with a blister.  Although in the spirit of Halloween it looks like a wart…

Monday I decided to make one of my favorite feel good and fresh foods… brucchetta.  Its funny because I don’t like tomatoes, but somehow between the garlic and the basil I adore this appetizer.  As I was cutting the tomato, I sliced my left index finger.  It took awhile for the bleeding to stop.  I did a good job and I was using my brand new, extra sharp knife.

Tuesday was just a lack of sleep, although I was a little nervous to be in the kitchen.

And that brings us to today, where I had a series of binders fall on my foot.  I was minding my own business at work, hadn’t even touched anything when binders fell from the sky {or the top shelf}.

I’m learning that life is not safe.

I also have to let you in on a secret, even though I like the kitchen I don’t like dealing with heat, the stove, the oven, hot water…

And I also am very careful with knifes and usually keep my fingers at the very, very, end of the vegetable. 

What is a fears that you’ve been burned by {yes, that pun was intentional}?

Sick

It’s been an interesting past week. Tuesday night was the night that the last month and a half caught up with me. Yuck! I struggled through Wednesday at school and came home to sleep. And did no homework.  And then decided I needed to go to school on Thursday.  I’m glad I did…Yay extra credit!

I came home and slept some more and then made a cake for my bible study girls.  No worries, it wasn’t taxing just fun.  And I substituted ingredients that I had in excess.  Even though I told them it was an experiment and they didn’t have to eat it if they didn’t like it they told me it was delicious.  Thanks girls!

Friday and this weekend is just for laying low and having fun.  {Already made pancakes for breakfast and spent time reading}

Oh…and I'll be catching up on homework

Fall Retreat {Weekend Recap}

This last weekend I spent time with some awesome people at “fall Retreat.”  500 of us invaded a Marriot Hotel in Ventura, California.  Its craziness, but oh so much fun.  We had a wonderful speaker talking who did a great job of connecting with her audience.  I had the opportunity to talk with her one on one.  Yeah, we talked about other places in the world :)

Megan and I mid date

 

She is a globe trotter…4 continents in one week.  Impressed?  I was tempted to ask if I could go in her suitcase, or maybe I could be her personal assistant.  She just came in from Accra, Ghana.  We talked about the Frankfurt airport and how we really don’t like it.  We talked about people’s insensitivity to culture.  After our conversation I am convinced that I should be a trainer for groups that want to go abroad on cultural norms, dos and donts.  I shared in her horror as she recounted a recent cultural slip up that she witnessed.  Let’s be aware of other cultures people!

I got to hear parts of 3 amazing girl’s hearts.  I love first year of college students and the way that they have a blank page before them.  These girls have gone through so many things and yet I can see the ways in which they grow.

There was a crazy dance party on Saturday night.  The theme was Disneyland and there were some pretty creative costumes. Yay for dance parties!

I got to go on a lovely beach walk date with Miss Megan.  We’ve been meaning to steal some time away and it was so good to catch up on life.  Friend dates are a necessity of life.

That is just a flavor of this last weekend. 

Coffee Shop Time

The joy of the Lord has been so sweet this last week.  Yesterday was rainy and cold.  I was meeting up with a sweet girl and in our text conversation I asked her if we could cozy up at a coffee shop.  I got there a few minutes early to do some things on my own.  I love a warm beverage, the bible or a good book, and being wrapped up in a sweater.

The days of Italy came back to me.   I didn’t really take my bible and read it out in public when I was there, except for a few times.  It wasn’t because I didn’t want to talk about it, {which is a great conversation starter} but because my hands would get too cold while reading!

One of my favorite things to do was to make my own cappuccino in the apartment and curl up in a down blanket on my bed.  I would be in my grey wool knit sweater, and sweats with 2 pairs of socks covering my feet.  My room was always incredible cold.  I claim that that is the reason I spent so much time in the kitchen!

For a few minutes today I was transported back to Italy.

I love being in Slo, but I miss the places I’ve been.  I’ve left a piece of my heart in each place.  I hope that I will have the opportunity to go back, but for now I am content to enjoy my coffee and time in a little local coffee shop.

Music to My Ears

The sound of a language is music to my ears.

As I sat on the lawn studying for my class, 5 international students came and sat in a circle.  They grinned at one another, laughing.  And then the words started to flow.  They were softly spoken and only brash from the language, not in the harsh American English tone.   The French flowed from their mouths and the laughs ensued.  Also did the sharing.  One sandwich was produced, cut in half and it was passed around the circle.  The cigarettes came out and at first all I could do was smell the smoke.  And somehow it doesn’t bother me anymore.  It is a smell that though I would rather not smell it and though I do not want people to have the health effects, it is a part of the culture.  It is a way of life.

I wanted in on the conversation.  Every once in awhile a word would come wafting my way and I would understand.  That one word. 

It was hard not to stare, not to be interested.  But I also was timid.  I don’t know French.  I don’t know the culture.  I don’t know how to approach.  But I do know that I was offered a window into their life.  Just to be in the presence of a little difference was refreshing.

What is changing your outlook today?  What is making you feel refreshed?

Little Life Update

Has it really been since September that I have written? This blog has not been far from my head or my heart but life has moved along whether I wrote or not.

As you can see it’s a little different around here. My hope is that it will continue to change and develop. I’m not satisfied yet. This whole using someone else's template drives me crazy but I have no reason to complain since I’m not taking the time to learn html format right now. We’ll get there...someday...

Happenings, a little life update :)

My birthday has come and gone...and fall is coming and then decided it only wanted to pop its head in not stay for awhile. {It's been in the 90's this week.} Fall is my favorite time of year. It didn't used to be. I love that we can change our ideas.

I went simple for my birthday, taco bar with friends Saturday and then a nice dinner with roommates and the boyfriend on Sunday. And my family was able to be here for the weekend and so was one of my good friends. We had fun hanging out around San Luis Obispo and rushing through the grocery store. I love making unexpected memories. It’s the little things that make us laugh, isn't it?!

Mostly I’ve been being a good student and hopefully a good biblestudy leader. I stepped into a new role this year of leading girls the year below me in school. I love investing into their lives. I have the privilege to meet one on one or two on one with some of the girls. Those times are some of the highlights of my week. Oh and I’ve been working. Fall is a busy time of year when you work for a school. I’ve gone to more football games this season...although that wasn't very hard to do. {I’m lame, I know.} And I’m up-to-date on the Cal Poly soccer world as well since my bosses are into soccer. I love fall.

Senior year is all about going big or going home...right?!?

Really there haven’t been big things going on. And sometimes I feel like I need big things going on to write and make them important. I’ve been reading a sweet blog The Beetle Shack and she is showing me how the simple things are relevant and real. And she gives me a little international flair since she lives in Australia. {sigh}

Disclaimer: She does not know me, and did not compensate me for this.  I just think you should go visit her space!

I have a geography class this quarter and my test this week is on Europe...which we've been learning about the last 2.5 weeks. After our last class I was ready to book a flight and go on an adventure. Responsibility and knowing that I am where I am supposed to be has kept my feet firmly on the ground.

Expect to see some international talk and some more thoughts around here soon. {And maybe I'll get pictures up too}