Friday, January 30, 2009
Prayers Please
So the Devil has been doing his hardest to get our spirits down over here in Europe. There were 9 different groups of people going all over western Europe and of those 9, 5 (that we know of) had a really rough time making it from Paris to our final destinations. One airline ticket was somehow never booked for one guy, train ticket somehow “disappeared" and another had to be bought for one girl, surprise luggage regulations for us Dresdeners, and the two groups going to the UK have yet to be allowed entrance into UK because of new regulations through immigration. They had to return to Paris and have been there since Sunday. Both groups have handled the situation pretty well, but if things don’t work out, they will be reassigned. Pray for their hearts right now. I know they are probably getting very discouraged. Updates to come.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Paris, anyone?
Soooo.... I went to Paris for a week. Amazing. Beautiful. Can't describe how lucky I was to be there. My flight over was quite uneventful, thank goodness. I met 20 other people who are answering the call and coming to Europe to serve in Hands-On like me. Only 5 of those people (including me) will be in Germany. We all fell into step with one another through encouragement, joy, inside jokes, homesickness, jet lag.... you name it, and at least 5 of us felt the same way. God works in such amazing ways. We had an eventful trip from Paris to Dresden today, but I'll get to that in my next post. This one is for pictures. Enjoy! i miss mississippi a little :(
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Why do I follow these trends?
It's the night before I leave the country for 5 months, yet here I sit, wide awake. Since I won't be able to write in my blog while I'm spending my first week in Paris (well, not much of post, at least), I decided to follow the trend and fill out this survey. Can't help but admit it keeps my mind off things!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Went whitewater rafting!
2. Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions in '08, and have you made some for '09? I honestly have never been into the resolution for each year. Boring.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A few people, actually
4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank goodness, no.
5. What countries did you visit? The U.S. of A. unless you count Epcot countries..
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Organizational Skills
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? September 24th-the day I found out I'll be going to Germany & October 15th-the day I was accepted into med. school
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I think getting accepted into med school wins this one
9. What was your biggest failure? Not studying German as much as I should have
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not with these rock hard bones or killer WBCs
11. What was the best thing you bought? My new Macbook...ok ok, I didn't buy it, but I still got it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? With all the amazing friends I've been blessed with, I can't begin to describe each one and their amazing accomplishments!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The American majority who didn't educate themselves on the Presidential candidates and went in to vote blindly.
14. Where did most of your money go? um... J.Crew. And Borders. :)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The fact that I get to go live in Germany for 5 months, come home, relax a bit, and finally start the long trek to becoming what I've desired to be since 8th grade... Dr. Day.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Muse-Time is Running Out.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? happier b) thinner or fatter? I'm just going to say the same c) richer or poorer? I'm poorer, seeing as I no longer have a job :)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Traveling
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wasting away beautiful days outside
20. How did you spend Christmas? With the family+our new addition, Rebecca
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Hahahahahaha. seriously? hasn't happened yet.
22. What was your favorite TV program? The Office, Scrubs
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I ain't a hater.
24. What was the best book you read? Well, this was the year of books for me. I have to say Twilight (I know, I know) or Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Even though they've been around forever, I reallly started liking Muse.
26. What did you want and get? My beautiful little Macbook
27. What did you want and not get? um.. Rockband?
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Oh wow, I've forgotten all that I've seen. Probably, The Dark Knight.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 23 and I got to study for the MCAT. Yay! I had a delayed birthday party, if that counts.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not a thing.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Anything and everything J.Crew.
32. What kept you sane? Spending time talking at borders with Nikki or Amanda
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ooohwee. Christian Bale hands down.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Abortion and healthcare
35. Who did you miss? I missed my Grandaddy.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Like I'm falling for that. I met way too many awesome people to say.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. I've learned this over and over, but it stills remains: family and friends make this life here on earth the most amazing. Not the place, not the time, just the people.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "And wrinkles only go where the smiles have been.." Jimmy Buffet
Auf Wiedersehen!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Went whitewater rafting!
2. Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions in '08, and have you made some for '09? I honestly have never been into the resolution for each year. Boring.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A few people, actually
4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank goodness, no.
5. What countries did you visit? The U.S. of A. unless you count Epcot countries..
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Organizational Skills
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? September 24th-the day I found out I'll be going to Germany & October 15th-the day I was accepted into med. school
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I think getting accepted into med school wins this one
9. What was your biggest failure? Not studying German as much as I should have
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not with these rock hard bones or killer WBCs
11. What was the best thing you bought? My new Macbook...ok ok, I didn't buy it, but I still got it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? With all the amazing friends I've been blessed with, I can't begin to describe each one and their amazing accomplishments!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The American majority who didn't educate themselves on the Presidential candidates and went in to vote blindly.
14. Where did most of your money go? um... J.Crew. And Borders. :)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The fact that I get to go live in Germany for 5 months, come home, relax a bit, and finally start the long trek to becoming what I've desired to be since 8th grade... Dr. Day.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Muse-Time is Running Out.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? happier b) thinner or fatter? I'm just going to say the same c) richer or poorer? I'm poorer, seeing as I no longer have a job :)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Traveling
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wasting away beautiful days outside
20. How did you spend Christmas? With the family+our new addition, Rebecca
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Hahahahahaha. seriously? hasn't happened yet.
22. What was your favorite TV program? The Office, Scrubs
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I ain't a hater.
24. What was the best book you read? Well, this was the year of books for me. I have to say Twilight (I know, I know) or Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Even though they've been around forever, I reallly started liking Muse.
26. What did you want and get? My beautiful little Macbook
27. What did you want and not get? um.. Rockband?
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Oh wow, I've forgotten all that I've seen. Probably, The Dark Knight.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 23 and I got to study for the MCAT. Yay! I had a delayed birthday party, if that counts.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not a thing.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Anything and everything J.Crew.
32. What kept you sane? Spending time talking at borders with Nikki or Amanda
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ooohwee. Christian Bale hands down.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Abortion and healthcare
35. Who did you miss? I missed my Grandaddy.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Like I'm falling for that. I met way too many awesome people to say.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. I've learned this over and over, but it stills remains: family and friends make this life here on earth the most amazing. Not the place, not the time, just the people.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "And wrinkles only go where the smiles have been.." Jimmy Buffet
Auf Wiedersehen!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Calling of Matthew
As I was doing my daily Bible reading last night, I came across a verse that really spoke to me. I've read it numerous times, especially because doctors are talked about by Jesus :) Anyways, I thought I'd share the verse, and the few that lead up to it.
Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV)
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."
I bolded the section that really stood out to me. Here, Jesus is quoting the Old Testament--Hosea 6:6 to be exact. I've read those verses I've just quoted time and time again, but for some reason, last night, I actually grasped the statement "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." I always struggle to remember this. I've always paid attention to "For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners," which of course, is a VERY important lesson to remember. I just never paid close attention to the words before that quote. Interpret His words as you will. It's really cool to read the whole story behind Hosea 6:6.
German word:
helfen--to help
Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV)
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."
I bolded the section that really stood out to me. Here, Jesus is quoting the Old Testament--Hosea 6:6 to be exact. I've read those verses I've just quoted time and time again, but for some reason, last night, I actually grasped the statement "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." I always struggle to remember this. I've always paid attention to "For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners," which of course, is a VERY important lesson to remember. I just never paid close attention to the words before that quote. Interpret His words as you will. It's really cool to read the whole story behind Hosea 6:6.
German word:
helfen--to help
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Last Week
Well, here I am, about a week away from leaving for Germany. I cannot believe it!
I've been buying and organizing and making lists--checking all of them twice. I haven't really started packing yet. I'm hopping on that train tomorrow. It's hard to believe that I'll be living in another country for 5 whole months. I'm so utterly excited about it. Of course, I'm scared to death at the same time. I've never been away from my friends and family for that long. Ever. I know I can handle it.. and at times when I can't, I have God to lean on, as well as several other people who will know how I feel.
I hope to update my blog quite often while I'm over there. I'm sure none of the posts will be super long; I'll be focused more on posting pictures. I promise to be better at posting than I have been while IN the U.S. Oh, and by the way, German language is pretty dang hard. I hope I can find my 2 semesters of German class buried deep in my brain. Maybe they'll just surface once I'm there? Hope so. Anyways, off to clean my room and resurface 23 years of memories. I'm sure that'll make my leaving the country SO much easier (not).
German word:
grün--green (my favorite color!)
I've been buying and organizing and making lists--checking all of them twice. I haven't really started packing yet. I'm hopping on that train tomorrow. It's hard to believe that I'll be living in another country for 5 whole months. I'm so utterly excited about it. Of course, I'm scared to death at the same time. I've never been away from my friends and family for that long. Ever. I know I can handle it.. and at times when I can't, I have God to lean on, as well as several other people who will know how I feel.
I hope to update my blog quite often while I'm over there. I'm sure none of the posts will be super long; I'll be focused more on posting pictures. I promise to be better at posting than I have been while IN the U.S. Oh, and by the way, German language is pretty dang hard. I hope I can find my 2 semesters of German class buried deep in my brain. Maybe they'll just surface once I'm there? Hope so. Anyways, off to clean my room and resurface 23 years of memories. I'm sure that'll make my leaving the country SO much easier (not).
German word:
grün--green (my favorite color!)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Retail Detail
So, as I have not much interesting going on in my life at the moment, I thought I'd write about a few pointers, or suggestions, to remember when you're going shopping in a retail store. I've always tried to be somewhat conscious of the workers at stores, but being on the other side has shown me a thing or two. These are merely suggestions that would make a retail worker's day!
1. When trying on clothes, it would be so nice of you to hang up everything that you tried on (that is, if it came on a hanger) before leaving the fitting room--unless you plan on buying the item.
2. If you're looking at a stack of clothes that has recently been folded, it'd be real nice if you tried not to mess up the whole stack when you're looking for your size. I know that's not always possible; I'm just asking to make sure it doesn't look like a hurricane hit that pretty stack of clothes.
3. If you go into a store and have no intentions on buying anything, please don't try on 50 different items. It's such a tease!
4. If you see a worker helping out a customer, please don't interrupt him/her unless it's a last resort--especiallly when they seem overloaded, and it's a useless question such as asking about where another store is located.
5. If you see shirts folded in a unique way and you think you can refold it that way, be my guest. If not, don't fold it some obviously incorrect way and walk away, smirking. It's just going to look silly and have to be completely refolded anyway. You'll probably get the evil eye. I mean, did it actually look like the rest of the stack?
6. If you're trying to be one of those amazingly kind people who puts up their stuff after trying it on, it'd be even better if you put your size in the correct spot. If not, you can leave it to the fitting room attendant to put up, or leave it hanging in the area where the "clothes that didn't work" are located.
7. If someone is in the middle of a transaction at the register, please don't ask them to go do something. They can't just leave the register in the middle of things.
8. When you're asked who was helping you, do you best to name ANYONE who did. If you're asked this, commission is might be involved. If not commission, then the store is trying to keep up with how each associate is doing in sales. Either way, it's important. It's quite a pet peeve when someone helps a customer and then the customer says, "Oh, I helped myself." Yeah, I'm sure you magically opened up the jewelry case and got that necklace, woman.
9. Don't leave empty coffee cups or trash on a shelf in the store. You know good and well that the store is not a trash can.
10. If you knock something over, pretty please pick it up. Don't let it collect dust and footprints on the floor.
11. Don't be afraid to ask an associate for help. It's actually pretty fun when you can answer people's questions! And when you don't like something that was picked out, it's ok to say no. It helps him/her figure out what you're looking for!
12. Lastly, when you're really nice to the workers, it makes them want to help you even more. People who are rude might seem to get their way, but it puts everyone in a bad mood. Being cheerful makes things move along quicker, and everyone is better for it!
That's all I got for now. If I think of more, I'll add 'em.
German phrase:
Wie alt bist du?--How old are you?
1. When trying on clothes, it would be so nice of you to hang up everything that you tried on (that is, if it came on a hanger) before leaving the fitting room--unless you plan on buying the item.
2. If you're looking at a stack of clothes that has recently been folded, it'd be real nice if you tried not to mess up the whole stack when you're looking for your size. I know that's not always possible; I'm just asking to make sure it doesn't look like a hurricane hit that pretty stack of clothes.
3. If you go into a store and have no intentions on buying anything, please don't try on 50 different items. It's such a tease!
4. If you see a worker helping out a customer, please don't interrupt him/her unless it's a last resort--especiallly when they seem overloaded, and it's a useless question such as asking about where another store is located.
5. If you see shirts folded in a unique way and you think you can refold it that way, be my guest. If not, don't fold it some obviously incorrect way and walk away, smirking. It's just going to look silly and have to be completely refolded anyway. You'll probably get the evil eye. I mean, did it actually look like the rest of the stack?
6. If you're trying to be one of those amazingly kind people who puts up their stuff after trying it on, it'd be even better if you put your size in the correct spot. If not, you can leave it to the fitting room attendant to put up, or leave it hanging in the area where the "clothes that didn't work" are located.
7. If someone is in the middle of a transaction at the register, please don't ask them to go do something. They can't just leave the register in the middle of things.
8. When you're asked who was helping you, do you best to name ANYONE who did. If you're asked this, commission is might be involved. If not commission, then the store is trying to keep up with how each associate is doing in sales. Either way, it's important. It's quite a pet peeve when someone helps a customer and then the customer says, "Oh, I helped myself." Yeah, I'm sure you magically opened up the jewelry case and got that necklace, woman.
9. Don't leave empty coffee cups or trash on a shelf in the store. You know good and well that the store is not a trash can.
10. If you knock something over, pretty please pick it up. Don't let it collect dust and footprints on the floor.
11. Don't be afraid to ask an associate for help. It's actually pretty fun when you can answer people's questions! And when you don't like something that was picked out, it's ok to say no. It helps him/her figure out what you're looking for!
12. Lastly, when you're really nice to the workers, it makes them want to help you even more. People who are rude might seem to get their way, but it puts everyone in a bad mood. Being cheerful makes things move along quicker, and everyone is better for it!
That's all I got for now. If I think of more, I'll add 'em.
German phrase:
Wie alt bist du?--How old are you?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Back in the game
Wow, was my last post really at the end of November? I'm embarrassed. I am nothing short of a slacker. My apologies to all you "avid readers" a.k.a. "bored-out-of-your-mind-begging-for-something-to-do-at-work readers." You know who you are :) I'm glad to be back on the blog field. My fingers are a little rusty, but I doubt that will make much of a difference. My first post back will be to talk about the wonderful event that took place this weekend: My Kage's beautiful wedding. It's still hard to believe she's already had it. I mean, she's no longer just Katie Henry. She's Katie Zumo! Ah! All I have to say is... welcome to the end of the alphabet, Katie bug!
Well, for those of you who didn't go, you missed out on much. The church was absolutely gorgeous-- and the ceremony gave you plenty of time to admire it. The rehearsal began at 5:30 on Friday, but of course I arrived late, along with Harper Ferg a few minutes behind me. BUT it being Katie's wedding, we didn't stick out like a sore thumb at all. The rehearsal dinner was so laid back. I absolutely loved it. The only light in the whole room was candle light. So many people gave toasts to Luke, to Katie.. and to Katie AND Luke. It was truly an honor to hear the love each of them has given and received from all their friends and family.
The reception was my favorite part because I was finally able to see so many people that I hadn't seen in awhile, and even take a most obvious picture with a few of them. I mean, seriously, we blocked one of the walkways so that we could all get in a picture together. I love my life. It was worth it to all get together... I mean, who knew so many people from Heritage class of '03 were gonna make it to the big easy?? I think maybe a fourth of the class was there? (even if that's only out of about 50 people....)
Katie was such a beautiful bride, as was expected. She was all smiles as the Priest announced, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Luke Zumo! That's yet another close friend who I've watch make one of the happiest decisions of her life. Well, that's all I need to write about this. Congrats my Kage!
German word:
lau--lukewarm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)