Asia and Chocolate

Word of the day ...

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-21

(there is a reason for my lack of blogging ... I promise. It will all come out here in time ... :) )

Jetlag is kicking my butt ...

I always hated, HATED lock-ins as a teenager. They usually made me sick in some sort of way and I was terribly grouchy and I usually couldn't make it through the night.

That is what I feel like right now - it's 3 a.m. where I just came from and I am sitting at work wanting desperately to crawl into my bed. The thought of food makes me nauseous (I have NO appetite) and I'm cold and shivery.

I so wanted to post pics last night, but time slipped away from me. Once I had finished checking my e-mails, doing laundry and returning phone calls it was 1:30 a.m.

Sooo ... maybe tomorrow, after I sleep some more. Yawn ...

I made it!

So, I'm back in the land of Indonesia and it's been sooo good to see old friends. They are such a family to me.

When I arrived, though, I was told that my roommate (whom I am staying with) was having emergency surgery. AGH! We had all these plans and she's the director of the drama department and the play is today. Well, she will not be directing it now, but we're hoping to be able to take her to see it tonight. She is doing well and will hopefully be home tomorrow. Always be flexible, right? :)

Anyway, I am glad she is going to be OK ... hopefully she'll get to feeling better in a couple days and we can have some fun this weekend. There are other friends here for me to hang out with, but we're the closest from when I was here before.

OK, just wanted to give an update. I've got lots to do today and need to get ready for the play.

It's good to be back. :)

Ain't it pretty?

The other day I rounded the corner to turn on my street and I saw this ...

I just had to stop and take a picture. I love living out in the country where it is gorgeous!!

Waves, sand, rest ...

My vacation next week couldn't come at a better time. I feel like I'm holding on for dear life with all of the busyness lately. I can't wait to curl up on the beach with a book (or not) and just rest at the ocean. I look forward to lazy days, getting up late, running a few miles each day and just doing nothing else. It's going to be fabulous.

All 10 people in my family are heading out next Sunday morning to spend a week at Sea Grove Beach, Florida. Six days and counting.

To testify to my busyness ... take a look at my Google reader: I don't know if I'll ever have time to read all of those blogs. Maybe I should clear them out and start over? Or I'll just wait until next week and read them all on the beach. I know you'll be jealous. :)

hmmm

So, last week was crazy, busy and over-sensory with the layoffs and the marathon. This week has just been recovering from both the physical and mental shocks of last week.

Tomorrow is rest day. I'm sleeping in - hallelujah. Maybe I'll blog about something substantial after my resting is done.

Last weekend at the main street festival my friend and I saw the best invention: a picture frame with netting stapled inside and it's used to hang earrings. I'm so making one of those - instead of buying one for $60.

Went back to spin class this week and it's such a great stress reliever. I kind of quit spin for the month before the big run ... it's good to be back.

Saw Made of Honor tonight ... loved it!! Patrick Dempsey is sooo ...

the grieving process

Merriam-Webster put it like this: "grief: deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement"

Anyone who knows anything about pychology knows that whenever someone suffers a loss, they must go through a period of grieving. There are even stages of grieving.

It bugs me when some people gloss over the grieving process and pretend like something shocking and traumatic can happen and then minutes later you can pick up, smile and keep on going. "Let's be positive, OK?"

Kind of like the time when I lost a friend over a year ago and the day of his death, another friend told me to "get over it." Kind of like today.

thriller ...

What's a night in Berryville without some cosmic bowling? Tonight the whole crew went out to dinner and had some bowling fun, evidenced by the rad t-shirts Seth & I are wearing. Music selections included lots of Michael Jackson and Elvis. Good times.

My game was soooo off. I bowled a 76 and then 100. I miss wii bowling. :)

It's back home tomorrow and I'm ready for the weekend! Nothing much going on this weekend, other than going to run 8 miles on Saturday. Looking forward to that. I'm still enjoying my new shoes and nike+ system. Last weekend we did 11 miles, and I felt pretty good during and after. Bring on the half marathon - only two weeks to go!

Do what?!?!

I just realized that next year will be the 10th year reunion of my high school graduation. I can't be true.

packing ...

I have to wake up at 4 in the morning. WHAT?!?!?

Yep, I'm off to Michigan to play in the snow with 13 six grade girls. Just kidding - we're going to spend the weekend together learning about God and sharing life together. I'm going to lead a Disciple Now group at my former youth pastor's church.

I'm excited to be doing something different this weekend and getting to spend it with kids. I love kids. And I REALLY like sixth graders.

Speaking of kids, one of my best friend's had a baby girl on Monday. She's so cute and her name is Lila. Adorable. I can't wait to see her again when I get back. I get to be Aunt Laura!

I'd better pack - 4 is only 5.5 hours away! AGH!!!!!