Asia and Chocolate

it was a beautiful day ...

What a G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S day! It was around 70 degrees and sunny. It couldn't have been more fabulous. Growing up I didn't really appreciate the outdoors, but i couldn't hardly stay inside today. I went walking downtown with my friend Lara from Knoxville. It looked about like yesterday - everyone out enjoying the weather. I took some video of a dance class on the old courthouse steps. Just a taste ... HA! (I'm laughing at the redneckishness of this, all the while loving the fact that it happens in my hometown.)

Then I took advantage of the fact that I needed to do some cardio and I live in the middle of a beautiful retreat center. I walked back to the creekside and enjoyed the landscape and the wild animals. I saw deer and geese. I haven't appreciated the land as much as I should, but with my marathon training coming along, I'm planning on walking around here more and not going to the gym or park as much - at least with the weather getting nicer and the days getting longer. There's a ton of walking trails and roads behind my house - perfect for a morning walk in the spring, summer and fall. Then I jumped on the trampoline while listening to my ipod. It was nice to be disconnected from TV and the internet and phone for a few hours. I ended up laying on the trampoline watching the sun go down and the stars come out one at a time. The sky looked like a pale blue blanket and the twinkling stars were struggling to get through. I am so excited about the weather changing because I know there will be plenty more days like this to enjoy the wonderful beauty around us. It's like after the winter the soul longs for spring time.

It only means one thing...

Warm weather in Franklin only means one thing: lots of people out and about in downtown. Shopping, reading, eating, walking and socializing. I love where I live!

soft, cuddly food ...

Reasons why I kind of like winter:

1. Sweatshirts. Actually there's one in particular that has become a vital part of my casual wear in the winter. It's my navy UT hoodie. I'm secretly afraid that someday my friends will turn me in to What Not to Wear and I'll have to throw it away. I love it!

2. Coffee makes so much more sense. I drink coffee in the summer as well, but I sometimes feel stupid ordering a hot drink when it's 100+ degrees outside.

3. Fires. Not forest fires, silly, but in-the-fireplace fires. They are just so warm and cozy and smell like hugs.

4. Blankets. I have a thing for cuddly blankets and sleeping under lots of them. I bought a beautiful blue blanket in Indonesia and just HAD to bring it back with me, even though it took up about half of one of my suitcases. I left a lot of stuff behind for that blanket.

5. Hot chocolate. See title. Chocolate is one of the loves of my life, and liquid love is always good.

What do you love about winter?

glorious

This is what I missed when I was gone. I love where I live; I took this picture when I walked out of my house to go to work this morning ... God is so creative!

A lovely day ...

What a gorgeous day to be in Franklin ... and to be outside! This is what I missed while away: 75 degree, sunny days in the beautiful countryside of Williamson County. I mean, it's perfect outside. And I haven't felt 75 degrees in about two and a half years ... glorious!

The day started early with a 9 a.m. soccer game with my best friend's nephew Tristen. 4-year-olds playing soccer should probably be called "herd ball. "They just do whatever they want and maybe get the ball in the goal every now and then. One little boy kept putting his shirt over his head, and at one point yelled across to his parents, "is soccer over yet?!?!" I think he would rather be doing something else on his Saturday morning. But Tristen did very well and even though he got knocked in the face, he kept playing.

And then there was Jamie's yard sale. It was probably the best day of the year for a yard sale. I only got to stay for an hour, but they had a steady stream of people.

Then it was off to lunch at the Hill Center in Green Hills. My favorite (American) restaurant in Jakarta was California Pizza Kitchen. And they just put one in the new shopping center. So, my friend Kristy and I went there for a yummy salad and spring rolls ... delicious. And then on to visit Anthropologie. It was my first time to shop at an Anthropologie store. And let's just say I considered hiding in the back room and trying to live there. They have the best stuff! I splurged and bought a candle. But believe me, when all of my debt's paid off, I'll be a frequent consumer there.

And now I'm catching up on e-mails, watching the (slightly sad) UT vs. Florida game on TV. GO VOLS!

Love to you, my friends ...

Breaking News:

Indonesia’s Capital Shaken by Powerful Quake
Jakarta residents panic as buildings sway violently; no tsunami expected

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A powerful earthquake under the Java Sea shook Indonesia’s capital early Thursday, violently shaking tall buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.

There were no immediate reports of damage, and geophysicists said there was little risk of a tsunami.

The quake, which struck at 12:04 a.m. had a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 and was centered about 66 miles east of Jakarta at a depth of 180 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Continue reading here

I went with the flood relief program today and it was awesome. I'm working on a video/slide show, but I have to go to bed and I'm not quite done. Expect great things tomorrow!

'Nother flood update

Life is getting back to normal. Today was the first normal day back to school for me since the floods hit last week. Almost all of my students were there and we spent some time talking about everyone's experience. One of my fifth graders had to actually swim out of her neighborhood. Her parents and her two siblings waited too long to leave and they left without anything but the clothes they were wearing, not even shoes! They pushed the baby sister throuugh the muddy waters in an open minifridge. Several of my students said that a lot of stuff was ruined, uncluding beds, clothes, books, etc. Thankfully most of these people have a way to get new stuff. But so many people in the city lost their homes, everything.

So, over the next few weeks the students are going to be donating clothes, shoes and money to take into the most devestated areas. Each class (probably just high school) will take turns taking supplies into the areas. I'm looking forward to being able to help some people. I feel quite helpless at times because I have so much and am so blessed, but don't know how to help. I give money to the church, but I want to DO something. Anyway, it looks like we'll be able to all help in some way. I definitely have clothes I can give away.

Please pray that the rains hold back. We're still in the middle of rainy season, but pray that it doesn't get to the same levels it was last week.

Flood update #4 ...

Last night was the first night with no rain .. we're praying that the rains will continue to stay away and that the flood waters will go down. This picture is obviously from one of the worst-hit areas. And hopefully everything will be dry by the end of the week.

We are at school today, back up and running, although about half of the student body isn't able to get here. Each class has called the students that are missing from the class, and so far most people aren't here because the highway is flooded, not because their houses are flooded. That's good news!

Flood Part III

OK, so you're probably sick of this story, but we're going on day four of the flood (the worst in 10 years). Some places are still under water and the rain continues to come down. School's been canceled for the next two days. As fun as that sounds, it's not so much fun for those people who are holed up in the second floor of their homes. It's not fun for the people who've been evacuated from their homes or the people who have been stranded for days in their car (actually happened to a friend of mine). So, while I'm hanging out high and dry, please pray for the people of Jakarta that they can return to their homes soon, that life can get back to normal and that we can show the love of Christ to them. Some people from the church are headed out in boats tomorrow to give food, water and whatever help they can to the people most in need.

While others are stuck in their homes, or being evacuated, we haven't really had a problem around our house. I got to go out with friends last night, which was a great social time. I needed that. And while we were out we discovered a that a great American treasure is coming to Jakarta .... THE GAP!!!! The first ever in Jakarta. I couldn't be happier.