So, this was a funny little exercise. In order to make me aware of my surroundings and to give you a little peek into my life, I explored my 5 senses.
I taste: the brisk, delicious 23 flavors of Dr. Pepper. I was sitting here, watching TV and realized I needed a bottle. It wasn't just a "want," but rather a "need." I also maybe got dressed just for that occasion. I maybe put on shoes and walked to the corner deli just for a bottle of Dr. Pepper. THAT is a strong need.
I see: a mess. My room is in a state of disarray. There are empty bottles on my bookshelf. I didn't drink them all last night... they just never went into the recycling. I see books that have gone unread. I see a bunch of dust that has collected on the shelf and on the tv stand. I see dirt on the floor that needs to be swept. I empty picture frames waiting to be filled. I see the new cute blue flats that I bought last weekend that I haven't worn yet. I both a heater and a fan because the weather can't make up its mind. I see boots that I'm about to post for sale because I never wore them. I see a pillow without a pillowcase because I'm lazy.
I hear: the TV and traffic outside. The TV is playing season 6 of The West Wing. It's something I've been indulging on during my 'staycation.' It's all episodes that I've seen before, but it's still just as good as the first time.
I smell: nothing, really. there are no smells arousing my nasal cavities as the moment. I should start putting my Scentsy back on now that the windows will be closed more often, but I haven't yet. Actually, as I sat here, I turned on my Scentsy. Amazing.
I feel: cold. Cold. COLD. Time to turn the heat on. I feel my new slippers on my feet. They're so soft and warm. It's much warmer here in this apartment than my last apartment, though, so I shouldn't complain.
Friday, December 5, 2014
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Why Do You Have So Little Faith?
I have a sincere confession for you. Recently, I nearly lost my faith. In fact, there were days after days that I wanted to lose my faith, wanted to just walk away from the God I love, the calling I have, the peace and joy that faith brings and all that is within the realm of having faith. I didn't want anything to do with it and I didn't even want to think about it.
It mostly stemmed from my partner and I making the hardest choice so far in our lives, after we both felt God calling us to make a permanent move to New York. For over a year, we'd been living in separate states. Prior to my leaving for an internship, we were discussing marriage and family and growing old together. Then I came here for what was supposed to be a one-year commitment, an internship, a temporary gig. Because I was offered an amazing position that I couldn't give up, I stayed. God's hand was in all of it, that is undeniable.
In that decision, I know (and am still pained with it) I crushed our aforementioned dreams. I knew that I needed to commit at least 3 years to this position before I could really move on and look for work elsewhere (read: back in Michigan). However, I truly felt that it was God was telling me to do. Upon making that decision, Eaic and I decided we were going to wait until my initial year was up to determine our next move. That way, if I was unhappy in my position or in my location, we could change it easier. Or, in that time, he could consider the options more regarding his future and our future together.
In May and June, we debated our options. We fought, we cried, we distanced ourselves mentally... but in the end, I felt like I was called to stay and he came. He saved up for this move. He left his job, he left his friends, he left his apartment, he left his school, he left. And even though our distance was over, the struggles were just beginning. He got here and immediately began his search for work. A week passed. 2 weeks passed. 3 weeks passed. Countless applications and resumes were sent out and not even one called him back. 4 weeks passed. 5 weeks passed. Finally, something came along. It wasn't what he wanted, but it was a little bit of money. Then it got bad - the job didn't work out. After 8 weeks of living in Staten Island, we were officially broke. His savings were nearly depleted and we were seriously looking the option of him moving back to Michigan. All that for nothing.
Are you hearing me, God? Do you see what's happening? You asked me to stay. I stayed. You asked him to leave. He left. I was angry. I was angry at myself. I was angry at my partner. I was angry at the people who had open positions but didn't hire him. I was angry at the irony of having a position he might really enjoy, only knowing that I could not be his supervisor (professionally or personally). I was angry, mostly, at God.
It was at this point that I actually started scoffing at the idea of faith. I couldn't fathom a God that would taunt us like this. I couldn't fathom a loving God leading me and him back into our battles with depression. I couldn't believe in a faith that didn't show up in my timing, in my plans.
Just a little over two months ago, Eaic told me that if he didn't find something or have a lead on something, he would be going back to Michigan on Sunday or Monday (September 21st or 22nd). He couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't blame him.
I want to pause in my story to share with you what one of my coworkers shared with me.
Matthew 6:30 - If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Matthew 8:26 - He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Matthew 14:31 - Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 16:8 - Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?
Matthew 17:20 - He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
10 weeks later, Eaic has been employed for 9 weeks. It's a temporary job with a strong possibility of getting hired in. It's the highest wage he's ever made even as a temp. It's only about a 30 minute drive. It's good.
The mood in our apartment has completely changed. We go on dates. We have upgraded to cable television. We have
Things are looking up.
We celebrated Thanksgiving with bunch of friends.
We are celebrating our anniversary tomorrow (3 years! OMG!).
Christmas and New Years will be happy days spent together.
Oh, us of so little faith. Oh, we who doubted God's providence, God's grace and God's promise to prosper and not harm us. Oh, silly silly us. God is good.
I
wanted
out
It mostly stemmed from my partner and I making the hardest choice so far in our lives, after we both felt God calling us to make a permanent move to New York. For over a year, we'd been living in separate states. Prior to my leaving for an internship, we were discussing marriage and family and growing old together. Then I came here for what was supposed to be a one-year commitment, an internship, a temporary gig. Because I was offered an amazing position that I couldn't give up, I stayed. God's hand was in all of it, that is undeniable.
In that decision, I know (and am still pained with it) I crushed our aforementioned dreams. I knew that I needed to commit at least 3 years to this position before I could really move on and look for work elsewhere (read: back in Michigan). However, I truly felt that it was God was telling me to do. Upon making that decision, Eaic and I decided we were going to wait until my initial year was up to determine our next move. That way, if I was unhappy in my position or in my location, we could change it easier. Or, in that time, he could consider the options more regarding his future and our future together.
In May and June, we debated our options. We fought, we cried, we distanced ourselves mentally... but in the end, I felt like I was called to stay and he came. He saved up for this move. He left his job, he left his friends, he left his apartment, he left his school, he left. And even though our distance was over, the struggles were just beginning. He got here and immediately began his search for work. A week passed. 2 weeks passed. 3 weeks passed. Countless applications and resumes were sent out and not even one called him back. 4 weeks passed. 5 weeks passed. Finally, something came along. It wasn't what he wanted, but it was a little bit of money. Then it got bad - the job didn't work out. After 8 weeks of living in Staten Island, we were officially broke. His savings were nearly depleted and we were seriously looking the option of him moving back to Michigan. All that for nothing.
Are you hearing me, God? Do you see what's happening? You asked me to stay. I stayed. You asked him to leave. He left. I was angry. I was angry at myself. I was angry at my partner. I was angry at the people who had open positions but didn't hire him. I was angry at the irony of having a position he might really enjoy, only knowing that I could not be his supervisor (professionally or personally). I was angry, mostly, at God.
It was at this point that I actually started scoffing at the idea of faith. I couldn't fathom a God that would taunt us like this. I couldn't fathom a loving God leading me and him back into our battles with depression. I couldn't believe in a faith that didn't show up in my timing, in my plans.
Just a little over two months ago, Eaic told me that if he didn't find something or have a lead on something, he would be going back to Michigan on Sunday or Monday (September 21st or 22nd). He couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't blame him.
I want to pause in my story to share with you what one of my coworkers shared with me.
Matthew 6:30 - If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Matthew 8:26 - He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Matthew 14:31 - Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 16:8 - Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?
Matthew 17:20 - He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
10 weeks later, Eaic has been employed for 9 weeks. It's a temporary job with a strong possibility of getting hired in. It's the highest wage he's ever made even as a temp. It's only about a 30 minute drive. It's good.
The mood in our apartment has completely changed. We go on dates. We have upgraded to cable television. We have
Things are looking up.
We celebrated Thanksgiving with bunch of friends.
We are celebrating our anniversary tomorrow (3 years! OMG!).
Christmas and New Years will be happy days spent together.
Oh, us of so little faith. Oh, we who doubted God's providence, God's grace and God's promise to prosper and not harm us. Oh, silly silly us. God is good.
Monday, October 6, 2014
What Am I Afraid Of?
This is a loaded question. I am afraid of so many things I cannot even name. I suppose I'll start with the ones I can name... and see what comes to me?
1) The Dark. This is always the first one that comes to mind. Maybe it's my past experiences in the dark that cause this... maybe it's the scary movies I enjoy... maybe it's the noises that happen only when it's dark... I don't know. However, I hate hate hate hate hate being alone in the dark. I start to hear things. I start to see things.
2) Loneliness. This maybe coincides with #1. It could also be taken to have many deep meanings. I'm afraid of feeling loneliness, but not of being alone (in the light). I enjoy spending time alone and actually need it a little each day, but the feeling of wanting to be with people and not having anyone to be with is frightening to me.
3) God. Maybe it's cliché, but it's true.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Deuteronomy 10:12 - And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul...
4) Being broke. I was there. I was at the end of my financial rope, in the bottom of the pit and trying to dig my way out. I absolutely never ever ever want to be back there. I pulled myself out and I will continue to stay above that line. No matter what it takes. My budget sheet and plan has been flawless, as long as I stick to it. The problem of sticking to it is pretty much handled by the fear listed above.
1) The Dark. This is always the first one that comes to mind. Maybe it's my past experiences in the dark that cause this... maybe it's the scary movies I enjoy... maybe it's the noises that happen only when it's dark... I don't know. However, I hate hate hate hate hate being alone in the dark. I start to hear things. I start to see things.
2) Loneliness. This maybe coincides with #1. It could also be taken to have many deep meanings. I'm afraid of feeling loneliness, but not of being alone (in the light). I enjoy spending time alone and actually need it a little each day, but the feeling of wanting to be with people and not having anyone to be with is frightening to me.
3) God. Maybe it's cliché, but it's true.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Deuteronomy 10:12 - And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul...
4) Being broke. I was there. I was at the end of my financial rope, in the bottom of the pit and trying to dig my way out. I absolutely never ever ever want to be back there. I pulled myself out and I will continue to stay above that line. No matter what it takes. My budget sheet and plan has been flawless, as long as I stick to it. The problem of sticking to it is pretty much handled by the fear listed above.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Hunger Action Month - Day 7 - From the Scripture
Today, first let me say that anyone can feed the hungry. Your faith, your background, your gender, your sexual identity, your race, your age, your socioeconomic background... none of those things hinder you from being called to feed the hungry. It's not a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Jewish/Buddhist/etc problem. It's not an un/educated problem. It's not a male/female problem. It's not a gay/bisexual/transgender/straight problem. It's not a white/black/brown/yellow/green problem. It's not a young/old problem. It's not a poor/wealthy problem. This is a worldwide problem that we absolutely have the ability to transform and we are all a part of this world.
For me, my faith was the first thing to convict me to feed the hungry. I simply cannot call myself a Christian or claim to be a follower of Christ if I do not care for those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless or oppressed. That is my interpretation of my faith, my calling. So, from where do I make these conclusions? Scripture.
First, if I am made in the Lord's image, to do His will, I take special notice in the nature of God's character.
Psalm 146:6-8 - He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
There are demands for the care of those who are hungry in Proverbs. Proverbs 25:21 - If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
The prophet Isaiah gives us an example of fasting for the Lord.
Isaiah 58:6-7 - “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
And also gives the Lord's reply to such fasting: Isaiah 58:9b-11 - “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
And probably the most powerful scripture on hunger is when Jesus is sharing about the separation of sheep (those who knew Him) from goats (those whom He did not know). It pretty much speaks for itself, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus, is putting Himself into the flesh and likeness of those worth nothing to society.
Matthew 25:31-46 - “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
"whatever you did for the least of these..., you did for me."
#HungerActionMonth
For me, my faith was the first thing to convict me to feed the hungry. I simply cannot call myself a Christian or claim to be a follower of Christ if I do not care for those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless or oppressed. That is my interpretation of my faith, my calling. So, from where do I make these conclusions? Scripture.
First, if I am made in the Lord's image, to do His will, I take special notice in the nature of God's character.
Psalm 146:6-8 - He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
There are demands for the care of those who are hungry in Proverbs. Proverbs 25:21 - If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
The prophet Isaiah gives us an example of fasting for the Lord.
Isaiah 58:6-7 - “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
And also gives the Lord's reply to such fasting: Isaiah 58:9b-11 - “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
And probably the most powerful scripture on hunger is when Jesus is sharing about the separation of sheep (those who knew Him) from goats (those whom He did not know). It pretty much speaks for itself, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus, is putting Himself into the flesh and likeness of those worth nothing to society.
Matthew 25:31-46 - “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
"whatever you did for the least of these..., you did for me."
#HungerActionMonth
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Hunger Action Month - Days 4, 5, 6 - Working Together
#HungerActionMonth - I missed a couple days, so I want to post about three organizations I believe are fighting the good fight against hunger. All of these programs supply food for food pantries and soup kitchens.
Feeding America - feedingamerica.org - This is a national organization with foodbanks in almost all metropolitan areas including both NYC and Grand Rapids, MI. It provides low-cost or free goods to participating soup kitchens and food pantries.
City Harvest - c...ityharvest.org - This is a local NYC organization that collects 50 million pounds annually of produce and good food from restaurants, grocers, farms, and manufacturers, which would otherwise go to waste. They provide us with everything from carrots and frozen pizzas to coffee creamer and pretzels, all for free.
Rock and Wrap It Up - rockandwrapitup.org - This is also a local NYC organization. It collects leftover food from concerts, shows, movie and television productions and more, and then redistributes to soup kitchens for use in their programs. We've received trays of food from productions like Law and Order:SVU, Gotham, Boardwalk Empire and several movies - all for free and all delicious, catered food.
So, for many of us, yesterday was payday? Want an easy way to participate in #HungerActionMonth? Go to one of the above websites and throw in $10. It's not much, no, but it probably won't hurt your budget much and for these organization, $10 can go a long way. City Harvest even claims to be able to provide 40 New Yorkers with food for only $10. Hot diggity dog, that's $0.40/person. Not a bad deal, right?
Feeding America - feedingamerica.org - This is a national organization with foodbanks in almost all metropolitan areas including both NYC and Grand Rapids, MI. It provides low-cost or free goods to participating soup kitchens and food pantries.
City Harvest - c...ityharvest.org - This is a local NYC organization that collects 50 million pounds annually of produce and good food from restaurants, grocers, farms, and manufacturers, which would otherwise go to waste. They provide us with everything from carrots and frozen pizzas to coffee creamer and pretzels, all for free.
Rock and Wrap It Up - rockandwrapitup.org - This is also a local NYC organization. It collects leftover food from concerts, shows, movie and television productions and more, and then redistributes to soup kitchens for use in their programs. We've received trays of food from productions like Law and Order:SVU, Gotham, Boardwalk Empire and several movies - all for free and all delicious, catered food.
So, for many of us, yesterday was payday? Want an easy way to participate in #HungerActionMonth? Go to one of the above websites and throw in $10. It's not much, no, but it probably won't hurt your budget much and for these organization, $10 can go a long way. City Harvest even claims to be able to provide 40 New Yorkers with food for only $10. Hot diggity dog, that's $0.40/person. Not a bad deal, right?
Hunger Action Month - Day 3 - Serving
I have to admit something to all of you: my favorite part of living with my partner is that I get to cook for him. Tonight's menu is turkey burgers, corn on the cob, and crispy potatoes. So good. I can't wait to serve it to him when he gets home.
What about you? Do you like cooking? Do you like serving people in larger groups? Our program serves groups of 15, 30, 50 and 150... all through the skill and will of volunteers. If you like to cook, chop vegetables, serve oth...ers, even clean up, consider spending a few hours at your local soup kitchen. Even the smallest of towns has at least one - it may be a prayer breakfast for teens, an afterschool dinner program for kids, once week at a local church or a full on meal served at noon every single day. Give a few hours a day, a week, a month... it will make a difference and you'll be participating in #HungerActionMonth
What about you? Do you like cooking? Do you like serving people in larger groups? Our program serves groups of 15, 30, 50 and 150... all through the skill and will of volunteers. If you like to cook, chop vegetables, serve oth...ers, even clean up, consider spending a few hours at your local soup kitchen. Even the smallest of towns has at least one - it may be a prayer breakfast for teens, an afterschool dinner program for kids, once week at a local church or a full on meal served at noon every single day. Give a few hours a day, a week, a month... it will make a difference and you'll be participating in #HungerActionMonth
Hunger Action Month - Day 2 - Clean Out Your Freezer
Did you know that food pantries, while preferring non-perishables, will also accept frozen foods? Many have at least one freezer and at least one fridge available for food. So, take a look at your freezer. Check out the content - please don't donate if it's freezer burned. But do you really need 10 packages of frozen spinach when you haven't cooked even 1 since February? I'm going to guess that answer is "no." It was just on a good sale and you w...ere TRYING to eat healthy. I get it. However, someone else may really benefit from it. It's not trash, it's just allowing food to get used instead of buried by ice build-up.
Or remember those soups that kids sold as a fundraiser? Yeah, CHAOS kids sold them every year. And you bought them every year because golly gee, they looked and sounded delicious on paper. And then they arrived and you were never really in the mood for soup. Guess what? Those soups are great meals for our homeless populations living in hotels or on the streets. They can be heated in a microwave without many utensils (can opener, pot/pan, etc)! I know that if our pantry got a huge donation of them, our clients would be ecstatic!
Clean out your freezer today and participate in #HungerActionMonth.
Or remember those soups that kids sold as a fundraiser? Yeah, CHAOS kids sold them every year. And you bought them every year because golly gee, they looked and sounded delicious on paper. And then they arrived and you were never really in the mood for soup. Guess what? Those soups are great meals for our homeless populations living in hotels or on the streets. They can be heated in a microwave without many utensils (can opener, pot/pan, etc)! I know that if our pantry got a huge donation of them, our clients would be ecstatic!
Clean out your freezer today and participate in #HungerActionMonth.
Hunger Action Month - Day 1
For the next month, I have committed to posting on Facebook about Hunger Action Month. I want to also share these posts here for those who may not have Facebook or may have missed the posts. I have some catching up to do, so I hope you won't mind multiple posts in one day, but here you go!
September is Hunger Action Month. Each day this month, I'm going to post about hunger and issues surrounding it. Not only because it's my current career, but also because it's a basic human right to have access to food.
Today, I ate. I had cereal for breakfast. Not a name brand, but similar to honey nut cheerios and cold milk. I had Doritos topped with shredded mozzarella cheese melted in the microwave. My boyfriend and I went out for froyo. We made a delicious dinner ...of marinated chicken breast and carmelized broccoli.
Every day, my program feeds people who simply don't have access to anything I ate today. We only give out UHT milk (shelf-stable), never chips, never cheese, never chicken breast (unless donated) and broccoli? Yeah right. Forget the marinades, the oils, the salt... and in a city in which 1.4 million people RELY on food pantries and soup kitchens, i cannot imagine not having access to the food I ate today. Can you?
Can I challenge you? Take a look at your pantries. Think about something you think would be a treat for people in hard times - oil, flour, seasonings, frozen meats, minute rice, good cold and hot cereals, etc. Next time you purchase it, purchase an extra to donate to your local food pantry. It could be something as simple as a head of broccoli, but it could make someone's day.
September is Hunger Action Month. Each day this month, I'm going to post about hunger and issues surrounding it. Not only because it's my current career, but also because it's a basic human right to have access to food.
Today, I ate. I had cereal for breakfast. Not a name brand, but similar to honey nut cheerios and cold milk. I had Doritos topped with shredded mozzarella cheese melted in the microwave. My boyfriend and I went out for froyo. We made a delicious dinner ...of marinated chicken breast and carmelized broccoli.
Every day, my program feeds people who simply don't have access to anything I ate today. We only give out UHT milk (shelf-stable), never chips, never cheese, never chicken breast (unless donated) and broccoli? Yeah right. Forget the marinades, the oils, the salt... and in a city in which 1.4 million people RELY on food pantries and soup kitchens, i cannot imagine not having access to the food I ate today. Can you?
Can I challenge you? Take a look at your pantries. Think about something you think would be a treat for people in hard times - oil, flour, seasonings, frozen meats, minute rice, good cold and hot cereals, etc. Next time you purchase it, purchase an extra to donate to your local food pantry. It could be something as simple as a head of broccoli, but it could make someone's day.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Why Do I Blog?
I haven't really updated this thing with any regularity. I would apologize, although I feel as though I don't really need to do so. It's random and it's scattered. It's not that I've lost interest, I just haven't been using my spare time to do anything productive, like blogging. It comes down to Words With Friends or Blog? Or it comes down to Netflix or Blog?
Lately it's been - ugh. I've been running around all day for work, so when I get home, the last thing I want to do is be productive. Honestly, I haven't even called my mother in like, a week. That's huge since I used to talk to her at LEAST every other day.
What's new, you ask? Well, how about everything?
I moved on July 1st. My boyfriend, the love of my life, moved from Michigan to NYC to be with me and not only did the distance end... the horrible 800 miles that separated us for over a year... but we did something crazy: we decided to live together. (I'll blog about that at another time).
I started a second job. It's a part-time position within Project Hospitality (the agency for which I already hold a position) working in a shelter. Every Saturday and Sunday, I somehow manage to pull myself out of bed at 6a in order to clock in at 7a for an 8 hour shift of site babysitting and story-making. It's not a bad job (actually, it's really simple), but it helps to pay some bills until E finds himself a job.
Tinka is here. I forgot what it's like to try to roll over in bed with a cat on my feet. Or to wear my favorite black shirt or skirt or pants or dress with cat hair decorations. Or to walk to the kitchen for a glass of water and step in puke. I also forgot how nice it was just to lay on the couch with her watching TV on my lap with me... or the feeling of coming home to someone if no human is home.
We have a bathtub, a real kitchen with counters, a living room with windows and a bedroom with two closets. We pretty much live in a palace. Pad status = increased 10 fold. Windows - these are probably my favorite parts of the new place. They lead to fresh air, to breezes, to smells of summer... they are where I most often find Tinka perched and from where I can watch the people of our block like a creeper. So good.
E is unemployed. This. This has been the hardest part of all of this. We, hopefully, will be so much happier and healthier when this phase of our relationship is over. We're not really in a horrible place, there's just much depression, much anger, much stress, much worry, much negativity surrounding it. I cannot wait for this period of waiting and hoping to be fruitful. God is providing and God will provide, but there have definitely been moments where I wondered if we hadn't made the wrong decisions in all of this because there has been little blessing on that front. (again, I'll blog about this at another time, I think).
However, despite all the news and things that kept me away, I'm back. Every Sunday at the shelter, I work the downstairs office, which is composed of a camera monitor system, a phone and a computer from 1782 that runs slower than molasses in winter. This is a good thing in one way - instead of checking Facebook or browsing Amazon (both of which take forever to load), I can update my blog so that we are not so disconnected. I won't be in this position forever, but until E is able to find a full-time, permanent position and brings home enough paychecks to set him at even for saving, I'm here. I look forward to talking to you every Sunday. It could be like fellowship hour, minus the cookies and weak, decaffeinated coffee.
Lately it's been - ugh. I've been running around all day for work, so when I get home, the last thing I want to do is be productive. Honestly, I haven't even called my mother in like, a week. That's huge since I used to talk to her at LEAST every other day.
What's new, you ask? Well, how about everything?
I moved on July 1st. My boyfriend, the love of my life, moved from Michigan to NYC to be with me and not only did the distance end... the horrible 800 miles that separated us for over a year... but we did something crazy: we decided to live together. (I'll blog about that at another time).
I started a second job. It's a part-time position within Project Hospitality (the agency for which I already hold a position) working in a shelter. Every Saturday and Sunday, I somehow manage to pull myself out of bed at 6a in order to clock in at 7a for an 8 hour shift of site babysitting and story-making. It's not a bad job (actually, it's really simple), but it helps to pay some bills until E finds himself a job.
Tinka is here. I forgot what it's like to try to roll over in bed with a cat on my feet. Or to wear my favorite black shirt or skirt or pants or dress with cat hair decorations. Or to walk to the kitchen for a glass of water and step in puke. I also forgot how nice it was just to lay on the couch with her watching TV on my lap with me... or the feeling of coming home to someone if no human is home.
We have a bathtub, a real kitchen with counters, a living room with windows and a bedroom with two closets. We pretty much live in a palace. Pad status = increased 10 fold. Windows - these are probably my favorite parts of the new place. They lead to fresh air, to breezes, to smells of summer... they are where I most often find Tinka perched and from where I can watch the people of our block like a creeper. So good.
E is unemployed. This. This has been the hardest part of all of this. We, hopefully, will be so much happier and healthier when this phase of our relationship is over. We're not really in a horrible place, there's just much depression, much anger, much stress, much worry, much negativity surrounding it. I cannot wait for this period of waiting and hoping to be fruitful. God is providing and God will provide, but there have definitely been moments where I wondered if we hadn't made the wrong decisions in all of this because there has been little blessing on that front. (again, I'll blog about this at another time, I think).
However, despite all the news and things that kept me away, I'm back. Every Sunday at the shelter, I work the downstairs office, which is composed of a camera monitor system, a phone and a computer from 1782 that runs slower than molasses in winter. This is a good thing in one way - instead of checking Facebook or browsing Amazon (both of which take forever to load), I can update my blog so that we are not so disconnected. I won't be in this position forever, but until E is able to find a full-time, permanent position and brings home enough paychecks to set him at even for saving, I'm here. I look forward to talking to you every Sunday. It could be like fellowship hour, minus the cookies and weak, decaffeinated coffee.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
My Dream Job
Many people always ask about my work. It's hard to understand what I do from a business world. Shoot, it's hard to understand what I do when I ask myself to describe my job. However, is it my dream job?
No. It's close, but it isn't it. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my work and the things that I am doing. It has been a job that truly uses my strengths (and my weaknesses) and brings me back day after day with a feeling of accomplishment.
So, what is my dream job? Well, I have this dream of living along the border of the US and Mexico. I would love to find an abandoned church and turn it into a haven. My family and I would occupy some of the space as our home. Also in the building would be a few apartments for families currently working through issues along the border. Whether they've been split up or they're working with immigration or they're looking to find someone, it would be a safe place for them to rest for some time. Another section of the building would be filled with community resources. Legal, English classes, medical support, job training, etc. The possibilities are endless.
I have this dream. I am convinced that even with this job, I am becoming more and more prepared to fulfill this dream.
What are your dreams? How are you on your way to accomplishing them?
No. It's close, but it isn't it. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my work and the things that I am doing. It has been a job that truly uses my strengths (and my weaknesses) and brings me back day after day with a feeling of accomplishment.
So, what is my dream job? Well, I have this dream of living along the border of the US and Mexico. I would love to find an abandoned church and turn it into a haven. My family and I would occupy some of the space as our home. Also in the building would be a few apartments for families currently working through issues along the border. Whether they've been split up or they're working with immigration or they're looking to find someone, it would be a safe place for them to rest for some time. Another section of the building would be filled with community resources. Legal, English classes, medical support, job training, etc. The possibilities are endless.
I have this dream. I am convinced that even with this job, I am becoming more and more prepared to fulfill this dream.
What are your dreams? How are you on your way to accomplishing them?
Friday, July 4, 2014
Difficult Days
"Mama said there'd be days like this... there'd be days like this, my mama said..."
There have been so many different difficult moments in the last few weeks, it's hard to really write about them.
In the past 6 months, here's what has happened:
My friend, Monica, passed away after complications prior to a medical procedure.
I flew out of Grand Rapids and back to NYC without my love... several times.
My first pastor at Home Acres, Pastor Rich Baukema, passed away.
Eaic came and then left again... and then came here and then left again.
One of the dear elders at Home Acres, Pete Slabbekoorn, passed away.
There were several days without heat or hot water in my old apartment.
I fell and got a third degree sprain in my ankle/feet.
My car broke down.
I have had flight nightmare after flight nightmare.
There were bad days when I had no idea what my future really looked like and who would be in it.
There were fights at the food pantry.
There were things that I wish I didn't have to do, but come with my role as program director and supervisor of staff.
There were days when I went home and just plain crashed from the emotional stress, the physical stress and the mental stress at work and in the apartment.
I'm still here.
It's nice to have sat here in my vacation time (filled with moving and other stresses) and still reflect on the fact that life, while it has given me some difficult days, is really pretty good. God is good and He has really continued to bless me. Those difficult days are just those: only days. They pass and the next day gets a little better.
So, next time you're having a difficult moment, day or even week - remember it will get better. The difficulties won't last forever. Scream, cry and even kick a little bit. Be angry. Be sad. But trust - it will end. I promise.
There have been so many different difficult moments in the last few weeks, it's hard to really write about them.
In the past 6 months, here's what has happened:
My friend, Monica, passed away after complications prior to a medical procedure.
I flew out of Grand Rapids and back to NYC without my love... several times.
My first pastor at Home Acres, Pastor Rich Baukema, passed away.
Eaic came and then left again... and then came here and then left again.
One of the dear elders at Home Acres, Pete Slabbekoorn, passed away.
There were several days without heat or hot water in my old apartment.
I fell and got a third degree sprain in my ankle/feet.
My car broke down.
I have had flight nightmare after flight nightmare.
There were bad days when I had no idea what my future really looked like and who would be in it.
There were fights at the food pantry.
There were things that I wish I didn't have to do, but come with my role as program director and supervisor of staff.
There were days when I went home and just plain crashed from the emotional stress, the physical stress and the mental stress at work and in the apartment.
I'm still here.
It's nice to have sat here in my vacation time (filled with moving and other stresses) and still reflect on the fact that life, while it has given me some difficult days, is really pretty good. God is good and He has really continued to bless me. Those difficult days are just those: only days. They pass and the next day gets a little better.
So, next time you're having a difficult moment, day or even week - remember it will get better. The difficulties won't last forever. Scream, cry and even kick a little bit. Be angry. Be sad. But trust - it will end. I promise.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
My Favorite Recipe
When I started this list of blogging topics, it intrigued me because there were things on it that I probably wouldn't otherwise share. This is one of them.
My favorite recipe isn't one that would surprise many people. It's for Hungarian Fruit Soup (Gyumolcs leves). It was the first Hungarian food I fell in love with and the one I keep recreating for friends and potlucks.
The following recipe has been taken from here. It doesn't make very much, so I find myself doubling, tripling or even quadrupling depending on the event. This recipe makes 6 servings.
My favorite recipe isn't one that would surprise many people. It's for Hungarian Fruit Soup (Gyumolcs leves). It was the first Hungarian food I fell in love with and the one I keep recreating for friends and potlucks.
The following recipe has been taken from here. It doesn't make very much, so I find myself doubling, tripling or even quadrupling depending on the event. This recipe makes 6 servings.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 6 cups water
- 1 pound fresh sour cherries, pitted
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
Preparation:
- In a large saucepan, cook cherries with water and 3/4 cup sugar until done, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix sour cream with flour, salt and confectioners' sugar until smooth.
- When cherries are done, temper the sour cream mixture with a few ladles of hot cherry liquid, whisking
until smooth. Transfer to the pan with the cherries and whisk until
smooth. Simmer 5 minutes, but do not boil.
- Cool to room temperature in an ice water bath. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the soup (so a skin doesn't form) and refrigerate until cold. Serve cold as a first course as they do in Hungary or as a dessert with a dollop of sour cream or whipped cream.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
My Top 10 Foods (aka ways to my heart)
1) Cheese - Ooohhh weee, I love cheese. I like cheese slices, cheese sticks, cheese balls, cheese dips, grated cheese, chunks of cheese, shredded cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, American cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Pepperjack cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, Provolone cheese... I love cheese.
2) Chocolate - Ooohhh weee, I love chocolate. Just like cheese, I like it in every form and every flavor. Honestly, my favorite are cordial cherries (but not the cheap dollar store ones). My other favorites are peanut butter cups and twix.
3) Macaroni and Cheese - OMG. I love macaroni and cheese. I can eat it plain. I can eat it with things mixed in (like chicken, spinach, kale, tomatoes, ground turkey, anything...) It's my favorite go-to meal. Honestly, with the right variety in mix-ins, I could probably eat this for lunch or dinner every day.
4) Spinach - Fresh or cooked, This is my go-to green. I love it on sandwiches and as a salad. I love it as a dip. I love to sautee it and mix it in with risotto. Not only is it delicious, it's healthy!
5) Olives - I was first introduced to olives as hors dourves at my mom's family gatherings. Green olives were always served next to little pickles before dinner. Back when I was a vegetarian, I wanted something besides cheese on my pizza... so instead of mushrooms, I started ordering black olives. Mind. Blown. It pretty much changed my world. Here are two new options if you're looking to try olives on your pizza: sausage and black olives, and pepperoni and green olives. You'll thank me later. I promise.
6) Fruity beer - Okay, so just as a disclaimer: beer is for those who are 21 years and older. Also, it should only be enjoyed in moderation, please. With that being said, I occasionally enjoy fruity beer: lemon shandy, cherry wheat, etc. So good.
7) Good red wine or sparkling red wine - Another beverage for the older crowd, but this is a favorite as well. I first fell in love with red wine in Hungary. They have excellent wine in Hungary that most of the world doesn't know about. Upon returning to the US, it has been my favorite treat.
8) Chicken - Chicken chicken chicken: the staple of most of my meals. In fact, I'm eating chicken pizza right now. However, because I cook with it so often, I rarely order it when I eat out. But I could eat fried chicken, baked chicken, crockpot chicken, canned chicken, chicken salad, chicken chicken chicken.. om nom nom.
9) Pizza - PIZZAAAAA!!! I srsly could eat pizza everyday. Every. Day. I am eating pizza right now!
10) Deviled eggs - more chicken! Of course, this is a much different form. I can never eat enough of these at every potluck. Sometimes I take a few more than my fair share and I feel so guilty! I love them so much, though, and I never just make them for myself. That would indeed be a bad idea.
2) Chocolate - Ooohhh weee, I love chocolate. Just like cheese, I like it in every form and every flavor. Honestly, my favorite are cordial cherries (but not the cheap dollar store ones). My other favorites are peanut butter cups and twix.
3) Macaroni and Cheese - OMG. I love macaroni and cheese. I can eat it plain. I can eat it with things mixed in (like chicken, spinach, kale, tomatoes, ground turkey, anything...) It's my favorite go-to meal. Honestly, with the right variety in mix-ins, I could probably eat this for lunch or dinner every day.
4) Spinach - Fresh or cooked, This is my go-to green. I love it on sandwiches and as a salad. I love it as a dip. I love to sautee it and mix it in with risotto. Not only is it delicious, it's healthy!
5) Olives - I was first introduced to olives as hors dourves at my mom's family gatherings. Green olives were always served next to little pickles before dinner. Back when I was a vegetarian, I wanted something besides cheese on my pizza... so instead of mushrooms, I started ordering black olives. Mind. Blown. It pretty much changed my world. Here are two new options if you're looking to try olives on your pizza: sausage and black olives, and pepperoni and green olives. You'll thank me later. I promise.
6) Fruity beer - Okay, so just as a disclaimer: beer is for those who are 21 years and older. Also, it should only be enjoyed in moderation, please. With that being said, I occasionally enjoy fruity beer: lemon shandy, cherry wheat, etc. So good.
7) Good red wine or sparkling red wine - Another beverage for the older crowd, but this is a favorite as well. I first fell in love with red wine in Hungary. They have excellent wine in Hungary that most of the world doesn't know about. Upon returning to the US, it has been my favorite treat.
8) Chicken - Chicken chicken chicken: the staple of most of my meals. In fact, I'm eating chicken pizza right now. However, because I cook with it so often, I rarely order it when I eat out. But I could eat fried chicken, baked chicken, crockpot chicken, canned chicken, chicken salad, chicken chicken chicken.. om nom nom.
9) Pizza - PIZZAAAAA!!! I srsly could eat pizza everyday. Every. Day. I am eating pizza right now!
10) Deviled eggs - more chicken! Of course, this is a much different form. I can never eat enough of these at every potluck. Sometimes I take a few more than my fair share and I feel so guilty! I love them so much, though, and I never just make them for myself. That would indeed be a bad idea.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
My Favorite Childhood Book
I recently saw a post on Facebook containing some of the greatest childhood book quotes.
Dr. Seuss - Oh the Places You'll Go - "If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too."
Roald Dahl - Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - "The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places."
Dr. Seuss - The Cat in The Hat - "Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
Shel Silverstein - Where the Sidewalk Ends - "Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."
E. B. White - Charlotte's Web - "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing."
Robert Munsch - Love You Forever - "I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
Roald Dahl - Matilda - "If you have good thoughts... they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."
Marcus Pfister - The Rainbow Fish - "... the more he gave away, the more delighted he became."
Such good stuff! So, I got to thinking: what were some of my favorite childhood books? There were (and are) so many good ones to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down. I came up with a few, though.
Anne of Green Gables series - This was the first collection of books I had. I remember getting points to Barnes & Noble with the summer reading program and I used those points to collect all of the books in the series. I remember being so proud of when I collected all of the books in the series.
Berenstein Bears series - This is a series that I could read and read and read again. Love it! I should plan to get the series for the nepher...
Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss - I still have a copy of this book. Maybe it's for kids, but I think it's also very much for adults. It's something that I believe we should read time and time again. The inspiration never gets old. The pictures never get boring. The rhymes never fail to entertain. Love it!
So, what about you? What were your favorite books as a child?
Dr. Seuss - Oh the Places You'll Go - "If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too."
Roald Dahl - Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - "The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places."
Dr. Seuss - The Cat in The Hat - "Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
Shel Silverstein - Where the Sidewalk Ends - "Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."
E. B. White - Charlotte's Web - "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing."
Robert Munsch - Love You Forever - "I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
Roald Dahl - Matilda - "If you have good thoughts... they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."
Marcus Pfister - The Rainbow Fish - "... the more he gave away, the more delighted he became."
Such good stuff! So, I got to thinking: what were some of my favorite childhood books? There were (and are) so many good ones to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down. I came up with a few, though.
Anne of Green Gables series - This was the first collection of books I had. I remember getting points to Barnes & Noble with the summer reading program and I used those points to collect all of the books in the series. I remember being so proud of when I collected all of the books in the series.
Berenstein Bears series - This is a series that I could read and read and read again. Love it! I should plan to get the series for the nepher...
Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss - I still have a copy of this book. Maybe it's for kids, but I think it's also very much for adults. It's something that I believe we should read time and time again. The inspiration never gets old. The pictures never get boring. The rhymes never fail to entertain. Love it!
So, what about you? What were your favorite books as a child?
Sunday, March 2, 2014
My Most Proud Moment
There are three moments in my life (at least recent moments) that I can remember being extremely proud of myself. I think they all speak for themselves, but a couple of them came without warning, they all come with stories and they all not only increased my feeling of self worth, but I think they also increased others' feelings of my value and worth. That is important to me.
Theological Hungarian talk - July 2010 - Yes, I lived and I worked and I ate delicious food in Hungary for about a year of my life. It was wonderful and probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. One thing that I regret (and only a little) is that I didn't exactly master the Hungarian language. Sure, I could speak it and my pronunciation was so on point that I was often assumed Hungarian when only one-word answers were needed. Unfortunately, piecing together a good sentence wasn't my strength. I could read and listen and understand almost completely... but yeah, that forming sentences/speaking/thinking and then relaying what I thought... those things were struggles. Toward the end of my year there, I was working for a camp on Lake Balaton. After dinner one evening, the question came up about how can God be good if so many bad things happen to good people. It's a classic question for those questioning. While I am fairly confident in discussing my beliefs in English, translating into Hungarian (or even Spanish) proved to be extremely difficult. However, it came up. And I can't remember how the conversation went.. but I do remember it being an actual conversation... complete with questions and responses. I walked away feeling so proud that I could not only discuss something that means a lot to me without getting defensive or deeply emotional, but I was also able to discuss it in a language I slightly regretted I hadn't grasped. In fact, I had.
Graduation - April 2013 - Finally. 12 years after graduating high school, I finally graduated from college. I started GVSU in August 2001 as a music education major. I finally finished as a Spanish major. I had finally finished. As I prepared for this day, I couldn't wait to walk across the stage of the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI and receive my 'diploma.' This excitement was quickly overshadowed by the fact that I hadn't tried on my graduation gown. Apparently they are NOT "one-size-fits-all..." and this girl has got some hips that are definitely not one size. The gown was more like a bodycon dress. Not attractive. No proud. However, aside from that moment, it was a great day. I had finished what I'd started. I had done what I had set out to do. I remember the happiness as if it were yesterday. So good.
Promotion - October 2013 - Of course, this is one of the most recent proud moments. It came completely unexpected. I've already blogged about how it came about and included a lot of my feelings about it, so I won't bore you with that again. Here's a link to that post. However, I was so proud of myself. It was only due to my hard work and abilities as an intern that I'd even gotten noticed. I'm sure some divine intervention, as well, but I'm so thankful that my freewill choice was to do what I was asked to do to the best of my abilities no matter what.
So, what about you? What are some of your most proudest moments?
Theological Hungarian talk - July 2010 - Yes, I lived and I worked and I ate delicious food in Hungary for about a year of my life. It was wonderful and probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. One thing that I regret (and only a little) is that I didn't exactly master the Hungarian language. Sure, I could speak it and my pronunciation was so on point that I was often assumed Hungarian when only one-word answers were needed. Unfortunately, piecing together a good sentence wasn't my strength. I could read and listen and understand almost completely... but yeah, that forming sentences/speaking/thinking and then relaying what I thought... those things were struggles. Toward the end of my year there, I was working for a camp on Lake Balaton. After dinner one evening, the question came up about how can God be good if so many bad things happen to good people. It's a classic question for those questioning. While I am fairly confident in discussing my beliefs in English, translating into Hungarian (or even Spanish) proved to be extremely difficult. However, it came up. And I can't remember how the conversation went.. but I do remember it being an actual conversation... complete with questions and responses. I walked away feeling so proud that I could not only discuss something that means a lot to me without getting defensive or deeply emotional, but I was also able to discuss it in a language I slightly regretted I hadn't grasped. In fact, I had.
Graduation - April 2013 - Finally. 12 years after graduating high school, I finally graduated from college. I started GVSU in August 2001 as a music education major. I finally finished as a Spanish major. I had finally finished. As I prepared for this day, I couldn't wait to walk across the stage of the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI and receive my 'diploma.' This excitement was quickly overshadowed by the fact that I hadn't tried on my graduation gown. Apparently they are NOT "one-size-fits-all..." and this girl has got some hips that are definitely not one size. The gown was more like a bodycon dress. Not attractive. No proud. However, aside from that moment, it was a great day. I had finished what I'd started. I had done what I had set out to do. I remember the happiness as if it were yesterday. So good.
Promotion - October 2013 - Of course, this is one of the most recent proud moments. It came completely unexpected. I've already blogged about how it came about and included a lot of my feelings about it, so I won't bore you with that again. Here's a link to that post. However, I was so proud of myself. It was only due to my hard work and abilities as an intern that I'd even gotten noticed. I'm sure some divine intervention, as well, but I'm so thankful that my freewill choice was to do what I was asked to do to the best of my abilities no matter what.
So, what about you? What are some of your most proudest moments?
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Collections?
Do you have any collections? Personally, I used to have a couple collections, but now there seems to be only one. Books.
I have a problem with book collections. I collect books that I'll (probably) never read. I have two collections: 1 in NY, 1 in Michigan. It keeps growing. And I haven't really been reading.
I'm currently working on a book that I had started for my bachelor's degree. It's in Spanish, so it's not fast reading, but it's a good book. Unfortunately, I want to read all of the books in my collection. And so... it continues to grow :P
I used to collect musical instrument figurines, but it's been a while since I've collected nor displayed these figurines. I have a variety of figures, even from far away places like the Dominican Republic and Mexico. I have dogs playing pianos, cats playing violins and ducks playing drums... all marching to their own tune and rhythm. Unfortunately, they are all now collecting dust.
So... what do you collect?
I have a problem with book collections. I collect books that I'll (probably) never read. I have two collections: 1 in NY, 1 in Michigan. It keeps growing. And I haven't really been reading.
I'm currently working on a book that I had started for my bachelor's degree. It's in Spanish, so it's not fast reading, but it's a good book. Unfortunately, I want to read all of the books in my collection. And so... it continues to grow :P
I used to collect musical instrument figurines, but it's been a while since I've collected nor displayed these figurines. I have a variety of figures, even from far away places like the Dominican Republic and Mexico. I have dogs playing pianos, cats playing violins and ducks playing drums... all marching to their own tune and rhythm. Unfortunately, they are all now collecting dust.
So... what do you collect?
Saturday, February 1, 2014
My First Memory
My first memory is difficult to determine, actually. I have two very early memories, but it's hard to determine which is the earliest.
Option #1 -
The timing on this memory isn't difficult to determine. We were in the airport and I was very young - 4 years old, actually. My baby brother, Randy, had just been born and we were headed to Alabama. We were waiting in the airport and I was impressing my grandparents with my reading abilities. Included in that impression was my ability to spell the word "special." That was really awesome, according to my grandfather, that I was so smart at such a young age. I remember feeling so proud.
Option #2 -
This is the memory for which I'm unsure of the timing. I cannot remember if it was when I was 4 or 5 because I cannot remember for which sibling we were awaiting news. I remember getting the call that my mother had had the new baby while we were at Grandma and Grandpa Richter's home.
What are your first memories?
Option #1 -
The timing on this memory isn't difficult to determine. We were in the airport and I was very young - 4 years old, actually. My baby brother, Randy, had just been born and we were headed to Alabama. We were waiting in the airport and I was impressing my grandparents with my reading abilities. Included in that impression was my ability to spell the word "special." That was really awesome, according to my grandfather, that I was so smart at such a young age. I remember feeling so proud.
Option #2 -
This is the memory for which I'm unsure of the timing. I cannot remember if it was when I was 4 or 5 because I cannot remember for which sibling we were awaiting news. I remember getting the call that my mother had had the new baby while we were at Grandma and Grandpa Richter's home.
What are your first memories?
Sunday, January 26, 2014
If I Won the Lottery...
This is an interesting concept. I never play the lottery. Maybe I should try it at least once after answering this question.
The current mega millions jackpot in New York is $71,000,000. Honestly, I'm not sure I could imagine having even 1/71 of that. Let's just work with that instead.
If I had $1,000,000...
Well, let's see, it would play out like this.
$100,000 to pay off school loans and continue putting Eaic through school and pay for some continuing education
$500,000 to buy a home
$25,000 to buy a couple new cars
$10,000 for a dream wedding
$200,000 for my kids' education
the remaining $165,000 would go to my parents and my family. Lord knows they put up with a whole lot from me growing up.
Aside from school loans, I'm not in any scary debt situation. It'd be nice to be debt-free and living well... so yes, I think I might just play the lottery once.
The current mega millions jackpot in New York is $71,000,000. Honestly, I'm not sure I could imagine having even 1/71 of that. Let's just work with that instead.
If I had $1,000,000...
Well, let's see, it would play out like this.
$100,000 to pay off school loans and continue putting Eaic through school and pay for some continuing education
$500,000 to buy a home
$25,000 to buy a couple new cars
$10,000 for a dream wedding
$200,000 for my kids' education
the remaining $165,000 would go to my parents and my family. Lord knows they put up with a whole lot from me growing up.
Aside from school loans, I'm not in any scary debt situation. It'd be nice to be debt-free and living well... so yes, I think I might just play the lottery once.
Monday, January 20, 2014
What's at The Top of My Bucket List?
I may not have a "bucket list" per se, but I have two lists that are similar.
One is a list of things that I'd like to do or see prior to leaving NYC. It a list of so many things - from parks to museums, from ice cream shops to unique sculptures. It's fun to check them off - one... by... one.
My other list is of 101 things to do in 1001 days. I started in 850 days ago, so I only have 151 days left. So, what's on this list? Well, you can check it out here and here. In case you're not likely to follow links, I'll give you a little taste.
Some things I'd like to do:
*Learn to Play Guitar Well Enough to Lead Worship
*Save $500 Using Coupons
*Find Out My Blood Type
*Bungee Jump
*Read The Entire Bible
*Drive-In Theatre
*Have a No-Internet Weekend
*Visit Silvia in Italy
*Write 150 Blogs in This Blog
Some things I've done in 850 days:
*Go To a Cocktail Party
*Eat a Deep-Fried Candy Bar
*Get a Postcard Posted on PostSecret
*Eat Somewhere I Actually Have to Dress Up For
*Go To a Youth Ministry or Women's Convention
*Get A Pedicure
*Quit Smoking
*Fall In Love
*Dance in The Rain Downtown
It's been a fun journey, but I'm a little disappointed. In the last 850 days, I've accomplished major things, it's true. However, I've only crossed off about 1/4 of the 101 things. I wonder what I can accomplish in the next 5ish months...
One is a list of things that I'd like to do or see prior to leaving NYC. It a list of so many things - from parks to museums, from ice cream shops to unique sculptures. It's fun to check them off - one... by... one.
My other list is of 101 things to do in 1001 days. I started in 850 days ago, so I only have 151 days left. So, what's on this list? Well, you can check it out here and here. In case you're not likely to follow links, I'll give you a little taste.
Some things I'd like to do:
*Learn to Play Guitar Well Enough to Lead Worship
*Save $500 Using Coupons
*Find Out My Blood Type
*Bungee Jump
*Read The Entire Bible
*Drive-In Theatre
*Have a No-Internet Weekend
*Visit Silvia in Italy
*Write 150 Blogs in This Blog
Some things I've done in 850 days:
*Go To a Cocktail Party
*Eat a Deep-Fried Candy Bar
*Get a Postcard Posted on PostSecret
*Eat Somewhere I Actually Have to Dress Up For
*Go To a Youth Ministry or Women's Convention
*Get A Pedicure
*Quit Smoking
*Fall In Love
*Dance in The Rain Downtown
It's been a fun journey, but I'm a little disappointed. In the last 850 days, I've accomplished major things, it's true. However, I've only crossed off about 1/4 of the 101 things. I wonder what I can accomplish in the next 5ish months...
Saturday, January 18, 2014
What's In My Purse?
I accepting a blogging challenge, so I will be writing a couple of rather random-sounding blogs. The first of these blogs is even more random than the rest.
First, a story about my current purse. I was headed back to Grand Rapids, MI for the Fourth of July (which you can read about here) and it appeared as though I had no good way to transport my laptop. I used to use a backpack when I was in school, but I'm not exactly a student anymore and backpacks aren't exactly stylish when that's not the case. I needed something else. So, I headed to the local TJMaxx and checked out the selection. I wound up with a cute silver bag with a bow. My full-size laptop fits perfectly inside. Plus, it looks cute!
Now - what is in my purse? Well, I just took out my wallet to buy a Groupon deal. My wallet is pink, short and chunky. I recently added a bunch of business cards to my purse. You'll find some cash because here in NY, there tend to be more "cash only" stores and restaurants than I've ever known in Grand Rapids. In case of dry hands, I have a small bottle of Bath and Body Works lotion. In case of dry lips, I have Body Shop lip butter. I have my work keys. I have an appointment card for my next dental appointment on February 5th. That's about it.
I used to carry a book, but took that out to read before bed.
And that, my friends, is what's in my purse. What's in your purse?
First, a story about my current purse. I was headed back to Grand Rapids, MI for the Fourth of July (which you can read about here) and it appeared as though I had no good way to transport my laptop. I used to use a backpack when I was in school, but I'm not exactly a student anymore and backpacks aren't exactly stylish when that's not the case. I needed something else. So, I headed to the local TJMaxx and checked out the selection. I wound up with a cute silver bag with a bow. My full-size laptop fits perfectly inside. Plus, it looks cute!
Now - what is in my purse? Well, I just took out my wallet to buy a Groupon deal. My wallet is pink, short and chunky. I recently added a bunch of business cards to my purse. You'll find some cash because here in NY, there tend to be more "cash only" stores and restaurants than I've ever known in Grand Rapids. In case of dry hands, I have a small bottle of Bath and Body Works lotion. In case of dry lips, I have Body Shop lip butter. I have my work keys. I have an appointment card for my next dental appointment on February 5th. That's about it.
I used to carry a book, but took that out to read before bed.
And that, my friends, is what's in my purse. What's in your purse?
Monday, January 13, 2014
9/11 In New York City
This post is a little late coming.
About four months late, to be exact.
Well, at that time, I was still working in our administrative offices. September 11, 2013 was a Wednesday. I had already planned to miss church that evening and go to the September 11th memorial along the north shore of Staten Island, directly across from Manhattan. What I didn't know were the stories that awaited me in the office.
I've come to grow quite fond of the three men with whom I shared an office. One is Demmis. He's an international intern from Guatemala, working as PH's Volunteer Coordinator. He wasn't here when 9/11 occurred, nor was he in the office that day. Not that he's a bad guy or unimportant, because he is exactly the opposite... but let's ignore him for today.
Another one is FR (or as I refer to him when talking to my mom, "the funny father"). As I sat with him on 9/11, he shared with me some pictures. At the time, he was a practicing priest (as others refer to him, he is non-practicing - but I am of the school that one does not just leave their 'practice' as a spiritual guide, but that's another story for another day). Anyway, he was overseeing a Jesuit retreat center on Staten Island at the time. Because of the shut-down of transportation to and from the city, people were stranded on Staten Island. That retreat center opened the doors for them. FR was also called upon to be on hand as the rubble was delivered to the landfill. In the case that remains were discovered, he would be there to pray over them. It's safe to say that he was on the front lines in the aftermath.
My other office companion was S. S used to work in Manhattan, for a telephone company. On 9/11, he was at work. He told me his story and says that day, he almost lost his life. He worked in the same area as the two towers and when the first plane hit, his building evacuated. He left and started walking northward. As the second plane hit the towers, an enormous fireball was created... and headed straight toward him. It came down the same street that he was walking up and had he not found a quick place to get out of its path, it would have killed him. He ended up wandering around Manhattan that day after finding his daughter, and reflecting on his life.
I'm thankful for these stories. I'm thankful for those who gave their lives trying to save others that day.
About four months late, to be exact.
Well, at that time, I was still working in our administrative offices. September 11, 2013 was a Wednesday. I had already planned to miss church that evening and go to the September 11th memorial along the north shore of Staten Island, directly across from Manhattan. What I didn't know were the stories that awaited me in the office.
I've come to grow quite fond of the three men with whom I shared an office. One is Demmis. He's an international intern from Guatemala, working as PH's Volunteer Coordinator. He wasn't here when 9/11 occurred, nor was he in the office that day. Not that he's a bad guy or unimportant, because he is exactly the opposite... but let's ignore him for today.
Another one is FR (or as I refer to him when talking to my mom, "the funny father"). As I sat with him on 9/11, he shared with me some pictures. At the time, he was a practicing priest (as others refer to him, he is non-practicing - but I am of the school that one does not just leave their 'practice' as a spiritual guide, but that's another story for another day). Anyway, he was overseeing a Jesuit retreat center on Staten Island at the time. Because of the shut-down of transportation to and from the city, people were stranded on Staten Island. That retreat center opened the doors for them. FR was also called upon to be on hand as the rubble was delivered to the landfill. In the case that remains were discovered, he would be there to pray over them. It's safe to say that he was on the front lines in the aftermath.
My other office companion was S. S used to work in Manhattan, for a telephone company. On 9/11, he was at work. He told me his story and says that day, he almost lost his life. He worked in the same area as the two towers and when the first plane hit, his building evacuated. He left and started walking northward. As the second plane hit the towers, an enormous fireball was created... and headed straight toward him. It came down the same street that he was walking up and had he not found a quick place to get out of its path, it would have killed him. He ended up wandering around Manhattan that day after finding his daughter, and reflecting on his life.
I'm thankful for these stories. I'm thankful for those who gave their lives trying to save others that day.
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