tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17671516763226312472024-03-13T01:50:53.321-05:00Not Easy Being Greenreflecting on living cross-culturallyJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-89234224952282299452014-05-25T22:04:00.001-05:002014-05-25T22:04:43.183-05:00Missing Dad for a change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1V563X19J7KcsGFNgkzy_Zzwmv6Q_XnjJFauvN4LceVNjR6I5-EcWI69ruzBhjPPqOyVhYWt6vTzG-_hgmioTbiFoz8_gBGOdX4zhzb__CUMIKjhHKS_PDYIn0vXljry1FA2Cf-w-pM/s1600/MomDadLeeMeLBIGrad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1V563X19J7KcsGFNgkzy_Zzwmv6Q_XnjJFauvN4LceVNjR6I5-EcWI69ruzBhjPPqOyVhYWt6vTzG-_hgmioTbiFoz8_gBGOdX4zhzb__CUMIKjhHKS_PDYIn0vXljry1FA2Cf-w-pM/s1600/MomDadLeeMeLBIGrad.jpeg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
Today I was taking a lady to visit her
boyfriend – from one transitional care facility to another. They
were both recovering from surgeries. I would guess her to be around
70. She was a bit chatty, though not loud enough to always hear over
the bus noises. Before long I knew more about her and her health than
I really care to know about any of my clients.<br />
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She told me as we approached the
destination that her boyfriend would be waiting outside for her.
There were several people outside so she pointed out which one he
was. As I was unhooking her wheelchair I told her that he looked like
a nice man. (I was sincere.) She affirmed that he was nice, very good
to her. When I went down to open the lift I realized he looked a lot
like my dad did in his later years with a salt and pepper mustache
and his straight gray hair. He said to me, “I have something for
you.” His girlfriend said, “He gives these to all the girls.” I
protested, “No, no, I can't take gifts.” The man insisted.</div>
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<br />
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He presented me with a small plastic
ring that he had glued a dime to. “It's a dime 'n ring,” he
exclaimed! “I make them and give them to all the girls.” I took
the ring and smiled. It reminded me of my dad's friend, Herb who
would stick a dime in a paper clip and tell me he had found a “dime
'n clip” today.</div>
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I folded the lift, filled out my
paperwork and proceeded around the small complex to leave, but I
found myself in tears thinking of my dad. I realized I gloss over the
family members who are gone to protect myself from missing them too
much.</div>
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Here's to Mom, Dad, and Lee this
Memorial Day.</div>
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<br /></div>
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(Photo from 1991, Washington State)</div>
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-84110124766063099202014-01-28T08:43:00.000-06:002014-01-28T08:43:04.137-06:00The Cold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know everyone is sick of the crazy temps. It amazes me that any life carries on. I went over to a friends house last night. I stopped for gas on the way. All the way out to the suburbs (17-20 mile trek) I kept thinking this is ridiculous! How do we carry on?<br />
<br />
This morning I looked at the temp. It read -17. An hour later I checked it and it said -15. In my mind the sarcasm says, "Oh, it's warming up!" -15 is "warming"? The best part though, is what weather.com lists after it: Fair, bitterly cold.<br />
<br />
That makes it all the more humorous. Or insane!<br />
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-19087523984439341202013-11-03T08:43:00.003-06:002013-11-03T08:43:46.023-06:00What Prompts Gratitude?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my new (about 2 months now) job I
meet and transport handicapped people all day long. Some have
physical disorders, some have mental issues; many are invisible
problems. I'm sure some have been handicapped all their lives and for
others it's a recent struggle. For the most part my clients are nice.
Some are friendly and talkative, others may not be able to talk. I'd
say 97% of them are amiable and like getting a ride and an escort to
the door; some are even becoming friends.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAAMhls_um-2oWNG2EN9rQjtYkxe8b-c3xyJiOXdg_bRHQ0fBE-X5FPTA_CAxtwvdU2H3jpK8VBHklSuAmudhfYRGCQVHyk96tyDksAax2hEn_0sIezvDZfFZ2cl6UofiZvaTTJ0XZgU/s1600/Papercutoutwheelchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAAMhls_um-2oWNG2EN9rQjtYkxe8b-c3xyJiOXdg_bRHQ0fBE-X5FPTA_CAxtwvdU2H3jpK8VBHklSuAmudhfYRGCQVHyk96tyDksAax2hEn_0sIezvDZfFZ2cl6UofiZvaTTJ0XZgU/s200/Papercutoutwheelchair.jpg" width="200" /></a>What struck me yesterday as I arrived to board a client with a walker who had booked to use the lift to get onboard, was that some people just have poor attitudes in general. I had just come from getting a fully immobile client at his apartment building – he was on his way to Rosedale Mall. The woman with the walker was at a grocery store between his house and the mall. The man onboard was talkative; he'd commented on the sunshine and beautiful day. I don't know why he was disabled, but he seemed to have no use of his legs and strained use of his arms – enough to operate his electric chair.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After complaining that she didn't know
how she would get past the man in the wheelchair, the walker client
was short with me telling me that I didn't need to tell her how to do
this – she'd been riding these buses for years. In an effort to
agree with her and perhaps lighten the situation I remarked, “Oh, I
often tell people that you are the professional, and I am the
rookie.” I glanced at the other guy with a rye smile for
confirmation. Before he could say anything my walker woman retorted,
“I don't think that's funny.”</div>
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I realize that she may have many other
things in her life adding to the way she was treating me. Our culture
values civility even from strangers in pretty much any circumstance.
I finished my bit of paperwork, get behind the wheel and started out
to the mall in silence. Then it hit me – I have a few physically
handicapped people in my family and they never have had a bad
attitude about their disabilities. I am quite sure they have been in
pain and remained civil to those around them. The revelation of this
brought tears to my eyes and I was thankful for this grace to me. I
silently prayed a little prayer for the woman on my bus as I dabbed
the tears from my eyes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When I unloaded the guy at the mall and
walked him through the doors he told me he liked my comment about
them being professionals, and me the rookie. I think he felt a little
sorry for me.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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This story has a happy ending, the
walker woman lightened and started asking questions about going to
the mall. I was boarding another passenger there who was just as kind
as the man I had unloaded. Those two talked a bit as we carried on.
It came out that tomorrow was her birthday. I wished her a happy one
as I said goodbye.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm grateful for work. And grateful for
all God has given me, including disabled family members with good
attitudes.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-86775944621913217502013-08-29T00:26:00.002-05:002013-08-29T00:26:51.730-05:00More for Sale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have a few more things to post tonight. Just remember it will be better weather for baking before you know it. Fall entertaining is just around the corner<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Entertaining Simple Additions Set</div>
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Autumn Colors</div>
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7 piece set</div>
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Sunflower Gold, Eggplant Purple,
Cranberry Red with long platter in Olive Green</div>
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3 square bowls, 3 squares small plates, one long platter</div>
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$49</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygtMeaLCmZxLxxvNxkFEa07ZtRqMUotREN94r_o7UgCu4w18pzTqEOG8Lhc-BhMj6aDoPz2PYQdvK5QlEiLOkyCWXhY0AE-0VyZ3ZPypsglVkE9JKI6ZeaTjvoQYg7K_zymkIKqaGTKc/s1600/P1080059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygtMeaLCmZxLxxvNxkFEa07ZtRqMUotREN94r_o7UgCu4w18pzTqEOG8Lhc-BhMj6aDoPz2PYQdvK5QlEiLOkyCWXhY0AE-0VyZ3ZPypsglVkE9JKI6ZeaTjvoQYg7K_zymkIKqaGTKc/s320/P1080059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKG5Mp_C1l57BxlEC8RS7QCf8ucYf-RTjkm-iN29g247uGI8_wtlAmUxyTNzBhfiD414EXuTAby_GPmiRwLlodF1CxFovyTttWRhKVFC1FQPRmObXgY7YvAbF_xnHApLNe26Gqk5LgTU/s1600/P1080065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKG5Mp_C1l57BxlEC8RS7QCf8ucYf-RTjkm-iN29g247uGI8_wtlAmUxyTNzBhfiD414EXuTAby_GPmiRwLlodF1CxFovyTttWRhKVFC1FQPRmObXgY7YvAbF_xnHApLNe26Gqk5LgTU/s320/P1080065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIBK0jRuV5mQ1Te0rIOoNr6p38ZGG4Rlvpp7syFYrRTwgcxuMuAPCWB7075LZmmtUUnYQrsZPwiafw04O-4fNB-mhvyO8500trXYN3rv4_Xwk-_GCcxfA3u2rdhRe1rFR9SnM9_bT3RU/s1600/P1080066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIBK0jRuV5mQ1Te0rIOoNr6p38ZGG4Rlvpp7syFYrRTwgcxuMuAPCWB7075LZmmtUUnYQrsZPwiafw04O-4fNB-mhvyO8500trXYN3rv4_Xwk-_GCcxfA3u2rdhRe1rFR9SnM9_bT3RU/s320/P1080066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pampered Chef Stoneware Deep Dish Baker
in Hunter Green</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
NEW! Never used $28</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys4FQtLQECMX6R4uHrFtyuPWFZ6YjOOwHqWxkeec-1AFRQ1SHYN8gMVg8g2tfCZuiTWH_fsgE3JAZtLX7UKfwyuJNeBqlSzCLj_LJTpJqqHsVfUCu52rRZ_LQ3rKBji_BWQ1IN5gVdjU/s1600/P1080077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys4FQtLQECMX6R4uHrFtyuPWFZ6YjOOwHqWxkeec-1AFRQ1SHYN8gMVg8g2tfCZuiTWH_fsgE3JAZtLX7UKfwyuJNeBqlSzCLj_LJTpJqqHsVfUCu52rRZ_LQ3rKBji_BWQ1IN5gVdjU/s320/P1080077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pampered Chef Stoneware Pie Plate in
Cranberry</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gently Used - which just means you
have a little less seasoning to do on this one.</div>
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$15</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FYLS17aPN3p382ZLI0iduQKxvm1uW_QOFyyDbMa62YvcLIftuA0MJ4GeYLNf-9z76w6N2nRZOdMEg2p8HDFbi3NL4x36_k0E95_gCSIQMNHhly2WoBamejmHPjaRoukoxmaltYoGDO4/s1600/P1080071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FYLS17aPN3p382ZLI0iduQKxvm1uW_QOFyyDbMa62YvcLIftuA0MJ4GeYLNf-9z76w6N2nRZOdMEg2p8HDFbi3NL4x36_k0E95_gCSIQMNHhly2WoBamejmHPjaRoukoxmaltYoGDO4/s320/P1080071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-42454684682287262962013-08-28T12:04:00.002-05:002013-08-28T12:15:39.168-05:00Quick Sale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Local Readers:<br />
<br />
I have a few household items for sale - Please take a look over the list. Send your friends!<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Beaded Pate Knife and Olive Fork</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
New! Set of 2, Colors: Blue, Green,
Red, Turquoise, with Silver swirls</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
$15</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UrqAuJO7038ujC7BXs6zIpFxiWBRGtBfAg1Zyi5OF7a-FNPNrQnE9vMY39YGoZ3GNKXYUOUj6DnmDG6Ov9fM33RfesIZ9gMNkXVe1e-ET1HTAjGUg8aOjyBjoEVKzIIa8rY0mwmifwM/s1600/P1080070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UrqAuJO7038ujC7BXs6zIpFxiWBRGtBfAg1Zyi5OF7a-FNPNrQnE9vMY39YGoZ3GNKXYUOUj6DnmDG6Ov9fM33RfesIZ9gMNkXVe1e-ET1HTAjGUg8aOjyBjoEVKzIIa8rY0mwmifwM/s320/P1080070.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
African Wrought Iron Dancer Candle
Holder Pair</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gently Used. Came from South Africa
with me.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
$12</div>
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<img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLLlk3xlDT6F6fmG9Do_CVn-YYewJjK5CMF93KoBSKbW-S_p52dc9zFmyk7a-ZYH6fbBOc7Jps1p7PWmJ4wlnlQX5oOzu5xkxav2fEqgDIDnfhIw5mKOTPjtAWW4ID21bfLKK9l_zPjs/s320/P1080081.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Some would call them tan, beige or
ecru, but I say it's off-white or warm white. This couch is 80” W, 40”D and 32”H. The cozy, comfy, oversized chair measures about
50”W, 40”D and 32”H. The matching ottoman is about 40”W and
30”D. It's in very sturdy condition, no wear, just needs cleaning.
My home is smoke-free and child-free home, and pet free.</span></div>
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$300 for both or $165 for couch and $165 for chair and ottoman.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Keurig K-Cups Caribou Daybreak 24 pack</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
$10 each or best offer (I have two of
these)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Keurig K-Cups Green Mountain Breakfast
Blend 24 pack</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
$10 or best offer</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBntTljQ2iVjJNShK5UdSCa5YRh6NwW78n1X-o0ZrDf5aDkhBod821SHHdZVw5sI4LrYBXKXpntFJ-I-d1lKj0pcIQkS-8GD1pOow0m2OWDMiNRWmwzpYH1hYOa6ob6tXn3kTPd_btwU4/s1600/CCDaybreakKcup.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBntTljQ2iVjJNShK5UdSCa5YRh6NwW78n1X-o0ZrDf5aDkhBod821SHHdZVw5sI4LrYBXKXpntFJ-I-d1lKj0pcIQkS-8GD1pOow0m2OWDMiNRWmwzpYH1hYOa6ob6tXn3kTPd_btwU4/s1600/CCDaybreakKcup.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Keurig Carousel 27 K-Cup Holder</div>
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Gently Used
</div>
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$18</div>
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-69974702198230071002013-06-04T12:31:00.001-05:002013-06-04T12:31:37.779-05:00An African Kind of Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ip4nU6KY-xBKoluw21wfq66rf3iy7QGinEXrMJbX1zSzOswU8UpYnl7drrNyDmkWjiOmouOF_GrQ3bnnmBOWr53G33PNnTqtuUAAHppoPDtMoZ0iq2Nt_r1umNWtBTbbsbbyyCpPvBU/s1600/Image+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ip4nU6KY-xBKoluw21wfq66rf3iy7QGinEXrMJbX1zSzOswU8UpYnl7drrNyDmkWjiOmouOF_GrQ3bnnmBOWr53G33PNnTqtuUAAHppoPDtMoZ0iq2Nt_r1umNWtBTbbsbbyyCpPvBU/s200/Image+7.jpg" width="133" /></a>Yesterday I stopped by the church
office to drop off a note for my friend Alemnesh who is trying to
start an orphan home in Ethiopia – one of the pastors is heading
over to see her at the end of the week. I wasn't expecting to get
into a conversation with the pastor, but I did. It included a big
hint that I should join Alemnesh as the admin person for this
project. My heartstrings felt the tug.<br />
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
From there I went to a bank to deposit
a check for friends that live in East Africa. I had never been in
this branch, on Franklin and 26th. As soon as I was in line for a
teller I was immediately transported to the Barclays Bank I went to
each month to pay my rent in Nairobi! I searched the room, I was the
only white person in there: customers, tellers, security –
absolutely everyone was black. I suppose that would scare some
people, for me it feels like home.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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I could hear conversations in other
languages and ones in accented English. Some were African America,
others Somali and some were from other African countries. I overheard
the two large dark men at the next window asking their teller where
he was from. “Liberia? Do you speak French?” one man asked.
“Because we speak French.”</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My teller had another guy walk up while
he was helping me. That teller asked where he was from. He replied,
“Ethiopia” before the other guy corrected, “which branch are
you from?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I commented that it felt like
Africa in here to the two tellers at my window, the customer on the
other side of my laughed knowingly. He must have been East African
too. As I left, I said the my teller, “Amesegenallo, ” one of the
only Amharic words I know (thank you). I heard him comment that was
perfect pronunciation.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I drove off to my next errand I
wondered if I should be considering Ethiopia more seriously. I just
feel I need to finish school and get a good job. I feel torn.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-76193130629945204592013-05-10T15:03:00.000-05:002013-05-10T15:03:27.453-05:00Looking for just the right renter...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWvM1VQlajNWzRmO13b59ZctyKLiOzVMZbkFRg_KmclWbgwLIZAjUvvij_buYEHPpQfoIbuFAgWogi5YL1s4rOMje6lDasToLmNS05hsrYyuSryRsgDb4JC2BdQ28KQmEGHSCPGoKa0c/s1600/P1080044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWvM1VQlajNWzRmO13b59ZctyKLiOzVMZbkFRg_KmclWbgwLIZAjUvvij_buYEHPpQfoIbuFAgWogi5YL1s4rOMje6lDasToLmNS05hsrYyuSryRsgDb4JC2BdQ28KQmEGHSCPGoKa0c/s320/P1080044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Room for rent in no ordinary house. I'm
looking for one more person to share my home. It's cozy and warm on
the inside, situated in the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in
the entire US. (We don't live in the 'burbs.) Your own room. Shared
space with two other mature women. Garage parking, shared. Laundry
on-site. Shared utilities. Big yard. Wonderful neighbors. A sense of
community.<br />
<br />
$550 + utilities + deposit. We're looking for the right fit to continue having a comfortable home. Sorry, no pets or smokers. Available June 1. Comment or send an email if you are looking or know someone.<br />
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-46394317261530486972013-05-06T15:12:00.000-05:002013-05-06T15:13:21.373-05:00What does my Public Relations Writing Class have to do with Orphans?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My current class is called PR Writing.
I love it. So it may be no surprise that I am also doing well and
getting positive feedback in the class. At the start of the class we
were asked to choose an imaginary small business or non-profit to
write all our pieces about.
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I had my friend Alemnesh's orphan home
in mind. It seemed the perfect thing. She left in April to begin
laying the ground work for her home in Addis Ababa. Hopefully when
she does get closer to getting the whole thing off the ground I will
be able to tweak the items I've written to use in a number of ways.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since I have been steeped in Ethiopian
orphan facts, media coverage of orphan issues and general orphan
statistics, I am far more aware of the pitfalls of adoption. One
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/christian-evangelical-adoption-liberia">article</a> I read highlighted a particular family that first promoted
adoption from Liberia, then adopted several children from Liberia,
and finally had failures with some of their adopted kids. It was
definitely written to paint Christians in an unfavorable light. The
story was bad and sad. The article's author was also on a <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177350912/how-evangelical-christians-are-preaching-the-new-gospel-of-adoption">NPR show</a>
recently. She told other horrific stories of failed adoptions and
heavily insinuates that Christians are driving the market for
adoption needs. In other words, if Christians didn't have the “fever”
to adopt, there wouldn't be so many orphans in the world.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When I lived in Kenya in the 90s I
learned that Kenyans call children orphaned if even one parent is
lost. They will refer to a child who has lost both parents as a
double orphan. I have since noticed that this may actually be the
prevailing way developing countries all talk about children missing
one or both parents. Certainly this gap in understanding skews the
numbers we find on the Internet about how many orphans there are in
the world. However, I don't think there is a need to say any group is
bad if they are trying to promote care for vulnerable children. I do
not think that we are driving a market for orphans.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My heart is wrenched thinking about
hundreds, even millions of children without a mama to care for and
love on them. During my adolescent years I often said out loud to my
mom, “I would not have survived today without you!” I meant it.
My mom was strong for me in ways I knew I couldn't be as a child. It
all comes to mind with Mother's Day around the corner and so many
stories swirling around in my head.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I hope that you have good memories of
your mother this weekend. But I also hope that you will think about
those without a mother. The amount of “double orphans” in the
world today is about 3,500,000 – the size of the entire
Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Think of them, pray for them, be
grateful for what you had or have. If you want to know more about my
friend, Alemnesh's ministry, leave a comment or drop me an email.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-10365418057041054052013-05-02T18:11:00.001-05:002013-05-02T18:11:43.757-05:00The Impact of a Positive Word<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxDygEg176t7oWeetRaKsWyRp6Kq-fJjDMUd2tBJmnmSe9caDpM3XFwHEdyLZ_6QyL-AD5Wwp-665GZ9y83UYqY3O2fnMIul_0YZ9RMRhmEhBnTzHAlwRlI3qcIagCTIu9epQJLtsnGc/s1600/CorpWriting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxDygEg176t7oWeetRaKsWyRp6Kq-fJjDMUd2tBJmnmSe9caDpM3XFwHEdyLZ_6QyL-AD5Wwp-665GZ9y83UYqY3O2fnMIul_0YZ9RMRhmEhBnTzHAlwRlI3qcIagCTIu9epQJLtsnGc/s1600/CorpWriting.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Probably more than I realize, I have
been in a kind of person slump. Maybe it's the kind of thing people
going through other kinds of transition face. As much as I don't buy
into all the usual self-esteem jargon, and I do believe we need
God-esteem, there is something to being downtrodden.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Twice in this class I'm taking, the
teacher has genuinely complimented me with a specific word of
encouragement. Last night's word was so powerful that three hours
later when I got in my car to go home the thought of the words had me
crying so hard I couldn't safely pull out of the parking lot.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is a PR writing class. In some
ways you could call it “Journalism 101” because it's basically
the same kind of writing. She said to me when we sat down for a
one-on-one evaluation of my last three pieces, “I really see you
doing this kind of work!” She looked again at her comments written
on the page. Before she said anything more she looked up again, “And
you have never worked in this field?” My defense: high school
journalism class. I was on the staff paper for all three years. It
was taught me well back then, so I've retained it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today I can hardly think about her
words without tearing up again. It is so significant to told by an
unbiased person that you are really, really good. When your friends
tell you that, it feels like they say it out of bias. I still
struggle with how to put all my talents together in a way that makes
me money and doesn't stress me out at the same time. But today I'm
living on a little encouragement. After all, I did say I was going to
school to get a piece of paper that says I know how to do what I
already know how to do.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-38024915874606789722013-04-22T17:10:00.001-05:002013-04-22T17:10:12.833-05:00A Little Ironic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I finally came back to my blog only to
declare that “Winter is Over” and then what happens? We get
socked in again. Last week had me out shoveling a few times.
(Tonight's forecast is for another 6-8 inches!) So far I have
remained undaunted. I do not like the snow in April and I will
comment about it like the rest of us. However, “winter is over”
was a declaration of the end of my dark sadness of winter this year.
That, I am thankful to say, has not returned. I do feel a little
overwhelmed at my challenging circumstances right now, but I do not
feel despair – I am grateful for that, as well.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm grateful for prayers to get through
this job hunt and be working in something that is both fulfilling and
lucrative. Thank you.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-25815899509043106152013-04-10T13:52:00.000-05:002013-04-10T13:52:05.732-05:00Winter is Over<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's on odd day to write that headline
since last night put a thin blanket of white on my yard again and it
hasn't melted as of mid afternoon. It was a dark season for me. It's
just as well I wasn't writing much. I have been keeping busy with
school and that keeps my writing skills active. I don't think I have
ever before experienced a sort of seasonal disorder. Things looked
bleak this past winter like they haven't looked for me in a long
time, maybe ever. Winter is over, though.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I felt a change in the week of Easter.
I'm sure the significance of this holiday had something to do with
it. But also the lighter days and eventually the warmer weather.
Weather that tells me this is a light and momentary snow. Even with
it, I am happy to know my taxes are done, thanks to BIG help from a
long-suffering friend. I'm over the half-way mark to finish school.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What I am most excited about right now
is helping a friend who is leaving for Addis Ababa next week to begin
the ground work to set up a children's home. My friend Alemnesh is
from Ethiopia, so in a way, she is going home – even though
Minnesota has been her home for about 18 years. I am helping her with
the communications side of things and in the process I hope to become
more informed about the plight of orphans in Ethiopia and learn how
to effectively share Alemnesh's vision with those interested.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
These are exciting days. I'm making no
promises, but I hope to be writing much more in the coming months.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-37582478187180625982013-01-17T09:33:00.000-06:002013-01-17T09:33:00.752-06:00Conflicts in Theory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As usual, I'm starting to write more –
just because it's the beginning of the year and I wish I had written
more last year. It's like an informal new year's resolution. But it's
not. No promises, but I bet that thinking about theory and analyzing
how people communicate is going to make me more introspective, which,
in turn, will make me want to write more. Let's see if it makes the
blog.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the interesting things I learned
about the two schools of communication theory is that they can be
likened to one of scales on the Myers Briggs Personality Inventory.
This was helpful since I am well read in the Myers Briggs. The
scientific approach is like the <i>sensing</i> (S) component of the Myers
Briggs; the interpretive is like the <i>intuitive </i>(N). There you go – no
wonder I'm so torn. I have a preference in both of these areas very
strongly. As in, I'm not in the middle on the S/N of the Myers
Briggs, I usually test into intuitive but I have strong sensing
factors built in as well. I am both a detail person (sensing) and a
possibilities person (intuitive). In fact, I am so much in each of these camps
that I sometimes fail to see (feel) how they are opposite sides of a
spectrum. But I have read enough to know they are opposites in the
Myers Briggs and commonly held that way on other scales.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I guess this further explains why I am
weird. I will see how being an anomaly shakes out in the world of
communication theory. By the way, my teacher doesn't believe that I am in both areas and simply dubbed that I didn't understand the continuum. Once I figure it out, I'll know where I stand.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-3559480131285990892013-01-16T09:48:00.004-06:002013-01-16T09:48:43.152-06:00World of Theory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This week I am starting a new class
called <i>Communication Theory and
Practice</i>. (It's all theory, as far as I can tell.) I have been
dreading the class that sounds so dull and dry. I finally started my
reading the other day and found it kind of interesting. I think the
author of the textbook is a very personable writer – I'm sure that
helps. I had forgotten that I do enjoy analyzing things sometimes.
Above all, it had slipped my mind that I am studying what has proved
to be a very palatable area for me. I like communication studies!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The introductory chapters have proven
to be a little disconcerting, though. There are two main schools of
thought in the area of communication theory: a scientific one, and an
interpretive theory. Fine. As I read through a brief description of
each I found that both appealed to me. But the text was clear that
you probably fall into one camp or the other. In fact, scholars from
the two areas are so at odds with one another they often argue and
disagree. So why are both equally appealing to me?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eventually it came out that these two
can areas compliment each other and also could be seen as a
continuum. That helps – a little. The problem now is that I really
don't feel I'm in the middle. I truly like both sides. I want both to
be the proper way to view communication theory. This remains an
unsolved dilemma. I may or may not come to some conclusion. But this
is for sure, it's going to be a very intense 6 weeks of communication
theory. This may be the class that helps me decide how far I'm going
to take this whole going back to school thing.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-85809940534213954902013-01-03T16:08:00.002-06:002013-01-03T16:08:23.496-06:00Oh, for cryin' out loud! - literally.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's a new year again. I make no
promises about blogging more. I had every good intention this past
year and had a last minute push to beat the year before. I want to
write but I don't always have something to say. That might be obvious
to you from reading what does get posted. It's not always fresh on my
mind to post – even if I do have something to say. But I got 2
journal and two fancy writing pads for Christmas this year, so I
better do some writing if only because that was perhaps a sign.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm the only one in the school library
this afternoon – besides the staff – I am researching how pop
music, rock and roll namely, and the deejays that promoted it in the
1950s and 60s helped with the integration of blacks and white in the
US. I have at least 8 books on the topic of radio or black music
piled on this desk trying to find fodder for this paper. As I read
there is a nostalgia that has overcome me. I'm reduced to tears for
no good reason but the wonder of how our nation was built and
hard-working value system we once had in America. I remember my dad
once crying telling me a story of a Swedish business man trying to
communicate an idea to an American business man over the phone. When
he couldn't make himself understood he asked for a fax number to fax
the information. My dad was in tears before he could finish the story
about how it all come together because of this technology. We thought
Dad was ridiculous. But I think that is how I feel today about radio.
It's a little bigger picture though, because what happened in the
1950s when radio needed to find a way to compete with TV the perfect
storm resulted in a boon for integration!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ81N5u4SRmJPYP1t3KOpfeofr1jKX0oMDhYMHWzhwY-BXcIDa1WLoEVEeohaWFo5NVCFxYbVqovUlg-LYBnRtjVkqgqDiOp4BE0O2OzWL91t2kh_ZlVZuDMF6QU-iomfqENmd98nbEY/s1600/Moondog_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ81N5u4SRmJPYP1t3KOpfeofr1jKX0oMDhYMHWzhwY-BXcIDa1WLoEVEeohaWFo5NVCFxYbVqovUlg-LYBnRtjVkqgqDiOp4BE0O2OzWL91t2kh_ZlVZuDMF6QU-iomfqENmd98nbEY/s320/Moondog_poster.jpg" width="245" /></a><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don't know why it makes me feel
sentimental, but it's BIG. Radio turned to pop music which eventually
got called rock and roll, there were a few cutting edge deejays that
took the music format to the next level by playing jazz or other
black music on their radio programs of pop music. Before you know it
– literally, you have dance parties with blacks and whites enjoying
the same music.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Amazing. Now I need to get back to the
paper writing. But it truly is an awesome convergence of media and
economic developments to push us into crossing musical lines that
include whites coming to love black music and vice versa.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-37156548180812707582012-12-28T08:57:00.000-06:002012-12-28T08:57:02.040-06:00Ending One Year, Starting Another<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well that last post was pretty serious.
I know it's the season of joy but I was living in this sober state
for at least part of the time leading up to Christmas. I did enjoy
the few days around Christmas very much! I had friends around and
made a traditional Christmas breakfast for my brother and his wife.
That was a very last minute thing. I don't want to end this year
without some joy and gratitude expressed for God's rich goodness to
me. I wish I saw it more and more. I am very blessed to have a cozy
roof over my head and a little bit of community here in my home and
neighborhood. Despite being a little financially strapped at this
point in life, I am so thankful for God's provision.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On Christmas Day I went to see <i>Les
Miserables</i>. The new film adaptation of this classic Victor Hugo story
was outstanding. It was filmed in a way that allowed you to feel the
emotion of the moment with the characters in each scene. The picture
of one life transformed by God's grace shown through another up
against the grace that was rejected even in the face of “the law”
not working for him is such a stark picture. I love that grace. I
want to live in 2013 in that grace.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-7375118586383931242012-12-26T22:58:00.002-06:002012-12-26T22:58:30.949-06:00Struck with the Sadness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
(I actually wrote this on Dec 18th but am just getting around to posting it today. Maybe it's best I saved it until after Christmas.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The intensity of this season is
starting to get to me. I love being in my own home with the all the
homeyness this arrangement offers. I have some decorations up,
including my skinny tree with all African ornaments – mostly sisal
angels, mini baskets, and little gourds. It snowed properly out there
a couple weeks ago so it looks like Christmastime to me.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But. An old friend passed away last
week. It was unexpected. She was sick but no one thought it very
serious. She had been diagnosed with cancer in the fall but was
undergoing chemo and was doing well – or so it was thought. Turns
out that about a week before she passed away the doctors discovered
that she had a bunch of tumors. Her two daughters are in their early
20s, one still in college. I can't help thinking about G. She was the
kind of friend you could pick up with again after a long time of not
being in touch. I feel fortunate that I saw her about 14 months ago
when I was touring with Afrizo. I stayed with her for a couple nights
in their home in Queens. Now I can't stop thinking of her family and
the great loss.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The news of the elementary school
shootings in Connecticut was shocking. Today I saw another post on FB
about ten small Middle Eastern girls who had gone to collect firewood
and were blown up in a landmine explosion. I clicked on the article
to see a photo of draped caskets all lined up. It hit me hard. Why is
there so much death? I know this Christmas, like all since then, is a
challenge for my sister-in-law who lost her mother on Christmas day
eight years ago.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the same time, I know many friends
expecting babies or who have just giving birth, let me count: four
just born in the last two weeks, two more on the way in the next two
or three weeks. These are happy thoughts but what a world they come
into.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For a moment I think of my own loss and
loneliness. I am torn between the deep sadness I feel. I think of my
mom while crafting for Christmas, my dad when I'm cooking a big
holiday meal, my sister too with a the stories we told each other and
laughed at our family history. I think too of how G is free from all
the cares of this world. In some ways, I wish I were in her place. I
would have been a better one to take, the losses to others would have
been less and I am jealous for her freedom now. I have no daughter to
get through college, no loving husband to miss me. I'm sure I would
be missed but not like G is missed by so many close to her.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In some ways all of this is a
distraction from Christ's appearing. He came to give life. We grieve
death, but forget the eternal life that is the reality. G lives in
the presence of Jesus rejoicing with no thought of the fuss on earth.
I wish I could worship like that for even moments of the day. But
hers is constant now. May I focus more on Him in this season and
always.</div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-72758089032722063192012-10-31T10:20:00.000-05:002012-10-31T10:20:11.166-05:00Happy Reformation Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This morning I fully intended to study.
I have a paper due tonight and reading left before I can fully finish
it. However, I did my quick round on the blogosphere and ended up
watching a video that brought me to tears. I'm still trying to work
out why it was so emotional.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yesterday I was thinking about the fact
that I don't have children and therefore my descendants will not know
a very different world than I know. This thought comes from several
recent other exposures:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I watched <i>Atlas Shrugged, Part I</i> last
weekend.</li>
<li>I'm reading about worldview for my
class.</li>
<li>I'm recently noticed that many families
in my church have mixed race families now through adoption. (Which I
love but will really be different from experience when they are
adults.)</li>
<li>I've been thinking about my pastor's
retirement and what an influence he's had on his congregation and
will continue to have on those who listen to him during his
retirement.</li>
</ul>
All that is to say, the world is
changing – rapidly – and I have mixed feelings about missing it.
In some ways I am very thankful that I don't have to navigate guiding
children through the potential craziness of the future; in other
ways, I would have liked to have been a guiding force of influence to
some portion of the future generations.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I wish I were young in a time growing
awareness of reformed theology of African Americans. There, I put my
finger on it. This video brought me to tears because I love this
dialogue. And best of all, I'm not really missing it. Happy
Reformation Day!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here's the video:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pyjYMaX10zE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-23520471279246345262012-10-01T17:35:00.001-05:002012-10-01T17:43:55.214-05:00Sad and Glad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">It’s finally hitting me, the family that I’ve known for over 5 years and that I’ve lived with two different times is about to move away -- far, far away. I have the gift of helps and sometimes I let it go a little far. However, I find there are times that call for supernatural giving beyond what you are really able to do naturally. Getting these guys ready to go has been a privilege and an honor. It’s necessary for sending them well. In many ways, it’s the least I can do because they and a whole team of others took care of my affairs while I was overseas.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAmcW3qfbcqZGd3c6mk9o85hSrX2FTvkqC8V_S9vnsGeWePtjE7Wp4viJNR4JznSLybzRiKpTgt_BpqbaR9zJR-IRQGJlUov0trqp3ud0G192Zf6fmMONxruRqJpinVqSvk-mKt1PiuM/s1600/P1070639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAmcW3qfbcqZGd3c6mk9o85hSrX2FTvkqC8V_S9vnsGeWePtjE7Wp4viJNR4JznSLybzRiKpTgt_BpqbaR9zJR-IRQGJlUov0trqp3ud0G192Zf6fmMONxruRqJpinVqSvk-mKt1PiuM/s320/P1070639.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I’m sad because the five little ones are so much fun to be around. The old “kids say the darnest things” quote is fleshed out in these precious little ones. Iain’s seriously worried about language acquisition which comes out something like this, “Only 3 days left? I’m not ready to go?” When asked what he needs to do he replied, “I don’t have any [of my new country’s] words yet! We need to learn our words so we can talk to the people.”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Of course, I have been building other memories with them too. A recent trip to the Renaissance Festival, one last trump through the MIA with Mags and Laena-lu, just to name a couple. Auntie Jan is going to miss them ever so much.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But Matt has been working towards this day for at least 16 years or more. He is more than ready to have a life dream come true. I’m sure he’s sad to leave his church and so many dear friends -- but he can’t wait to get there.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This is his calling. So who wouldn’t be overjoyed to be finally getting to the point you spent a third of your life preparing for, something so right that all your fiber is waiting for the fulfillment of. Not to mention the need it fulfills and the call of all believers to preach the gospel. Who wouldn’t be overjoyed to see this happen for a dear friend. There is something about this moment that says -- there is something <i>right</i> in the universe today, something <i>good</i> and <i>perfect</i> happening. I wouldn’t dare stand in the way.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I’m so glad they are going. I’m so sad they are leaving.</span></div>
<br /></div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-85970627402068645892012-09-23T00:17:00.001-05:002012-09-23T00:17:39.953-05:00Sunday's Child<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Monday's
child is fair of face,<br />Tuesday's
child is full of grace,<br />Wednesday's
child is full of woe,<br />Thursday's
child has far to go,<br />Friday's
child is loving and giving,<br />Saturday's
child works hard for his living,<br />And
the child that is born on the Sabbath day<br />Is
bonny and blithe, and good, and gay.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
first appeared in 1838 in a book about the <i>Traditions
of Devonshire</i>,
by A. E. Bray.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My mom taught me this poem when I was a child. I liked that I was born on the day that had the most attributes, it made me feel special. I guess that your birthday falls on the same day of the week when it's fifty years later.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stop on over and celebrate with me between 3-7 p.m. Bonfire in the backyard.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hU9rLc6Zqsg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-50127990575075799122012-09-12T13:04:00.002-05:002012-09-12T13:04:36.742-05:00The Great Shuffle: An Unnecessarily Long Description of One Aspect of Resettling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I packed up my house all into my attic in the fall of 2007. But I was around for a few months before I left for Kenya so I was in and out of my attic a few times. Then I was home starting in the fall of 2008 for another 8 months and I was up there again often enough to know exactly where certain things I wanted to get at were. Just before I left in 2009 I had a small influx of items from my sister’s house in Washington because she had passed away and we had shipped several boxes of photos to her when Mom had passed away in 2005. Plus my attic gained some of her artwork and eventually some pottery. I was here again briefly in the fall of 2010 and grabbed a couple of items from the attic. For the most part, my carefully packed attic was only lightly touched and mostly memorized until this point.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But when I finally landed in the Twin Cities at the start of last winter -- I was in my attic often enough to start shuffling items around. I needed some things for living. I was moving in with some dear friends who provided a bed and dresser, but I needed a winter coat and some wall decor -- you get the picture. This is when the shuffle really started.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">At the beginning of June I moved back into my own home! I was elated and didn’t waste a moment of unpacking all my furniture from the attic. I nearly filled up the house. How had I managed to contain all that is my little attic? I then arranged one corner of the attic with a bed and night stand. It’s very cosy there. But I left the attic for sleeping only and set about on a million little details around the house. The details are so minute I can’t even think now -- but they managed to drain my time over the last two months. I wanted to get everything <i>just so</i> for sharing the house with strangers.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w66ZEazsTkP8zXorzAcd8q0yCtQDLZSak5yNhdHNPiHwWRsOhW0Rx-lvZOvIf1kJhoyvDBcWDsEvK0LfyHY6jUIxw9TEItMK85agra_9T2DKJyzPZ8K7VObfyJVIE4i9rksl5P2vHIc/s1600/time_capsule_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w66ZEazsTkP8zXorzAcd8q0yCtQDLZSak5yNhdHNPiHwWRsOhW0Rx-lvZOvIf1kJhoyvDBcWDsEvK0LfyHY6jUIxw9TEItMK85agra_9T2DKJyzPZ8K7VObfyJVIE4i9rksl5P2vHIc/s320/time_capsule_2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">All this is to say I have neglected my attic until now. As I was unpacking in June I noticed that I kept some things that were very odd -- telephones and cassette tapes -- I dubbed my attic a time capsule. Finally I have to deal with the time capsule because I need a place that doesn’t take up the dining table to work. I have school to do. I looked around the other day and I couldn’t see a single surface in the attic. I have two small work tables, a large wooden desk and a laptop table but nowhere I could safely set my little Mac.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This won't be easy. I call it the great shuffle because I will likely spend the entire winter shuffling piles around trying to figure out what to keep, what to chuck, where to store things and so on. There’s a whole wall of footlockers and boxes; more in the closet and crawl space that all need to be dealt with. There are 2 boxes under the desk and several works of art under one of the tables. Maybe in the spring I can have a big sale. Eventually I will have a room back, but in the meantime, I’ll just shuffle.</span></div>
</div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-65579349310650809802012-09-10T10:36:00.001-05:002012-09-10T10:36:32.245-05:00Back in School<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Being back in the school is a good and right thing to be doing at this point. But at the same time feels funny. I have or I should say, had the potential to be one of those English nerds -- someone who went around correcting people’s grammar. If, at a young age, I had been at all pushed in that direction I would have been into reading and writing. It all comes fairly second nature to me. With my tendency towards perfectionism, I would have been a natural. Of course, I don’t have the personality of a librarian, so I’m sure it has all turned out for the best.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Regardless, I am thankful for a natural ability to “hear” the correct way to write a sentence under usual circumstances. I do a have bit of trouble in a few area but I’m learning tricks for remember grammatical rules.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">So far, songs have been my best help. When I was studying for the grammar entrance exam for Northwestern I wrote out a little card with a chart for “lay” and “lie” and at the bottom I wrote, “Bob Dylan was wrong.” I had one of the real grammar nerds in the school’s learning center ask me what that meant. I explained,</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">“When Bob Dylan sings, ‘Lay, lady, lay. Lay upon a smoky brass bed.’ he was wrong, it should have been ‘lie’. In this way, I can remember what people do and the difference in what we do to objects.”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The other day I was struggling in the school library over “I was” and “I were”. (I was working on the grammar rules for a class.) I asked a librarian for help. In her effort to explain it to me she went to the <a href="http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/">Grammar Girl website</a> (which I highly recommend) to help explain the time when you use were. As she showed me the page I realized I’d read and maybe even listened to this topic from Grammar Girl before. That was disconcerting since I just discovered Grammar Girl within the last 6 months -- why can’t a remember this rule! But then someone said, “Think of Tevye.” I immediately thought of the line, “If I were a rich man...” The trick for “were” is if it’s a wish or impossibility. I feel confident I will remember now.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">If I run into any more issues I have trouble remembering I will look for a song that illustrates it. Unfortunately, it’s a little late in the game for me to become a proper grammar police officer. However, with a bit of effort I hope to get to the point where I can catch myself and avoid being lazy in the area of writing. It turns out that Business Communications class is almost all about grammar, so here’s my chance to practice.</span></div>
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-91693174964517726132012-08-31T14:46:00.002-05:002012-08-31T14:53:13.363-05:00The Great Minnesota Get-Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1">I’m missing the get-together. The Minnesota State Fair is known for being the “Great Minnesota Get-Together”. I can’t really afford a visit this year, so I have spent considerable time thinking about past outings to this event over many years.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I first remember going to the Fair in high school. I may have gone when I was younger and just don’t remember. I went with some potential boyfriend and a group as a teen, I can’t see allowing a teen to go on her own now that I’m an adult, but my parents had raised a few kids by the time I got to be a teenager. My mom went to the fair with her girlfriends when I was in high school and I couldn’t really figure out what the draw was for her. We spent our time on rides. But I do remember her being disappointed in seeing what her favorite (WCCO) radio voice looked like in real life. Not exactly what she imagined from that handsome voice.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As a young adult I was at the Fair several years running. I worked in the International Bazaar in the <i>KENYA KENYA</i> booth for a few years selling my favorite handicrafts from East Africa. It was fun to have the access and see the throngs stroll by. I worked with a Muslim Kikuyu gal who wanted to go out for a beer after we got off for the day. I told her I don’t drink and thought it strange that she did. But then it slipped my mind and I brought her a ham sandwich for lunch. Oops. We both got over it.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I lived in a Christian community for a while and one of the guys there was enthralled with the ‘freak’ or side shows in the midway. He came home from seeing the ape women “Zambora” calling me Jambora. It wasn’t really endearing, but we were kids, so to speak. That experience made me aware of part of the Fair I hadn’t considered until then, and honestly I haven’t thought of much since either.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">One year I lived a few blocks from the main gates. Oh, the traffic! Some boy I knew at the time took me flying over the Fair at night. I toted my camera with the macro lens and got some awesome shots of the midway lit up at night. I’m sure if I dug through my photo boxes I would find those.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">At the end of one of the years I worked there I bought at hammock chair from the booth across from us. I couldn’t help myself, their spiel was so convincing. I got a deal on one that had been up the whole 10 days. That hammock chair hangs on my front porch today and is still one of the most relaxing chairs to sit in after a busy day.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I’m not one of those people that LOVES the Fair and can’t miss it! But I do like to go for a number of reasons. I remember one year going with a father and two sons to see Kirby Puckett and get an autograph. Going with different people allows you to see things at the Fair you may have missed. I like the art displays and seeing what the Grad Stand Hawkers are selling. When I was into swing dancing I went to see the competition of friends.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Nothing tops seeing through the eyes of internationals that have never before experienced such a thing. Last year I took the AFRIZO! Team to the Fair. They had their first public performance at the new Crossroads Chapel. But seeing them enjoy turkey legs and rides was much more fun! Also just experiencing the wide range of folks who attend the Fair is interesting. There is no better people watching then there.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMxxlFuc3w43VF64KDEEZXbQT2jzGU5ArJraETtimNRaFVBcNOXYdmja4r6-mohh5WxzBWmlqh_xpyUb1xurxupfLi7gcVNz0GyzQjYzRU7B-_eFJO6EaacAh_10Q1cz-86iqhtTDKa4/s1600/graduation+2011-223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMxxlFuc3w43VF64KDEEZXbQT2jzGU5ArJraETtimNRaFVBcNOXYdmja4r6-mohh5WxzBWmlqh_xpyUb1xurxupfLi7gcVNz0GyzQjYzRU7B-_eFJO6EaacAh_10Q1cz-86iqhtTDKa4/s320/graduation+2011-223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">My trip down memory lane makes up for not going this year. I wonder if I’ll ever need to go again if I can just think about the past trips.</span></div>
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-29713525873619978812012-08-04T07:18:00.002-05:002012-08-04T07:18:14.248-05:00Points North<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today Alice and I head up to Duluth and
join Lorraine for the evening. Tomorrow we continue up the coast of
Lake Superior to Grand Marais, returning to Duluth for a some more
fun on Monday and Tuesday. I love the North Shore. I used to make it
a regular practice to get up there often – but the last few years
have been challenging. (Never mind I've been living out of the
country some of that time.)</div>
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Needless to say, I'm looking very
forward to this road trip. (I haven't been able to say that too
quickly after 2.5 months on the road last fall.) Even though I hadn't
initially thought of it when planning, I think this will be a great
bonding time for 3 new friends. Now, off to hunt for my camera.
Hopefully photos will follow the weekend.</div>
</div>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-44359693994355690822012-07-31T11:48:00.003-05:002012-07-31T11:48:44.467-05:00Three's Company<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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That old show conjures up memories of
being young and having fun. I don't remembering it being a
particularly edifying story and I am no longer young – but I hope
this next season on life will be a little light-hearted on the home
front. (That is not to say I haven't enjoyed the dear friends I have
stayed with over the last year. But it <i>is</i> to say that I am glad to be
in <i>my</i> place and settled. See previous post.)</div>
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About a month ago I was joined in my
house by a new friend, Alice. How I found her was unlikely and
farfetched. However, once we met we discovered that we had one set of
close(ish) friends in common. I guess that made the agreement to live
together a bit easier than total strangers. Turns out Alice is almost
exactly 5 years younger than me, an age I consider to be in my range.
AND she is also going back to school so she can pursue a new career
path. She returned from 'the field' after 18 years of service just
two years ago. She has some very different interests from me, but so
far it's been a very good combo.</div>
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Tomorrow Lorraine is starting to move
in. I met her almost the same way, just as unlikely. She is starting
her second year of furlough from 'the field' in the hopes of
recruiting new teammates for her area during this year. She's put in
something like 32 years on the field. So she's a little older than
me.</div>
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All three of us were working with
people from the same continent, but those two speak French. (Is it
too late to learn?) I really feel like God came through for me here
in the housemate area. I was dreading renting to young people again
because some of my past experiences were challenging. One good thing
is that I'm a different person! But there is a camaraderie with
like-minded, over 40-year-olds. I am hopeful this will be a good
combination for the three of us. We'll see what happens.</div>
</div>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1767151676322631247.post-43525528357322369532012-07-20T14:15:00.004-05:002012-07-20T14:15:31.207-05:00Moving and Settling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have moved a lot of times in my life.
I have lived in several places in the past year, including a 12
passenger van! Now I'm back in my house, <i>my own home</i>. I love having a
home and making it mine. In fact, I am feeling close to settled for
the first time since May of last year. But I'm not completely
settled. I did hang up some art today, a few of my mom's paintings
and some other décor, but I didn't quite get it all up. In fact, I
feel like I'm missing a few things. Things I may have stashed away
and still haven't uncovered.</div>
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On top of feeling like I'm not finding
all I thought I had stored, I have a nagging feeling that I shouldn't
enjoy all these things. I should be content to live in a fox hole, or
something simple anyway, but I'm not. I feel somehow guilty about my
life back here in the US. To some it may sound silly, but that's how
I feel. I haven't lost my love for Africans but I like making a home
nice. It's important to me. I do that overseas too, but without my
resident's status there, feeling settled alluded me. It seems to me
that I am hardwired to want to feel settled.</div>
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I'm done moving around for a while, but
I'm not totally settled. I may never feel settled. I was asked the
other day if I miss Kenya with a deep longing to go back. I replied
that both places are home to me. So maybe in a sense I'm never fully
at home anywhere.</div>
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That is the point. We aren't at home
anywhere here on this planet, our home is elsewhere.</div>
</div>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698262421910598445noreply@blogger.com0