Break!

My roommate, a friend and I are headed to the train station in four hours. We are off of school next week and are taking a break in Spain. Spain is only a train ride away, and we need some time outside of this country at the end of Ramadan. Some people even have to leave every ninety days because they don't have a residency card! Anyway, I will be away from my computer for the next week. But I promise plenty of pictures and hopefully video when I return. I knew I had to post about my absence, or the throngs would be disappointed. Ha!

New Friends...New Food

One of the cool things about moving somewhere completely new is meeting new friends.

Amber and me at Mary and Louise's birthday dinner

The yummy food at my favorite restaurant: white chocolate mousse with fresh strawberry sauce and mint leaves on top...
L'Entrecote -- the only thing you can order at my favorite restaurant. You cook your meat over Sterno until it's to your liking.

Near Death by Fruit

Yesterday I was a victim of a run-by-fruiting. No joke. I wasn't the only victim, nor was I the victim who coined the phrase. In fact, I think he "borrowed" it from this movie. The same person gave me the idea for the title of this post when he viewed an earlier post that had a similar title.

It started out as a perfectly normal day. I got out of the bed, took longer than I should have, and rushed (what else is new?) to be ready for our trip to the capitol. David, Mary, Amber, Tasha and I got a ride into the city and were glad to see that the train was fifteen minutes late. We purchased tickets, boarded the train, and headed to the capitol to celebrate Mary's birthday.

We found our way to a French restaurant that was still open for lunch during Ramadan. A rarity in and of itself. For a time, we were the only patrons at the restaurant. I suppose that's why our attacker chose to ambush when he did. I don't know much, but what I DO know is the look of horror I saw on Mary's face as she screamed, "Look out!" and pointed towards the street. Milliseconds later I heard a crash, felt water spill, and saw a plant that looked something like this (minus the warts) fly through the air and crash onto our table. Yes, we had been victims of a run-by fruiting (gourding?). A child of about eight or nine lobbed with near-perfect aim at our table, hit Tasha's hand, and almost knocked out David. Fortunately, it was a gourd and not a rock. We're unsure of the motive, but it did shake us up a little.

Upon leaving we heard a choir practicing at a churh on the next corner. We were so surprised to see a real-live church and hear a real-live choir that we all got out our cameras.

Apparently the church guard saw us smiling and taking pictures, and judging the color of our skins, decided we were not locals. He came over and invited us inside the church where we saw this:

It brought tears in my eyes to actually be in a place where the Savior was worshipped and acknowledged. After leaving the church we headed to the old city and the gardens there. They were beautiful! We didn't get to spend much time, but we did get to take some pictures.

And off we were to the blue part of the city. A guide wanted to take us around, but the girls decided that they knew their way around enough. We didn't need to pay money for some man to walk us around. He was just a little bit ticked that he was blown off, and proceeded to pull David aside and tell him that he would no longer talk to us because "they are stupid. Women are stupid. But you're not stupid. Only they are stupid." Fortunately, David defended us and said that we were not stupid. But the guy was not easily won over. I stewed over this for a while. Not about the fact that some random man called me stupid because I'm a woman, but for the fact that he would voice it to someone in our presence!

And here he is. The man who called us stupid. Of course, when I was taking this picture I didn't know he was calling us stupid. Can you see the looks on my comrades' faces? Do you see the accusatory pointing by the man? (In reality, this is not the time of the name-calling, but just prior to it.)

We missed the first train back into town and had to wait for the next train. And if this wasn't enough, the night had just begun. I'll let someone else take it from here...

Blondie

Then:
Now:

This post happened for a few reasons. First, to show some unbelieving people around here that I did, in fact, have blonde hair during my life. Second, to proove that I, too, could post pictures of cute kids in pumpkin patches.

Soon to be released: A Capitol Day of Crazy Fun

UN-Fettered

A few Sundays ago a friend and I were eating breakfast on my balcony, and I got a case of the giggles. In the pastures to the left of our vision, cows dwell and feed on the dead and dry grass.

Usually, these cows do little more than scuffle around the pasture, eating and occasionally moo-ing loud enough for us to hear them at the school. But this particular Sunday morning, the shepherdess had untied the rope fetters from their two front feet, and these cows were behaving uncharacteristically. They were skipping. Skipping, people! And bucking! And chasing each other. Actually running more than a few paces! I promise! I'm NOT making this up. You can ask Karen. (She was there.) I don't know about you, but I've never seen cows play before. Horses, yes. But not cows.

So I laughed. And laughed and laughed and laughed.

And laughed so hard I completely missed a great lesson He was trying to teach me. Fortunately, the image stayed with me and He was able to remind me of it again. The fettered cows are a lot like I was before I came to know my Savior. I was in chains. But He set me free. I should be running and skipping and rejoicing! But so many times I don't. I still scuffle around grazing on the brown grass as if my feet were still fettered.

Yes, He showed me this through a cow. Isn't He cool?

"How Marvelous" by Charles H. Gabriel
I stand amazed in the presence
of Jesus the Nazarene
and wonder how He could love me
a sinner condemned unclean

How marvelous
How wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous
How wonderful
Is my Savior's love for me

He took my sins and my sorrow
and made them His very own
and He bore the burden to Calvary
and suffered and died alone

And when the Ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
will be my joy through the ages
to sing of His love for me

Flashbacks

Every once in a while I'll have a flashback. I'll see something or hear something or smell something that reminds me of my past. Today I saw something that made me have one of those flashbacks. Don't laugh.

Not just any potty, mind you, but a Crane potty.

Think I'm crazy yet? Let me explain. Years ago Allie and I went to Superwow. I was a chaperone, and Allie had just finished high school. We were going with the youth group to Jekyll Island. We were excited to go because some of our guy friends were working at Superwow, and we hadn't seen them all summer. Allie and I invited one of my dear friends from college, Carrie, to join us.

The plan was to attend Superwow with the youth group, and then when they boarded the bus to depart for home, we would stay behind and spend some time with our friends. Now a certain someone had told us we could probably stay in the staff house while we visited him. But that certain someone was apparently mistaken. As the bus pulled off and my mom looked anxiously out the window at her daughters who were staying behind in Jekyll Island with no plans for accomodations, I should have realized we were in for a long weekend. I should have chased the bus down. But if I would have done that, I wouldn't have this entertaining story to tell you.

Carrie, Allie and I packed up the car and headed to find a hotel. The first hotel we came to was a Sheraton. Very basic, run-of-the-mill, nothing really exciting about it Sheraton. $200 a night! $200!! Our jaws dropped, and we were speechless. Surely there was a mistake. But, no. Being such a small community the hotel was completely booked with tourists and people going to a convention.

I'm not sure what we did after that. I'm not sure how we found our way around or what in the world made us drive up to these gates, but we did.

We drooled as we looked inside and joked about staying there. Someone, I'm not sure who, suggested we might as well drive inside and inquire. It never hurt anybody to ask. (Did I mention before that we were in college and had just been to a youth camp?) We agreed to drive in. As we did, we noticed people on the lawn playing croquet. Allie breathed, "Oh, look! Crochet!"

After inquiring as to the price, we realized that it would only cost fifty more dollars a night to stay here than it would at the Sheraton. Hel-lo! We weren't dumb! After a brief and decisive "meeting," we handed over the credit card to be charged for two nights. We were totally going to stay there. We became all giddy as the porter loaded our bags and showed us to our cottage. The Crane cottage.

Falling into our HUGE king bed that we would share, we perused the services at the resort. Traditional English tea?! Cool! We called and made a reservation for it. To heck with the fact that it was $20 a piece, we were already spending lavishly, what was another twenty? We dressed cute and headed toward the Riverview Lounge where we would have tea and crumpets.

We laughed and acted proper and raised our pinkies. We were getting used to and liking the wealthy society! On the way back to the cottage the skies opened up and it poured! We ran, screaming and laughing, all the way back to the cottage where we sloshed water all over the antique floors. We may have been ready for high society, but they weren't ready for us!

As we got ready to meet the guys that night, we were excited about fun time with friends and together. When the guys picked us up, they informed us that instead of hanging out with us that weekend and showing us around Jekyll, they had suddenly decided to drive six hours back home the following morning to visit their families.

Hold up. We had made this special trip and they were ditching us?

"You mean to tell me that we made plans which were shot down to stay in the staff house, drove around looking for a hotel and finally found one for $250 A NIGHT, stayed back and didn't go on the bus so we could visit with you, and YOU'RE GOING HOME?! "

Oh my gosh, I don't know when I'd been more mad.

And it was true. We only stayed one night. Fortunately, the hotel let us cancel our second night without having to pay. But, you know what? We had a great trip, just us girls. We talked late into the night, found out what each other wanted in a future husband and what Shannon really looks for, and laughed until we cried. And I didn't stay mad for long because I knew I'd have wonderful memories.

I remembered all of that just by looking at the toilet with "Crane" on it in the girls' room. (For we learned while we stayed at the Jekyll Island Resort that the Crane cottage was named after the Crane family who began the plumbing business so long ago.) Every time I see one, I think of our trip.

And now, you probably will too!

Pamela: This ranks on my top list of road trips.

Stephen: No hard feelings. Swear. Love you! ;)

A Visitor

Today we left the door to our apartment open. I saw a white and gray creature run in. It was Shadow. Shadow is the cat that lives downstairs. Shadow's mommy is very sick. His parents have returned to Canada for treatment. Shadow misses them very much and is desperate for attention. I didn't mind that he found his way in and made himself comfortable. I got a "cat fix" for a while.

Now, Jay, don't you worry. You still have the #1 spot in my heart. I miss you very much!

A song is worth 1,000 words

Heard this song by Sanctus Real on a friend's site. The lyrics couldn't describe my life right now any better. Go there. You can hear it.

If weakness is a wound
That no one wants to speak of
Then “cool” is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune
I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth,
I need to confess

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to You, it leads me to You

Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I’m open wide
With nothing left to cling to
Only You are there to lead me on
Cause honestly, I’m not that strong

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to You, it leads me to You

And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to You
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to You
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to You
And I move, and I move, and I move...

I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
Leads me to You, leads me to You

I’m not alright, I’m not alright, I’m not alright...that’s why I need You

You know you live in North Africa if...

Remember all those sayings "You know you're a redneck if..."? Well, you know you live in North Africa if the directions you've been given look something like this. Sorry, Lauren. I couldn't resist! (I know they're not your directions.)

Footprints in the Sand

I took this picture this morning at the beach. It reminded me of one of my favorite poems. Except in this picture I saw something different: dozens of footprints. I was reminded of just how many workers have walked and are walking on this soil to make His Name known. May He glorify Himself.