this is great. i empathize with this guy.

a little rain on the parade

i just had a visit from pretty much the cutest girl i know. you can check out her blog here. she escapes from her house and before i know it, i hear a little "tap, tap, tap" on our door. i think she may just come because i give her m&m's (i say, "vil du ha en sjokolade?" and her little face lights up), but today we also shared an apple and danced to a little bob dylan. she makes me smile.

i needed to be cheered up today. i received a phone call yesterday from my mom telling me my grandfather passed away. i wasn't particular close to him but felt immensely sad - sad for so many reasons, so many people. i know it's hard to go through death when you encounter it face to face, but when you're thousands of miles away, helpless and somewhat alone because no one knows your history with that person... i really can't put it in words. it consumes my thoughts, yet i want to run from it. God is speaking many things through this.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" Psalm 91.1,2

my dad. me.
my mom. me.
norway. 80's, rain. nice.
i've been in the office the past couple days - not much to do, but have caught up on emailing and such. my apartment is empty which has made for a quiet transition back.
i've had time to think through the coming year and i'm positive about what is to come. new opportunities and possibilities create an infectious atmosphere.
next week it's off to the ywam norway's worker's gathering and dts training.

last thoughts

i've spent my last day in America in a flurry of coffee dates with friends (we only have one coffee shop in the area, so it made for a long day) and i'm topping off the evening with a movie with my mom and perhaps "The Colbert Report." i'll save the packing for late night/early morning.

i was reflecting on my summer and the only word that can possibly describe it is... redemptive. i went through this horribly depressed time in college that made me seriously doubt how anyone could ever want to actually choose to be around me. but the quality friends i had then are my friends even now. this summer i was able to spend time with friends i haven't been able to really talk to in years. God has redeemed me - with His plan for my life, my friends, overall stability, my family. and it's consoling to know that i can be me now, that i'm no longer afraid to share me and all that comes with that. and it's somewhat reassuring that i'm wasn't the only person who felt lost during those formidable years and that yes, it can all be redeemed.

to sum it up: it was a mighty fine summer.

the only penguin celebrating the 113 degree temp (45C)

view in kansas city

summer flowers

my front yard

prison and gray hair

two weeks left in the states and time has flown. i have literally done next to nothing the past four weeks and it's been great. this past week has been a bit busier as i've read lots, laid out, had lunch with a supporter, went to a women's prison for a bible study, and the past couple days i have been in joplin (where i went to college) to meet up with old friends. i began going to the women's prison last summer when i was here and i look forward to it so much. as we got there i was asked to share. i was quite unprepared, but felt i should share from Ps. 91 and 120 -chapters that sustained me in Botswana. after i finished, a woman who had just been transferred to this particular facility that day said that she had re-dedicated her life a few weeks before when a pastor preached from those exact chapters and she really needed to hear them again. God is so faithful!

here's a story. when i went to joplin, i had my hair cut and highlighted. it had been several months, so i was due. i went to this crazy little salon that was painted purple and had a zebra striped claw bathtub on a shelf. it was great. i told stacey, my stylist, that i was really just getting highlights to cover up a few gray hairs (i'm only 26! thanks for those genes, mom.). she said she couldn't even notice them, but when she got to a spot right on the top of my head, she stopped and said, "oh my gosh! you're right! i can't believe all this gray hair! i'm 10 years older than you and this is way more than i have!" (all these exclamation points are needed). thanks, lady. i'm paying you to cut my hair, not comment on it.
here's to growing old with grace (and hair color)...