October 13, 2012
Pho-o-toes. Life in color.
September 19, 2012
just one of THOSE days.
Just one of THOSE weeks?
Our power went out in our room. We have no electrical outlets. We found out our RA neglected to put in a work order.
The food in our fridge spoiled.
My bright orange car was hit. It was parked completely within the lines. I have to take it in for an estimate and then leave it there for a while.
I have been off in practicing volleyball. I feel like I am not quite sure how to play anymore.
I keep mixing up Spanish and Italian.
I just got a massive pen stain on my shirt. The washers are full.
300+ mealpoints are missing from my student account. I don't know if I will be able to get them back.
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Okay G-d. It's one of THOSE weeks. A week where I get to grow. A week where I have to look a little harder to find the good in life. It's a week where I need to look forward to the unseen and focus less on the seen, because things that are the seen are transient.
Our power went out in our room. We have no electrical outlets. We found out our RA neglected to put in a work order.
The food in our fridge spoiled.
My bright orange car was hit. It was parked completely within the lines. I have to take it in for an estimate and then leave it there for a while.
I have been off in practicing volleyball. I feel like I am not quite sure how to play anymore.
I keep mixing up Spanish and Italian.
I just got a massive pen stain on my shirt. The washers are full.
300+ mealpoints are missing from my student account. I don't know if I will be able to get them back.
___________________________________________________
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Okay G-d. It's one of THOSE weeks. A week where I get to grow. A week where I have to look a little harder to find the good in life. It's a week where I need to look forward to the unseen and focus less on the seen, because things that are the seen are transient.
September 11, 2012
the start of something new.
hello interweb world. it's been a while.
I can't say that I'm really ready to get back to blogging, but I'm a lot more ready than I was a month ago. A month ago was Israel and Jordan, and craziness, and decisions, and madness spinning and spinning. A month ago I was across the world, both literally and figuratively. A month ago I was not ready to face real life again.
A lot has changed in a month. The seas have calmed a little bit, I am back at school.
That is something that I could not confidently say a month ago.
I am now a student athlete.
That is something that I thought I would never be able to say again. A month ago I wasn't even sure that I could say that.
But a lot has changed in a month.
I am enjoying being back at school. At times the differences - already - between this year and last hit me, and I pause and wonder at what is to come. In many ways this year is quieter for me. My classes are not overwhelming, I do not have to make new friends, my schedule is consistent. I like this. But I am not a creature of habit. I tell myself I like routine and everything to be in order, I think this is a lie. I like change. If there aren't changes in life I get bored. So sometimes I have to tell myself to be satisfied with this life were everything is simply good right now. To enjoy the easy times because there will be storms ahead. So then I sit back and try a new concept in college - relaxation time. Enjoyment.
I think maybe a secret to happiness is learning how to be satisfied in every situation.
I'm still learning that.
But here's to the start of something new, because, to me, it is obvious that a new chapter in my life has begun.
Because I am not the same person as I was a year ago.
Because I am not even the same person as I was a month ago.
Because now I am more than I was then, and because now I am just the tinniest bit closer to the human being G-d is willing me to become.
So here is to the closing of a chapter of my life. It may be a little while before I open the next one fully, but for now, I sit and I wait. I try to be content and satisfied, and for now, it's working.
I can't say that I'm really ready to get back to blogging, but I'm a lot more ready than I was a month ago. A month ago was Israel and Jordan, and craziness, and decisions, and madness spinning and spinning. A month ago I was across the world, both literally and figuratively. A month ago I was not ready to face real life again.
A lot has changed in a month. The seas have calmed a little bit, I am back at school.
That is something that I could not confidently say a month ago.
I am now a student athlete.
That is something that I thought I would never be able to say again. A month ago I wasn't even sure that I could say that.
But a lot has changed in a month.
I am enjoying being back at school. At times the differences - already - between this year and last hit me, and I pause and wonder at what is to come. In many ways this year is quieter for me. My classes are not overwhelming, I do not have to make new friends, my schedule is consistent. I like this. But I am not a creature of habit. I tell myself I like routine and everything to be in order, I think this is a lie. I like change. If there aren't changes in life I get bored. So sometimes I have to tell myself to be satisfied with this life were everything is simply good right now. To enjoy the easy times because there will be storms ahead. So then I sit back and try a new concept in college - relaxation time. Enjoyment.
I think maybe a secret to happiness is learning how to be satisfied in every situation.
I'm still learning that.
But here's to the start of something new, because, to me, it is obvious that a new chapter in my life has begun.
Because I am not the same person as I was a year ago.
Because I am not even the same person as I was a month ago.
Because now I am more than I was then, and because now I am just the tinniest bit closer to the human being G-d is willing me to become.
So here is to the closing of a chapter of my life. It may be a little while before I open the next one fully, but for now, I sit and I wait. I try to be content and satisfied, and for now, it's working.
July 28, 2012
Sabbatical.
This is my sabbatical from blogging.
Not that I have been doing much of it recently anyways, but I need a break from a lot of things right now. So this is my sabbatical; from blogging, from life. I'll be back soon, in full force, so don't click that unfollow button just yet. Sometimes life just requires a little down time.
Until then, shalom.
Not that I have been doing much of it recently anyways, but I need a break from a lot of things right now. So this is my sabbatical; from blogging, from life. I'll be back soon, in full force, so don't click that unfollow button just yet. Sometimes life just requires a little down time.
Until then, shalom.
July 23, 2012
Home. Yet Again.
It's hard to believe that I've been on the other side of the world yet again, and that I'm back home now.
Sometimes I wish I could spend 40 days in the wilderness like Jesus did and marvel at its utterly bare, continuous, beautiful self.
July 3, 2012
Heat Wave
Well. It's a little hot here in Jordan. Yesterday I almost burnt my tongue from the water in my water bottle.
- my life in Jordan
- my life in Jordan
July 1, 2012
Israel. Hello and Goodbye.
I realize that it has been a while since I have last updated. I do feel as if I have an excuse though - hence the real reason I didn't bring my computer to Israel. :)
Today is my last real day in Israel before I head out for Jordan. It's a little bittersweet. I've gotten used to everything here and it seems a shame to leave. On the other hand, most people have already left for the states by now, so that makes continuing onto Jordan a little bit easier. A little bit. But the unknown is always difficult.
On the whole, I've enjoyed my 3 week stay here. Certainly a lot more than I thought I would enjoy it. We were kept very busy, fed very well, and we were continually wishing for more time in all the places we visited. I've discovered it's very hard to see a country in 3 weeks, much less appreciate it how it should be appreciated.
(Quick) Highlights:
1) The group. Our class was awesome, to put it simply. We had a wide range of people and each one of them made the trip interesting - I will not be forgetting any of them easily. It does make saying goodbye hard though, as I wish that all of them went to Gordon or were at least in the area. Really, I can't say enough good things about our group.
2) Our teachers who know everything. See, a lot of people think they know everything, but the Phillips' really do. And they are humble about it. Not only are they excellent role models, but they are just really amazing people with amazing stories, like many people on this trip.
3) Connecting locations and biblical passages. This was our class description in a nut shell, but our experiences were so much more. To put it simply, I will never read the bible in the same way that I once used to, and I'm really glad for it.
4) Riding a camel. See below.
5) The 3 nights on the Sea of Galilee. We definitely ended the trip on a high note. The accommodations were wonderful and these nights were the most relaxing, even if everyone was exhausted. Singing worship hymns on the beach looking out to the city of Tiberius was also special. It should really be counted as its own highlight.
Those have been my highlights for the last 3 weeks. They have been tiring ones, but worth while ones. I am glad that I decided to come, but I am ready to be home. I know that the next 2 weeks will be challenging ones, but I have hopes that they will just as fruitful.
Signing off for a while.... but returning soon.
- Krystal
PS: No pictures for now; I do not have the technology or the time to upload pictures right now but, rest assured, much like last summer, I will try to do a series of posts when I get back.
Today is my last real day in Israel before I head out for Jordan. It's a little bittersweet. I've gotten used to everything here and it seems a shame to leave. On the other hand, most people have already left for the states by now, so that makes continuing onto Jordan a little bit easier. A little bit. But the unknown is always difficult.
On the whole, I've enjoyed my 3 week stay here. Certainly a lot more than I thought I would enjoy it. We were kept very busy, fed very well, and we were continually wishing for more time in all the places we visited. I've discovered it's very hard to see a country in 3 weeks, much less appreciate it how it should be appreciated.
(Quick) Highlights:
1) The group. Our class was awesome, to put it simply. We had a wide range of people and each one of them made the trip interesting - I will not be forgetting any of them easily. It does make saying goodbye hard though, as I wish that all of them went to Gordon or were at least in the area. Really, I can't say enough good things about our group.
2) Our teachers who know everything. See, a lot of people think they know everything, but the Phillips' really do. And they are humble about it. Not only are they excellent role models, but they are just really amazing people with amazing stories, like many people on this trip.
3) Connecting locations and biblical passages. This was our class description in a nut shell, but our experiences were so much more. To put it simply, I will never read the bible in the same way that I once used to, and I'm really glad for it.
4) Riding a camel. See below.
5) The 3 nights on the Sea of Galilee. We definitely ended the trip on a high note. The accommodations were wonderful and these nights were the most relaxing, even if everyone was exhausted. Singing worship hymns on the beach looking out to the city of Tiberius was also special. It should really be counted as its own highlight.
Those have been my highlights for the last 3 weeks. They have been tiring ones, but worth while ones. I am glad that I decided to come, but I am ready to be home. I know that the next 2 weeks will be challenging ones, but I have hopes that they will just as fruitful.
Signing off for a while.... but returning soon.
- Krystal
PS: No pictures for now; I do not have the technology or the time to upload pictures right now but, rest assured, much like last summer, I will try to do a series of posts when I get back.
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