The joy of new beginnings!

Gazebo














turned glorified goat shed....

Decisions...

...the chosen.

Dinner...bedtime.

It's official folks...

The Thornblades of Castleton will soon be welcoming some bleating, cloven-hoofed creatures to the family!!!

Check out these snow sculptures I found on Middlebury College's quad...I think I like the apple core best!

Don't be deceived by the small pictures....

These sculptures were larger than life.

We made it! Most of the group from the Answers In Genesis film Academy after our "final test"....

The course, which took the group about a year to complete was a wonderful opportunity for this group of believers to reexamine and reaffirm our belief in Creation as fundamental in our Christianity. This course supported Creation based on the Word of God and education in science in accordance with the scriptures. We were equipped to better "Answer" the questions of our world today.

Compost: n. Anything that was alive, but didn't have a face.

Houghton Philharmonia Concert

Careth, Me, Deanna and Candace
after the concert.

Friday evening's entertainment. The concert was titled: "From The Frigid Lands" and contained music solely by Scandinavian composers (a repertoire very close to this Swedish-Highlander's heart).

(Unfortunately, the video of the piece I am about to describe was several minutes long and Blogger didn't seem to want to up load it, I hope to eventually get it uploaded or at least post a link to it. If anyone has any advice on uploading videos that might be helpful too.)

This piece (Slalom) was composed with a downhill ski course in mind. The composer wrote it to last the duration of a particular course. Apparently he enjoyed listening to music as he skied and wrote this for such a purpose. They included a PowerPoint presentation of parts of the piece and mountain. The best parts of the piece are the very beginning and end. (This video's sound quality doesn't do the musicians justice).

Houghton Visit

The girls being studious in Flat 111. Wall decorations range from Bob Dylan-Elvis Presley-Italian artist's work- African fabric paintings.

Father-Daughter Valentine's "Ball"

It was a fun evening...interesting as I was one of the few daughters over the age of 10, but we did get to practice the waltz! Explanation for the stuffed dog: Dad's gift in response to my ceaseless pleads for us to get a canine companion. Cute, but hardly a substitute.

I'm hoping to relieve some of this "travel bug" by taking a trip out to Western New York and to my beloved Houghton this weekend!!!

Classic!

So, a couple of months ago I managed to be in my first "fender bender." This resulted in an almost perfectly square hole in the front of my little Focus. Then... a couple of weeks ago I realized, only after I'd been driving around Rutland all day...that my car was ornamented with this little fella...the latest hood emblem. This is an example of my father's sense of humor. I've decided to let him stay along for the ride. Thanks Dad!

"This is not a dream that I'm living, this is just a world of Your own. You took me from all that I knew, showed me how it feels to hope. Here with me facing tomorrow, together I can learn to fly. It feels like I'm living in the lion's mouth, but the Lion is... Peace and Power, Love Forever, who am I to stand before You? I am speechless, but in my weakness, You are here and All Is Well!!!"

Saturday night on the Middlebury College campus. Hmmm...I feel like a college student again...evaluations and presentations. Thank you AmeriCorps!

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy!

We lift up the people of Haiti to You.
O God, hear our prayer!

oh Tanzania...

It was exactly two years ago today that I arrived in Dar es Salaam for my semester in Tanzania.

I recently heard from a friend of mine who is going on this year's trip and he was asking for advice for the time there and if there were any items I wished I'd brought or that were very useful to me during my time there.

My response was hands down...my head lamp! I used this wonderful invention almost every day for the 3 months and am so glad I brought it...from the night trips to the long-drop out houses to living in a tent it was an all around great purchase!

I also shared how important it is to take the time to visit with the people from the local villages around our campus...I regret not having spent even more time working on the language and communing with the people nearby.

I asked for a hello to be relayed to my friend Grace (pictured here), one of the women who did the washing of clothes for the students. (Here Maria and I are learning to make ugali...a corn meal staple for folks in that area.)

"You are my hiding place, You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance; whenever I feel afraid...

I will trust in You!!!"

Just uploaded a music playlist to this here blog...enjoy! It's kind of a random variety of my interests. Thank you Kacie, for showing me the ropes!

farewell...

Two weeks of caring for these hens has come to an end.... I have to admit, I grew kind of fond of them.

Merry Christmas Mama!

This year, mom received her Christmas gift from me about a week early.... She has long complained (and rightfully so) about that one crazy, deep, impossible cupboard in the kitchen. You know, the one where the very pan you need is always somehow buried in the back.
So I had the bright idea to somehow organize it for her...something we've been meaning to do for a long time. After some store searching and comparing of prices, I decided on these two rolling drawers from Home Depot. Dad purchased some wood and made new shelves and dividers, I installed the drawers and voila!!!!! We surprised her on her return from work. She was thrilled and very grateful for these new and useful additions!

Bob Dylan wannabe contest 11/28/09

Dad participated once again in the Bob Dylan impersonation contest this year. Alas, he was not the winner, but rumor has it the crowd was hushed as he stepped to the stage. He performed one of Dylan's more recent songs "Cry Awhile." These poses are the attempt to copy some of Dylan's expressions on the album photos. A video of the song is on it's way if the technical difficulties can be worked out.

Seeing how it's been 8+ months since I last posted....

I thought now might be a good time to do so.
Thought I'd change up the format a bit: change up the colors, the fonts, maybe even the pictures.
After all, this is a time of change in my life.
For the first time in about 16 years this next week will not be filled with school shopping and I'll not be heading off to some institution of education. It's odd, exciting, and sorrowful all at the same time.
Instead I'm stuck in this waiting time. This time waiting for the job to start, the last bits of the diploma to be earned, the loans to be paid off, the life to begin!
Lord give me strength to endure this! Yet let me not miss the here and now when I catch myself dwelling on what's to come!