oh kids!

Week 7!
Frick - that's by the way my word of the week. hate it if you must, it'll pass.

Anyhow. I haven't updated in forever, it kindof blows my mind that Phase 2 is more than half over.

hmmm. I started this post thinking i'd just fill in the last 7 weeks in something concise, but i just dont think i'll be able to do it. I just spend the last 3+ hours researching russian church statistics and youth culture. Huge research project, but i'm finally making some progress, so praise the Lord. For a country I've hardly even remembered in the past i'm surprised at how interested i am in all this research. Praise God for that too. It's a lot of work but it's not boring. I'm just a little frustrated with my lack of internet access with my own computer, but props for La Dolce Vita....my free wireless friend :)

Sigh. long night. That's all for now.

I will start to update this more.

I wonder who even reads this????

the ZOO!

Today we went to the zoo. Good times taking pictures of animals and wandering amongst the other Denverites enjoying a FREE trip to the zoo. Needless to say it was crowded, and being hot we were very thirsty. But I enjoyed the sunshine and the easy fellowship. I'm grateful for little activities like that to make getting to know people easier. I wonder how many other Saturdays will be sent in such wonderful casualness. We started yesterday discussing this HUGE people group project we have to do for this school. Ahhhh....acadamia....it's been a while, but yay for a fresh challenge.

"It's fun to go to the YMCA!!!!"

Yay! I worked out. I gonna continue to also! Last night I headed down the gym with four of the guys from my school and had one of the best work outs ever. It's inspiring when the people you're with want to stay forever to find more things to do instead of 25 minutes on a machine and then go home. So for the first time I've got workout buddies and even though i'm the only girl I think it's going to be really fun, and praise the Lord really healthy as well. It seems like, at least this last week, I have quite a few hours to choose my own activity. And while being social non-stop is somewhat attractive I'm glad I can do something like going to the gym that doesn't really fit into that category...cuz I can go by myself whenever I want to also.

Anyhow, I'm not suffering from JetLag like I did on DTS but it still seems like my brain isn't totally up to speed yet, so YAY I'm going to the gym. That's all for this post. :)

First Days...

PHASE II has begun. There are about 41 students in my school and about 30something DTSers that just started thier school yesterday as well. I have 7 roomates, but my room is surprisingly cozy, I think it will be a great group all together. There are definitly a lot of people to get to know, especially compared to the 11 i had to get to know on dts. It's a little intimidating because so many Phase II students have already done thier DTS here in Denver and many did them together, so these first two days are filled with a lot of reunions among friends. Although I am rarely a fan of planned fun as " bonding time" usually tends to be, I think it will be very helpful with so many other students.
I wish i could say something really deep about what i'm expecting or some great revelation I've had so far, but basically i'm just expectant and hopeful because I am at peace that this is where God wants me. These next few days will hopefully find me finding my place in the group and a eventually discovering God's vision for me.
Day Two..... signing off.

Arrived

I am here. In Denver. Starting school on Monday. LOVING my time so far with Kate and her friends. More to come...

Braces off! (pictures coming soon)

Birthday looming....is there something I should do on my last day as a teenager?

Will it rain enough tomorrow for me to stay warm and cozy at home, or shall I stand and be bored earning my last few dollars for the year? Why anyone would associate the "unemployed nature" of being in YWAM as being without work I can only associate with lack of knowledge. Why only this afternoon I remembered with a crooked smile my own work duties on DTS...quite a range of things, and wondered just what I'd be getting myself into when I arrive in Denver. Will I be treated like a 'grown up' student, or like a 'little kid student' as the lines seemed so clearly drawn in Townsville? I'm not sure. All I know is there'll be no complaining because I'm choosing to go back...and it's a choice I doubt I will regret.

I'm thinking everyday of just what things will be piled into my little car before I leave and I only wish I could fit all the people I love into a box and take it with...alas you can't fit that many people into one box and no one wants to live in a box with a dog....so i suppose the box isn't the loving option for anyone concerned. Packing thankfully is still a few days adventure away....so it's just off to bed for now.

goodnight

Countdown continues, if somewhat hesitant about my excitement

Days til:

braces off : 3

20th birthday: 5

last day of work: 7

arrival in Denver: 13

falling for fall

yes friends, though I can't stress enough that I am SAD my summer was here one day gone the next, I am adjusting to the beauty that fall brings. I do love the scent of neighborhood wood stoves waking from summer slumber, and the colors of leaves losing their battle with the frost...brisk mornings, and breezy days are wonderful. I do hate it getting dark so much earlier these days...but that can't be helped. All in all I am falling for fall....and all the it has to bring.

September 9th, 2004 -
5 days until I am DONE with my braces.
7 days until I am DONE being a teenager (yay I'll be 20!!! ).
10 days until I and DONE working at Eagle Bend
13 days until I LEAVE for Denver.
14 days until I see KATE!!

Looking forward too: studenthood, community living, the big city, new friends, yes- Autumn in the Rockies,
scarves, sweaters, music, a new church, taking notes, driving to the mountains, cozy
bunkbed, to name a few.....

Not looking forward to: saying goodbye to my family, saying goodbye to my brother for possibly a few years,
leaving behind my "girl's best friend" Bella Lou (who just celebrated her first birthday
a few weeks ago), the long long long drive by myself, curfew, daylights savings time
like I said, it can't be helped.)....to name a few more.

Now I'm off.... to a free dinner I got in the mail. Who ever said there's nothing good about having a birthday?! I've heard the more of them you have the longer you'll live..... thoughts to ponder for today.

sufficiently chastized

well...gone are the days when my car didn't have enough guts to go over the speed limit..and so long also to 3 years and 11 months of a perfect driving record. Thank you Officer M. Johnson of the Idaho Highway Patrol for seeing to it that I will noe better watch my speed zones...(or at least keep a better eye out for cop cars) from now on. What does 60 mph speed zone mean to you? For myself it seems that while 'in the zone' mentally, 73 mph in the aforementioned 'zone' equals exactly $53dollars....ironically enough the exact amount I've earned in wages this week due to several cancelled workdays caused by unseasonal and depressing rainshowers, followed by three days' vacation.
I suppose that while my mother's car seems to prefer 70+mph and tries (almost independantly it seems) to travel thus I and my faithful 'Max' will be humbly much more aware of our speed as we journey south in three weeks to our new home in Denver. Yes, I will try to contain the excitement that is growing about this new season approaching somewhere other than in the weight of my right foot.

this of course was my companions dry and happy BEFORE the monsoon-like rain started at dark