Hello Chicago!

I think I figured out a way we can see each other...."

The voicemail was from my best friend from college. Jennie is 2 days younger than I am. We have made a habit of spending our birthdays together--even when I was in Haiti, she came there one year! She moved to Chicago last year, and since I was in IL, I couldn't stand not to get together--especially with our birthdays having just passed. However, she just had a baby 2 weeks ago, which made traveling complicated. So she came up with a plan: I take the train to Chicago! It was a perfect plan.

I was pretty nervous about getting on the train in Carlinville, IL, but it did stop for me and I had delightful, 4.5-hour trip up. I was so excited about being on the train I was about ready to go chat the snack-bar man's head off because I was dying to let it all out! And take my picture with him since the train was practically empty. Hah. Nothing like being a tourist in your own country. :) But I refrained and had a lovely time of journaling, reading, and watching shows on my laptop. They even had electrical outlets for all the passengers!

I had to get on the Chicago Metra after that to take me to Jennie's side of town, but my train was late, so I missed the 12:35 run I had hoped to catch, and had to wait another hour for the next train. While waiting, I got engrossed in a game of sudoku on my phone, and when I checked the time, it was 1:35. I jumped up, ran over to the train track, and there was my train, pulling out of the station. Unbelievable! So I had to wait another hour. I watched some episodes of "The Big Bang Theory," checking my watch every 5 minutes. Ten minutes before the train was due to leave, it occurred to me that maybe I should check the status board and make sure the train was not early. It was flashing BOARDING! I nearly missed it yet again. Whew!





















I had a precious 24 hours with Jennie & baby Grace Winifred and got to meet Daddy Ed as well. They treated me to Chicago-style pizza and it snowed! If you zoom in you can see it falling through the car window. Last time I was with Jennie we played in Portland snow. Jennie & Sarah time is never complete without a mother-load of chips 'n' salsa.

Another IL Thanksgiving

Back in May or June my cousin Kallie (1st cousin, once removed) informed her grandma (my Aunt Judy) that I would be here for Thanksgiving this year because apparently I told her 3 years ago that I would see her again when she was 9. How little did I know at that point! I definitely would not have guessed that she would remember that, nor would I have guessed a year ago that it would actually happen. It was my first time to see Aunt Judy without my Uncle Terry, who passed away in March last year. It was weird not to have him in the kitchen taking control. His famous fudge lived on, though, through his niece Amanda and granddaughter Kallie. Aunt Judy was nervous about doing the turkey, but it turned out fabulous. Her sister-in-law managed to make Uncle Terry's yummy croissant rolls.




















I got to spend a few days with my cousin Tami and her 4 girls before they drove down to Disney World for vacation. We ate at Springfield's Maid-Rite Sandwich shop, which boasts of having America's first drive-thru window.

When I wasn't out and about visiting people, I was with my grandma, enjoying life in her assisted-living home.I got to play my flute for the residents before the meals, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My Uncle Steve (mom's youngest sibling) dropped by for a visit the night before I left, and I talked his ear off. In my defense, he kept popping one question after another! :)

My great-uncle Jimmy (grandma's little brother) dropped by one day and said, "Judy told me Sarah was going to be here. I couldn't remember who she was, so I came to see her." :) He is 75 and in great health. Says he has never had a head-ache in his life. He is getting ready to drive all over the south for a month with a lady friend of his and go on a Caribbean cruise while he's at it. I got lots of stories while I was with family, which is always fun.

Weeping Soul--Boone, Sweet Boone

I just completed my Boone blog from Nov 14:

Tomorrow I leave Boone. My soul (and body) wept as I stood on Howard's Knob Thursday night, listening to music and feeling utterly overwhelmed with emotion as I looked over the familiar hills and valley and city lights. I think maybe this is what Colleen is talking about when she says her soul aches over the beauty of a place. I didn't know I needed a cry. But thoughts and memories tsunami-ed over me, leaving my soul like a graveyard of incomplete thoughts and memories, barely able to save the life of a single thought. People in my life at ASU. The stark contrasts I experience in my life--from heat to freezing cold; from the turquoise ocean to the naked-tree-mountains; from hiking a mountain in Haiti for my water to water that comes at the flip of a wrist; from candle and kerosene lighting to light switches that always work. People in my life on the island. Questions about life for the next 6 months. Picturing the first Christmas on those hills (some Christmas songs popped up on my iPod). Longing to connect longer with people. Yearning for more of the mountains.... on and on it went. I think some walkers happened upon me at one point, frozen in their tracks at the dark figure convulsing in sobs and shivers. I prayed they would go away, and the 3rd time I peeked I didn't see their shadows. I felt despair that one week in Boone would simply not be enough. But I often hit a mid-time-panic-mode when I have a limited time somewhere. I think I will survive. :)

On Monday, Carol organized a get-together for me so I could see everyone at once (thanks!). 12 kids and 12 adults! Good times. I took a personal day on Tuesday, and it rained with the hurricane coming through. My good friend, Rachel, was going to come up on Wednesday (Veteran's Day), but cancelled, so I spent another rainy day inside, catching up on email.

I've been staying with Susan, my roommate from my 3rd year at ASU (left). It is lovely to be able to see her every evening and not be pressed for time. I didn't venture out again until Thursday afternoon, when I met up with Carol for more chat time.

Friday I hung out with Erin, Anna, and kids for most of the day. The sun came out again! Then I drove around for a while and ended up at the cabin where Erin & Danny used to live (as did Anna & David) and sat on the porch playing my guitar until my fingers froze with the setting sun.

I got to hang out with Erin and family again because I left something at their house and went back Saturday to retrieve it, staying for several hours. Their home with 5 boys (ages 3-9) oozes with love, peace, and respect. It is such a refreshing, hopeful, and stimulating home to be in.

After ABF tomorrow the journey continues...
Tennessee is next, with MarySue.

Birthday Goodness--32!

What an awesome birthday! Starting with amazing Mexican food with Tammy and family, then hot fudge pudding cake and ice cream on Thursday night.



Friday I drove towards Atlanta, stopped at Allatoona Lake for a snooze, guitar playing, and journaling. Then I was with teammates and we went to a Japanese steak house for supper to celebrate, followed by some cool gifts.


Saturday we road-tripped down to Birmingham to see David get married, and the reunions continued. Fun times. What a rare and beautiful thing to witness a wedding marked by the purity God intended.


Met lots of new great people, too--wives, best friends, mom, and aunt of teammates. I also got to meet people who built my team leader's house. All in all a memorable and very special birthday weekend. Goodbye 31, hello 32!

Rolling on to Boone

Friday evening last week I began making my way slowly towards Boone. I drove to Gastonia and spent the night with Danny and Sue, friends of my parents from before my life. I had a lovely visit with them, hearing stories from their first years of knowing my parents and also grandparents.

The next day I met up with with a college friend in Hickory. We ate at a place called "Ham's" and I was amazed that their lengthy menu had hardly any swine choices on it! Our waiter thought Tara and I were twins, or at the very least, sisters. I think we might have gotten that in college, too. Maybe we need to check our genealogies. :)

I spent the night in Hickory with more family friends--back from before I can remember. I got to join them for church Sunday, which was a lot of fun--a family was there from Haiti!

Let the Good Times Roll...

During my week with Emily, I went down to Waxhaw to borrow a car for my travels (thank you, Hess's!) and spent a couple nights with the Hopkins. I had a suite all to myself and spent the day in isolation except when summoned for mealtimes. :) I was pampered and loved. Thank you, Ann and Tom!

On Sunday I went to Messiah, where I attended through high school with my family. I got to have lunch with Tim, Sue, and Matt afterwards, and catch up on their lives. Missed having Mike and Robin there. Mmmmm to the the mesquite chicken salad at Chili's.

On Monday, Nov 2, I drove over to the Edgeworth's in Weddington and got to visit with them over dinner and breakfast. Then they drove off to the beach for the week, and I stayed behind, enjoying their lovely home, pretending it was my own for a few days. I enjoyed cable TV and the great window views and had friends over and was, in general, a bum. Oh, and I fed their 4 outdoor cats, including the one with 6 toes.

On Wednesday morning I had hoped to have Mieke (my childhood best friend's little sister) come over for a visit, but Tuesday evening she made an early trip to the hospital to be induced due to some complications. Jace Ezekiel was born at 1:20 am on Nov 4 with barely one push, weighing 5 lbs, 6 oz. I got to go visit with them the next night. He was a sleepy little bundle (worn out from circumcision that morning), and was not happy when Mieke let me wake him for feeding time.

Good Times

After Virginia, my aunt dropped my dad and I off at the airport in Charlotte. Dad started his flights back to Singapore and my very good friend from Orlando, Emily, picked me up from the airport. She now lives in Charlotte. I got to meet her son, Alex, now 9 months old, and he has got to be the most chilled out baby I have ever met! Well, I say that, but bathtime is a 2-adult job. :) It was so good to hang out with Emily and her husband, Marshall. It felt like old times, and as I look at these pictures again, I wish I could go back and stay another week... or month... or just move to Charlotte. Whenever Alex was napping or asleep in the evenings, I felt like it was still 2006 and we were hanging out in Orlando. Then Alex would be awake, and it was like, Huh? who is this?

Emily had baked my favorite cookies and bought my favorite ice cream, ready for me when I arrived. It is so nice to be known. I felt loved. We enjoyed Mexican, I learned about Wii, Marshall carved a pumpkin, I got to give candy to trick-or-treaters, Alex got crammed into a cat suit (which, in the end, we did not repeat for Halloween), Marshall helped me record some songs I had written, we played farkle, got caught up on each other's guilty pleasures (they are fully introduced to the IT Crowd now, and I learned about The Big Bang Theory), and just hung out. It was wonderful. Note the little partial smile on Alex's face while he is watching TV from his yellow ExerSaucer. That is the general look on his face while he's watching TV. Too cute.

Fall!

I spent 5 lovely, restful days at the family farm in VA, and gorged my eyes on fall foliage. What a treat! I took hundreds of pictures, and now I have the horrid task of weeding them out to keep only a few of the best ones. All my dad's living siblings were there, too. It was great to be with family. Now it's NC for a few weeks!

Goodbye K.L., Hello U.S.

Every time I come to KL, I think, I want to live here one day. I love this place. But my time is up, and I'm leaving this great city and my favorite 3-yr-old. It is Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow is Monday, and I arrive in Dallas on Monday afternoon, but there are something like 48 hours between now and then. Ugh.







Bye-bye! Waiting for reverse psychology to work for my last hug--"Whatever you do, do not hug SJ. Don't do it!"

From KL

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister, CHARIS!

Secondly, isn't JD precious? Ok, so at 11 days old they're not exciting if you don't know them personally, so just take my word for it. :) I'm so glad to be here & holding the little guy and playing with his brother (I'll have to post pictures later--there are some on FB now).

Lastly here's a brief overview of my upcoming schedule: I'll start in Dallas for 1 day, fly to NC in order to drive to the farm in VA, might head to OH, then hang around NC (Boone and Charlotte areas) for a couple weeks, then GA and AL for my birthday. Up to IL for thanksgiving, then most of December in Orlando, and lastly, a few days in CA over New Year's on my way back out of the country. Track my trails on my blog and E-mail me if you want to try and meet up!

One more week

I'm sitting at the airport right now, waiting for a flight to Malaysia where I'll stay several days with the N family, post-birth. On Sunday (18th) I'll begin my long journey to the U.S. I can't wrap my mind around it! I've been reading back over my journals from 3 1/2 years ago, reflecting on my journey and time here, which has been enlightening and interesting, to say the least. :)

Birth

Our newest team member was born Tuesday morning! We'll be there in a few more days to help out.


Tuesday night I was walking along the road taking pictures of the sun setting, and lo and behold, there was a water buffalo giving birth!



By the time I got up close the baby was out, but still pretty cool.

Countdown

It's official. I finally have my tickets. I'll be in the U.S. in 14 days! I leave the island in 5 more days. It seems surreal, and I don't know what to expect. This morning I woke up at 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. Wondered if I should just give myself a jump start at adjusting to the jetlag? :) Starting to feel sad about leaving my neighbors, even though it's only for 3 months. Sad, too, because they need our house back, so when I return I won't be in the cozy little house that I love so dearly, designed ourselves to our liking.

I'm fine

Last night I was making pizza with C and I heard the workers going on about an earthquake. I said, “Really? Right now?” C said, “Oh yeah, I feel it.” I’m still like, “really?” After a while they’re all like, “it's still going.” I never felt it. I think I was too busy running around the kitchen to feel the ground shake.

Boasting a New Bread Maker

Last week I took my first stab at bread-making. I had never tried, because C is such an expert at it, but I got tired of being on her her bread-making schedule. So I tried just half of her Oatmeal Honey Bread recipe in case it flopped, but it turned out fine. A little stiff, but the taste was there.

Yesterday I tried again with a whole recipe and it turned out great! I am so proud of myself. :) Who needs a machine? Oh, maybe people who don't have all day to waste on a loaf of bread. Ha ha. Although I must say it was a very productive day in between the kneading, punching, and baking.

Pyromania!

What’s Cooking? A whole lot. It is the fasting month, but ironically there is more food focus and consumption now than any other time of year. The kids have been doing a lot of cooking of their own—and not just the girls. Don't try this at home without your parents!

Half a coconut shell becomes a cooking pot for flowers, with kindling ranging from sticks to cardboard to old flip flops. A large, flat piece of coral with a smaller piece of coral becomes a mortar and pestel for crushing flowers (note boy on the right in the picture of the 2 boys on the left). The picture in the middle is the girls' cooking station. Can you count the three different "cooking pots?" Click to zoom in.

So, I was fat.

The immigration officer studied my passport. He looked up at me, then quickly back back down to my passport. Up again, then down, and then looked up said, "You were fat before."

Uhhh... Thank you??? How do I respond to that??? Are you complimenting how I looked in the picture or complimenting the weight you think I've lost? I wasn't sure what to say. I just got a new passport in April or May. I said, "That picture was taken just a few months ago."

I still am not sure what I was supposed to understand from his observation, but in this country, there is definitely no point in being offended.

Electronics, The IT Crowd, and Mama Mia

I'm on a visa run. Laptop is in the shop. It miraculously came alive again after crashing a couple weeks ago, but just to be safe, I took it in to have a diagnostic run on it. As I backed up my data in the shop before turning it in, it ran slower, and slower, and slower. They are going to downgrade me to Windows XP, which should speed things up. I am excited! Gone are the days of vista. Apparently Singaporians downgrade to XP as soon as they buy a new computer, since Vista is the only thing available on new computers nowdays. My ipod was having issues, too, and the shop guy had it working in less than 2 seconds. Yay!!!

I am addicted to The IT Crowd. My rommate got me hooked. If you haven't ever watched any, check out this clip for starters. Ha ha! I love it. Jen has been hired by a flaky boss as manager of the IT department, knowing nothing about computers. The show is about her and the IT guys, them playing on her ignorance, and her dying social deaths with the geeky guys. British humor, so if you're not into that sort of thing, don't bother. I haven't ventured into season 3, as it looks to be a bit dodgy/raunchy. I am only recommending seasons 1 and 2. The episodes get funnier every time I repeat them.

Last night I watched Mama Mia. I felt like I needed a cleansing after watching it. The story line had potential, but Eeewwww! A bunch of old ladies trying to be cool. Who says old ladies aren't cool? Why try so very hard to act that way? Sorry if you loved it. I don't think I'll be watching it again. I wonder what the critics have said about it....

One Master

I have slowly been working my way through a book titled, Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It has given me some great things to think about. This week I read through Lie #18: “I don’t have time to do everything I’m supposed to do.” Interesting quote from that:

Years ago, I read that the average woman today has the equivalent of fifty full-time servants, in the form of modern, timesaving devices and equipment. That figure may or may not be accurate, but we certainly have many conveniences available to us that were unknown to women of past generations. Imagine going back to the days when there were no dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, dryers, or automobiles—or even further back to a time when people had never heard of indoor plumbing or electricity.

Hello. Yeah, tell me about it.

Last week I was really struggling through guilt--again (not sure that one ever really goes away for me, but hopefully one day it will!)--and realizing that I have been living my life in a state of mind that focus on everything that is not. What I have not been doing and wonder if I should have been, what village I have not been spending time in and wonder if I should, etc, etc...

As I journaled, I quickly came up with a list of 8 different sources/entities I feel the need to please/appease, and processed through the stresses I felt from each of those. I cried out, "Jesus, you said your yoke is EASY and your burden LIGHT!" Then out of the blue these words came to me:

No man can serve two masters.

It struck me like a blow: I am trying to serve at least eight!

...Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Mat.6:24).

I generally have thought of God in terms of being my Heavenly Father, but seeing him as Master and me as servant really spoke loudly to me. It's an obvious relationship, not a new concept to me or anyone else, and I wondered why it hadn't occurred to me before. In print, it seems cold and impersonal, but to my heart, it is special and intimite. Why? Because acts of service is my strongest love language, and serving others is a passion with which God has gifted me. Over the last several years I have also discovered something about myself: I love being given specific, and direct instruction. So, to decide that God is my One and Only Master is freeing, liberating. Who knows me better? Who knows my limits? What I can do? The areas in which I need to grow? Who loves me more? Who has my best in mind? He is the One I want to serve, from whom I want to take all marching orders.

A current lesson being learned in the life of SJ.

Personal daze

I think I've mentioned before that I try to take a personal day each week--one where I get away by myself with some of my favorite items and just sit. Journal, take pictures, try to write a song, whatever. It's been more than a week since my last

personal day, and I'm not sure when I'll get my next one, but I think I'm ready.


On this particular day I read the story of Jonah, and when I read the end about his little vine that gives him shade, my little spot I had chosen of made me feel like I could have been Jonah. :)



Crabs crack me up! I know I am always posting pictures of them, but it is so amusing to me all the kinds of homes they come in. When I take time to be alone on the beach, no matter where I sit, the ground comes alive with little hermit crabs--crawling in my shoes (yes, they probably should be replaced), my camera case, and desperately trying to get away from my scrutiny....

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

P.S. Happy Independence Day to Indonesia, land of my birth!

Silence

So, I've been running around a bit, and running myself down a bit, and now I'm catching a cold and the yuckiness is starting. A whole lot of things up in the air at the moment affecting the next few months--and even years?--not sure when I'll have a moment to blog some more, but that's the brief rundown on the lull.

Speaking of brief rundown... I hope this one is brief.