AlOnE aT cHrIsTmAs

I wanted to share a moment with you about this Christmas...

Being away from home sounds really frightening around the holidays. Let me tell you it is a little daunting, but this Christmas I was able to enjoy myself despite the distance from family and friends. Today I went running...I made a wrong turn, up this huge hill.  But once I started I would not allow myself to stop.  As I crested the hill the ground was lightly powdered in white flecks of snow.  It was my first white Christmas experience!!! It was such a blessing and a moment that God and I were able to share on Christmas!!  Just wanted to share with you that special moment!

For my Christmas festivities I went over for brunch with fellow RAs and watched a Christmas episode of the office and for supper I went to my supervisors house and we celebrated with fellow single members of the BFA community!!! It truly was a good Christmas.

SnOw OfFeRs A lItTlE wOnDeR!

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in lane snow is glistening.  Its a beautiful sight, I am happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland. Walking in a Winter Wonderland!" I may seem so fixated on this idea of snow, but I have never had so much snow where I have lived in my entire life.  I woke up this morning and it had begun to snow, so I went running.  I was covered.  Now I look out my window about 4 hours later and I would say that we have about 5 inches.  It has not snowed in Wittlingen more than once a year...it has already snowed for at least 5 days this winter!!! Now I am dreaming of White Christmas!!

Our girls leave on Saturday...sad day, but at the same time I am ready for a little break from the tasks...not the girls...the tasks!!! I also am going to watch a Golden Retriever dog over the break while my mom is here!! I am so excited.  All we will be missing is my dad...and then it would feel like home (let me clarify...my house home, no offense to everyone else who doesn't live in the house).

So until then...Let it Snow, Let is Snow, Let it Snow!!!!

ReAlIzAtIoNs

Smaller is better; less chaos ensues and it better enables us as a staff to function, as well as, provides more intimate relationships with the girls.  I have begun to realize the times we have smaller groups of girls in the dorm we are able to keep better track and even interact better.  I understand why the dorms have to have so many students, but I wish there was a way to enable smaller amounts of students, which helps everyone's sanity.

But on the other hand life is winding down over here.  The semester is almost complete, which means finals, which means papers, which means lack of sleep, which means sickness, which means crabby girls, which means even more homesickness.  At the same time we, as a school, are going to a Christmas market in Freiburg, a city near us.  It will be a fun excursion for everyone!

I hope all is well...

Remember When

Remember when getting ready would literally take hours; remember when you were frightened that you would pin your date when putting on the boutonniere; remember when you feared spilling your drink on yourself and ruining your dress; remember when you would complain because the heels you "just had to have" were hurting so bad; remember when you kept pulling on your dress because it would slip down and you would feel awkward...

O I got to relive those moments tonight.  BFA had their Christmas Banquet.  It is equivalent to high school dances, but there is no dancing... that is "BFA unapproved".  So instead they pay for dinner and a program including Christmas wishes being granted and performances by students.  Kate Jones, a junior in my dorm, was voted on the court.  It was a night of fun times with new friends, but also a time to reminisce on the past.  You will never get to experience high school again and sometimes I truly wish I could go back and embrace everything that I felt back then.  It was a great time in life that I truly appreciate!

God's Good....

Today I woke up from the weirdest dream. It took place in my dorm. Within the dream I just saw spiritual warfare...I know that sounds strange and scary, but it is something my dorm staff has discussed throughout the beginning of this year. Prior to BFA acquiring our dorm it was used by a group of Hitler Youth from WWII, so we know that Satan, at least at one point, was alive and well in this place. But then I woke up from my dream and looked out my window. It had snowed. The beauty and serene white gave me a sense of peace that the Lord was with me and not going to leave my side. That is what I am constantly reminded of since I moved here. When I am weak, He is strong...when I want to get depressed and hide in a corner, He brings me joy. It is a beautiful moment and experience with God.
Thank you for your prayers....

Weekend Chaos...

My weekend started off with three hundred individuals coming to see our dorm. My dorm was decorated like a little kid's playhouse. We had a tea party, play-do, looney tunes, a fort, a dress-up corner...the whole dynamics of living like a little kid.
And if that wasn't stressful enough I had to make Thanksgiving dinner. I was in charge of making some pies and the green bean casserole and other necessities to make dinner successful. Talk about pressure. But I will be ready to volunteer my expertise when I come home!!!
And then after church on Sunday I received an email from my mom asking what items she would like me to grab from my room because there were fires near my home. It was so surreal. I would never had thought to receive an email like that. It just made me really think what was improtant to me and what truly mattered. Praise the Lord for his protection over my family. But I pray for those who I know that have lost everything.
May that Lord bless you this week....

Different Strokes

So as my time here progresses it is getting harder and harder to be away from family and friends. Yes, I am forming relationships; yes, I am traveling and seeing the sights of Europe; yes, I love my job; and yes, I know the Lord has me here. But in the end, it does not take away the fact that I miss myfamily, friends that I don't have to explain myself to, the beach, and the comforts of home.
The seasons are changing and with that means less time with the sun and communion with nature : ). Our girls have been busy preparing for our open house this coming up weekend. We have, basically all the school over and entertain them for the evening. We are celebrating Thanksgiving this coming up Sunday. Maybe we can try to find a football game to watch; that would make me feel right at home!!!
Besides that I went to Prague!! Probably one of my favorite cities I have been to. I loved how small it was. I was able to just walk and walk and I just happened to run into everything I wanted to see there. I even went to a Tex Mex restaurant. O, how I miss Mexican food.
But besides that many things have stayed the same. Monotony can be nice, but at the same time...I like change. Sometimes after I drop the girls off at school or something, I will drive home a different way just so I do not have to go home the same way I came. I know weird, but it helps the monotony to subside.
I hope all is well....please let me know how you are doing. I would greatly appreciate it.