tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47122093214706188952024-03-13T02:08:27.790-07:00Casting Away TreasuresOne who cannot cast a treasure away at need is in fetters.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-17996781521291662132012-02-01T14:08:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:21:28.280-08:00Battle for the MindI consider the second half of 2011 to have been full of bad news. It began with the news that a relative in her mid-40s passed away after a 3 year battle with cancer. Followed by news of another 40 year old diagnosed with a serious cancer situation and then my roommate's dad died unexpectedly months before his 60th birthday. Add to that, several more friends began their battles with cancer - two of whom are in their 30s. And finally, Checkers, "the wonder-dog," struggled with several tumors and melanoma of the mouth, and as sad as that is, the reality is that he is 15 years old and these things should be expected. Checkers is fine for now, by the way, and has resumed his investigations of the backyard! 2012 started similarly with one of my closest friends beginning her battle with breast cancer and several other friends with scary health concerns.<br /><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>I just got off the phone with an old friend from college. We had much to catch up on and our conversation was full of heavy things, but she helped me put words to what I have been wrestling with for the past several months. It was a great reminder of reality: we live in a cursed land and only through Jesus do we have any hope to navigate a world we were not made to live in.</p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Genesis 1 and 2 tell us of the beautiful, perfect world God created for us to live in and of our unblemished beginning. The world our hearts long for and know is out there somewhere. But tucked in Genesis 3 is the reason why we are constantly faced with the reality it is not hear now and never will be. Because of the disobedience of the first man and woman, we were cursed but the land was also cursed. The Garden of God's perfection is where we were created to live. Whether we realize it or not, our hearts long for that perfect place of eternity with God. We know in the core of our being that none of the things around us are right, not really. We long for perfection, no pain, no sorrow, no suffering, but only get glimpses of it. Jesus give us more: hope of eternity with God in the new heaven and earth of Revelation 21.</p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Galatians 1:4 says, "[Jesus] gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." And because of what happened in Genesis 3, satan is called “the god of this world,” and his main aim is to blind people to truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). One of the greatest ways to do that is through deception, especially the deception that all of our hope is in what the world has to offer. So if satan is the "god of this world," then I must choose not to buy into its messages and hope in it. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” John Piper in <i>The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die</i>, calls this the resounding cry of freedom and calls us to "be free! Don't be duped by the gurus of the age." </p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Unfortunately, we live in a world that demands perfection now, ease and pleasure now. I have gotten sucked in myself. I have been tempted to think about the injustices in the lives around me and focus on discouragement and questioning God. I have forgotten the truth of our situation that the world wants us to forget. It is cursed and can offer us no hope, nothing good. Only God can give good things. My hope has to be in Him. Based on Genesis 3, the bad things of this world should not be a surprise to me. It is easy to expect that the good in the world is the norm but really all the good and blessings in my life should be reminders of God's grace to us in a the midst of a fallen world. I must keep renewing my mind with truth: that that we were created for eternity, for heaven and our time on earth can be discouraging or hopeful depending on where I fix my gaze. C. S. Lewis simplifies it this way: "Aim at heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you get neither."</p><p class="p1">Recommended Reading for Renewing the Mind</p><p class="p1">Besides reading the Bible, here are a few books I have found helpful:</p><p class="p1">Knowing God by J. I. Packer</p><p class="p1">When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James</p><p class="p1">The Reason for God by Timothy Keller</p><p class="p1">The Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss</p>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-56678138569254238402009-03-23T19:18:00.000-07:002009-03-25T07:41:32.674-07:00Adventures In Bowling Green<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had to take my dog to stay with the "grandparents" in Bowling Green. If that was the only thing the day held, Bowling Green would have lived up to its name of "Boring Green." However, the unassuming morning had more in store. Mom and I were on our way to lunch and were stopped at one of the more heavily traveled intersections in town (Broadway and the By-Pass). As we were discussing lunch options, we hear a boom behind us. Mom describes it as a bomb going off, but I knew there had been an accident behind us. I was just trying to figure out in half a second how close it was and if we might be in it. Just as I decided to hold tight to the break, there was the jolt from behind. My fi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb53yHP4ChI0LhYgZhY61MT-STgt1C3jm2db_qu_nGRhA-jaVOZEVX-jY8ZliOytFjfiZF4T0wMFH-g27qolqcUJZZdO85r27XI__Qfb7q06-55nnon7-1DTR4X6uX2u4h492eR5MO8k/s1600-h/IMG_6816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb53yHP4ChI0LhYgZhY61MT-STgt1C3jm2db_qu_nGRhA-jaVOZEVX-jY8ZliOytFjfiZF4T0wMFH-g27qolqcUJZZdO85r27XI__Qfb7q06-55nnon7-1DTR4X6uX2u4h492eR5MO8k/s320/IMG_6816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317134503918813554" border="0" /></a>rst thought was "poor car behind me has just encountered my very stable and destructive trailer hitch." My sweet, compassionate mother jumps out to go check on everyone. I am in task mode calling 911. Mom returns to tell me that everyone is ok but the accident instigator doesn't speak English. Well, I have lots of experience communicating with people of different languages. Fortunately, they speak some type of African French. Who would have thought in "Boring" Green?<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have actually been in one other accident before. It was exactly the same thing except we were in a funeral procession on Briley Parkway in Nashville. Not so fun. Same thing: poor guy behind me is rear-ended and meets un-happily with said trailer hitch. However, the "accident instigator" was a good friend of mine and her car was totaled. Today, there was barely any damage to any one's car. The sad part was when the guy who caused the accident then told me and the police officer in broken English: "She (the drive who hit me) reversed into me." I still assume the best in people and was surprised that he would lie. So there went my compassion and my terrible translation skills. I'm just glad he had a driver's license and insurance.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1pxiAbwTdhpwiSM1IP7kyhnCMpxYRbn2oTv5AYDLMVYV7T1gnKsFGYLV0dQFxCbXIB2VfejdDDPc1owuBJUqvPwXPxrfyylpcD4ji1-GQq7SWGlyLFlDeiLQCtTZMafjgaUHfUhUCoQ/s1600-h/Mom,+Nannie+%26+me.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1pxiAbwTdhpwiSM1IP7kyhnCMpxYRbn2oTv5AYDLMVYV7T1gnKsFGYLV0dQFxCbXIB2VfejdDDPc1owuBJUqvPwXPxrfyylpcD4ji1-GQq7SWGlyLFlDeiLQCtTZMafjgaUHfUhUCoQ/s200/Mom,+Nannie+%26+me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317135078571445042" border="0" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mom and I ended up eating at A Taste of Europe on State Street. I highly recommend it. Great gyros and service. Then, I visited my precious 95 year old great-grandmother. I have no idea what she's hanging around for. God must have some reason to let her stay so long. And I got my exercise in by helping Dad finish digging a 600 foot plus trench from the house out to our hay barn to put in faucets to water the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZZjtx1gQLeXzVTMp6Gm_cG6Nnt59dmZkwiFN8GFxPtt8a3zK9pKkdyuIWPsRou4tlw6S3SXM8h-Fcwb51AQTFGFiCXDOvGSunfXUDhShByuVq2lyJ-AHVHmON3fBzT1ux_KKzyUiwz8/s1600-h/IMG_0478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZZjtx1gQLeXzVTMp6Gm_cG6Nnt59dmZkwiFN8GFxPtt8a3zK9pKkdyuIWPsRou4tlw6S3SXM8h-Fcwb51AQTFGFiCXDOvGSunfXUDhShByuVq2lyJ-AHVHmON3fBzT1ux_KKzyUiwz8/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317135477049830962" border="0" /></a>cows. My friend Mandy's super-cool iTouch has a calorie calculator so some sort and it says I burned over 900 calories digging for 2 hours. I love manual labor - progress and exercise all in one!<br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-73770371929992239732009-03-15T21:49:00.000-07:002009-03-15T22:20:07.060-07:00Household Happenings: The Weekend Edition<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This weekend I had a lot to do around the house and since the weather was not so nice, it was a good time to get things done. One of my random projects was to change the light in the 10' ceiling above my kitchen sink. It's one of those recessed flood lights. I have to bring in my 6' ladder to do the job. It's one of those late Friday nights when you bring in the ladder take out the old bulb and THEN check the closet for the replacement bulb. I decided to just leave the ladder in the kitchen (which plays later into the story) vs. packing it up and back to the garage, until I could buy one, which was on my way home tonight with my 11:00 pm stop to Kroger (fewer people - I am an introvert.)<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Friday night became more interesting when my grumpy old dog Checkers decided that his skin allergy was too much and climbed under my bed to stand up and scratch his back on the underside of my bed. One that's nasty and two it makes it difficult to go to sleep. I got up and tried to call him out but then he started growling. Once I persuaded him to come out, I decided I needed to keep him from going back under. Fortunately, the recycling pile in the garage has gotten a bit out of control. So as you can see, I have barricaded the underside of my bed to keep my rebellious pet out. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdzhp8xybRNqgRUoDJ9Qxo_niMiLVd_mT-AFEEN6yw-QLOLPQgWgHIFq1Sn3lKedzqWoNbed61bzCtkdxbnU9SUR7qU4PR20jwqSoyufqn8nsuVIlNu9XBis4gzsBV7rl0F9kpX3xW6g/s400/IMG_6802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313650191084458370" /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Then to add to the randomness, last night (Saturday) I was climbing into bed just before midnight and I had a vision for bread bowls. I climbed out of bed, pajama clad, wandered into my ladder-consumed kitchen to make a dough starter. Here's the links I'm consulting: <a href="http://blog.cooklikeyourgrandmother.com/2008/09/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-bowls.html">How To Cook Like Your Grandmother</a> and <a href="http://www.io.com/~sjohn/sour.htm">Sourdough Baking</a>. I'm not sure how this will go and am expecting to have to throw it out and start again. My friend Heather shared with me some Amish Friendship Bread recipes that I'm hoping to try but I'm really just in it to have a new "pet" that I have to feed on a regular basis.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Now the weekend is over, the light bulb is replaced with one of those fancy energy saving ones (I'm trusting to marketing on that one) and the ladder is in the garage. And poor Checkers is still forbidden to crawl under the bed.<br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-81043604196777392022009-03-13T13:03:00.000-07:002009-03-13T16:47:48.288-07:00Improvising and Swedish Recipes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbtIcAG_HAOorxqrjWYGhGvmznEKD9LmqunKZNt4YuU-KIfS2w1dqlfgssxdNIcpTVXtoK1f9vRjK2pNSxrdehRYDPw70MEqXEDL4XCcCquTxekbp0VrNpFonprV-oZNXHPaIdo8Qc1I/s1600-h/IMG_6791.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbtIcAG_HAOorxqrjWYGhGvmznEKD9LmqunKZNt4YuU-KIfS2w1dqlfgssxdNIcpTVXtoK1f9vRjK2pNSxrdehRYDPw70MEqXEDL4XCcCquTxekbp0VrNpFonprV-oZNXHPaIdo8Qc1I/s320/IMG_6791.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312821879640084562" /></a><br />It's tax season and with my slow internet, Turbo Tax seems to be taking forever to up-date each page. So in the meantime, I thought I would make use of the waiting: Improvise. I do this a lot anyway but I thought I would share two specific moments. The first is: when a baby is not ready for a cup, use what you got. Here's Benjamin Meredith demonstrating with a bike water bottle.<div><br /></div><div>The second is: when not in Sweden, still cook like in Sweden. So here are a few recipes I've made recently.<div><br /></div><div>ÄRTSOPPA (PEA SOUP)</div><div>18 oz bag of Lars Own Yellow Peas (can use split ye</div><div>llow peas)</div><div>8 cups water</div><div>1 onion, finely chopped</div><div>3 carrots, peeled and diced</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2apCI7MZf8eRBimCHCbXKxO0eYKj2unAPewnUPj3iYuORUb-jP0qEu9Gpla8lm5FD6VSg9EMeQkux5a43j81nOy4kZ7iwwp1pa011BY5snR8IhusvavrYTS1xzh0Qeeh3Nc7-8K0RU3w/s320/IMG_6792.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312822244899170786" /><div>2 stalks of celery, sliced</div><div>1/2 lb. of ham or pork pieces</div><div>1/2 tsp. salt</div><div>1/2 tsp. marjoram</div><div>1/4 tsp. thyme</div><div>1 bay leaf</div><div><br /></div><div>Follow soaking instructions on the peas. Drain peas. Combine all ingredients in large pot and simmer over med-low heat for 1 1/2 hours or until shells of peas split.</div><div><br /></div><div>KÖTTBULLAR (SWEDISH MEATBALLS)</div><div>2 lb. ground beef</div><div>2 eggs</div><div>1 c. milk, cream, broth or water</div><div>1/2 c. bread crumbs or flour OR 1 c. mashed potatoes or torn bread</div><div>1 1/2 tsp salt</div><div>1/2 tsp. pepper</div><div>1 minced onion or 1 tbsp. onion powder</div><div>1/4 tsp. dry mustard</div><div>1/8 tsp. nutmeg or 1/4 tsp. all-spice</div><div><br /></div><div>Combine all ingredients. Roll into 1" balls and fry in skillet or bake at 450F for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with lingon sylt (jam).</div><div><br /></div><div>KANELBULLAR (CINNAMON BUNS)</div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K2DOwmipx99RVvUK32_Q1Gtwy9CBN0aXCKN4KoIL1due9LWsnmJrebLXrtH6oDnQdcyFO78louxuq9uyKEuBtqqbPzlJKSVD1c58tLh3ufs5UEsjKMG33rwwvB2MiMwcJRbKQDxPbqs/s320/IMG_6776.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312822780672607698" /></div><div>5 tsp. dry yeast (2 packets)</div><div>1 c. butter (2 sticks)</div><div>2 c. milk</div><div>1/2 tsp. salt</div><div>1/2 c. sugar</div><div>6 c. flour (can use 1/2 whole wheat & 1/2 unbleached)</div><div>2 tsp. ground cardamom</div><div><br /></div><div>Filling</div><div>4 Tbsp. butter, softened</div><div>5 Tbsp. sugar</div><div>1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon</div><div><br /></div><div>Topping</div><div>1 egg</div><div>pearl sugar</div><div><br /></div><div>Melt butter in pan. Add milk and heat until warm to the touch. In large mixing bowl, combine butter mixture with yeast until dissolved. Add 1/2 c. sugar, salt, cardamom and most of the flour. Mix until elastic. Place in warm location and let rise for 30 - 40 minutes. Place dough on lightly floured surface and knead using remaining flour as needed. Divide dough in half and roll each piece into a large square about 1/3" thick. Combine the cinnamon and sugar. Spread with 1/2 the butter and sprinkle with 1/2 the cinnamon sugar. Roll the dough into a log and slice about 3/4" slices. Place on greased baking sheet. Preheat oven to 425F and let rise for 20 minutes before baking. Brush with egg and sprinkle with pearl sugar. Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown.</div></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-37669453489074779182009-03-09T17:06:00.000-07:002009-03-09T22:04:14.010-07:00A Tabooli Reunion<div>I have decided to start including some recipes in my blog. It gives me something to share. I have taken several photos of stuff I've made since I've made this decision but tragically I have failed to post any of them. So here's my first. It's one of my favorite Middle Eastern dishes. I made this for my college Bible study reunion over a week and a half ago. Heather asked for the recipe so here it is. And you can find bulgur wheat at Kroger or Publix. It's with the hot cereal or the flour.</div><div><br /></div>TABOOLI<div><br /></div><div>1 1/2 cups dry bulgur wheat</div><div>1 1/2 cups boiling water</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBemy01QEHae3lC6AKnwJZOGEzprotQJ8Rp-vjt78D5FTXdkhNs6FGEfght40MsNuTijTN4g5HIpHHIvBGwBjdtqj8kd_XZan6s8Jn1yGt15_O4TZvFlSqL556NYhEs9K-iLRd9e-Hc9Y/s320/IMG_6777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311418566584945122" /><div>1 bunch green onions or 1/2 white onion</div><div>1 cucumber</div><div>3 tomatoes, seeded</div><div>1 bunch parsley</div><div>1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil</div><div>1/2 cup lemon juice</div><div>1 tsp. salt</div><div><br /></div><div>Cover the bulgur wheat with boiling water. Soak at least 2 hours. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Finely chop all vegetables and mix with bulgur wheat. </div><div>Combine oil, lemon juice and salt. Pour over salad and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Stir before serving and store in refrigerator.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So the Bible study reunion was great! It's been 8 years since most of us have seen each other. It's a blessing to have people in my life who have known me that long and still want to know about my life. The funny thing is that we have all grown up but I walked in forgetting that 8 years have gone by. I was surprised in a good way that these women have changed. On top of that, what an encouragement to see 12 women still walking with the Lord so many years later. And a lot of that has to do with the investment Janie Mullis Farwell had in our lives back then. Who would have thought the first day I walked onto the campus of WKU as a self-proclaimed atheist, Janie would be walking on her first day as Campus Crusade staff wondering how God would use her there so far from her North Carolina home. So, Janie, I hope you have a small glimpse of the impact you've made and how loved you are!</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-17989454173230392502009-02-13T19:05:00.000-08:002009-02-17T08:49:46.465-08:00Into the West<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nuxwjYl2yr_4NWQ2yjIcRLtL9x4lnq-_xWUGzXjltiQwP27q38hur3RhAtFY_8eaO1L-IcO6psDWmXtyR-JHom0drf_XAEpxUQnJrzdMyKA7QYxTXwqHyxtxqy4mjono_8pfDCxpRys/s1600-h/IMG00078.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nuxwjYl2yr_4NWQ2yjIcRLtL9x4lnq-_xWUGzXjltiQwP27q38hur3RhAtFY_8eaO1L-IcO6psDWmXtyR-JHom0drf_XAEpxUQnJrzdMyKA7QYxTXwqHyxtxqy4mjono_8pfDCxpRys/s320/IMG00078.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303809456636669906" /></a><br />I have been in Raleigh, North Carolina, for over a week and am anxious to be home. I love to travel and I love seeing new places, but this trip has been a bit different. I have enjoyed getting to visit so many people and get to try out a job with Campus Crusade's Regional Headquarters, but I have slept in 6 different beds in less than 2 weeks. Sunday I will be making my 9 hour trek west.<div><br /></div><div>It has been a blessing to be able to take the time to check out this opportunity with Crusade and to visit so many beloved friends. Most of this week I have been staying with my college discipler Janie, her husband John and their three kids, Tate, Kensie and Sadie. Tonight I got to hang out with Sadie while the rest of the fam when swimming. After the kids went to bed, we adults had some Goodberry's Frozen Custard. Yummy stuff! I prefer the fruit mix-ins over the candy stuff. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend I stayed with Jenn and her new husband Clyde. The previous owners of the house they bought in August had some interesting ideas in how to "add-on". But now you'd never know that there was once a wall in the middle of the living room. The parquet flooring in the upstairs bathroom is just calling out for Clyde and Jenn's magical touch (which probably involved sledgehammers, drywall tape, grout and an ailing floor scraper). I can't explain the rest but it is very impressive hearing all of the crazy things they've had to do to the house so far.</div><div><br /></div><div>So most people seem to want to know how I'm feeling about my trip to Raleigh. Obviously it has been a great trip to get to see so many friends, but it has also been a fun time working in the office. I love Campus Crusade and the mission and am so glad to be a part of it as associate staff while living and working in Murfreesboro. The opportunity to move to Raleigh and work full-time again for CCC in the operations department is very appealing for a lot of reasons. However, my life and ministry in Murfreesboro is just as appealing so figuring out where God wants me has been difficult. Even with such a great experience at the office, I am confident that my time in Murfreesboro is not over any time soon. I have greatly missed being there and am looking forward to heading back westward. (I know that it's slightly tainted by my longing for my own bed.)</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-85288247755152688722009-01-28T09:13:00.002-08:002009-01-28T09:27:26.345-08:00To Bring You Up To SpeedOne of my oldest and dearest friends, also blogs and is much more faithful than I am. I keep joking with her that I just need to copy here entries over here for everyone to read since several pertain to me in some odd way. Mandy's link is over there on the right - "My Super Unspectacular Life". The ones that would help catch you up on my "unspectacular life" are: Greensboro's Global Village, Greater Greensboro Explanation and Foodie Friday; Six Flags in Six Hours is quite a story, too. Mandy, I hope you don't mind. I give you full credit for your great writing skills!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-8429330720317360342009-01-28T08:42:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:07:53.495-08:00I'm obviously bad at blogging....<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So it has been awhile since I have written anything. November and December were very busy, getting ready for holidays, two conferences: CCC regional staff conference and Encounter Winter Conference, and the visit of my Swedish friend Malin. Click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94249&l=d26f7&id=500101065">HERE</a> to see those photos. It was a fun time even in the midst of the busyness. I got to see my sister in Tampa for Thanksgiving and I am now afraid that was my last visit to see here there. She and her husband are preparing to move to Austin, TX. I am hoping that I can make some time to take a weekend trip to see her down there before she moves. I hate that the distance is such a factor. I love getting to see her but it's not often enough.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One of the big parts of Christmas was that my Swedish friend Malin came to visit for a week. It was fun to have her here. She has been studying in France this last semester so when she arrived we had this funny moment of which language to speak in: French, Swedish or English. Since I'm quite out of practice in the former two, we landed on English sprinkled with French or Swedish words. I am reminded of the importance of knowing other languages and cultures. While she was here, it was fun to show her around but also be reminded of all the things that I picked up in Sweden that is valuable. Her questioning me as to why we do things the way we do, reminds me that the American way may not always be the only way. I miss all of the mandatory recycling and composting in Sweden. I miss the simple things of daily life, riding my bike everywhere or even taking the bus, squeegee-ing the shower, the coffee and pastries (though I don't need them unless I'm biking everyday!).<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For Christmas I got to decorate with a few Swedish things, my friend Pia sent me a set of figurines of Saint Lucia's parade. After Christmas, my friend Amber and I made Lucia Katter, the traditional Christmas cake in honor of Saint Lucia. And I have two paper star lanterns in my windows from Sweden.<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Since Malin has been to Nashville twice before, I wanted to show her some of the things she hasn't seen. We went to the Bell Buckle Cafe for some traditional Southern American food. I took her and Amber to my hometown of Bowling Green, KY, to see the Mammoth Cave, the family farm and WKU, where I went to school. Then we had Christmas here. My parents came down and since Malin wanted to eat at the Waffle House, that was our Christmas Eve lunch! Of course, we had to go to the Opryland Hotel, too. It was fun to teach her to play Dominos and expose her to our American Christmas classics like How The Grinch Stole Christmas (the old cartoon), Miracle of 34th Street and (you can't leave out) The Christmas Story with Ralphie and his Red Rider BB gun! I grew up loving that movie, but watching it with a non-American, I was kind of embarrassed. It's a pretty shallow and crude movie and if you don't grow up in the culture, most if it isn't funny, just weird: the leg lamp, the pink rabbit pajamas, the flag pole incident, the turkey incident. Out of context, those things are just strange. <br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-14178292329539383542008-11-03T18:53:00.000-08:002008-11-03T19:07:14.769-08:00Happily Ever After<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That was the name of our church women's retreat this past weekend. Sounds too girlie for me but it was not an overnight decision to call it that. Our speaker Mary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lewise</span> Baker speaks specifically on our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">identity</span> in Christ and how we are united with Christ as believers in Him through is death, burial and resurrection, that not only does He live in us but we live in Him and are seated in Heaven as co-heirs. That took the retreat planning team down a path where scripture talks about we were once orphans, enemies of God and then we became children of God, co-heirs with Christ, daughters of the King and have the eternal hope of Happily Ever After with Him in Heaven through Christ. So there we went with a fairy tale theme.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It was one of those things that God put together. We didn't as we talked about it and how life seems to flow in chapters and the reality that we are daughters of the King, things like the design came together because a friend of mine had illustrated a children's book and already had these "fairy tale" illustrations. It came together quite unexpectedly and quite perfectly as so many people were committed to bathing it in prayer.<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For a small church plant of 8 years with a little over 300 people meeting in a middle school on any given Sunday, we had over 70 women in attendance. And God showed up. It was one of those topics that either sends you toward the amazement of how big our Savior is or how big our sin is. But either way, they are both reality.<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Here are some photos from the weekend: one is of me with Jenna and Mary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lewise</span>.<br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-4617782840204048052008-10-22T20:40:00.000-07:002008-10-22T20:58:45.216-07:00Birthday Weekend and Laryngitis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgRYe7hQ9Po7L3K0mFEsNTXL8sgbJWjFVFpAVivZubsRDWFM9_1iwKcacpjHL2fu68hHoGH9iXmNHeJGDfwEuTEmfrjt01vMBxhS044UYjLJOJ1m_XQnxxSLnf4EL7IdbtmpY1GHXNVM/s1600-h/IMG_6535.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgRYe7hQ9Po7L3K0mFEsNTXL8sgbJWjFVFpAVivZubsRDWFM9_1iwKcacpjHL2fu68hHoGH9iXmNHeJGDfwEuTEmfrjt01vMBxhS044UYjLJOJ1m_XQnxxSLnf4EL7IdbtmpY1GHXNVM/s320/IMG_6535.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260193838729260290" /></a><br />I love how God loves on me through others. My birthday has been a sweet reminder of that. I got to spend my actual birthday, Friday, with my parents. It was fun to hang out with them. Dad let me drive his F-350 dualie around Murfreesboro for the afternoon and we stumbled upon a crazy huge mansion. No one I know seems to know about it. I'll have to keep asking. It's the most random thing.<div>Saturday was a lot of fun. I got to go out with a lot of my friends. We went to see The Secret Life of Bees based on a novel by Sue Monk Kidd. It was meant to be part of my birthday because my friend Julie loaned me the book about 4 years ago and last year when I found out they were making a movie, I decided that Julie and I had to go see it. When I returned from Sweden, I found out opening night would be my birthday, so then it was settled. The movie was very condensed compared to the book, but when you only have two hours to tell a story, that's what happens. Other than that it was great and felt true to the book. Although they did soften the ending. I enjoyed it and I think everyone else did. Lots of us were crying. So there's the warning: it's a tear jerker.</div><div>After the movie, we went out to dinner at Marina's on the square for some great Italian food. That's when I started loosing my voice but I didn't know it until I awoke the next morning barely able to talk. The worst part was that I was meeting a guy I recently met for coffee (which became tea for me) and then off to a Black and White costume party. My friend Mandy convinced me to make a concoction of hot water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper to get my voice jump started. I'm not sure I can say it remotely helped.</div><div>So now it's Wednesday and the laryngitis is starting to give way. My mom can now hear me on the phone without me feeling like I'm yelling. The laryngitis is the result of a sinus infection that has been brewing for weeks and is now full blown. I think my homeopathic remedies are starting to help. I'll have to share those crazy things another time. But through my birthday and being sick God has reminded me how loved I am by Him and by those around me (and that includes through some inappropriately hilarious greeting cards).</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-81606341314160671692008-09-12T20:18:00.000-07:002008-09-14T20:50:25.952-07:00When The Dog Bites<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YrypJ3oFgVGZ-k9taaNPnV6-4LdfgpOR9fvyWhHm-a6WLpfIYWSNgXxCzi-VR_DsHQ0hFp69IX-V_jZxgBPMArcMPfS5VVbDhvO8rt1aZ_KM08CZUxEW6XiRK__eZ5aQmKL35ASHVOs/s1600-h/IMG_6478.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YrypJ3oFgVGZ-k9taaNPnV6-4LdfgpOR9fvyWhHm-a6WLpfIYWSNgXxCzi-VR_DsHQ0hFp69IX-V_jZxgBPMArcMPfS5VVbDhvO8rt1aZ_KM08CZUxEW6XiRK__eZ5aQmKL35ASHVOs/s320/IMG_6478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246090232999771650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RIvhny86OSiY7p0qz1-fiS1Cej8hEuA19vD3itUmtRfYuh77Jrxn8JMdHTZ9ISMsmIbtIzC70fP8rI5OCT-VuWOjwX1cuVj_K0hZAmvTeHbd1FxqAfd5osMXolcRo1KZqH2ErwMOgS4/s1600-h/IMG_6487.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RIvhny86OSiY7p0qz1-fiS1Cej8hEuA19vD3itUmtRfYuh77Jrxn8JMdHTZ9ISMsmIbtIzC70fP8rI5OCT-VuWOjwX1cuVj_K0hZAmvTeHbd1FxqAfd5osMXolcRo1KZqH2ErwMOgS4/s320/IMG_6487.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246089918412063250" /></a><br />I have learned the hard way how complacent I become in things. I get used to things being as they are and forget to be cautious or my passion diminishes in other things. It's like now when I clean the bathroom and end up with slight chemical burns on my hands because I was too in a hurry to use protective gloves. This time, though, last Tuesday night, to be exact, I was reminded that my sweet, mild mannered dog of 8 years, Checkers, is still really an animal that has teeth. I have grown used to him doing exactly what I say and expecting nothing but him to faithfully obey. I assumed that we had grown to trust each other. He has been known to growl at me to let me know he is not happy with something and in those situations I back off but remind him that he still has to do what I say. Nail trims have been his most hated thing and I have warned the vet techs to muzzle him just in case. I know his signals but they don't. He has gotten where he growls as he obediently comes to the bathroom for his bath. It's like he's protesting but knows he can do nothing about it. Once he's in the water, he's fine: patiently enduring bath time. Since the nail trim has been the least pleasant experience for him, my parents and I went halves on a <a href="http://peticure.com/">Peticure</a> so they also could use it on their dog Meg. Checkers has seemingly not minded it the few times we've used it in the last month. Then, Tuesday night, although he came over and cooperated in getting his first 2 nails trimmed, he apparently snapped to the detriment of my thigh. It's wasn't a warning snap in my general direction. It was a full out assault on "the hand that feeds" him. On the third snap in the direction of my squatted self, he scored when his two canines clamped down on the outer part of my left thigh just above the knee. Fortunately, I had pants on and instead of tearing the skin, I ended up with a nice scrape and a nasty, painful bruise. Needless to say, that very night, I returned home with a muzzle. He may not trust me any more and I can say I don't fully trust him. So there is my reminder that dogs are great pets but really they are still animals with teeth, even if they are really old, dirty teeth.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-80476607478019068812008-08-09T19:14:00.000-07:002008-08-09T19:31:56.470-07:00Back in the USAI have officially been on US soil for over a month and thought I needed to write something to state that. So why have I not written any thing during that time, you may ask. First off, I have not had internet access at home so the blog gets pushed to the back of internet usage time. Thanks to my generous neighbors Bryan and Elizabeth, I can borrow theirs (they're the ones that keep telling me that I can use their pool anytime I want but I'm not sure about going to someone's house when they're not home). Then, we can say that July has been a crazy month with no stability and August is not turning out any better except that I have started working at my church, <a href="http://www.fbcrc.org">Fellowship Bible Church</a>. Since I have been home I have gone through the normal unpacking a year's worth of stuff, sorting through a year's worth of mail and settling into a life that no one seems to know that you left for that long. Even I have begun to wonder if it was just another 6 week summer project to Sweden or if I dreamed the whole year. I have also spent the last month adjusting to American culture: too much stuff, too many choices (yes, the cereal isle here is insane and the bread isle is probably worse), no mandatory recycling and composting (I tried to compost for the first week I was here but then realized I didn't have anywhere to put it except with the regular trash anyway), driving my car, and loudness. Everyone asks, "Aren't you glad to be back?" Base on the previous, you can imagine that yes is not quick to roll off the tongue although I am glad to be back. Yet, I miss Sweden. I miss my Swedish friends and, of course, my Swedish bike and the bike lanes.<div>I have also been traveling a lot and will be until September. Mostly I have been trying to meet with my donors to get all of my support moved from Campus Crusade to FBC. But I have gotten to go to Florida to visit my sister who lives in Tampa. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean a trip to the beach. Jamie has got to be the palest Floridian down there. I have also made a trip to my old Kentucky home. I love going there to visit and I love that my parents still live on the same farm they brought me home to when I was born. For now I'm back in the Boro at my house and it's good to be back here. It's always good to come back home, wherever that may be.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-39090742528347430132008-06-28T15:26:00.000-07:002008-06-28T15:53:58.026-07:00My Bike Accident<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gRGQT7g03rwp3Os-8li7OMvviW7PtfUDKGerNplP1ahLgRkXijszdJ7lYOEP9OBqwVhUaNvNBdW9g56PurfxlEoV5nV9VLzwFfaVyMOHjZUB8iGrY3Q317e5TSiaRzMZwn3r-3JrszQ/s1600-h/IMG_3872.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gRGQT7g03rwp3Os-8li7OMvviW7PtfUDKGerNplP1ahLgRkXijszdJ7lYOEP9OBqwVhUaNvNBdW9g56PurfxlEoV5nV9VLzwFfaVyMOHjZUB8iGrY3Q317e5TSiaRzMZwn3r-3JrszQ/s320/IMG_3872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217069376799100162" /></a><br />So, after living here for a year and riding a bike as my primary mode of transportation, you'd think I'd have had a few accidents. But so far I have escaped any kind of scrapes until last night. Yesterday we spent the day moving all of our furniture and household stuff into storage at our friend Sharelle's place so the next team can have it. Last night Sharelle had us over for a girls' night and I had noticed that we had forgotten to pack up our clothes hangers - those nice plastic ones from Ikea. I packed them up in a brown paper Ikea sack and clamped them on the back of my bike to take them over. It's a great way to haul things, generally. About three quarters of the way into town, I was crossing one of the main streets in front of the Lindvalls coffee factory. Right in the middle of the intersection, I hear paper ripping. I instinctively reach back behind me to try to stop whatever disaster that's about to strike. Attempt failed. 85 white plastic clothes hangers where strewn across a 5 lane road. I jumped off my bike and left it on the sidewalk while I ran out into the road. Needless to say, I was holding up traffic and probably providing some unusual entertainment. The most shocking part was that a Swedish girl actually stopped to help me toss them and kick them up onto the sidewalk. I was so flustered that I called Lindsey who was already in town for help. Then I had to collect all the hangers (which gave me the opportunity to count them) but had nothing to put them in until Lindsey arrived with grocery bags. When she arrived I was sitting on a little wall by the intersection with my bike beside me and hangers in the front basket, bungee-corded in the clamp on the back of my bike and gathered at my feet. So now our precious clothes hangers are safely stored at Sharelle's for the next stint team to have. I wonder if they will ever know the true value of those hangers for me and their history of being rescued from the middle of Kungsgatan.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-38155635103207205712008-05-10T20:14:00.000-07:002008-05-21T14:35:11.221-07:00Sweden is not Ireland - there are snakes here...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYLQrKw8OTDm_1xNOhpklfaSdEYlGpHT-QD6ocLN4M9CdEoqbQFM9bMCm58Dsdo86HYATGbfvEOr7fsEGBGgy_hKYEcaLdyskKizlO_xLzefkg6hMu0NI4RXftILeDrp5zpYNG5-AqRM/s1600-h/IMG_5899.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYLQrKw8OTDm_1xNOhpklfaSdEYlGpHT-QD6ocLN4M9CdEoqbQFM9bMCm58Dsdo86HYATGbfvEOr7fsEGBGgy_hKYEcaLdyskKizlO_xLzefkg6hMu0NI4RXftILeDrp5zpYNG5-AqRM/s320/IMG_5899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202946487731488194" /></a><br />So today Darren and I biked to Sunnersta a little town about 4 miles south of Uppsala to go kayaking on the Fyrisån (river). It was a beautiful day - sunny and unusually warm (almost 80 degrees F). I love being on the water. And I not much unsettles me. I like mice, spiders and bugs but snakes, I don't deal with so well unless I have a garden hoe in hand and can chop it up. As we were paddling up the river towards Uppsala, I see this little thing moving across the water to intercept us. When I point it out to Darren, he says it's a snake. I think he's joking but then as we pass by, there he is. A tiny, skinny snake slithering through the cold water. We saw a second guy on the trail back to Uppsala. I didn't notice him until I saw the woman biking towards us pick her feet up off her bike pedals. I have spent three summers in Sweden and never seen a snake before here. I had allowed myself to believe that Sweden must be like Ireland where St. Patrick supposedly drove all the snakes out. I am sad to find out I'm wrong but now I'll be watching where I step.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-45472790156697765822008-05-09T10:02:00.000-07:002008-05-11T10:13:29.373-07:00911 works in Sweden - kind ofSo, we have a Vonage Voice-over Internet Service Provider phone. That means here in Sweden, we have an American phone number based in North Carolina that connects to our internet modem and allows us for a monthly fee to call the US and people from the US to call us for free. It's great - love modern technology! My roommate Anna was trying to call her friend in the Raleigh, NC, area tonight and that area code is 919. She accidentally dialed 9119 and the rest of the number. When she realized it was wrong she hung up not realizing that it called Catawaba County North Carolina Emergency Service. So, of course, they called us back to make sure we were ok. I wish I could have heard the guy with the classic middle of North Carolina accent responding to Anna explaining that we were ok and in Sweden since the number did not indicate where we were located like normal home phone numbers do. He seemed confused from listening to her explain how the Vonage phone works and then he wanted to take our information to help 911 figure out what to do with these type of calls. The problem with Vonage phones is that you can take the thing anywhere that has broadband internet access and plug it in. So I could take our phone back to Tennessee and it would work fine but if you call 911 on it they can't trace it. We thought it would be super impressive if the Swedish emergency services showed up from us accidentally calling 911 in the US! Here the emergency number is 112. Little kids learn it by pointing at their mouth (1), their nose (1) and then their eyes (2). Cute! Too bad 911 is more complicated for kids. :) I'm hoping that we don't have to use it. We've been lucky in the emergency area. Mine and Anna's trek to the hospital via taxi in December for her dislocated shoulder is quite enough for us.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-81336872634044057512008-05-01T02:43:00.000-07:002008-05-01T04:09:44.176-07:00<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W8qz7wdM_TVE7P0-GY0c0jdzrRKILY2K6Ha_XZm4QX_hcIoF_D_qsXZUKj76Oinaywi6nAFMUHb11sj-xyry3wGYjVhCw6KfMF1pb8bXkiHt0JatxZQ71qc_U7szKoUM9trkzOiC54c/s320/IMG_5879.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195363805413099218" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLudibRMVOKmeUs620wkZVFz3vSGJbvWQ86_PMkVGKbl000pUZjbwpDDLJzQbi1CHnH2mZwQVMmIOMkHi4pdNYF5wDgSBeDoHn0N1ATJazLG1nnNEsaP-jcLTX2u3zi0AZ4JzLbtEygY/s1600-h/IMG_5887.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLudibRMVOKmeUs620wkZVFz3vSGJbvWQ86_PMkVGKbl000pUZjbwpDDLJzQbi1CHnH2mZwQVMmIOMkHi4pdNYF5wDgSBeDoHn0N1ATJazLG1nnNEsaP-jcLTX2u3zi0AZ4JzLbtEygY/s320/IMG_5887.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195364471133030114" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday was Valborg. It's the last day of April so it's a celebration that spring is definitely here. It's called Valborg because each day of the year in Sweden has traditional people's names that get celebrated (like October 6th is Jenny's name day) so April 30th is Valborg's name day. Here's a link to a site with the <a href="http://www.scandinavius.com/sweden/seconnections/namesday/senamesday.html">Swedish Name Day Calendar</a>. Anyway, it's pretty much a big drinking day. Everyone starts off with a champagne breakfast. We packed our little breakfast of boiled eggs, bagels, cream cheese strawberries, grapes and champagne and headed to the river where there would be a parade of homemade Styrofoam floats that have to survive the trip over the dam/spillway. People packed both sides of the river to watch people fall off and their floats break into pieces. It was pretty hilarious to watch. Each float represents their sponsor in some way. I think my favorites were the hotdog (it reminded me of the Oscar Meyer mobile) and this one that was a cow lying on its back with its feet up in the air and the 4 people on the float were dressed in hot pink to represent the utters! (Check out the video links in my first blog to see the floats/boats.)<div><br /></div><div>Then we walked to the Ekonomikum which is the Economics building of the university. We found a picnic spot for lunch on the outer edge of the park that surrounds the building. The place was totally packed with people, kind of like tailgating but more subdue. Even drunk Swedes are not terribly loud and obnoxious like Americans can be. It's amazing and sad to see so many young people doing crazy stuff because of alcohol. A lot of my Swedish friends said their top priority for the day was to get drunk and stay drunk. And at the park they were handing out trash bags hoping everyone would help keep the park clean (didn't happen) and condoms because there's some kind of STD running rampant in Uppsala.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the park we, we went to Carolina Rediviva, the main campus library that looks down one of the main streets that runs down the hill to the river. The mayor of Uppsala gives a little speech to welcome spring and then everyone in the crowd wears their high school graduation hat (which looks like a sailor hat) and waves it in the air. There were a lot of people there young and old. Some of the older peoples' hats were even yellowed with age but they still participate. The young people head off to the nations on campus (like our fraternities and sororities) where they have champagnegloppa which is basically a big water fight but with champagne. It's totally crazy and it's even stranger to me to see all of the older people watching from the outside and seeming to think it's totally ok for students to be this drunk and doing these things.</div><div><br /></div><div>After all that, my roommate Anna and I needed to go home and get away from all that. I got to talk to my sister on Skype and use Anna's webcam so it was the first time I've seen my sister outside of photos since July! It was so fun! Now that she has a webcam I'll get to see my parents, too, when they go to visit her.</div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of the evening was more calm. We hung out with some of our friends from church and had a cookout and played the Swedish yard game <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb">kubb</a>. It was a nice relaxing time. Then we biked out to Gamla (Old) Uppsala where the Viking burial mounds are to go to the big bonfire. I am pretty sure it's the biggest bonfire I've ever been to. We approached from this trail over some of the smaller hills and from above it looked like we were looking down on some kind of pagan ritual with all the people crowded around below. And that is what used to take place in that area back in Sweden's history. Very odd. It was sprinkling rain, too, which added to the effect. Apparently it's tradition for each community to have their own bonfire and people come and sing. Uppsala is the only place in Sweden where Valborg is an all day affair. Most of places in Sweden just celebrate with the bonfire that night and maybe a little cookout with friends. But in Uppsala, it's drinking party. We missed out on the major parties on campus last night where the drinking continued. And it's probably still going on this morning. I actually hear some bottle rockets going off as I write this and we don't even live in the center of town where all the action is.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-22466438900389354832008-04-27T08:39:00.000-07:002008-04-27T08:54:46.868-07:00The Morbid EntryFriday, I biked out to Granby on the eastern edge of town and biked around Vaksalakyrka - this cute little church - bummer I forgot my camera - beautiful day and the old cemetery there is like the one at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). Then I stumbled upon a modern cemetery! So that's where they bury their dead! I have asked several students about funeral home and funeral but most of them know nothing about them or have never been to a funeral. I'm pretty sure that there are no funeral homes. And I saw my first hearse in Sweden last week. I have wondered about that, too. Death is not something Swedes talk about or want to think about so only now am I really find out the answers to my questions. But then, I am an American and we have those great things called funeral homes where it's practically like a family reunion when someone dies and lots of cemeteries. I will have to go back out there to take photos.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-58483956059214041202008-04-23T02:45:00.000-07:002008-04-23T12:17:36.719-07:00Spring Is Here!!!The past few days have been so sunny and beautiful. It's getting a bit warmer every day so I'm sure that spring is here now. In faith, I'm going to put away my winter coat. :) The gloves and hat I still need for night time bike travels home. But it's so good to be biking again. I have missed the exercise with a purpose. To me it's like sunbathing, it's so pointless to me to just lay in the sun and do nothing. I can justify it if I'm reading a good book. So I like to feel my muscles burn after getting some kind of task done. Sunday Lindsey had a picnic after church by a lake near Uppsala. She had rented a car and driven a lot of people back and forth but the guys and I decided to bike there and back. It was great! The legs got a work out. I measured that we biked 16 1/2 miles (or 26 1/2 km)!<div><br /></div><div>It's so nice out even this morning. I got to sit outside in the sun reading and drinking some Stash Raspberry White tea. (Thanks, Mandy!) It's so funny how hot it can get in the sun but in the shade it's really chilly. So clouds are a bit of a problem. But as long as it doesn't rain, I don't mind. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, I sat by the river with one of my Swedish friends Pia eating ice cream and sharing stories of life. It is amazing to see so many people down there. They must think spring is officially here, too. You can also tell by the bike parking. A few months ago, you could find a spot almost any where in town to park your bike in a rack but now almost all the racks are full and you have to make the most of your kick stand and part of the curb. And then there's all the dogs. I have never seen so many people walking their dogs and dog walkers with 3 or 4 dogs pulling them along. It makes me wonder how the dogs lived through the winter. So many people live in small apartments. I'm trying to picture the number of people who have been shut up all winter with their German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, or other large breed of dog. Although, Checkers doesn't mind if he doesn't leave the house for a while but then we're back to he is a 30 lb. Beagle who is greatly effected by his daily dose of Benedryl.</div><div><br /></div><div>We hear that spring officially arrives on May 1st: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saMx7pxKdJg&feature=related">Valborg</a>. It's basically a big day of drinking, partying and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfKEjFvUFw8&feature=related">boating</a> so we'll see if it's any more spring like after that.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4712209321470618895.post-54655367616349781952008-04-13T14:17:00.001-07:002008-04-13T14:25:18.547-07:00It's About Time....So I figured it is about time I wrote something on here. I have been living in Sweden for almost 8 months and have been an utter failure at updating my website and sharing my thoughts here. I have good intentions but bad follow through on things like this. So I have been on the phone with my old friend <a href="http://mandyguss.blogspot.com">Mandy Guss</a> for the last hour and 45 minutes while she drove home to Bowling Green from Louisville. Thank the Lord for modern technology like Vonage phones. I just discovered <a href="http://mandyguss.blogspot.com">her blog</a> while we were talking. See I'm not as great of a friend as she thinks. :) But I have been nudged towards inspiration by reading about her thoughts on her visit to Sweden a few weeks ago. So here's my official first entry. <a href="http://lindseyhendrix.blogspot.com">Lindsey</a> will be proud, too. Here's to you both since Lindsey talked me into starting this thing and Mandy inspired me to write something.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525425880596495300noreply@blogger.com1