I love this season – the joy that is felt in giving gifts, hot drinks sipped with good friends, beautiful decorations and the reminder of the paramount event that took place over 2000 years ago.
I am sitting in my room, snuggled up in my new wool blanket. The sounds of Pac-Man float in from the living room, where my roommate is attempting to beat her own high score on her new acquired Atari game. The smell of evergreen once graced our apartment, but that died out too soon.
My two roommates and I purchased a bushy little Noble tree we named Herbert, only for him to meet his demise a week and a half later. It wasn’t due to a lack of water, as he was replenished whenever he needed it. Rather, he was baked to death. Something was wrong with the furnace downstairs (we have no control over the heat; we get whatever drifts up from downstairs) and it felt like a sauna in our tiny little living quarters for a while there. Thankfully it is now fixed and we are no longer hallucinating of the tropics in the summertime. We are no longer boiling in our sleep, but Herbert didn’t make it.
Nevertheless, we didn’t let that dampen our holiday spirit. There are paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling mimicking the real ones outside, and stockings hung with cheer. Gingerbread cookies and peppermint chocolates were made and devoured, and Roommate Christmas is happening tonight (dessert at a fun restaurant and gift exchange).
I have only a few more days until I fly home for two weeks as well. I am looking forward to this much-needed trip home. Time spent with family and friends is so precious to me and I plan on savoring every moment. Many more Christmas memories are waiting to be made.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Rejoice Always
I’ve opted to skip Thanksgiving at home in order to spend two weeks during Christmas, which I am very much looking forward to.
But it was a good Turkey Day, regardless. A few girls from the ranch and I had dinner at the home of a friend of ours, someone who moved to Oregon from Chicago partly because of the ranch. It was a feast, not only for our taste buds and stomachs, but also in relationship. It is so good to cultivate friendships and then come together to celebrate them.
To sit around a beautiful and bountiful table, sipping on wine, sharing of who we are – it feels so good to relax and rejoice in the small things that we have to be thankful for.
Rejoice always, pray consistently, and be thankful in all circumstances.
But it was a good Turkey Day, regardless. A few girls from the ranch and I had dinner at the home of a friend of ours, someone who moved to Oregon from Chicago partly because of the ranch. It was a feast, not only for our taste buds and stomachs, but also in relationship. It is so good to cultivate friendships and then come together to celebrate them.
To sit around a beautiful and bountiful table, sipping on wine, sharing of who we are – it feels so good to relax and rejoice in the small things that we have to be thankful for.
Rejoice always, pray consistently, and be thankful in all circumstances.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Comforts of Home
I feel as though I am finally getting settled into my new home.
My two roommates and I were informed about two months ago that we were getting ‘kicked out’ of our wonderful 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. We had the option of moving upstairs to the tiny 2 shoebox-sized-bedroom, even tinier 1 bathroom apartment, though. We searched (in vain) for something that would actually have enough square-footage to house three of us, without living right on top of each other. But in the end, without any other options in sight, we boxed up everything only to move them 8 feet up. (Regardless of how far you move all of our belongings, it is still a pain.)
Of all the places that I have lived, I think this one has the most ‘quirky charm.’ But I guess we all go through those times in our lives that we will later look back on and just laugh at our living situations.
Our dining room is converted into a third bedroom, so at least we all have our own space. Although, space might be a generous term. My bedroom furniture is literally a puzzle that only has one solution. I tried a couple different options, but nothing else would work (unless I wanted to crawl over my bed to get to my closet, or not be able to shut my door, or have to maneuver a couple different items to open my dresser drawers).
We have no oven, but we have purchased a toaster oven, which isn’t quite the same thing, but will provide us with the necessary brownies. I had to buy a small bookshelf to put our microwave on, the kitchen counter wasn’t big enough. And the silverware is sitting out next to it, there isn’t a drawer for it. Our ‘pantry’ is just wasted space behind the fridge, where the ceiling is pitched enough that nothing else would fit back there. (Every time someone goes to get something to eat, it looks like they got lost behind the fridge.)
Heat will drift up from our old residence below at random times. Half the time our house is chilly, the other half boiling hot. We have no control over it; we just get whatever our downstairs neighbors feel like giving us. They also give us the stomach-turning fragrance of incense, which I have a feeling is just a cover up for another smell.
But all in all, it is still our home and we are making it as such.
My two roommates and I were informed about two months ago that we were getting ‘kicked out’ of our wonderful 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. We had the option of moving upstairs to the tiny 2 shoebox-sized-bedroom, even tinier 1 bathroom apartment, though. We searched (in vain) for something that would actually have enough square-footage to house three of us, without living right on top of each other. But in the end, without any other options in sight, we boxed up everything only to move them 8 feet up. (Regardless of how far you move all of our belongings, it is still a pain.)
Of all the places that I have lived, I think this one has the most ‘quirky charm.’ But I guess we all go through those times in our lives that we will later look back on and just laugh at our living situations.
Our dining room is converted into a third bedroom, so at least we all have our own space. Although, space might be a generous term. My bedroom furniture is literally a puzzle that only has one solution. I tried a couple different options, but nothing else would work (unless I wanted to crawl over my bed to get to my closet, or not be able to shut my door, or have to maneuver a couple different items to open my dresser drawers).
We have no oven, but we have purchased a toaster oven, which isn’t quite the same thing, but will provide us with the necessary brownies. I had to buy a small bookshelf to put our microwave on, the kitchen counter wasn’t big enough. And the silverware is sitting out next to it, there isn’t a drawer for it. Our ‘pantry’ is just wasted space behind the fridge, where the ceiling is pitched enough that nothing else would fit back there. (Every time someone goes to get something to eat, it looks like they got lost behind the fridge.)
Heat will drift up from our old residence below at random times. Half the time our house is chilly, the other half boiling hot. We have no control over it; we just get whatever our downstairs neighbors feel like giving us. They also give us the stomach-turning fragrance of incense, which I have a feeling is just a cover up for another smell.
But all in all, it is still our home and we are making it as such.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Summer Fun with our crazy staff...
Here is most of our staff, a bunch of crazy girls. The following are just some of the adventures that we have had this summer...
Oregon Coast
Did I learn to surf while in Hawaii last year? No, I had to be a tough chick and learn in the frigid Oregon Coast waters. Thankfully we had wetsuits! And other than getting konked in the head pretty good with my board, it wasn't half bad!
Changes around every bend...
Just when I feel like things are falling into a bit of a rut, God likes to stir the pot a bit (alright, a whole lot).
A roommate moved out; a new roommate moved here from Arizona; we have to move; a job change (a good thing) is coming; housesitting jobs seem to be coming out of my ears (which is good for the bank account, just makes you feel like a gypsy); my roommates celebrated not only my B-day, but Birthday Week; guys are dumb (well, one in particular); etc., etc., etc.
In the midst of it all, I'm taking a break up north for a few days and I am so looking forward to spending some relaxed time with some dear friends. Without this break, I think my poor little head might explode.
God, thanks for never giving me more than I can bear with your help!
A roommate moved out; a new roommate moved here from Arizona; we have to move; a job change (a good thing) is coming; housesitting jobs seem to be coming out of my ears (which is good for the bank account, just makes you feel like a gypsy); my roommates celebrated not only my B-day, but Birthday Week; guys are dumb (well, one in particular); etc., etc., etc.
In the midst of it all, I'm taking a break up north for a few days and I am so looking forward to spending some relaxed time with some dear friends. Without this break, I think my poor little head might explode.
God, thanks for never giving me more than I can bear with your help!
Sunday, August 21, 2005
seeking time to process
Hmm, life recently has had such a daily quality about it. Which I haven’t decided if that is good or bad yet. In early morning, I just get going, knowing it’s going to be a long day. And as I walk down the driveway from the ranch at the end of it, I know tomorrow will come too quickly.
It seems that all I do is work and seeing that I’m at Starbucks about 27-30 hours a week and then at the ranch another 24 or so, that is pretty accurate. Thankfully I enjoy my jobs for the most part, but it can get a little weary when I feel as though all my free time is spent driving between the two.
But my weekends are generally a time for me to ramp up for the next upcoming week. I will work a bit on the weekends, but it is generally a slower time for me. I even get to sleep in one or two days and lounge on the couch with my book and cup of coffee, which is the perfect way for me to start my day.
It is also the time where I can slow down long enough to process life a bit. I am a processor; it takes me a little time to think through all that has been thrown at me the previous week, to make some sense out of all of it. And writing is one of those ways that I am able to sort through all my thoughts. Unfortunately not much of that writing has made it on the blog, but I’m coming to the last pages in my current journal.
****
This past week has been a doozy as far as processing is concerned…
~ One of the girls who I have become so close with this summer has moved back to Colorado for school and a boy. When she arrived in June, I knew she would only be here for the summer months, but I didn’t count on her finding some a comfortable place in my heart. I had been feeling the drought of not having a girlfriend close by who your soul feels so content with, and then Laura felt the call of God to move here for the summer. It’s hard to imagine this place without her here, so things have felt a bit foreign this past week. But God seems to know what He is doing, so I trust Him for who is leading to and from this ranch, and for those He is leading into my life.
~ I kinda went on a date this past week as well. I won’t go into much detail, but it was nice to wake up in the morning and smile because someone might actually like you. I’m not hanging too much on this yet (especially since he tends to disappear for weeks at a time), I’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.
~ I was a part of my first horse rescue on Friday. I’ve seen some of the pictures of the equines that the ranch has taken in, who were on their last few days of life, but I have not actually seen or touched them when they were in that condition. It was just horrifying to look at this animal, so close to death, yet with such a fire in his eyes. I believe this guy will pull through this, but he is quite old and in such terrible condition, it’s not a certainty.
****
Tomorrow is Monday and the cycle that I call a week will start all over again. But in the meantime, I am enjoying my lazy Sunday. Thanks God, for making days of rest and for allowing me to savor them!
It seems that all I do is work and seeing that I’m at Starbucks about 27-30 hours a week and then at the ranch another 24 or so, that is pretty accurate. Thankfully I enjoy my jobs for the most part, but it can get a little weary when I feel as though all my free time is spent driving between the two.
But my weekends are generally a time for me to ramp up for the next upcoming week. I will work a bit on the weekends, but it is generally a slower time for me. I even get to sleep in one or two days and lounge on the couch with my book and cup of coffee, which is the perfect way for me to start my day.
It is also the time where I can slow down long enough to process life a bit. I am a processor; it takes me a little time to think through all that has been thrown at me the previous week, to make some sense out of all of it. And writing is one of those ways that I am able to sort through all my thoughts. Unfortunately not much of that writing has made it on the blog, but I’m coming to the last pages in my current journal.
****
This past week has been a doozy as far as processing is concerned…
~ One of the girls who I have become so close with this summer has moved back to Colorado for school and a boy. When she arrived in June, I knew she would only be here for the summer months, but I didn’t count on her finding some a comfortable place in my heart. I had been feeling the drought of not having a girlfriend close by who your soul feels so content with, and then Laura felt the call of God to move here for the summer. It’s hard to imagine this place without her here, so things have felt a bit foreign this past week. But God seems to know what He is doing, so I trust Him for who is leading to and from this ranch, and for those He is leading into my life.
~ I kinda went on a date this past week as well. I won’t go into much detail, but it was nice to wake up in the morning and smile because someone might actually like you. I’m not hanging too much on this yet (especially since he tends to disappear for weeks at a time), I’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.
~ I was a part of my first horse rescue on Friday. I’ve seen some of the pictures of the equines that the ranch has taken in, who were on their last few days of life, but I have not actually seen or touched them when they were in that condition. It was just horrifying to look at this animal, so close to death, yet with such a fire in his eyes. I believe this guy will pull through this, but he is quite old and in such terrible condition, it’s not a certainty.
****
Tomorrow is Monday and the cycle that I call a week will start all over again. But in the meantime, I am enjoying my lazy Sunday. Thanks God, for making days of rest and for allowing me to savor them!
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