The People

This is Pablo, whom we would meet back at the hostel later on during our last night in Edinburgh. He challenged me to a game of chess..guess who won...he was only one of the top chess players in Australia. He said I did pretty good though...considering.
This couple looked so peaceful as we walked along the water in a tree covered glen. A few of the friends we made at church on Sunday. Ellie (in blue) invited us for lunch. 

Sweet little ladies on vacation in Oban.
This is an all out rock fight. Handfuls of large rocks are being thrown...and in between much laughter is being exchanged.

I sat here on a little bench for awhile and watch four young boys dig between rocks for a ring they had lost. The water was so cold, I am sure the one boy in the water was the color blue as he walked home. 

This moment speaks for itself.
George Square in Glasgow...where lunch is eaten and the sun is soaked in. Leah and I spent about three hours one day in this park.
During the three hours, I watched this couple fight and make up.
Not quite on the beat, but it's still fun to watch people play their instruments next to the water. 

The People, cont.

The park near St.Enoch subway where we sang "Yellow" at least twice and serenaded a group who was full of heart and drink at the same time.
We ran into a lot of these types of musicians on the street. Playing for money in Scotland is called "busking".
The listening crowd.
One lone guitarist. 

So, About Scotland

It was amazing. Absolutely beautiful. I hit the ground running when I came home last week. Hence the gap in my blogging. My classroom is almost ready for school on Monday. It looks awesome...way better than last year. I'm pretty sure I removed most of the roaches...blechk. Now if I can just find the right tape to keep posters stuck to the painted brick walls I'll be all set. I'm just about to post some pics...then maybe some more thoughts.

Jesus and Politics

Disowning Conservative Politics Is Costly for Pastor

I came across this article from the New York Times this morning. If you have a minute to read through it, the contents reveal some challenging thoughts. Drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Now they tell me...

Just got back from Scotland two nights ago and msn publishes this article today. Ten days was a perfect amount of time, but it wasn't enough to see all of Scotland. What an amazing country..rich in history and beauty.

Rain on the hills

Rain falls on the hills as the sound of guitar and jimbey play their worship. My heart is open...it feels like a song waiting, longing to be played. I've started three more songs in the past few days. I'm hungry to play the guitar we have carried to Scotland. I think about it more and more. I'm hungry to read the word. I have finally finished Matthew and am headed through Mark. I'm looking at the life of David again, particularly where he was chosen over all his older brothers to be the king of Israel.

Church was divinely appointed this morning. I was so touched by Him that I responded to a call for prayer. Kat prayed for me. I mean, she listened to the Lord, prayed in the Spirit and then prayed over me. It is so rare to find a church so full of life and running with fresh water. I drank fresh water this morning. So fresh that my tired perspective is changing. New directions? New possibilities? Aye. (yes)

It is time for change. Time to switch perspectives. Time to stop doing what I feel is good and right and responsible; time to listen to the Lord and talk with Him about my life. Time to follow in the path He has already set up for me. It may not be the practical, safe path. It may not be the one I have assumed. I need to be okay with that...in fact, I think I really am okay with that.

We are headed to Iona tomorrow. Headed to the place where Christianity was carried into Scotland. I won't be here to update until I get home to the States. Can't wait to share the pictures...can't wait to write more updates.

Miss you all. And when I say "you"...I mean you...I have carried you in my heart.

Touching History

Here are some links to places I've been this week. I am almost overwhelmed at the history here. I want to soak it all up...way more exciting than sitting through a high school lecture 10 years ago...way more exciting.

Paisley Abbey

Stirling Castle

Glasgow Cathedral

We still plan on seeing the Isle of Iona and Edinburgh before we leave. I might have to buy more batteries and another memory card for my camera. Beth, you would have a blast taking pictures here.

Glasgow And Its Patriarchs

The sun rises around 4am and the light of it still shines until somewhere between 10 and 11pm. We are further north than I thought.

We checked out Glasgow today and plan to return tomorrow to see a Cathedral and an art museum. Today we walked the streets with Leah's guitar, whom we affectionately named "Gertie". Lots of good architecture, street musicians, one street canvas and many, many people. It is not much different than here but then again it is. The parks are full of people eating lunch, talking, basking in the record high heat (which by the way happens to be nice and cool compared to Florida or the heat of the midwest). The accents are inflected with Scottish, sometimes easy to understand and other times easier just to nod and pretend you know what they are saying. People are very friendly here.

So we played a lot of guitar today. Or rather Leah did and I played a bit for a few moments here and there. I didn't mind listening, watching the people, snapping pictures, writing new lyrics in my journal. The peace of God surround us here. I feel as if we are on a mission or maybe God is on the mission and we're here to experience it.

We met Danny Boy and Kelly in one round-about park today. They had a two liter bottle half- filled with alcohol. Drunk as they were, they wanted to sing and Leah was their minstrel. We sang "Yellow" twice, "Clocks" and only part of an Emmy Lou Harris. A few of their other friends joined us too...also drunk. Try to understand Scottish and slur at the same time...it is not easy. We stayed until I didn't feel quite safe anymore...Kelly was angry about us getting the attention and there were too many others around to feel comfortable. As we left Danny Boy told us (with much concern is in voice) to be very careful and stay safe as we walked around the city. Hmm...thanks for the tip.

We spent the rest of the day in an incredible park uptown a bit. The pigeons really do swoop in large masses through these parks you know. I have decided after much pigeon and seagull watching today that I do not ever want a statue made of myself to be placed in a park with birds. It seems to defeat the purpose of honor as they perch on the heads of these patriarchs and excrete their droppings as only birds can do. It's rather disgusting and quite ironic.

Another day is done...tomorrow I will wake up again in Paisley...the home of the actual paisley design...once home to some of the largest cotton mills...in a house that used to hold the family accredited for inventing spools of thread..or something like that. Can't wait to post the pictures.

Good Day..from Scotland :)

Leah and I landed in Edinburgh today around 10:30am. From there we found the bathrooms, an atm, and a bottle of water. We got two bottles of water for 1.30 pounds. We walked to the buses where we found directions to Glasgow, hopped onto the nearest bus and headed for the next bus stop. We waited there for about 15 minutes hopped onto a double decker bus and were taken all the way into Glasgow. Beautiful ride by the way. After reaching Glasgow's bus station, Leah and I grabbed a bite to eat. I had a bbq chicken sandwich and juice for under 3 pounds...I'm telling you...the food here is really cheap.

Leah and I then walked to what we thought was the correct train station and bought a ticket...and then found out we were in the wrong place. The tickets were still good...we were told that we just needed to hop onto another bus and be taken to the correct place. This time the ride took us through Glasgow...beautiful, historical city (pictures to come).

When we arrived at the city center...wow...it was a huge train station with lots of shops, people, trains. I would have taken pictures but we found our train was leaving within five minutes time. We hiked it to Platform 12 and took a short, scenic train route in Paisley. While on the train, I met Claire, a student at St. Andrews. I gave her bandaids for her blisters...she was headed to France to stay on the beach with some friends on holiday. People don't even ask where we're from...they automatically know that we're from the states.

So after the train, we met up with a taxi who took us to the ministry base we are staying with. I can't wait to post pictures...this house is a historical landmark...stone around the outside...winding staircase inside...large rooms and a gorgeous view of a lake the breas (small hills) of Scotland. The people who run this ministry have given us a room, linens, have taken us to the grocery store, and have invited us to cook out with them tonight. What a blessing. The kids who usually are here are out on ministry right now, so this great big house is quiet, peaceful.

I don't know what the next few days hold, but let me tell you..it's off to a great start. God has ordered our steps.

Morning

We could actually see the sun move in the sky. 

Walking at Sunrise

Here are the results of Beth and I's all nighter.
After the sun rose we walked another mile and a half to have french toast for breakfast at The Oasis. Mornings like these are few and far between.



 

One American Dream

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?

Or what shall a man give in return for his life?"

Matthew 16:24-26

I've been contemplating this verse for a couple of months now. It started at the end of the summer. I began to feel uncomfortable about my house hunting. I knew that needing a house in itself was not a bad thing, it was the expectation that I "should" have a house, "should" have a new car, "should" have the things that every adult in this day and age aquires...ipod, running shoes, vacation, white picket fence....the American dream.

Who said the American dream was the best dream? Who said that the American dream was God's dream? Why is it that when I have acquired exactly what I want, I feel that more is just out of reach?

I watched the sun rise this morning...and then tonight, the moon rose above the water. I watched the waves roll in on the sand throughout the afternoon. Tonight I looked up at the stars and saw at least two shoot across the sky. Ancient people would worship the sun, the moon and the stars as if each were god. Thankfully, I know better. But, even still, their beauty causes my heart to open up, to contemplate things beyond who I am. There is something about creation that reminds me of His greatness, His beauty, His love.

He is all I need. God, how I know that. I know it. I know it. And yet there's nothing I can do to make it more real. There's nothing I can do to make that fact work for me. That revelation alone does not get me the house, the car, a family of my own. I can't do anything to make God perform for me. And yet I am nowhere near to measuring up in my performance for Him.

How then shall I live? The question rolls over and over in mind. How do I live for God without always feeling guilty? How do I simply just live for Him because I love Him and not because I want something from Him?

What is God's dream for me? I have a feeling it is not my dream. I saw the fulfillment of my dreams. And I embraced the dream as it died in my arms. So I stand here, without a dream and without much hope for more. I don't know the measure of my days. I don't know anything beyond today, beyond what I see.

But I want to know. I want to see this great God who lays claim to my heart, to every single day of my life. I want to watch the sun rise in my heart and His oceans spring forth on the shores of this young life. When others see me, I want them to be reminded of Him, of their hunger for something more, something deeper.

I want to know Christ and to make Him known.

Early morning update

It's 4am.
Bethany is sitting across the room...still wide awake...
we're laughing about watching the sunrise.

Josh is home from Iraq...
I heard his voice loud and clear yesterday
we talked about a visit soon.

Three guys brought us girls beer tonight on the beach.
We declined the beverage but offered room to talk.
They asked me to play them a song on my guitar, so I sang to them about Jesus
and then passed the guitar on around the circle.
They hung out with Wen, Beth and I for at least an hour
as we were leaving they asked if we were on a missions trip...lol...
maybe so...seems we were comfortable in our boldness to share tonight.

Living it up in St. Augustine

Beth and I are very proud to say that we have graduated from the oldest schoolhouse in America.
Yeah. We know.
The crew. Photo-op after church.

*All photography credit goes to Beth our vacation photographer.

Read It

 

A good cup of coffee

Here I sit at grandma and grandpa's,
looking them in the eyes and
feeling the importance of being with family.
We drink coffee with milk and sugar,
listening to stories that are both old and new
I found out facts I never knew,
like about the time my grandparents sang at the Ryman Theatre,
or how my other grandpa wanted to build an orphanage in India.
I sit through an akward silence here and there,
nodding my head, saying "yep"
not knowing how to fill the gaps in conversation
my suitcase is filled with the smell of a spilled hair product
if I sit here just right and manage not to move more than an inch or two
my laptop picks up a very low signal
It's good to be home, to be the grandchild..the niece
I feel grown up now...more so than last year or the year before
is it the rental car in the driveway?
the experiences that have brought me back to here?
adulthood has crept in
and yet the child in me still puts her feet up while sitting at the kitchen table,
still hugs and kisses everyone who walks in and out of the door,
still listens more than she speaks,
All I want is to embrace these moments...carry them with me
How fragile, how rare and precious
to be with people you love.

Tulsa by Tuesday

and by Saturday..NY. This summer is FLYing by. :) Hope to see lots of you in my travels. More pictures to come I am sure.

This week in pictures...

I thought the wording on this sign was interesting...
Dinner on the Regal Empress.... Did we get a good table or what? :)Each night when we came back to our room, everything had been straightened up and our beds had been turned down.
Pre-snorkeling...you can't see it but the water was so blue and clear.
A nighttime view of Universal Studios, Orlando.

Waiting for the SuperMan experience.

Need we say more??

In a nutshell...

This week, I...
vegged with Lys and watched cheesy made-for-tv movies.
snorkeled in the Bahamas. (saw a fish with buck-teeth..no kidding..I swallowed a bunch a salt water laughing with Lys about it...lol.)
met people from Romania, Poland, Russia, Philippines, Bahamas, Ukraine...and the list goes on but I can't remember them all.
braved some new roller coasters.
made some new friends from Wisconsin and Ohio.
got to know my sister...we haven't spent quality time together in so long.
went on two time-share tours...said "no" one too many times.
experienced withdrawals from using the information highway.
watched the stars and moon from the deck of a ship with no land in sight.
sang Karaoke for the first time ever.
paid $3 to listen to 3 little guys from the Bahamas sing us a song on the street...who can say no to a song? (This is them in the picture.)
experienced what it might be like to be chased by the paparazzi.
remembered why sunscreen was so important.
found a Starbucks that stays open until 2am.

Another Good Read

Promises

LA Gone Wild

Hiking in Calabasas...felt like we were on a movie set or something. Aside from the smog over the mountains, can you believe this is LA?
Look very closely...
Love the tree.
Bees. Everywhere.
More wildlife.

Happy Memorial Day

Thank you, brother. I remember you. Get back here. I miss you.

Edison Glass

This is Edison Glass warming up last night at Murray Hill here in Jax. Awesome show. If you all haven't checked them out yet...do it...you don't know what you've been missing!

Around the world

Four more days...until the summer officially begins.
Four more days...until I send off the kids and pack my own bags. I'm going to miss them. It's been a good year. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning. That's what the Proverb says and I quite agree. Next year will be easier.

I'll be traveling all summer. My calendar has me home for only about two weeks out of the whole 9. Awesome. Did I mention how much I love being a teacher? :)

Hey, One Day people...remember singing to the people in Botswana over the satellite? I sang that song to my 3rd graders last week when we talked about Botswana in a math lesson. They loved it. I've also been teaching them about Zambia because of the little girl I adopted there. They were begging to take a field trip there. "Miss T. plleeaase? We can go next week!" When I tried to explain the time difference and the financial problems for getting there, Alexis piped in with full assurance, "That's no problem, we can have a car wash up at the corner. That'll give us plenty of money." :) These kids make me want to find ways to take them around the world...that's for sure.

Our Deepest Fear

I've been looking for this quote.
Ever since I first read it in one of Jilli's many books,
I have remembered it and carried it close to my heart.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness,

that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves,

"Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, talented, fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest

the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some of us;

it is in all of us, in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson, "Return to Love"~

Psalm 40

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon?from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me?
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"

10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Suttle changes

This past week I....
hugged my sister who came home from college.
went to church five times (a current record).
let go.
had dinner with a friend I hadn't seen in about seven years.
ate sushi...twice.
realized that I love event planning.
(Sweet aroma, the beach, one whole week...can't wait.)
made some new friends.
danced at a wedding.
talked to my brother in Iraq.
took 3 naps.
finally finished some lesson plans....now if I could just get those grades done.
taught my 3rd graders about Iraq and Zambia.
ate cereal for dinner...twice.
tried to blog...twice...but couldn't think of what to write...hence, the fill in the blank format.