Lake Day

So, Saturday Ronnie and I went to the lake with his parents. It was a wonderful day - I got sunburnt - Ronnie jumped off some rocks that he has wanted to jump off of for a long time - we found some golf balls next to a golf course (they were in the water) - but the real stories of the lake day came before and after.

We were supposed to meet Ronnie's parents at the lake at 11:00. We were right on track when we saw this...

These two cows - mom and child - held us up for 5-10 minutes. Then we had to stop to tell the local farmer that they were loose. SERIOUSLY!!!! Where do I live??? When we saw them and I started taking pictures, Ronnie asked if it was going to be my blog this week - I said "YES!! I haven't had to stop in the road for cows since I was in Belize.... a third world country!" He said I have had more blogs about animals than any other one thing since I started this about a year ago...

Hmmm...

I live in Southern VA... enough said:)

Anyway - The second big story for the day has to have a bit of introduction. Ya see, coming from Alabama, carries with it some stereotypes. I can't tell you how many Virginians get funny looks on their faces when after an intelligent conversation, they find out where I am from. Apparantly, most of them think we are uneducated losers or something. I even had one lady - a school teacher - say "Well, I guess you are GLAD to get out of there then!" after hearing my homestate was the heart of dixie. I get redneck jokes, accent comments (this coming from some people who don't even pronounce their 'r' in words!), etc. etc.....

As we were leaving the lake... having already been delayed that morning due to cows in the road... we saw this:

A DUMPTRUCK PULLING A BOAT TRAILER!!!! This was parked at the boat ramp! I was amazed! After all the comments, jokes, and funny looks.... I am so happy to see something more redneck than the things I have seen in Alabama!! :)

I do like my new home - its nice most of the time - and it provides PLENTY of blog material... It's just nice to know that although some places in the US carry more stereotype, 'redneck' is nationwide!

And for that teacher.... while VA is fine... I am PROUD to be a Bama girl:)

I have some serious thoughts developing in my head... maybe they will come into a real blog soon.

Totally different topics.

Ok - I have two totally different topics to hit today. Please note that they have NOTHING to do with each other. One was my planned blog for today---the other is my funny story for this morning that simply cannot wait until tomorrow for fear that I will forget the humor.


First of all... Today's funny story.

I woke up early, came to the living room to start my ritual of drinking coffee and checking my emails, facebook, and blogs etc. I heard something that sounded like it was coming from under the carport.


Actually, it sounded like Ziba - our dog that we had the first 7 months of our marriage. She used to sit under the carport and throw her food bowl against the wall until we came out to feed her.


I thought she was back.


Not really.



I don't believe stuff like that.



Regardless, there was SOMETHING making noise. I opened the blinds. We already had the windows open on some of the windows. I couldn't see anything.



I went into the extra bedroom to see if something had gotten in there and was making a mess of all my nicely stacked (haha) boxes that I am starting to pack in.



Nothing moving...



I could still hear it though.



Maybe Ronnie is bumping around in the bedroom?? I cracked the door - he was still sound asleep.



Oh well - I guess I just will see if it goes away (you see how brave I am right?)



Here is the list of options that went through my mind:
Fox
Wild Dog
Raccoon
Possum
Maybe a black bear?.... nah... that's not possible....

Here is what was NOT on my list!





"With a wingspan of 1.5 m (5 ft) the American Black Vulture is a large bird though relatively small for a vulture. (wilkipedia)"


They are STILL up there! Bumping around. We see them often on telephone poles around here - - but BUMPING on my ROOF! What in the world?? Did you notice how big they are?? 5 ft wingsspan??? The pics don't do it justice!!! They are huge! And not afraid of us when we walk outside!!! (Is there something that they want to eat at my house?? I don't want to know!) - - Welcome to the country my friends!


Anyway - I have to move on. Please pray that we don't get eaten up.


The second - and real reason that I wanted to be sure to post today is because of some friends.

Over the last 3 weeks I have come in contact with some friends that I had not talked to in years.


When I say years... I mean it. One friend from Georgia that I have not talked to really since I moved away from there - in 1992 (I think... could have been 91). She and two other girls were my best circle of friends during the Jr. High years that I lived in that town just south of Atlanta. It has been wonderful to take some time to catch up with what is going on! I was looking for her on Facebook - and had to gamble because of the name changes that girls go through with marriage and all that... but I just sent that email that said "Looking for childhood friend...etc... etc...


Second, I did a mission thing with Campus Outreach in 2000 in Panama City Beach. And all of a sudden, my discipleship leader found me on facebook and we are talking again for the first time since we left PCB in August of that year.


Finally, I toured in 1994 with a team called the Young Continentals. It was a 5 week tour on the West Coast with about 30 other teenagers between the ages of 12-15. There was a girl on that tour that became my closest friend on the tour. We met each other as we got off the planes in LAX that July, and were the last to have to say our tearful goodbyes 5 weeks later in LAX. Just a few weeks ago I was talking to Ronnie about those friends, and that we all so quickly lost touch after the tour. Since there were 30 of us, from different areas of the US, it was hard, "pre-email/facebook/myspace/blogland" for us to really stay in tough with each other. I think we mailed letters for a short time... but you know how it goes.


Anyway, my friend, just found me on facebook this weekend. Of course we both have new last names now - but after she was looking through old scrapbooks, she just gambled and tried to see if she could find me. I am so excited!


It is so wonderful to be able to catch up with old friends. Sometimes, in life, people impact our lives in such a short time - and then usually they are gone. There seem to be so many good-byes. It is so cool to be able to say 'hello' every now and then.


Now - one final disclaimer.... American Black Vultures and three old friends from days gone by have NOTHING to do with each other!


Have a nice day:)

A man in the bathroom

I really hate to tell this story, but since 5 minutes after it happened, I was thinking "WHOA that wil be a funny blog," I guess I have to right?

Today I was supposed to have a lunch meeting with some ladies, but this was my first time to have this lunch meeting. I have this thing, where I don't like to go somewhere for the first time and have to walk in and first thing - go to the bathroom. So, usually, if I feel the urge, I will stop somewhere else and go potty and then go on to my commitment location. Today was one of those days. Since I am drinking a RIDICULOUS amount of water because of the new diet I started today... that makes me crave chocolate... and yellow marshmallow bunnies... and ice cream... ummm... what was I talking about?? Oh yeah.

I stopped at the Burger King next door to my final location to go use the restroom.

Walk in to the restroom and its one of those "one-holers." But it is one of the ones with the stall around the pot where someone can come in and go to the sink or whatever while ya wait on the potty. Well, a lady was in the stall. So, I waited.

I looked in the mirror.

Fixed my hair.

Tried to make some noise with my keys so she would know I was waiting.

Waited.

Heard her zip.

Then.... nothing.

No movement.

I wanted to look up and see what was going on, but I was afraid of what I would see.

I hear a cell phone dial.

Then....

"Umm, call the police and have the cops come in here. There is a man in the ladies bathroom."

I was thinking "WHAT? In her stall?? She just went to the potty and NOW she is phoning out for help with a man in her stall?"

I kept standing there.

I contemplated leaving and going to another place. But I really didn't have time. And since I wasn't eating at the BK, I decided to not walk out to the dining area and come back in later.

So, I just stood there.

I glanced up towards the stall and see someone peering out at me. Was she talking TO me? Was she telling me there was a man in there? I thought she was on her cell phone!

I hear the cell phone dialing again.

"Did you call the cops? oh, well, I think it is a woman, so never mind.... What? They are on the way already? Oh Ok... Well we will just tell them it was a mistake. I think it's a woman."

I am still wondering who is in the stall with this woman. (I know, I am slow)

Finally, she opens the door, looks me in the eye and says. "Sorry I took so long. I thought you were a man!"

A MAN!!!!!

I just ducked my head and went to the bathroom. What do you say to that?

First of all, I had on khacki pants and a green collared quarter-length sleeve FITTED shirt. I was wearing my dark brown (very cute) GIRLIE shoes.

Second, who looks out through the cracks in the bathroom stall to see who is waiting on the potty? I mean, I would have NEVER even done that! I just walk out and wash my hands!

Third, if I HAD been a man, it would have most likely been an accident, and therefore required NO POLICE!

Anyway, I went to the bathroom quickly because the conversation sounded like the police were coming and honestly, I didn't want to deal with them asking me whether or not I was a man or a woman.

I might, or might not ever get over that.

So, I got to my car, passed the ladies waiting on the sidewalk (It was the lady from the bathroom and I guess the woman on the other end of the phone?? Not sure about that). They were waiting on the police I guess.

I left, and as I pulled into the parking lot of the place where I was supposed to be meeting my friends, I see the flashing lights of the police cars pulling into the BK parking lot.

I went inside quickly:)

So, now I am not sure about this diet, maybe I should NOT diet and put on some more weight so there are more curves or something... I mean, I thought I was CUTE today, not MANLY! Yeah, the pants were cargo pants, from Aeropostale, but they are GIRL pants. I have a waist! I am even wearing my princess socks!! (yes, I have them) I AM A GIRL!

Talk about confidence busters... I need to go paint my nails or something...

What do I do with this?

My heart hurts some today.

I work with a group at the church and well - last night - I got word that after I walked out of the room, one of them made a comment and then someone close to me walked in and heard the laughter afterwards. My friend didn't hear the comment - only that it was related back to me, and all got uncomfortable afterwards when they thought they were busted. It just kinda hurt my heart.

I have worked with multiple groups similar to this in my life, and well, I have never really been treated like this - at least from what I know. So, without going into any detail - - my heart just hurts. Ya know, its just like pouring a part of yourself into people, only to find out that they are laughing at ya behind your back. What do you do with that? What category of pain does that go into? How do you walk back in next time?

Anyway, other than that - things are going fine. I am working on raising my money for Uganda - more info will come on that soon I promise.

Mission Story #1

Well, over the past 7 years, I have had many opportunities to do random things in the name of Christ. I have a ridiculous number of stories of things that have happened to me, and I have told the stories many times to many people. Some have suggested writing them down and trying to do a book. Some have mentioned that I should share them more often.... etc. I don't know how to do a book, and so, now that I am here, I believe I will have periodic mission story tales. I will try not to repeat them, however, most of them are QUITE entertaining and I only hope that I can communicate the emotions that I felt as I experienced them enough for you to realize the humor, embarrassment, love, compassion..... etc.

The challenge for me in this case, is going to be determining where to start. Some are much more detailed than others. I believe I will begin in Germany, the country I love second only to my own USA. The stories from here are too many to ever tell, however, they touch my heart in ways difficult to communicate.

So, mission story number 1 -

It was a VERY cold day at the end of March. The Germans in Eisenach celebrate the return of spring after a hard winter every year in a celebration called "somergewinn." Literally translated "Summer wins!" The festival is attended by everyone in town (roughly 50,000 people) as well as people from all over Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They set up a large fair in the "Marktplatz" (City square) and also install loud speakers to echo the celebration throughout the city. Most of the entertainment that day is celebrating German life. So, the music that is played all day is German folk music. Then, at the end of the afternoon the long awaited event happens. A HUGE parade happens through the city streets. This parade is MC'd from a stage in the city square. On that stage, the "mayor" of Eisenach, the "governor" of Thuringia (the state Eisenach is in), and many other local officials will watch the parade. At the end, there is a large staged battle between winter and summer, and every year, summer wins, and the whole city explodes with celebration that summer is FINALLY on the way! Below are a few pictures of the parade.

Anyway, I ended up with a nice spot to watch the parade. I was directly across the street from the stage where the state and city officials were sitting. This was my first mistake.

As we waited for the parade to begin, I noticed first of all that I stood out a bit in appearance. Germans tend to wear a lot of dark colors. Especially when it comes to their coats and jackets. The day was very cold. My warmest jacket was BRIGHT BUMBLE BEE YELLOW!!! So, I looked like quite the American tourist standing in the crowd. Then came the fatal mistake. An elderly man tried to start a conversation. Instead of just pretending not to hear him, I was a nice American girl and told him very slowly "Ich komme aus USA. Meine Deutsch ist schlimm, ich verstehe nur ein bissien und spreche weniger. Es tut mir leid." (tr. I am from the USA. My German is very bad, I only understand a little and I speak even less. I am sorry). The man seemed to be content with ending our conversation and went back to talking with his wife. I felt like I had done something great! I had communicated clearly that I could not communicate.

Moments later, (after the polizei dogs delayed the beginning of the parade because of a bomb threat on the stage where the officials were.... ) the EmCee was trying to stall so he started asking where everyone was from. (All of this was in German, I understood much more than I spoke... I knew what the question was, but I didn't know everything else at the time.) Someone directly behind me yelled, "Jena! Weimar! Berlin! Munich!" All were German cities. Then we heard other locations "Oestereich (Austria), Frankreich (France), Die Schweiss (Switzerland). All of a sudden, the nice little man next to me starts pointing and yelling "Sie kommt aus USA!!! Sie kommt aus USA!!!" (tr. She is from the USA!!!) I wanted to hide, however, the bright yellow coat prevented this. The EmCee started to come off the stage and all I wanted to do was disappear.... unfortunately I could not. He crossed the street, walked up to me, and started asking questions.... IN GERMAN!! I had only been there 3 months. I had a basic understanding of the language, I barely spoke German in front of the family I lived with. I did NOT want to speak German in public, in front of Germans.... in front of THOUSANDS of Germans!!!! Regardless, I did my best. I answered the questions. I will spare you my German now.... They asked the following questions in German. "Where are you from?" - I am from the USA "What State?" - Alabama "How long have you been here?" - I have been here for 3 months. "How long will you stay?" - I plan to be here a year. "What work do you do?" I work with Abbe Gymnasium, and Luther Gymnasium and Friedliche-gemeinde Eisenach. "Do you miss Alabama?" - Yes, I miss my family.

That (I thought) was the end of the torture. The Germans all over the city laughed at my American Accent when I spoke German. I had spoken their language in front of a LOT of them! I had accomplished something great... and then... as the German polka music faded. The "governor" of Thuringia looked my way and smiled really big. My heart stopped as I heard the first few notes of "the" song most well known about Alabama.... and then the words "Big wheels keep on turnin' Carryin' me home to see my kin........... Sweet Home Alabama." Once more, I really hoped that my yellow coat would turn into an invisible coat and I could melt into the brick streets and disappear. The mayor of Eisenach made a "sad face" at me and pretended to wipe a tear away from his eyes. The governor poked his bottom lip out in a pouting manner. They interrupted the day of German polka music - for Sweet Home Alabama..... there are no words to describe the moment.

For the rest of the day, when I passed my students from the school or church in the streets they would comment on my German with my accent. The little old ladies looked at me with smiles. Were they smiles of pity because my German was so poor? Or smiles of excitement??? Maybe a mix of the two. Word got back to other friends who were not there that afternoon and from then on I was not allowed to go to celebrations alone any more. They believed that I, being an American, was incapable of showing up anywhere without drawing attention to myself and eventually ending up in a mess.

This, my friends, is an example of what happens when I leave home. The stories are numerous. This is the most embarassing, however, not the worst predicament I have been in. The stories will continue.... Keep an eye out for Mission Stories in the future.