Pictures

A friend of mine requested more pictures on this fine blog. The following are some of what I had digital copies of. I promise to post more as I get more.

Nature

The Great Balloon Race

St. Louis hosts a "Great Balloon Race" every September. George, Tanya, and I raced after the balloons. Tanya drove, George navigated, and I hung out the back window taking pictures.

Artistic

"RearView"

This is a picture I made for my living room. The pictures are all from Chicago.

Halloween

My super cute "lion" nephew.

The Stern kids all decked out for Halloween.

Missing Tanya and Killing Poopstain

Tanya's gone this week. It wasn't a big deal until I purchased a book shelf yesterday. It was one of those ones that comes in pieces in a box. It weighed 73 pounds and was almost as tall as I am. It is one of those purchases that drives the cart guys at Target crazy because they have to help the women who are dumb enough to buy something that heavy, but not bring along some man (or woman) who can help her carry it. My cart guy, Joel, was incredibly nice. And he put the box in my car all by himself. After work, I was chomping at the bit to get the shelf put together so that I could get rid of the dorm-roomesque wire crates that are always falling over. I hoisted the box out of my car and began my climb up the sidewalk stairs. About the time I reached the front door of my building, I realized just how much I missed Tanya. By the time I got to my apartment door (on the second floor), I couldn't take it anymore. I opened the door, let the box fall inside...and flopped myself onto the futon until I recovered.

Speaking of this whole shelf-building process, my shelf looks really nice. In fact, my whole bedroom is better because of it. However, there was death in the process of putting it together. My beloved Poopstain, the Virginian bobblehead pig that Trish, Anna, and Bucky (Dorice) purchased for me 6 years ago, took a spill. His body broke into about 6 pieces, but somehow the head stayed completely in tact.

Favorite song of the day: "You Send Me" of off Rod Stewart's Latest Jazz Album

Quote of the day: Brandon and I tried to come up with another fun quote, but it just isn't jiving today.

Maven

My nephew is the cutest kid in the world! These pictures are a couple of months old, but still show just how cute he is!

Quote of the Day

Brandon : You think that that would be ideal.
Amanda: Ideally it WOULD be ideal.

hot drinks, sweaters, garbage disposals, and Jamie Cullum

What a weekend! Saturday night, Tanya and I threw a hot drink and cheesy sweater party. There were a lot of hot drinks, but the favorite was clearly Neil's homemade chai. We had a moment of elation on Sunday afternoon as we discovered how little of the assorted hot chocolates were used. More for us-woo-hoo!!

The sweaters at our party were hilarious! Cliff sported a grey with hot pink zig-zags straight from 80s. Jeremy raided his mother-in-law's closet and came out with a white sweater complete with pink flowers. Add to that the fact Jeremy is bigger than his mother-in-law! (I know, pictures are coming soon.) Kim wore a hot pink sweater that fell below the knees. At the bottom stood two Christmas trees, each with cat wearing a santa hat below it. Jessica, a teacher, found herself wearing exactly what she said she would never wear-a Christmas "teacher" sweater with bells!!

As is the trend in our apartment, we had yet another thing "break." The roller coaster toilet, the closet doors, the shower, the kitchen cabinets, etc. This time the garbage disposal decided to throw up....continuously. Repeatedly. We couldn't use the kitchen sink. The only solution we could think of was to plunge it while calling all of the men we know (that would know something about it). In the end, we left a message for our landlord...mysteriously it worked when we returned home from work the next day.

Neil got me the new Jamie Cullum CD for my birthday. It rocks my face off!! If you don't know Jamie, you need to. Especially the song, Twentysomething, off of the Twentysomething album. Jamie has a very witty way of describing those of us twenty-somethings that feel like we are wondering aimlessly through life. Maybe too many options? OR is it a lack of options?

Tonight I had a really fun birthday dinner with Tanya, Jesse, and George. We went to my favorite Mexican restaurant in St. Louis. They make their own chips and salsa! Muy Bueno!! Tanya and I had a very memorable night. George made me a CD which Tanya and I spent the evening listening to and psycho-analyzing and interrpreting through dance. I had an out of body experience (picturing myself doing the dance) which sent me into a fit of uncontrollable laughter which lasted for at least 8 minutes. Tears and all! And for those of you who know my laugh...you understand just how intense that can be!

Thanks to all for a wonderful birthday...my fam, Jen (who decorated my car...yes, I drove around the city with all sorts of stuff written on my windows), Neil, George, Jesse, Christin, J Lo, the mystery person at work who stole my G207, Bec for bringing me a birthday cookie cake, Trish, and last, but certainly not least, my goofy roommate who just laughs at all of the stupid stuff I do.

Delirium

I went home early from work yesterday puking my guts out. After sleeping on the hallway floor just inches away from the toliet for several hours, I managed to pull myself into my bedroom where I drifted in and out of sleep. I spent a few hours in the foggy state...you know the stage where you trip and fall. AT one point I heard screaming all around me, shouting, running in the leaves. My mind raced...a massive game of tag? No, it's too late. World War III? Am I dreaming? Is this real? When I finally convinced my eyes to open, my bedroom was dancing with blue and red lights. The screams that I heard were real, only now could I tell that there were people running all over the yard outside...the leaves krinkling beneath every not-so-delicate step. There was crying, shouting, sirens blaring in the night.

I made my way carefully (as I did not want to puke anymore) to Tanya's room. "Tanya? What's going on?" "I don't know," she answered. Her sleep induced state had prevented her from even hearing the chaos outside. From her window we watched as firemen and policemen ran quickly around the street. Fire trucks and police cars were parked in every spot they could fit in. The kids from the street ran around yelling. There were some ladies crying. The building across the street was on fire. Smoke billowed from every opening. Four families watched as their lives went up in flames.

Strange how something so catistrophic can happen and yet the street be so serene the next morning. I walked to the car this morning as usual. Birds chirrping. Throwing my arm in the air in attempted waves at passing neighbors. Had I not seen for myself what had taken place the night before, I never would have known. I would have walked to my car in the brisk morning air oblivious to the boarded windows of the apartment building.

It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.
Frederick Douglass

God must read blogs

I think God read my last entry...we may have had tornados last night, but the temperature has dropped to the 30s and the wind is howling outside. As look at the weather forcast, the coldest day is supposed to be next Monday with a high of 28 degrees. What a great birthday present.

I have more to say, but my bed is beckoning me. I shall write later.

Holidays...ugh is all I have to say...ugh because the weather in St. Louis is the worst holiday weather EVER! It's November 23rd and 60 degrees outside! I want there to be snow on the ground, fires in the place, my cheeks frozen just walking the ten steps from the car to my front door. I want to have to grumble as I get up every morning 10 minutes earlier just to defrost my car. Tanya, who hails from South Dakota, and I were lamenting about this last night as we tried to get into the Christmas spirit. Impossible without the cold!

However, I do like the holidays. Thanksgiving is especially fun with my family. We always eat a big meal (called dinner where I'm from) mid-day. Play cards, during which my grandpa ALWAYS gets accused of cheating. Anyone who is brave enough to be on his team also gets multiple fingers pointed at them. That is usually me. Then we eat turkey sandwiches and ruffles potato chips, and lay around for a while! Of course, we manage to watch a little football, especially if the Huskers are playing. (however they haven't been good enough to get a Turkey day spot for a long time!)

The Friday after t-day is fun as we put our Christmas tree up, celebrate my upcoming birthday, and watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (a tradition started in the recent years by me) The birthday celebration is always an interesting one as my grandpa is usually in charge of the cake. We have this ongoing fight in our family...when making angel food cake, the men prefer to have pink frosting on it. The women prefer it plan. WHAT DO YOU THINK? One year, Grandpa asked me what kind of cake I wanted. I told him nothing with pink frosting. He made a cake, frosted it with chocolate frosting, but put a pink face with tears running down it's cheek on the top of it! I couldn't believe it! Ornery ole man, he is! Last year was a yellow cake with chocolate frosting (my favorite) and a pink blob of frosting right in the middle. Yes, Blob is the correct description.

So my prayer as I travel to small town Missouri is for colder weather (perhaps some snow), and a non-pink birthday cake. Oh, and maybe a Husker victory on Friday.

Nothing to say

People have been complaining that I haven't written anything on here for a while. The truth? I had so little to say that I almost forgot that I had a blog! Crazy, I know! I am now doing a temporary job in West County at a place with name of Fish...can you believe that?! In fact, I answer the phones....but I don't tell them my last name for fear of people thinking its one of those prank answers and hanging up. I'm sure my new boss would love that! So for now, I've joined the traffic jams on the highway and the life of keeping a time sheet. As much as I thought I would dread it, I really don't. The people are fun, the actual work is stuff I'm good at, and really the commute isn't the most horrible thing in the world (as long as you stay away fromthe bad spots).

So for now that is all I have to say. However, there is a poem below. (the darn program wouldn't let me format the poem the correct way) It looks prettier on paper.


earthquakes. tsunamis. hurricanes.
mountains are crumbling.
cities destroyed.
floodwaters rising.
houses flattened.
thousands of lives
gone.
Is the river still bringing joy?
OR is it raging it's wrath upon nations
forsaken
people bowing down before
money.
pride.
fame.
lust.
superficial satisfaction.
all they had to do was wade in that sweet water.
the river
strength.
security.
promise.
redemption.
forgiveness.
grace and mercy.
rest.
be still. be silent. rest in the waters. be renewed.

George

My roommate and I think this picture looks like a personal's ad picture....so we decided to turn it into one...but only on this blog...(no replies please, we aren't in the business of finding George a girlfriend).

Name: George Faithful (yes ladies, that's his REAL name)

Age: Younger than your dad

Occupation: Chef with a specialty in bagged salad and quiche, Closet Novelist, and rising soccer star

Hobbies: Seminary Student, viola player, and board game (Cranium and Lord of the Rings Risk) wizard

Passion: Playing Halo with Jeremy Weese and smoking his pipe

When he grows up: He wants to live in Germany where he can live in a castle and have as many conversations about Deutschland, Wienerschnitzel, and the von Trapp family as he pleases

My attempt at some black and whites-I'm still learning!!

A crocodile in hiding at the zoo.

A butterfly looking for nectar in the butterfly house.

The Rohde Rave

Joel Rohde got married. Jake Rohde is in his final year of college. Jaron Rohde has been in Marine boot camp for two weeks. Jase Rohde has embarked upon his last semester of high school. Where did the time go? My first encounter with the Rohde family was when Joel and Jake, then high school senior and junior, came to visit our mutual friend Russell at Central. A year later, Joel introduced me to the rest of his family by taking me to his Wilton, Iowa home. I was in love instantly-with the whole family, that is. They are such a warm, open, loving, hilarious family who touch the lives of pretty much every one that is lucky enough to cross their paths! I have been blessed to spend a couple of different weekends at the Rohde's, attend college with both Jake and Joel, hang out at Mark and Lisa's super bowl parties (which they drove to campus to host for us!), and ride with Lisa to boy's state to pick up Jase! Joel's wedding was jus a few weeks ago....and so much fun! The pictures on here are of Jake and of Jase and Jaron (who pulled a surprise kiss on the cheek just as the camera clicked)! By the way, Jaron is still in boot camp..please pray for him!

It's 11:22 pm. I'm tired, however I have something to say so this is going to be short and to the point.

1) I am a big Huskers fan. I have been for as long as I can remember. Every time there is a game, the televisions and radios have all been tuned in to listen to the Husker victory for as long as I can remember. However the past couple of years were more like listening FOR a victory.

2) My grandma is a Mizzou fan. Has been for as long as I've known her.

3) Mizzou and the Huskers have a fairly large rivalry. Therefore, my grandma and I have a large rivalry. One year when the Huskers won the orange bowl, I gave her a silver bowl of oranges for Christmas. Another year she wrote me the following note: "You know what will make Big Red go is that Tiger Roaring on its backside!" (I still have the note under the glass on my desk)

4) Yesterday, the Huskers played a wonderful game against Iowa State. ISU played great as well! Two evenly matched teams. I honestly did not know prior to the game what the outcome would be. In a double overtime, the Huskers were victorious, Taylor (the QB) had broken a school record for number of passing yards in one game, and the number one defense in the nation added 6 sacks to the 20 from the first three games of the season. Mizzou however lost to Texas 51-20. I didn't watch the game so I will make no further comment.

5) Today I received the following e-mail from my grandma:

Nebraska looked good yesterday.

Missouri did not look good.

Hope the Chiefs can do well today. I always put my Chiefs flag out on game day and some time I have to sneak out in the dark to bring it in so no one will see me -- you know how cruel neighbors can be.

(That last line is a joke for those of you who don't know my grandma. she actually loves her neighbors.) This is quite the monumental day. My grandma ADMITTED that the Huskers looked good! Woo-hoo! I will cherish this forever!

This is the squirrel that tormented me when I lived in my last apartment. He's eating this unidentified thing that grew on a tree outside of my back door. He paused to look at me so I could take a picture.

My sister, Nicole, the mother of my nephew. Her name is on the adoption chart at the zoo because our other sister adopted a monkey for her for Christmas.

This is my nephew, Maven, pulling his father's hair.

It has been a few days since I've blogged, and boy do I have a lot to say today!

Shock of the week: My former boss and friend Adrian and his wife, Linda, were scheduled to have baby #2, a girl, this past Monday. I talked to Adrian today and asked how the new daughter was. His reply was, "He's fine." Yep, that's right, they ended up with a boy instead of the girl. Funny.

Cool God story of the week: I hesitate to tell this story because it is still in the making and could not have a fairy tale ending, but it is such great evidence of how much God cares about us and listens to us that I can't withhold the beginning of it. So here it goes: I'm still jobless. Tuesday night I could sleep due to worrying and talking to God about the whole thing. I'm really tired of the whole situation, the process, of not hearing from people who say they'll call, from trying to figure out just what I'm supposed to be doing. As I was laying there telling all of this to God, I remembered that I forgot to check three websites that I normally check on a daily basis. It seemed my mind wasn't going to calm down enough for sleep anyway, so I trudged my way out of bed to the computer. (I feel a need to keep some anonymity here) One particular place that I check (we'll call it X) I actually applied for a part time with about 2 weeks ago. However, on Tuesday night as I checked out the X website, I discovered a full time job that I appeared to be fairly qualified for. In addition, it is a type of position that I would love to do. The position is supervisory in nature and as I read that I began to doubt that X would hire someone so young or with little experience as myself for that role. As I put myself back to bed, I asked the Lord if he thought maybe I could e-mail the contact lady for X to see what she thought about my qualifications and such before I actually apply for it. The next morning I awoke much earlier than my body wanted me to, and went to one of my temp nanny jobs. After my nanny job, I found that I had a voicemail message - FROM THE LADY FROM X- the contact lady for the full time job that I DID NOT contact at ALL! Turns out the man I sent my resume to for the part time position thought I was a really good fit for this full time position and instead of just throwing my resume to the side like a lot of people would, he passed it on to this lady. She called to see if I would be interested in applying for the full time job instead of the part time position! So if that wasn't God, I don't know what is! I will be meeting with people at X next week sometime (I don't know when yet).

Job Advice from a 2nd grader: I was chatting with my friend Michelle on the phone when her 8 year old daughter asked to speak with me. Here is the conversation that followed:
Molly: "Miss Amanda, are you still a teacher?"
Me: Hoping not to disappoint her "No. Not anymore."
Molly: "What are you doing?"
Me: "Well, I don't have a job yet. Do you have any ideas?"
Molly: "You could work at Dairy Queen."

I fell off of my pilates ball again tonight as I talked with Ryan. This time it was backwards and I nailed my shoulder blade on the corner of the hallway entrance. It left a bruise about the size of an orange. I think I might have to give the ball away.

Ode to Dustin, my non-blond, wanna-be-surfer, Californian friend

It's 10:40 pm Sunday, September 18, 2005. Just minutes ago I was driving up 170 watching lightening dance in the sky. I have always loved rain and the thunderstorms that often accompany it. Growing up I used to sit in my gradma's old rocking chair (which had been conveniently relocated to my bedroom) and watch the rain pound the highway; overflowing the gutters and filling the big three way stop. I say big because it was the only one in my town. For this small Midwestern town girl, there is nothing like good Midwestern thunderstorm. There is a power within them that leaves me in awe of the God who created them. At the same time there is something in them that calms my soul.

It was in Chicago, while I was doing the Chicago Urban Project with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, that I shared these feelings about storms with a teammate, Dustin. It was hard for this LA born and raised boy to really understand. Unfortunately the summer lacked in good storms. I really longed for Dustin to experience one, and actually prayed about it. Then, late one night/early one morning, I awoke to very loud thunder and torrential rain. The inhabitants of the apartment were all sound asleep as I tip-toed out to the living room in order to get a better view of the storm - all but one that is. As I came around the corner to the living room, I was startled by a body with a face a pressed to the window. Yep, it was Dustin in complete awe of the storm! We sat in silence and watched the storm, for no words could describe what our souls were experiencing!

There is another thing that reminds of Dustin, well, there are a lot of things actually, but this is a funny one. Just before dusk one evening, Dustin and I were sitting outside of our apartment building, processing our day. As the evening glow set in, Dustin said in a very freaked out voice, "Do you see those things glowing in the empty lot over there?" It was as if he were seeing aliens! Guess what he was seeing? Lightening bugs. I guess I didn't realize those are on the west coast.

Lightening and lightening bugs keep the legacy of Dustin alive in my life. That and the fact that he goes to school with my best friend (well, they just graduated). That's them in the picture above.

Tanya...

You have already had the great pleasure of reading some of my roommate's comments on this wonderful blog, but I thought I would share some pictures and some more of her words (because let's face it, sometimes she is so darn funny). So the other night, Tanya was typing an e-mail to our friend Neil Das (who faithfully reads my blog, I might add) while sitting on my bed. She was typing something about bikes (Neil is our resident expert-not in our residence however) and wanted to say something about how she would be Lance Armstrong in no time. However, she said Neil Armstrong, and sent the e-mail before she noticed! She asked me afterward if Neil Armstrong was the guy who wins Tour de France. of course, he's the guy who went to the moon! It's a different kind of flying.

Where's the laughter when you need it?

About a month ago, I purchased one of those yoga pilates balls thinking it was something that I could do at home since I don't really have the money to go to a gym. (And for those of you who don't remember, I HATE running!) I have done a lot of things on it, but mostly just sitting on it for fun or laying on it (warning: do not lay on it while talking on the phone as you may lose balance, roll onto your head, flip your body into a shelf which consequently will fall apart and scare your mom). I definitely had not really used it for its purpose until yesterday when I got the DVD out and tried to do all of the exercises that the stoic woman does. Today I decided that I was going to break free of the instructional DVD, put on some good music, and do the streches on my own. The good music I put in? Thenew NCF worship CD (songs that the worship team has to learn)...thought it would be a good timeto listen to it...that's actually how I learned my jazz pieces in college...while I worked out and when I drove my car. Anyway...so I was doing this movecalled the locust where you have to balance your body on your forarms basically and then you use the ball toput your legs up in the air...stretching your back...when "The Presence of the Lord" came on...I got so excited and tried to sing that I lost muscle control (not that I have much anyway) and totally fell on my head...it was pretty humorous...

reminds me of the time that I tried to play raquetball with Tim Sluiter ( a college friend) and he really wished that it was being videotaped because of how clumsy I was....but that's another story for another time

"When I think of a blog, I think blogger. Then I think frogger, and it makes me miss my Atari." -Tanya

Aren't we cute?

I just wanted to share this picture with everyone
because I treasure it. of course, it's my dad and
myself way back in the day.

I ruined THEIR dinner?!?!

So I have these friends (yes, I have friends). The particular ones that I am refering to are now seniors (well, most of them) at my alma mater. Earlier this evening, I decided to call my friend Justin. I happened to catch him while he was dining at a fine pizza establishment with several of our other friends. Because he was eating, I was going to let him go, but sensing the joyfulness in my voice (that has been absent for a while), he began questioning me. While doing so, I had another call from a number I didn't recognize so I asked him to wait while I checked it (I check all the unrecognizable numbers in case it's a job waiting for me). It was Jake, another of our friends, who also happened to be eating pizza with Justin. He just wanted to steal me away from Justin...who in turn got "frustrated" and hung up. Jake and I chatted for a few minutes and then I called Justin back. During this second conversation yet another phone call came. I asked Justin if another of his dinner companions was calling me; he replied with a no. We ended our convo, promising to talk on Tuesday (to make plans for the wedding). I decided to call the mysterious second number back since Justin said it wasn't one of them. However, it was another of them, Big Mike as he is called. Oh goodness, so I hear everyone at the table saying, "Is that Amanda?!" "Yes!" he exclaimed. (Pastor) PJ, well I envision it as grabbing the phone from Big Mike, yells into the phone, "You are ruining our dinner!" All I really wanted to do was talk to Justin, and I was in the process of letting him go when all of his RUDE dinner guests started phoning me! Goodness!

Three dollars

Gas prices went up to $2.99, and the roach guy came this morning. I just wanted to record this day in history.

Random thoughts at 1am

The clock has just ticked late enough that the day has turned to the first of September. Neither my roommate nor I can sleep for some reason. (She probably drank too much coffee late in the day.) I don't know what my problem is. We still have roaches, but they are leaving tomorrow morning!

I had an interview last week that I should be hearing about Thursday or Friday (I mean, as long as they call when they said they would.) The place will remain annonymous for now, but the job would be going into schools and teaching about anything and everything from drug abuse to stranger awareness for 4-18 year olds.

In the meantime, I have just started as a temp nanny through a local agency. Basically, I get calls to go to different places to fill in for full time nannies who are sick or maybe for a family that just needs a nanny for one day. It's both fun and nerve wracking, but so far, so good.

Our apartment is fun (minus the roaches) - we are getting more and more settled every day.

Oh yes! I forgot that I wanted to share a lovely website and I expect everyone to check it out! It belongs to my new friend, Kent Needler, who really isn't my NEW friend at all. Unfortunatly our circles only cross when a game of Cranium happens at the seminary. So that has limited our friendship. Anyway, he has an amazing graphic design gift! Check it out! www.orange40.com

Okay, I think I'm going to try to sleep. Over and out.

P.S. My roommate (Tanya, not the roaches) just came in and sat on my unmade bed (I washed the seats today) and said, "Is this your bed? Do you want help making it?" I said, "No, that's your bed, but sure you can help make it." Maybe we are more tired than we thought?

Wicked

I just finished "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. It is the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (from the Wizard of Oz). I highly recommend reading it! I know you are saying, that childhood story? Yes, but this is full of politics, passion, intrigue, murder....and Animals with spirits who can talk! Not too mention, you realize that each of us is a little like Elphaba (the witch) - we just want to be understood. (Wicked also recently became a musical-actually the biggest hit on Broadway last year. It is based on the book).

They're moving in!

Tanya and I have new roommates. I'm not kidding. We've tried to name them, but being that they are too numerous, and they all look alike, it's difficult to keep them straight. That's right, we have roaches...little ones...which means there are big ones hiding somewhere! Ahh the perks of living in an apartment building! We killed around 20 of them last night around 10pm. I couldn't sleep thinking of all of them crawling around in the dark so about once an hour, I slipped on my trusty Californian Reefs and headed to the kitchen armed with bug spray and paper towels in hopes to kill several more in the spilt second after I flipped the light on. I probably killed about 20 more during the night. So gross! Anyway, we have to think of them as pets because the exterminator can't get here until Thursday. Of course we think of them as pets we want dead. But if didn't think of them with at least a little affection, we would go crazy from grossness!

My kind of town

Can't you just hear good ole Frank singing it right now? "Chicago, Chicago, my kind of town."

I just returned from Chicago and how wonderful it was to be back in the city that captured my heart two years ago. The youth group I worked with was from a small town in Minnesota. They were wonderful! I seriously think that if a youth pastor designed their own kids to be in their youth group, they couldn't get a better group. I'm not kidding either! The trip did have some minor glitches, but I didn't loose anyone. No one died. And the kids had a great time!

Monday
We spent the day at The Greater Chicago Food Depository which is this huge warehouse that ships food to "agencies" in Cook County. Agencies would be food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, etc. GCFD gets their food through donations from grocery stores, corporations (usually the "bad" products meaning that maybe the blue ink ran out at the Kraft factory so they get the boxes of Mac N Cheese that are red and yellow-perfectly good food), and by purchasing food with money from private funding. 30 percent of their labor is done by volunteers (which was us!) For the morning, we were assigned to the bread room where we were given the task of pulling and repackaging the good bread to be sent to agencies. We threw away almost 2,000 lbs of bread!! HOWEVER, we "rescued" close to 10,000 lbs. The afternoon was spent opening little boxes of candy and dumping them into HUGE boxes to be shipped out.

Tuesday
We spent the morning at the DuSable Museum of African American History. DuSable is actually considered the father of Chicago. The Dusable Museum was the first African American History museum in the nation which also makes it the oldest.

The afternoon was spent in my old neck of the woods at Cornerstone Community Outreach ( a homeless shelter in the Uptown neighborhood- run by Jesus People USA) We moved mattresses up 5 flights of stairs, helped in the free store, served dinner, and played with kids.

wednesday
Wednesday was spent working with Holy Family Lutheran Church in Cabrini-Green. They run a school further out in the West Side. We spent the day cleaning their classrooms and helping them get ready for school. My project for the day? Well, I tried to be like Neil Das (he's a librarian). I had the task of putting some organization into the elementary library. With the help of two youth, three bookshelves were cleared off, but the rest was left for the next volunteer group.

thursday was our free day and was spent exploring Chinatown, New Millenium Park, the Mag Mile, State Street, and the Museum of Scienc and Industry.

One is Silver, the other is Gold

As any good American girl does (at least back in the day when I was young), I joined Girl Scouts. we would run around in our brown outfits (I was only a Brownie...why named after a food?) selling cookies, singing the Beach Boys "Kokomo" and doing crafts while trying to earn our badges. But the one thing that has stuck with me is a song that says "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold."

That is oh so true. This weekend, I went to Pella for a wedding. During my time there, I actually got to see several friends that I missed dearly. Like Justin. Justin is this really great little brother who I've had the privilege of watching grow and mature into a wonderful young man with passion for seeking the heart of the Lord. He continues to be one of the few people from college who call to check in on me....to just share life with me. It was fun to actually spend time with him in person instead of on the phone. Justin is just one of a three musketeers type trio of guys. Ironically, the other two share the same name...Nick. But I call one Nico and the other Nick. I was blessed with the prescence of both of them this weekend as well.

I spent some time in laughter over a Jeopardy game with Joel and Pam, Sherami, and Anna "Queen Helga." (She would shoot me for using that name, but that wouldn't be the first time she has beaten me up. ....hehe)

Old friends really are like gold in that they are great treasures.....they are comfort...they are laughter....they are hugs (no one hugs here like they do at Central)....they are a stable force....they are a blessing!

Just another week in my life

What a whirlwind of week this has been. I'm still looking for a job. The CityLights students are leaving next week so I'm trying to spend my last minutes with them. I'm leading an Urban Immersion to Chicago for a high school youth group next week so I'm preparing for that. Oh and I'm moving the day I return so I've packed my entire apartment in four days (while doing all the other stuff.

Moving....friends...Chicago...packing...so what else is new?

King-sized bed and Lifetime Television

My dear friends Jake and Colette got married this weekend. I did a brave thing. I went to the wedding alone, all the while knowing that I probably wouldn't know many people there. As I drove the 3.5 hours to the small town in Iowa, I contemplated what I would do if I ended up in a corner alone all night. Just why is it that a person has to feel this way about attending a wedding alone?

Once I arrived at my hotel, I didn't have to contemplate long...I had a king-sized bed and Lifetime Television. My new dilemma quickly became "should I go to the wedding?" knowing that this special treat was at my finger tips! Of course, I did attended the wedding (I have been waiting for this wedding for about 4 years now) and was acquainted with a hand-full of people there (mostly Central College people who graduated 3-4 years ahead of me.) I was lucky enough to sit next to the Brownlees - Tony was the neat guy in college who dubbed me "Patty" (for salmon patty in case some of you don't get it). After the ceremony, I gave Jakey and Letta a big hug and headed up the aisle out into the foyer...and what to my wondering eyes appears?? MATT OLIVER! If you know Matt Oliver, then you know why I say it just like that. I spent the rest of the evening laughing and catching up with not only him, but another long lost choir friend, Steph Messer. We all went to Romania together (as well as Colette).

I highly recommend attending a wedding alone just once. See what buried treasure you can dig up! (But make sure your hotel room has a king-sized bed and Lifetime Television just in case!)

Andrew

I had the privilege of serving with Andrew Stern this week. Andrew is the volunteer coordinator at our church by profession, but in reality he is a fighter of injustice. A Habbakuk, who sees injustice, sees the good, and seeks to make things right. He is a defender of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the immigrant and refugee - literally.

The opportunity to hang out with Andrew came two days before our youth group was going to move on site at our church and go through the week-long high school program....serving and working in the inner city. Andrew runs this summer program, which sees several church youth groups from all over the US throughout the summer. This particular week, Andrew was moving in with the youth from our church to serve as their leader (in addition to his usual role.) I moved in to be a leader on the women's side. (Side note: I know you are thinking "When did she start doing things with the youth group?" I didn't and haven't. They just really needed a female leader...Andrew asked me.)

Andrew spends time with all sorts of people. I use the phrase spends time with instead of works with because he has such great relationships with people. He doesn't go somewhere to fix someone or to fix a situation. He goes to meet the people...to know them...to find out their name, their story, their heart...and then to best help meet their needs. He spends much of his day building relationships, fixing houses, taking widows on errands, setting up volunteers. He is a huge tie between our church and the community. Anyone who knows him will tell you that he is a humble servant of His maker and of others. And at the end of a long day, where does he go? Home - to his wife and 5 young children. My response to that is simply an Andrewism "More mercy!"

I pray that the Lord would continue to open my eyes to the injustice that Andrew sees. I pray that he would mold my heart to be one of humility, bringing me before others to know them, not to judge...not to make a quick "fix." But to love.

Been a long time

I realize that I haven't blogged in a while...okay, since April is actually a long while. Due to the many complaints I received during my trip to Iowa (I didn't actually think that many people read my blog :) ) I am now doing an update and hopefully will continue to write on here.

Job Status: I'm still under contract with The Freedom School for another month, but will be unemployed after that...the job market is not very good right now....but don't you worry, I've definatly been applying.

Camp Ewalu: I worked there last summer as the day camp coordinator. This year the director, Adrian or A-train as I call him, asked me to lead the Chicago Urban Immersion. Basically this means that I'm taking a youth group from Minnesota to Chicago to serve and to look at city issues. Oh, and we will play some too...I'm so excited!!

My trip to Iowa: was GREAT! I spent four days with the Rohde family. We camped out in their backyard. Mr. Rohde grilled for us almost the entire weekend (including breakfast!) I literally just sat around most of the time I was there...it was beautifully relaxing! I also made a couple of new friends - Joe Peter, Matt Ploeger, and Joel and Jake's friend Will Norton. I also got to see Jaron play baseball. Oh, and I had some ice cream at the oldest(still running) soda fountian in the world. After 4 days in Wilton with the Rohde's, I traveled up to Ewalu for two days to iron out some Chicago trip details and hang out with A-train, and then headed over to Pella. Pella was still Pella. However, I was able to catch up with several friends. Kurt made it back from Africa, but he's going back (no surprise :) ). Anna is still the tough, but funny softball coach...only she gets paid for it now. Joe...now, when I visited Joe he was moving in about 6 days. He was going to be gone for 4 of those days, and he had yet to even begin packing. HAHA! We didn't get to feed my ping-pong craving though due to the Upward Bounders being on campus..that was sad. Funny story: one evening I was locked out of the house where I was staying. I tried to call them and I knocked on the door, but I could get anyone to hear me. So I pulled my sleeping bag out of the car.....and slept on the porch. The sad part is that it was really funny, and I really wanted to be able to tell someone that I was sleeping on the porch.

CITYLIGHTS: I have been hanging out with the CityLights students quite a bit. (CityLights is the InterVarsity St. Louis Urban Project. I was on the 2001 summer team). The team is really great.

Okay, I really don't have much more to say. I promise to blog more often...oh, and if you can think of a good title for my blog, PLEASE let me know!

oh what a day...

one child with a complete full day melt down
one child with peed pants
one child with a bead stuck clear up his nose
one child who "needed" to be on my lap or right next to me all day
shoes untied
toys everywhere
loud voices
and a near disaster of a craft project

can I play ping-pong yet?

Christin

Christin was here. that was absolutely wonderful. It was strange how normal it felt to have her here...exploring the city with me....it was as if we had been side by side the whole past year. God has given me such a blessing in her. She has been a sense of stability, a prayer partner, and a rock of a friend. How many people can say that they have been able to form a great friendship mainly over the phone? It was fun to have her see where I live and who my friends are...and explore the city I call home. now when I talk about people, she can put faces to names, and she can picture my home. Anyway, it was sad to put her on the plane tonight, but that's how it goes....life must continue....

Things we did while she was here: The Arch, Crown Candy, Forest Park, the Basillica, Science Center, Botanical Gardens (free before noon on Saturday), soulard, budweiser tour, city museum, church, ted drewes, blueberry hill, zoo, kayaks.....phew...we actually did all of that....

I've been bad!?

Sponge Bob, Snake kid strikes again! Earlier this week, I had my hair all pulled back. Torey said to me, "Ms. Salmond, you know I like it when you wear your hair down." Three days later, I did wear my hair down. This time Torey said, "Ms. Salmond, I told you that I like it when you wear your hair down." :) haha

Apparently, I threaten to call parents too often. During rest time one afternoon, I used my cell phone to call and make arrangements for a field trip. I accidently left my cell phone on the table where little hands could reach it...soon into play time, I look over and see Marie with the phone to her ear, saying, "Hello? Ms. Salmond's mom? I need you to come get her. She's being very bad." She giggled as she handed the phone back to me :) When I relayed that message to my mom, she thought it was very funny, and wanted to know what I was doing to the children...

T minus five days my best friend from California will be here. We haven't seen each other since last March (2004) when I flew out there....I can't wait!!!

I bought a geranium today...I'm actually going to try not to kill it....I'm not good at plants, but I want to be....doesn't wanting count for something??

For you praying folk, please pray for all the uncertainities that exist in my life right now....I actually am very peaceful about where I'm at, but prayer is also an added bonus!

God and ping-pong

My pastor said something a couple of weeks ago that has really been sticking with me so I thought I would share it with the four of you who actually read my blog (hehe) (Neil, were you at church for this one?)

Stop hanging on by a thread, and let God hold on to you.

Think about it.

In other news, spring is in full force. We had our first good spring rain today, although it lacked in thunder and lightening...always a disappointment. I am definitely getting spring fever...It makes me think of ping-pong at Central with Joe...by the way, Joe, do you remember? It was about this time last year that I started achieving occassional victory over you. Those were the days.

The Stinkin' Snake

Remember the cute Sponge Bob kid from the other day? Here's another one that happened this week with him.

Every Wednesday, we have all school chapel. This year's theme is Luke 10:27, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself." This past week, the principal wanted us to practice one way of loving your neighbor...getting to know them. So each class sat in a circle and asked questions that the principal had put on the overhead. When each class was finished, the principal chose one child from each class to report one new thing that they learned about someone. John, my child that can remember ANYTHING including big words that most children can't pronounce, raises his hand and says, "Torey has a pet snake." (Torey is the sponge bob kid from below). The following is the conversation that then took place between Torey and the principal in front of the entire school.
Torey: I have pet fish too.
Principal: You don't feed the fish to the snake, do you?
Torey: No, I feed the fish. My daddy feeds the snake.
Principal: What do you feed it?
Torey: Mice. I don't feed that stinkin' snake.

At this point the principal and I are dying with laughter!

Bravery and Sponge Bob

I was brave today. I decided that it would be a fun, springy activity to plant a garbage garden with my students. (A garden made out of kitchen scraps such as fruit seeds, vegetable parts, etc.) I seriously thought that the mom that comes in to help sometimes would be here today, but that was the wrong thought. I led THIRTEEN 4 and 5 year olds in planting plants! Needless to say, there was dirt EVERYWHERE!! But it was still fun! Please pray that something grows. I don't exactly have a green thumb!

Every morning before school, parents can drop their kids off at 8am. We provide supervision until 8:30 when school begins. Teachers are supposed to be at "carpool" around 8:15. Yesterday, I went to join the crew and was distracted by one of my super cute, super sweet, super funny students. (This is one child, not three). He was telling me about how his legs hurt because his dad made him walk to school (they live close and it was a beautiful day out). I suggested that he sit on the curb to rest them. Enjoying the morning air, I popped down next to him. Of course several other students needed to come see Ms. Salmond after our long break. So here I am with one girl yelling in my ear about her Easter hat that she happened to have on her head at the time, another girl trying to get me to look at her new outfit, and two children trying to climb a tree. Out of nowhere, this super cute kid starts clapping very slowly and deliberatly. Then he said, "Yeeeeesssssssss, well done, Sponge Boob." Talk about random and really funny! He later informed me that this is the phrase that Plankton says to Sponge Bob on the movie. I asked him to say it at least five more times during the day. Today during center time, he said, "Ms. Saalmoonndd. Are you thinkin' about it?" Isn't that great!?

A whole bunch of randomness

Well, I think the whole world knows now....I'm not returning to The Freedom School next fall. Or to teaching at all for that matter. So Amanda, what are you going to do? I have no idea. Isn't that fun?! If you have any ideas, let me know. Actually on second thought, please only let me know of a job if you have one to offer me. At this point, I don't know if need input from all different angles. I don't want to get confused!

Despite the fact that I am leaving, I still love my students very much. This is the last night of a much needed Spring Break, but I'm excited to get back to the kids tomorrow. To see their big eyes light up when I tell them what's in store for the next couple of weeks. To see them hug each other (or wrestle...they do both). To hear them make those Thomas noises that they do so well. I wish that I could make them on this blog for you...you would die laughing!

I know this stuff is really random....I made another new friend. His name is Lukas. He's from Germany and is an intern at my church. He's a lot of fun to talk to mostly because we can learn so much from each other...plus he's renewing my knowledge of the German language which I have progressivly been loosing over the past 5 years. Not to mention that because of him, I have an opportunity to get to know another family better. (He lives with one of the church families.)

By the way, watch Band of Brothers, the HBO mini-series about the Easy Company, 101st Airbourne Division in WWII. Ah-mazing! Some of my friends and I spent every night this past week working our way through them....Ah-mazing! I'll say it one more time...watch them!

My friend Sherami and myself at our friend Betsy's wedding. 

Proverbs 2:1-5

If you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear toward wisdom, and applying your heart to understanding, and ifyou call out for insight, and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

He Can Do Anything But Fail

March is almost gone. What a month it has been...full of stress and excitement. joy and sorrow. laughter and tears. decisions and apprehensiveness. brief moments of hyperventilation. I have made some new friends, and deepened friendships with others. I didn't think I was going to make it to spring break, but here I am on a Sunday after midnight, putting my thoughts out in the blogging world...does anyone even read this anyway?

God is good. My sister had a baby, and what a beautiful little miracle he is.
God is good. He led me to discover that my strongest gifts aren't in teaching.
God is good. He was with me when I drove 37 hours by myself.
God is good. Betsy got married!
God is good. He brought new friendships into my life (adam, dave, lukas)
God is good. He made my path cross with Gerry and Sharie Chappeau...to watch and learn.
God is good. He allowed me to see Eddie and Laurie, my St. Louis parents, almost everyday for three weeks.
God is good. He made a way for me to work with the InterVarsity Spring Break groups.
God is good. He reunited me with a friend (Mandy) from my early college days.
God is good. Though I have no idea what He has in store for me, I rest confidently in the fact that His plan is perfect. For me. For my family. For this new life. For my new friendships. For my old friendships. For the children in my class. His plan is perfect. Hallelujah.

untitled (written Easter morning)

tears.
beautiful tears.
tears mixed with blood.
tears mixed with sweat.
painful tears.
beautiful tears.
tears.

tears.
sweet tears.
tears of mercy.
tears of grace.
sacrificial tears.
sweet tears.
tears.

tears.
joyful tears.
tears of freedom.
tears of peace.
sorrowful tears.
joyful tears.
tears.

Aunt Amanda

A few summers ago, I worked at a summer camp where the campers referred to you as "aunt so -and-so" or "uncle so-and-so." I never really imagined what it would be like to have a child that could legally call you aunt. Well, now I'm an aunt. Let me say it again, I am an aunt. My mom is a grandmother. And my grandmother is a great-grandmother. It's kind of strange to the ear. My sister had a son. His name? Maven Damean. 6 lbs. 10oz. 20" long. Perfectly round head, and the first newborn that I haven't thought was ugly...hehe...sad, but true...babies are miracles, but they definitely aren't the cutest looking things their first couple of weeks of life...although Maven is. I'm an aunt.

So I've been really bad at blogging lately

Life has been a little crazy lately, but good crazy. It's been over a month since I've written anything on here. My kids have gotten a month older and are still funny. My grandparents came to visit and survived spending time with some of my friends. My friends have become more special than I ever thought that they would, AND I've added a Floridian dietician to the mix. Our Texas friend decided that we needed some "culture." We ended up at a Charlie Robeson (I think that is how you spell it) concert at a local casino. I must admit when he sang the song "She may not be the best, but she's the best that I can do, " I questioned just what kind of culture I was being exposed to and decided that Mr. Texas can no longer be the social chair. Okay, just kidding. Charlie really did sing that song, but I liked it :)

I don't really have a whole lot of stories from school to tell. Maybe it is because I'm becoming immune to the funniness. Or maybe my students aren't that funny anymore. Or maybe I just don't take the time to write what they say on here. Although one girl did call her taste buds "tasty bugs" the other day. Haha....

Pick-up lines for Christian Pre-kindergarteners

Today I overheard one of my male students saying the following to one of my female students, "Jesus wants us to kiss."

Luckily the girl was smarter than the boy thought ;)

Stepping off the Carpet Square

Just in case you are wondering....I do have life outside of preschool. When that bell rings on Friday afternoons, I put my carpet square in the closet, throw on my party clothes (I use that description loosely), and run out the door! Seriously though, I have been making a myriad friends including a misunderstood Texan, three + seminary students, the Sunday lunch crowd (a bunch of mostly single people who go out to lunch after church on Sundays-non-exclusive), a nice couple that lives across the street (we have dinner and Gilmore Girls on Tuesdays), and the ladies at work (who crack me up!) Oh, and I've had a chance to reconnect with a wonderul teammate from my CityLights summer (2001) team. She is living in St. Louis now and doing her student teaching. God has really blessed me with an opportunity to reconnect with this truly amazing woman!

Don't worry, I haven't quit singing. I am singing on the worship team at my church (which I am becoming an official member of this Sunday), and in a short-term gospel choir. I don't really know how to explain it, but this worship team has been one of the best environments for me musically that I have experienced - I think it is because there is freedom and grace for me to make mistakes...something I haven't felt when it comes to music in a long time. Plus, I feel like I'm sort of being musically discipled if that is possible.

Occasionally I help out with some of the InterVarsity CityLights stuff, and will probably be doing more of that for the spring break groups that come down. Oh, I have a great house church that I go to every week as well. So I stay busy, but not too busy.

Seriously the funniest day of my life...

So the same day as the wedding only earlier in the day...

My aid, Erica, and I decided to take the kids outside for recess today. It was pretty muddy, but beautiful! I didn't want to hinder them from experiencing such wonderful weather in January! In the middle of recess, Thomas ranup to me with this really disgusted look on his face. AND a whole lot of mud up his nose and scattered across his cheek. I asked him what was wrong, but only got this mumbled gibberish answer. Erica couldn't understand him either. So we just kept asking him what was going on. Finally he yells, "I'm digging for the buried treasure behind the house, and it started raining!" With those words he ran off behind this cement tunnel that was twice his size. Not seconds later, there is mud FLYING several feet in the air. You couldn't see Thomas, but he was definitely digging for something back there. I wish I had a picture...


Later in the day....some of the kids figured out that the plastic grapes in our "house" center can be suctioned to things. Marie decided to suction them to her ears as earrings....

Here Comes the Bride

Yes, you read that title correctly, but no, I'm not the bride (although lately it seems like everyone I know is a bride or groom). Instead it happens to be one of my students. I know, they are only four. But it's true. To understand this story, you must know that one of my students was a flower girl in a wedding this weekend, and another is going to be a flower girl in an upcoming wedding. In addition to this, many young children will often re-enact events that are happening in their lives. So with that said, here is the story of the year (I think).

During free play this afternoon, I was mixing up some paint for tomorrow's craft. I find that when I preoccupy myself, the kids are much more free in their dramatic play than when I am watching them. Usually I can loose myself in my own activities until certain words from the wee ones pull me back to my classroom. Today it was the words of Torey saying, "John, get that Bible so that you can read to us, and we can be married." The only thing I could think was "oh goodness." I turned just in time to see the "happy couple" walking up the aisle. Raina, the blushing bride, was dressed in a bright green apron covered with lab coat molded into a flowing skirt. Upon her head a green towel was draped in a veil-like manner. (Only she couldn't see through the towel..hehehe). The groom, Torey, was wearing a grandfatherly hat and a Vikings jersey.

The couple walked hand-in-hand down the . Minister John then read a most perfect scripture for the occasion. (He was actually holding some random children's book). "Be good to others for God is good. Psalm 87:14 " said John. (Meanwhile I'm dying inside!) He then tried to put a ring on the bride's finger as the groom protested, "NO! That's the wrong finger!"

When the "ring" reached the correct finger, Minister John turned to the photographer (who was actually taking pictures with a fake camera) Kya and said, "Hit it." Kya just stared at him like he was crazy. Again, John said, "Hit it." This time Kya swung her fist in the air as if hitting some imaginary target (I was totally rolling!) John corrected her and lead the whole class in singing the first four notes of Here Comes the Bride...over and over and over as the couple left the minister's presence.

The bride insisted upon having a dance. Luckily DJ Jazzy Salmond was in the house and hooked the couple up with some Karrin Allyson ballads. Torey immediately swept Raina out onto the dance carpet, twirling her about. He even dipped the bride, although they ended up on the floor. Minister John and his "wife" Marie also cut a rug with the happy couple.

I imagine I will be laughing at this for a long time!

My kids rock!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to brag about my students. I should have bragged about this a month ago. I challenged them to read with their parents for a Scholastic program called Classrooms Care. For every 100 books that a class reads collectively, Scholastic donates 100 books to a program that gives them to schools in need. I gave my students and their families six weeks and challenged them to read 4 books together each week which would put us around 300 books total (roughly). My students read 356 in just 6 weeks. And yes, the are only in Pre-kindergarten. They recommend reading Cookie's Week. They laugh hysterically every time we read it.

Two more of my students-at the apple orchard. Aren't they cute? 

Some of my goofy students. Of course the white girl in the middle is me.  

Grandma?!

There are days when I feel entirely too young to be a teacher. There are also days when I feel much older than I really am. My students tend to aid in the "feeling old" process with their frequent slips of the tongue - calling me "Mommy." Although I am old enough to be the mother of one of these precious children, I definately don't think that I am old enough to be so. But when one child slips up and says "mommy" instead of "Ms. Salmond" my mind gets very confused about my age. Two days ago one of my students actually called me "grandma." I almost had a mental breakdown! (no, not really).

I attended a conference over Christmas break that was very prayer and worship oriented. I attended the same conference last year. It was at this conference that God called me to work in St. Louis. I didn't want to, but a year later here I am. So I wondered what big things were in store for this conference. Much of what I got was personal, but I did get some revelation as to how to pray for one of my students that has a lot of academic problems. I have prayed for him a lot over the past two weeks since hearing what God had to say about this boy. Basically, I saw this picture of his mind being veiled. Nothing could enter or leave it. My main prayer for him is that the veil would be released...broken...forever. Before Christmas break, this child had trouble even identifying his own name (which all of the students can do). Our first day back in class we played an alphabet game during which he correctly named THREE letters of the alphabet. Today he sat, worked on, and completed a 25 piece puzzle ALL BY HIMSELF. Both of these are rather large feats for him. I am excited and pleased to see how quickly the Lord is unveiling his mind and working to restore it. What a blessing to be able to see it!

It finally snowed in St. Louis while I was in the city. It snowed all morning long. My students kept running to the window to behold the white world outside. We took a break after snack time, bundled up, and went out into the cold to do some exploring. It was great! The littlest things strike up joy and amazement within my students which is exactly what you could see on their faces and hear in their words as we felt the snow, build tiny snowballs, and tried to catch snowflakes in our mouths.

My students were also introduced to the magnifying glass today. This too was "amazing" to them. Thomas insisted upon using it to examine my eye about every 10 minutes throughout the morning, and even managed to wack me pretty hard-I'm surprised I don't have a bruised eye socket. Wouldn't that be quite the story to tell?

John told me today that he couldn't rest (during rest time) because "Reggie White, the football player died." One word for that. Strange.