i miss a couple of people

it was wonderful reconnecting with friends at the triennial (my organization's conference and retreat - held every three years for everyone that works with us around the world).  it was in bulgaria and greece.  

the hard part, however was saying goodbye to wonderful friends all over again, knowing that there is a possibility of not seeing them again for 3 years.  

i miss a couple of people.

back

so a month later, i'm back in the country.  i've been in bulgaria and greece, so my plans are to do a few post-triennial posts over the next few days.  we'll see if it's actually accomplished.  

stay tuned.

sooooo excited!!!

i'm very excited to show off my new cabinets and counter that just got installed in my classroom!!

they are going to make my life so much easier and it's just one more step of making the classroom look less like a back porch (which it originally was) and more like a real classroom!

(also note the great changing table that one of our missionaries left!)

famousocity

i can't help it.  

part of me wants to tell my few readers to tell their friends, increase my readership!  i want to be famous!

it's really not my fault.  i got the bug when i was in preschool on the church christmas program, uttering those famous first lines, "christmastime is when santa claus comes!"  i heard the slight chuckle from the crowd and i was hooked.  i got to do my favorite thing, pretending, in front of everyone and win them over good.  it was fabulous.  

so now, the constant battle rages.  do i do things for God's glory?  for pure enjoyment?  or because secretly deep down, i want hundreds of people to read my words, (or listen to me speak, eat my food, etc...) and be amazed at my wit, humor, charm, and giftedness.  

sadly i know the answer is too often the later.

(to put minds at ease, my character in that first play was later given a lesson on the true meaning of christmas. ) 

i'm going to be blogging a whole lot more...

i am now over 24 hours into living in my own place.

on my own.  still on campus.  but by myself.  alone.  with lots of time to myself.  did i mention i'm alone?  

now do not get me wrong, i thrive and recharge on my own.  i have a very active inner-mental life that is quite entertaining and enjoyable (if i do say so myself).  in fact i may be at my most charming when i'm alone - too bad for everyone else!

this new lifestyle change came from a combination of several things, including the need to fit one more girl into the fall coat (community, orientation, assessment, training) program and my need to have a space for all the coat kids.  you see we have a room, but that room is missing some key things, like nap space, and oh, a friendly wonderful place we know as a bathroom.  my new place just happens to be attached to the kid room, aka the back porch, and so now i live where i work, or as i like to think of it, i work from home!  there is a small room in the apartment that is being filled with pack n plays and a bassinet.  and yes, there is a bathroom.

now, while i'm quite keen on inviting people over and going to see people, when push comes to shove, i will be spending more alone time.   this is the first time in over 7 years that i haven't lived with a bunch of girls.  

so here's what i've noticed:

• sleeping in house where i know, i know that i won't be woken up by anyone's voice, phone call, loud feet, snoring, heavy breathing, etc... is bliss.  truly.  
  
• sleeping in a queen sized bed alone is lonely.  i thought i would love all the room.  a double bed is perfect, i couldn't imagine sharing a bed with another person, i was just fine with my space.  but this bed, this is too much space.
  
• i notice everything now.  like intently watching my toilet to see if it still leaks water each time it is flushed.  because i have to notice - no one else will!
  
• that i'm getting very bad about narrating out loud when i cook (the result of many hours watching food network)
• i was, in fact, responsible for drinking the majority of the sweet tea in my house.  now i have no way of denying it.
• groceries for one is ridiculous.
• i know it's excessive, but i lock every lock at night.  down to the chain lock that makes me feel a little bit like i'm in a hotel. so no worries mom and random friend or two that read this, every night i click and turn and slide and secure myself in good and tight.  
• and finally, i, the girl who did not eat more than 3 vegetables until my 20s, was bummed out when i realized that i forgot to get broccoli today on my shopping trip - with no roommate broccoli to fall back on.  i really wanted that green goodness.  and then i secretly made fun of myself inside my head for craving broccoli.  i mean, who craves broccoli?  

look out world, abigail's in her mid-twenties and craving the greens.  the apocalypse is surely around the corner.

spellbound - and for once i'm not talking about wicked

we just watched jbc's version of godspell together, my roommates and me. 

and that accurately describes how i feel now that it's over - i am in a God - spell.

i am spellbound by Christ's life and His sacrifice.  how utterly and deeply betrayed and alone He was - how He still gave it all after that

and how unbelievably breathtaking it is to see His victory for all.

as it says all in one voice, "prepare ye the way of the Lord" and "long live God"

He is, was, and always will be.

how does one describe the depth of Christ in those moments you are smacked with it?  i don't think i can.  but i am in awe right now.  i am spellbound.  

come and join the mighty chorus the stars began - 

Joyful Joyful Lord We Adore Thee

home town shenanigans

thank you so much for sending me this rachel -

From today's Comet -

Burlington Police Dept.

July 31 - Hammond investigated report of a goat running loose on Jackson Street.  Goat was located and turned over to Burlington Meats.

and that's all I have to say about that

Burlington here I come