....and you might-
so- here's something special for you to make (recipe i found online while browsing)::
Low-fat whole wheat pumpkin spice cookies
3/4 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. + 2 tbsp. fat-free plain yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. raisins
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. allspice
unsweetened applesauce, if necessary
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking sheets with cooking spray. Combine pumpkin, yogurt and vanilla in one mixing bowl. Combine dry ingredients and raisins in another. Mix wet into dry until moist. (When working with whole wheat flour, you might need a little oomph for moisture. I use unsweetened applesauce.) Drop tablespoons of the mixture onto baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Eat them quickly, or freeze them; they're prone to stickiness. I've used dried cranberries in place of raisins, too. Verdict: yum.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
thanks, Columbus.
hi.
it has now been 3 months (and a couple days) since my arrival in this crazy city- bangkok. many ask- "so, are you enjoying it so far?" "how's the weather?" "do you miss home?"
the answers: yes. hot. yes.
however, to add some additional information on the way that I am feeling about being displaced in this crazy asian metropolis can be summed up in the question: "HOW?"
HOW can it be that it is literally impossible to see the sun set here?
HOW is it that fresh air so so hard to come by?
HOW on earth can I still have 8 months left here?
HOW can these children possibly be learning anything from me?
HOW will I ever save any money if all I want to do is spend it on travelling?
so, if any of you can answer any of these questions for me..I'd be oh, so grateful!
I've spoken with a few people- friends and family, and have explained my current feeling towards my experience teaching. I've come to the realization that I love my students. I love their ambition. I love their personalities. I love their hilarious comments and broken English..but, I'm pretty sure I don't love being a teacher. Because teaching is far more than spending time with kids and getting to know their individual personalities, the actual "work" of teaching isn't really my cup of tea.
But, we must all do things in life that we aren't all that fond of.
And, in my case- I do the lesson planning (that I'm not fond of) so I can spend time with these students (who I am fond of).
November. AH, yes. November is coming. HOORAY.
November is a fantastic month. Besides turkey and all the dressings, November brings the closing of one season and the opening to another. While the remainder of the leaves tightly grasping onto branches finally reach the ground, the temperature cools enough to see your breath on your morning drive into work... (well, not in Bangkok- but, sometimes I turn the air conditioning down real low and pretend).
I'm actually noticing a difference in the temperature here. The monsoons have finally stopped, and the sun rests around 6pm..so- this must be fall? Winter? who knows. I know that it's not AS hot here as when I first arrived (meaning- my fingers and toes aren't sweating as much) but other than that, the weather is still the same. BUT- celebrate..because, somewhere in the world all the wonders of November are happening. so, celebrate for me, wherever you are- okay?
So- Thanksgiving...yep. Thanksgiving here goes..well...unnoticed. uncelebrated. While this school employs 11 Americans they do not employ any sort of Thanksgiving Day policy where we all sleep in and enjoy fine, tasty treats; however, turkey, cranberry and gravy or not- we WILL be celebrating giving and thanks.
for example- my idea:
everyone can GIVE me a birthday present-
and, I'll say: THANKS!
no? bad idea?
what if I dress like a Pilgrim?
..or..maybe even an Indian?
..a Turkey?
hmm. I've run out of ideas. anyhow- I think the other Americans and I will celebrate in our little Thai kinda way...so, thanks Columbus. here's to you.
it has now been 3 months (and a couple days) since my arrival in this crazy city- bangkok. many ask- "so, are you enjoying it so far?" "how's the weather?" "do you miss home?"
the answers: yes. hot. yes.
however, to add some additional information on the way that I am feeling about being displaced in this crazy asian metropolis can be summed up in the question: "HOW?"
HOW can it be that it is literally impossible to see the sun set here?
HOW is it that fresh air so so hard to come by?
HOW on earth can I still have 8 months left here?
HOW can these children possibly be learning anything from me?
HOW will I ever save any money if all I want to do is spend it on travelling?
so, if any of you can answer any of these questions for me..I'd be oh, so grateful!
I've spoken with a few people- friends and family, and have explained my current feeling towards my experience teaching. I've come to the realization that I love my students. I love their ambition. I love their personalities. I love their hilarious comments and broken English..but, I'm pretty sure I don't love being a teacher. Because teaching is far more than spending time with kids and getting to know their individual personalities, the actual "work" of teaching isn't really my cup of tea.
But, we must all do things in life that we aren't all that fond of.
And, in my case- I do the lesson planning (that I'm not fond of) so I can spend time with these students (who I am fond of).
November. AH, yes. November is coming. HOORAY.
November is a fantastic month. Besides turkey and all the dressings, November brings the closing of one season and the opening to another. While the remainder of the leaves tightly grasping onto branches finally reach the ground, the temperature cools enough to see your breath on your morning drive into work... (well, not in Bangkok- but, sometimes I turn the air conditioning down real low and pretend).
I'm actually noticing a difference in the temperature here. The monsoons have finally stopped, and the sun rests around 6pm..so- this must be fall? Winter? who knows. I know that it's not AS hot here as when I first arrived (meaning- my fingers and toes aren't sweating as much) but other than that, the weather is still the same. BUT- celebrate..because, somewhere in the world all the wonders of November are happening. so, celebrate for me, wherever you are- okay?
So- Thanksgiving...yep. Thanksgiving here goes..well...unnoticed. uncelebrated. While this school employs 11 Americans they do not employ any sort of Thanksgiving Day policy where we all sleep in and enjoy fine, tasty treats; however, turkey, cranberry and gravy or not- we WILL be celebrating giving and thanks.
for example- my idea:
everyone can GIVE me a birthday present-
and, I'll say: THANKS!
no? bad idea?
what if I dress like a Pilgrim?
..or..maybe even an Indian?
..a Turkey?
hmm. I've run out of ideas. anyhow- I think the other Americans and I will celebrate in our little Thai kinda way...so, thanks Columbus. here's to you.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
the power of one.
one. one. one. one. one. one.
one man. one woman.a table for one. a single. a group of one. tea for one.
one. only..ONE.
who is to doubt the power of an indivudual? Do I doubt the power of one? Do I doubt myself? Do I doubt you? Do I doubt the impact that only ONE person can have on my life? And- do I question the impact that I (one,) could have on another?
Thought 3 in part, Jesus Christ came as one man- and in this one man we are saved from eternal suffering. Romans 5:19- "For just through disobedience of ONE man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the ONE man, the MANY will be made righteous"
I don't want to doubt my being here. I don't want to become so overwhelmed by this culture and these people that I doubt the amazing act of God in bringing me here.
I never want to doubt the impact of one. Though, so many times I don't feel complete..I don't feel like I'm even a "one," rather, more like a half.
and sometimes, I feel like a sixteenth. or maybe, a a twenthieth. or hundreth of a whole- but, through one man, sin entered the world and ALL people, and through one man (one, AMAZING, PERFECT man,) sin is forgiven and all men made righteous.
one. one. one.
I think of this as I make my plans for Christmas vacation. I've been doing some research on non-profit organizations in southeast asia (singapore, indonesia, cambodia, laos, vietnam, etc) to see if there are any opporutnities to serve during my 12 day break. I've sent emails to several organizations, and many haven't replied.
Again- one email..insignificant? one American trying to make a difference- useless? Though so many parts of life seem to painfully bruise one's self-worth and significance, never, ever doubt the impact of one.
one prayer can save a life. one act of kindess can change a life. one penny a day can feed the hungry (or, so the commercials claim..haha)
so- with this...I continue.
one year. one girl. one country. one God.
one man. one woman.a table for one. a single. a group of one. tea for one.
one. only..ONE.
who is to doubt the power of an indivudual? Do I doubt the power of one? Do I doubt myself? Do I doubt you? Do I doubt the impact that only ONE person can have on my life? And- do I question the impact that I (one,) could have on another?
Thought 3 in part, Jesus Christ came as one man- and in this one man we are saved from eternal suffering. Romans 5:19- "For just through disobedience of ONE man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the ONE man, the MANY will be made righteous"
I don't want to doubt my being here. I don't want to become so overwhelmed by this culture and these people that I doubt the amazing act of God in bringing me here.
I never want to doubt the impact of one. Though, so many times I don't feel complete..I don't feel like I'm even a "one," rather, more like a half.
and sometimes, I feel like a sixteenth. or maybe, a a twenthieth. or hundreth of a whole- but, through one man, sin entered the world and ALL people, and through one man (one, AMAZING, PERFECT man,) sin is forgiven and all men made righteous.
one. one. one.
I think of this as I make my plans for Christmas vacation. I've been doing some research on non-profit organizations in southeast asia (singapore, indonesia, cambodia, laos, vietnam, etc) to see if there are any opporutnities to serve during my 12 day break. I've sent emails to several organizations, and many haven't replied.
Again- one email..insignificant? one American trying to make a difference- useless? Though so many parts of life seem to painfully bruise one's self-worth and significance, never, ever doubt the impact of one.
one prayer can save a life. one act of kindess can change a life. one penny a day can feed the hungry (or, so the commercials claim..haha)
so- with this...I continue.
one year. one girl. one country. one God.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
this and that.
It’s strange to feel as if there was anything else I’ve ever known. Bangkok has become my home and I’ve been here for only 2 months. Over these past 2 months I haven’t seen anyone from my family, Keane was born and my friends have continued living their everyday lives of dinner dates and football games.
Isn’t this the life I was searching for? The life of change- of newness…the unfamiliarity I’ve been seeking? Is this the peculiarly charming lure of spontaneity to welcome my newly graduated self?
Questions continue to run through my mind- why did I come here? Who did I come for? What are they doing there? Where will I go from here? …And after that?
These questions weave in and out of mental traffic, congesting ordinary thoughts with worries of the past, present and future.
It’s in my times of questioning that I always run across several passages that seem to only confuse my weak mind even more. Oswald Chambers wrote: “We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life- those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength”
Until the moment I came here to Bangkok, I was always concerned with the future. College- such a future oriented lifestyle… concentrating on the present to make the future that much greater; however, the “future” after college was to be defined by applications, resumes and founded on my possession of factual knowledge- the knowledge that can be written down and applied…Business matrices, consumer preference analyses, and numerically weighty spreadsheets- and somehow…somehow (God’s how,) I ended up here…in this moment- in this place, doing this thing- these things…at this…this moment in this place. This is the “future”. This is the anticipated moment...this is the outcome of my daily pursuit for what my future was to possess….
College- life’s hopeful kaleidoscope, promised a future of colorful experiences. Regardless of which subjects I studied, which books were heavily highlighted, marked and tattered- each year, each course, each professor encouraged me more. Encouraged me to press onward and pursue “the future”.
Well, here I am. I am in “the future”. And tomorrow, I will be in “the future”. The future is only “the future,” today. Once today passes, that future becomes our present- our “now”. That moment becomes this moment…and so, the question becomes- what am I doing now? What am I doing in this moment?
John Piper. Oh, John Piper...he’s amazing. God has given him such amazing insight... I’ve been reading several of his books since I’ve been here. A Bible passage I read the other day states “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” (Matthew 6:33-34). John Piper comments on this passage saying, “Today’s mercies are for today’s troubles…”
Today. Not tomorrow. TODAY. I am asking for strength for today…for guidance- enough guidance for today. Wisdom for today. I will ask today for these things, as I cannot be certain I will be here to ask for them tomorrow. “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes…” (James 4).
A mist. I am a mist today. Whatever is less than a mist- I am that tomorrow. I am that in “the future”. I cannot speak of a time or place of which I cannot be sure I will exist; however, I can live now. I can act NOW. I am alive NOW. I am in THIS moment…
A lifetime of planning my future has taught me to live in the present.
Here I am…NOW.
Isn’t this the life I was searching for? The life of change- of newness…the unfamiliarity I’ve been seeking? Is this the peculiarly charming lure of spontaneity to welcome my newly graduated self?
Questions continue to run through my mind- why did I come here? Who did I come for? What are they doing there? Where will I go from here? …And after that?
These questions weave in and out of mental traffic, congesting ordinary thoughts with worries of the past, present and future.
It’s in my times of questioning that I always run across several passages that seem to only confuse my weak mind even more. Oswald Chambers wrote: “We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life- those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength”
Until the moment I came here to Bangkok, I was always concerned with the future. College- such a future oriented lifestyle… concentrating on the present to make the future that much greater; however, the “future” after college was to be defined by applications, resumes and founded on my possession of factual knowledge- the knowledge that can be written down and applied…Business matrices, consumer preference analyses, and numerically weighty spreadsheets- and somehow…somehow (God’s how,) I ended up here…in this moment- in this place, doing this thing- these things…at this…this moment in this place. This is the “future”. This is the anticipated moment...this is the outcome of my daily pursuit for what my future was to possess….
College- life’s hopeful kaleidoscope, promised a future of colorful experiences. Regardless of which subjects I studied, which books were heavily highlighted, marked and tattered- each year, each course, each professor encouraged me more. Encouraged me to press onward and pursue “the future”.
Well, here I am. I am in “the future”. And tomorrow, I will be in “the future”. The future is only “the future,” today. Once today passes, that future becomes our present- our “now”. That moment becomes this moment…and so, the question becomes- what am I doing now? What am I doing in this moment?
John Piper. Oh, John Piper...he’s amazing. God has given him such amazing insight... I’ve been reading several of his books since I’ve been here. A Bible passage I read the other day states “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” (Matthew 6:33-34). John Piper comments on this passage saying, “Today’s mercies are for today’s troubles…”
Today. Not tomorrow. TODAY. I am asking for strength for today…for guidance- enough guidance for today. Wisdom for today. I will ask today for these things, as I cannot be certain I will be here to ask for them tomorrow. “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes…” (James 4).
A mist. I am a mist today. Whatever is less than a mist- I am that tomorrow. I am that in “the future”. I cannot speak of a time or place of which I cannot be sure I will exist; however, I can live now. I can act NOW. I am alive NOW. I am in THIS moment…
A lifetime of planning my future has taught me to live in the present.
Here I am…NOW.
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