Today we're watching Fear Fest on AMC, cooking chili, carving a pumpkin, handing out treats... all in all a pretty perfect Halloween and a nice Saturday. Hope you enjoy your day as much as I plan too.
Just a few pictures from the almost 200 that I took over three days in Paris. The fall palate made taking photos like a tourist too hard to resist. I had so much fun despite the rain. Really felt like a birthday present to myself. And I have to say that it never occurred to me when I was younger that this kinda of trip might coincide with my 26th birthday. I used a day-by-day guide to the city and crammed my days with the sights I missed on my first visit to Paris... 
La Marais, 
Montmartra and Sacra Coeur, 
Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame, 
Shakespeare and Company, and a boat tour down the Seine. I feel like I've now experienced the city in full... at least until the next time I find myself passing through. If anyone was wondering my high school French was barely passable. Could read some signs, but not speak a word. So apart from breakfast in the hostel, most of my day was spent in silence. [smile]
My Granddaddy is 85 today. Contrary to how it may seem from this photograph (which is my favorite photo of him by the way), at 85 he is as sharp as ever... though he does enjoy acting goofy every once and a while. As much as I enjoy laughing with him, I also enjoy philosophizing and praying with him. He is a man of great faith and great love for my grandmother, his children and grandchildren, and the small community in which he lives. And we all love him so much in return. Happy Birthday, Granddaddy!
My beautiful and brilliant little sisters turn 21 today. I only have the faintest memories of their birth 21 years ago, mostly revolving around the "Big Sister" presents that I received at the time. [smile] I do remember the many years that have brought them to this point to celebrate such a milestone. Their existence has so enriched my life, allowing me to explore my identity as an older sister (sometimes to their ill favor... but what older siblings don't play tricks on their younger brothers and sisters [smile]). Beyond this though I have always felt so proud and blessed to watch them grow.
Sarah- You have become such an amazing artist. Your creations, which I love seeing displayed around our home, illustrate your passions and spiritual awareness. I admire you so much for your commitment to issues of justice... I did drop meat from my diet at your insistence [smile]. I look forward to seeing how your creative spirit will change our world.Rachel- As you work diligently toward your goal of becoming a nurse, I am awestruck by your deepening compassion for others. You have always been a peacemaker... stepping in on those occasion when Sarah and I were at odds (usually arguing over whose turn it was in the bathroom [smile])... and I know your peace and deep joy in life will serve your future patients and co-workers so well.
I was originally supposed to fly home tomorrow... that is when I booked my flight (roundtrip) last summer. I did book the flight with the thought that I might have to change it later. Still because of the screwed up policies of an airline that shall remain nameless today as I'm canceling my flight for tomorrow I can't help but feel slightly homesick and ready to go home. Really, it would be so nice to have a quick visit... I've got too much left to do to leave for good. Gotta keep telling myself that's not a possibility at least not yet. October 8th, my D-Day, will come and I can head home to my family, our sweet dog, my purple room and the porch in Broxton, and my WELCOME HOME PARTY (see flyer above)! If you might be able to attend, shoot me an email to let me know you're interested in more details. Should be fun, especially since I've not had a real birthday party in years. Until then its something to look forward too at least.
This Sunday I volunteered to represent MIH at a Methodist church service. Apparently they requested that a few students attend the service to talk about their church experiences in their home countries. What the church will be getting is an American and an Australian... not exactly the most exciting combo at least in my mind. I guess its still hard to think of myself as an international student. International students should come from exotic locales and Georgia just doesn't feel "different" enough. So the last day and a half I've been thinking about the experiences I've had in the United Methodist Church, basically since infancy though I've decided to focus on the last few years (missionary experience and such). They also asked that we bring any "artifacts"- actually their word not mine- that we may have to share. Since I do really have a whole lot of material artifacts I could share, I decided to put together a quick slideshow to loop throughout the morning. I've actually had lots of fun going through photos again. Finding ones I remember taking in Fargo and then Baldwin, remembering the different events in Georgia before I moved here. Its cathartic to reassess my life over the last few years in this way. Reminds me of the blessings, things I should remain thankful for. Not sure if the photos will make much since to people who haven't lived through the events with me... maybe they'll think their exotic. [smile]
A miscellaneous post today with just a few short notes about things happening in March.
A couple of months ago I began a post that I intended to publish on my 25th birthday. Today when I checked to see what I had written I realized that the answer was nothing, well, except the title that you see above. Turning twenty-five seemed so big this summer... in fact I think I may have even experienced a mini "quarter life crisis." Crazy I know, but something about the thought of this birthday was making me reassess what I've done in my life and where I'm going. Now all of that hoopla feels pretty silly, especially when I consider my circumstances of the moment. What better way to celebrate the first 25 years of my life than actually spending the year living out my dreams? Seriously if you were to ask me 10 or 15 years ago what I'd like to be doing right now... I think that my reality (living in a foreign country and studying to be an archaeologist) might come really close to what I would have said. I can think of no greater personal accomplishment than to be at 25 fulfilling my dreams.
Day 3 found our group at the seaside. Our first stop was Combe Martin where I took the lovely photo above and was introduced to stinging nettles while climbing up a steep hill full of brambles in search of the elusive ruins of a castle. If you're not familiar with stinging nettles check out this post written by my college roommate Jane Marie another exchange student to the British Isles.
