Hello friends,
I believe I mentioned that I would be doing some writing/photography for a cool project/ministry at Apex called Anthologies...

I get to assist in sharing stories about people, living real lives, serving and following God. A pretty neat opportunity.

Well, one of my first assignments was to compose MY story.

Yikes. Those of you who know me, know that life right now is a bit... complicated and messy. So, I had to sit down and try and hammer that out.

Well, I did. And its on the blog. 

....please know that while I attempt to sound eloquent and understanding, at peace and accepting, waiting is a battle I fight daily. Its hard. Its messy. It hurts. There have been many tears (I'm not a crying person- ask any of my friends) and there are still many questions.

But I hope my vulnerability and story may be an encouragement- maybe just that someone else gets it. So- if you like, head over and take a read. And read some of the other stories while you're there. Its a really awesome project.

 

....I am tired. Physically, mentally, spiritually. If you wouldn't mind keeping me in your prayers, I would really appreciate it. Before I left the States, there was a lot of stuff going on in my head and heart, and I can put some of it off for a while, but its still there.

Just laying in my bunk bed...(yeah, I'm in my late twenties and rocking the bunk bed- what of it? I'm living on the other side of the world, life happens.)

I am grateful for the rain that came this evening… cooling our temperatures from the 30s (Celsius, because that's how we rock in the Land Down Under, high 80/90s for all you Fahrenheit people in the States, but with intense sun, because Australia's sun is more intense than most places.) Last night we all were sleeping in our sweat in our respective beds, wearing as little clothing as possible and praying for a breeze. I know, this may seem mean to hear, especially since Ohio and the States have been having an intensely bitter winter… but I'm not so great with the awful heat. But still grateful to not be stuck in winter! Where is the land of eternal autumn, and where can I sign up for that!?

Right now, I am listening to a mix CD that my best friend/sister sent me with my Christmas present, working on photography stuff (blog updates, my flickr site) and planning out some ideas for tomorrow, as I was asked to lead our photography class. (nerd alert- I'm excited!)

Life here is funny. At times, its intense and crazy, and lectures and classes and information is being thrown at us 24/7, too much almost to handle. But then, there are long moments of feeling as though I don't know what to do with my time. Its strange to have stretches of free time, but to not be in your home environment with the things and people you are accustomed too.

In just two weeks, my sister will be here for five days- I am anticipating our visit, making lists and counting down the days. I haven't seen my sister since August, and even then, it was just for a short month. Her living across the globe puts a damper on sister-time.

In just four weeks, I will be heading with my small outreach team (there are just 5 of us) to Japan. We will be in Osaka and Tokyo for around 6 weeks, working with our contacts and ministering in any way needed.

I have so many lists, so many people I need to sit down and email, blog posts to catch up on, things that need to be done, plans to think of, travel plans to make for May, my future to think of… but right now, I'm going to turn in for the night. I will turn on my white noise app on my phone, place my earbuds in, my eye-mask on, and get some sleep. Its a full day of double lectures tomorrow, photography, errands to run, and attending a performance put on by our dancers in the evening.

So, for now, good night, (good morning for most of you!) I hope you all are well, please know that I am doing good. Enjoying my time, growing, learning, and figuring out this whole life thing, looking to God for direction and guidance.

If you are friends with me, or read my blog, then you probably know I've worked at a library for many years. (this will be my 13th, AND LAST! year)

I'm a book nerd.

I adore reading. Always have. As a young girl my nose was constantly in a book. Little Women, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, the Anne books (L.M. Montgomery I heart you!) Betsy-Tacy, the American Girl books (the originals, Kirsten, Samantha, Felicity and Molly- and I read Addy and Josephina when they were published.) Boxcar Children, any and all Nancy Drew books, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit... the list could go on and on. My love for reading has only continued through the years. The one thing that has changed though, is the time I have for reading. A lot of that has gone out the window, so most days I try and at least use my thirty minute lunch break to soak a few pages of a novel in. (I think you should know that I am a pure, unashamed, novel-reader. And, not like, literary masterpiece novels. Young Adult mostly, adventure/dystopia or light romance... that's my thing. I am totally okay with that and you should be too.)

So let's get down to it. AUDIO BOOKS. Those brilliant, wonderful creations!

My mom read aloud to us a LOT when we were younger. Partly, because we were home schooled and it was part of the curriculum, but mostly? Because my mom loved to read. And loved books. So many hours of my childhood were spent drawing, coloring or crafting while mom read books to us. Novels or biographies. Sometimes for school, sometimes just for fun. And audio books? Its kind of like being a kid again. Except now I'm driving to and from work or errands, doing laundry or cooking in the kitchen as I soak in a good book. Dozing when I get the rare nap. Editing photos. Its a adult version of playing like a kid again. I love them.

All that to say, if you like audio books, or are interested in trying them out... here are a few of my favorites due to narrator (this is a HUGE factor.) and story. (they are all amazing as paper, read and turn the pages books too, FYI)


The ENTIRE Harry Potter series. The Harry Potter series are excellent. Its that simple. And the audio versions are perfect. Jim Dale, the narrator, is my favorite narrator, hands-down. British, distinguished, perfect voices for all the characters... the Harry Potter series are my all-time favorite audiobooks. And you can borrow and listen to them free via the Ohio E-book Project



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