Saturday, March 31, 2007

I Love My Boss


I know this sounds strange...but it does not say that I am in love with my boss...I just love having him as my boss...and my friend.

I suppose I should start by telling you I love my job. I don't just enjoy my job--I love it. I wake up early, excited to go in to work. I love to think about my next project. I love to tell people about what I'm working on...I love my job.

I love the team I work with. We laugh together, we enjoy each other's company. My team knows me--my good and bad--and has the ability to roll with the crazy and hang with the fun. I love that.

I love my boss. I love feeling appreciated. I feel like he has allowed me to find my place. I feel like a valued part of the team. He allows me to make decisions, he is "okay" with all (most--okay some) of the times I push back. He admits when he is glad that I pushed back. He doesn't settle for mediocrity. He is a phenomenal communicator; to students, to adults, to his staff...in times of joy, frustration, sadness. He is so wise...even when I have a plan, I run the ideas by him because I know things are better with his input. Despite my inability to put my youth, my quick-to-anger spirit, my emotional girl stuff aside, he treats me as an equal. And I am grateful for that.

I mentioned to him about a month ago that I wanted to blog about the message he gave at a memorial service at Saddleback. As I sat, waiting to sing, I could not help but think, "wow--he's a great teacher...and he's my boss." I was distracted by other events and never made it to blogging about it.

Then, this week, I re-realized how much I appreciate him. He had read my blog (searching for his shout-out) and came across my post about moving to Kenya. After a somewhat awkward initial conversation...he was in a very feisty, smart-aleck mood...I was nervous about any future conversations we might have on this topic. Then, the next day, we sat talking about the budget, and switched over to my moving away...and we had such an encouraging conversation. I walked out feeling like my boss, my friend, supported me...now, he may not love that I'm leaving--and he may not even endorse a 6-month departure--but he will support me in my passion for this...he will support my following where God leads. And I can appreciate that...

All this to say, I love my job. I love my team. I love my boss...
Any chance I could move all of this with me to Kenya?

"You may be only popular--to you"*

What makes someone "popular"?

My friend, Ryanne, and I were laughing about popularity a few weeks ago and I kinda can't stop thinking about it...

We went to a friend's party and as we walked up I was thinking "Wow, we're the coolest people here."

In most rooms, I would feel like a total nerd...so what made this place different?

And, even though there are people who think I'm really fun...there are still people who think I'm nerdy and not cool enough to hang with...and though I am aware of this happening to me, I am totally guilty of this behavior...why?

This boggles my mind...

*When my mom was young, she wrote a song called "Popular". My favorite line is: "You may be only popular--to you"

Ba, Ba-Na-na-na, Na-Na-Na

The process:

Crimson to give some base...




And now, this:



Friday, March 30, 2007

Beam Me Up, Scotty*

*Matt Hall: I'm sorry I mocked you for saying this and then used it as my blog title. In retrospect, it was very clever of you to think of that. (Write that down!)

The first beams of the Student Zone frame are in place! We took a little field trip to see them today...They started with the JH room...and it looks great already!

Check it out!



Here are the staff members that took the field trip...


The JH team...


This is Katie Edwards (she has been mentioned many times on my blog) with the five of us who grew up at Saddleback and now work in Student Ministries...

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Mmmm...Mmmm...Fun

My day was great...

Budget Meeting with Matt Hall

Lunch with Josh Peters

Target with Jitu. We bought 40 tubs of Cool Whip...he was really excited about it

Grocery Store with Allison (I know shockingly little about vegetables and meat)

We cooked dinner...Ryanne shredded cheese and seasoned asparagus, Lulla made macaroni and cheese from scratch, SO YUMMY!, and I made meatloaf...and Duncan Hines provided the delicious chocolate/caramel brownie dessert


Everyone had some responsibilities:
Allison, cook!



Ryanne, make sure the smoke alarm does not go off!


Allison, take pictures! (My camera isn't bad...it was really smoky!)

Boys, play Wii!


LOST! (Honestly, what an amazing episode!)

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Back to Black

Thinking about it...
What do you think?


I'm Going to Africa...Ken-ya Believe It?

That never gets old...



I mentioned about a week ago that I'm moving to Kenya...but I didn't explain much. So here it is: (I know this is long, but it's so important to me.)


There are thousands of "street kids" in Kenya. These boys and girls have either been orphaned from diseases, including AIDS, or abandoned, or are simply neglected by their parents. Regardless of reasons, these children wander the streets day and night looking for food, scrounging for change to buy a variety of things--more often than not, inexpensive shoe glue that contains an addictive chemical that makes them high. This high will curb hunger, dull pain, and pass the time. It is a sad little life, but many will never know any different.

Three years ago, an American woman named Lydia had a conversation with a Kenyan man, Jeffrey, about his wildest dreams. He had a desire to open a drop-in centre for the street kids in the city of Kitale, Kenya. Oasis of Hope was formed. (Though the process was much more difficult than this sentence lets on.)

The drop-in centre provided daily breakfast (tea and toast) and lunch (typically a stewish-soup). In between meals, the kids are taught English, Swahili, math, Bible, reading, writing...basic school subjects. After lunch, the kids return to their life on the street...fortunately, now they have full bellies.

In the last three years, Oasis of Hope has grown to over one hundred students. Glue is not allowed in the centre, and many students have decreased (if not completely given up) their glue habit.

In the last year or so, a second "phase" of the plan has been launched; students who show dedication are (over time) placed in to group homes in the community. Each home has 6 same gender kids and are parented by a couple from the local church. The students transfer in to the community school and learn to develop societal skills (in a home, in a family, with siblings) outside of the street mentality they have had, some practically since birth.

There are currently 3 boys homes and 1 girls home. We, on my most recent trip, were able to visit one of the community schools that one boys house attends. The boys who had attended Oasis of Hope met us out front to tell us about their lives: names, ages, and future careers. The answers were amazing...pastor, teacher, doctor, lawyer, President.

What I can't shake is that three years ago, these boys were hopeless. They ate out of dumpsters. Were beaten by the police. Some were sexually abused by passers-by. And now, they have such an unbelievable path ahead of them. To think, some of them may not have lived much longer, and if they had, it would have been in drug-induced haze. Now, they are educated, healthy and happy. All because Jeffery dared to dream.

I want, so badly, to be a part of what they are doing in this centre. These teachers, who are well-educated and fully qualified to work in any other school, choose to be paid nothing so they can be a part of making a difference.

These kids, this community, and ultimately Kenya (President) will be different because of these teachers who are willing to take the time to help.

My plan is simple: spend 6 weeks (mid-Jan to mid-March 2008) in Kenya making connections, nailing down details (where to live, who to work with, etc). Return home and get my ducks in a row...then spend 6 months (mid-Sept 2008 to mid-March 2009) in Kenya working with Oasis of Hope (and potentially Purpose-Driven Academy and the Kitale Prison--which I will write more about later)...

I hope you will join me in prayer for these kids, teachers, and their future...

Two Good News(es?)

After a lot of talking, I convinced them. (well, we did.)

My Grandpa (we all call him Papa) began his very own blog today. Please support him by frequenting this site.

Also, my friend Allison started her voyage in to blogland. You may desire to read of her ventures here.

I will read these blogs everyday. You should too.

Deadliest Catch: The Movie

Something's Fishy

In effort to fulfill my desire for adventure, Jitu and I went to Big Lots this afternoon...

The initial plan was to have an "America Party": hot dogs, American Flags, "The Sandlot". But, our crowd was dwindling, so we decided to postpone it (date: TBD)

Instead, we did this:







Then, after dinner, we convinced Brian to do some fishing.





**There is a video on its way...**

Monday, March 26, 2007

Fried Foods and Friends

Last night was super fun...
It was a great ending to a really fun weekend.

My friend Allison and I were supposed to go out...then she felt more like staying in, so I invited myself to her house. We hung around and chatted about life...and then went out to have some dinner.

Her roommate--and my new friend--Megan joined us for dinner at Macaroni Grill...

We sat down at the table, took a look at the menu and had a conversation that went like this:

Megan: "Wow, the fried mozzarella sounds good."

Me: "Yeah, it does. So does the calamari."

Allison: "What if we just ordered a bunch of appetizers?"

Me: "What if we just ordered one of each appetizer?"

So, that's what we did. We had one of each of the appetizers. And they were all delicious. Here's a photo of our table spread...


Next time, the plan is to order one of each dessert. It will be a challenge, but I think we're up to it.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Nicknames:

Here are a few nicknames I have adopted over the years...

Alice: I love to be called Alice. Taffy gave me this nickname when I was a JH intern...it is my favorite. It feels like friendship when people adopt it. It is also the way I introduce myself in Kenya.
Toadie: My dad has called me Toadie since I was a baby. Johnny Baker has picked up the habit as well.
Nosilla: Once, when I was little, I wrote my name backward on a Christmas card. My mom's entire family has called me Nosilla (or Nosi)
Nosilla Kitty Woob: My aunt Gina added the "Kitty Woob"...not 100% sure why. Mom? Do you know?
Alli: I was Alli all through Elementary School...now a few people use it; Griff, the McGills--typically the way I introduce myself to kids. All of my friends in London call me Alli.
Allison-ayse: The "ayse" is pronounced as in the end of Mayonnaise, the spelling is from Matt McGill who has called me that for about 8 years.
Chubi/Chubs: My newest nickname, and one of my favorites, given to me by Allison Mc...
AlliHibb: Robby Boyd has called me this for years...and I think there are a few others...
AHibbs: I would type this in to phones so that I would be the first entry...now it is an actual nickname from a few people.
Lovely: McGill calls me this sometimes, but I think it's his new word for female.
Stupid: My friend Ryan McAnlis typically forgoes "Allison" and goes straight for "Stupid"--he tries to speak with an American accent (he's Irish) so it sounds more like "Stoopid".
Cock-a-Doodler: My aunt, Debby, and I have called each other this name for years...
Alli-Poo: Both of my Grandpas call me this
My Darlin': My Grandma, Bum, ALWAYS calls me this..."Hi my darlin' how are ya?"
Best Friend: What Shaun Blakeney and I call each other..."Hi Best Friend"
My Hero: Brad Hartke (from Accounting) gave me this nickname for bringing JH in on-budget last year.

Funniest Thing Jared Moine Has Ever Said

In the office lunch room...

"Why is toast so much better than bread?!"

FRI-SUN

Wow...this weekend has been so full of fun things.

FRIDAY NIGHT a bunch of us went out to dinner at Taco Factory and then played Sardines (reverse hide-and-seek) in the dark until about midnight. It was really fun.

SATURDAY we drove down to San Diego for our JH volunteer staff retreat. We wandered around the city--I had a delicious and super encouraging lunch with Katie at the Nordstrom Cafe. We had dinner at Buca di Beppo...and then headed back to the conference room at the hotel for Wildside's 2nd Annual Generational Olympics. (Winner: Middle Aged Group). After that, I was exhausted (from late-night Sardines), so I headed up to my room to watch a Full House "Jesse Fest" Marathon. When Katie came upstairs, we got to talking and stayed up way too late!

SUNDAY MORNING we had breakfast (I had a Pain au Chocolat) at a cute French Patisserie. It was so delicious! Then we headed back to the hotel for a spin on a church service. There were six stations to rotate through and a short exercise for each. (Example: Renew...spend a few moments in silence. Praise God. Listen.) I was so overwhelmed by God's unfailing presence in my life, by his forgiveness and grace, that I began to cry. It was such a great morning.

Katie, Ron, Brian and I drove back home, stopping for lunch at McDonalds...and now I am waiting for a call from my new favorite friend, Allison, to make some plans for tonight!

More later...

Saturday, March 24, 2007

In the Bank

I was wearing a dress, heels and false eyelashes when I went to the bank to get some petty cash for our work event this weekend. The man in front of me--60ish, construction worker look, slightly creepy--was kind of looking at me, but I was a little over-dressed so I didn't think much of it.

The line was moving slowly so a bank attendant came over and asked if he was simply making a deposit. He said, "No, I want lots of money back."

Then, she turned to ask me the same question. My response--before she even begins to ask the question: "Oh, I'm with him...I mean, I'm not with him, I'm just in a similar situation."

Yep. That was my exact response.

He then turns and says "Would you like a compliment?"

I laughed because I was nervous and could not think of another response. He said, (imagine slightly odd, crackly voice)

"You look really nice."

I laughed (nervously) again and said, "thanks."

He then leaned toward me, and said "And you smell great."

Again, unable to respond in any other way, I give a similar nervous smile/laugh and say "thanks"...

Then he chuckles a bit. As does the man in front of him. Oh, and the guy working behind the counter.

Can you count to 12?

This is really old...from a myspace post...but still pretty fun.

In my room:
1 globe
2 giant crate and barrel boxes filled with dishes
3 boards with pieces of a Simpsons puzzle on them
4 empty target bags
5 dyed green t-shirts
6 pairs of shoes
7 alarm clocks--not one with the correct time
8 Hard Rock Hurricane Glasses
9 Seasons of FRIENDS on DVD
10 frames made from baseboards
11 college textbooks
12 books by Roald Dahl


try it...

Friday, March 23, 2007

My Long-Term Blog Assignment

Jared Moine (blogless) has given me a very challenging and yet totally doable blog assignment: to find every teacher I've ever had, take a picture with each one and post about him or her.

I have one year to complete this assignment...

I am in process of developing my strategy. Any suggestions?

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Top 100 Books

This is a list of Waterstone's (sort of a British Borders/Barnes and Noble) List of the Top 100 Books of the Century. I have read these. I began, but did not finish these.

1. J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings
2. George Orwell 1984
3. George Orwell Animal Farm
4. James Joyce Ulysses
5. Joseph Heller Catch-22
6. J.D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye
7. Harper lee To Kill a Mocking Bird
8. Gabriel Garcia Marquez One Hundred Years of Solitude
9. John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath
10. Irvine Welsh Trainspotting
11. Jung Chan Wild Swans
12. F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby
13. William Golding The Lord of the Flies
14. Jack Kerouac On the Road
15. Aldous Huxley Brave New World
16. Kenneth Grahame The Wind in the Willows
17. A.A. Milne Winnie the Pooh
18. Alice Walker The Colour Purple
19. J.R.R. Tolkien The Hobbit
20. Albert Camus The Outsider
21. C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
22. Franz Kafka The Trial
23. Margaret Mitchell Gone With the Wind
24. Douglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
25. Salman Rushdie Midnight's Children
26. Anne Frank The Diary of Anne Frank
27. Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange
28. D.H. Lawrence Sons and Lovers
29. Virginia Woolf To the Lighthouse
30. Primo Levi If This Is a Man
31. Vladimir Nabokov Lolita
32. Iain Banks The Wasp Factory
33. Marcel Proust A la Recherche du Temps Perdu (Remembrance of Things Past)
34. Roald Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
35. John Steinbeck Of Mice and Men
36. Toni Morrison Beloved
37. A.S. Byatt Posession
38. Joseph Conrad The Heart of Darkness
39. E.M. Forster A Passage to India
40. Richard Adams Watership Down
41. Jostein Gaarder Sophie's World
42. Umberto Eco The Name of the Rose
43. Gabriel Garcia Marquez Love in a Time of Cholera
44. Daphne du Maurier Rebecca
45. Kazuo Ishiguri The Remains of the Day
46 Milan Kundera The Unbearable Lightness of Being
47. Sebastian Faulks Birdsong
48. E.M. Forster Howard's End
49. Evelyn Waugh Brideshead Revisited
50. Vikram Seth A Suitable Boy
51. Frank Herbert Dune
52. John Irvine A Prayer for Owen Meaney
53. Patrick Suskind Perfume
54. Boris Pasternak Doctor Zhivago
55. Mervyn Peake Gormenghast
56. Laurie Lee Cider with Rosie
57. Sylvia Plath The Bell Jar
58. Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale
59. Vera Brittain Testament of Youth
60. John Fowlws The Magus
61. Graham Greene Brighton Rock
62. Robert Tressell The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists
63. Mikhail Bugakov The Master and Margarita
64. Armistead Maupin Tales from the City
65. John Fowles The French Lieutenant's Woman
66. Louis de Bernieres Captain Corelli's Mandolin
67. Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse Five
68. Robert Persig Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
69. E.M. Forster A Room with a View
70. Kingsley Amis Lucky Jim
71. Stephen King It
72. Graham Greene The Power and the Glory
73. Stephen King The Stand
74. Erich Maria Remarque All Quiet on the Western Front
75. Roddy Doyle Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
76. Roald Dahl Matilda
77. Bret Easton Ellis American Psycho
78. Hunter S. Thompson Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
79. Stephen Hawking A Brief History of Time
80. Roald Dahl James and the Giant Peach
81. D.H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover
82. Tom Wolfe The Bonfire of the Vanities
83. Delia Smith Complete Cookery Course
84. Brian Keenan An Evil Cradling
85. D.H. Lawrence The Rainbow
86. George Orwell Down and Out in Paris and London
87. Arthur C. Clarke 2001 - A Space Odyssey
88. Gunter Grass The Tin Drum
89. Alexander Solzhenitsyn A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
90. Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom
91. Richard Dawkins The Selfish Gene
92. Michael Crichton Jurassic Park
93. Lawrence Durrell The Alexandria Quartet
94. Alan Paton Cry the Beloved Country
95. Nick Hornby High Fidelity
96. Roddy Doyle The Van
97. Roald Dahl The BFG
98. Anthony Burgess Earthly Powers
99. Robert Graves I, Claudius
100. Nicholas Evans The Horse Whisperer

I have read 18 of these. I started 6 of them. How about you?

What a Wednesday!

I had a great (busy) day today.

8:30 Student Leadership Conference Meeting
(Note: Jana does not find it funny to make jokes about wounding hikers for students to find and rescue)

10:00 Bulletin/emails/slides

10:30 Meeting with Stephen about the weekend...it's going to be great!

11:30 Lunch with my new friend, Allison, and Ryanne...delicious!

1:00 Staff Meeting--I sat between Johnny and Brian...and in front of Katie, Jason, Jonathan and Ryanne...
(Note: there are 35 fire sprinklers in Tent 2)

3:15 Budget Meeting with Brad. I know it's crazy to think that an accountant could be fun...but he is...seriously.

4:00
Meeting with Steve Rutenbar. I'm moving to Kenya. September '08!

4:30 Photos/Budget stuff

5:40 Shopping, dinner and "Little Miss Sunshine" with Brian and Jared

8:45 Bake some brownies...great job mixing, Jared

9:20 Awkward conversation with Josh

10:00
LOST at the Witts...great new tradition...

11:15 Broken water heater, slight flood, Wii golf, lots of loud talking and laughter

12:00 Check email/read blogs/text/write posts

1:00
Bedtime

Three Reasons I Want to Kiss Sayid on the Mouth

1. He knew they weren't alone

2. He knew where the secret door was

3. He told Alex that her mother is alive

Honestly, if this doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.

Blogs to Come

** My "Long-Term" Blog Assignment

** More Thoughts on Popularity

** Music: The Right to Choose

** Why I Should Not Have Roommates

** I'm Moving to Kenya!

** Why My Boss is the Best

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

My Adventurous Life (Pt 2 of 2)

The second half of my Monday was equally as adventurous.

I went "home-looking".

My good friend, Ryanne (RNDW) told me about these homes that she totally saw me moving into...In Aliso Viejo, they are three story town-house/condos with brick outsides.

So, Josh Garrett and I went to check things out...

They are amazing. You could check out Josh's blog over the next few days, since he will be blogging, in detail, about his love for these homes...maybe.

My favorite home was a three-story, two master bedrooms, two and a half baths...it was so beautiful. It was decorated with golf pictures, shoes and clubs...so I guess I will have to take up golf.

Momma, we need to go over there, soon...

Monday, March 19, 2007

My Adventurous Life (Pt 1 of 2)



Since I've returned from Kenya, I've been in need of some adventure. I have been trying my best to find it in small doses, and in the midst of my daily routine.

Last night, after watching E.T.--The Extra Terrestrial, we (the room-full of people) decided to meet up early this morning and go to the shooting range. You know--guns, ammo, targets, shells, etc.


I was mostly excited to wear the headphones and goggles...or "eyes and ears"...


When we arrived, Jared walked me through the loading and firing of the revolver. There was another man, two lanes over, shooting these huge somethings (maybe a Desert Eagle--like in Snatch)...and every time he shot (about every 15-seconds) I jumped...the first few times a small "squeal" came out with the jump.




I shot four different guns: a .38 Revolver, a 9mm SIG SAUER, a .45 Glock, and a .357 Smith & Wesson. All four felt like I was in a movie. Most of the time we were there I was thinking "Uma Thurman must love her job because this is so fun"...or... "I bet this is how Uma felt when she was filming Kill Bill".






Then it was time to actually load and fire the gun. I forgot to aim because I was concentrating so hard on remembering all of the steps: load, close (make sure you hear the click), always aim the gun away from you, check the safety, cock the gun--but you could also pull the trigger twice. I was supposed to be aiming at a silhouette target, but I hit the ceiling a few times...but my first few rounds I hit the back wall.

Toward the end of the morning, I was feeling pretty confident in my ability to follow all of the steps and not shoot myself in the foot. But I never was able to get the aiming down. One of the guns shot a huge flame when the bullet fired, and so I would close my eyes after pulling the trigger...Needless to say, I was a pretty inaccurate shot.

Kudos to Alanna, who is such a good shot that she actually hit a real person: Josh Garrett.



Thanks friends for my very fun, adventurous morning. Also, thanks to Brian for supplying facts and terms to keep me from sounding completely uneducated.

I was going to tell you about the rest of my adventurous day, but I will save that for tomorrow...since there are probably few of you still reading...

as if they are my own original thoughts

Here is an old post from my myspace blog.

I really enjoy rhyming. I realize that this makes me slightly pathetic, but I really think it's funny. I also think that using big words is funny. I like to feel smart. The way I am writing right now makes me sound stupid. I am aware of that. All of these simple sentences, I sound like a 12-year old.

My favorite thing, honestly, is making references to movies. Not in the typical way though...you know, back and forth reciting lines until you relive the whole scene (don't get me wrong, some of my favorite moments are those cinematic conversations). I really like to pick obscure (there's a big word) phrases or scenes and throw them in to conversation as if they are my own original thoughts...and see who catches it. I know you are probably rolling your eyes at this right now (all one of you reading this)...but try it sometime. Pick your favorite movie and then find some line that really could be used in an everyday conversation, and insert it some where in your day...it's funny, but only to you...and anyone else who may get it.

Try it and then let me know what you think. I guarantee it is a fix for any bad day...and an added bonus for any already good day.

Something else that is funny, but really only for you: write an entire email and then pick a phrase that makes no sense out of its place, and make that the subject line. It's really fun.

I had a friend in High School who would often talk as if he were in a movie. He'd sound as though he were quoting something, but was actually just that witty. Jamie, if you read this: I am very envious of your wit.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Ensenada...

Junior High is switching things up this year, and so we do not have a spring break Mexico trip. Because of this I offered/was persuaded to go to Mexico with HSM.

Today was the sign-painting/translation day.

Sitting in the garage with the students, I mentioned that I went to El Toro High School. One of the girls said she goes there now. Then, another adult leader said, "I went there too. Class of '89."

I laughed and said, "Was anyone in this garage even alive in 1989?"...this was meant to be a joke. One boy said, "I was born in 1989."

And then I realized that I'm getting older.

365

If you decided to read one of my blog posts every day, you could read them for one year.

Oh, that's right, my friends.

This is officially post #365.

Good thing it's not a leap year...

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Sights, Sounds, Smells

I changed my perfume this week; the smell of the new perfume reminds me of when I spent a month in London. Every morning when I spray it, I can picture myself in the small flat above the church...and I remember all the fun Josh Peters and I had (and some of the un-fun, too).

When I was getting my nails done on Thursday, I heard a song on the radio that reminded me of Kenya. Freddy, one of the drivers, sat in the hotel lobby one night playing "Sad to say, I'm on my way. Won't be back for many a day. My heart is down, My head is turning around, I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town." Apparently it is called "Jamaica Farewell". Freddy played this little guitar with such soft confidence, and sang in this quiet, beautiful voice. I couldn't help but smile in the salon. I'm sure the woman thought I was crazy.

Also on Thursday, I heard an old Nelly song that I love so much. It made me think of such obscure people: the Chris Tomlin band, Sarah Washington and Chris Glinski.

I love that the smallest scent or sound or even an object can hold such large memories.

Re-living 1990

I was seven. Over summer break, my brother and I would spend most days at my Grandma's house. We'd sit and watch TV, or swim in the pool, or play board games. It was always a good time.

The one constant was breakfast. We'd watch Price is Right while my Grandma--Bum, as we call her--made French Toast and Chocolate Milk. Her French Toast is the best.

This morning, wide-awake at 7:01, I was feeling a little nostalgic. So I made myself some French Toast and Chocolate Milk...Chocolate Milk with a little too much Nestle Quik Powder so it tastes slightly powdery...mmmmm...

Maybe I'll go swimming this afternoon...

Friday, March 16, 2007

AM-sterdam

On our flight home from Kenya, we had an 8-hour layover in Amsterdam. A few of us (I'll admit, I was slightly coaxed in to going--since my nervous-follow-the-rules-stay-out-of-the-unknown-and-therefore-out-of-danger side kicked in) wandered in to the city to explore.

Keep in mind, we arrived in town at 6am(ish) and our flight to L.A. was at 1(ish).

The day was chilly, but not too bad. I spent four days in this city a few years ago and did not see as much as I saw in this morning. The only sadness: H&M didn't open until after we had to head back...

On the train ride from the airport...in the "silent cart".


Even in Amsterdam, I'm ready to pose for any picture.


The entire adventurous group.

My Monday...

I spent Monday at the beach with a friend. The sun was hot, the water was cold, but the day was gorgeous.



On days like this, I sure am glad I live in CA.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

My Two Favorite People in the Whole-Wide World

This may be a heart-breaking post for some of you, but for the two featured, it is hopefully flattering.

This is Josh Griffin. He is my very favorite (boy) person on the planet. He is the creator of theforce.net, the world's largest Star Wars fansite. (Josh, did I phrase that correctly?) He is the father of four great kids, and has the coolest wife. Josh, in the last year or so--specifically in the last few months--has been a huge cheerleader for me. He is a constant source of encouragement, wisdom, comedy, and advice. In the last few days I have been asking him to come and work in the Student Ministries area just so I could spend time around him. It may sound strange, but it's really comfortable to be around people who like you no matter what...and that's him.
And so, he has earned this title in my head.




This is Katie Edwards. (She does not have a blog, but I would definitely read it if she did.) Katie has been my favorite (girl) person on the planet for a long time. Katie and I have known each other for more than half my life. We met while I was puking in the bathroom during 6th grade summer camp because I was so homesick. (My counselor had just broken up with her boyfriend--Jeff Maguire--which is why she told me to go outside while I was barfing--lovely.) There is no one in my life who is more supportive than Katie. She knows me better than I know myself. Last week, I told her something about myself and she said "You don't think I already knew that? I did." Katie returned to Saddleback staff almost a year ago, and has changed the face of my job, my approach to ministry, my life in the last year. She is my best friend, my biggest fan, and very much what I hope to be. (Also pictured: her kid, one of the coolest, most well-behaved kids ever. Not pictured: Her kick-A husband.)
Because of this, she has earned this title in my head.


KENYA 2007:


KENYA 2005:

Kenya Magic

I plugged my camera in and there were magically 18 more Kenya pictures that I had not seen before (save for when I took them to begin with)...

This is Gigi. We're totally having lunch together tomorrow.



Another of Stonic...such a great smiley face.


The Masai dancing, before the goat slaughter.


Safari Adventures:


I'm already saving for next year...are you in?

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

3.14...3/14...March 14

Today was "Pi Day". You know, Pi: 3.1415...

I celebrated by bringing a pi(e) to dinner at the Witt's (which was very fun and quite delicious).

I also celebrated by googling "PI" which yielded two results:

1) A movie called Pi



2) A magnum called PI

Kenya Story

I can't get Kenya out of my head, so each day as I sit down to think about my blog post, I just keep thinking of Kenya stories...

I mentioned before that I sang at a prison in Narok, but I did not mention the Kitale prison. This was, by far, the most memorable moment of my trip. Steve had asked me to sing a few songs, which I had done on my last trip...so it was no big deal...or so I thought.

Steve introduced our team and began a short message, then he stopped. He said, "My friend, Allison, is here to sing a few songs for you--one now, and one later--you might remember her from a few years ago, but here she is again."

I stood up and walked to the center of the large dirt courtyard. The hundreds of prison inmates, dressed in blue and white jumpsuits (similar to men's pajama sets), lined three of the four walls. Our team was seated in white plastic chairs on the fourth.

I began to sing, a song I have sung dozens of times (if not one hundred). In between verses, there is a musical interlude, and the men began to cheer. I smiled and continued with the song. They cheered again as I finished and sat down.

Steve returned to the center to teach and offer a chance for the prisoners to accept Christ. As he spoke, it began to rain; a little at first, then pretty hard. A few minutes in to this, he brought me up to sing again. As I sang "Jesus Lead On", the rain came down harder. Many of the men ran to shelter at the far walls of the courtyard. As Steve finished his invitation, a majority of the men headed for cover.

After he prayed with the twenty-or-so men who decided to follow Christ, Steve brought me up to re-sing the first song. The women from our group were escorted to the women's prison, but the men from our group came to stand behind me...in their minds, they were worried about protecting me, but I hadn't even thought about being in danger.

As the music started, the men who had retreated inside, literally ran back out to the courtyard...literally running back out to the center to watch and hear me...

I'm reading what I just wrote and it sounds stuck-up, but I was flattered. Who would want to stand in the rain to hear a stranger sing a song in another language? I can see them running...in my head...and I can't help but get a little misty-eyed...

It is a moment I will always remember. This year, I was nervous to return to the prison: it's always strange to be locked inside the prison gates with a bunch of un-shackled prisoners...but in years to come, it will be a highly anticipated piece of my trip!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

McSweeney's

My favorite book in the whole-wide world, "A Heart Breaking Work of Staggering Genius", was written by a man named Dave Eggers. Dave Eggers has some sort of tie to the website McSweeney's. I visit the site every once in a while...I really only read the "LISTS" page...and most of the time the political humor is over my head...occasionally, I laugh out loud. Tonight was one of those times...

Here are a few lists that made me laugh:

Things I Desperately Wish Women Would Say to Me on First Dates.


Words Never Used in the Titles of Remotely Good Films.


The Only "Cute Couple" Halloween Costumes My Boyfriend and I Will Be Able to Use in Our Lifetimes, Because I Am 5'2" and He Is 6'7".


Reason for Celebrating Every Major Holiday With the In-laws, According to My Mother-in-Law.

Things an Overbearing Mother Might Say to a Son Just Waking From a Coma.

Reason #264 Why I Love My Job



We're in a series called "STUFF". The idea behind the series is that we can learn from stuff...last week Kurt taught on the toothpaste tube. Our mouths are like toothpaste tubes because once something comes out, you can't put it back in.

This weekend Kurt is teaching on toast: the importance of God's timing.

So, I spent the morning burning bread to carve the perfect title slide.

Seriously, how fun is my job?!

Monday, March 12, 2007

More Kenya...

I sent an email around last night asking for any photos that would prove I was also on this trip...I received quite a few...still waiting on more. If you're bored of hearing about Kenya, read someone else's blog.

This is Stonic. He's the best. He has been a friend of Steve for years, and has pretty much become the #1 guy on the trip. He's also a Masai warrior, which means he's killed a lion with his bare hands. If anything were to go awry, I'd want Stonic with me. And, he's super smiley...so who doesn't love that?!


Here are a few boys from Oasis of Hope...more on that later...



I did my best to be ready for any picture...






We spent a week in Kitale and stopped in Narok en route to Nairobi. In Narok, we visited a school, an orphanage, and a prison: none of which had a CD player. Luckily, Ryan picked up two songs pretty quickly and was able to accompany.




After Narok, we went on a two-day game drive. I've posted a few of my pictures already...but Josh had a few worth showing:


Two new friends: Rebekah and Ashley. They are teachers at a school in Nairobi. For girls from Nebraska and Northern California, respectively, they were both very cool.



This kid wasn't with our group...but was so cute...



This is Anthony...He's my Kenya friend. He and his dad (Tony, pictured below) and his brother spent the two weeks on various building projects all over Kitale (school benches and chicken coops) and Narok (bunk beds), while his mom worked the camp with us.




Tony, in a Masai home



Steve has been to Kenya countless times. So, as everyone is frantically photographing the animals, here's Steve:



Jitu constantly referred to "double white". In my head, it was a man with white shirt and white shorts...oh no...he was much better than that. And he really liked the hippo pond. (not Jitu, "double white")


Here are a two of my favorite pictures from the game drive: