A couple more pictures...

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal:

A lighthouse (it was closed because it was Christmas...)

I'm "borrowing these picutres from my sister-in-law since I have no way to upload mine!  Today we went kayaking up the Wailua River...it was against the current one way and against the wind on the way back. We also hiked up to a beautiful waterfall.  We are all completely spent and I think tomorrow will be a beach day for sure.  Laziness will be called for.

And Gina, we went to Duke's last night! It's a great spot there...I even took a picture with the sign.

Paradise!

We made it! Michael and Sarah got here about 7 hours later than planned, and Mom and Dad still don't have two of their suitcases but seriously...with a view like this, who cares? We're all trying to figure out how to fit the activities we want to do into the upcoming days, so I think we'll at least do some kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, and a luau. And of course, some laying around and reading.

These are pictures taken from the lanai on the back of the condo I'm sharing with my brother and sister-in-law. I don't think we could have asked for a better view.

A little update...

So I left my camera USB thing in Oklahoma...so no pictures! I took some good ones the other day when I walked to the beach, so you'll just have to wait to see where I'm from!

I am loving being home for a little while, I've been busy busy Christmas shopping. I've been having trouble finding presents that will fit in my little suitcase to Hawaii...what can you do?

My grandparents are coming in tonight from Florida to see us (and my other Myrtle Beach family) yay! and then we are heading out tomorrow. I could not be more thrilled about 10 days of sun and fun with weather in the 80s. Yes yes yes!!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Cra-zy Weather.

So I have little to no experience with winter weather (except ski vacations, by choice). So I have no clue what to do with "Ice Storm 2007." They say it all dramatically on the news like when we have hurricanes at home, it's kinda funny.

Anyhow, I didn't have one of my scheduled exams today because school was cancelled, so I'm hoping I can take my remaining two exams tomorrow so that I can peace out to the beach ASAP.
In the mean time, I am glued to MTV to see the Hills Season Finale. Exciting, no? It's a show I both love and hate with equal intensity, but I can't miss whatever kind of surprise is coming at the end...although I'm sure it will disappoint unless it's completely shocking. So here's to a shocking surprise (and not studying...ha).

**Update** Okay, that was lame. Although I am excited for a few more episodes, I was hoping to hear that Lauren was pregnant with Justin Bobby's baby or something. Eh. Okay, I have to study now...

So so sweet.

I checked my mail this afternoon to find a lovely surprise. My crafty aunt in New York mailed me some homemade Christmas ornaments! I don't know how she knew that my tree was ridiculously pathetic and impersonal, but they made my tree very happy!


How cute are these?












And these...













And this one, little tag and all!













That's MUCH better.


















In other news, I took my most difficult exam today and I'm so thrilled to be finished with it! The rest should be easy peasy (or at least easier!).

Oh, and I just booked some air to go see one of my dearest friends (and her new husband!) in Phoenix next month. I haven't seen her in almost a year! Here we are a year ago in the teahouse in Prague where we chatted for hours on end on an almost daily basis (I'm not looking so hot)...

Yay! I'm so excited.

Good News!!!!

So you know the three finals I had next Wednesday? I now have only one. One of my classes had a practical assignment tonight where we had to describe to the class what we would do in different therapy situations, and at the end the prof told us that was the final!!! What a relief!

Also, in another class, a different prof split our final into three smaller (much simpler) tests, which we will finish on Monday. Woo hoo!

The final I have left (Anatomy of the Speech Mechanism) on Wednesday is still going to be tough, but now I can focus on just that one. You have no idea the weight that has been lifted. God is so faithful.

So, on Wednesdays I usually go home during my 3 hour break and clean my apartment (fun, right?). Well today I decided to quit wondering what my living room would look like if I rearranged it, and I just went ahead and moved everything. I think it's kind of awkward now and will probably put it all back the way it was...but here it is:

You can even see my Charlie Brown Christmas tree. There's not really a good spot for it now...oh well.

Oh, and one more thing. Amy mentioned on her blog a while ago that there was a coffee company that donated the equivalent of a month's worth of food for an orphan (I think in Africa...) for each pound of coffee you buy from them. Well, I ordered some and had my first cup today...it was probably the best coffee I've had. Ever. And the they are also a micro-roaster, so my beans were roasted last week! Now that I know it's good, I might give some as Christmas presents this year. So yummy. You should come over for a cup some time.

Winding Down.

The semester that is, not me. There are only three more days of actual class in the semester! It's crazy. Seriously. As the remaining days continue to decrease, my stress level continues to increase. I have a test and a couple assignments due on Wednesday, 3 finals next week, and 2 finals the following week. And then it's over. My first semester of graduate school. Who wants to join me for a celebratory drink?!?

I'm just excited to get going on the mountain of books I've been wanting to read for pleasure (lame, right?). It will be sweet.

I downloaded a Christmas album from iTunes the other day (good background noise) so I'm off to make some coffee and get to studying (oh, and that's my spot on the floor. I've always studied better on the floor...).

And in case you care, I decided rather than order the eight gazillion cards I wanted on etsy, I'm going for the Hallmark (red) Christmas cards (as soon as I go get them). They're getting pretty creative with words that end in -red.

Florida...it's good for the soul.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well, I'm feeling much much better (thanks to a fantastic P.A.) and am hanging out with my parents, grandparents, and one of my brothers in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. It's sooooooo nice.
Exhibit A: This is the canal just beyond the pool at our house.


And we just ate Thanksgiving Dinner out here by the pool:
Other than that, we haven't been too busy. Yesterday mom and I went shopping and I got some new wintry clothes (including a knee length coat that I've been wanting...)! It almost makes me excited about getting back to Oklahoma now that it's cold there. But for now, I will continue to enjoy the warmth and sunshine. This is where and how I've spent my time thus far:
And I'm sure I'll be posting about this book soon. It's fascinating and I think it should be required reading for everyone who eats food. Which hopefully is everyone. Oh and just so you know these are reserved for anyone who wants to come down here with me for a little vacation sometime.

Alright, I'm going to go spend some more time with my family before I head back to the frozen tundra (or 45 degree weather, same thing).

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mmmm...Chili

I get sick (like fever, stay home from school sick) about once a year. This weekend is it, I'm afraid. I'm feeling sinus infection-y, so if I still feel like poo on Monday, it looks like I'll be finding a doctor in Oklahoma...

I'm tired of No Chicken Noodle Soup. I haven't had much of an appetite, but yesterday I was craving some chili, so I soaked some beans overnight, threw all the ingredients in a pot, and let it simmer all day. The result: a bowl full of tastiness. So good. Although, I made enough to feed a small army, so I'm pretty sure I'll be eating chili for the rest of my life. I still haven't adjusted to this cooking for one thing yet.



Netflix was kind enough to send another installment of Heroes: Season One today, so I am catching up on that while being pathetic with my box of kleenex and nyquil.

A vocab quiz that feeds the poor?

A friend sent me a link to an online vocab quiz called free rice. For every word you get correct, they donate (the equivalent of) ten grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. They pretty much just route the advertising money straight to the WFP. In my effort to score above a 41 (I gave up, but will try again!), over 3,500 grains of rice were donated. I like it. You should try it.

Also, I'm almost finished with wreath number one, it's a glass ball wreath that I will post pictures of as soon as I can figure out the logistics of hanging it where I want it. Get excited.

It's getting to be that time of year!!

I drove up to Stillwater today to do lunch and a movie with Sarah, and we ended up watching Fred Claus. This turned out to be just the thing to get me in a Christmas-y spirit! The weather has been unusually warm, so I haven't really been feeling any holiday excitement; but friends, now it's on.

So what have I been doing? Looking for some Christmas cards. Hallmark has gone (red), so that was an option I was considering, but I think I found some I like even better (and of course, they're more expensive). The one pictured above is one I found on etsy, and I love almost everything this artist has for sale. So, if you get one of these in the mail, act surprised and ooh and aah over it anyway. Also, 25% of her profits are going towards buying livestock for the Dalit people of India. So check it out!

So now that I'm in the Christmas spirit, I really want to decorate my little apartment, but I came to the sad realization that I have no decorations. I had Halloween decor and I even have a few Thanksgiving things, but for Christmas all I have is a tangled pile of lights. I'm thinking that a wreath project is in my near future. And I'm lighting my cinnamon and clove candles to at least make the place smell like Christmas. Who cares that it's 75 degrees outside?

Coming to terms with "pencils down"

As you may or may not know, the writers guild of america is on strike. All writers of TV shows are part of this guild, and they have put their pencils down. Anyone who knows me knows that I love good TV (which I define as my favorite shows), so this was troubling news. So I found this video that is supposed to help us understand what's going on.



So, I get it, but to me, the whole thing boils down to watching reruns after Christmas, and that's not cool. Which Heroes will turn evil? Will Chuck and the Piemaker move on because they can't touch? Will Senator McAlister get the presidential bid? (probably not...) All the answers are in those writer's pencils and they've put them down. Lets hope they come to a resolution quickly! (The last strike apparently lasted 5 months...)

The Newest Sturzenbecker

I can't believe that I have neglected to introduce my precious soft cuddly little nephew Mr. Buster B. Sturzenbecker! I love him even though he ate the contents of my wallet. He was born July 5 and grows about a foot a day (he's going to be massive). Michael and Sarah have their hands full with this fella.






Based on his attentiveness during the show, I'm also pretty sure Buster wants to be bff with Digby from Pushing Daisies (Who wouldn't?)

I walked to Homeland today to get batteries for my camera, and they only had store brand. So my next post might actually have current pictures if these batteries can make it!

Inspi(red)

Earlier this week I saw that Gap is promoting its product(Red) line, and I've seen the shirts here and there and decided it was time for me to have one. Half of the proceeds from each shirt goes to buy medicine for AIDS patients in Africa. Pretty sweet, right?

Well as I stood in the Gap (who has been having its own bad press due to sweatshop scandals...) contemplating which $28 t-shirt I wanted, I felt really convicted. Do I really need a shirt to show people that I care about AIDS in Africa? Not so much. I don't need another shirt at all. So instead of $14 going to AIDS medicine, I'm just going to give the whole $28 to blood:water mission to get some people some clean water. I think it's sad that there has to be a trendy product for people (myself included) to even think about giving a little money to the many crises facing Africa.

All that said, I think product(red) is a really cool concept and I'm sure in the future that I will probably own one or more of their products, but at this moment in time, I think my money can be put to better use. It certainly inspi(red) me, just in a different way.

(And just so you know, the 14 dollars from the (red) shirts can get 2 weeks worth of medicine for someone suffering with AIDS, and that's really terrific! 28 dollars t0 the 1000 wells project at blood:water mission will give a years worth of clean drinking water to 28 people. Also terrific).

You've gotta laugh...twice.

First, that Colbert is running for President in South Carolina, and actually shaking up the Democratic National Polls, and

Second, that he is officially endorsed by the Puppet News Network.

I almost had to spit out my water when I was watching CNN the other day and the Democratic National Poll had Colbert neck and neck with Biden. As a registered voter in SC and a Colbert fan, I have to say the news is both amusing and terribly disturbing. But mostly amusing.

It's been a while!

Okay, I'm a slacker and need to post because I think my only reader (Blair) might have given up on me. In my defense, school is super busy right now, I have a test almost every Monday and Wednesday, so I'm just trying to keep up! This is my life right now...



I am baking A LOT though. I have a freezer full of food, which I guess is good. I go on cooking spurts and freeze a ton of stuff and then it's there on days when I just don't feel like cooking.

Today's recipe is going to be: Smoked Mozzarella and Sun-dried Tomato Cigars

I can't stand smoked cheese though, so I'm using fresh mozzarella (with some fresh parmesan, too) and I think the leftovers will be great as part of a bento lunch for Wednesday! (for more on bentos, see www.lunchinabox.net)

In other news...I start tutoring an 'at risk' elementary school girl tomorrow! It's primarily for reading I think, and I'm really excited to be around kids... adults tend to be a drag after a while. And after that I'm visiting a house church for the first time, this one in particular is a group of people who are very interested in connecting with the Ethiopian community in OKC and in Ethiopia (a couple of them have adopted, too). They meet at an Ethiopian restaurant, so I'll get some yummy ethnic food too! I'll keep you posted on how that goes (if I remember).

There is not enough time in the day...

for me to read everything that I want to (plus all my school-related work). I think a library card was a dangerous idea. I tend to get in phases where I can't learn enough about a particular subject, so I try to read everything I possibly can about it. This usually results in lots of knowledge (and hopefully some understanding) and not so much sleep. I currently have about 5 more books on reserve at the library, just waiting for other people to finish up! Then I have a "to request" list for when I'm done with those. Can you believe they let you check out 30 items at a time? Crazy! Anyhow, lately I am desperate to learn more about the nature of salvation and how it relates to the environment, and absolutely everything around me. (I picked an easy one, right?) I think in the past I have been interested in lots of peripheral concepts and truths, but I never really worked out what salvation means at its deepest level and how it translates into every aspect of my life.

This is taking me on quite the journey, let me tell you. It's one that I'm anticipating an end to (I hope!) because I think there are always new ways to understand Jesus and redemption in the midst of everything. Anyhow, I would love some recommendations on more reading, even if it won't happen until next year! I'm hoping tonight to just give up on the reading and go to sleep. Maybe.

Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Uncle Dan and Aunt Debby are in town, so while Dan worked on some bids in my apartment, Aunt Debby and I visited the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.








I barely remember the bombing, but on April 19, 1995, 168 people (19 of which were children) were killed in the first American terror attack of this scale. It was a moving display, and Debby and I listened to one of the guides tell about the bombing and how they memorialized not only the victims, but also the survivors, rescue workers, and the orphaned children whose parents were killed in the explosion.

They memorialized the victims with the field of empty chairs. It is meant to represent the chairs that will sit empty at the dinner tables of the families. The smaller chairs are for the children.

I'm really glad that I went, because I don't think I could fully appreciate the city without knowing about the event that changed it forever.

Anyway, my next post will be upbeat, I promise!

Things I Know

Thus far, these are a few of the things I know about Oklahoma:

- There are a lot of cows

- There are a lot of tornadoes

- The state flower is mistletoe (thanks, Blair!)

- Oklahoma City is home to the world's largest tube of caulk

- Most of Twister was set/shot there

- Edmond, OK (my soon to be town) was ranked 52 in CNN Money's 100 best places to live. Not bad!

Hmm...that's about it. So it seems I have a lot of learning to do, as very little of this is indicative of what Oklahoma is actually like. I'll keep you posted.