Greetings all! Glad you could join us. We hope that these questions are answered by all and spark continued conversations. Please make this your own - ask questions to the group or to specific persons as you are curious.
Ben's questions are: What are you doing this summer? Where have you been? What is a highlight and a lowlight so far? What book/s are you currently reading? What are you hoping to gain from this summer?
Ashlee's questions are: What is your favorite candy? What is your favorite dessert? If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would that be?
Ben and Ashlee will contribute answers to these questions as well in a couple of days.
Ashlee and me
Phineas at 4 minutes old
Gabriel
12 comments:
What I am doing this summer: relaxing for a month and then working at Tilikum as a day camp counselor
Where I have been: home and Eugene to visit my sis before she leaves for Australia
Highlight: I visited a cardiologist and found out they can fix my heart. I am having the procedure next week!
Lowlight: as lame as it sounds...Luke already left for Newberg and I won't see him for a few weeks
Books: devotion-The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
for fun-Suncoast Chronicles
Hoping to gain: a greater heart for children ministries and boldness to take advantage of every opportunity God places in front of me
Favorite Candy: Reese's or anything chocolate and peanut butter
Favorite dessert: anything chocolate and peanut butter :)
Anywhere in the world: Australia with my sis this summer
So, I'm at home and having a blast with my family--and also trying to wrangle down a job, hopefully an internship with some engineering experience
I have just been around the house in Irrigon, for most of the time. I did go up to Kennewick Washington with Laura my sister to perform at a Cinco de Mayo event with King's Theatre, a drama/ministry group out of the Tri-cities WA. My sister participated in some skits and a choreographed dance song to T-macs J-train--I didn't perform, but had the chance to introduce a mime called "The Redeemer" which expresses God's creation of man, his betrayal, and Christ's sacrifice, and I introduced it in Spanish! It was really fun-I just hope the audience understood it through my accent.:) I'd say that was a highlight.
I guess not having a job is sort of a lowlight, the horizon is open now for anything and I think God is going to turn my worry into wonder!
I just finished Isaiah and now getting into Jeremiah-God's redemption and love for His people is overwhelming.
This summer I hope to make new strides in operating in the confidence of being one of God's children and heirs-walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh-uncondemned, unafraid, ready for anything.
My favorite candy...skittles.
My favorite dessert, definitely Mom's trifle-layers of vanilla pudding, angel food cake, whipped cream, strawberries and kiwis. Oh boy mmmm.
I think I'd be in Irrigon because that's where my fam is.
I'm looking forward to working with you all next year!! yeee hah!
Summer: Working full time at the Blue Pepper selling artwork, hosting music groups, and making coffee, going to Hawaii to visit family, and moving.
Where: Home (aka: Salem, OR).
Highlight: One of my best friends just got engaged and is getting married next summer. They are both childhood friends and I am SO happy for them! They've been dating for 5..6 years?!
Lowlight: I'm stuck inside at work when it's sunny outside AND my niece and nephew are at my house.
Books: Umm.. I'm trying to get through Wicked. It's the prequel to the Wizard of Oz written from the Wicked Witch's perspective. I've been trying to get through it for more than 5 months and am in the second chapter.
Summer: Catching up with friends, a much needed rest, and a refocus on Christ.
Candy: Chocolate. Dark chocolate.
Dessert: Jamoca (coffee) icecream
Anywhere: With Kevin (don't groan.. I haven't seen him yet)
okay- I don't have time to answer the questions- but I thought I would copy you guys on an email I wrote to my family- I'm in India right now.
Here it is-
Hey guys,
Well, I’m in Kolkata, after a 20-hour trip that was supposed to be 12-hours. We deemed it the train ride from hell. India is the craziest place I’ve ever been- Nairobi is nothing in comparison. I don’t have much time- so I’ll fill you guys in on the highlights/lowlights-
1. I went to the Taj Mahal. It’s way cooler in person- the detail is incredible.
2. After the Taj Mahal, our insane tour guide took us to a mosque where we were surrounded by a group of people trying to sell us stuff as we walked around- it was really aggressive and a very stressful experience.
3. I touched the Ganges River. We took a boat ride down it and watched where they cremate bodies on the shore from the river.
4. Rickshaw ride through Varanasi. Very cool.
5. Two sleeper car trains- CRAZY- late trains, tons of people, sleeping eight people to a compartment- one of my friends needing to stay in our car because of a mess-up in the arrangements, so two of us sleeping in a five-foot long bunk on the train.
6. Eating lots of Indian food. Three meals a day is making me regret once saying, “I wish I could eat this for every single meal for the rest of my life.”
7. Buying a beautiful Punjabi and wearing it- I’m excited to buy a sari and a few more Punjabis!
More to come- I love you guys lots. Pray for us- India is a very hard place. I’m enjoying myself, but it’s crazy and very emotionally draining.
Love,
Janna
What are we doing this summer?
This summer Ashlee and I are gearing up to have our new cild arrive with us. She is due one month from yesterday (yipes). Other than that we don't have anything huge planned.
Where have I been?
Newberg.
Lowlight?
I honestly can't think of anything. So far it has been a decent time.
Highlight?
Every time we do something new in preparation for Phineas' birth I get pretty excited. I have many highlights.
Books?
I am rereading The Brothers Karamazov. I have been for a little while now, it isn't what I consider light reading.
I will probably reread the Harry Potter books here in the next month or so in anticipation of the seventh book's release in July.
Hoping to gain?
I want to get a better idea of what next year may look like and what it may mean to supervise purely upperclassmen. I hope we can have some good discussion this summer and get to know each other's hearts a bit more.
Candy?
Peanut Butter M&M's or Snickers
Dessert?
Cherry pie and Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby
Anywhere in the world?
New Zealand because they have the world's best fly fishing. I have a friend that went fishing in New Zealand and was catching trout on battle scene locations from Lord of the Rings, that would be cool.
Okay, I guess it's my (Ashlee's) turn!
Summer: Being pregnant, though not for much longer!! I have started having "practice" contractions as they are called, but no other signs of labor. We'll keep you posted if anything more exciting happens:)
Where I have been: Newberg and the Yamhill County Courthouse doing my service to the great state of Oregon as a potential juror. I have to say - it's been a little fun to be involved in trials. I keep waiting for the John Grisham moments (none as of yet).
Lowlight: Being pregnant (I am used to being in better control of my body. Pregnancy makes me clumsy, tired, and my mind stops functioning!!), but this isn't the worst pregnancy by far. So all in all it's not a horrible lowlight!
Highlight: Everyday we inch closer to when my mom will be coming to visit. I love having her as a guest in our home - it's so different now that I have my own kids! She is a way cool person to hang out with.
Books: I'm on the fourth Harry Potter (the Goblett of Fire) and am working my way through the series in anticipation of the seventh and final book coming out on July 21. Yep, we even have our copy reserved already!!
Hoping to gain: Another healthy child and some energy (though I may be setting my hopes a little high for the energy part).
Favorite candy: Reese Peanutbutter Cups, especially when paired with a Dr. Pepper. Mmmmmmm . . . heaven in my mouth.
Favorite dessert: Yum-yum cake (a.k.a. Better Than Sex cake or Candy Bar cake). There are so many names for it because it is that delicious.
Place in the world: on a massage table getting the world's greatest massage (anyone know where that is? I'd love for you to tell me!!)
This is Ben again. I have to write an addendum to my original post. I listed the books I am reading as The Brothers Karamazov and possibly Harry Potter. However, Dave just gave the AC's a copy of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? that I will start reading tomorrow. Exciting stuff.
Let's see what am I doing this summer, well I just spent three weeks on Juniors abroad in Italy, Austria, Germany, and France. Now I am home and looking for a job, goind to my brother's wedding which is in a week, and trying to hove some fun seeing people that I may not see for awhile or just because I am graduating and it is my last summer or something like that. Anyway I have been to 4 different countries 5 since Vatican City is whole other country, Port Orchard, PDX and I5 getting home twice. By the way Europe is incredible, Italy is gorgeous,, and the Mediteranean is amazing. Cinque Terra in Italy was by far my favorite but enough about that. My high light of the summer thus far is Europe, for the people I met, places, I saw and the opportunity. The low light of the summer right now is probably jet lag, and adjusting to this time and culture. The books I am reading well I just got back after reading Anne of Green Gables again, and The Memory Keepers Daughter on my trip, but I am starting Anne of Avonlea. I do have a book list for the summer, but I am not sure yet what I want to read. As far as what I would like to gain from this summer, right now it is just rest and energy for my last year at Fox, preperation for the plans after I graduate, whatever they are, and spend time with my family. I would love to go back to Fox ready to serve and rested from the summer so that's what I would like to gain right now. My favorite candy is peanutbutter m&ms or peanut m&ms. Favorite dessert is homemade chocolate charmers cake aka black bottom cupcakes. If I could be anywhere right now I would be back in Italy, because it was by far my favorite, especially Cinque Terra because it was breathtaking and warm. Or my second choice would be Salzburg Austria becaue the Alps are pretty freakin sweet. So yeah that's me right now adjusting and wishing I could go back, but excited for the summer!;)
What I'm doing this summer: Well, this has been the summer of traveling for me! After Juniors Abroad, I went to Spain for 4 weeks to visit my family (I'm here right now); when I get back to Oregon I'm working at a summer camp in Lincoln City for 5 weeks, and then I'm finally coming back to campus to work at the textbook annex for the remainder of the summer.
Where I've been: Everywhere in Italy, I think Florence, Cinque Terra, and Capri where my favorites; Spain, specifically Madrid, Granada, Malaga, and the island of Menorca.
Lowlight so far: well, I'm sick right now, probably from too many weeks in questionable hostels and trains...but it will pass. I also miss my friends in Newberg and my bed!
Highlight: getting to see my family for the first time since Christmas, and all the amazingness that goes along with being in Europe.
Books I'm reading: I am completely captured by all the books by Bodie and Brock Thoene, right now I'm reading Return to Zion, the third book in one of their historical fiction series. It's about the struggle for a Jewish nation right after WWII and it's just amazing!
What I'm hoping to gain from this summer: I'm experiencing a lot of things for the first time this summer, and I'm excited, and a little nervous, to see how God will stretch me as I enter into new experiences. I'm also hoping that I'll be able to see in very tangible ways how this summer is preparing me for next year.
Favorite candy:
I have a problem with being indecisive...so I'm just going to say anything with chocolate.
Favorite dessert:
Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!
Anywhere in the world:
well...my weakness lately has been missing Tyler, so although I'd never thought I would be saying this, Newberg sounds pretty good right now (he lives there...)!
What I am doing this summer: Good question. I was going to work at Tilikum, but then I quit two days ago. There are a lot of reasons- the biggest being I am exhausted after a month traveling, and I needed to reenergize this summer. Tilikum would have been very tiring. So right now, I'm staying at Alex's house in Salem with his family, and next week I'll start looking for a low-key part-time job.
Where I have been: Frankfurt airport, all over India, Paris, Frankfurt again, Portland, Newberg, Salem!
Highlight: Paris in the late spring. Okay, really, seeing Alex at the airport after a month in crazy India. It made me very happy.
Lowlight: shopping in India on the last day there. We called the place we went to "purgatory" because it was so crowded, hot, and terrible that we thought it must be some kind of punishment for past sins.
Books I'm reading: Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead." I'm going to start reading "Puddin'head Wilson" as soon as I find it- Kulpa made me a reading list for the summer.
Hoping to gain this summer: Rest and rejuvenation for next year.
Favorite candy: gummy worms. Peanut M&Ms sound good too right now.
Favorite dessert: cheesecake, raspberry fool from Rimsky's, yumminess involving peanut butter and chocolate, fresh-baked cookies with chocolate chips and nuts.. Okay, so I really like dessert. Mmm.. all that should be with coffee.
Anywhere in the world: I'm liking being here with Alex after all this traveling. If I could be anywhere else, I'd probably choose Paris, in a garden, with pain au chocolat, and Alex. Oohh.. And coffee.
I know I'm a bit late on this whole blog thing, but better late than never...
What I am doing this summer: I spent the month of May in Europe on Jrs Abroad. We went to Amsterdam, Brugge, Normandy, and Paris. It was amazing! Saw a lot of amazing art at the Rijksmuseum, the Louvre, and the Van Gogh. Did get a bit tired of museums since we went to about 10 or more. Since then I have been helping my grandma take care of my grandpa. He is in poor health and his heart is shutting down. I've been working random jobs for a temp agency. Worked at Dairygold the other week loading trucks.
Where I have been: Europe, Dallas to see Cherie, and now currently back home in Boise
Highlight: Europe and being able to spend quality time with family, friends and Cherie. Getting a new black pug puppy
Lowlight: Seeing my grandpa declining in health
Books I've been reading: the Harry Potter series. Cherie got me hooked so I am reading the Order of the Phoenix right now, anxiously waiting to see the movie! Also a book on a character study of Joseph
Hoping to gain this summer: A better understanding of who I am and what I want to do in my life. Having a open heart to where God wants me to be.
Fav candy: lifesaver gummies, starburst, and heath bar
Fav. desert: strawberry shortcake
Anywhere in the world: Helping with the youth in Africa
Congrats on your new baby! I can't believe we'll be seeing eachother in less than a month! God bless!
Hey peeps! Sorry it took me so long to figure this blog thingy out, but here I am, we can all have lots of fellowship now!
This summer, now that it's winding down, has been good. I went on juniors abroad, and it was amazing, Shea knows all about it, we tore up Europe together. Since then I went to Texas for a few weeks and helped some family friends on their horse ranch. After that I came back home and have been working construction. It's been good. I was planning on going back to Israel for a month, but I felt like God was calling me here to help out with my church and pursue his will more domestically.
Highlight was juniors abroad definitely.
Lowlight...haven't really had one yet...
Books I'm reading are Why Men Hate Going to Church, Knowing God, and I'm going through Genesis trying to pick out key chapters and ideas.
My favorite candy is snickers, favorite dessert is german chocolate cake, and if I could be anywhere in the world, it would be back in Florence, Italy.
I can't wait to see everybody and start getting to know all of you better! Praying for next year
Post a Comment