an American salad

Before I begin, let me first say a few things:
1. I have NOT turned into a food blogger.
2. I am experimenting with my new camera.
3. I admit, it is a bit remarkably sad that as of late, the most exciting things to take pictures of have been food.
4. I do find my job and the students I teach exciting, but I have vowed not to, for lack of a better (or real) word, "media-fy" them.
5. I did watch Ironman last night in preparation for the grand release of #3, but no pictures were captured in the process.

Alright, let's begin.

I really don't have much to say except that today I decided to rejoice in the fact that I have good fresh lettuce in my fridge. Last year at this time, I was teaching in Niger and if I wanted a fresh salad, I had to go to the American Rec Center. (By the way, I really miss their dressing and baguette.) Instead of complaining about the lack of food in my fridge (time to go shopping again), I decided to be thankful for a fresh commodity that is so rare in many places for many people. So I fried up some wonderful "real" chicken, (another longed-for food that was hard to find in West Africa) and made myself an American salad--complete with cheddar cheese (for you, Melissa!).

It was scrumptious!

Here's a look.

Homemade Smoothies are the BEST!

Today was not a good day to make a homemade smoothie; rainy, exorbitantly windy, cold--hot chocolate would have seemed like a more logical alternative. And yet, once the fruit, Nido milk powder (you can take the TCK out of Africa, but you can't take the Africa out of the TCK), water, and ice were blended together, I knew I had made the right choice. Yummh! 

Added bonus--here you don't have to drink the smoothie in haste in order to down it before it melts. It's the little things!

Where is Home?

Where is Home?
Home is a house...
...but I live in a rental.

Where is Home?
Home is family...
...but my family is on 3 different continents. 

Where is Home?
Home is where your heart is...
...but my heart does not know where it belongs.

Where is Home?
Home is not here...
...but it is not there.
 
Where is Home?
I am not Home...
...but one day I will be.

Where is Home?
Home is with my Father...
...in His House...
...because my heart belongs to His Son...
...who lives in Heaven.

Being a TCK makes me HOMEsick often. 
One day, all of the cultures within me will be perfectly balanced and unified in a way that brings the utmost glory to His Precious Name.
One day, I will be home, will never leave home, and will never lose home.

I am thankful for a restless heart. 
A heart without an earthly home. 
A heart that yearns for Heaven.

John 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledge that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

This song is rather old school, but I like the words.

Shorty's 21st Birthday!

Last Sunday was Easter; my favorite Christian holiday--or tied for first anyway. Sunday was also my little sister's 21st birthday. 

Erika and I are three years apart and growing up we were always the best of friends. I was looking through a scrapbook she made me for my high school graduation and came across this quote: "A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." So true. 

We had a blast celebrating her birthday last weekend. The festivities started at my Aunt Terry's with a delicious homemade meal. Erika requested stir-fry, which turned out marvelously! (Thanks, Danae!) It was fun to eat together with family.

Of course there were candles for her favorite lemon-meringue pie. 

I think only she and Uncle Gordon ate some. 

 Kyle did the honor of lighting the candles. They were a bit tricky!

The rest of the evening was spent playing Scattegories, doing (free!) laundry, and watching a movie. Sunday morning, we got all spiffed up, took some pictures, and headed for an Easter service in Emporia. 

 Our wonderful Uncle G.A.!

We love him.

The service was wonderful, and A. Terry had generously packed us an Easter feast to enjoy in Empo-town. 

After lunch, I had a surprise planned for Shorty. 

Since it was her 21st birthday, I came up with 21 clues that would lead her to different places in Emporia. 

It was a BEAUTIFUL day to be outside. 

Yes, I made her wear a birthday crown everywhere she went! 

I'm that kind of sister!

She was super excited for her first clue. 

The clue led to the Granada Theatre downtown. 

Sadly, it was closed so we couldn't go in and look around.

This was the next clue: "I'll keep you young forever, if you just believe, my shadow I never seem to retrieve." 

Any ideas? 

Peter Pan Park!

Next clue: "I swoop, I fly, my home is the sky; 'Let freedom ring' is my cry." 

"I am old and falling down, but you don't have to go to London to see me." 

An old bridge was another stop.

Of course, an Emporia scavenger hunt would not be complete without a stop at our zoo! :)

Another Clue: "When you were young, I was your favorite book; I'm rather small, but come take a look!" 

Erika's favorite childhood book: The Little Red Caboose. 

There's a miniature train in another park that you can ride sometimes.

 "I fly like a bird and sting like a bee; come to a game and you might meet me."

 Erika on the ESU campus with Corky!

Only a few people will get this clue: "Only the best kind of people have my name; bring a frisbee and we'll play a game!" 

Dad, that one was especially for you!

 It took a little bit for Erika to figure this one out: "I may appear weird at first glance, 'as cold as stone' is my stance."  

In Emporia, we have these interesting/weird statues of significant people in Emporia's history. 

Or at least, that's who I think they are.

We were so tired after the first 10 clues or so that we decided to just read the rest! Final stop: some birthday ice-cream at Braums. 

What a fun day! 

I was so happy to be able to celebrate with my little sister. 

No matter where I am, being with family always feels a little bit like home.