25 Bucket List #4

Sporting KC

Sherlynn and I had a really rough week last week. Lots of tears. Lots of goodbyes. We needed something to look forward to and we needed to get out of Emporia, even for just a little bit. We needed a breath of fresh air and something to clear our heads and take our minds off of things (temporarily). I suggested we go see a Sporting KC game. I've been wanting to go for a long time. Was it on our bucket list? As soon as I bought the tickets it was! :) 

Just like the classic Oklahoma song, we were off to Kansas City on a Friday. The game wasn't until 7:30, but we decided to drive up early to do some shopping at Legends. Well, anyone who knows me very well, knows that getting lost turned around at least once on a trip (even if I've been there before) is a guarantee. Friday was no exception. Even with a high-tech GPS and Siri on my phone, the phone still seems to give me wrong directions! 

BUT, we made it! And with just enough time to grab something to eat. 

I was SO EXCITED!!! 

 I know, I know, I'm not wearing a Sporting jersey, but I don't have one. (It's on my list to buy!) I figured, wearing a Barcelona jersey (specifically Messi) is appropriate in any situations and at all times! :)

I even convinced Sherlynn to get in the picture with me!

Someone walking by muttered to his friends, "You'd think they're tourists or something." 

I was a little offended. The dude simply did not understand that I needed to document this for my blog.

I told Sherlynn I should just start speaking French and then they'd really think we were not from around there.

We had great seats.

Did I mention we were excited??? 

They are the defending MLS champs, after all. 

 Joel, did you know there's a Frenchman on the team?

 Igor just had to tie his shoe just as I snapped the picture. Come on son!

Joel, I think you look like the guy in the above picture.

I realize most of you are not super interested in the multitude of pictures I took, but Ando wanted to see each one, right?! 

The game ended 2-2, but it was exciting with injuries, penalty kicks, red cards, yellow cards, and the nonstop commentary from this one boy sitting on the other side of Sherlynn who thought he knew everything about soccer. 

We didn't get home until really late. I'm just as bad of a navigator as I am a driver if that tells you anything. Poor Sherlynn. She volunteered to drive home and my job was to keep her awake. About 30 minutes in, I was asleep. But I did wake up occasionally to ask if she was still awake! I do what I can. 

There is no home on earth for me.

I stumbled across this picture yesterday while I was packing and nearly started crying. 

(But I'm always crying, so what's new!)

For eight years, this place was home. 

I entered this house as a third grader, left as an 11th grader. 

I've been back once, but the gates were locked and the walls rebuilt.

I'm used to moving--every 3 or 4 years our family would move. 

It wasn't always to a new place, but it was always a transition nonetheless. 

The biggest move of my life was on June 28, 2005.

Next Saturday, not quite 9 years later, I'm moving again.

Not across the ocean or even across the country--just across town.

I've moved several times since 2005, so why does this time seem so difficult?

A couple of years ago I wrote a story for my Dad about a little girl who was uprooted from her home and forced to re-plant her roots somewhere else. 

(If you want a copy let me know!)

My question is this: will there come a time when after being transplanted so many times, the root, so torn, so broken, so hurt, can no longer grow ?

All my life, I have watched friends come and go. 

Sometimes they were the ones leaving, sometimes it was me.

Sometimes the leaving was for a year, sometimes for good.

For the last four months, I have watched my roommates and dear friends, one by one, head out the door.

First there were five, then four, then three, we are down to two, and next week there will be just one. Me.

All of a sudden, my world is stripped of all familiarity and comfort.

I had built a home out of my friends. 

Now, my home seems taken from me.

I feel abandoned,

alone,

confused,

and always restless...

like I never really belong anywhere.

Then I turn to Psalm 62. 

My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah.

(verses 5-8)

Daily, I cling to these Truths.

How I long for my heavenly home where all will be at rest.

My mom sent me this quote yesterday and it fits perfectly. The author is unknown. 

"You will never be completely at home again because part of your heart will always be elsewhere.  That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place."

I didn't write this for you to feel sorry for me or to seem ultra dramatic and melancholy. I wrote it because I know there are many people out there who need to cling to the truths in Psalm 62 just as much as I do.

How thankful I am for the One who never changes. 

He is ever-faithful, always constant, always true. 

He is by my side; He will see me through.

In HIM I find my home.

25 Bucket List #3

Panaderia Marmol 

(I apologize for the accents I'm missing.)

Several weeks ago, Sherlynn and I decided it was time to accomplish another 25 Bucket List item. We've been wanting to eat at this little restaurant for a long time and one fine spring evening, we decided to go. We ran there with empty stomachs and walked back very full, but very satisfied. I told Sherlynn as we approached the place that she was going to have to do all the talking as my Spanish is sometimes hard to understand with my thick French accent! :)

I was SO excited to drink a bottled coke again. It was massive--about 3 times the size of the bottled cokes in Africa, but boy, did it taste good.

The food was scrumptious, as well. I highly recommend the place. I think most people take the food as carry-out, but it was nice to sit for a while and visit. The restaurant reminded me of some of the places where we would eat back in Ouaga or Niamey.

Want to join us on our next 25 Bucket List adventure?

4:30 Donuts

25 Bucket List #2

On our run a week ago Monday, we passed by the donut shop that is a couple of blocks from our house. I told Sherlynn one day before we move we needed to go get donuts there early in the morning. In fact, why not add it to our bucket list? So, we did! And we went...the very next morning. Our goal was to arrive at the donut shop shortly after it opened, which was at 4:00 AM! We woke up a little before 4:30 and headed out into the chilly darkness.

Thoughts running through my mind as we headed out the door: "This is stupid." "I want donuts." "Donuts are full of calories." "I still want donuts." "I'm so cold." "It's okay, we're getting donuts!" "Donuts!!!" "Who does things like this?" 

Pastor Dave, when you said one of the blessings of being single was being able to do things married people can't, is this what you had in mind?! :)

We brought the donuts back and ate them with some nice strong and much-needed coffee. 

Peanut-butter chocolate donut with nuts! Yummh!

When you usually get up at 5:00, 4:30 really isn't that much earlier! 

25 Bucket List

Sherlynn and I both turn 25 this year. (Sherlynn already has and I have 5 weeks to go!) We decided to create a Bucket List of 25 crazy/random things we wanted to do together this year. Not only would it create fun and exciting opportunities to make memories (quality cousin time), but it would also give me some great topics to blog about! 

Here's #1: New Piercings!

(Now, don't worry mom, we didn't get too crazy with this.) We decided our shopping excursion at the Mall of America in Minneapolis would be the perfect place to carry this out! We looked for a Claire's at the mall, but there was none listed on the mall map. Weird. However, there was a place called Piercing Pagoda. When I read the name, I envisioned a dark sketchy place with the worker wearing all black and sporting numerous piercings all over her body. I was pleasantly surprised.

I went first. I was twelve when I first got my ears pierced. I knew it wouldn't hurt, but it still took a little while before I worked up the courage to actually go through with it.

Look! 

There it is! 

Don't worry--I have one on the other side, too! 

After I got my ears double-pierced, Sherlynn decided she wasn't sure she wanted another piercing. (Really??? ) Her ears were already double-pierced, so it would mean getting a third earring. 

We walked around the mall for about another hour and lo and behold, we stumbled upon a Claire's. Whaaat?!?!?! Sherlynn decided she would get her piercing here.

Isn't she simply beautiful? (Her first earring isn't in, so that's why it only looks like she has 2 piercings.)

How cool to say we got our ears pierced at the Mall of America! :) 

Say hello to the 25 Bucket List and get excited to see what we're going to do next! 

(Dad, you getting nervous?!)

Spring Break Has Come and Gone

It's been about 2 1/2 months since my last post. After writing about giraffes and posting pictures of hippos, Emporia, Kansas, just didn't seem to have much to compete with. 

BUT, two weeks ago was spring break and I thought I'd share some of the highlights. 

The biggest highlight was taking the annual road trip with Sherlynn to visit Andrew in Minnesota. We love road trips and we have made this trip together several times. This time, due to a friend's wedding, we didn't get on the road until about 4 PM. (The drive is 8.5-9 hrs.) Yikes!!! 

We were so excited to get on the road.

By the time we got to Des Moines, we needed some coffee to help keep our eyes open. I was entering my over-tiredness stage and Sherlynn was taking her turn at the wheel. 

Spending time in the Twin Cities is always a blast. Our trips always include several things:

1. Quality Brother time.

2. Playing lots of board games with the Putnams--our Minnesota family. (The Settlers of Catan is our favorite.) 

Sadly, I have no pictures. I was too busy winning!!!!!!!  :)

3. Caribou Coffee. Lots of Caribou Coffee. In my opinion it is far superior to Starbucks. Plus, I think the little moose/reindeer on the napkins and cups are so cute!!!

Our car smelled like coffee the whole way home!

4. Shopping. This time we went to the Mall of America. We didn't buy anything except food. Ha! Priorities, right? 

5. Meeting up with an old (as in life-long, not age) missionary kid friend, LindsEy. Our visit was such an encouragement to me.

Of course, almost every time we're up there it snows. But when you have a warm fire inside and great company, there's no reason to complain. Sherlynn and I are already looking forward to our next visit. Nothing creates memories with your roommate/cousin (coumate? rousin?) like 9 hours in the car!!!

Dad, look! This picture was taken especially for you! Sherlynn and I ate them in your honor! :)

The second part of spring break was spent relaxing in mi casa, finishing Jane Eyre, hanging out with friends, baking, etc. 

I got to spend one afternoon with these cute kiddos and their mom! We went on a long walk in the warm spring sunshine.

Then we drove to Braums for ice-cream to celebrate it being the first day of spring......and because I was craving ice-cream!

I played tennis and went on a couple of runs with Brittany. After one of our runs, we made brunch: waffles, eggs, and bacon!

All in all, a great spring break.