Yes, I know, that's not a surprise to any of you who know me well. But I've never had to be any other way. As a single career gal, it's how it happens
I do what I want when I want, how I want. I never have to consider others. I always get my way.
If I have extra pay at the end of the month, I decide how I want to spend it. Vacation? Savings account? New shoes? It affects no one.
Want to buy a house? Done.
Want to sell a house and move to africa? Done.
Want to eat cookie dogh for dinner? Done.
I call the shots.
No crying babies wake me up, no one needs braces, no one tries to take the remote from me.
Now I know some of you marrieds and mommies are reading this jealously. But let me tell you something. For about 5 months, I've been wondering if this is healthy for me.
Yes, I know it would be torture to have to not have things my way. I would have a temper tantrumn. But in the end it might be good for me.
It might be good for someone to say to me, "No, you can't have your way."
(I know, I can't beleive I'm saying it either.) It might be good for someone to say, "Regardless of the fact that you're tired, you can't eat microwave popcorn for dinner. Go and make a proper meal."
Is this what happens when you are in your 30's? Is this "Maturity?" You start thinking crazy thoughts like this?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Crappy Birthday to you!
Birthdays should not be allowed on Mondays.
They're just doomed from the start.
But reguardless, thank you to all of you who sent e-cards, presents, pictures, emails and general well-wishes. It helped to brighten my special day.
They're just doomed from the start.
But reguardless, thank you to all of you who sent e-cards, presents, pictures, emails and general well-wishes. It helped to brighten my special day.
Friday, July 25, 2008
just a thought!
Okay, this is what I've been thinking...please extend to me the umbrella of mercy, but it makes since to me.
Okay, can a person, like a celebrity, patent a baby? Like, the parents are the creator of that thing, so can they patent it?
Let me explain. With all the celebrity babies, the paparazzi are crazy and break into their houses and stuff just to get pictures. Then they sell it and the magazine that buys it makes a fortune because they are the first ones to have them.
But if a baby was patented, then any unconsented publication of the name or image could result in a lawsuit. Maybe the magazines would be less apt to publish a photo that they knew would cost them in the end.
If you are a celebrity you know you will be photographed and such, it just comes with the territory. But babies are innocent and should be left alone without the parent's consent.
So is that totally crazy?
Christmas in July!
Okay, I know it's cliche, but it really is the coolest way to celebrate Christmas.
Ben and Susan Rodgers,(shown above) our directors of Children's Cup threw a great party last weekend. It was the real deal complete with turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, a tree, decorations, music, carols, and even some white elephant presants.
With our cooler winter weather, it really felt like Christmas. The coolest part was that it was in July so no one was stressed. When you celebrate Christmas in December, everyone is broke, tired, and rushing about. So if they come to a party it's only an hour or so before they rush off to another.
But In July.... there's no headache! It's the perfect plan!
Blessings for Moneni!
If you are coming along on the St. Albans Congregational Church trip next month, be prepared! Your support and donations for the Moneni carepoint have blessed their socks off.
They now have electricity every month, and just this week have recieved their freezer!
The community memeber of our carepoint is very active in soliciting donations for the carepoint from area businesses and churches. She has arranged for the carepoint to recieve 10kg of "beef" (yes, it comes from a cow, but..... hey, who am I to judge, the kids love it.) and recently we recieved 100 chickens to slaughter. Now y'all have to understand, these children rarely eat meat. So "beef" and chicken are a huge excitement! The number of kids dishing on a "meat day" are always the highest in the month.
So the freezer will now allow us to store meat and chicken to be used at will. This is huge for them! They were all so excited. The teenage boys helped to unload and install it, and the cooks were smiling from ear to ear!
So check out the pics!
They now have electricity every month, and just this week have recieved their freezer!
The community memeber of our carepoint is very active in soliciting donations for the carepoint from area businesses and churches. She has arranged for the carepoint to recieve 10kg of "beef" (yes, it comes from a cow, but..... hey, who am I to judge, the kids love it.) and recently we recieved 100 chickens to slaughter. Now y'all have to understand, these children rarely eat meat. So "beef" and chicken are a huge excitement! The number of kids dishing on a "meat day" are always the highest in the month.
So the freezer will now allow us to store meat and chicken to be used at will. This is huge for them! They were all so excited. The teenage boys helped to unload and install it, and the cooks were smiling from ear to ear!
So check out the pics!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
New Classroom!
Our Carepoint in Mangwaneni Mbabane has their new classroom! After the months of patience, the roof is on, the walls are painted, and the kids and teachers were more than ready to move out of their cramped learning area into a new fresh class!
Sandra arranged a party to celebrate it's grand opening.
We had cookies, punch, stickers, balloons, and lots of smiling!
Check out the pics
Friday, July 18, 2008
Ready...Set...Pray
Okay, August 1, is the kick off date for 40 days of prayer.
Go to the children's cup web page, to oreder a booklet of the daily prayer needs or check back daily to see them on yor computer.
Order a few free booklets while your at it for your church or small group.
In addition let them know you are praying, and they will add your name to a very smart list on the side of the page. Hey, all the cool kids are doing it. Have you seen how many are already signed up?
C'mon, what are you waiting for?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Yeah Baby! Flint!!!
This wouldn't be so funny, except it's my home town! Well, we might be poor, fat and ignorant, but no one can accuse us of not being innovative and go-getters.
This was on Yahoo news headlines:
The Flint Journal reported Monday that nearly 400 cast iron covers and grates have been taken from streets in the past year. A cover can fetch $20 from a scrap yard but can cost the city more than $200 to replace.
Officials in neighboring Burton say they've lost about 200 covers and grates during the same period. Utilities supervisor Mike Holzer says it leaves behind holes up to 35 feet deep.
Genesee County officials say they've been able to reduce thefts of county-owned covers by outfitting them with a bolt that is turned by a wrench only they have.
This was on Yahoo news headlines:
The Flint Journal reported Monday that nearly 400 cast iron covers and grates have been taken from streets in the past year. A cover can fetch $20 from a scrap yard but can cost the city more than $200 to replace.
Officials in neighboring Burton say they've lost about 200 covers and grates during the same period. Utilities supervisor Mike Holzer says it leaves behind holes up to 35 feet deep.
Genesee County officials say they've been able to reduce thefts of county-owned covers by outfitting them with a bolt that is turned by a wrench only they have.
How did I get old?
My birthday is coming. Didn't I just have a birthday? I'm fine with getting older, I am. But it just seems like I 'm getting older faster.
Maybe I'm feeling my age. I'm starting to get fat in places that I never worried about before. And my cousins and friends who are just a bit older than me have teenagers. How did that happen?
Do you remember this scene from When Harry Met Sally? It’s how I’m feeling lately.
Sally: (hysterically crying) …and I’m gonna be 40!
Harry: When?
Sally: Someday.
Harry: In eight years.
Sally: But it’s there.
Maybe I'm feeling my age. I'm starting to get fat in places that I never worried about before. And my cousins and friends who are just a bit older than me have teenagers. How did that happen?
Do you remember this scene from When Harry Met Sally? It’s how I’m feeling lately.
Sally: (hysterically crying) …and I’m gonna be 40!
Harry: When?
Sally: Someday.
Harry: In eight years.
Sally: But it’s there.
Say what?
There are two phrases I hear often in Swaziland. The first one is, “Ahhh… I dunno… maybe…” and the second is “Let us start afresh.” They are kinda used in the following context.
The first is in a setting of extreme customer service frustration. Let’s say I was to go to the local grocery store to by a product, such as sour cream. Upon arrival I find that somehow the product is nowhere to be seen. I’m not talking about a specific brand of said product, but the entire line of product is missing. There is a huge gap of refrigeration space staring back at me because of lack of foresight in ordering. So then I would ask the nearby stock boy, “Is there no sour cream?”
To which he would respond, “Ah, no momma, it’s finished.”
Scratching my head at how and entire product could be overlooked in ordering (again this month) I would then ask, “When will there be sour cream?”
To which he will inevitably respond with a random, pull-it-out-of-your-rear guess in the first mentioned phrase, “Ah…I dunno…maybe…Tuesday.”
Now reader, there is no reason for me to believe that there will actually be sour cream on Tuesday. No manager has told him it is coming on Tuesday. There’s not a delivery truck scheduled on Tuesday. It’s only that Tuesday is the name of a day, and therefore the stock boy statistically has a 1 in 7 chance of it getting it right. (But the odds are stacked against him because he has a 6 in 7 chance in getting it wrong, which I usually discover is the case.)
The second phrase I usually hear from my teachers. I love sitting in with them as they teach and I love hearing them teaching the children scripture the most. But often as they rehearse new verses, the children confuse words, motions, or mumble as they struggle to remember how it goes. It ends up being a big jumbled, auditory mess. After struggling along, the teacher usually smiles in frustration and stops them. “Okay, okay. Let us start afresh.”
And then the children get a new start.
So what does any of this mean? Why am I telling you this?
Because, as I was reading my journal tonight, I recognized a pattern in some of my behaviors.
So often the Lord will prompt me in a direction. And not really knowing the full plan yet, I make a random guess as to what to do.
“When should I introduce this to my teachers?... When should I talk to my staff?...when should I address this issue?... Ahhhh…I dunno…maybe…” And pick any random choice hoping that my chances are at best 1 in 7.
I need to learn to wait on the Lord and listen for his perfect timing.
Like the stock boy I find that guessing gets it wrong more often than not. I can almost see the Lord throwing up his hands in frustrations as I mess it up once again.
“Okay Okay, Christy. Let us start afresh.”
Oh isn’t grace amazing? Thank you Lord for your patience in the absence of my patience.
The first is in a setting of extreme customer service frustration. Let’s say I was to go to the local grocery store to by a product, such as sour cream. Upon arrival I find that somehow the product is nowhere to be seen. I’m not talking about a specific brand of said product, but the entire line of product is missing. There is a huge gap of refrigeration space staring back at me because of lack of foresight in ordering. So then I would ask the nearby stock boy, “Is there no sour cream?”
To which he would respond, “Ah, no momma, it’s finished.”
Scratching my head at how and entire product could be overlooked in ordering (again this month) I would then ask, “When will there be sour cream?”
To which he will inevitably respond with a random, pull-it-out-of-your-rear guess in the first mentioned phrase, “Ah…I dunno…maybe…Tuesday.”
Now reader, there is no reason for me to believe that there will actually be sour cream on Tuesday. No manager has told him it is coming on Tuesday. There’s not a delivery truck scheduled on Tuesday. It’s only that Tuesday is the name of a day, and therefore the stock boy statistically has a 1 in 7 chance of it getting it right. (But the odds are stacked against him because he has a 6 in 7 chance in getting it wrong, which I usually discover is the case.)
The second phrase I usually hear from my teachers. I love sitting in with them as they teach and I love hearing them teaching the children scripture the most. But often as they rehearse new verses, the children confuse words, motions, or mumble as they struggle to remember how it goes. It ends up being a big jumbled, auditory mess. After struggling along, the teacher usually smiles in frustration and stops them. “Okay, okay. Let us start afresh.”
And then the children get a new start.
So what does any of this mean? Why am I telling you this?
Because, as I was reading my journal tonight, I recognized a pattern in some of my behaviors.
So often the Lord will prompt me in a direction. And not really knowing the full plan yet, I make a random guess as to what to do.
“When should I introduce this to my teachers?... When should I talk to my staff?...when should I address this issue?... Ahhhh…I dunno…maybe…” And pick any random choice hoping that my chances are at best 1 in 7.
I need to learn to wait on the Lord and listen for his perfect timing.
Like the stock boy I find that guessing gets it wrong more often than not. I can almost see the Lord throwing up his hands in frustrations as I mess it up once again.
“Okay Okay, Christy. Let us start afresh.”
Oh isn’t grace amazing? Thank you Lord for your patience in the absence of my patience.
Friday, July 11, 2008
my life story
I’ll admit, I suffer from delusions of grandeur.
Someday I will be someone important and recognized and they will make a movie of my life. And while I think it should be an awesome drama inspiring movie goers to follow their dreams and grab life by the horns, it will unintentionally play out as a comedy. I’d like it to star Katie Holmes, Julie Styles, or Reese Witherspoon, but it’ll more realistically star Rachel Ray.
First a scene with her father…any scene with her father is comedy worthy. Maybe the one when Rachel realizes that he has built an outhouse in the backyard,- not a real outhouse with practical purposes, but just an outhouse for decoration. He explains this as he hangs his confederate flag on it.
Or the one where she comes home from college to find that he has disposed of all the furniture in the living room, replacing it with multiple lazy-boy recliners, explaining that it will eliminate house guests who want to sleep over and over stay their welcome.
And a scene from the states where she is painting a room terra-cotta all the while her dog insists on sleeping in the most inconvenient spaces. The longer she paints, the more colorful the spots of the Dalmatian become.
There will be a scene in Swaziland where Rachel is desperately homesick, and shuffles in her too-big slippers and 40 lb robe named “old faithful” to the bathroom to get a tissue, wailing all the way in a very Lucille Ball fashion.
Another scene from the outside of the women’s toilet where viewers will only hear a sigh and “oh man,” as Rachel, realizes that in her coffee-reduced stupor she has put her panties on inside out…again.
Also, a scene where Rachel is feeling anti-social on the 4th of July and wants to spend a quiet evening at home. As she lights the braii for her own personal bbq, she inadvertently catches the bag of charcoal on fire resulting in a hilarious routine or blowing, shaking and stomping.
Perhaps an office scene where an African co-worker tries to pick her nose for her, thinking the dry skin was not actually from a healing pimple, but a “herpe.”
But of course, the movie will have a happy ending as all do…I’m just not sure what that will be yet.
Yes folks, this is my life. Very “Bridget Jones” meets “While you were sleeping.
Hope you are inspired.
Someday I will be someone important and recognized and they will make a movie of my life. And while I think it should be an awesome drama inspiring movie goers to follow their dreams and grab life by the horns, it will unintentionally play out as a comedy. I’d like it to star Katie Holmes, Julie Styles, or Reese Witherspoon, but it’ll more realistically star Rachel Ray.
First a scene with her father…any scene with her father is comedy worthy. Maybe the one when Rachel realizes that he has built an outhouse in the backyard,- not a real outhouse with practical purposes, but just an outhouse for decoration. He explains this as he hangs his confederate flag on it.
Or the one where she comes home from college to find that he has disposed of all the furniture in the living room, replacing it with multiple lazy-boy recliners, explaining that it will eliminate house guests who want to sleep over and over stay their welcome.
And a scene from the states where she is painting a room terra-cotta all the while her dog insists on sleeping in the most inconvenient spaces. The longer she paints, the more colorful the spots of the Dalmatian become.
There will be a scene in Swaziland where Rachel is desperately homesick, and shuffles in her too-big slippers and 40 lb robe named “old faithful” to the bathroom to get a tissue, wailing all the way in a very Lucille Ball fashion.
Another scene from the outside of the women’s toilet where viewers will only hear a sigh and “oh man,” as Rachel, realizes that in her coffee-reduced stupor she has put her panties on inside out…again.
Also, a scene where Rachel is feeling anti-social on the 4th of July and wants to spend a quiet evening at home. As she lights the braii for her own personal bbq, she inadvertently catches the bag of charcoal on fire resulting in a hilarious routine or blowing, shaking and stomping.
Perhaps an office scene where an African co-worker tries to pick her nose for her, thinking the dry skin was not actually from a healing pimple, but a “herpe.”
But of course, the movie will have a happy ending as all do…I’m just not sure what that will be yet.
Yes folks, this is my life. Very “Bridget Jones” meets “While you were sleeping.
Hope you are inspired.
I have quote-able friends
Strange to think that I'm at the age to have friends that say wise things.
Dr. Sarah, wrote:
"I have found that a lot of growth has to do a lot less with learning new things as with unlearning the things that were never true to begin with."
Wow.
That's profound
Dr. Sarah, wrote:
"I have found that a lot of growth has to do a lot less with learning new things as with unlearning the things that were never true to begin with."
Wow.
That's profound
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
hey did I post this before?
Okay I can't remember. So maybe you have already seen these statistics. But just like a proud mama shows her children's honor roll slips more than once I will show you the results of our latest teacher evaluations again!
Our teachers have shown a tremendous growth this term,- Praise the Lord!!!!
Here are some of the comparisons:
Last term: 1 teacher was teaching with excellence
This term: 5 teachers are teaching with excellence
Last term: 8 teachers were at 80% or higher
This term: 14 teachers are at 80% or higher (and remember we lost two of
our highest teachers.)
14 of our teachers increased their scores, (7 had their first evaluation) 2 stayed more of less the same and… well we won’t talk about the other 3.
Of those 14, the smallest amount of growth was 4%, and the highest, a whopping 31%!!!!!!!!
With clear expectations and regular evaluations, our teachers are meeting expectations and reaching their goals. Their dedication to serving the children shows.
Our teachers have shown a tremendous growth this term,- Praise the Lord!!!!
Here are some of the comparisons:
Last term: 1 teacher was teaching with excellence
This term: 5 teachers are teaching with excellence
Last term: 8 teachers were at 80% or higher
This term: 14 teachers are at 80% or higher (and remember we lost two of
our highest teachers.)
14 of our teachers increased their scores, (7 had their first evaluation) 2 stayed more of less the same and… well we won’t talk about the other 3.
Of those 14, the smallest amount of growth was 4%, and the highest, a whopping 31%!!!!!!!!
With clear expectations and regular evaluations, our teachers are meeting expectations and reaching their goals. Their dedication to serving the children shows.
Christmas in July
While the team was here they bought a few products for the cooks at the carepoint: a new big metal bowl, a few knives, a peeler, a metal spoon for serving, ect.
The cooks were so excited as were the teenage boys who help them
But we inadvertantly left the prices on. They were so shocked by the super high prices and that we would spend so much money on these items. (I think the knife was $26R= $3.50 US) I just laughed to myself. Maybe they'll be sure to take care of them
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Don't drink the water!
Yes, we are cautious about the water we drink here. But now I'm more affraid than ever. There is definately something funky in the water!
1 co-worker and 5 teachers have announced their pregnancies in the last 8 days.
I'm not kidding!
I don't know what swaziland is treating their H2O with but I'm switching to bottles.
(I was thinking my new fat tummy was from too much KFC with the newhope team...now I'm wondering.)
I know the winter nights are cold here, but jeeze people, buy a blanket.
What am I suppose to do with 6 pregnant women? Being so close to my friend Lauren through her whole pregnancy has shown me a whole new side of her.
Now I'm in charge of 6 more? I'm gonna have hormones, and crying, stretchmarks all over the place!
Pray for me!
1 co-worker and 5 teachers have announced their pregnancies in the last 8 days.
I'm not kidding!
I don't know what swaziland is treating their H2O with but I'm switching to bottles.
(I was thinking my new fat tummy was from too much KFC with the newhope team...now I'm wondering.)
I know the winter nights are cold here, but jeeze people, buy a blanket.
What am I suppose to do with 6 pregnant women? Being so close to my friend Lauren through her whole pregnancy has shown me a whole new side of her.
Now I'm in charge of 6 more? I'm gonna have hormones, and crying, stretchmarks all over the place!
Pray for me!
new clothes!
Tenea brought a suitcase of little girl clothes from one of her clients. Look how cute my babies look in their new outfits!
An African Tarheel
This is imbali, a beautiful little baby I've "adopted" at my carepoint. (in my heart not in reality, y'all)
I love her
Friday, July 04, 2008
The coolest coffee house ever!
So after our sunrise safari, we stopped and had coffee and tea. Now it was no starbucks, (As molly says, "it's the best crappy coffee I've ever had!")but you will never beat the atmosphere. Sitting out in the fresh air, in the middle of the bush eating rusks, and watching the day break!
Too close for comfort...but still very cool.
Poor Marissa, she seemed to think the hood on her sweat shirt would protect her. But you can see why. This was the closest I've ever been to the animals at the game park. It was amazing!
These are actual pictures as it, no zoom lense. we were that close! You can see Joey's elbow in the picture. Yeah... that was why I shot it.
But the scariest of all beasts was the Sleeping Molly, a rarely seen sleeping teen from America, almost extinct in these parts. This picture was shot quietly, since rumor has it that the Sleeping Molly will attack and kill anything that rouses it from it's slumber.
And look at this sunset! It was amazing.
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