Some Quality Reading

I just wanted to share a link to an excellent essay by David James Duncan that was in this year's July/August issue of Orion. I've chosen this piece as the focus of a response for my writing class, as DJD so clearly articulates many of the issues with which I've been wrestling for the past several years, issues which have bubbled up to the surface again in this first semester of grad school. Enjoy.

Insha'allah I will post again in the near future. But if I don't, know that it's because I'm frantically dog-paddling in a tsunami of end-of-the-semester research, papers, projects, readings, lesson plans, and gradings. WHOOSH, there I go! In three weeks I hope to be HOME, as in, Sioux Center, Iowa, a place I haven't seen since mid-June. But that's only if I somehow manage to survive the three weeks in the first place . . .


I must share a wonderful, quintessential Missoula moment:

Today I walked down to Bernice's Bakery to have a hot chocolate and cinnamon roll and do a little reading, and who should be there but my friend Jacob (from MESP) and his sister, and we sat and chatted for awhile, and then my friend Tim came in, so I introduced him to Jacob, since all of us know my friend Rachel (another MESPer), and it turned out that Jacob's sister knew Tim . . . Dutch bingo in Missoula! Ain't life grand. Then I walked home in the dark, invigoratingly cold evening, with snowflakes drifting down around me, glittering beneath the streetlights to create a shimmering fairy world. I love winter.

Halloween

And now, a picture from our Halloween party: me as a butterfly-fairy creature. Ethereal, aren't I? More to come . . .

Montana Gorgeousness

A few more pictures from way back over Labor Day weekend--just more Montana gorgeousness I had to share. In the top picture, Molly, me, and Christa. In the bottom picture, a view of Black Lake from above.

Time is but a river I go a fishin' in . . .

And boy is it flowing fast right now. Yeep. Can it really be November 18th? Three weeks left of classes, then one week of exams, of which I have none (woohoo!). And yet there's so much to do . . .

It's been a bit of a rough week. I had high hopes of getting a lot done, but due to some, um, emotional trauma, I ended up unable to focus on homework, so instead Teresa and I watched movies for three nights in a row. Not a particularly productive use of time, but necessary.



Despite some of the heartache, though--or perhaps through it?--God has been teaching me about forgiveness. I'd kind of forgotten about such things as forgiveness, grace, compassion. That is, I'd forgotten about them in the context of showing them to someone who hurt me. And I was reminded again this week that even when I'm not big enough or brave enough or strong enough to be gracious, to show forgiveness, that God is big enough and brave enough and strong enough in my place. And that's all I really need, isn't it? I'd forgotten what it was like to have God create that space in my heart when I wasn't capable of doing it on my own. And He did it so quickly, too--I am blessed.



I am blessed, too, by the friends I have here in Missoula. I was sitting in my writing class today, looking around at everyone, and thinking just how much I like them all. The people with whom I interact every day are wonderful and funny and kind and good; they have added a richness to my life that I haven't had in a long time. It's nice to have wonderful people nearby to complement all my friends scattered across the globe: I love you all.



Okay, when I get sappy it's definitely time to sign off. Blessings and peace to all of you, wherever you may be!

Snow!

Yes, it's snowing here in Missoula, Montana, and it's beautiful. Even if it is 5:40 p.m. and completely dark already. I woke up half an hour before my alarm this morning, and looked outside, and there was the lightest dusting on grass and trees and roofs, and I just had to be out in it, so I went for an invigorating walk. It was a lovely way to begin my day. And then I dressed up, feeling quite sexy and, of course, empowered. A good way to begin the week.


I might be going to New Orleans in January. A couple of profs from the EVST department are leading a class which focuses on environmental and social justice, and New Orleans seems to be a good place to examine both. I've signed up for the class, but I have to work out the logistics. My tuition is paid for, but I still have to get myself down there--I'm going to do my best to go, as I think it will be very worthwhile.


We have a short week this week (the first since Labor Day week!) because of Veteran's Day on Friday. Support your local veteran! Or something. It's also Teresa's birthday this weekend, so we're in the process of planning the party--or, I should say, the fiesta, since it will be Mexican-themed. Chips 'n salsa, margaritas, a piñata, strip Twister . . . oh, wait. :P We were asking for suggestions today from fellow EVSTers for fun things to do; fortunately we are under no obligation to implement any of them. Besides, we don't really have room to play Twister in our apartment. Hee.


Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!


(Okay, okay, I know it's not Christmas, but it's snowing for heaven's sake. It feels like Christmas.)

All right, all right, all right, I'm blogging!

What's a person to do when being harrassed by her sister?
I hope you're happy, Andrea!

I have half an hour before my class this evening. I hope it actually ends at 6:30 as it's supposed to, since I'm going to a play tonight at 7:30. Yay, theatre! I'm excited; I haven't been to a theatre performance since Dordt's Jubilee productions, and that's been a long time ago. The play is "Proof," a Pulitzer-prize winner about, well, math. Once I read the review I knew I had to go in honor of my dad.

I think life is simply stressful sometimes. I've been feeling overwhelmed lately--it's a constant state of being--and I'm suddenly very, very much looking forward to Christmas break. To go through a day without a list of things that need to be done! To sleep late! To read whatever and whenever I want to! I can't wait.

Today I woke up and noticed that everything seemed very frosty outside. After putting on my glasses, I realized there was snow up on the mountains, and I could see the line between snow and no snow, the line between "cold enough" and "just a tiny bit too warm" for snow. There's something so exquisite about white snow cover on brown mountains and deep-green conifers--it makes me feel as though I'm in this other, pristine, quiet world. I need to go hiking again soon.

This weekend looks to be good--we're having an EVST game night at Kylie's house--I'm going to make peanut-butter chip chocolate death cookies (I'm thinking of you, Janelley!)--and on Saturday night there's a contra dance (like square dancing but more fun, or so I'm told) to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims--and I could play touch football on Sunday morning, but I think I'll opt for church instead. Unless I go the early service . . . hmm. We'll have to see. I'm distinctly feeling the need for more exercise; if I'm not careful, I'm going to have a Wally of my own, Andrea! Would they be brothers??

All right. I hope this satisfies those of you who have been wanting me to update my blog. Please comment--I switched the settings so my blog accepts anonymous comments. Then I can get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that all my friends are staying updated on my life. :)

Love to all!