Wow...

I'm not really updating, if anyone asks. I just wanted to share a new experience with you. I was running this morning. 6:30 a.m. Sun Rising. And the temperatures were cold enough that I needed my running jacket. And I almost needed my running tights. At the end of August! Anyone from Texas, or the south for that matter, would understand how ridiculous it is to even think about busting out a running jacket or tights as temps are still in the triple digits until at least the end of September. After all, we have two seasons: summer and August. But I guess living in the mountains is a totally different ball game. Can't say I'm sad or anything though.

Here is a picture I took with my phone (just happened to have it on me) of the lake by the house. I love the early part of the morning where mist is rising off the water, even though this picture hardly does it justice.

Tomorrow's the big day of saying goodbye to Janet and Charles. Please pray for me as I drive the car home (it didn't go so well the last time I drove home from Vienna; Charles and I had to do a Chinese fire drill because I was struggling so badly) and as Janet and Charles travel. Thanks!

And remember, you didn't read anything just now...

A Thought...

I know I said I wouldn't be updating/writing until next week some time, and that still holds true. However, on my run this morning I was praying through some issues going on here concerning someone and while hashing it out in my head and giving it to God (or at least trying to give it to God, but mostly hashing it out in my head until I remembered it doesn't have to be my burden to bare and I can't bare it alone anyway)... Ack, rabbit trails. Kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit....Aaaaah!!!!! Oy, where was I? Oh right; back to the point. So I was praying and hashing and hashing and praying and something struck me.

Almost every time I've said "I'm pretty certain I'm going to do [fill in the blank]" or "Oh, I'm pretty sure God's not calling me to do/go [fill in the blank]," God, with his wonderful sense of humor, has always worked in my heart (or brought alongside people who have slapped me upside the head and said, "Hey, dummy, what in the world?!") and I end up doing (or not doing as the case may be) the very things I said I would or wouldn't do. It happened with missions; it happened with Slovakia; it happened with my relationship; it happened with people I worked with/for; it happened with career choice and university options. It's happened with a lot of things. I realize that I too often depend on my own self reasoning and fallible, fleshly mindset to guide me in making major (and minor) decisions. Thankfully, God hasn't given up on this stubborn, independent mule and helps bring me back to focusing on Him (even after I've completely strayed and made a mess of things). So I'm praying for this person that she will surrender and let God lead rather than letting herself lead as she tries to figure out what God's calling her to do, and that she won't do something out of "necessity" because she thinks no one else will be able to do it or because it's her only option.

Please forgive my scatterbrained mutterings. Quite frankly, all of this waxed eloquent much better in my brain this morning than it's doing now in writing. But at the same time, thanks for listening.

The Long Silence

I'm sorry for not updating in a while. I got back from vacation Friday evening (which was great, by the way; although, I have decided that going to Prague four times in three years is a bit much even though I love it), and have been buried deep the in the bowels of the house cleaning, cooking, helping host, ministering, doing yard work, having meetings about what's expected over the next several months, and doing anything else that happens to come up or need to be done. This will be my life for the next week. I probably won't write again until at least next Wednesday. Sorry to do this to you, but at the moment duty calls.

The Merry Old Land of (O)Závadka

Camp's in full swing and going well. The kids/students seem to be enjoying themselves and are opening up a little more (I think) about their home lives, situations and what they're going through. Not much time to blog at the moment. Heading to the Czech Republic tomorrow night for a much needed week-long vacation; going to see Vienna, Prague, Brno, Moutnice, Česky Krumlov, and hope to visit Auschwitz and Krakow (although I think those are more pipe dreams than anything else) and anywhere else the wind takes me. I. Can't. Wait.

Ab reading to Luce

Received this picture from brother-in-law today. Lucy looks so much bigger (she's now twelve pounds last I heard) and her face is fuller; rather chubby, really. Not that that's a bad thing considering her plight upon arriving in this world! Anyway, this is really just an excuse to show off my Monkey Baby!

Futball and Football

I went down to Paseka this evening and spent about two hours playing futball (soccer) and football (American) with some of the kids/youth. We had barely started playing when Marek (on the opposing team) and I start going after the ball and he slips and slides right onto the ground which causes me to trip and fall into a straddle above his lap; we just kind of laughed it off, but it was kind of awkward too. Anyway, I'm a terrible soccer player, so I just kind of ran around and then eventually gravitated towards the goalie position 'cause no one else would step up and my team was getting slaughtered! We lost, but it was still fun. And I got a bruise on my right knee from landing on a rock while saving the ball when playing goalie. Oh yeah, war wound!

We started playing football after that. Man, there are some very talented guys in Slovakia who are just natural athletes and artists. I swear Miško could try out and play quarterback for a high school team in the States if he disciplined himself; it was amazing watching him chuck perfect spiral after perfect spiral. However, whoever taught these kids how to play American football taught them some crackhead version! The way they played was the weirdest thing I've ever seen; it was almost like a cross between footy (Australian rules football), soccer and basketball. I've decided that I will be teaching proper American football techniques over the course of the next year. But regardless, we had fun and I think we finally quit when tied 4-4. Then I just hung out talking with the kids and enjoyed their company for a while. We tend to laugh a lot when we're together trying to communicate in Slovak and English, especially when some of us don't know the other language very well at all!

They want me to come back tomorrow (Tuesday), but we'll see as we're back to the grind of working on the yard and house. But the fact that they enjoyed playing with me totally makes my day! And running around playing sports again felt so good, too. Now all I need to do is find an open basketball court!

Happy go Lucky

I had a great night tonight. I went down to Paseka, where most of our kids/youth live, and ended up spending an hour just running around with the kids, the youth and the cutest puppy named Rocky. I was chasing this little five-year-old boy around who kept running up to me saying something I couldn't understand. I'd grab him and swing him around like an airplane and watch him stagger off in dizziness. I also had a whole string of kids warming up to me and asking questions all at the same time. Of course, I couldn't keep up because they were talking so fast, but fortunately there were people who could translate for me, so I answered them as best I could. And of course I had the few parents, teens and non-gypsies who I don't think knew what to think of me. I also saw a bunch of kids from youth group/Church as well, and got to talk to some kids who I don't know as well but are related to the ones I do know. Oh man, I'm really enjoying living here and getting to know everyone here. And I hope they are enjoying getting to know me as well. I've already been dubbed "crazy," but that hasn't seem to scare anyone off (yet), so I guess that's a good thing.

Anyway, I'm going back tomorrow evening to play football (soccer) with some of the youth. I can't wait!

Puppy?

So I think I might be getting a puppy. I've got mixed feelings about this because I'm still trying to get the feelers out for how the natives are thinking/feeling.

So here's the story. Yesterday I was helping Charles clean the fireplace chimney and flu when Janet started calling from outside about a lost puppy. Naturally, we gravitated towards the front door to understand what she was going on about. Well, on the street was this tiny little puppy just sitting and crying because he was lost. Tina went and scooped him up (he was probably about the size of my goddaughter/niece when she was born, so very tiny) and brought him onto the porch. He was adorable; he's part purebred miniature cocker spaniel and part mutt. We all took turns holding, loving, and oohing and aahing over him. We even took pictures of the little guy licking my face; I was seriously trying not to get attached to him!

The natives just had to put their dog, Daisy, to sleep about a month ago, so they were determined not to get another dog. However, Janet has a severe soft spot for animals, so she starts asking me if I want a puppy. Fortunately, Charles has a voice of reason and made us realize we needed to find the pups owner, so Janet and Tina take off; Charles and I resumed our cleaning. Not two minutes later J & T have returned with not only the puppy but the mom and two other puppies! Apparently, the mom was on a neighborhood walk with them or something. So we played with them, took more pictures and then found their home.

Upon returning all the dogs, their owner asked us if we wanted one. Of course we told her we'd have to discuss it with the family, and returned home. It was kind of a topic of interest last night, but I didn't really think it was something to take to seriously considering the natives have been very firm about not wanting another dog (unless it was their daughter's) and especially not wanting another inside dog.

This morning it became a much more interesting topic of discussion as the mom dog ended walking over to our house and let me pet her (once Janet had summoned me outside) and just stared at me with her big brown eyes. Janet interpreted that to mean the mom wanted me to take her puppy, and then she (Janet, who has been praying about this apparently) finally sent me down to the house to ask questions about age, shots, who the father is, house trained, etc. The owner speaks some English, and her nephew speaks really good English (he lives in Colorado and I guess is here for the summer), so I was able to ask all sort of questions and get a little bit of information about the three puppies. I told her (the owner) which one I preferred and that I had to let her know as we're trying to get the yard fixed and put up a fence right now. She was really sweet and said come back whenever I was ready. She also said she'd be taking them to the vet for worm treatments and shots, I think.

So no official decisions have been made, but Janet and Charles have been very receptive and open to the idea of me having a dog. The puppy certainly isn't as big as I would prefer, but since it's my first dog, and he's free as far as I know, this may work out. Plus I'm really hoping that since the puppy's temperament seems really laid back and chill, and his mom is the sweetest thing ever and very obedient that he'll be a pretty easy mannered pup to raise. But again, I haven't made a final decision and the puppy's not in my possession yet, so we'll see. I'll keep you abreast of the unfolding saga (or "gaga" as my Corkins likes to call it!).