Croatia...

Tomorrow at 3:30 I leave for Croatia. Be back Sunday!

Missing my own party...

So Tuesday was my birthday and yesterday the Jackson's invited us all over to their place to celebrate my birthday and watch 24. Sadly, I was sick yesterday. So they had my party without me. They even sang me happy birthday. Sadly, I missed it.

Cultural Fopaux

Like the good little Slovene gift giver that I am I bought two Gerber Daisies for Naja's mom on the day of her baptism. After I gave them to her she sweetly informed me that giving flowers in even numbers, such as two's, symbolizes death. I was basically saying I want her dead. That was not what I was trying to communicate! Dang it!

Lesson Learned...

Tuesday Night- Ordered my ticket on www.cheapseats.com
Wednesday Morning- Receive an email that my request for a ticket was unable to be processed.
Wednesday Night-Order ticket again on www.cheapseats.com (price increases).
Thursday Morning-Receive an email that my request for a ticket was unable to be processed.
Thursday Night-Order ticket again on www.cheapseats.com (price increases).
Friday Morning- Receive an email that my request for a ticket was unable to be processed.

Friday Afternoon- Walk to Slovenia Travel Agency. Buy my ticket. Walk home happy.

Lesson learned. Im not a fan of www.cheapseats.com!

Slovenija...North Carolina...Portland...

I just bought my ticket to the States! In May I'll be in Portland for my friends wedding. On my way there Im going to stop in North Carolina...cause hey its on the way....and be with my friend Robyn. Slovenija...North Carolina...Portland...and back!

Dr. Seuss...

Every Tuesday my friend Naja and I get together. Sometimes we sit on my couch, drink tea, and pray together. Other times we walk to a coffee shop, sit out in the sun, and laugh and laugh and laugh. Today it was snowing. So I took out my blanket, poured us some tea, and read her the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh the Places You'll Go." It was great!

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

What the world?!

Last week it was 70 degrees and sunny. Today its 32 degrees and snowing. What the world?! I cant take this kind of inconsistancy.

Sponge Bob

So, Anna flew into the Ljubljana airport Wednesday evening. I walked to the gate to pick her up and then as she stood on the sidewalk waiting with her luggage I ran back to get the car. Now, for the past few months the key to my car hasnt been working very well. It sticks in the lock pretty bad. Its been one of those things I just havent gotten around to getting fixed. This time as I stuck my key into the car door it started sticking again. It would start to turn and then just stop. I tried over and over again but to no avail. I started to get a bit panicky. Would I have to call someone to come pick us up?? I decided to try one last time. I jammed my key into the drivers side door and turned really hard, It worked!!! I hopped in the car and began to stick my key in the ignition. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something large and yellow. Sitting on the dashboard staring back at me was a large Stuffed Sponge Bob. I sat there for a second wondering if it was some kind of joke. I dont normally carry a stuffed Sponge Bob with me. Infact, I never do. Where did it come from?? I turned around to see if there was anything else out of place and noticed small dog decals on my back window. It slowly dawned on me....I had just broken into someone elses car. This was not my car! I sat there completely frozed, I had NO idea what to do!! Then I sprung out of my seat and slammed the car door shut and began to walk away, then I realized the car door was left unlocked! I put my key into the door to lock it, but then there was that darn sticking again. It would not budge. After opening and shutting a few car doors I finally got all the car doors locked and I took off running!! Sure enough four cars down was my car. Identitical to the car I was just in but without Mr. Sponge Bob Square Pants!! What an ordeal!!

My girls...

I love em! This is at Neja and I at Naja's (middle)18th birthday party. I first met her when she was 15years old. Oh how time flies!

The Lost Daughter...

Yesterday I was in the mall with our highschool students playing a game. As I was walking amongst a sea of people I noticed a little boy. He was probably about 4 or 5years old and he was crying. Nearly screaming. I could tell he was lost and through his frantic screams he started to run. I could tell he didnt know where he was running. As he started to run I saw a woman. She was pushing her way through the people and running towards the little boy. Her son. In one quick motion she picked him up and they stood in the sea of people, arms wrapped around eachother and I heard the little boy sobbing , "Mommy Mommy Mommy" over and over again. Her little boy who once was lost, had been found.

This morning I read Luke 15 and listened to a PeterHiett sermon entitled "Lost Boys and How to Find Them". In Luke, after the son squanders all his Fathers money he comes to a realization. He has sinned against heaven and his Father. He no longer wants to be called his fathers son, but wants to be made one of his hired hands.

I have always read repentence in this place of the story. And yet the text states that the son wants to be his fathers hired servant, an employee. An employee receives nothing by grace. They earn everything. They get the boss' stuff, but not the boss. This boy is still lost. He doesnt want to be a son. He wants to be an employee. "Make me like one of his hired servants." It looks like repentence. But its evil.

So many times I come to the Father for his stuff. What he can do for me. I dont come to the Father to receive HIM.

The father saw his son. He had compassion on HIM. Threw his arms around HIM. And kissed HIM. The son's response, "Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

True Repentence. The son no longer asks to be an employee. He can only say, "Im unworthy". If I dont admit Im unworthy then I can never know grace. Because the Father in Heaven, IS grace.

I can only receive his love when I am stripped of the idea that I have earned it. I can only receive Him, when I am like that little boy that I saw in the mall yesterday. Broken. Clinging to nothing. Recognizing that I am completely and totally lost. It is then that my Father comes to me, brings me the best robes, puts a ring on my finger and sandals on my feet and gives me Himself.

Good things...

While in Rome I took a day to go visit Palentine Hill. Amazing. I sat under an olive tree and read my Bible. I stood in a field of flowers and talked to Jesus. I climbed up on some old ruins and looked out onto the whole city of Rome! The Lord spoke some good things. He's such a good God who loves to give good gifts to his children! It was just-- Good.

Nice!

Its 60 degrees and sunny today!