Remembering the old days...

Remember elementry school when you put out the brown paper bag and everyone got a valentine? At the bottom of the bag would always be a bunch of the heart candies. Hmmm..... Yummy! Yesterday I noticed a bunch of candies sitting on our living room table. I was so excited because it had been a while since I had one. Now, what Id like to know is, when did conversaton heart candies start tasting like chalk? I used to really look forward to those in elementry school. And I was so excited when I picked one up yesterday....Oh to my dismay....chalk. I was so dissapointed.

Junior high + camera + downtown = something fun!

We ran around Ljubljana. Took bizarre pictures. Made strangers think we were crazy. Made fools of ourselves infront of people we do knew. Overall I think the junior high photo scavenger hunt was a hit! Click on pics to make 'em bigger...

Its BACK!

Last night Anna, Glorija and I watched American Idol narrow it down to the top 24. We already have our favorites. Among them is 28year old Chris Sligh. His goal is to make David Hasselhoff cry. He is halarious! And surprisingly an incredible singer too!! We hope he makes the final 5!

Perfect...

Jack Johnson is perfect Day Off music...

Recipe of the day...

Ok, so I really like coffee cake. Last Saturday I made the best coffee cake I have EVER had. It was incredible!! If you have a lazy morning.... make this and enjoy.



Seriously. Im not even messing around. Its amazing. Let me know how it turns out!

Breakfast Coffee Cake

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup nutlike cereal nuggets (such as Grape-Nuts, oatmeal, granola)
2 teaspoons instant espresso granules
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 7 3/4 ounces)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons cooled brewed coffee

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cereal, espresso granules, and cinnamon in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, remaining 1 cup granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add yogurt, butter, and eggs; beat with an electric mixer on low speed 1 minute or until combined. Spread half of batter into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cereal mixture; top with remaining half of batter. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean; cool in pan.

Combine powdered sugar and coffee in a small bowl; spread glaze evenly over top of cake. Cut into 12 pieces.

Day of Outreach

During my Multnomah Days we would take two days off a year and do work for people in our community. Anything from picking up trash to weeding gardens to cleaning out refrigerators. This year our church here in Ljubljana is focusing on our community. So on Saturday our youthgroup went out into Trnovo (the name of the community) and knocked on doors asking if we could do anything to help as well as picked up trash on the streets. Although people were a bit suspicious of us I think that we made a big impression on them!

Girls Night!

Friday night over 20 of us girls gathered together at Katka's place and had a VERY girly girl night! It was a lot of fun. Facial Masks, Miss Congeniality, and Chocolalte Pudding! We laughed a lot and even had some new faces join us. It was a great night.

Praying for Kamnik

Last thursday Matjea organized a prayer walk in Kamnik (a city outside of Ljubljana, where she lives). According to Matjea, Kamnik is known for it being a city where you can purchase any kind of drug that you want. It also offers no sort of recreation for young people except, bars and clubs. She challenged us to pray big and expect BIG things from our BIG God!

Cheese...

"This tastes just like ice cream...but its cheese....!"

Thanks for the quote Johnny. Im still laughing.

Just something

Meagan Jackson had a birthday yesterday. 14years old! Its hard to believe the first time I met her, she had JUST turned 11yrs old.

Im wearing my hair curly these days. Its my new phase.

My week...

On Tuesday night Anna and I ordered Chinese and watched I Love Lucy ReRuns.

Wednesday night I went to the Opera House. We saw Don Quijote, a Spanish book, put into a French Opera, with Slovene Subtitles. It was Incredible--my first opera and I loved it! Sure wish I would have paid more attention in 9th grade English Literature though...I didnt understand much of it.

Then Thursday we invited our 20year old college student neighbor over to watch the latest two American Idol episdoes. Her name is Tanja. We like being her new friends. We are all rooting for the guy whose goal is to make David Hasselhoff cry. He is halarious. I hope he wins.

That was my week...

Fun moments in Cakovec

Last friday close to 30 of us jumped into cars and drove down to Croatia. What a weekend!! Fun moments were...
Dave Patty teaching on The Roots: Prayer, Community, The Word, Holy Spirit. Worshiping together in Croatian, English and Slovene. Big talks about the Lord. Anna's and my Slovenia Group Sign. Watching every one of our students take scrupulous notes. Octoberlight and DJ from Amsterdam. Going out for pizza. Being together as a youth group!
(click on pics to make em bigger).

Snow and Czech Poetry

I woke up this morning to a white city. The snow finally arrived!

Today is my day of rest, so I sat in my favorite French Cafe, sipped a cappuccino, read poetry from a Czech poet (Daniel Raus), and listened to Jack Johnson on my ipod.

I am breathing deeply today.

searching for you is like
listening long to the sounds of silence
and all at once understanding the voice of the storm
searching for you is like
walking up the long and winding road
and all at once glimpsing the vast valley below
searching for you is like
dreaming long about a distant, majestic person
and all at once meeting him
searching for you is like looking long into the mysterious nature of things
and all at once seeing them through different eyes

Church and The Rubik's Cube

So for Christmas Anna told me that she wanted either a manorra or a rubik's cube. A bit random I thought, but I chose the rubik's cube. It was a HIT! In fact, now anytime everyone gets together, the cubes come out. Yes cubeS. Johnny went out and bought one, after becoming intrigued with Anna's. Then Gasper started bringing the one he has from home. Now it is very common to talk about technique and speed and random websites with new strategies. Yah, thats the latest thing to hit here. Yes even as I write this Anna and Johnny are sitting at our kitchen table discussing the latest moves and playing with the rubik's cube. Fascinating.

Oh, I also became a church member at Ljubljana Baptist Church. I REALLY love my church.

Highlights...

Last week was REALLY busy. A few things that I did...

• Hung out for an hour an half with my language tutor AFTER class just talking about life...
• Sat on Kristi Pattys couch and held baby Luka.
• Tried to get on a Slovene Cell Phone plan...will try again in two weeks...
• Began the visa renewal process. Stood in line with a bunch of other foreigners.
• Learned how to do a pirouette in my dance class. Or tried to learn. Its harder then you may think!!
• Gave the talk in youth group about community.
• Got the highest score in bowling! However it was at our junior high event so I was competing against 13year olds...
• Went to Catholic mass and youth group. We sang a song and did The CanCan and a Train. Me, a monk, a priest, a nun, and about 20 teenagers. Wish you could have seen it.
• Last night after church Naja and I ate bowls of cereal and watched Raise Your Voice (ANOTHER Hilary Duff movie).

Friday I go to Croatia for our Cakovec Conference!!! Cant Wait!

Jack Bauer is finally back...

Last night the group gathered at the Jacksons for chocolate cake and 4 episodes of 24, cinema style, projected on the wall.... It was intense, emotional, and at times Chloe still made us laugh. Welcome back to the world of 24!

George Clooney?

Walking back at 10pm from our meeting Anna and I saw a man in his car searching for something. We had this conversation...

Anna: Hmm.... that man looked like George Clooney. Only a bit shady.

Christina: Really? I thought he looked like one of our church elders.

My Day today....

So looking at the clock it is 5pm here, but 8am in the States...


Its so funny to me that my day is nearing an end while so many people I dearly love are just waking up and going to work or school or to wherever people go when they dont have work or school. This is what I did today in case you were curious...

8am-10:30am Prayer Meeting. Walked. It was cold...but not as cold as winter should be.
10:30-11am Hung out with Erin. Helped her with Slovene. Yah, ME help someone with Slovene!
11-1:30pm Took the bus to Obcina (Place to renew my visa). I got a seat on the bus---AND right over the heater. AND the line wasnt very long at the Obcina. I had my Harry Potter book and ipod just in case.
1:30-2:30 Lunch with Anna. Potato Soup. Perfect for chilly weather.
2:30-4pm Random office stuff that I probably should have done in the office. Oh well.
4-5pm Study Slovene.
5pm Update Blog

At 6:30pm we have a highschool meeting at David and Katka's. And that will pretty much wrap up my day.

3 words to describe me these days...
Assiduous
Expectant
Clinging (to Jesus)

Oh the picture is of Erin and I an Ikea kitchen...Im glad she is on our team!! http://www.xanga.com/erinlizzyt

If you wanna see something cool check this out. Its one of my new favorite things... http://www.pandora.com/

Hillary Duff and Popcorn

Had a junior high girls night tonight.... ate tacos, played Dance Dance Revolution, Guesstures and then watched a Hillary Duff movie. The girls loved it. And I did too.......

The Green Grocer

So yesterday as I was buying oranges I was talking with the guy that sells me fruit. We've become friends. This is how our conversation went (he has perfect English)...

Man: "So yesterday my girlfriend and I were looking at a dictionary trying to figure out what you would call me... you know, what do you call the person who sells you fruit? We found the word, "Green Grocer". Is that right?"

Me: "Um...... I dont think we usually say that.....we dont really have those type of guys in America.....

Man: "Well how would you refer to me?"

Me: "I call you, 'The Fruit Guy'"

Man: "WHAT?!! That is so gay. Dont ever say that again!!"

Me: "Ok, I wont... at least not to your face..."

I still refer to him as The Fruit Guy.

The brothers...

So they aren't twins but they kinda look like it here.... Here I am with Caleb and Jonathan on my last night in the States. I fly back tomorrow morning!!

New Years

I spent New Years with my dear friends Mike and Amber, Heidi and her boyfriend Chris. At midnight Chris proposed and she said yes! We had a blast!!

Christmas Time...

Christmas with the Family... Jonathan's big gift was a djembe. So Josh and him played together a lot on Christmas. One of my gifts was the first season of I Love Lucy. Caleb was excited to get a little taste of European Chocolate. I was so thankful to be home for the holidays. I love my family...

The Blackout...

We played games, ordered Pizza Hut, and sat by the fire.

Life...

"My Dad would get these far-off looks in his eyes and he would say 'Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan'. I just wish I'd realized at the time, he was talking about MY life" (Sandra Bullock in While you were Sleeping).

We have to put my dog, Copper to sleep. He's really sick. I sat in the rain with him for an hour and a half yesterday. He cant move. Ive never had a dog die before. I didnt realize how hard it would be.

I got in a sorta fight with my friend. I hate fights, even when they are just sorta fights. We are planning on getting together to smooth things over.

I spent the evening with Mike and Amber yesterday. I was sad so Mike let me hold his Denver Bronco's McCaffery Beanie Baby. We watched The Devil Wears Prada. That made me laugh.

Im going to my brothers in Kirkland now. We are going to bbq steak. Its just been a sad few days.

I have some nice christmas photo's though that I will post soon. Until then...

Passports and BirthCertificates

Yesterday I ran around downtown Seattle with my mom. Trying to get myself a new passport. My old one was starting to look real bad and I was getting border gaurds who were starting to glare at me. So in order to get back to Slovenija I needed to put a rush on this passport. Which meant first getting a new Birth Certificate (my original one is in Slovenija--I hope). Then having a meeting at the Passport Agency. A few hours and a hundred and fifty dollars later they told me I could pick it up tomorrow--which is today.
Amber and I finallly get to see each other today! We are having breakfast together and then she will come to Seattle with me to get my passport. I can hardly wait to spend time with her! Oh and Becky flies in today too.....not sure when I will see her but probably really soon!
Ummm and I still have a few more gifts to buy for Christmas---yikes! Well I better go get ready to go...

Portland Time...

What a whirlwind!! Here is a bit of what I did down in Portland....
Saturday Night: Met up with Heidi and Matt and Heidi's boyfriend Chris. We went downtown Portland, sat in the Heathman and listened to Jazz...oh the Portland life. I LOVE it!!
Sunday: Church. Dropped by The Pearl then over to Glenwood. The Glenwood quilters gave me a quilt!! Stood up in the service. I hate standing up. People were really sweet though. I really love that church. Went out to eat at a place on the Portland waterfront. Again, love the Portland life! It was Johnny, Melissa Jones, Aaron Lemen, Joel and Andi McMartin, and Natalie Christianson. That evening went to a party at John MacMurrays. Saw a bunch of people from Good Shepard that have come over to Slovenia on mission trips. Played a bit with John's kids...they are really cool kids.
Monday: Heidi Mae day! We had breakfast at this cute French Resteraunt. Got our nails done. Laughed a lot. Then met up with Johnny, Ryan Donovan, and Matt Baldwin. Had Thai food on 23rd in Portland. Walked up and down 23rd....its always so pretty during winter! Made Gingerbread houses with Heidi and Chris. Drank Hot Apple Cider--burned my tongue. Laughed a lot more.
Tuesday: Today. I had this video interview thing at Multnomah. I definitely should have been more prepared then I was. At the interview I ran into Sky Cady who was also being interviewed, random! After the interview sat in Starbucks and read. Hmmm White Mocha Valencia.... Had lunch with Kristin Gibb at Red Robin. Talked about how she is moving to Slovenia soon! Then headed back up to Seattle. On my way I stopped in Longview to visit my friend Paul. He's a youth pastor of over 200 highschool kids! It's so wild to see all my friends so grown up and doing so many...grown up things!
Now Im back in Seattle with my family.... yup thats whats been going on lately....

Back in the States

Ok so I arrived safetly back in Seattle. Just in time too cause the night I landed we had a HUGE wind storm. Trees were uprooted EVERYWHERE and one million people lost their electricity. I slept 11.5hrs and didnt hear a thing! However the next day--we were one of the million---my dad climbed up on our roof to fix our shingles and he fell off the ladder and broke his elbow! So my first day back I spent in Urgent Care sitting in the waiting room with my mom playing Mexican Train (If youve never played its a lot of fun!!). Today was relative day as my Grandparents came over for brunch and then this afternoon the family went down to Olympia for a big family get together. All except for Dad, he found out he probably needs surgery and so he stayed in bed today! After the family time I drove the rest of the way down to Portland where I will be for the next few days. Im staying with my dear friend Heidi Mae and will be hanging out with Matt and a few other fun friends! More to come....

Babysitting in Zagreb

Well babysitting was a blast! The first day we wanted to go explore Zagreb, but after waking up and taking the kids to school we went back to bed and slept till 11am... kids were done around 12 so that gave us just enough time to shower and jump in our car and go get em. The next day however we were a lil more on top of things. We got out, explored what we thought was the Center, but still not sure where exactly we were!! Oh I got a marriage proposal from Brenden. After talking about our 15year age difference we decided to be ring buddies! All in all it was a fun surprise trip to Zagreb!!

Zagreb

So basically this morning Anna and I packed our bags and jumped in our car for a last minute trip to Zagreb (captial of Croatia). Some JV missionary friends, the McSheffries (postmodernirish.typepad.com) needed a babysitter for their three children and Anna and I JUMPED to the rescue!

Today consisted of Pictionary Junior, a walk with all the kids and the dog, charades, grilled cheese and tomato soup, and our own private viewing of the classic Chicken Run.

Tomorrow will begin a bit earlier then usual... 6am (!!), we will take kids to school and have a few hours to ourselves to go explore Zagreb, and then pick the kids up, and begin all the fun and games again!!

We are here until Tuesday night. I have Wednesday to get ready for America. Thursday morning I fly out!

Just an ordinary day...

8am Woke up & rode my bike to the office (yes we now have an office).
10:30am Rode my bike to Naja's school. We went shopping. Then talked about our
lives while sitting on my couch. Then she went back to school.
1pm Neja dropped by and her and I went and met Nina at one of my favorite coffee
shops. Yes I know every waiter and they all know me. I accidently hit one once. He
came up behind me and I guess I assumed the worst...not really sure what I was thinking actualy. But he dropped his tray. yup, that waiter REALLY remembers me. Anyway, in the course of our conversation Nina asked if we could start a Bible Study together. I thought really hard and said, well I guess. :) Im thrilled!
3pm Came home grabbed rent money and headed back out to go the bank.
Coincidentally I ran into my landlord. He told me he's thinking about going on trip around the world. Yah, i think he is able to afford those kids of things.
5pm Made dinner. Taco Salad. Yummmy....
5:30 Walked downtown. Got on an EXTREMELY crowded bus. Rode to my dance class.
6:30 Danced. The girls that are normally there were gone. There were new girls.
And somehow Naja and I ended up in the front row....not sure how that happened.
9pm Naja's mom gave me a ride home. Checked email. Got one from my Grandpa. He was replying to my birthday wishes. Its his birthday today. He is 73years old. I
love my Grandparents.
9:30pm Updated my blog and am now thinking about getting some more
dinner....Im hungry again.

Nina and I at her Senior Prom.........Yup just a typical Tuesday!