randomness....

Finally here is a random collection of thoughts and photos....

 

 

The dear lady who helped us in our first 2 months here.

What an amazing lady she is!!!

I miss her.

 

The first meal I made in my apartment.

It was fun to cook again...for the first few weeks.

Now I feel like I have more important things [like studying!] to do instead of cooking.

 

The other night I had just sat down to eat supper when the room filled with a lovely pink colour.

I went out onto the balcony,and the photo above is what I saw

----a complete [tho faint] rainbow!

It was a lovely reminder that God is still in control.

....I needed that reminder this week!!!

 

 

After the rain there is:

 beauty, a refreshing breeze, peace and stillness.

 

So it is after the storms in life.

Though sometimes it feels like the storms never end

and the beauty is hard to see.

{like really hard to see}

Even then, I still believe it's true.

How I can't wait for the day when God shows me the beauty from all this mess of tears and pain!!

 

 

Three years ago there was a sunset far more beautiful than this one.

It was the day my sister died.

The day God said "Bev, paint a picture in the sky for your family to see.

Let them know that one day they will be okay again.

Let them know that I will be with them during this time of grief."

 

That was three years ago this weekend.

The photo above was taken this weekend coming home from attending a funeral here in Cambodia.

Again I was reminded that God is with me in times of grief and pain.

 

Talking about grief.....

crazy things can be said when you are grieving

inconsiderate things.

{Both by the person grieving and the person "helping"...ie. the Bible story of Job & his 3 friends}

 

Please, please, please watch what you say to someone who is grieving!!!

If you haven't been in their shoes, please don't give "advice".

Just be quiet.

Listen. Just listen.

 That's the best, the most helpful thing you can do at the moment.

Otherwise, most likely, you are just adding to their grief and sorrow!!!!

 I just came across a song by a guy who obviously had experience with this:

Jason Gray's song: 'Not Right Now'

Search for it on youtube. It would be good for everyone to listen to it.

 

 

 

 The beauty of the city today was therapeutic.

Today we went on a bike ride after church.

We came upon this lovely place.

There is green grass!!!

Cute coffee shops!

A cute ice cream shop.

Nice 'fancy' restaurants

and 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurants.

A path by the [muddy] river.

 

It's called......Diamond Island.

It really does seem like a diamond here amongst the concrete, people & vehicles.

I do love this busy city

...but sometimes, it would be nice to have a moment of peace & quiet and change of scenery.

I do believe I found a place I will have to go back to often.

 

Even a horse can look nice--if it has a cute rider like this one! ;)

 

Miss J was in her glory to be on a horse!

Crazy horse-loving girl! :)

 

Some of the people I see around here a fair bit. :)

Some of the construction going on around the city.

From 7am-7pm you can usually here somebody banging around doing construction of some sort.

Normally, it doesn't bother me.

{Well, except when the workers come into the building at 7am on a Saturday morning

---singing at the top of their lungs!! Or when they are drilling on MY balcony.

Then it does kinda bother me.}

 

Chocolate Chips!!! :)

I can't believe it!!

Well, yes I can....

....some days I wonder in which direction my head has gone.

I started that last blog post so I could post this photo:

 

And I completely forgot about it--until later.

 

Now this may not look like a big deal to you

BUT IT IS TO ME!!!!!

 

Those right there are CHOCOLATE CHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chocolate chips

Chocolate chips

Is that not awesome?!!!?

 

Okay.

So it's been awhile since I've had chocolate.

Well chocolate chips---I did eat a chocolate bar a few weeks ago.

 

It's been even longer since my niece and I snuck chocolate chips out of the cupboard. :)

Or since the other nieces and nephew got their own pile of chocolate chips---just to keep their fingers out of the batter I was making. :)

....I miss my kiddos! :(

 

Anyway

That was a "bunny trail".

 

 

We found a store that sold chocolate chips here in the city!

So I bought some

And promptly came home and made this:

 

No bake energy bites

 

Yumminess!!!!!! :)

 

You don't know how special it is to eat this kind of sweets again!!!

It make me happy! :)

 

To be honest, they didn't really turn out like they did for me at home.

But every yummy crumb is enjoyed!! :)

 

My next baking project:

chocolate chip cookies

....made on my stove top.

Not sure that they will turn out.....

but once I am brave enough, I will try it.

[Actually, its more like once I am 'dying' to eat chocolate chip cookies I will attempt them.]

...I figure I can't really lose. If they burn in my wok on me, then I will just eat the cookie dough! That would be fine with me! :) :)

 

 

 





Today it rained

like A.L.O.T.!!!!!

These photos {kinda} show just how much....

 

 

In the first photo, I thought it was raining hard.

Then it starting raining even harder yet!!!

You could see the rain blowing.

[It almost looked like snow blowing during a blizzard!...No, I am not wishing for snow.

Not yet anyway! :) I am still enjoying this weather.]

 

Oh, the racket the rain made on the tin roofs!

It was like music to my ears.

I never really thought I was a big fan of rain and storms and such

but here, I find the rain so beautiful!

 

Rain brings many changes to my street....

...it creates puddles for motos to roar thru.

...it brings the little boys out--just to go running thru the puddles that quickly form on the street.

....it makes the constant, loud banging from the metal shops across the street cease to exist,

all that can be heard is the song of the rain on tin roofs.

...it makes the traffic cease. Or least it lessens the traffic on the road--here a lot of motos pull over and wait 'til the heavy rains lessen before they continue on their way.

....it creates outdoor showers from the rush of water that comes of the roofs.

...it creates nice cool air!

And......after the rain, it creates wonderful lighting to take photos in! :)

 

Thank you Jesus for the rain!

 

 

My landlord stopped by this morning with this gift of fruit his wife sent for me. How sweet! :)

The fruit is called longan.

{To be completely honest, it's not my favourite fruit here. I think it kinda tastes like cantaloupe. BUT, I will eat it!

And I may actually enjoy it, because the ones I just ate actually tasted better than last time I had some. Maybe I will acquire a taste for longans afterall! :) ....Or maybe I will end up sharing them with little Mr. B. ....because they are one of his favourite fruits....it would be a win-win for both of us! Haha :) }

 

But, I am very grateful.

They were a wonderful prop for a mini-photo shoot! :)

 

 

No, seriously I am grateful for the gift!

They were a reminded to me that God is taking care of me....

 

When my landlord stopped by, my friend was here and she talked to him about some things.

 Bless her dear heart. :) 

She is an amazing lady!

 

Above: Is the longan fruit....peeled and ready to eat!

*I will share it with you if you come visit me!*

 

 

 

Randomness follows......

 

 

These hostas were on my balcony when I got my place.

They remind me of the hostas Mom has at home.

 

 

I finished un-packing my suitcases today

and I found this in the very bottom. :)

It adds a little more 'homey' feel to my living room.

 

 

 

My friend sent me this the other day

...it makes me smile! :)

 

 

 

*Disclaimer: If I don't use proper English it is because learning a new language has messed up my head. [*note: last sentence!]

I have  bits of English and Khmer both floating around in my head, and the grammar rules for each language sometimes get mixed up. So whenever I go to say something I try to say it using as few words as possible.

 ......That's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;-)

 

the wedding is over.....

 

 

my friends had a lovely farewell party for me at the lake

complete with lots of yummy food:

[Tim Hortons coffee, amazing peanut butter brownie cake, cute drinks, butterfly gummies, chocolate]

 

 

the sunset was beautiful that night! :)

 

the goodbyes were said....

 

the bags were packed

and re-packed

 

and prayed over {that they would lose some weight! ;-) haha}

 

{Story about my bags.....most of you know how I have a hard time packing lightly.....well, my bags were overweight but I couldn't decide what to leave behind, so I just decided to go to the airport and see what would happen. The lady (nicely) said my bags were overweight and if I took out a few pounds that would be okay. So I took out my jacket (to carry--as she recommended), and took out a pair of sandals. Then another official came by and wanted to keep the line moving. So I zipped my bags shut again and the lady tagged them without another word. So all I left behind was a pair of sandals that I wasn't 100% sure I wanted anyway. :-) Thank you, Jesus!}

 

My panda bear story

[the bear pictured above]

My nephew was at the dump and brought home lots of treasures. And, being the sweetheart that he is, he wanted to give me one of his treasures. It was a great big teddy. And I had to tell him that I didn't have room in my bags to take it to Cambodia. :-(  But, bless his heart.......a few minutes later he gave me his prized treasure---a panda bear teddy that turns into a pillow. I told him that this teddy could ride on my carryon bag....and it would be my sweet reminder of him. <3

In the chaos of getting on the plane leaving Chicago somehow panda came off my bag. I was very disappointed. I even went to the bother of retracing my steps to look for him, but couldn't find him. 13 hours later as we were leaving the plane Gloria saw panda sitting on a ledge!!

Panda and I are now happily re-united! :-)

 

As we were flying the pilot came over the PA system and told us to look out the windows as it was an exceptionally clear day and you could see Dubai and the deserts of Omen. It was a beautiful sight, thousands and thousands of miles were between us but yet you could see clearly!!

 

Later you could faintly see Thailand. :) I wished so much that I could stop in there to see some friends!! ...That place definitely still has piece of my heart....

We had an overnight stay in Qatar. It was great! :) They took us across the city to a beautiful hotel...and expensive hotel--paid for by the airline. :) It was so nice to sleep on a comfy king-sized bed rather than a tiny airplane seat. And it was a great change for the kids. 

 

And then,

 

we arrived in this LOVELY place!!!! :)

 

It's good to be back. :)

 

 

It's so good to see familiar sights. The city hasn't completely changed in the time I was gone. Tuk tuk rides are still great! :) The food is just as good as I remember! :) I recognize streets and shops and can still kinda know where I am [kinda!]. 

 

Last night I got to see some dear friends that I had worked with last time I was in the city.

 Good times!

 

Memories of NYC....

I never hated cities.
But I never thought I would L.O.V.E. living in a city.
But I did.

I thought: "It's not going to be that hard leaving NYC. I was only there 6 weeks. Sure, I got close to people there, but I won't sink into some major depression because I'm leaving or anything."
Haha.
Good joke. :)

As I sat in my plane on the tarmac taking in the sights of NYC for the last time [for awhile], I realized I really did fall in love with the city! And I couldn't deceive myself any longer, I was going to miss living in the city.
But that wasn't all,
I was going to miss the people that I had spent the last 6 weeks with, WAY more than I thought!

There is something about connecting with people who have a similar vision and passion in life. Something about having been in the same places, met the same people, seen the same kinds of poverties as you, sat through the same classes as you......something about it makes you connect in way you can't with the person who hasn't been there before.

Some of the things I miss about NYC:
~the people I met there
~our discussions
~the times we would sing together....esp. the times we would go to Roosevelt Island and sing on the top of the hill---or take photos of the lovely city! ;-)
~walking everywhere
Yes, this was also one of the hardest things for me due to some annoying health issues. But some of my greatest memories were made while walking thru the city.....oh, the conversations the sidewalks could share! ;)
~ my daily evening entertainment
Pinterest. Lame jokes. Loud bursts of laughter. Interesting conversations.
Oh, I miss my dear roommates!!! :-(
~riding the subway
~sitting in classes
~Hallal carts....it's been about a week since I ate rice! I need to eat some rice again!!
~the spring flowers
.....and much more!

I've missed just living in a city.

But
good news......
in 1 day, 17 hours and 36 minutes I step on the airplane that will take me to my new 'home'
....another city!!! :)
Slightly [okay, ALOT!] different than NYC!
 But still a city!! :)

Please join me in praying....

I saw something.
I don't know what it was.
For sure....

It was 7:15 am
I was walking over to the other house for breakfast
From about a block away this is what I see.....
A guy is walking down the street
With his hoodie up
And his hands on the shoulders of a kid who is walking in front of him

They walk up to the corner
They stand and wait

A silver van pulls ups
The adult helps the kid into the van

The van immediately drives off

And the man walks off

???

I feel sick

What was that all about?
What just happened?

The first thoughts through my head
Are things that in my mind only happen in Asia....

Could it really be?

I pray not!!! :-(

I cannot get this kid out of my head
Can you join me in prayer for this situation?
And especially for the protection of the kid.

Thanks

Next stop...the big city

Well I have survived my first week in the city.

Actually, it's not like that

-I have enjoyed my first week in the city! :)

But it has been a stretching week. 

Classes--well, they don't seem that bad [after the intense medical classes I just finished!]

Outreach times---now those ARE stretching!!!  {But they are getting exciting.}

We got to go to a Khmer temple.

We talked to some Khmer people.

And they insisted that we eat Cambodian food--which was a pleasure! :)

We rode the subway.

And we walked

and we walked.....

I enjoyed the beauty of the city.

The people of various cultures.

The beautiful buildings.

The trees that are starting to blossom.

The daffadils.

And the dandelions.

God is teaching me alot. 

About what it means to have peace and quietness in my soul....even if the rest of my world is not as 'perfect' as I would like it to be.

He is trying to teach me to fully rely on Him for strength for each.

He is teaching me how to humble myself.

....and many more things....

...it's been a good week...looking forward to the rest of my time here. :)