lowlights and london update...

As good as my trip home was, there were some low points of the trip.

* Cancer. I found out that my grandmother, my dad's mom, has Basal Cell cancer around her eyes. It's gone pretty deep. They are having to remove her eyelid and do major reconstructive surgery. Please pray for her.
* Displaced. I felt like I was displaced for a large part of the trip. Kinda like I had been gone so long that I didn't belong anymore. And like I had changed so much so why hadn't everyone else, or why hadn't the city.
* Best friends? Not knowing if I could still call my best friend "my best friend." We hadn't really talked for a long time and I felt so far removed from her life that I wasn't sure what to call her. It was strange to go back and realize that she had been seeing someone new for 4-5 months and I didn't really know anything about him. I had known all her boyfriends from the very beginning. It was also strange to see the ways in which she changed as well over the last year. It felt to me, at times, a little bit like I was "competition" for some of her new friends that I didn't know but that had been there during these changes, had witnessed them, had walked her through them, and already knew Jack. It seemed to me, for a while anyway, like we were strangers becoming friends. It was a hard place for me. But I feel now that we will always be friends. There's a history between us that is long and palpable like southern summer days. Comforting. Familiar. Sweet.
* Commercialism. I was overwhelmed almost instantly with the amount of commercialism and materialism that is on display there. That is the one thing that puts me off about moving back. I live now in a place that is so simple, so laid back. It's a place that seems far removed from the American Dream and society's scramble to achieve it.
* Failed plans. I didn't get to see everyone that I wanted to see or do everything I wanted to do or eat everything that I wanted to eat. But everything I did get to do was all stuff I wanted to do. So I am very grateful.
* Some things never change. I went out with an old friend from high school, with whom I have a little bit of history, and realized that he hasn't really changed at all. He would be such a good guy, if only he would grow up in some ways.
* Chiefs. Yes, they did make it to the playoffs. But why did they have to lose in the first round and do it so horribly none the less. Come on! An entire first half without any first downs? What is that? That's not football; that's like summer without sunshine or life without faith! Completely hopeless!
* Leaving. I hated leaving. I was just getting used to being back home and getting used to being with old friends again. But like I said before, once I got back to Alaska and saw friends from here I was glad I came back.

And now for an update on my trip to London in April. I applied for the summit and for the scholarship last Tuesday or Wednesday. I find out if I am accepted to go to the summit sometime before this coming Tuesday. I am not sure if I find out about the scholarship at the same time or if I have to wait on that. But I am still fairly confident that I will go to the summit regardless of the scholarship if I am accepted to attend. It's kind of nerve-wracking, this waiting is. It seems like I am almost constantly checking my UAA email account. It's ridiculous! Please continue to pray. In the event that I am accepted, I already have over $100 promised to me by people willing to help me get there! And for that, I am very grateful!

going to londontown...

Hi all! My lowlights from my month-long trip home are still coming. But I have some news that I want to share with you all first...

Every once in a while I will present current events to the student body here at Alaska Christian College to raise awareness on campus. I usually will cover 2-3 topics each time, typically up-to-date information on what's happening domestically in our government and then a major social justice issue, either domestic or international. Today was one of those days. My topics were a smaller piece on the new tax cut plan that Bush is proposing in his State of the Union address tomorrow night and then a major piece on human trafficking. I have done a lot of research on human trafficking, domestic and international, and it sickens me. Some of the things that I found out while preparing for my presentation today were shocking and horrifying and gut-wrenching. I have become so intrigued by this topic lately that I have been perusing the Internet looking for articles on it and exploring organizations that work to emancipate the victims and prosecute the traffickers. It has quickly developed into a passion of mine. So much so that I am very seriously considering changing my major to Social Justice.

So, today was my first day back on the job in public relations at Kenai Peninsula College and I was telling my boss all about the presentation I was about to give. I told her what it was about and how sick I felt after reading true stories of women and children who were sold into slavery for sexual exploitation and have since been emancipated. Not even two minutes after I had finished telling her about this she receives an email from another staff member at the college. It was about an annual summit that's held every year for student leaders. The summit is called Bringing the World Home and this year's theme is Stopping Human Trafficking. She proceeds to read me the entire email explaining when it is (at the end of April, right before finals), and other details. But when she said that it was in London, UK I had pretty much given up hope that I would be there. She goes on to say that there are full and half scholarships available for the summit for which interested students can apply. I just about lost it then. She told me that if I don't apply for it then I must be out of my mind.

The timing of it all just seemed unmistakable and impossible to ignore. So I am applying for the scholarship. I am fairly confident that I will get one. But even if I don't I am thinking of raising money to go anyway. My boss said that she would help me raise money for it too in the event that I don't get a scholarship. The cost of the summit itself is 50 pounds or about $100 and, according to the website, that covers lodging, meals, a few tourist attractions, summit materials, etc... for I think 3 days. Not to mention the experience of a lifetime and hearing internationally-acclaimed speakers stand up for those that can't stand up for themselves. And, of course, my first time ever going abroad. So I just checked flights to London from Anchorage and you can fly round-trip for $460. Yes, that's right. Roundtrip for $460, Anchorage to London and back again. Granted, the price is good for flights up to March something, but my hope is that they will continue to have good deals on flights to London.

I have a birth certificate to track down and a passport to get. And an essay to write for the scholarship. I have a lot to do. I will keep you updated. And will try to get the lowlights out this week. I just thought this was a little more important and would be a little more exciting for you to read. I can't help but think that this is something I am supposed to pursue. It was like confirmation that I am on the right track. But I don't want to be misled either. Love you all. Oh... and please pray for me that doors would be opened if I am to go to this summit.

highlights...

As promised, here is a list of highlights from my month-long vacation at home. This is going to be a fairly long list so consider yourself warned.

*70 degrees! When I boarded the plane in Anchorage on December 15, it was -5; and when I landed in Kansas City on the 16th, it was 72. My dad and I headed straight to Chipotle where we ate lunch outside. It remained in the 50s, 60s, and 70s for the better part of my stay.
*Nieces and nephews, seven of them! I miss all those kids so much it hurts. I got some good cuddle time in with them.
*Secrets! I spent 5 days at my oldest sister's (Traci's) place in Topeka along with her husband and 5 kids. I had Josiah on my lap, he's the third oldest. I asked him if he wanted to hear a secret and he said that he did. I put my lips up against his ear and made kissy noises over and over again. After that, every so often he would say, "Aunt Chwis, I want to hear a secret." And I would do it all over again. Then Hannah, the second youngest started doing it too.
*Nothing! Entire days filled with doing a whole lot of it. 'nough said, I think.
*Grilled cheese! Again, I was at Traci's place and we were having grilled cheese one day at lunch. Someone asked Hannah if she wanted to know a secret and she said that she did expecting the same kissy noises. That person must have told her that her Aunt Chris loved her because she gasped out, "Aunt Chwis loves me!" Upon hearing this I said, "I sure do. I love you whole bunches!" Then Josiah said, "I love YOU, Aunt Chwis." And I said, "I love you too, Josiah." And Hannah said, "Well, I love my grilled cheese!"
*Friends! This trip I got to spend some time with two friends in particular and we went to deeper levels in both of them - had deeper conversation, a more rich time.
*A mini high school reunion! My best friend from high school is dating someone, Jack, that we went to high school with although I don't remember him at all from back then. I remember his friends but not him. Anyway, Jack's best friend is Dirk who also went to high school with us. One night while I was staying at Nida's, we made gumbo and invited Jack and Dirk over along with Rod, also from high school but 2 years ahead of us. It was fun and weird too, to sit there 12 years later with people I didn't know before and talk about common memories.
*Kansas! I discovered for the first time the grand beauty of Kansas and Missouri. I had never noticed it before. It's a quiet beauty, the kind that I can imagine Donald Miller writing about in only the way that he can, that prose of his that brings nostalgia to the surface.
*Family! I spent gobs of time with family - aunts, uncles, cousins, fiances of cousins, grandparents, parents, etc... I miss those people!
*Cats! My dad has become a cat person since I've been in Alaska. He has never, ever, ever, ever liked cats. And now he has 3! A girl named Martha Kneader, a boy named Chester, and a little girl kitten named Moo. Watching him play with those cats warmed my heart!
*Community and fellowship! Being back at my church in the communities in which I was involved before moving was so good for my heart. Fusion and The Gathering were my communities, the places I went to when I needed to be fed - Fusion for more of a social feeding and The Gathering for a spiritual nourishment.
*Surprises! The first Sunday I was in town I went to church un-announced. After the service my friend Chad Rader saw me and did a double take and reached out to hug me. He said, "Wow! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!"
*Reading! I got to read a lot while I was home. I enjoy doing this more than I enjoy watching movies even though I watch more movies than I do read books.
*Laughter! There was a whole lotta laughing going on almost the entire time.
*Sunrises on the lake! My dad lives on Tuttle Creek Lake in Manhattan, KS and the sun would rise from across the water and cast red-orange-yellow on the water in silvery paths of light.
*Sunsets behind the hills! The other direction on my dad's property is just miles and miles and miles of Kansas hill country. The sun would sink down behind them as though they were pillows and the sun was a head going down for the night.
*Time! I realized that my best friend from high school, Nida, and I still complete each other's sentences and say the same things at exactly the same time after so many years and after so many months of being separated. We've both changed so much but not as much as I'd thought after all.
*Love! While home I felt loved in a more complete way that I hadn't felt in a long, long time.
*Food! Chipotle / 1st Watch / Olive Garden / Tequila Harry's
*Dinner! This is very different than simply food. Dinner is when you gather with family or friends around a table and partake together - partaking of food and drink, and partaking of life.
*Zoo! Nida and I got to play zoo with Jack's daughter Lexi. And Jack was the gorilla and we were the cats and he was out to capture us.
*Late nights! The best conversations take place very late at night and very early in the morning. Especially with Nida and I.
*Internet free! I made a commitment that while I was on break, I was breaking from everything - blogging, emailing, myspacing, facebooking. It was nice.
*Dominoes! I learned to play dominoes while I was home. The same night as the gumbo, Dirk had brought his domino set. Jack and I whipped up on Dirk and Nida. I did well for my first time, I must say!
*Coffee shops! I frequented lots of coffee shops while home. Coffee shop convos rank right up there with late-night convos.
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat with lemon / frozen margaritas with salt / wine with dinner.
*Cheap! Everything's cheaper in the midwest. Gas was $1.95 - compared to Alaska's $2.70, that's cheap!
*Movies! Going to the movies in Kenai/Soldotna means going to a building a little bigger than a large house to see a movie on one of two or three screens. And it means hitting the theater at just the right time to see what you want to see, because due to the small amount of screens they cycle movies in and out so quickly. In Kansas, going to the movies means going to huge cineplexes where there are 30 or more screens.
*Chiefs! I got to spend time with people who actually care and make a big deal out of Chiefs games and that they made it to the playoffs, even if they did lose in the first round.
Humping and mating! I learned a lot about humping trains from Sam the humpmaster and about the mating department at Hallmark cards from Amy. It was quite educational.
*Worship! I experienced the type of worship that I had been lacking and missing. I actually felt like a vacancy in me had been filled during worship at Heartland.
*Shooting! My dad and I spent a few afternoons shooting on the beach. It just proved that a little practice does make perfect. It was fun and I did really well too!
*Sewing! I was having coffee one night with Amy and as we were leaving the coffee shop my purse strap broke completely off. A couple days later my stepmom helped me make a purse out of a pair of my dad's old overalls. I love it, it's so cute! And I have gotten a lot of compliments on it too!
*More nieces and nephews! Traci told me that she's pregnant again with number 6. And she hopes it's twins - which is actually a possibility.
*Sleep! I got to stay up really late and sleep in really late without having to be anywhere in particular unless I chose to be.
*No agendas! I got to go where I wanted, when I wanted, with whom I wanted, to do what I wanted.
*Friends! Seeing my friends in Kansas and Missouri was fantastic. It was really hard to get back on the plane to come back to Alaska. But once I got here, seeing my friends from school made it worth it.
*Pummellos! This last Sunday after church in Anchorage Tom, Jesse, Adam Wilson, Laura, Anthony, and Pastor Mancini, Ryan, and I all went to New Sagaya (an organic foods market probably similar to Whole Foods) for lunch. Tom and Jesse were breaking open a Pummello, a citrus fruit that is bigger than a grapefruit and has a soft, squishy, thick skin. They were sharing it with the rest of us because we had never heard of them, let alone tasted them, and Pastor Mancini asked, "Where do these come from?" To which Tom dead-panned, "Aisle 2."

This is but a small sampling of the highlights from my trip. I am sure I could always come up with more but they would all just mean more to me than you would understand. The common theme in all of these things is love.

i am baaaack....

Hello my faithful few Internet friends. I trust that everyone had as fantastic a holiday season as I did. If I didn't get the pleasure of seeing you in person, know that you were still with me in heart and I thought about each of you. And if I did see you, thank you for making my time at home so absolutely wonderful that it was incredibly hard to get on the plane to come back to the Great North. But of course once I arrived and saw everyone it made doing just that so worth it! The atmosphere here on campus is laid back and cool again, like it was the first week, and we are acting like we actually love each other, and I suppose we do.

I wanted to blog more regularly while at home but life kept me pretty busy and I wanted to relish it instead of feeling like I had to capture the events in a post everyday. But...! I did make a list of highlights from my trip in my journal. I will post them within the next couple days. And lowlights - there were a few- will be soon to follow that.

Just wanted you all to know that I am back - both back in Alaska and back in happy bloggerland! And I missed both!