Bonjour Belgique!

Russell and I are headed to Belgium in 2 weeks! Yeah! I am so excited and am having a hard time concentrating on anything else...however, I did find some time to blog about my excitement :)

We are leading a trip sponsored by our church to assist Belgium missionaries, Brent & Daisy Boatwright with some renovations to an old church building.

You can check out their website at, http://boatwrightsinbelgium.blogspot.com/

Russell and I are traveling with another couple to Brussels and then on to Huy (pronounced "we") where the Boatwrights live. We will spend most of the time renovating and some of the time touring, meeting the locals, and eating great food I'm sure!

We will of course take A LOT of pictures and some video and I will share it all on this blog...it is an exciting trip because it is the pioneering trip to Europe that our church is sponsoring. Most trips are sent to Africa, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic and this is the first to Europe...hopefully it will be the first of MANY :)

Europe is such an important mission field. Unlike other nations where poverty, economic downfall and opressive governments rule over the people; Europe is a very prosperous, wealthy, and educated nation where the need for God is not completely recognized. The vast majority of Europeans are either Catholic or Muslim and therefore have a difficult time understanding the gospel of grace that Jesus advocates. It is difficult for missionaries to make an impact on Europeans because they seem to have everything - why would they need God's grace?

Pray for us and be ready for an update in 3 weeks!!

Salut!

It’s Not Easy Being Green…

Beginning this month, I have made a clear and concerted effort to live more green-ly :) No, I did not watch 'An Inconvenient Truth' and become magically inspired by Al Gore's monotone voice! Instead, I feel that I have awakened to the realization that we are God’s stewards of this planet and there are a lot of simple changes we can make to preserve the planet and it’s dwindling resources.

So, here are some of the things that I have already done or would like to begin doing:

1. Eco-friendly light bulbs – they make emit a funny shade of light, but they save energy and money!


2. ANY type of paper products that I buy is made from recycled paper.


3. I will no longer use paper napkins for everyday meals…instead I have converted to cloth napkins – they create no waste and look nicer J It’s a bit of a pain to wash them and iron them after every use but a small sacrifice.


4. I am making a huge effort to keep more lights in the condo turned off and more appliances unplugged when not in use.


5. One interesting thing I discovered a couple of weeks ago was bamboo plates…they can be used in place of paper plates and when discarded they only take 3 months to biodegrade…paper plates take years apparently…WHO KNEW??!!!


6. I have completely STOPPED using bottled water and disposable coffee cups…instead I only use my SIGG bottle at work and the gym and my Starbucks coffee carafe at work for coffee, tea and cocoa J


7. Buying local and organic groceries is easy now that I shop at Trader Joe’s (from here on referred to as TJ’s)…everything we need I buy there and I make sure it is organic if possible and definitely from the USA. Organic food does not contain harmful pesticides or harsh methods of production, and buying from the USA does not impact the planet with more carbon fuel emissions. So it’s a good thing all around!


8. And finally, the newest and most difficult change I will try to make is to join the Locavore movement! I know you are asking yourself, “What in the world is a locavore??” Well, not only was it the Oxford Dictionary’s 2007 Word of the Year, but it is also the movement to eat only locally grown food. Local meaning within 100 miles of your home! Now, I am not trying to be a complete locavore because I am not sure that is even possible, but I will make an effort to buy our fruits, veggies, cheese and some meat only from Farmer’s Markets in Charlotte.
   
   
   Wish me LUCK!!

That's Some Good Readin'...

So, instead of posting book reviews here on my blog (which never really worked out the way I imagined it would!) I will now be posting them on the website, Good Reads :) My sister-in-law turned me on to this great website that allows you to share your reviews of books you have read, as well as share what you are currently reading and what you hope to read someday!
Here is the website...check it out and start reading!
www.goodreads.com

SaveDarfur.org has a post called "http://www.savedarfur.org/newsroom/clips/sudanese_pair_accused_of_war_crimes/">Sudanese Pair Accused of War Crimes." that's worth checking out...

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor in The Hague outlined what he called operational, logistical and command links between Sudan's government in Khartoum and horse-mounted nomadic militias it recruited and bankrolled to carry out mass killings in the Darfur region, and he named a member…

It is optimistic that two individuals are being examined in these atrocious crimes, but this will not stop the killing, rape and displacement to thousands of innocent people in the Darfur Region. Action needs to be taken to stop crimes against humanity. Please visit www.savedarfur.org to learn more about what you can do to help and spread the word!

Check out this AWESOME blog:

http://tryonstreetjournal.wordpress.com/

Okay, so I am a little bias...this is Russell's blog. Despite the fact that he is my husband and I think anything he does is amazing, this blog is VERY good and is widely read by WordPress readers.

So if you want some education on business happenings, investing strategies and other notable news nuggets pertaining to the economy - check it out already!!

...This will start a new post series of reviewing books I have read...


Review I: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Could not put this one down...I read the entire book in about 1 week which is something since it is over 600 pages! The way that Gregory writes deeply in to her characters minds and emotions is captivating and allows the reader to relate and care for the characters. The primary character is Mary Boleyn, younger sister (although in actuality she was probably the older sister) of the infamous Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII.









Mary Boleyn

The book is written in 3rd person and basically chronicles a sister rivalry between Mary and Anne and the overwhelming pressure they both have on their shoulders to excel their family to the throne by ANY means possible. Along with their brother George, Mary and Anne spend their days plotting, planning and placing themselves strategically in front of the king to get his attention.

Mary wins Henry VIII's attention first but through a series of brutal betrayals by her sister, she is pushed out of the way in order to let Anne Boleyn become the king's newest mistress. Once Anne is in place a whirlwind of trickery, betrayal, murder and lies ensues. Gregory makes it clear why the name Anne Boleyn is forever remembered.










Anne Boleyn

The element that makes this novel so wonderful is that Gregory is a scholar and professor of English court history and therefore peppers the pages with factual events of the time. In essence you are reading about Henry VIII history with small elements of personal drama written between the lines. The emotional journey of Mary Boleyn is partnered with historically recorded events like the plague, wars, political conflicts of the time, and most importantly, the reinvention of the Church of England and the marriage of church and state in England. The story is so compelling because it is not merely a story but also a look into the past.

One key element I also found interesting was how the women of the royal court dedicated their life to pursuing the king or one of his men of the court. Life was defined by how many suitors you could obtain and if you could ultimately become one of the king's mistresses and possibly his next wife. Obviously women in Henry VIII's court were successful since he went on to have a total of 6 wives...2 of which were beheaded!

Henry VIII


Recommendation by Caylene: Great read especially if you like historical fiction and are not offended by a few bedroom scenes. http://www.philippagregory.com/BookBoleynGirl.shtml

On Valentines Day my very sweet husband treated me to a seafood dinner that rivaled Pike Place Market freshness!

There is a new seafood restaurant in Charlotte called Oceanaire that boasts the freshest seafood you can get in Charlotte (a tough task since we are several hundred miles inland). They fly in their seafood from the coast every day and some fish don't even arrive until 7:00pm in the evening!

In all it's mouth watering detail, here is what we had:

• Steamed Mussells in butter and garlic sauce


• Boston Stuffed Flounder (stuffed with crab and brie cheese!)


• Grilled Orange Roughy


• Bleu Macaroni and Cheese


• Sweet Potato and Cranberry casserole


• and DESSERT - Warm Rhubarb Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream :)

Thank you to Russell for giving me such a treat!

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." - Mother Teresa



In the 20th century, we have known mass slaughter of human life,
displacement, starvation, and rape as a means of ethnic cleansing in Armenia, The
Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda. Now in South Sudan and in Darfur, hundreds of
lives have been lost in the 21st century.

Please visit www.savedarfur.org to support helpless men, women and children who are suffocating in the grip of prejudice.

“I want to join my prayers to many other voices. Every
few months we are driven away from one refugee camp
to the other, so far in the desert where nothing, nothing
at all exists. This is no way for a human being to live.
No way to live in such a shocking place – uncultivated,
waterless, treeless and barren region...! Everything is
burning, Lord, around me, around us ... in me, in us ...
Everything is barren, hell, hell...! Yet, Lord, we believe
you are there, beside us. We pray for all the Africans
living now our same condition. Bring back peace and
tranquility to our beloved country. Peace which is
desired by everybody, the old and young, rich and poor,
women and men. Amen ... amen ... Let it be so.”
—Prayer from a Darfurian Woman


For even more information on how to help those in dire situations, please take time and visit www.one.org and www.worldvision.org

Okay, I am finally adding a recipe to my blog. It was bound to happen sooner or later so I am beginning with a simple but surprisingly delicious dessert/breakfast/midnight snack. This is taken from my mom's recipe with a few small changes of my own...




Apple Crisp

Topping:

2/3 cup oatmeal
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup all purpose flour
½ tsp. cinnamon 6 tbsp slightly softened butter (diced)

Apples:

6-8 Apples (granny smiths or braeburns are the best), peeled & sliced 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
½ lemon juiced
1 tsp. cinnamon
1tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a baking dish combine apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice & sugar
In a bowl mix flour, brown sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon & butter
Crumble topping with a pastry cutter or whisk
Cover apples with topping and bake for 15-20 minutes until topping is golden

I strongly recommend enjoying this with vanilla ice cream, outdoors on a picnic blanket with someone who makes you smile...

Russell and I visited Asheville June 16th-18th and stayed on a great cabin along the French Broad River. We both attempted some fishing but the fish were as lazy about biting as we were about casting our lines. Directly across the river from our cabin was the Biltmore House property and we discussed swimming the river and raiding the mansion for loot!
The French Broad lives up to its name and broadly careens through the valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is one of the oldest rivers in the world, second only to the Nile River and the New River - which is also in North Carolina. Russell and I just canoed 10 miles of the New River about a month ago and now we can claim we have "mastered" the oldest rivers in the world!

Russell has finally started work at the investment bank after about a month and a half of restlessness, running errands for me, and relaxing! I miss him already even though I am busy at work too - but its the concept that he is no longer going to be waiting at home when I walk in the door.
I was told by the wife of an associate at the bank that I will get used to the loneliness and eventually I will fall into a routine that is only disrupted when Russell is actually home. I'll just have to take her word for it because right now it all seems strange and slightly frightening.

Remembering what its like to be a Seattlelite: (Some of my favorites from Jeff Foxworthy)

You Know You're From Seattle If...

• You know the state flower (Mildew).
• You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
• Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
• You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
• You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
• You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain.
• You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Veneto's.
• You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye Salmon.
• You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima, and Willamette.
• You consider swimming an indoor sport.
• You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food.
• In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark-while only working eight-hour days.
• You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
• You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
• You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
• You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
• You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.
• You notice, "The mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.
• You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
• You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.
• You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
• You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
• You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.
• You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.
• You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
• You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk Season (Fall).

Our new condo is finally taking shape. We have made a tradition of visiting it every Sunday - and I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. When we visit so often it seems that progress is going so slowly and its easy to grow impatient and doubt that we will be able to move in by July.

On the other hand, its hard to stay away. The excitement and intrigue of seeing our new home come together is too much for us to stay away.

Although it will be small at about 700 sqf., we are fortunate to have hardwood floors, granite countertops in the kitchen, and tile in the bathroom. Russell and I picked out all the colors, and amenities in the record time of about a half an hour.

Everyday I am so grateful, thankful, and blessed to have a husband and a best friend to share my life with. As cliche as it sounds, we really do make a great team. It is amazing how God gravitates people towards one another who are so different on the surface but share the same heart and dreams. How would I have ever found someone who is strong when I am tired, who is confident when I am unsure, and who loves me even when I can't love myself? I never would have found this on my own.

And HE is before all things. and in HIM all things hold together. - Colossians 1:17

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future." - JFK

There is no question...Africa is heading for a catastrophic famine. Drought, war, poor governance and the devastation of human health because of AIDS are all to blame for the food crisis.

All this is happening at this very moment yet we don't hear the stories of these men, women and children who are starving to death. What must happen before the U.S. media decides to address this issue? Will pictures more devastating than this have to appear before people begin to pay attention? I hope not...

If you are taking the time to read this, please take more time to visit these websites and help Africa:

http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/master.nsf/home

http://www.savedarfur.org/

http://www.humanrightswatch.org/

Today as I drove to work (my internship) I realized my apathy. Now I sit here wondering if its normal for a senior in college who is less than two months from donning her cap and gown to want to throw out everything that has been accomplished. I majored in journalism, secured a coveted internship at a TV station and become editor of the college newspaper and now I feel like these things mean nothing to me in the greater scheme of life.

I have childhood memories of lying stomach flat on the floor watching Katie Couric and Bryant Gumble toss witty banter back and forth through the TV and hoping someday I would be on the Today Show couch. I was probably seven years old and in my naivete thought it looked glamorous and fun to host a morning news talk show. Once the awful years of junior high turned into highschool, being a journalist meant public service. I really bought in to the idea that the media is the "fourth estate" that I could become a "watchdog" for all things that go against integrity and goodwill.
Now that I've been in college for the past 3 years I've charged ahead with a one-track mind of becoming an aggressive journalist. To me, being a journalist and being a humanitarian have always gone hand in hand. Journalists do what they do to effect the greatest number of people in the best possible way, right?

I'm not so sure anymore. Don't get me wrong - there are great outlets like PBS's Frontline, NPR, the BBC and others. But those outlets are the forgotten entity of the media today. Flip on American TV and you can find hours and hours of local news, network news and cable news that are largely filled with shock-and-awe crime stories, yawningly long accounts of doppler weather and never ending analyzations of Michael Jackson's secret life, runaway brides and Brangelina.

How many Americans have actually heard of a place called Darfur where far too many people are being killed for reasons that suburban America will never understand? Or how about the ethnic tensions that have been going on in eastern Europe for longer than I've been alive (FYI 23 years)? Not to mention the horrendous slave trades throughout the world that continue unnoticed to western eyes.

Enough for now. But can anyone understand my sudden disillusion with the "fourth estate"?

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished"
- Lao Tzu

I often look at this picture taken among the Cascade Mountains in Washington and remember to slow down and smile...
The snow covering the ground is a chilly blue but the promise of sun is on the horizon. The powdered trees and hibernating grass don't doubt the unfailing sunrise - so why should I doubt that life will go on as it always has?