snow, and other random things

sometimes when i brush my teeth, i don't want to eat anything.
i love the flavour of my toothpaste that much.
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my back is slowly feeling better each day. enough that i haven't taken a pain killer since tuesday night.
please be praying for me. i still feel a lot of pain, and fear; but its better. in fact, i woke today and my first thoughts were not "pain" but "too soon!" hahahaha PROGRESS, people! i love it! *silly smile*
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last night i was informed i'll be in charge of "special music" this sunday. i'll write more on that tomorrow...or not. terribly excited and achingly nervous.
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i put a bid in for 5 world cup games, and all were denied! what the heck, FIFA?! FOR REAL! i'm so sad, i can only get mad to hide the sadness. we just bid on different games, i guess though that just being here is cool enough.
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if you care about youth/work with youth/have a brain you should watch these three short videos. i think its important to know these sort of things.
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this article broke my heart. it was in England, almost 4 years ago now, when the Lord first burdened my heart and made me realize i could work and live and minister in "western" cultures. seeing the need, being in the schools there, working, meeting people, it all played into Him opening my eyes for western people. in fact, since that point, i had planned to not go back to africa like i always planned and stay in the states, or head to western europe.
oh the irony to be in africa now!! i guess he was just opening my eyes and making me ready for whatever came.
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i remember being in 5th grade and finding out my best friends, friend, had just had an abortion. 5th grade!! it freaked me out. it still does. makes me wonder/ache for what goes on in schools today. i feel sometimes like if i had children i'd hide them away in a castle and never let them out, so they couldn't get hurt. i know thats wrong, and i know our "sin" indwells us no matter how far or where we hide. and i know we're called to be salt and light and life but i dont like that that means sometimes we'll have to go through things that are hurt and messy. i guess thats why i hurt more now for my parents than myself. i don't know how you let me go mom and dad. your parent hearts...i have no words....i'm crying again now and the boys look over and wonder what is wrong with me as they eat their breakfast... if you have kids, i hope you're praying that above all else they know Jesus and hunger for Him.....
ok, enough of this....
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yes, i read the sun and the guardian more than any US paper.
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k, back to snow...
since jan 10th i have prayed consistently every day for one thing.
i prayed for a massive snow storm at home.
in my mind, i meant december, when i come back for summer holiday.
but, i never really specified.
i just sorta assumed "winter" was over at home, since summer is
in full bloom here.
i prayed for snow because, well...i love it.
also, a bunch of my town friends think they are coming to the US
on summer holiday with me.
and more than anything, i'm desperate for them to see
snow.
real snow.
and go sledding.
and build snowman.
and create snowangels.
and shovel.
and everything else associated with the white stuff.


only, i guess i forgot to tell the Lord i wanted the storm
11 months from now. not
now.
oh well.
i'm going to have to become a bit more specific in my prayer
requests from now on!


my neighbors (thanks, jonathan!), sent me this photo of my yard and parents house. isn't it amazing? this was sent yesterday when only 8' had fallen. i've heard by the time it was done snowing 18' had come down...and then the drifting...

look at the house all dressed in white!!!

i LOVE IT!

record snow fall people. its amazing!!! i remember during the blizzard of '96 we build this MASSIVE snow tunnel and igloo system. we even made channel 8 news. it was so cool. joey was just a baby, but dad, abi and i, like lived outside in our snow mansion. so fun.

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i asked my friend, jeremiah, to write me a poem. he's also raising funds working with youth in the states, and after his most recent newsletter i told him i wanted a poem. i wanted it about snow. actually, let me just share my email to him with you, because it cracks me up:   

write a pretty poem and dedicate in my name, saying something like...
"the pretty white snow and my friend bekah inspired this poem"
then preceed to show in the poem how we inspired it.
you could compare my hair color to the snow, or something else...."

just ideas, no pressure ;)

i'm speechless, miah! seriously, it's lovely. i guess, i better hold up to my end of the deal, huh? 

jeremiah and i became friends when he played laurie in little women. we bonded because i was in charge of miah's hair and make-up for the show. i'd make him read me books, or sing me songs while i tried to hide his microphone and to get his mascara on. helping direct and manage the stage, call the cues...ah, that was a sweet time for me. so healing and full of joy. i've been thinking lately, i could direct and manage musicals/plays like that full time. i loved it. 

(marcia, i'm just waiting for the lord to answer that prayer and we either open our own theatre or photography business, together...)

i woke to this message on my fb: "go see my xanga...peace"

i gotta admit, i wanted jeremiah to write me a poem, because he's so talented, but i didn't really think it would happen. ahhhhh! it is so good i had to share it here. i seriously have the most talented, Jesus loving friends ever. FOR REAL. i feel like i am just constantly surrounded by creativity and philosophy i can't help but love Jesus more and more and want to know him more and more... 

Thank you, miah!!! i love it, and i say it all the time, but keep writing. i love to hear what you say... and i'm still waiting for the book!

here it is: 

Innocent

pure

white

fallen

bare

delicate

untouched

if you're interested. jeremiah blogs more poetry (and thoughts/what not) here. he also explains the poem a bit too. 

if you know me at all, you know i just love a good * or addendum *smiles*

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ahhh you east coasters, enjoy your snow! i'll be swimming in approximately 20 minutes and wish with all the world to be in winter wonderland at home and not in the pool here!