beautiful blogger?!?! what!?!

dear goodness...on december 21st i was given this:

i had to laugh.

laughing is what i do when i'm not sure what to do!

my friend, Christina, passed on this super duper award to me.

i must say i was shocked and humbled and giddy.

i'm not sure why exactly i was giddy...

but its just nice and makes me giggle.

giggle in that: "i'm so surprised and overjoyed

i'm just gonna make like a monkey and be

silly" way. Thanks, Christina!

so, in order to fulfill the requirements of this i have to share 7 random facts.

7 random facts about me.

in no particular order:

1. i graduated high school at 16 and college at 20 and took a year off in between high school and college to minister around the world. i guess you could say i was an over-achiever. but i just took a bunch of CLEP tests and a few summer and winter courses. it was really not a big deal.
2. my favorite city in the entire world is Buenos Aires, Argentina. i miss it almost every day and can not wait to some day go back there. the food, the people, the culture, the history and architecture...i love it all.
3. i took gymnastics classes for 6 years and danced for 5 (i think...maybe it was more), that and my gram's gene's have caused what every physical therapist and othropedic surgeon i've ever seen to tell me i am the most flexible person they've ever met. in fact, almost all my sports injuries were because i was to flexible i couldn't get my muscles to get in a position to stretch without breaking a bone. 
4. my great grandma babysat fidal castro, was born/raised/is Cuban, and immigrated to the US after milton hershey told her she was the best administrator he'd ever met. he literally moved her from running Hershey's Cuban operation to running his Hershey, PA operation; and that is how we came to be american. this is the ultimate trump card in any game of "my dad did this." "o yeah, well, my dad did this..." uh, nothing beats my grandma babysitting one the the World's biggest (and worst) dictators. nothing. *smiles*
5. i changed my major 6 times in college. i just loved everything and couldn't decide on only ONE thing to study. that was torture. i also changed my masters program 3 times. 3 different schools and 3 very different programs. (and i've enrolled to soon start a 4th program studying a 4th subject!) i really love learning too much...
6. i think "thats what she said" jokes are literally the funniest thing ever and sometimes i like to get together with friends and just say things that can be finished by "thats what she said" because it makes me laugh so hard. in general i just like quoting the Office. 
7. i LOVE parties! but usually only if they are "theme" parties. like an ugly sweater party. or a formal soiree party. or a dress up party. or an andy party (where you dress like a famous andy). or just my family playing games, which is a party in itself...ooo the possibilities are endless. 

i will now pass the award onto these amazing bloggers:

• Missy from The Brooks Family because she's not only a prayer partner and dear friend, but her daughters are freaking adorable, and she's hilarious. 
• Julie because her photos, outlook on life, and love for Jesus inspire and encourage me so much. 
• Jethro: a fiery servant . he is an old youth leader of mine and has played a very important role in shaping my heart for God. He and his sisters and parents loved me during the crazy junior high years and so many ideas i have on discipleship and Jesus and loving parents is from watching them. He doesn't really need this award and will laugh at it...but his blog is SO good and RIGHT on i had to share it in some format on my blog :)
• Matt: around the world with Jesus what to say? i lived with matt about 4 (or is it 5 months?) as his intern overseas. i appreciated his leadership then and his pastoral care of me now. he is one of my main sources of current cultural and christian events. (hows that alliteration!?!)

dad and brother

Edit: not sure why my fonts are all funky. no time to fix it. weird. weird. weird.
my brother and dad crack me up.
their dry humour is something that always
makes me wanna fall over.

seriously, my dad is so blunt and ridiculous if you
didn't know him you could think he mean.
but geez that man has a heart of gold.

while i was home, both dad and joey
had THE funniest status updates on fb.
i saved them as a word document for
"hard times" and though
not really struggling today like i know is possible
for this overly emotional heart,
i still wanted to laugh.
so, open the document i did!

...and, of course, i had to share!

Joe Strangarity: quote of the day from my dad (while taking down christmas decorations, which makes it even better) - i'm gonna rip your freakin brain out through your nose. hahaha

Joe Strangarity: new quote of the day from my beloved father (after I was giving him n my mom some beef about their age like all children love to do) - "We may be decrepit, but were not dead yet."

Joseph William Strangarity (dad): yea, so it's next year and I'm working again. GAG!

Dad: Merry Christmas to one and all!!! Tonight's the night for all of us kids at heart and you know who you are! Bring it on, Santa.

Dad: DING DONG, this stupid year is almost over!!! Party smarty tomorrow night all of you. I don't want this year starting off with stupidity and dealing with sadness

and i just found this yesterday...my dad had this as his status the day i left to return back here.
makes me cry every time i read it.

Joseph William Strangarity: Well, today a light goes out in America and a light goes on in South Africa.

every girl should have a father who believes in her that much.
love you, daddy!!
and because today is my mom's surgery.
here i am with these two lovies on New Years Eve.

............................
also: completely forgot that when i laugh...
 ...the boys automatically laugh too.
they are currently eating their breakfast,
hence, my "semifree-time" to blog.
and i'm re-cracking up reading these posts again
and they are laughing so hard too!
perfect even grabbed his belly like i do!
HILARIOUS!

its good to be back with these little boys.
i think i've hugged and kissed on them so much.
but, not enough to satisfy our three week separation.
i'm excited with how much English they have
remembered.
and i'm excited about how willing they are to hug me right
back.
they are the best.

for all my apprehension and thoughts on NEVER
lasting the year...
today i'm so full of joy being in their presence, and
being silly with them (one dance party
has already ensured), and
teaching them, and
having lego wars.
ooooo i do really love them.

and that my friends is the grace of God in my life.
every evening thinking i'll never be excited
to teach or create another lesson
and every morning waking to find i'm so
fully of life i don't know what to do.
and every evening not wanting to be with
"the little people"
and every morning loving my dear
"little people."
He gives me just enough grace to plan and create
for each day. not anymore, not any less.

my mom prayed over me my faith would continue to increase
and i'd be like the widow of Zarephath.
and let me tell you...i'll keep waking each
day expecting him to fill me
until he doesn't.

okay...boys are done eating. back to teaching

oh the funnies of jet lagged brain....

this is a random funny and deeply emotional (sad) post. beware.

i literally,
not 20 seconds ago,
discovered my earrings are
magnetized.

i'm not entirely surprised i never knew this before.
i mean, its not like i hold up
magnets to my head with
each pair of earrings i wear.
that would be stupid.
and through fully silly....i tend to think i'm not
stupid. *grin*

i found this all out by leaning way forward to pick up my
power cord.
it just so happens my head rested on the top of my laptop screen
and badda boom
badda bang
i was stuck.
too me a few moments to realize how
(maybe i am stupid after all *wry grin*)
and then i dislodged myself.

the thought that some of my earrings might be magnets has
fascinated me in the now
minute of my knowing and i just might
be putting my head to my laptop screen from now on
to figure out if all my earrings are, or just this pair.
fascinating stuff.

..................................
i'm completely not ready to start school tomorrow. i know this is the time of year where every
teacher wants to run for cover and never
return to life....
the glorious start to a new school.
fresh with promises, expectations, hopes, frustrations...new-ness.
though i love the new start...it brings so much new added stress
for me. for the teacher.
i'm trying to approach it with joy.
after all, i do so hope this is my last "first day" back teaching ever.
don't get me wrong. i love molding young minds.
love the ability i have to pour and shape the way they view life.
but this day in-day out teacher stuff is not for me.
i was made to love, disciple, pray, worship, write...this
responsible teacher stuff is for others.
not me.
i'm to free thinking. too easily distracted from the lesson at hand.
too eager to stop and really savor some lessons and then skip
the ones i don't think are worthwhile are valuable.
i just want to play. can that be an educational philosophy?
it is. i know it is. it is mine at least.
i have always learned more when i am playing, when i am laughing.
and i know you can't laugh your way through 12 grades, but you can certainly laugh your way through 6 of 8 hours each day. right?! right.
oooo to shape these sweet boys little minds. they are so tender.
so unique. each of them processes differently. it amazes me how at 2, 3,4 and 5 i can already see that.
i'm their foundation for the rest of their educational lives.
the little lessons they learn with me will either propel them into a loving relationship with school
or one of deep dread and frustration.
that is such a daunting thought.

it is absolutely terrifying knowing they see me.
they see my happy days and my sad days.
they know the days i have fun things planned and when i
tell them to be quiet and play with their play-doh.
hopefully those days are few and far between. they are few and
far between.
but still...its so easy to feel like there is never
enough fun stimulating activities for them.
their little minds wonder SO FAST.
they absorb so fast and they are ready to tackle new things
so fast.
its one of the best things about them. their little ability to learn so much.
i am convinced that if properly taught in small increments there is absolutely
nothing they cannot learn.
that inspires me.
how wonderful for me (and them too, i hope?!) if
i can teach them what i really love teaching:
biblical greek and theology! hahahahaha.....i'll keep you posted on that goal.
i'll settle to be able to talk about spiritual matters.
Ooooo in Jesus name their English will be that advanced come the end of this year!
...............................
i didn't want to share either of the next two things. but after being inspired by my earrings to sit and write, i knew the prayer support alone is needed.
i'm not fully sure all that is going on, but my second closest friend working
here on the farm has left.
lucky is one of the youngest workers here and he did a lot
with me and the other "american's" on the HopeHousee.
he is a dear friend.
i'm not sure if he'll be in the area that i'll see him, or not but its sad
to return and find out he isn't here and isn't coming back.
weird and sad.
................................
in more sad news, after
arriving on the farm yesterday i was told one of our workers was killed
during the week in an auto accident.
it still hasn't hit me. in fact, the whimp in me
would desire nothing more than to believe
he is still away on holiday with his family in Zim.
Ammon was a friend.
Ammon is who helped move a bed into my room for my dad.
He is who helped move my bed around when I downsized to a small "African" single.
Ammon is the worker who every time I see him smiles at me.
Ammon is the one that is the "second" father to so many of my kids.
Ammon was my friend.
Ammon had two children of his own.
Ammon was married to my friend, Esther.

tomorrow is the funeral. it will be held here at the farm.
i'm thinking some "extra" children might show up as their
parents attend the service.
i wish i could attend the service.
my heart is just so heavy with all this.
i have seen Esther a few times and she is just so downcast.
i don't know how else to describe her.
Esther, my usual smiley friend who always encourages me and
calls me her sister.
my sweet Esther has lost her beloved.
...............
and in sorta nervous news; tomorrow my
mom has major surgery on her shoulder.
apparently she wont even be able to lift a glass of water for some 2 months. ITS NUTS!
i'm so sad and feel guilty not being around to help. i know
this is where i am supposed to be,
and she is proud of me for being here, but i can't
help and wish i was there to take care of her....
.....................................

would you say a prayer for the funeral here on the farm? for Ammon's family and Esther? Also, pray for
my mom, and tomorrow; its the first day of school! yikes a be!

time for bed...5 am always rolls around too soon. way too soon....

tannie's

i'm sitting at tannie magda's house.
its around 75 outside.
perfect evening weather.
i can smell supper creeping into this back room that is "mine" whenever i am
overnight in pretoria.

tomorrow i'll head to the farm.
sleep (and food more importantly)
is calling me.

but i made it.
slept 13 of the 18 hours i was on the plane.
i'm not even kidding. i actually slept through the
food carts, the drink carts, and the plethora
of little babies in my area.
it astonded my seat mates:
a peace corp worker and a "native" of joburg.
it isn't bad to be engulfed on both sides by two good looking men.
too bad i slept the entire flight. *wry grin*
lets just hope i didn't make a fool of myself and at least
slept with my mouth shut! *smiles*

i impressed the both of them (and myself) when i wasn't sleeping
by being able to articulatly talk about this country
and rugby especially like i had a clue what was going on.

my last meal in the states: a glorious sub from subway.
of course, i had an iced coffee and boston creme donut from dunkin
in the airport.
my mom hid money throughout my carry-on and texted me after i was through
security to spulge on myself.
i purchased two books.
i will have to detail them later because i love them both already.
and i haven't even begun to read the one. i can just tell it will
be amazing from the foreward and cover.
i so judge books by their cover :)

roelene called me a bit ago when i was waiting for my luggage and
the boys got on the phone. ahhhh so excited to see and talk to the rest of my
little men. :)

last night in awhile...

its my last night here in pa in a long time.
in fact, seeing as its 3am...it really isn't much of a "night" anymore.

joey just went to bed. my lone last friend as i mosied around
the living room.
my dearest little brother. my friend.
i'm packed.
all packed.

decided after weighing, re-weighing and sorting what "needs" to come
and what i "want" to come are not really different things
this time, my parents told me to just pay and check an extra suitcase.
so i am.
so i'm again packed.
glad i packed my main suitcases on monday morning.

all i can think about right now is how in the world i will get my stuff home if i ever leave.
when i leave.
if i leave.
i don't even mind leaving a lot behind.
but my books...ahhh
why must i love the written word SO much.

joey asked if i was going to bed just now.*
i told him of course and that i needed to check the flight status one last time.
but my heart is anywhere but my pillow.
which isn't true.
i'm so tired its a joke.
i slept fitfully all night last night.
if i go to bed now, that will be 5 hours till i wake. a respectable amount of sleep.
especially considering i have been blessed with the insurmountable
ability to sleep in any sort of transportation.
planes being one of my specialities.

i can't help and listen to my tears trickle off my face onto my lap as i type.
so many thoughts and feelings.
i've tired (and i think succeeded) to savor every last moment.
i've frozen time in my mind to take in the sights around me,
the smell.
ooo the glorious sounds of laughter and discussions and silliness of my family.

i told joey this was the best time i think i've ever have at home since when i left at 17.
he just said "really? yeah, it has been good. i'm glad bek."
then he started to cry and he told me he loved me and wished i wasn't going.
what do you say to that?
if i could take him with i would; my brother.
my friend.

i can't.
no matter the depth of my love it won't suddenly have the ability to transport
my family to my home in mokopane.
ooo how i wish.

i really have loved every moment of being home.
to fast.
not enough time.
never enough time.

i held my sweet namesake niece.
she in her 6 months of chubbiness and joy.
she kept clasping my face. not letting it go.
it was as if she knew it would be different, that she would be different and in her
own way she was trying to remember me.
remember me before i go back to "living in the computer" as her big sister thinks.
ooo the imagination and charm of 4 year olds.
they will be so much bigger when i return.
and skype is amazing. o bless the inventor of skype!
but it isn't the same. it doesn't allow me the feeling of holding those two little
girls. and their mommy. my sweet big sister.

tonight i just sat my video camera on facing the living room and my parents and my friend
and let it record life.
i wasn't even in the room the whole time myself...but i know that those kind of moments
are what i will ache for the most.

i can tell myself its just a year.
and it is just a year.
and these past 5 months flew and this will only be 7 more.
but its still so hard. so difficult to think i won't be here for another 12 months.
how do you say goodbye for a year?
i don't know.
i guess in a few hours i'll find out.
though, i'm sure because of the emotional state of this entire family
(thank you, gram, and those cuban genes...oh i love the spanish craziness) on a normal day,
tomorrow will be unique.
unique meaning not the sort of day you want to figure out what is the proper or unproper way to do something.

i think almost the whole fam is coming.
i'm glad.
the more of us there are, the more laughter there will be and the
least likely chance of uncontrollable tears.
i hope whoever sits beside me on the flight has a large
degree of grace because i will
be crying when i am not
sleeping.

i hate to leave the chair. i don't have anything else to say, but just knowing
the stillness of this house right now i won't see or experience again for so long
is enough to make me starve off al weariness and sleepiness and stay awake.
of course i will pay this week and all of next week for how i have pushed the
limits of what rebekah needs when it comes to sleeping the past two days.
i'm okay paying that sort of penance.

today i picked my old college roommate up from the airport. she flew in with her
husband.
i felt her belly. their baby growing. i held her hand.
we talked. we laughed. we prayed. we said hello and to quickly goodbye.

the Lord has been so good to me to allow me to see so many of my deepest girlfriends.
He has provided a car for me when i needed it.
He has allowed my siblings grace to share with me.
they have at various times given up a bed and floor space to
house all my things as i come and go so quickly.
literally my brothers have taken turns sleeping on the floor so i could have
a nice QUEEN size bed upstairs. just because they know i love to spread out before i go to
bed when i read and quiet my head even if when i really "go to bed" i lay so still and dont move till the
morning. that little bit of time before mean so much, and i dont have the ability to do that in my dear lapa in SA, so they allowed me to here.
oh bless them, Lord!

and tonight.
i felt so completely engulfed in love.
love all around me and seeping in my veins.
i could feel it giving me life and energy and peace to make it.
so many of my near and dear ones came to the house to just sit and converse with me
and each other as i packed and finished sending off my newsletters and repacked.
so much love.
i couldn't help but slip away at one moment to quietly marvel to myself,
store up the thoughts and feelings as i pretend "went to the bathroom"
so that in a week when i begin to get homesick i'll remember i'm so
very very loved.
because i am so very very loved.
i froze my heart there and then because love was all around me
and i was full of joy.
goods, melissa, mary, jewel, abi and the girls, crystal, smokers...i'm just so humbled by
your love and prayers for me.
thank you for coming tonight and allowing me to be a bit
frantic and preoccupied as i finish things.

in a few hours i'll board a plane.
to place that a year ago i didn't even know existed but now is home.

i'm not ready to say goodbye....

*just now being 10 minutes ago.

$23.08..... (also) 100

...this is how much i was given today from a respectable jeweler in lancaster for my wedding band and engagement ring. i probably could have gotten a bit more if i held out,
or had time to go to different places and compare prices.
but i was just glad to be rid of it and get anything  i didn't care it wasn't a lot.

on thursday i also threw out every single letter, card, sentence or anything
jordan ever gave me. that was harder than getting rid of the rings.
i guess because it seemed like he meant what he wrote.
whereas i never for a moment felt the meant his vows and ring.
within hours of saying "i do" someone different than the
boy i fell in love with emerged
and why his dislike of me and marriage and keeping his vows couldn't
have happened 10 hours before i'll never know....
shame.

it feels so good to be rid of both of those.
good.
and free and just nice.
......................................
today is the 100 post on this new blog. i'm not even sure how many posts i have on my old blog but its safe to say it could be very close to a thousand.
here is that first post here.
its nice for me looking back and seeing the growth that the Lord has done in me.
what he has re-birthed and
done new.
He is always good.
always.
i'm so blessed seeing him literally come through time and time again for me.
.....................
this afternoon i spent an hour at my grandpa's.
it was joyous and heartbreaking at the same time.
its hard knowing someone you love so dearly will
in reality probably not live to see you again.
old age and sickness are the bane of my existence, of his...and time does not
slow down.
i think the thing i appreciate most about my grandpa is how he has selflessly loved my aunt and taking care of her since she was a little baby.
my aunt was one of the first people ever diagnosed with Retts syndrome.
ever since i have memories i remember how she was so small for her age, how a word has never left her lips in my presence (or ever), how, how she walked around constantly, how she clasped her hands tightly together.
my grandpa provides constant 24-7 care for her. feeding her.
changing her diaper.
dressing her.
showering her.
loving her.
even today, the majority of our conversation revolved around him describing how simple joys in life and how the school she was at to give him a 5 hour break each day refused to let her walk.
she forced her to sit.
she doesn't like to sit. so he removed her because she loves walking.
it was as simple as that to him.
some of the biggest joys i have ever known have been talking with her, tickling her and getting her to smile and laugh.
my aunt has the most beautiful smile and laugh.
she loves me. i know she does and i know she knows who i am.
how people can say that people like my aunt are worthless humans and should just be aborted
are idiots. they just don't understand.
my aunt has brought such joy to my life. she does understand what is going on.
grandpa said again today how she responds to different things he says in a way that only someone who comprehends can.
seeing my grandpa love her has shown me such perseverance and what real love is like.
what a legacy he has given me.
................................................
last night at 1130 my mom found some paperwork i have been missing needing very badly.
i spent two entire days (okay, okay,the first day it was only probably 3 hours *wry grin*) looking.
last night around 6 i even got misha, lauren and joey involved too. i needed help and they helped me look.
of course, we didn't find anything and i had given up.
i just sat immersed in my book in the living room because i was frantic from packing, from not finding what i needed (these papers) and emotional exhaustion of saying goodbye.
my mom came upstairs saying she think she might have found it.
next thing i know i'm looking through the papers and speechless. somehow in a box i looked through already she found what i needed.
i can do my taxes now and get my visa.
God is good.
providing.
blessing my mom's heart to serve and help me look and not give up.
she cried.
i was to speechless to cry.
dad cried.
it was a very emotional high that passed around the strangarity household with the finding of these papers.
bless you, mom.
.................................
Obama also declared this month National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
I have NEVER been so proud of my this president. Obama got it right. i seriously cried as i read this.
praying for him all the time and then he does this....way to, mr. president. way to go!
................................
tomorrow i get to pick up my old college roomie from the airport. she and her husband have returned "home" to have a baby. how gracious of the Lord to have her return home when i'll be here. he brought her home the month my marriage fell apart to get married and he's bringing her home to have a baby with her husband just before i leave. oooo Ellen, i can't wait to hug you and see you!!
.......................
thursday morning i go back home.
excitement.
nerves.
a bit of sadness.
craziness.
resolution.
anticipation.
those about sum up my emotions thinking about returning.

sweet baby boy

today in church i held, for the entire time,
 little Elijah in my arms.
there is something mystical about holding a newborn that is not even a month old.
 he cooed and he slept.
he nestled into my arms like a contented bear hibernating for winter.
all warm and fuzzy-like.
of course, i've never witnessed a bear hibernating or getting ready to
hibernate,
but i imagine it is the same.
it was bliss.
.......................................................
this evening the Strangarity family descended on the house.
o what
joy!!
i'm just always amazed at how close we have remained.
and i guess, we're not like "super" close as maybe some cousins are.
but, i love these boys and laugh so hard with them.
it still cracks me up that abi and i (and my two adopted sisters) are the only girls.
somehow, abi and sean had girls, and then ryan, as well.
but like all the 6 brothers and sisters of my dad only had
boys.
all my "fight" and tom-boy is from the "boy cousins" as i've always
affectionately called them.
literally everytime we all got together till 3 yeas ago something broke.
it could have been a body part, stitches, a window, games, clothes, computers,
i could go on and on of the things my parents gladly (or stupidly?!?)
put up with that allowed us all to be together.
all, 14 of us first cousins to be together.
we used to have these crazy sleep-overs here.
now we all work or have school.
but, man o day...our home videos are AMAZING.
we were so
cool.
i guess the moms today did the math and realized there were 12 of us born in 7 years.
thats a lot.
one big cuban crazy family.
i need to find my computer cord and then i'll update some photos...
...................................
o yeah, its the new year!
new year?!
new year
eish....
i have all sorts of things i've been praying towards and believing for myself this year
and at some point when things slow down i'll share them. i don't like "resolutions" on principle. but i do believe its good to have a clear focus and goal and set steps towards achieving that. right now, i'm just trying to make it
till thursday. so much to do....so little time.
.................................
dad, joey, his friend (and mine too) david, and i went to see F&M win their Christmas tourney tonight. it was lazy basketball, lots of fouls but it was still good.
oooooo i love basketball and competition. so much.
so, very
much.

and because everything is better with some visual candy. brother and i were bored Christmas eve so we pulled out the camera for a quick shot. enjoy friends!