and thus it ends

I leave in 5 days.......

He's got the whole world in His hands

My whirlwind week has ended, and I am safely back at my study spot in the Beck house. I have been in some very interesting places this week, but thankfully, I was with my dad and brother the whole time. We drove all over the place, really fast......Rome, Pisa, Florence, Austria, San Remo, the tip of France, 1000000000 mountain tunnels, Munich, Aalen, Stuttgart, and places in between. I probably won't tell some parts of our adventures because it would scare people ; ). We like to live on the edge of life is all I can say.

After driving in Italy, I could probably drive anywhere now. Road signs are merely "suggestions" or "guidelines" in Italy; the millions of mopeds and motorcycles add to the traffic chaos. I gripped the steering wheel really tight the whole time, and thankfully I didn't hit any people or cars. And, there are no speed limits on the highways!!!!!!!!!!! I like speed : )

Once we got back from our road trip, we returned to the castle and rested up. The whole town of Hohenstadt lives for hunting (including our hosts). Everywhere you look, there are antlers and trophies of incredible hunts, and everyone wears boots and hunting suspenders. Everyone goes to work, hunts in their spare time, then spends the evenings at the "pub" telling their hunting tales, which get bigger and bigger as the night goes on.

Today was the annual Bozeln championship, which is bowling through the countryside without pins. There were 11 teams, and everyone in the team takes turn throwing the ball, and wherever it goes off the road, the next person throws until we reach the end of the track. The track was 6 km long, and every team has a wagon filled with beer, schnops, bread, and sausage that they pull along for the game. So, when you're not throwing, you're drinking or eating. The whole village participates, and it was so much fun. I definitely saw a different side of German culture this weekend.

Also, God is incredibly good. After this week, I know that He watches over me, no matter where I am. I already knew that, but I saw Him in action this week, so to speak.

ciao bella

well, my dad and brother arrive tomorrow morning (which will really be the middle of the night for them). We're going to hang out at the castle for the weekend, then we're off to Switzerland and ROME!!!! My dad originally wanted to hit France as well, but that's just a little too much for a few days. Besides, you could spend weeks in Rome and still not get enough of it. I was only there for 2 days (?) last time, but of course that wasn't enough time. I think Italian will definitely be the next language I dabble in...

I have been the most homesick this week of anytime in my life, which is odd, considering 1/6 of my family is coming to visit me : ). It took a while for me to admit I was homesick...I suppose this week has reminded me that I am human, and a rather weak one at that...and that I love love love my family a TON, which is natural of course, considering they are all just wonderful! and my mom told me my little sister is crawling now, and I missed it!!!!!! I suppose I'll miss out a lot on them growing up, since I can't be there forever....

Because I can't get a visa to stay longer than 3 months, I'm coming home November 13th, instead of December. (!!) I don't know what they would do to me if I stayed longer.....throw me out of the country? Fine me an exorbitant amount of money? I'm not willing to stick around and find out, so I'm coming home early. Besides, I get to be home for Thanksgiving, which is always a very full-filling time : P

oh goodness

well, ahem, pray we make it to the castle from the airport safely. My directions seems slightly sketchy....

ok, guten nacht peeps : )

slow dancing in a burning room

Fall is almost here in my part of Germany. It has been really gray and dreary lately, but today, I noticed the leaves beginning to turn faint shades of red, orange, and yellow. Its so thrilling to look at the woods everyday and try to see what is different from the day before. I wish I had the skills to do one of those time lapse slideshows (if that's the name for it).

So much has changed in my daily routine since I have been here! A month and a half ago, my week consisted of: working 40 hours, driving at least 2 hours a day, studying for classes in between work, and hanging out with friends on the weekend. Now, studying and leisure time is pretty my full time job....and I really was starting to miss work, family, and friends. I was getting stressed out having so much time on my hands (sounds odd doesn't it?). Then, I found this perfect place half a mile from our house that I have claimed as my own spot of germany. I go there and just sit...drinking in my surroundings. From that place, I can see for miles, and it is so soothing. I encourage you to find a "reflection" corner in your world....its amazing I have discovered. I really need this time to think and reflect, and I this will probably be the only time I will ever have to do this.

In other news, my dad and brother are coming next week! They are coming with some friends, and long story short, the friends know some people who own a castle and they invited us to stay with them. Cool, huh? : )

tip of the day: Citizen Cope -- drab name, but pretty groovy music, and its free to download on Myspace!

ok

go to the woods and hills

Sunrise on the Hills

by Longfellow

I stood upon the hills, when heaven's wide arch

Was glorious with the sun's returning march,

And woods were brightened, and soft gales

Went forth to kiss the sun-clad vales.

The clouds were far beneath me; bathed in light,

They gathered mid-way round the wooded height,

And, in their fading glory, shone

Like hosts in battle overthrown.

As many a pinnacle, with shifting glance.

Through the gray mist thrust up its shattered lance,

And rocking on the cliff was left

The dark pine blasted, bare, and cleft.

The veil of cloud was lifted, and below

Glowed the rich valley, and the river's flow

Was darkened by the forest's shade,

Or glistened in the white cascade;

Where upward, in the mellow blush of day,

The noisy bittern wheeled his spiral way.

I heard the distant waters dash,

I saw the current whirl and flash,

And richly, by the blue lake's silver beach,

The woods were bending with a silent reach.

Then o'er the vale, with gentle swell,

The music of the village bell

Came sweetly to the echo-giving hills;

And the wild horn, whose voice the woodland fills,

Was ringing to the merry shout,

That faint and far the glen sent out,

Where, answering to the sudden shot, thin smoke,

Through thick-leaved branches, from the dingle broke.

If thou art worn and hard beset

With sorrows, that thou wouldst forget,

If thou wouldst read a lesson, that will keep

Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep,

Go to the woods and hills! No tears

Dim the sweet look that Nature wears.

how overwhelming....

One of my "contacts" here is Chris, a 44 year old pastor who has been married for 11 years and has 3 adorable little children (and, he went to Regent!). Anyways, this weekend, I stayed with him and his family, and I soon found out that he is incredibly more gifted than I thought. Get this --- he has been to so many countries that he has lost count and he can speak and write German (duh), English, Spanish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin (which really isn't spoken anymore), Italian, and he's thinking about learning Arabic. You would think that someone who knows so much would be the kind of person who has lived in an office all their life and has no social life, but no, he is in charge of the "college" group at his church, so he knows everybody.

So of course, I began to feel a little insignificant around him. We have very different views on some things, and honestly I feel scared to challenge any of his views. Talking with people other than him has also confirmed my view that I am very much a "fish out of water" over here as far as social issues goes. Its amazing to me how two Christians who have studied and prayed about the same thing can arrive at totally different conclusions. I think the best way after you each have presented your opposing sides and are still at loggerheads is to agree to disagree. All I do know is that I cannot wait to get home and talk with someone who shares my opinions and is enthusiastic about them. argg, that sounds odd....

That's my insight for the weekend.

back to German grammar.....

another day in the life

Today that sun is out for a change! I was beginning to tire of the cold and soggy weather. It really irks me when it is drizzling...I wish it would either pour down rain or just not rain at all.

Being that I have more time on my hands these days, I have been able to go out and walk in the woods surrounding our house. I feel like Little Red Riding Hood on her way to grandma's house as I walk around. Its kind of creepy at times, so I walk faster, which is good I suppose. There are places where the trees are extra low, creating a sort of cove, and when I look in those places, I half expect a troll to come barging out at me. My love for fairy tales has been reignited of late due to these frequent explorations. I'll let you know if I meet the 7 dwarves...

Other than my walks, not much is new here. This weekend, I am volunteering at a conference an hour away. It is about the Holy Spirit and evangelism, so it should be exciting. Last night, the youth team leaders came over to our house for a meeting, and we had worship together. Let me tell you, worship is one of the only moments during "church" when I feel I can connect through the language barrier. My mind is more at ease during those times, so I can soak in more. I actually understood a lot, which was exciting!

I must return to the grind of schoolwork (which really isn't a grind, I just like using that word). I actually love both of my classes, which is amazing.

ok. later.