Northern Lights

I went to my alma mater yesterday to speak to the 4th grade about China. I loved every second of it; interacting with the kids, drinking chinese tea, answering all kinds of questions, and being back in my old 4th grade classroom. Talk about some severe de ja vu. One boy, Noah, seemed to know quite a bit about Asia already, a rare thing in these parts. Right away he volunteered that he was adopted from a Russian orphanage when he was a year old, and that his family was quite sure his father was Mongolian. I think they are very right, he definitely looks the part, and when I showed him my pictures of Mongolia, he looks exactly like some of the pictures I have of children his age. So, that was neat and I gave him my Mongolian coat to wear for the class.
So, last night I spent the greater part of the evening alternating between reading between candlelight and emailing- the power alternated between working and not working. It's been kind of crazy weather- very strong winds and very warm. For some strange reason I decided to start watching The Fellowship of the Ring at about 1 am. I have a natural tendency to have a strange sleeping schedule when I'm without a schedule. So, when the movie was over around 4 am, I went outside and listening to the wind howl and looked north. I was pretty sure that the glow in the sky was the northern lights so I made my way upstairs to try and see over the trees. Well, there's only so much you can see through a window so I took the screen off Jordan's window, slipped on some of his shoes, and craweled out to the roof. Climbing to the nadex of the roof in the dark and howling winds is a trip, but standing up there, watching the lights dance in the sky and feeling the wind was so cool. It's been a while since I have been out at night, and I remember how much I miss it. And I've seen the northern lights for the second time. The first time was my last trip to Lake Superior, standing on the edge of the water and watching the whole sky light up and dance. I was so excited that I jumped up and down, thrilled to see the dancing lights match their reflections in the still water below.
So, it's been good to be home. I've been very content to actually just stay home to read, think, write some. (and sweeping up Asian beetle of course! They are everywhere!) I don't know when I'll ever be able to do this again so this is nice. I know I should probably be somewhat more productive, but there's time for lots of production in the near future. I like the change to just BE for a while. I've got a few more speaking engagements at school and church. Been working on how I want to present Asia experiences. It's been almost a year since I've last been to China or Mongolia, seems astounding to me really. I'm rethinking how to tell Narengerel's story now 6 months after her death. I know it's an important story and one that needs to be shared, her life truly had an impact on mine, and the story needs to be told. So, I'm working on it. I really should think through and write more about a lot of my experiences in Asia, though I have emails from that time which I think are probably more interesting and well written than what I can produce now so far from the experiences. But maybe I'll try.
I've been reading "Shattered Dreams" by Larry Crabb. It's been good. The story of Niaomi and Ruth, how God's dreams for us aren't what we may think are the best, but he used pain and suffering in our lives for his purposes, because he does know what is best for us. So anyway, it's been a good read. Besides that I'm reviewing my notes from the last few semesters, how easily I forget the things I've studied! How on earth am I going to finish this grad program strong when I feel so dis-jointed sometimes. I guess time will tell.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend was a big hit, complete with visitors from all over the world. It was fun to have just about all of our family here, as well as friends from near and far. Carleigh came up from Manhattan for the weekend, Jordan and Lisa from PA, Schmidts from CT, Gram from SC. So, besides the family migration, we had international students from Africa, Asia and Europe too. And neighbors on top of that. So, our meal count was somewhere over 30 people, a certain amount of work was put in for that!!
Highlights: beautiful days of snow. Lots of ladybugs. Rest. Fellowship. Family. stacking wood. Sledding. Gift exchange.

first attempt

4:25 pm and I'm in the Colton-Hepburn library. There are two high school boys playing some videos on the two available computers here. Though they are wearing earphones, I can hear the game music coming through loud and clear. A strange contrast to a place that seems to be lost in time, computers, that is.

Here in downtown Colton, there is a library, a soup and sandwich store open until 3 pm, a laundrymat, a bar, an Episcopal Church, a museum, and a river. That's about it for this street. A few others boast some houses, but downtown in this town is what many would deem "quaint." It's pretty cute though, this downtown, and hasn't changed much except for the loss of a business or two, since I've been born.

I'm here mainly because I needed a change of scenery, the floor dryer (drying the entryway due to the overflow and flooding yesterday of the broken washing machine) is very loud near my room. My most recent project is to learn Photoshop though I feel I've lost the touch of "gadget girl." So, I'm relearning and seeing what I can do.
It's slow though.

It was really nice to reconnect with my friend Sarah last night, had a chance to see her new baby- all of my friends are now either married or married with children. Sometimes hard to wrap my mind around. The way of life I guess.

Images of home

leaf

homeward bound...with a few stops along the way

Ok, so I'm publishing this post of the last week of travels from my newly cleaned and decorated room in Pierrepont, NY. I voted for the first time last night since registerning in high school at the Pierrepont Corners Court house and then joined the rest of the community (yes, the entire town) for a chicken and biscuit dinner in the fireman's hall. They really still have small communities here. I just read a newsletter from the Cook's corner's club which includes every birth, death, move and news (like who brought a cake to the last meeting) of everyone in the area. Very quaint. And different from what I've been seeing.


Ok, so I left Manhattan to catch a ride to CT and my car with Phil and Marianne. Then to New Caanan to see the Bergmans new cool place. Had a wonderful run with Hanna and Karen around the loveley roads, streams and trails surrounding their home. Then to PA- taking Jordan's bad advice on the best way to get there. A 2 hour drive ended up being 5 but 2 of those hours were spent trying to make it over the George Washington bridge. Crazy traffic.

Had a lovely visit with Jordan and Lisa. Window shopping in New Hope, and a day at the gym, park and apartment with my sister-in-law. Very fun to spend time together since I've never been to Philly before to see them. Drove home yesterday afternoon and surprised my family at dinner which was fun as well. Today has been a day of imagining what I would like my room to look like if I lived here again. It's been fun.

washington heights

Life in the heights. A fun evening at Carleigh's place with new friends.

Brian and Emily's Blog

http://brileykeddy.blogspot.com

weekend

I must just try and keep up. A whirlwind weekend, I think I’ve made my way through almost all of New England. New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire. I guess I’m missing a few states, but it sure seems like I could have covered them. It’s been a fun and eventful week for sure. Last Saturday, I pulled myself from bed, feeling almost like I was hit by a truck, and finally started to maneuver my way off the hill that I’ve been living and onto the highway. New York City driving has much to be desired, and once in the quiet hills of CT, I was much happier. It’s lovely here; the leaves are in full color, the sky a bright blue. I must say that I’ve had the benefit of enjoying fall since late August and it’s officially become my favorite season. It’s a time of ripeness; the celebration of what has past, and the fullness of beauty in all things. A season for gratefulness.

Though I was heading to Boston for the weekend, I had the opportunity to stop at the Bergman’s new home in CT for a little visit on the way. What a place! Complete with fishpond, pool and hot tub, there are many more interesting discoveries to find in the much expanded “hobbit abode” in the rolling hills of New Canaan. It was great to see Wheaton friends and experience together the ride of faith we have both been on.

Next destination. Boston again. This time to spend some more time with Jenna, the Harvard diva, and to meet Noriko for a college visit at Gordon. It snowed as I pulled into Cambridge, and I was definitely grateful for the extra long wool coat my grandmother had saved for me and given me right before I left home. I had the opportunity to experience Harvard Square at it’s finest, a time where every single nook and cranny is filled with coffee-drinking college students, all escaping the first snows and pretending to study in over-crowded cafes. I am thankful that Jenna brought me right to Ann Taylor to upgrade my wardrobe slightly and have something appropriate to wear for later excursions around the northeast.
Navigating the “L” in Boston is a much cleaner experience than the subway system of Manhattan. Jenna, a pro at all she undertakes, made our trip to the airport seamless and we successfully got Noriko from her Seattle flight. Again, all worlds collide in the funniest of places.

Dinner, walks in the rain, and finally rest on the 21st floor were in order for the evening. I must admit, after running around for a time, I absolutely crashed and fell asleep as soon as Jenna began taking care of me. Noriko woke me up- “Miss Evans, get under the covers” as I somehow made my way to a blissful sleep on the leaky air mattress.

21 floors above the city and a sparkling day- nothing else are needed. It’s absolutely amazing to see Jenna’s view in the morning and enjoy it.




After a wonderful Church service and packing up, Noriko and I continued our journeys to Rye, New Hampshire. We found some alternate routes along the ocean winding roads, breathtaking views to be had. Then, the web of my life made yet another connection when I introduced Noriko to my Uncle and Aunt Jim and Patti Betti whose home and heart are always wide open. We enjoyed a Halloween evening in town with Evan, chatted in Chinese with the local restaurant owners, and of course, the dogs. As always, my relatives spoiled me.

Our Gordon visit was also a big hit. As I followed Noriko through the ivy-covered stone buildings, and saw the art department, I had longings of being 19 again and starting this journey. Wow, what an awesome facility Gordon has- I would love to be there now. It was fun also to run into my cousin Stephen, a senior, and have lunch. Another “planned” event (not really, I just ran into him).
After all the interviews and tours, I made an appearance at the LaVida office, Gordon’s version of High Road, and saw a former Honeyrocker that was cool. We also went to Gordon Conwell Seminary and visited a former prof of mine, Steve Kang. It was neat to see what he was up to, and feel sorry for his current students, as he really does like to load the reading on!!! (sorry Steve:>)

Our post Gordon visit brought us back to Boston, to the airport, another “see ya later” and again my solo drive to another friend’s home. Finally, I crashed at Bryan’s apartment for the night. It’s rather amazing to think, one-day incorporating family, high school and college friends, students from China and former professors. Ok, did I mention that this world is a small place?

It gets better. On the drive home I stopped at Christmas Tree Shop and found some goodies from Beth’s b-day so made it a priority to stop by Fairfield en route to Trumbul CT and say hi briefly. Always great to see Beth, Kyle and Nonnie.

With my arrival to Trumble came the “decision by committee” session with all the women on my mother’s side of the family. It’s funny to see us all together and to see how obviously we are related. Cool event- driving with Marianne to the city again, through the city to be exact. We drove by the building where my great-great grandmother lived and where my Great-grandfather grew up. It’s actually quite near to where I’m currently typing this out, on the northwest side of the city. I listened to my grandmother as she told about what walking around these streets was like for her as a child, the changes that have occurred and the things that have remained the same. It’s quite a city- I’m appreciating it more each day.



Dinner found us at the top of the Steelcase building where Marianne works, overlooking central park (I could see Mt. Sinai from where I stood) and right next to the Time Warner Building. Cars and lights circled around, a show of color and movement. “the city that never sleeps” Again, we were joined by more family and friends. My mother’s cousin and my second cousins, as well as family friends all gathering to be part of Margo’s big Carnegie Hall debut.
She is part of a children’s choir that sang with an Irish Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. How fun to all walk through the city and then sit high above the show, cheering and being part of a multi-sensory musical experience. Last month, when I convinced my mother to buy the tickets, I had no idea what events would proceed the two weeks. While in Wheaton on the phone with her, we were trying to figure out how to do transportation, and I’m glad that I didn’t buy a plane ticket!!!

So, I’m on my way to the hospital again. Realizing that my time here is probably coming to an end, but trying to figure out what the next step is. Right now I’m enjoying some time to rest and debrief everything. Noreen (Emily’s mom) is now in the hospital with Em and Bri so Emily is very supported. I’m updating blogs as well as getting some things done here at Carleigh’s place. Still enjoying Manhattan immensely though. That’s all for now.

PS. Life in the Heights....just back from a run along the Hudson River...
who says thank you to the mailman when he tells you you have hot legs? (um, unshaven, sweaty and white) I have never seen myself as a desirable Latina before, but I'm finding that around here, they think I'm Dominican with blue eyes and the remarks I'm getting from almost all men at every juncture is amusing, but a little unnerving. So, I'm contemplating wearning robes from now on.