A Christmas Surprise

You'll never guess what happened to me on Friday. But that's not really your fault. It would be impossible to guess because most of you never heard the back story. So I'll back up a few weeks and fill you in, because I think this is worth it.

So about a month ago, someone broke into my room and stole my computer. (I say "broke in" because I didn't invite them. But they didn't actually have to break anything because my door was unlocked. I know--I felt pretty dumb.) I didn't go to the police because I figured it was my fault and there was nothing they could do anyway. I think I was partly embarrassed and partly too drained and exhausted to open a can of worms that involved talking to insurance companies and filing police reports...in German.
As far as I'm concerned, my computer is on its way to Mexico. I don't expect to ever see it again. I was really bummed, of course, and I underwent a long process of remembering what was on my computer and figuring out what I'd have to re-create or re-install...and what passwords I would need to change. But I was glad it was just a computer and none of the girls were hurt. And I was grateful for the Nexus 7 tablet I had purchased this summer. At least I could keep up with email, German practice, and Skype. My parents graciously lent me a laptop for as long as I needed it, and I wrote the situation off as a loss, planning to find a replacement once I had figured out financials and saved up enough money.
Okay, so that's the back story. Fast forwarding to two days ago. I had just put our final batch of peppermint scones into the oven when Katie (my co-RA, if you don't know) asked if I wanted my Christmas surprise. Now she'd been telling me all week that she had a surprise for me, and I figured that she had printed me a life-sized poster of Calvin and Hobbes or something. Or a kitten. Or a functioning light saber. Or a bright pink, inflatable giraffe. With Katie, you never really know. So when she handed me an envelope with a red ribbon around it, I had no idea what to expect. "There are a lot of people around here who love you a lot," she said. "And we were all really sad to hear about your computer." (That might not be an exact quote, because I was so confused at this point. Where was she GOING with this?) She continued: "So I emailed some people and they all wanted to help."
At this point I was pretty sure I knew where I thought she was going with this...but surely not.
"There's about 450 euros in that envelope. To go toward your new computer."
WHAT?
I really don't think I said anything for a minute and a half, and if I did, it was probably something like "I...don't know what to say."
Guys, I've never been so floored. (Okay, maybe one time: When I saw my support level jump from 80%-110% last summer.) I still don't know what to say. Except that I'm so grateful, and I feel like I need to write a hundred thank you notes. But I don't know who to address any of them to!
So to those of you who were involved in giving me this awesome, unexpected, and beautiful gift, thank you!

I share this with you just as an excuse to say that God's love and provision is really, really awesome. Perhaps especially when he shows it through His people reaching out to each other--even in little, seemingly trivial things like my computer.

Merry Christmas!

ajr

Value

I've been sick this week. With a fever and a cough and achiness and all kinds of nonsense.

My general survival strategy for such times is denial. I really thought I could power through and trick my body into thinking it was fine. If I just took 20 minute power naps every now at then, drank lots of water, and continued to perform my normal duties, I'd get over it eventually.
Well today, my plan failed. I had tried to nap, but my fever was worse. I couldn't get warm, even snuggled under a cocoon of blankets.  I was right in the middle of sauteing apples for our apple dumplings when my fever spiked, and I was really warm, and I was having some major shivers (what's that, you say it's impossible to be hot and cold at the same time? False!), and my head was throbbing. I was just contemplating getting a chair to sit as I was cutting filo dough (is that pronounced feel-o? or file-o? I never know. I was homeschooled.) when Katie came back from her small group and graciously let me go back to bed.
But I couldn't sleep. I lay in bed and started crying. I was so mad that I was sick. I had just had a weekend off, all to myself, where I could rest, read, journal, walk, talk with my family, and all kinds of other things that are supposed to revive me. And while I was gone, my dorm staff had more work. And no sooner did I get back that I came down with a fever! I don't have time for this nonsense!
Not that I blame myself for being sick. But you know, actually? I do. I just had all this rest and I clearly failed to give my body something that it needed to ward off germs. And now I've crippled my entire dorm staff and put the whole dorm in danger of coming down with a fever. I felt useless and selfish.
So I was lying in bed crying, and then I was mad at myself for crying (because I was supposed to be sleeping and getting better, not crying like a spoiled baby). My Nexus dinged, indicating that I had an email or a facebook message. I picked up the tablet to mute it so I could sleep. But I looked at the facebook post. It was from my sister, and it said,
"You are wonderful and beautiful, and it is NOT your fault that you are sick."

I hadn't even told Amy that I was sick, much less that I couldn't forgive myself for letting that happen.
So I don't know what prompted her to say that. But you know, actually? I do.
It was Jesus telling me, "hey. I love you even when you're sick. And you're valuable even when you're useless."

Thanks, Jesus. And thanks, Amy.

ajr

Airports Make Me Blog Too Much: Part the Last

Now I have "Like a G6" stuck in my head.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Then 1) I'm sorry that you didn't understand the puns in the previous two posts and 2) here you go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL7FIsho0uw
You're welcome.

ajr

Airports Make Me Blog Too Much: Part 2

While sitting for several hours at Gate [fly like a ] G6, I did a bit of people watching.
A woman passed me, wearing boots that from a distance looked like clompy, fluffy Clydesdale' feet. But as the woman got closer, I became reasonably certain that they were actually made entirely of leather tassels.
I do not understand fashion.

ajr

Airports Make Me Blog Too Much: Part 1

Yesterday I flew home from Minneapolis. I had a layover in Chicago. Fortuitously, I blew both into and out of gate G6 of O'Hare International Airport. This coincidence has confirmed the truth that I have always suspected:
I really am so fly.

ajr

Dentists are boring I guess.

I went to the dentist this week to have three cavities filled. I expected to really dislike this experience, or at least have a memorable story to blog about.
But other than the fact that there was a really epic waterfall mural and a corner full of teddy bears the size of a 7-year-old child, I have nothing to report. Except that I have no more cavities [that are worth filling right now]. Boom.

I'll try and come up with an actually exciting blogpost some other time.

ajr

UPDATE: I just realized that if you mix around the letters in the word "blogpost" you get "blogspot." Whaaaaat?

UPDATE AGAIN: I also just realized that neither "blogpost" nor "blogspot" is actually a word. So maybe that's not actually that impressive.

Schlep?

I have lived 22 years with my parents and have never heard them use the word "schlep" before. In fact, I don't think I've heard ANYONE use the word before.

My parents have each used it independently of each other 4 times in the past 4 days. What is this madness? Is this word even real?

Well according to thefreedictionary.com, to "schlep" something is "to carry clumsily or with difficulty." So it is apparently a real thing. I just don't understand how I've gone so long without hearing it.
You rightly imagine that I'll be using it a LOT from now on.

ajr