Disclaimer

I suppose I should offer a disclaimer to all future roommates: I like to stretch my lungs :)

Katie just came and shut my door because she said we were having a battle of country and hymns. Apparently Josh Turner and I were winning because I didn't even know there was a battle.

Being cooped up in an office makes me need to be loud and active. And because I don't have the energy to go running tonight (sick again...), singing and dancing around my living room is the outlet of choice. But man, I would love to two step the night away. I wonder if honky tonks exist in Europe. I'll add that to my list of things to find/do. Already on the list are Sanssouci, snowboarding, a girls night in Prague, going to the baths, not being freaked out by video Skype, losing my voice at a Euro/Worldcup game, mastering the train system, and being swept off my feet in Glasgow.

Someday I will do those things. Right now, I know I'm stretching myself too thin, but I've also never been more compassionate and loving than God is making me right now. When things hurt the students hearts, it hurts mine, too. One of the guys had something written on his arm (in his own, made up language) that he heard during chapel a few weeks ago that has stuck with him and me:

BREAK MY HEART WITH WHAT BREAKS YOURS.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

It has been great to connect with others enough to be broken hearted with what breaks theirs, but I crave being able to have that identification with Christ. I want to know His heart so well that it moves me to God glorifying thoughts, feelings and actions. I want us to resonate. And, I want to love as fiercely as He does. How in the world does one love fiercely? I'm not too sure, but I'm willing to bet that that is a prayer God would willing answer- Abba, teach me to love like You do... to love fiercely.


Side note... Josh Turner is pretty... and so is his voice.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Exhale

I've written three drafts of blogs over the last several weeks that I never actually posted. So instead of posting the out-dated stories, I'll just recap a bit.

I've been without Ted at work for about a month now. Here are before and after pictures of the office.

I went on a great hike in the Alps several weeks ago. You know the song from Cinderella "so this is love....mmmmm....mmmm...?" That's how I feel about the Alps. Being there was such a great getaway time for me and God. Here are some pictures.

Two weeks ago I was missing five points (my favorite spot in Birmingham AL). I spent the weekend reading The Shack (which I would love to discuss with anyone else who has read it) and found myself wishing to be sitting in downtown Birmingham around the busyness of people instead of sitting alone on my picturesque balcony in Germany. A few days later, I went to Loerrach (where I go to the various government offices every few days) just to explore the city and had such a great time with God. I don't even know how to articulate what was so special about it, but I felt like I was on a date--just the level of intimacy and excitement I had talking things over with God. Very cool. And then it was a cherry on top when I realized that the place I had been sitting for a quite a while was where five roads converge and people mill around... five points Loerrach. I felt like God was giving me a little gift.

This past Sunday I went to some castle ruins in Staufen with the Winslows (fellow BFAers) and their friend/might as well be son, Denton. It was gorgeous, but my favorite thing was making a nonBFA friend who has a similar sense of humor. It was so refreshing to not be asked questions about visas, taxes, and travel arrangements!This week was the first time I've felt overwhelmed in this job. It hit me one morning that it was not physically possible fo me to get everything done that needed to be done. So I belted out a few verses of "In Christ Alone" and asked for patience with myself. Not everything I wish could've been done got done, but life goes on.

Wed, Thurs and Friday were tough for sure with the weight of the things that weren't getting done. So today I vegged...all day in my sweats, ate a whole pizza by myself, watched a movie, laughed a lot with my new complicated friend Denton, and it was exactly what I needed. I fell short on my laughing quota this week, so I had to make up the deficit today.

So, right now, things are good. After a few days of holding my breath, I'm finally exhaling. There is a lot of work to do this week, but it's a 4 day week!! No school Friday. And I get to go to Herbstmesse (like Evansville's Fall Festival) next weekend. Bring on the festival foods.

Behind

I am behind in blogging. My computer was mostly dead but is now mostly back to life. There are many things I want to tell and pictures to show. My camping trip in the Alps, before and after pictures of my office, and the incredible ways I'm being stretched...But for now, I just went to my first German small group (studying Romans in German, ah!), and I loved it. Something funny though: I can't say my own name in German. They don't have the same "r" sound as in "Sarah," and my attempts at learning to roll my "r"s over the last 8 years have been in vain. Schade. Too bad.