Apple Picking

Ginormous pumpkins
Family time well spent and long over due!
We got baby apples
Alex loves apples!
When you want the ones at the top... Dad is all over it!
I liked these ones!
The good ones can be at the bottom too!
Mmmm Apple!

Who am I?

Who am I?
This has been a theme question lately in Chapel. Well, Who am I? To be honest I am still learning who I am. I know all the basics, like favorite color, and food. What makes me tick, and what keeps me going. I know what makes my cry. I know what I need, and I know who I need in my life and who I don't. I know that forgiveness is part of who I am. I have a lot of love to give, and most of the time I am a pretty happy person. I get excited about a lot of random things, and it doesn't take mush to make me happy. I know who I pray to everyday, and who I seek to understand. I know who I aspire to be, and what I don't want to become.

Are these all the things that explain who I am? Would this information help others understand who I am if they had never met me? Or for those who do, would this be things they didn't already know? What does it take to really know someone, and what does it take to really know yourself?

Can it get better

Can you mend a broken heart with forgiveness?

Something to think about....

So at Chapel today Pastor Judy told us this amazing story about Monkeys... It really touched me, and it's been on my mind all day, so I thought I'd share.

There was a group of 6 monkeys, and in order to get food they had to pull on a choice of two chains. One chain if pulled, would drag out a big plate filled with the foods they loved, and if they pulled on the other a smaller plate would come through with a lot less food and of foods they weren't that fond of. So they soon learned to choose the chain with their favorites on it.
Now just like us, these monkeys choose more of the things they love.

Well one day one of the monkeys got hungry, pulled on the chain, and another monkey (far enough away from the group of 6 monkeys to not be part of the group, but close enough to see each other) was shocked. The group heard the screeching, and saw the monkey run to the corner shaking.

From that day on, 4 of the 6 monkeys choose the chain with less food and the food they didn't like as much, the 5th monkey didn't eat for 5 days and the 6th didn't eat for 12 days. They would rather starve, then to put another monkey they don't even know through any more pain.

So, think about it. Why do we as humans keep doing things that hurt others? Why do we choose to do things that we want, even when others are starving or hurting? Just think about it!

Are you serious Westboro??

Today I went to support one of the local Synagogues in Ravenswood and it was a moment I won't forget. The Westboro Baptists are an extremest group, but hey, just look at these pictures,


Seriously?!? Are you kidding me? How can these people call themselves Christians?
I was sick to my stomach, there were kids involved here. Those poor kids are probably about 8 or 9 and I wouldn't be surprised if they couldn't even read the signs they were being told to hold up. These kids are being brain washed into thinking that this is right and that was the hardest part for me to see. This is the kind of behavior that perpetuates hatred, conflict, inequality and many other forms of hatred.

What made me laugh is this guy walked over to their side of the street with a sign that read,

"Westboro Baptists Eat Yeast! GOD Hates Yeast! So.. God hates Westboro Baptists" "Come to the best church of GOD 110% Jesus approval rating!" (and we don't eat Yeast)
This guy come to find out is from one of the comedy groups in the area, and some how got onto their side of the street without them even noticing.

Please pray for them! Pray that they stop this, and they stop teaching Innocent children this kind of hatred. Pray that they learn to accept everyone as Gods children and not to judge those who are different.

Home

It is so weird to be home. I miss Sweden more then I thought I would have. I miss my friends, I miss the food, I miss hearing Swedish all the time, I miss everything except Uni. but well, those that have attended Jonkoping Uni. know why it's one not to miss.
I was only in Chicago for a day in a half, before I came up to Michigan to see my Mom, David and Aleah. I really missed them, but... I hate to say it, I still miss Sweden and everything about it more.
I do however miss my friends in Chicago a lot. I can't wait to be able to catch up with all of them and hear all the things that they have been up to these last few months.
I am finishing up a few loose ends with school this year, and found out my new roommate is a Swedish girl from Jonkoping which is for sure going to help me keep up with my Swedish out of the classroom, and in turn help her loads with being in a new city, meeting people, and maybe with her English.
I cant say that I am happy to be home, but I am at the same time not unhappy either. I didnt think this was going to be so hard coming home, I for sure thought that going to Sweden would have been harder. Now more then ever I am certain that I belong in Europe, I feel more at home there, I am happier there. Many might say that of course I think this way because I just got home and I am board, but.. I felt this way everytime I have left Europe and came home, these feelings are just more strong after have being there for so long.
What do I do to be happy here?

Some personal thoughts while Traveling

So I haven't really kept a travel journal just my blog, but while I was in Italy and Spain I had little to NO time to put anything up, and I haven't been able to upload any pictures yet. So I got a little notebook, just to help me get my mind around some things I had been thinking about.

Personal Discovery!!

Americans have a hard time with something called, the art of doing nothing. Europeans have an easier time then we do, why... I don't really know, but I have a few ideas. But I have been on a quest to try and perfect this art. So while I was alone in Barcelona, I walked into this amazing park. It had so much to see, and there were people everywhere, so after I had a look around, I sat at this amazing fountain, back to people walking around, and just sat there. I sat there and listened to the water, and the sound of kids playing in the distance, and the most scary sound maybe ever, My own thoughts. I sat there for almost 45 min I think, with no book, no i-pod, nothing to drink or eat, and I didn't even people watch. I just sat there.

While I sat there I thought about something that I am sure I had herd somewhere before, but at that moment, it was my own.

Life is a gift, that you cannot return or exchange. It's the only one you have like it, and it something that you have to use to endless amounts, because it's irreplaceable. You need to fill it with joy and love. Slow down more, breath it all in, enjoy this gift. Look at things in a different light.

Smile more, worry less. This is how I feel, and I will never forget this and how I came to this. I cant always worry about money and time, I am not by any means saying its not important but, there are more important things in my life.

God has been with me during this whole trip. I know he has. He has kept me safe, and has brought people into my life that are irreplaceable. No matter how much debt I may be in now, I even had my heart broken, but regardless, it has been the best 8 months of my life. I have learned more about myself because I took the time to listen to myself.