so i was looking at some scripture in greek...

and in my greek new testament it has a literal translation underneath the greek. it's an awesome study aid.

anyway...check this out:

"...in zeal not lazy,
in spirit burning,
the Lord serving,
in hope rejoicing,
in tribulation enduring,
in prayer persevering,
to the needs of the saints contributing,
hospitality seeking..."

that's from romans 12:11-13. i love these verses. they're so beautiful and challenging. and you know what i love about the literal translation? all the -ing endings... it makes the words so now!!

job hunt....arg!

1-nanny position in bradford; 10 month old and 2 yr old girls. $700/week
haven't heard anything.

2-TSS (therapeutic staff support); with this job i would follow a student around helping them when necessary.
haven't heard anything.

3-advertisement in paper for a nanny; 20-25 hrs/week; $100/week; 3 year old, 3 month old twins, 3 dogs, a cat, housekeeping as well.
money doesn't seem worth it.

4-YMCA front desk. could be promising, but would only pay minimum wage. (i don't care about minimum wage...my mom keeps pushing things that will pay more).

5-substitute teacher. seemed promising. i have to have roberts send transcripts. i need to fill in the application. i must get a PHYSICAL... called about that today...$65 (or more) and the earliest they could schedule an appointment is FEBRUARY 20! that's too long!

6-MM temps. going to call them now.

7-area hotels. going to call some right now as well.

i'm frustrated. i just need a job. i'm going insane in an empty house all day long.

help!

this past weekend i had the opportunity to go to rochester, ny. i was able to see a lot of people that i haven't seen in ages and i was able to attend edgewood, the church that became a home in 2000.

this was part of pastor wally's message...i was really challenged and encouraged...


care more than some think is wise

risk more than some think is safe

dream more than some think is practical

expect more than some think is possible


i'm going to try to do all of those... we shall see what happens as i try, all the while seeking God and his purposes and trying to understand what being in bradford pennsylvania is about right now.

really wishing i was in amsterdam...really.

white eggs.

i was really shocked when i saw them.

i hadn't realized how much brown eggs in brownish cartons were a part of my life.

AND

the toilet paper here is wider. at first i thought it was just the toilet paper at my friend laura's house...but then i saw it in restaurant bathrooms, store bathrooms, hotel bathrooms, ...

at my parents' house and my grandparents' house as well.

even after a week and a half i still see the toilet paper as being wider.

this blog is dedicated to...

mikalie (!!!) my first roommate while working in the shelter. mikalie is from australia...it's also where she is right now. she's an awesome girl! great love for God and she's so full of spunk and energy. i got to know mikalie the best with my dutch brother ben...and it was through mikalie that i got to know ben so well! so thanks to both of you great people!

i arrived in bradford, pennsylvania, usa...yesterday early evening. my dad handed me some mail.

there was a christmas card from mikalie!! so awesome.

now i just need to figure out how i can send myself to australia...

doei!

from amsterdam to america

i'm in america.
i'm not in amsterdam.

america feels like a vacation.
amsterdam feels like a home i'll be returning to.

at some point amsterdam will feel like an intense time that was long and beautiful, joyous and hard...
and america will once again be a 'home' to me as i get involved in life here.

my mind wanders to where i want to be...
and the reality is that i am here.

and at this point in time 'here' is where God wants me.
so i will accept it...through all of the emotions in my heart and all of the experiences running through my mind.

2006 is still empty and formless---it hasn't all happened yet...! pray for God's spirit to hover over this year--over everything!

"teach us that Your grace is sufficient...from day to day and moment to moment..." amen.

the beginning of a song i want to write...

will include these lines...

dancing with sorrow
weeping with joy

a little strange, i know. but i like the sound and the imagery. to dance with sorrow and to weep with joy...it happens. i've experienced it.

'ik heb geen idee' what the rest of the song will be like. but that's fine. in time the song will be written...

i received a christmas card today...

and it was from my dear grandma. she has always been a huge encouragement to me. when i'm grown and old(er) i want to live my life unto the Lord the way she does.

the cover of the card was your typical three wise men riding on camels holding their precious gifts.

inside the message was: wishing you...a world of peace, a world of joy, a world of beauty

my grandma added: wishing you -- Jesus. i love you, grandma

but that isn't all she wrote...

my darling laurissa--

i'm praying this a.m. that when you are back in this God-blessed united states of america,

your world of Jesus -- of peace and joy and beauty will seem even larger

as you attempt to deal with the

unfamiliarity of the familiar

and get it all in perspective.

i'm watching with so much love and excitement to see where Jesus is leading you --

and i'm grateful that at least for awhile it will be here with us.

come home.

how beautiful is that? zo mooi! i really love how God has made my grandma and how she has made it her life to be Jesus to her family and everyone that she comes in contact with. Lord Jesus, bless my dear grandma. may she draw closer and closer to You each day. thank you, God, for blessing me with such a grandma. amen.