a random list

of things i love. in no particular order.

1. random and unexpected communication with friends far away. skype calls, facebook messages, emails, letters, text messages...i love it all.

2. rachael ray. i haven't seen her in 9 months...due to lack of food network in ghana. but today, i downloaded a (questionably legal) episode of her show with jenna fischer (aka pam beasely) and oh how i've missed her! and i like her new show. my favorite part has always been her seriously over-dramatic first taste of food...and in this episode she delivered big time. i love the internet. thank you al gore.

3. $10 haircuts...got one today. first one since my 'first ghanaian haircut' that i pretty much have hated for 9 months. i even made maggie cut some off once. but it doesnt really matter cause its always in a ponytail. however, i got it trimmed today and i feel like a new lady.

4. wisdom from folks that care. i can't tell you how much i've gotten in the past few days. i have no clue what i'm doing with my life after i get off that plane in late june. no clue. but i've been lovingly reminded about God's faithfulness in the past and how its not about what we do or where we go, but who we are. its easy to get bogged down with the unknown when i take my focus off of the Lord. (just ask my poor momma who was on the receiving end of a melt down) But He's good...real good...why do i freak out when i know he's so good? ugh. sin. yuck.

5. tacos. and now i can make a mean tortilla...and fresh salsa...better than mexico even. or moe's. yeah, i said it, better than moe's.

6. stupid youth group games. i had no idea how stinkin funny it is to watch the kids do those dumb things. i always enjoyed dumb games when i was in youth group, but now that i get to make the youth do the dumb games, i love them even more. it cracks me up. even the simple ones (like the "untangle the big human knot" game). but, sadly, they don't want to play pass the shoe anymore b/c they dont want to touch dirty, sweaty shoes (we live in west africa...its hot and gross here...so i dont really blame them, but i'm still disappointed.)

7. friends that have known you way too long. amy and i looked at some seriously old school pictures last night and reminisced about fun trips we've made. ole miss. ssi. lake burton. colorado. nyc. random beaches. choir tours. so good.

8. the kids at the children's home that we hang out at sometimes. you know, the "i flaturnate!" ones. today, the older boys played a football match (thats a soccer game for us americans) against the team at anna's school. and they won! 2 to 1. it was awesome. and fun to see a bunch of the older kids outside of their home. overall good day.