"Adjust, Adapt, and Overcome" or "Baking Cookies in Europe"

I have a friend who is one of those "in-right, out-right, up-right, downright happy all the time" people. He sees the good in every situation. And I do mean, every situation. Lose a hundred Euros? Someone else probably needed it more. Car breaks down? You needed the exercise. You get the idea (this is why I didn't tell him my ipod broke...he would probably say it's my opportunity to hum more). His favorite phrase is: adjust, adapt, and overcome. He says this phrase alot. If I had a nickle for every time I heard this phrase, I would have enough to buy a new ipod touch (but not here because you can't spend nickles here!). I put this phrase to use last week.
I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies. I have a friend here who has brought me apple cake twice recently, so I wanted to make her some traditional American chocolate chip cookies (I feel more patriotic just by typing that!). There are a few problems with making chocolate chip cookies in Europe. First, my recipe uses Fahrenheit temperature and my oven says Celsius. No problem, I will use the unit converter on my cell phone to figure it out. I will adjust. Problem two: there is no stick butter or shortening here. Okay, there is a butter-like substitute that comes in a 1 lb (or whatever kilo) block and my mom sent me a little stick of Crisco for rolls for my birthday. I will adapt. The butter-like substitute is alot tougher than butter, and my mixer is alot weaker than an American mixer...so it breaks. I mix by hand. I have overcome.

By some miracle of the Lord my cookies turned out delicious and my friend loved them. I'm reminded of a lady who also used cookies to befriend people in a foreign land. I'm hoping you know who I mean. If not, e-mail me and I'll fill you in on her story. The moral of my story is whether your problem is a strange language or a butter-like substitute, it will help to remember the little motto: adjust, adapt, and overcome.
My cookie dough and broken mixer


The finished product. Proof that miracles happen!

The Day the Music Died

Last night my ipod died. Big whoop, you might say; buy another one. It's not that simple, it's not just the loss of an ipod, it's the loss of music. Anyone that knows me knows that I love to sing. Ever since my first solo at 2 years old, I've never felt more at home than on a stage singing my heart out. Music means so much to me! I've taken lessons, been in bands, sang in ensembles, had solos, but not this year. I was told when I got here there would be places for me to sing, but this has not been the case. My life has been devoid of music and it's been rough. It's like loosing a part of myself, like I'm not whole. Singing has been such a big part of my life that now, I don't even feel like myself. Now fast forward back to the ipod. You see, the death of my ipod isn't just the loss of an mp3 player, to me it represents the loss of the last bit of music I have in my life. No more listening to Sinatra on the bus, no more Beatles when I go walking, no more Josh Groban while cooking, and no more Selah on Sunday mornings (yes, I have a really broad range of music I like!). I could buy another one if I wasn't afraid my computer was about to die. That's what happens when you are an adult: you have to make tough desicions. Oh well, this is going to be interesting. Well, I'd better go, I'm planning a healing service for the ipod...bring on the annointing oil!

Bethany the Adventurer

I don't know if you can tell by looking at me, but I consider myself an adventurer! If you read my New Year post, you may remember that my resolution this year was to truly live my life. To put this plan into effect I embark on at least one adventure per week. This adventure may be something as big as traveling to another country, as small as visiting the market on a particularly crazy day, or as strange as carrying a giant cardboard cutout of Megatron (the Decepticon leader from the Transformers franchise) down the street at 9 p.m. I am having so much fun on my adventures of the week. I would highly recommend this practice to everyone. You can have an adventure of the week no matter where you live and what you do for a living! I like to think that life is a choose-your-own-adventure book. Most people just don't turn the pages of their book, or even take it off the shelf! Life is short, don't waste it! This weekend my adventure was supposed to be skiing (something I've never done) but the above freezing temperatures have made this an impossibility (drats!). No worries, I will find a new adventure. I challenge you to take an adventure this week. Take a walk in the snow (don't forget your camera!), try a new food, visit an unfamiliar part of your city, I don't know, it's your book-choose your own adventure (and let me know what you tried!). Become an adventurer! You'll never know what you'll find and who you'll meet. Good luck and adventure on!

And here are some pictures from a few of my adventures. I won't tell you what the adventures were, you'll have to use your imagination!

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

I've always been a fan of kite flying. To me there's nothing better than a day out with your family enjoying the breeze and furiously trying to launch a bundle of plastic, sticks, and strings into the air. I had never seen a spiritual meaning behind kite flying, but there is here!

Monday was "Clean Monday." Clean Monday is the beginning of Lent, when the locals stop eating meat until Easter, they also fly kites...and dance. The kite flying high in the sky is supposed to represent the soul drawing closer to God. Hmm, I've never thought of it that way, but I like it! Last year I was not able to fly kites because it was raining. I had been waiting all year for this day to experience this amazing tradition. On Monday we finished school early and walked the mile and a half to the festival. There was traditional music and dancing going on (I have been told there was food, but it was long gone by the time we got there!). My friend said we could use one of her kites instead of buying one of the ridiculously overpriced cheapo kites on the corner. Excitedly I watched them unfurl the beautiful kite with it's long tail and...no string. That's right! After a year of waiting and a mile and a half of walking I would not be flying a kite. Oh well, to quote the philosophers Richards and Jagger: "You can't always get what you want." Maybe I'll continue this tradition back home.
Flying high

Kite flying on Clean Monday

As if we needed another reason to sing and dance!

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of arriving in Europe. I remember stepping off the plane and realizing I definitely wasn't in America any more. I was hearing a strange language and crowded onto a bus with people that didn't look like me. When I arrived I had no idea where I would be staying, this had not been revealed to me. I was very blessed to stay with a couple who I had met once in the US because I was their daughter's RA in college. It was a good first apartment, then I moved...and moved again, and again, and again, and again, and again! 7 moves in one year. Even for me, that was alot!

This has been a surreal year and I have changed so much! When I left home, I had only visited one country outside of the US, and now I've been to 8! When I first arrived I was terrified to ride the bus by myself, and now I am confidently hopping on and off buses, trains, and plains alone and going downtown or to a different country. I have my own apartment, I'm learning to cook (for less than 200), I am teaching teenagers, I've taught ESL, worked with refugees, and generally grown up!

While it's hard living in a foreign country, the hardest thing about this past year was being away from my family. There have been changes there as well! My oldest brother graduated college and moved, the younger brother moved and has his first girlfriend, the youngest got a good job and is not the youngest anymore! Baby Philip came into our family, and changed everything. I have missed so much! I know I'm where I am supposed to be, but that doesn't make it any easier. I still miss holidays, major events, and birthdays. My birthday is in 2 weeks, and I know no one will remember it or make a big deal about it like my mom always does. I won't get my "special day" or eat lasagna and cookie cake and drink Dr. Pepper. *sigh*

Yes, it has been quite a year. Next year will hold just as many changes and I can't wait to see the adventures life has in store. So buckle in, here we go for year number 2!

Who Dat!

WHO DAT! GEAUX SAINTS!

If you haven't already figured it out, I am a huge New Orleans Saints fan! Sadly, I wasn't able to watch any games this year (for some reason, they don't show them on tv here!). I kept up with the scores and watched the play by play online, but didn't see a game. I've always knew the Saints would make it to the Superbowl, I just didn't know when (and that my friends is called "faith"). I found out my beloved Saints would play in the Superbowl while at a conference in Germany. I know all my friends could see the joy when I heard the news! I knew I had to watch this historic occasion on tv! Lucky for me, some of my friends have British satellite tv, and they were broadcasting the Superbowl live! Sunday night at midnight (the game started at 1:30 a.m.) I suited up (complete with Saints t-shirt, fleur-de-lis earrings, mini Saints helmet, Saints fingernails, and a gold headband) and headed out to watch the game. It's about a mile walk to my friends' house and it was raining...but I didn't care! I had my umbrella and I danced down the street (listening to "We Will Rock You" and "Eye of the Tiger") like I was back in Nawlins.
If you didn't see it, the game was a nervewracking one! I was so nervous the whole time, but I knew they could do it, and they did! I must admit, I shed a tear or two when we won! When I left the party (at 5:00 a.m.) it was snowing and I ran back home and called my family. What a great feeling! I think I updated my facebook status 5 times or so! I just wanted to tell everyone! Then I blasted (well, as loud as you can at 5 a.m.) "We Are the Champions".

Why don't we have this kind of excitement about other things in life? Why don't we get excited about our faith in God as we do our faith in football? I want to get excited! I want to have the desire to tell everyone I know about the power of my God! This is my goal: to have a "super" excitement about my faith!My game day fingernail art!

Lunch on game day: gumbo!

Ready for the game!



Saints fandom runs in the family: my little brother Philip shows his pride!

Fun in the snow!

This week I went to Germany for a work conference. By the time I got off the plane I thought I was in Narnia. I grew up reading the epic C.S. Lewis books with my family and have always imagined what it would be like to walk through the magical land. Well, now I know! As soon as I had checked in I grabbed my trusty Nikon and headed outside to explore. I wish I could explain how magical it was! I so impressed by how deep and pure the snow was! It was phenomenal. I went sledding, hiking through the snow, and just let my imagination run wild. Before I knew it I was walking with Mr. Tumnus, hiding from the White Witch, and riding along with Aslan. I am so thankful for the chance to be a kid again. Sometimes we need to take a step back from reality to remember the wonder that life used to hold. I hope I never forget my trip to Narnia! Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy! Love to you all!Where's Mr. Tumnus?

Fun in the snow!

New Traditions

Today I learned a Greek tradition: βασιλόπιτα. My students have Greek lessons at my house, and the Greek teacher brought us a βασιλόπιτα. βασιλόπιτα (or Vasilopita) is translated "Santa Claus Pie" and is traditionally served during the month of January for the new year. Greeks bring this tasty treat to friends houses for the new year (I guess I have a friend!).
There is a particular way to cut and serve this bread. First, using the knife, you make the sign of the cross three times to bless the bread. Second, you cut four pieces you do not eat: one for Jesus, one for Mary, one for Santa Claus, and one for the house. Third: the head of the host family gets the first piece (that was me!). Fourth: everyone else is served a piece starting with the eldest and working down to the youngest. Hidden inside the βασιλόπιτα is a coin. Whoever finds the coin will be the most blessed in the new year (sounds kind of like the baby in the king cake!). I was really hoping it would be me (I need to find a fella!) but our coin was in between a student's piece and Jesus' piece.
I love learning new traditions and maybe I will continue this tradition when I come home! Oh the things you learn when you live in Europe!

βασιλόπιτα

My Resolution

Wow, it is 2010 already? That is just not right. I know people always say "I had a crazy year," but I think I can say that with great authority this year. In 2009, I moved 8 times. I lived in 2 continents and 3 countries. I've traveled to 8 different countries. I've taught English, taught school, and did environmental work. I starting learning a new language, and gained a new brother. I hiked Mt. Olympus, watched the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower, and eaten gelato by the Coliseum. My life was crazy last year. The scary part is that it looks like 2010 will be just as crazy!
Many people would find this kind of life frustrating, but I find it exhilarating! I don't think I'm cut out for staying in one place doing one thing. There is so much to do, and too much to see to stand still! I spent New Year's Eve in Paris this year. While 2009 became history and 2010 became present, I decided to make my New Year's resolution. Instead of resolving to "live healthy" or "live happy" I have decided that my resolution is simply to live! Just because you are breathing doesn't mean you are truly living. Life is short! Don't let another day go by without making the most of it. This year don't be content to try to get through, do something extraordinary! Make every day an adventure! This year, I hope you join with me and resolve to truly live in 2010!

(me at the Eiffel Tower last week)

Christmas in Europe

"Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call, their favorite time of the year," Boy, I love that song! Nothing quite says Christmas like Charlie Brown. Up until now, I've known what to expect from Christmas: family, chex mix, decorating the tree, and Charlie Brown on tv. This year it will be a little different. I'm in a strange city with different customs and no family around.

At home, my mom and I always decorate the "girl tree" (the tree we don't let the men in the family touch because they don't have our decorating skills). This year I borrowed a Christmas tree from a friend and decorated it myself. It's not quite as elegant as our beautiful burgandy and gold draped Christmas miracle. Mine is sparsely spotted with bright green and pink ornaments, Christmas lights that blink and play off-key Christmas songs (well, they have the ability to blink and play music), and is topped with a New Orleans Saints helmet (Who Dat!). It's also empty underneath. I'm not too upset about there being no presents underneath, I don't need anything, but I've always loved arranging and rearranging our presents under the tree at home.

This year, I won't be sitting at home in my pajamas opening presents so early baby Jesus would disapprove. This year I will be joining my family via webcam to watch my family open presents and see my brother's first Christmas. I guess I'll wear pajamas, although my neighbors might wonder why I'm in my pj's at 4 in the afternoon! It will be different, but I know I'm still connected with my family by a force stronger than geography: love (insert giant "awww" here). I am blessed to know more love from my family than most people know in a lifetime.

Even though I'm not at home this year, I'm going to try to save a little bit of Christmas tradition. I'm going to make my chex mix (which has been shipped piece by piece by loving family members), and settle down in front of the computer to watch Charlie Brown on youtube. Hopefully, this change of scenery and tradition will allow me to focus on the true meaning of this holiday season. If you're a little unsure of what that reason is, Linus can tell you!

(my Charlie Brown inspired Christmas tree)

I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For...

Do you know that movie, "Holiday Inn?" It's one of my favorites of all time. I get so caught up in feeling sorry for Bing Crosby's character, Jim Hardy, as he loses his girl (not once, but twice!) to his best friend Ted Hanover (played by the one and only Fred Astaire). One of the best scenes in the movie (in my opinion) comes after Jim has lost the girl and shut down Holiday Inn. He's moping around on Thanksgiving thinking about the things he had lost. He's listening to one of his own songs, "I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For" that lists his many blessings, and yet he is looking at all the negatives. It's only after Mamie (the spunky housekeeper "Is yo name Mamie?") talks some sense into Jim that he gets back into the right mindset.
That's how I was this Thanksgiving. I have so many things to be thankful for: the best family ever (sorry, it's true!), a great job, the amazing opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and above all, forgiveness and grace! And yet, amid all of my blessings, I found myself focusing on the negatives: missing my brother's first Thanksgiving, not having my Thanksgiving food, things to that extent. These things are big deals, but in the grand scheme of things, the blessings still greatly outweigh the negatives! It was only through a word from my mom that I realized how bad my attitude was. In an e-mail my mom told me that she would rather have an empty chair at home than have a disobedient daughter. Isn't that great? I guess sometimes you just need a swift kick in the pants from Mamie to get back on track. Thanks mom for being my Mamie!

Days like today

I'm no superhero. That might surprise some of you, but I am not perfect. I've had my share of rough days. Today is one of those days. Doing Dad's work doesn't make you exempt from difficult days. It's a few days before Thanksgiving and I'm halfway around the world. Thanksgiving has always been our big holiday at home. It's my mom and my favorite time of the year. For the past 2 years I haven't been there...and it stinks! I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to, but that doesn't make it any easier. Especially today. My students have been giving me a hard time today, and it just makes me miss home even more. It reminds me how good I had it at home. I know I'm supposed to be a grown up, but I miss my mommy. If any of you know any multi-millionaires looking to spend extra money, you can suggest that they buy my mom (and other family members if they are that kind of multi-millionaire) a ticket to come see me! Also, it's my baby brother's first Thanksgiving, and I'm missing it. I love my job, but I still have "those days."

Me? Hiking?

This past week I went on a hiking trip. All right, you can stop laughing! I know I have never seemed like an outdoorsy person, but I am an Autumn person. I LOVE the Fall! I think I get it from my mom. On a normal day I might pass up a hiking trip, but when a friend suggested a trip to Mt. Olympus to see the Fall foliage, I just couldn't say no. What an amazing day! The drive up was breathtaking, the vivid colors reminded me of my childhood and Autumns filled with "mixed up play-dough" trees.
Living in the city sometimes I forget how beautiful God's creation is. It gives me shivers to think about the majesty of nature. I know it's there, but I tend to forget, I tend to think the city in which I live is the entire world. I have to escape to remember how vast the world is. That's how it is with God sometimes. We get so used to one aspect of God that we forget how powerful and mighty He is. Sometimes we must take a step back and look at the big picture to appreciate God's might. Sometimes it takes a huge event for us to realize His might, and sometimes all it takes is a red leaf.



Thank you to Mr. Carl Boberg for the following thoughts:

When through the woods

And forest glades I wander

I hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook

And feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

When mountains become rocks

I recently went on a trip to Meteora. You haven't heard of Meteora? I'm not too surprised, I hadn't heard of it until I came to Europe. Meteora is one of the most stunning sites I have ever visited. It is listed as a "holy place" and I can see why. Amid the mountains of Greece, gigantic rock formations jut out of the ground and seemingly straight into the sky. I was completely awestruck driving through the mountains, in and out through visible proof of God's majesty. It was phenomenal. On top of some of these enormous stone pillars are monasteries and nunneries. They were built on these precarious perches so invaders would not be able to reach them. I had an amazing time climbing on rocks and staring down into space.
As amazing as these natural wonders were, I found one thing more incredible: the people that lived among these breathtaking bluffs referred to them simply as "those rocks." They had lived among this majesty so long that it had become less breathtaking, less awe-inspiring, less majestic. It reminds me of what happens to some that grow up in the church. We grow hearing the accounts of the power and majesty of God, but they become so familiar that they lose their power. When we treat God as something commonplace, something so familiar, we run the risk of Him becoming "just God." Sometimes we need to take a step back and remember that the God who is our friend and Father is the God who spoke a word and created light, who stretched out His hand and calmed the sea. We need to sit and revel in His majesty every once in awhile, because it's only when we take a moment to wonder that rocks can become mountains again.

Being short in Europe stinks! Literally!

If you have met me, you know that I have an altitude deficiency. In other words, I am vertically challenged, lacking in average elevation, yes, I am short. In the United States this is not always a problem, but in Europe this can prove to be most unfortunate. For one: they do not sell petite clothing in my part of Europe. All the jeans are about 6 inches too long. Not pleasant for the rain. Also, not being able to speak the language makes trips to the grocery store more difficult: I can't ask for help getting things off the top shelf!
The most frustrating part of being less lofty than normal people in Europe is taking the bus. If you are unaware, the average man in Europe does not wear deodorant, or at least they don't smell like they do! My current height is exactly at armpit level. Lucky me! On a crowded day on the bus there are no seats and no room to move around. It's extremely uncomfortable! Even if you do get a seat, you have to give it up for an older person. You might get a few moments of relief when the door opens, but the moment that door closes you enter back into a wave of odors that rival any NFL locker room on a Monday night.
On the plus side, I'm getting better at holding my breath!

A lesson in the sun

As you might know, I have recently started teaching. I am teaching 3 high schoolers and 1 middle schooler. I thought I would be teaching by now, but I thought I would be teaching my own kids by now. You see, the plan was to graduate college, get married, then move to a new country. But, as usual, God has other plans. I'm still single, but I'm overseas teaching 4 kids (not my own).
Anyway, I only started teaching these kids last week and, to be perfectly honest, I was looking for a way to get them on my side, to be the good guy. So I decided to take them downtown for P.E. Instead of running or doing sit ups, I took them downtown to walk around by the sea. We walked around, went to Starbucks, goofed around a took silly pictures. I didn't feel sunburned while I was out, but it turns out I got sunburned. No big deal. It wasn't until I was getting ready for bed that I noticed my tan line. There was a small white spot under my neck, what was it? As I got closer to the mirror, I realized what it was. I have a small white cross where the necklace I was wearing was located. At first I thought it was kind of funny. Then I had my epiphany.
***CAUTION: cheesy comparison will follow***
I got this strange tan line from spending alot of time in the sun. I now have the image of the cross on my skin. When we spend time with the SON, we come away with the image of the cross on our spirit. The more time we spend with the SON, the more others can see the cross on our lives. I don't know, just a thought.

My Introduction

So, I figured I would start a blog. My mom has a blog and I truly enjoy reading about her adventures. Maybe other people would be interested in my adventures. I don't live an extremely interesting life, other than living in Europe. I've lived in Europe the past 6 months. Unfortunately, I don't speak the language yet. I've usually exceeded in language studies, but this is different. I am a 25 year old Southern girl from the deep South in the United Sates. You haven't heard funny until you've heard s Southern girl try to speak Greek. It's not pretty. I haven't had the crazy language mistakes that some of my friends have had, but I fully expect to in the near future. I'm here in Southern Europe as a teacher. This week was my first full week of school. Things are going pretty well. I can't wait to start recording the crazy day-to-day events I experience.
So, that's my introduction blog. Now that you know a little about me my crazy stories will make more sense.