Half Of My Vacation and New Shoes

First of all, let me say that this post is going to be posted when I get back, 'cause I can't stay online for long (it makes my grandparents' phone busy) and this internet connection is also the slowest connection EVER. I mean, it seriously takes at least 5 minutes (if not more) to load a page! So anyways...

My time here with my Grandparents has been wonderful, just what I needed. I was going crazy in Chicago! I was beginning to wonder if I would be able to really live there for anther year! As soon as I saw my grandparents' house I felt happy and when my grandparents, aunts and I were done having dinner together, I couldn't help sighing with relief and saying how glad I was to be back. This is, after all, the house that has been most familiar to me here in the States, since every time my family came to the States we would stay here. It's been great being out in the country, hearing crickets all the time, not hearing sirens and people yelling, seeing and smelling green. And it's so nice to be living in a place with LIGHT! How I've missed being able to sit in a room with sunlight!! And there's no drama and no being on the computer all day (at work and at home). Instead, I'm working in the garden and the yard with my Grandma and also help her around the house (especially in the kitchen), I'm getting to relax, read, play cards, and watch Grandma dance around to her silly songs (Philadelphia Chickens) =)

Yesterday I finally got new shoes!! My Grandparents really helped me search ALL OVER for them and helped me pay for them. It's weird having new shoes...they're so bright and clean and narrow. I forgot that when you buy new shoes, you have to wear them for a bit before you're able to break them (I've been wearing my old shoes for more than two years now...).
It's very annoying how whatever I wear on my feet hurts me...my old shoes give me calluses on my heels, my flip flops rub my skin raw on the sides of my feet and between my toes, and my new shoes give me sores on the sides of my small toes. It's just easier to go bare foot =)
Here you can see how bad my shoes were...

And here are some pictures I took of my grandparents' flowers (you can click on them to see them bigger). My favorite one is the red and orange one =)

Interesting Thursday

Today started out as a pretty blah day, but ended up being a good one.
It's been nice working with Erica again (I worked with her on first floor for quite a bit, then moved to second floor, and now I'm moved back to first floor though I still work for second floor...I know, kind of confusing..). We have a lot of fun together. We ended up having lunch together with Carolyn in the third floor kitchen at our house. Amanda Sue (Carolyn's roommate who lives on third floor) told me later on that she could hear us laughing, so I guess we were being really loud...
At dinner time, our electricians were working on something which made the power go out in our whole building for about a half an hour. It was pretty funny going in the dining room and having to put your face up close to the food to figure out what we were getting. Once we got our food, some of us decided to go out in our yard to eat. I'm so glad we have our yard! It's not huge, but it's nice.
When I was done with dinner, Amanda Sue found me and asked me if I could help her and Andrew out with Manna. Andrew and Amanda Sue have been doing Manna for a year now. It's basically getting leftovers from our kitchen at Jesus People which will be thrown away, and setting up a spot in a park near by to give food and drinks out to whoever is there (homeless or not) and just hanging out with people.
I've helped them out with it only about 3 times. I like it and I think it's a great thing to do, but it's not something I feel called to do, you know what I mean? I'm not exactly a social butterfly...especially with weird men who start saying inappropriate things to me (ugh!). We did, however, meet this guy called Ross (who's probably in his 50s if not older) who's been living with his sister Claire in a van close to where we were handing out food. His sister has serious back problems, heart problems and is blind, so, when his parents were dying, he promised them he'd take care of her. But now they're living in that van and have cops checking on them regularly 'cause last winter they almost froze to death. Ross doesn't want to go into a shelter or put his sister in any kind of home, because he doesn't want them to be separated. So they live off of money that she gets from the government and have two sandwiches and two bottles of water a day (though sometimes he skips meals so she can have more to eat). I felt really bad for them, but honestly, my complete trust in people has gone down a bit after having so many people this past year making me believe them and then ending up being totally dishonest with me. So who knows if all of that is really true! I guess I believe him though...but, you never know. Also, I understand why he doesn't want them to be parted, but if he really wanted to help her and really wanted to get out of that situation, I would think he would go to a shelter or a nursing home or something, you know?...I don't know what to say about that whole thing...I'm probably sounding like a horrible judgmental person now.... The only thing I can do is pray for them and ask you to pray for them, too.

Anyways, after Manna, Amanda Sue, Andrew, Carolyn, Marco and I ended up watching Aladdin! It was great =) I hadn't seen it in a while. The next Disney I want to see is The Little Mermaid!! Haven't seen that is a LONG time.
Disney movies are so much fun!

Finally, I'll leave you with one last thing....I HATE FRUIT FLIES!!!

P.S. I'm excited about my two week vacation to Pennsylvania!! =)

I Could've DIED!!!

No, I'm joking. I just decided to make that the title of this post because that's what, jockingly, Erica just told me....
But anyways...something did happen just a half an hour ago...and it thoroughly grossed me out. And I'm pretty sure that it happened because our kitchen (on second floor) is being remodeled and so EVERYTHING that was in the kitchen is now in the hallways.
I was fine with all the small cockroaches that were in my room on sixth floor, I was fine with the mouse and the ants in the room that I am in now...but I am NOT fine with cockroaches that are almost as big as my thumb walking in my room!!!! And that is precisely what I had to kill. I felt it as it crunched under my shoe. That's just disgusting.
I have seen bigger cockroaches. I saw a bigger one in the sixth floor living room and I saw even bigger ones in Central America, but it's just different when it's in your room, you know?

Purple

BBC had people send in these pictures of "the color purple in Africa". I liked it. Check it out if you like =)

I can't wait for my vacation!!! This Saturday, I'm finally leaving for a two week vacation at my grandparents' house in Pennsylvania! It's gonna be great =) I've been needing to get away...

Weddings = lots of work, food, and happiness

I'm way too full and I'm pretty tired, but I feel better =)

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to face the drama at some point....but this moment of happiness and fun and not thinking about it is very nice!

P.S. I love the fact that the ceremony for this wedding started out with the band singing I Would Walk 500 Miles!! (If you've seen Benny & Joon you'll know what song I'm talking about...I love that movie!)
I can't wait for Josh and Erica's wedding!! Wow, it's only in two months! It's gonna be a lot of fun =)

I Hate Drama

I hate drama. I really really do hate it. I can't stand it. And lately there is so much drama going on in this house it's insane! It's so stupid and annoying! It makes me want to pack my bags and leave. Do I really have to live with this for another year?!?!? UGH

I Love Bread

On Fridays, we get a donation of meat, cakes and pies, and bread, good bread. So, many Fridays, when I'm here for lunch, I have sandwiches with veggies and the donated bread. And it's goooood. Unfortunately, I eat a little too much of it, because it's good eh eh...

So anyways...

Tonight I need to help decorate the room that we're going to have tomorrow's bride's brunch in. I like JPUSA weddings and I like doing the bride's brunch =) The thing that makes this wedding extra special is that it's the first "inbred" wedding here. Emily and Jeremy were born and grew up here, so it's like they're brother and sister....and now they're getting married! So, this is pretty weird for a lot of people here. I'm sure it will be a great wedding just like all the others!
And then, in two months, it's Erica and Josh's turn to get married! And it's going to be my first time being a bride's maid. I'm excited for them =)

P.S. Have you guys seen that they changed the date for the new Harry Potter movie to July 2009 instead of this November?? =(

Why Am I The Lucky One?

Lately, I've noticed how much God loves me and takes care of me. I have everything I need and when I am in need of something, I somehow get it. Yes, I am a little puzzled with the fact that I can't find new shoes, but I know that God will provide me some before the ones I have are completely broken.
Today while I was taking a walk with Hannah we walked by a woman who was talking to herself, washing her clothes in the small public drinking fountain, and squishing the wet clothes in her little suitcase.
I don't understand why certain people end up like that. Most of the single women at our shelter are homeless because they are either mentally ill or come from abusive homes, or both. Why is it that I'm safe, sane, and have all I need while others are scared, confused, hungry, abused, and have nothing?
Of course, the reason is sin. With sin in this world, there's all kinds of horrible stuff....it's not like God wants these women to have this kinds of life....
but I still feel at loss, frustrated, and sad...

How Is That Smart?

I don't get men who think they can say anything they please to women walking past them down the street. Honestly, what is wrong with them? How is it that I can hardly ever walk out of my house without some creep talking to me or just cat calling me?! It just gets on my nerves! It's stupid, silly, disrespectful, and sometimes vulgar. UGH!!
Today I even had some guys in a car whistling and barking at me....I did my best to just walk straight, ignoring them and keeping a serious face (though I wanted to laugh out loud 'cause it was so stupid).

I can't really do anything about it except praying and walk with someone wherever I go (though I hardly ever have anyone walking with me to and from work). Not that I'm in any danger...it just feels better having someone there with you...though I do know that God is always there with me.
It's just very annoying....but, yes, I need to remember what my roommate says all the time - pray for your enemies and those who get on your nerves and who you're not very patient with.
Thank you God for Jesus and all the people that you speak through! =)

A Nice Day

God is so good! Just a few days ago I was complaining to myself about how I haven't been able to really enjoy this summer, but yesterday and today were great!

Yesterday, a group of us had a nice picnic at a beautiful beach about an hour or less away from here and it was SO nice. I got to hang out with a lot of people, enjoy the natural beauty, eat good food, and play with Eben (Matt and Becky's four year old son). =)

This morning, PJ (one of the guys who works on my floor at the shelter) spoiled us yet again, with a very good breakfast consisting of grapes and strawberries! After lunch, I went outside, in our side yard, in the nice sunshine (but chilly air...weird!) with one of the books I'm reading, Face to Face With God by Bill Johnson (thanks again Randy and Linda!! =) ). I sat next to a group of moms and half read and half listened to and joined in their conversations. I love the moms at our house =). After that, I got to hang out with Hannah and go for a walk with her while sharing her iPod and singing together. It's so much fun to just sing out loud and dance down the sidewalk even though people around you can't hear the song you're listening to and look at you like you're crazy...I love it!
When we got back from our walk we then went to the Winters' room where I finally got to watch some of the Olympics!! I'm so bummed that I didn't get to see the China vs USA basketball game!! I'm sure it was great!! I had no idea basketball was so big in China!
Hopefully, I'll get to see some more tomorrow. It's a shame they only start at 7 pm here...
Ok, gotta go to bed. Night!

An Article On Aaron The Tuba Senior

Check out this article on one of our seniors!

I saw Aaron playing once while I was downtown. I didn't know anything about him, except that he's in our senior program, goes around with a tuba strapped to the back of his wheelchair all the time and looks like a happy man.

There's a beggar who's almost always across the street from the sidewalk where I walk to come to work. He's always shaking his tin can full of coins and I've always wondered about him. Some days ago, someone told me that, back in the day, he was a famous country singer. That's so sad how some people end up like that...

I Wish I Could Help These Kids

One of the things that bothers me the most at the homeless shelter where I work is hearing how the parents treat their children. When the children (babies and older) are quiet, the parents will be nice to them, cuddle them, say some nice things to them.... But if the child is crying, or wondering around, or curiously looking at/through some stuff, (basically being a child) or if the parent's having a bad day, I hear the worst things come out of the mother/father's mouth, things that a child should never hear, and it breaks my heart. They call them bad names (like stupid and worse things), they swear really bad, and just plain treat them like dirt.
And then people wonder why kids who live in this neighborhood who come from poor and messed up families and have nothing to do during the day, start shooting each other and just get into gangs and violence...

By the way, I don't think I even mentioned that a few weeks ago Tabitha (Jon Trott's youngest daughter who lives a couple blocks down the street) was walking with Naya (her 7 month year old baby) and all of a sudden found herself in the middle of a gun fight between two groups of (what she said looked like) 14/15 year old kids! She immediately dropped to the ground, holding the stroller and screaming for them to stop shooting. Fortunately, no one got hit.

Please pray for the kids (from babies to teenagers) of Uptown Chicago.

Crazy Thunderstorm!

This evening at about 8:15pm it started really pouring outside and the thunder and lightning were super loud. One really loud one made me jump and skip a heart beat! About ten minutes later we heard a howling outside and my roommate thought it was the wind (but we later found out that it had been a tornado siren). Then, at about 8:35 the power went out in our whole building (10 floors with a lot of little kids and seniors that were probably really scared by it). Betty and I went to stay in Becky's room who had candles. It was really funny 'cause the guys in our family ran up to Becky's room to make sure that her and the kids were alright (Matt's away) and then they all ran to the beach to watch the storm over the lake! During the first half hour that the power was out, Becky, her kids, me, Betty, Max and Melissa hung out in Becky and Matt's room munching on popcorn (that had been made before the power had gone out) and cookie dough (which we had wanted to bake, but we obviously couldn't anymore) and had fun telling stories and joking around. Betty called her mom (who lives about 2 hours away from Chicago) and found out that a tornado hit a family friend's house and destroyed it (the owners were safe though) and someone told us that there was a tornado downtown Chicago. The power did come back on for about two minutes, but then turned back off for another half hour again. Meanwhile, the storm had stopped.
Now, it's 11:21 and the storms been back for a half an hour and it's really thundering and raining hard! I hope the power doesn't go out again. That's the first time that's happened to me since I've been here. (Used to happen ALL the time at my parents' house in Italy, though)
I love storms! My mom says it's 'cause I was born in one =)

Ok, gotta go to bed. Night!

P.S. It looks like I've finally broken my trusty old travel alarm clock! Poor thing...It's still on, you can set the alarm and turn it on and off, but you can't set the time on it...and at the moment it says that it's 12:14pm, when it's 11:38pm...I guess I'll just have to use my cell phone now...which I hate doing...

P.P.S. Now it's Tuesday and I found this picture that someone took during the storm last night on a news website. Check it out!

An Explanation For The Giggles

"True belly laughs are important in community life. When a group laughs in this way, many pains are swept away.
Laughter is something very human. I am not sure angels laugh! They adore. When human beings are too serious they become tense. Laughter is the greatest of relaxations. And there is something funny about humanity. Little as we are, poor as we are, with all our 'animal' needs, we are called to become more than angels; brothers and sisters of Gos, the Word made flesh. It seems so ludicrous and wonderful, so crazy and yet so ecstatic. And the most rejected are called to be at the heart of the Kingdom. Everything is upside down. No wonder some people at sacred moments have the giggles"
From Chapter 11, Celebration, in "Community and Growth" by Jean Vanier

Ironically, Erica and I used to get the giggles a lot during this class (which was taught by Neil Taylor, one of my favorite pastors of our church). We sat in the back and would start giggling and laughing over something silly (or sometimes over nothing at all) and couldn't stop. Not that I ever do that....haha