Dear Jacque,
Easter passed again this year and, as in the past 7 years, most of my thoughts about Easter are about you. I remember Easter seven years ago and to me, you embodied what Christ did for us.
You describe the depravity and darkness of humanity without Christ and, with such power, you told me about the victory Christ has over that darkness. What an amazing testimony. I can only hope that you still live and pray and tell others of that magnificent story. I do, every Easter.
So whether I spend Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or Resurrection Sunday in church, at home, walking the streets, or whatever, I remember you. I remember the beauty that God created in you and how, that Easter seven years ago, God showed us his amazing and unconditional love.
With all the best God has for his people,
Kelly
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Blog-Worthy
Yeah, I know, a lot of time has passed. But things have been sort of same-o, same-o here at the UN. And on top of that, America has not been feeling well the past several weeks and the UN has been starting to anticipate more member nations/territories in a couple of different capacities so there has been a mild bit of up-hevel in the month or so that has passed.
Last night, laughter erupted however. America was tired (to say the least...doesn't it always start that way???). And Fiji, America and Korea were sitting around the living room talking about stuff in general and movies came up. America made the remark that Honorary Spain thought there was quite a bit of difference in watching American movies in Spain verses watching them here in America. So, America being o-so-curious wondered if Korea felt the same way.
"So do you notice the difference in watching American movies in America...Fiji...whatever country you come from?" Far before the 'whatever country you come from' came out of America's mouth, America knew she was in trouble. There was no answer to that question, at least not for a while...
There was too much laughing at America. America laughing too.
Apparently though, there is no difference to Korea to watch an American movie in "whatever country Korea is from". LOL...quite literally.
Honorary Spain spent the weekend with us this weekend and America thinks it did everyone a bit of good all the way around. Friday night was spent with just America and Fiji (so nice to have a night by ourselves!) because Korea has been practicing ever-so-hard for the World's Talent Showcase (School's Talent Show) that is coming up this Saturday. Spain came Saturday afternoon and stayed till Sunday. It came as a shock to Spain when Spain realized that he only had about 30 days of school left. Shocker...10 months of school down to 30 days. So, after all the ups and downs of the trip America believes there is new motivation to seek out some things that Spain, perhaps, has been missing. Time to cross things off the bucket list!!
Along with the World's Talent Showcase, Korea also started playing Tennis...do we have another international athletic competitor on our hands???
Korea has been talking mostly about coming back. There seems to be a good chance that Korea will be back in the UN next school year which will be cool because America, Fiji, and Korea already know each other and so all that awkwardness will be avoided next fall...at least with Korea. America and Fiji are thinking of adding another country too...Fiji is voting for another Asian country: Taiwan, China, Japan, Vietnam, ...the list goes on... America thinks spicing things up with a little European flavor wouldn't be terrible but then again, biting off more than America can chew is not necessarily something that appeals to America at the moment. All things considering, whether Korea has another member nation from her region of the world or not, America is definitely up for adding a territory to the UN!
...Two or three member nations to the UN for next fall?! You may think we're crazy, and we probably are, but only time will tell who lands at GRR and steps over our door steps!
Last night, laughter erupted however. America was tired (to say the least...doesn't it always start that way???). And Fiji, America and Korea were sitting around the living room talking about stuff in general and movies came up. America made the remark that Honorary Spain thought there was quite a bit of difference in watching American movies in Spain verses watching them here in America. So, America being o-so-curious wondered if Korea felt the same way.
"So do you notice the difference in watching American movies in America...Fiji...whatever country you come from?" Far before the 'whatever country you come from' came out of America's mouth, America knew she was in trouble. There was no answer to that question, at least not for a while...
There was too much laughing at America. America laughing too.
Apparently though, there is no difference to Korea to watch an American movie in "whatever country Korea is from". LOL...quite literally.
Honorary Spain spent the weekend with us this weekend and America thinks it did everyone a bit of good all the way around. Friday night was spent with just America and Fiji (so nice to have a night by ourselves!) because Korea has been practicing ever-so-hard for the World's Talent Showcase (School's Talent Show) that is coming up this Saturday. Spain came Saturday afternoon and stayed till Sunday. It came as a shock to Spain when Spain realized that he only had about 30 days of school left. Shocker...10 months of school down to 30 days. So, after all the ups and downs of the trip America believes there is new motivation to seek out some things that Spain, perhaps, has been missing. Time to cross things off the bucket list!!
Along with the World's Talent Showcase, Korea also started playing Tennis...do we have another international athletic competitor on our hands???
Korea has been talking mostly about coming back. There seems to be a good chance that Korea will be back in the UN next school year which will be cool because America, Fiji, and Korea already know each other and so all that awkwardness will be avoided next fall...at least with Korea. America and Fiji are thinking of adding another country too...Fiji is voting for another Asian country: Taiwan, China, Japan, Vietnam, ...the list goes on... America thinks spicing things up with a little European flavor wouldn't be terrible but then again, biting off more than America can chew is not necessarily something that appeals to America at the moment. All things considering, whether Korea has another member nation from her region of the world or not, America is definitely up for adding a territory to the UN!
...Two or three member nations to the UN for next fall?! You may think we're crazy, and we probably are, but only time will tell who lands at GRR and steps over our door steps!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Four Words:
"Is it done yet?"
Oh my goodness! When all the anticipation of Superbowl Sunday finally came rolling around, those were the famous words of Korea. The country did good...stuck it out till the end of the first quarter before something else caught her attention. America thinks it was because of the whoop-la over the commercials more than anything. Then the next day in school, Korea found out that all the best commercials deserved class time. What school does that???
After the first quarter, Korea would go back to her little camp and then come up every half hour or so to check on America and the happenings up in the living room. She would poke her head up and say those four magic words (even though America said that the broadcast lasted until 10pm. "No, not done yet. But you missed a good commercial!"
"is the football game still on?"
"Yep. Couple hours yet."
"Is it...?"
"Nope."
"..."
Anyway, the day after the Superbowl Korea came home and laughed with America (and honorary Spain) about the best ones, a few were mentioned (America's personal fav's: m&m and the VW/Starwars Sequel; honorable mentions are the Betty White commercial; most noble being the halftime in America) and thoroughly enjoyed by all three countries.
America fizzled out too after a while. The country lasted until the middle of the third quarter before the commercials seemed to no longer be up to par for the Superbowl. But really $3.5 million dollars for a 30 second spot and they fizzle out in the third quarter...that's a lot of money to spend outside the making of it and to not be putting your best foot forward!
Today, America is thankful for IOC for promoting international and friendly competition.
Oh my goodness! When all the anticipation of Superbowl Sunday finally came rolling around, those were the famous words of Korea. The country did good...stuck it out till the end of the first quarter before something else caught her attention. America thinks it was because of the whoop-la over the commercials more than anything. Then the next day in school, Korea found out that all the best commercials deserved class time. What school does that???
After the first quarter, Korea would go back to her little camp and then come up every half hour or so to check on America and the happenings up in the living room. She would poke her head up and say those four magic words (even though America said that the broadcast lasted until 10pm. "No, not done yet. But you missed a good commercial!"
"is the football game still on?"
"Yep. Couple hours yet."
"Is it...?"
"Nope."
"..."
Anyway, the day after the Superbowl Korea came home and laughed with America (and honorary Spain) about the best ones, a few were mentioned (America's personal fav's: m&m and the VW/Starwars Sequel; honorable mentions are the Betty White commercial; most noble being the halftime in America) and thoroughly enjoyed by all three countries.
America fizzled out too after a while. The country lasted until the middle of the third quarter before the commercials seemed to no longer be up to par for the Superbowl. But really $3.5 million dollars for a 30 second spot and they fizzle out in the third quarter...that's a lot of money to spend outside the making of it and to not be putting your best foot forward!
Today, America is thankful for IOC for promoting international and friendly competition.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Weekend at the UN
Well, it was a good weekend at the United Nations. We had lots of fun! Honorary Spain made an appearance and spent the night...just like old times, our Haiti representative joined us for all of Sunday, and we had dinner by a representative from Guatemala. Sound like a great weekend? ...Don't you wish you lived here!
Friday was pretty normal... It was the end of exam week and Korea, America believes, finished strong despite some questionable performances in the exam room. America thinks there was a bit of relief when Korea walked out of that last exam but was surprised to hear that the country had extra credit due!??? Well, apparently there is a borderline grade involved and assurance was needed to boost that little sucker up to a point of confidence. At any rate, Korea still celebrated the end of exams by spending the night out. Yay for Korea!!
Saturday, after Fiji did the normal volunteer work for food aid to the world's hungry, the host-member-nations went to see Spain compete in world sport competitions. Spain came home with the UN and stayed that night. Spain and Fiji went to see a movie, America tended to Korea after the country went to stir the economic pot at the mall with native allies. That night was spent at the UN Headquarters with all four member nations under one roof once again.
Sunday was simply an amazing day - or so America thought. The long lost Haitian representative made an appearance for the first time in a LONG time: America can hardly remember - it was a warm day (and not warm by January standards, real warm) and Korea had just become a new member of the UN when Haiti asked America to help move the geographic location back to an institution of higher learning. So...long time.
We participated in religious activities - went to church - and we were quite the collection: Fiji, America, Haiti, Korea, and Spain (that's what you get when you mix a Fijian and an American). After church, we had lunch, watched a movie, took a nap all before the UN returned to church and then had dinner hosted by Guatemala. It was delicious. The weekend was great!
Today America is thankful for the United Nations. Although they were originally built upon the principles of maintaining something like world peace or, at least, positive international relations in the post World War Two era, the United Nations has fill our lives (Fiji and America's) with abundance. But then again, I guess we really have to thank God for that!
Friday was pretty normal... It was the end of exam week and Korea, America believes, finished strong despite some questionable performances in the exam room. America thinks there was a bit of relief when Korea walked out of that last exam but was surprised to hear that the country had extra credit due!??? Well, apparently there is a borderline grade involved and assurance was needed to boost that little sucker up to a point of confidence. At any rate, Korea still celebrated the end of exams by spending the night out. Yay for Korea!!
Saturday, after Fiji did the normal volunteer work for food aid to the world's hungry, the host-member-nations went to see Spain compete in world sport competitions. Spain came home with the UN and stayed that night. Spain and Fiji went to see a movie, America tended to Korea after the country went to stir the economic pot at the mall with native allies. That night was spent at the UN Headquarters with all four member nations under one roof once again.
Sunday was simply an amazing day - or so America thought. The long lost Haitian representative made an appearance for the first time in a LONG time: America can hardly remember - it was a warm day (and not warm by January standards, real warm) and Korea had just become a new member of the UN when Haiti asked America to help move the geographic location back to an institution of higher learning. So...long time.
We participated in religious activities - went to church - and we were quite the collection: Fiji, America, Haiti, Korea, and Spain (that's what you get when you mix a Fijian and an American). After church, we had lunch, watched a movie, took a nap all before the UN returned to church and then had dinner hosted by Guatemala. It was delicious. The weekend was great!
Today America is thankful for the United Nations. Although they were originally built upon the principles of maintaining something like world peace or, at least, positive international relations in the post World War Two era, the United Nations has fill our lives (Fiji and America's) with abundance. But then again, I guess we really have to thank God for that!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
UN Update
Well, nothing too eventful has happened at the United Nations. This week is exam week and Korea has been busy studying and studying and studying some more. America could not imagine the exams going bad in any sort of way with this amount of studying.
Fiji has had some much deserved time off of work. With Christmas, New Years, and MLK's Birthday, it's a wonder that he even knows what a full week of work is like. It's good though, as long as there are students that are somewhat interested then he will be more than happy to teach them.
America has been busy, to say the least. New clients keep her on her toes, right along with clients that are near the end of their time in counseling. America seems to not have sit down and relax for quite some time as there is always something to do: workouts, paperwork, clients, and little odd and end things.
Honorary Spain has been doing good, managing to pass the time without the excitement of his native land. Exam week has brought quite a different schedule and as a result, the hide nor hair has been seen of the Honorary Nation. He will be showing his head later this weekend, after exams are over. It will be nice to be a headquarters of four again, it will be the first time for Spain to spend the night since the resignation of the nation. America is looking forward to it but probably has to do some grocery shopping first!
America is thankful for Canada...there always seems to be peace in Canada.
Fiji has had some much deserved time off of work. With Christmas, New Years, and MLK's Birthday, it's a wonder that he even knows what a full week of work is like. It's good though, as long as there are students that are somewhat interested then he will be more than happy to teach them.
America has been busy, to say the least. New clients keep her on her toes, right along with clients that are near the end of their time in counseling. America seems to not have sit down and relax for quite some time as there is always something to do: workouts, paperwork, clients, and little odd and end things.
Honorary Spain has been doing good, managing to pass the time without the excitement of his native land. Exam week has brought quite a different schedule and as a result, the hide nor hair has been seen of the Honorary Nation. He will be showing his head later this weekend, after exams are over. It will be nice to be a headquarters of four again, it will be the first time for Spain to spend the night since the resignation of the nation. America is looking forward to it but probably has to do some grocery shopping first!
America is thankful for Canada...there always seems to be peace in Canada.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
It's 3AM
Here at the United Nations it is 3:20 AM. In Korea-land it is 4:20 PM. In Spain-land it is 9:20 AM. Eh...at least we're all in the same day and if America worked 3rd shifts still, it would also be a reasonable time for all the nations!
Something struck America the other day: at 7:20AM, when the United Nations Mobile leaves Headquarters there is no traffic going into school...we don't even need the 'Stop-Guy' (Korea's name for the Crossing Guard who safely escorts students across the street to school) to hold up traffic so the UN can dart across two lanes of busy traffic!
That is so odd! I remember a blog post in which the UN-Mobile ("Oh My Word" November 3, 2011) left early and the world about stopped, right in front of the school and the UN sat there, starring at the goal waiting until the sea of lights parted (looking back on it now, America thinks that the Stop-Guy was the only thing that allowed safe passage) before attempting the dangerous feet of moving 24 feet (8 meters).
How could such a thing happen? In the grand scheme of life, nothing really had changed: one nation in the car instead of two, just barely minutes before the the previous trip, and yet everything had changed! There is not even a hint of the impending traffic jam brewing.
It has been cold here. Spain, America thinks, had given up on the fact that it was cold. Ever since the funeral when the definition of cold was felt (and it has been colder since, once or twice) Spain has not worried so much about the temperature. Even to the point where the cold weather gear (hats and gloves) were still at the United Nations, lonely and awaiting some sort of warmth in their lives! Oh well, even though America cares a lot about Spain's welfare, the fact that Spain has changed it's geographical location just means that America has to draw a healthy UN boundary and allow this to slide (oh my goodness! has America just stepped aside where it could have imposed it's way!? What is the world coming to???). Spain received (finally) the "parting blessing" after leaving the UN. ..It was exactly one month late.
Well, 3:31AM has arrived and there is a slight bit of tiredness befalling America. The alarm goes off and the day stats in exactly 1 hour and 14 minutes. Thankfully there is time for America to take a breather during the day to regroup!
Something struck America the other day: at 7:20AM, when the United Nations Mobile leaves Headquarters there is no traffic going into school...we don't even need the 'Stop-Guy' (Korea's name for the Crossing Guard who safely escorts students across the street to school) to hold up traffic so the UN can dart across two lanes of busy traffic!
That is so odd! I remember a blog post in which the UN-Mobile ("Oh My Word" November 3, 2011) left early and the world about stopped, right in front of the school and the UN sat there, starring at the goal waiting until the sea of lights parted (looking back on it now, America thinks that the Stop-Guy was the only thing that allowed safe passage) before attempting the dangerous feet of moving 24 feet (8 meters).
How could such a thing happen? In the grand scheme of life, nothing really had changed: one nation in the car instead of two, just barely minutes before the the previous trip, and yet everything had changed! There is not even a hint of the impending traffic jam brewing.
It has been cold here. Spain, America thinks, had given up on the fact that it was cold. Ever since the funeral when the definition of cold was felt (and it has been colder since, once or twice) Spain has not worried so much about the temperature. Even to the point where the cold weather gear (hats and gloves) were still at the United Nations, lonely and awaiting some sort of warmth in their lives! Oh well, even though America cares a lot about Spain's welfare, the fact that Spain has changed it's geographical location just means that America has to draw a healthy UN boundary and allow this to slide (oh my goodness! has America just stepped aside where it could have imposed it's way!? What is the world coming to???). Spain received (finally) the "parting blessing" after leaving the UN. ..It was exactly one month late.
Well, 3:31AM has arrived and there is a slight bit of tiredness befalling America. The alarm goes off and the day stats in exactly 1 hour and 14 minutes. Thankfully there is time for America to take a breather during the day to regroup!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year's at the United Nations
Sorry that last blog was forever long. This one will not be that long.
But Happy New Year!! I'm sure the world will not end. For those America knows in countries 13 to 17 hours ahead, the word is that the world has not ended. America will definitely keep you posted though on all things earth-shattering.
America would like to inform you that Korea is 14, 15, and celebrating her 16th birthday today. Had America known that Korea was turning 16 today, there would definitely be cake involved in the NYE celebration but this was all cleared up less than two hours before the 2012 graced us with it's presence. Korea also said it was okay not to celebrate her 16th birthday today but instead to celebrate her 15th and 16th birthday in April. Wow. America now thinks she should have been Korea because then she'd get two birthdays per year and be twice as old and twice as wise! (Just think of the brilliance!!).
Fireworks, the ball drop in GR, and all other festivities were had. Honorary Spain is...somewhere. Hopefully not sleeping on a street somewhere.
America is thankful for Fiji, it rang in the new year first and it has been great so far! (okay, it's 12:07, I do realize that).
But Happy New Year!! I'm sure the world will not end. For those America knows in countries 13 to 17 hours ahead, the word is that the world has not ended. America will definitely keep you posted though on all things earth-shattering.
America would like to inform you that Korea is 14, 15, and celebrating her 16th birthday today. Had America known that Korea was turning 16 today, there would definitely be cake involved in the NYE celebration but this was all cleared up less than two hours before the 2012 graced us with it's presence. Korea also said it was okay not to celebrate her 16th birthday today but instead to celebrate her 15th and 16th birthday in April. Wow. America now thinks she should have been Korea because then she'd get two birthdays per year and be twice as old and twice as wise! (Just think of the brilliance!!).
Fireworks, the ball drop in GR, and all other festivities were had. Honorary Spain is...somewhere. Hopefully not sleeping on a street somewhere.
America is thankful for Fiji, it rang in the new year first and it has been great so far! (okay, it's 12:07, I do realize that).
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