Extreme Sheep Riding

Last week my sister and I ventured over to the county fair in search of a little relaxation and entertainment... and partially out of curiosity as to what excitement awaited small town adventurists braving the inevitable overabundance of our beloved sun's sweltering luminosity during fair week. We were not disappointed. As we meandered through the parks sprawling exhibits of cheap sun glasses, Can-Am three-wheelers, vacation package display boards and henna tattoo booths, the drawling words of a "mic"ed cowboy floated past our ears and the lively laughter of an engaged crowd drew us in. Wandering over to explore the commotion, we were greeted with a sight that resulted in an audible burst of laughter from my lips. An old cowboy and a young rascal in chaps and a cowboy hat riled up the crowd in preparation for a little tyke's 10 seconds of glory. Suddenly a ball of fur being ridden by a pair of flailing arms and legs and a helmet bobbing up and  down flashed from a mini containment pen and zipped across the center arena sending wood shavings flying as the child rider come spilling off seconds later to the roaring applause and amused laughter of the gathering crowd. The child shot to his feet with a grin of accomplishment and slight bewilderment and gazed after his four-legged friend as the excited sheep shot through a gated opening at the far end of the arena and ran through a corridor back to the starting area to await being remounted by the next brave youngster with a thirst for thrill. Suddenly wishing I were 9-year-old, 85 lb girl again I watched in amusement as the next  rider flew through the gate and managed to hang on most of the way across the arena before sliding off the bolting sheep just before reaching the gate at the far end of the arena. The cowboy with the microphone clicked his stopwatch and shouted the youngsters time for the crowd before applauding the boy and turning to the next contestant. The whole feel of bull-riding was replicated in such a miniature and strangely adorable fashion that it made me smile the remainder of the day and even now as I think back. This randomness is one thing I love about small town fairs.

If the "ultimate sheep riding" wasn't enough, the Butterfly Exhibit ("flutur ekspozitë" as I wanted to call it in Albanian) sure topped it off. As we walked into the small makeshift building through what looked like plastic grocery store slats that kept the butterflies from disappearing we were greeted by a smiling gentlemen with a basket of Q-tips in hand. He explained some "do's" and "don'ts" of butterfly interaction and set us free to roam about the room, find bowls of nectar to dip our Q-tips in and pick up the butterflies or gaze at the chrysalis containing monarch and painted lady butterflies ready to emerge. If you were lucky you even got to watch the process!
As the butterflies flitted around, many even landed on my clothes or head voluntarily! I've always loved butterflies and this definitely put a smile on my face.

To top the day off (after checking all clothes for clinging butterflies!) we wandered on over to the food court to find ourselves some delicious fried sausage with onions and giant funnel cake covered in strawberries and whip cream (come on, it's half the experience!).
Blasting the country music on our way home I smiled and thanked God for a fun-filled "sister day". It's the little things in life but it's also the people you share them with and I'm thankful to have a sis who helps me smile and enjoy life wherever we go.

Letting loose...

Not too long ago some friends and I made it out to a small lake named Shelegur in the Albanian mountains for a day of canoeing and swimming on our day off. The sun shown brightly and glittered on the surface as we unloaded and shoved off into the jade-colored water with our paddles poised. The morning passed in a blur of laughter, water volleyball, and exploring but when I think back I smile most at the remembrance of our "mud art" endeavors. As one would stand in the shallow end of this exquisite lake there could be found a remarkable supply of squishy, rich brown medium at anyone's disposal. So, we proceeded to have a little artistic fun. Who knew mud face-painting could be such a laugh.
Sometimes I think it's the silly things in life that bring the best memories and a smile in harder times. So go ahead, let lose and make some memories you'll remember...oh, and don't forget to visit them as often as possible :)

Life is...

As I rode my bicycle down a mountain road outside of town today I literally began shaking with excitement at the exquisite beauty around me. The sun was beginning to set, snow capped ridges loomed in every direction and my feet peddled just a little faster as the wind toyed with my loose hair and then I noticed a bright sphere rising above me. Stopping to take a picture I realized there was no way to capture or put into words the deeply complex and serene beauty before me.
I glanced behind then at the concrete dome bunkers that my friend Emily and I had just come from and instantly grinned, soaking up the remembrance of simple pleasures the day had held. Having biked up the mountain to a place we call the "alien world", the two of us sat and enjoyed our Pepsi and chocolate bar picnic atop one of many large, abandoned bunkers snuggled away among the hills behind our school. They serve as a remembrance of times not so long past when communism ruled and the threat of invasion was forefront in many ways.
   In 1990 Communism fell in Albania but much remains as a reminder of former days and thinking. Everywhere I walk scattered rubbish contrasts the beauty of the hills and new buildings sit next to aged, decaying structures that have almost become landmarks in some ways. At first arrival I found myself rather frustrated at the lack of care and respect shown by so many and even tried to change some of the people who I knew but even that simple act of throwing rubbish on the ground seems to attest to something deeper, a way of thinking that I'm only beginning to understand. Some of which I don't always agree with, but many I find very eye-opening and thought provoking.
   Being in a school with more than 6 different Nationalities and 3-4 different languages has given me a new appreciation of diversity for one. A favorite moment here was being in church the first week (before any of us foreigners had learned any Albanian) and listening to worship songs sung in 4 different languages. Astonished by this profound encounter it took me by surprise the sudden camaraderie I felt with not only the new friends I had acquired that week but with Christian brothers and sisters around the world. I realized in that moment, standing in a little stone church in rural Albania, that I was experiencing a mile marker. Always I've had a difficulty relating when anyone talked about Christians in other parts of the world but when we were all singing together the world seemed to shrink like a balloon being kissed by needle. I had a flash of all God's people standing together with their faces turned up to God and a crazy, joyful song bubbling out. All of us were like brothers standing together. There was no racial or cultural dividers, no language barriers.
God understood them all and with Him there was no need to worry about clarity of translation.
I could almost see His face filled with tenderness and joy...even laughter, as our small assembly lifted their voices and clapped their hands in joyful delight of the Savior. Somewhere deep within I could feel an ear-to-ear grin Bubbling up like helium under water and it surfaced with a burst of laughter and singing. God is worthy to be praised.

   I don't know what exactly God has for me in the days, months...even years ahead, but I am excited because my journey is with Him.

The adventure Begins

It is an odd feeling to be standing inside an abandoned army bunker looking down over the San Francisco Bay and seeing nothing. The sound of cars whirring by below fills my ears and fog mists over me like a gentle rain. The foliage I can see reminds me of a forsaken rain-forest and I am struck by the gentle serenity of a place that used to be filled with violence, anti-air missals, and large machine guns.
As we hop in the car and meander down the narrow coastal road I have to smile a bit at the beauty of God's artwork and wonder at the throngs of people who unknowingly pass by it every day.
Now as I write I can't help but see a parallel between Christ's redeeming love and the craziness of our hectic lives. So many times I find myself being distracted by things that seem good but missing the most important or beautiful things that God has to offer. Much like walking right by a beautiful waterfall or serene and majestic rain-forest in favor of the draws of the concrete jungle. There are so many interesting and amazing things to do and experience in a city but there is no real comparison there for simple beauty found in nature. There is something to the saying, "Take time to smell the roses." Enjoy the complexities of everyday life but take time to slow down and enjoy the little things, the simple beauty that can be found if one takes the time to simply look for it. I'm beginning to believe that those things really give life meaning. Like small gifts from God to make us smile :)