winter

well, it's been about 55 degrees every night and morning lately. you might be thinking that sounds great. but when your life has been a steady 75 degrees every day for a year, 55 is like the antarctic. it's amazing how fast the body can adjust to a climate. i have spent the last 2 weeks in pants, sweatshirts, and socks. even in bed. under a thick, thick comforter. evenings are spent under a fleece blanket on my couch drinking tea. today is the first truly warm day we've had for awhile. finally! thank you, God.

some friends of mine are out of town for 6 weeks this summer. i was over at their house eating lunch the other day (we barbequed pork. hooray for generous friends letting people use their house in their absence!). i was looking through some old pictures sitting on their bookshelf.... and i came across a picture of someone i know. the now husband (they were still dating back then) of my flatmate senior year. if i had to estimate, i'd say the picture is at least 5 or 6 years old. it was a little shocking to find that in there. just a photo of him sitting on some cabin steps, smiling into the camera. the world somehow got smaller when i moved to indonesia. btw, floyd, you should ask aaron how he knows the linegars.

we got one new family here last week. another arrives today. it's fun having new people around. no new single teachers this year though.

i have two new neighbors... and i'm getting a new pembantu next week. i'll miss ibu santi, but one new neighbor is bring her ibu with her, and there's not enough work for 2 ladies. our apartments are pretty tiny. my new neighbors are such a blessing... amanda and hannah.

we've already had dinners and late night talks together, and amanda took me out to buy me new dishes for my house. after a year, i can finally get rid of my awful missionary sunflower print dishes. :) i definitely feel like i'm going to have to work hard at being as much of a blessing to them as they already are to me.

oh, remember glory, my TA who i was working with before and after school to prep for the math SAT 2?  well, i got an email from him this morning saying that he got an 800 - a perfect score - on the test!  i'm SO happy for him!  but i'm even happier about the fact that in his email, right after he thanked me for my help, even though i hate waking up early, he said that he knows that all the praise and glory for this accomplishment go to God.  our students are such incredible Godly people, and i love them.