Monday, November 21, 2005

non-Thanksgiving

Good morning!

It's a typical Monday morning here in the Jiménez household, and I'm feeling the lack of sleep from the weekend -- maybe one of these days I'll learn how to get to bed "on time."

This past week was good, even though there weren't any holidays. It certainly felt long, and I kept waking up thinking it was Friday!

Finally Friday came, however, and it was good! Alicia, one of my "students" at home, turned 7 so she had a party for all her friends at the ice-skating rink, which meant that I got the day off. After my private lesson with my friend Feli, I headed into Madrid with my little suitcase and enjoyed my first Friday night like a normal 22-yr-old since I've been here. Isaac and I went to the SIMO, an annual technology exposicion. It was neat, but apparently it's been better in the past years. Besides, we didn't have more than 1 1/2 hours, and it needed more time than that to see it thoroughly. BUT, we did get to sit in a Ferrari... haha.

Then we went to the home of one of Isaac's coworkers. María and her husband, 2 other gals, and Danny (who you may remember from pictures of Segovia). We had a lot of fun, just talking and laughing, and looking at the wedding pictures/video (apparently our hosts just got married in May).

We didn't get to bed though until about 2am, and I felt really bad because Isaac had to work on Saturday. I got to sleep in, however, and didn't even crack my eyelids until nearly 11... it was great.

Yesterday was Youth Sunday, and I was in the youth choir to sing in both services. I also gave my testimony in the morning. As usual, I wasn't nervous until about 3 mins before, but ended up reading most of it. Considering it was in Spanish, I'm pleased with how I did. I pray that those who heard were encouraged to exhibit the joy of the Lord.

I was thrilled because my friends Mary and Feli were both able to come (although Feli arrived late and missed the song and my testimony, but she was able to stay for lunch). I take hope in these words from Isaiah 55:10-11: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Now I face another full week, and I'm trying not to think about the pumpkin pie that is being consumed this week in the US. For those of you who didn't know (or simply haven't thought it through), there were no Pilgrims or Indians here in Spain, so we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here. It's kinda sad since it's one of my favorite holidays, but I certainly think I would be more homesick if everyone here was with family and traditions and I wasn't. Besides, Mom said we could make a pumpkin pie at Christmas :)

Hope y'all enjoy your holiday, and relish in the many blessings that you've been given. I know I'm giving special thanks for all of you, even though there's no turkey! Until next week...

Soli Deo Gloria...

Monday, November 14, 2005

short

Ok, I don't have much time.

Not a whole lot to say anyway. Mostly, it's getting really cold. We can still see the light at the end of the "when are we moving" tunnel, but it doesn't seem to be getting any closer, so it will be a surprise when we finally go. Also (and part of the reason I'm so rushed for time on here) is that I finally bought a ticket for the second half of my trip. I return to Spain on Jan 4, and back to the States on July 5 -- so if you're getting married or doing anything else important next summer that you want me to attend, make sure to do it after July 5, ok?

I now have a stretch of 3 weeks without any holidays, which will be rough since we've had so many lately. It also means that I won't be writing at least until next weekend, unfortunately. Hope all is well there :)

Soli Deo Gloria...

Monday, November 07, 2005

news - both good and bad!

Good morning! While most of you are still sleeping (primarily due to the 6-hour time change, which makes it 3:25am there!), I'm gonna fill you in on a bit of the latest news. Make sure you wake up before reading this though, or you'll lose some key stuff.

I'll start with the bad news. Last night, while we were in the evening service at church, someone came in and stole my camera and Miriam's camera from the back room. A little frustrating, considering that I just bought it with graduation money this summer, and it was a sweet camera. And moreso, because now it will be very hard to get pictures to post for you guys. Ugh. We're gonna see if the churches insurance will cover it, but it's doubtful.

Now the good news. This might be old news for those of you who are more observant and know how to read between my lines, but I've been informed that I need to be more straightforward, so here it is -- Isaac and I are dating, and have been for a little over a month. Things are going well and we're enjoying life, although we only get to see each other on weekends due to our work schedules (and that fact that I live "where the wind turns around", to quote a Spanish refrain). He officially has a ticket to come home with me for Christmas on Dec. 23, so those of you who are around can plan to stop by on New Year's Eve to meet him :)

As for more regular happenings... Pablo (Isaac & Miriam's brother), his wife Sara and daughter Marta were in town this weekend from Sevilla. We got to play magical beds here at the house, but it was good to see them again and meet Marta for the first time (she was born in March after I left 2 years ago). She is precious, but I think my blond hair wigs her out a bit... not quite comfortable with me yet! I'd show you pictures but...

Things at work and "home" (i.e. "the other work") are fine, although there's been another delay and it's looking like it'll be another good week or two or more before we move. So much for the hope I had last weekend. This past week was super short, since we had Mon & Tues off, and this week we have Wed off. Yeah for random holidays!

Ok... I just had breakfast and chatted with Sara, and now I'm gonna be late for work.

Soli Deo Gloria...