Yes, it has been a long time. That is the thing about blogs. No, that is the thing about any relationship- communication is key. It really feels like a unkept friendship! We have not talked in a while, things have happened here, things have happened there. So much to share. Easier untold. More time passes. More things happen. Now, I want to talk to you but where do I begin. Where do I start?
Well. Those are silly thoughts and I say no to them! They will not keep me from this blog post! And, I hope for any of you, readers, if you have that "long lost friendship"-- go get 'em. You can't always share everything and not many things are even meant to be shared.
But, I'd still like to catch you up: Morocco, Whitney, rest in Ronda, family, grad school application, grad school essays, more grad school essays, passing days, cooking and cooking. Maybe in the future (though I doubt it) I will back track on some of the more worthy topics, like Whitney :-)
Morocco: Dark. I didn't sleep. Weirdest experience of my life. I know God's love better as a result.
Whitney: More of God's love. Freeing. Joyful... and happy. Shared words and eye contact that I treasure. Exchanges that showed me God's smile for his beloved children.
Rest in Ronda: It has felt like home. The people, the streets, the stores, the cobblestone, the ways I take to this or that place. The library (which does not have internet, I might add, but that makes me love it even more).
Family: My church family. Man, they are special. I can say at this point they have walked with me through some ups and downs here. I see glad hearts that worship in spirit and in truth. I am humbled when there are six of us at prayer night and I peak my eyes open to see our pastor, and lead musician, worshiping God with such heart that he is on his knees while playing guitar. And only on his knees for Jesus. It is beautiful and an image I hold dearly. So, yes, this family, they are my friends and my buddies and people I have laughed and cried with.
Grad school applications: More time consuming than I would like. That is all I will say about that for now. The writing process is fun, more or less, though.
Passing days: I am thinking how weird it is that I come home in two weeks. I CAN'T WAIT!!
Cooking and Cooking: Fills my heart!!!!! I have gotten to cook two days in a row for two different families!! YAY! The first was for my family- Fernando and Reyes. (Oh, and last weekend Fernando taught me Paella). Let me just pause and say, I love them. So much. Fernando has a father's heart and treats me with such care and fatherly love. It really is special. I feel protected and cared for. They don't have a daughter, just a son... and sometimes I think it is a gift to all of us that I get to be here right now. :-)
Okay, back to cooking. Dish one: Curried butternut squash soup (roasted carrots, roasted red pepper, roasted garlic, onion, curry, lemon and honey) and quinoa with cranberries, toasted pistaschios, carmealized onions, honey-lemon chicken and lots of butter. Fernando was my right hand man in the kitchen. While eating (oh man we ate so much) these were the words spoken: Oh, Oh, Que Rico!! Haha, it was so fun...and special :-)
Then, today I cooked for Eugenia and Emelio, a woman and her husband from my church. I made, of course, the same curried butternut squash soup minus carrots and a cous cous veggie-chickendish. I made a paste/thick sauce/dip thing with lemon, honey, roasted red pepper, spinach, white beans and butter (and some spices). That was in with the cous cous. It was suppose to have basil but I forgot other countries sell things that are actually in season. So that was great too. :-) After lunch, Emelio showed me his photos and photo editing software for a good hour and a half. It was super funny and one of those things I wish you could have been there to experience. But, man, warm my heart.
So. There is that. Long overdue but, hey, no pasa nada!
