Freedom at what cost?

Dad chickened out. The rooster will live on.

My gift to you this year

I know that Christmas is over and it's passed the time that people will listen to Christmas music, which is why I'm not posting a Christmas song right now.

This is a new holiday classic.

It will spark the joy of the giving season and put you in the mood for sharing.

The one thing I ask is please Don't actually watch the video just listen. It's ridiculously stupid and makes the song look dumb and the song isn't dumb it's a new classic!

Enjoy,

Texas Lights.

In case you can't make it out to Granbury, Texas to see the magical music lights for yourself you can check it out here.

It's true we do make things bigger and better in Texas.

The rooster is dead

Okay, it's not dead yet but will be tomorrow.

I know this might sound strange to some, this talk of killing animals for meat but while I was living in Tchad I became used to the killing of our animals. If we were to eat chicken for diner it had to come from somewhere, so it would come from our yard. If we were to eat our Christmas lamb it also had to come from somewhere, which was of course our yard. After that year

of free range, organic meat I also decided that if I ever did eat meat in America then it would have to be of the free range variety.

I would often help Clarice or Ama pluck the chicken in the afternoon before supper. It wasn't that bad, in fact I found it to be very educational. I learned about how feathers grow, where their joints are and how intricate the design of the chicken is. I never did the actual killing but I was there when the Christmas lamb was slotered. It was a new experience for me.

Tomorrow I am going to do the whole job, partly because I want to prove to myself that I can, and no one else wants too. I want to know that in my future if I am living somewhere or trapped somewhere I can take care of a bird or animal myself and survive. It's okay if you don't understand, I've realized most people don't and that's okay. I'm not scared, I'm sure I can do it. It will simply be a mind over matter and I will meet the challenge head on.

Cinderella waits as does Principe Azul

She is out there. My Cinderella. She is real. She exists. I pray for her constantly. May God satisfy the desires of her heart, draw her close, consume her. May He claim her passions, her identity, her refuge, her hopes, her strengths and weaknesses, every fiber of her being. May she treasure and cherish her Savior more than anything of this world and cling to His will with every ounce of her stamina. By all that she is, does, and strives to be, may He draw near to her and she to Him.

Written by Adam Young, of Owl City fame, on his blog.

Gone, burned up.

Grønvold, my beloved Norwegian house.

*My bedroom is the small window to the left.
*This is my porch and kitchen and bedroom (back) window.

*My living room/kitchen/dining room

*My bedroom.

My flat in Norway burned down to the ground early this morning (Dec 26). The whole building is gone. Gone.

I loved that house. I know it's only a place but it was so cute, warm, cozy, colourful and it held so many great memories. Now that's all it is, memories.

No one was hurt in the fire, most all the students were gone home on holiday. Aparently the fire started in the living room. As with most all Norwegian houses they are built completely of wood. This particular house was really old, they told me last year that it

didn't even have indoor plumbing until the last 10-15 years. So the

wood was really old and

easily burnable.

It's strange to think how this would effect me if it had happened 12 months ago.

25 Days of Christmas.

Here's to Christmas Cheer!

25 days of wearing Christmas joy.

*it's hard work, I can't say I'm not glad it's over.

Click to see a larger view.

Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas.

Norway's giant gift of a Christmas tree to Berlin, Germany. Brandenburger Tor, 2009

I've grown so much in these last few months. My understanding of how people function has increased greatly, my knowledge of survival in the world, both wilderness and city, has grown and I've been challenged to see things from different perspectives and I've been stretched in my cooking skills. I've gained confidence in areas I have wanted to for a long time. like dirt biking, driving big yellow machines and stating my overall opinion.

I feel like I really have been in the school of life.

Thank you God for this gift.

Thank you that I have friends to share life with.

Thank you that you haven't forgotten about me or given up on me.

Thank you for reminding me of all that I have been given and all the people who care about me.

May they be blessed with more good memories than they can count and so many smiles their face hurts.

Amen.

Games, it's all in the family.

Something I really like about coming home is the evenings. At my mom's house we always sit around the table and play a game. My grandpa, brother, mom and me. We play for hours and hours. Tonight the game of choice was golf. My aunt and cousin came over for early Christmas celebrations and the 6 of played two rounds of 9 'holes' of golf. It was great fun. I didn't win any over all games but I came close on the first hand.

After the other family left my brother, mom and I played Settlers of Catan. I love that game. We played ALL the time in Tchad towards the end of our time there. So tonight I shared the Tchadian rules with my family. My brother won, but I almost did. If it hadn't been almost 1:30am I might have beaten him, but I was getting distracted by the clock. (a silly excuse I know)

There have been times when I didn't want to play games in the evening. Times when I was not in the mood, I was on break from college or had just gone through an emotional time in my life. But we always play, even when I don't want to. It might sound harsh but in reality I guess it isn't. My brother usually forces me to play and be civil to the family and by the end of the game I'm winning and have forgotten all the stresses of my heart. It's a tradition that I love. I love how we don't sit around the TV and watch silly sitcoms or movies. We talk, we play, we share and we laugh. Oh my do we laugh! It releases things inside and allows the heart to breath freely. I recommend it in every household.

Come on over Saturday night and we'll play Uno or Golf or Skip-Boo or a plethora of other games.

Things I think about while en-route.

The beautiful Sierras capped in snow, out the window of my plane.

Things I think about or do when traveling.

• Sometimes I like to touch the outside of the plane as I step into it because it touches the air at really high elevations and some how it feels like that should be dangerous to touch.
• Sometimes I like to NOT get a drink from the flight attendant. I think that maybe I'm making things easier and that I'm brining the overall cost down one soda at a time.
• I used to imagine great stories to tell people about myself, but I've realized that the truth of my life is much more exciting.
• Talk to my neighbor

On that note; let me tell you about the great conversations I had yesterday.

On the first flight I sat next to a woman from Clovis, CA. We both chatted it up. It started as they usually do, with me talking about how I live in Yosemite and how awesome that is. We talked about lots. Yosemite, marriage, family, travel and God. While talking about church and how she felt things were changing in her spiritual walk and she wasn't sure what might happen next, I felt impressed to pass on to her my copy of Steps to Christ. We are studying it at camp on Mondays and just finished the chapter on consecration yesterday. There had been so much information cram packed into that tiny chapter that I kept it in my purse to reread parts of. So I gave it to her. I gave someone literature. That makes it twice now in my life I've given out a book. I think that's cool. It was good to talk with her, I think that was what God wanted all along.

Then things got even crazier! Honestly earlier this week I had talked with God about how I really wanted to talk to people on the plane, to be honest not because I wanted to witness but because I wanted to share and talk things out. And God heard and added His agenda to my flight.

The flight from Phenix I sat next to another great person. He and I started talking and ended up talking the entire way as well. We talked about the usual, Yosemite and how awesome it is and how lucky I am to live there. Then we talked a lot about culture and the importance of it. Language and how we should teach the second language to our children. The difficulties of learning a new language and living in a new country. Whales and how sad it was to see a big huge one washed up on the shore on the coast of CA. Traditions and the enjoyment of sharing them with friends and we talked about my job and his job and my possibilities for a future (that's where God let me talk about what I wanted) Oh and did I mention he was from Iran? The whole conversation wasn't about boring things or the kind where you just nod your head and are polite but it was a good conversation where everyone is asking questions and answering questions.

I liked my flights, they went fast. I enjoyed the chatting. I thank God for the adventures that I was able to have.

90's girl no longer.

I have graduated from the being the self proclaimed 90's girl to a modern girl with a sliding phone.

I almost had to travel from Fresno, Ca to Granbury, Texas without a phone! How crazy would that be? As if people haven't been doing that for years and years before now. Sheesh. I was, however, kinda looking forward to it. Just think of the adventure, not knowing where my ride was, not knowing if I would ever be found because I had no way of calling anyone. It could have been epic. To bad.

So now that I am a part of the Keele Verizon family I can call you if you have a Verizon number or after hours or on the weekend and I can text anyone I want as much as I want.

Right now I'm at the Fresno airport and I'm excited to be traveling again. I've decided to make this holiday vacation be very good. To help keep me active with what I'm doing and makeing sure I am doing things that matter to the world, or at least are adventurous, or at least require me to get dressed I am going to blog everyday.

"Booring", you might say to yourself, "who wants to listen to Sonya everyday".

Well to that I say, "Who wouldn't?"

If you get a chance email me your number and I'll give you a call, or a text or I might just show up at your door.

Assistant Cooks log.

Star date: 121920.10

We've entered into the monsoon season of winter months here at our base camp. The days have been getting drastically shorter and drastically slower. The troops, however, are holding it together boldly.

These last few days we've seen many a bold and noble troops leave the base camp for outer societies. Our numbers wavered greatly the day most left, at midday it was just the Commander and Chief, Captain Handal and I holding down the fort. That day we lost half the servicemen and women. However by the next day we had gained the same number back in temporary troops.

It's been interesting meeting so many of those passing through. There is a group of three going out to the outer country of Guatemala via a bo-bo bus. Their voyage will start before the rains stop, they leave tomorrow.

The others passing through our humble base camp are the family members of the great Maintenance Director, Lieutenant Commander Gabel. They are gracing us with their stories of the early years of the Lieutenant Commander.

The monsoons. They have been going on for days, and days, and days. The rain started well before our esteemed members left our sides. Now the rains refuse to freeze into snow and they keep inviting themselves over for dinner. The rivers are swelling, the roads are filling and the mountains are falling.

I find it hard to enter my living quarters as the natural path in has been filled with rain. Even the tracks left by the strange, little train are filled with rains from the sky.

Soon if things don't change I will need to find reinforcement, a boat, a bigger umbrella and a pair of waders.

Shasta's moment to NOT shine.

Both the children unsaddled their horses and the horses had a little grass and Aravis produced rather nice thing to eat from her saddle-bag. But Shasta sulked and said No thanks, and that he wasn't hungry. And he tried to put on what he thought very grand and stiff manners, but as a fisherman's hut is not usually a good place for learning grand manners, the result was dreadful. And he half knew that it wasn't a success and then became sulkier and more awkward than ever.

~A Horse and His Boy.

Oh how I hate it when that happens! I hate how things go down hill fast when I am in a sulky mood. I'm a tiny bit grouchy, perhaps I'm tired and people don't mean to say anything aggravating but it happens and then BAMB, I try to do something to make my situation better and BAMB, again! I've become sulkier and more awkward than ever. Oy.

I do think however it's nice that when I'm at that point in the downward spiral God sends in help, sorta like a shooting star that dazzles the night sky and distracts you from a slice of death. BAMB, here's something to laugh at, BAMB, here's something to distract you from your sulky awkwardness, BAMB, here's hope for your day.

These moments happen, they'ved happened before and they'll happen again.

Here's to the people who pull us out of the sulky, awkward moments.

A woman dreamt in her sleep.

It was a bright starry night.

The night air was good for sleeping.

A woman fell asleep, and she dreamt.

There were people at her childhood home.

She was there with them. There was to be a wedding, her wedding.

She was excited as were the people.

As dreams go she found a change.

She was pregnant. With twins.

She even felt the two heart beats on her stomach.

There were people that needed to be told.

The fiance, the parents and the friends.

It was a strange occurrence and she knew there had never been an act to cause a birth.

The people were told, the parents were next.

She, amidst the people, turned to her fiance and said,

"I want the world to know I love you. I want to still marry you"

The dream ended.

The thoughts did not.

The thoughts did not.

My new answer to the BIG questions in life.

"Many are unable to make definite plans for the future. Their life is unsettled. They cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often fills them with anxiety and unrest. Let us remember that the life of God's children in this world is a pilgrim life. We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. 'By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.' Hebrews 11:8.

Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, That our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.

Too many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will 'keep the feet of His saints.' 1 Samuel 2:9.

God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him."

~Ministry of Healing, 478,479.

This saves so many sleepless nights, it saves so many panicky moments of awkward questions it means so much. It means it is okay that I have no answer to give my family when I go home at Christmas. It means I don't have to have a 5 year plan, I don't have to have my life planed out, I don't know how it will all end. PRAISE GOD. It means I can take things one day at a time, take the step that God shows me when it comes and not before. God is directing my steps and I trust with the faith of a little child.

I'm excited, as usual, about my future. What is it you ask? I have no idea, at least no idea that is set in stone. And I'm excited about it. I am listening to God's voice and I've been hearing some things, it just takes time and that's okay with me. I'm a bit like Moses and need some more convincing. But I am committing my ways to Him, He will direct my steps.

I hope and pray that you read this quote and are reassured that it's okay to not know. It's okay to take it one day at a time, it's okay to live a pilgrim life.

I think.

Woman

yet as a petal

you always tell the wind

to sing beneath the moon

as a mist blows

me to death

can i have the man i want

love is frantic

if you leave a void will

take me to crush out spring

winter drools white eternity

ache not but dream easy

live life here

sea & sky a watery whisper

a rainy garden of roses

after bitter storm

spray of summer light & shadow shine

time. . . trudge. . . worship

he is a gift of love

to suit your beauty

I think.

*written by Andrea and Sonya on the back of their door.

**Sponsored by Magnetic Poetry, find your inner poet.

Red and Green day 4.

Since college I've had a tradition of wearing Christmas colours everyday of December leading up to the BIG day, December 25. I find it a way to spread the Christmas joy and it's a time where you can wear red and green without feeling like a Christmas ornament. I also like the challenge of finding something to wear that hasn't been worn yet in the last 25 days. So far so good (however it's only day 4). Although I must say it's not as much fun when I know that there are only a small handful of people to appreciate my hard work on finding things to wear. This year however I discovered that my friend Kimberly is also celebrating Christmas with clothing as well. She inspired me to take a picture every day to post. She's inspiring like that :)

Here's day 4.

Winter Snow with no Earthquakes.

Yosemite Valley, November 2010 by Sonya.

For Andrea.

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.

"So it is."

"And freezing."

"Is it?"

"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

~The House at Pooh Corner

Brighten up a little Andrea, at least we haven't had an earthquake.