Early September

Okay, I'm going to be honest here: I really do not feel like blogging right now. However, seeing as I'm about to be out in Ireland and Scotland in a couple days, I decided I just need to sit down and overview a few recent things before I come back and need to write about that trip. So here it goes...

I was quite pleased when the St Giles Fair came into town last week, especially since I was missing the West Texas Fair (ahh fond memories of last year...). I didn't ride anything (the only ride I wanted to ride on was 5 pounds - that's almost $10!), but I did buy some delicious fudge, rhubarb and custard candies (I had no idea what they were either; they're really good though!), and ate half of Anne's YUMMY chocolate and strawberry crepe. It was really neat seeing the contrast between the old buildings and the new fair equipment. The fair took up all of St Giles Street, which is huge, and it stopped traffic and everything. It smelled so good: you'd walk five feet and be smelling donuts (which they had a lot of... it seemed to be their version of funnel cake, hah), then you'd walk another five feet and smell meat, then another five feet and the scent of sweets would engulf you.

Last Friday our C.S. Lewis class walked down to Magdalen College and wandered around the grounds for a while. It's amazing to me how all these buildings can be so intricate. I wonder why people would have taken so much time and care just for a building. However, I do like them a LOT more than any modern building. The other day I was walking down a street with newer buildings and it just felt wrong... it didn't feel "Oxfordian." It did make me feel more like I was back home though... which was good and also not good.

Okay, so like the past two days we've been having amazing weather; meaning, in the 70s and sunny. So a group of us decided to go to the Botanic Gardens (partly because it's for a class and partly because we couldn't pass up the opportunity to be outside). At the garden, there were different little houses, each with a different type of climate and the plants that grew in that climate. I was excited to see a Venus flytrap, because I think they're cute. Also, out on the grounds, we saw J.R.R. Tolkien's favorite tree... which is kind of random (that he even had a favorite tree there) but really awesome. It was this huge old tree and quite majestic. I have a picture down below.

I have this song stuck in my head from church yesterday... at St Aldates, they seem to have this practice (at least, the two times I've been there) of getting all the children up in the front with the band to sing a song or two and perform the motions that go along with the song. So, they sang this song yesterday that went something like this: "My God is big, my God is great, my God is fab and He's my mate..." I don't remember the rest of it, but that part just keeps playing over and over in my head. I think it's really funny that they'd call God "fab," first of all, and then "mate"... I felt a little strange singing it because I don't think I've ever really thought of God that way before... I mean, He's my friend, but I wouldn't necessarily characterize Him as "fab" (whatever that means --- I associate it with phrases such as "Fab Four/Five" or other silly monickers preteen girls give their group of friends). I dunno, maybe it's just that connotation of the word that makes me feel funny about that song. I am, however, realizing that God is in control, even here. Psalm 139 (my favorite Psalm) reminds me that He never leaves, even while I'm thinking that He's not here, even while I'm having trouble finding Him, even while I keep focusing on myself. I guess it's just been a little difficult to find time and place to really get into the Word and to pray deeply like I used to. I feel like I've been disrupted. I really miss the Quiet Place - that was my favorite place to pray. Even though we do have amazing places outdoors here, such as University Parks, I sometimes just want to be completely alone, without any distractions.

Alright, so that wasn't too bad. I took 43 minutes to type/think this up. :) The next time I post it will be about Dublin/Edinburgh! Be ready! haha

peace

This Is Actually An Assignment, But I Am Posting It As An Entry (ignore the citations)

Before Saturday, I had never thought “strolling across the countryside” (Bailey) to be a definition for a particular activity. Although I had read that “rambling” was the action in question, the idea served only as a label in my mind of an English trademark. After Saturday’s ramble, however, the words were brought to life, and I realize that the reason for the origin of the delight makes sense. Bailey tells us that rambling birthed from workers in industrial cities who sought a “perfect recreational antidote” to their bleak working conditions. Even though I have not been in harsh working conditions, this weekend’s walk surely did some good to my own mind and body; I can hardly imagine how the original ramblers felt at their escape.

The first leg of our journey was from the town of Dorchester to Little Wittenham. We walked through some kind of garden, where a man was tending the plants. The flowers there were beautiful. I had never before seen a sunflower as big as my face! We then walked “around” a field with huge, cylindrical bales of hay. The path we followed made it so that, being behind the rest of our group, I was able to see the single-file line we made. I found it quite humorous, actually, because it reminded me of a chain gang, only we were doing this for enjoyment (and we weren’t actually chained together). I wondered if the English ever ramble with this many people at once or if they keep it down to a smaller number. Personally, looking back on the entire experience, I would have rather rambled alone. I find it more difficult to enjoy the outdoors purely for its sake when I’m with others. Maybe it has something to do with nature’s special sacred silence, which is not really silent at all.

All the while, we were walking through green. The intensity of the greenness everywhere, topped off with the rolling clouds, formed a sandwich, with us in the middle. We crossed the Little Wittenham Footbridge and soon we were at a field. There were a few people there walking with their dogs, and one man was even jogging with his canine. I noticed a single wooden bench facing the area from whence we had come and realized that we had gradually climbed above much of the land of the surrounding area without even knowing it, due to the slight slope. The bench symbolized, to me, the English people’s love of nature. It said that, although they love walking out in the open, they also love to just sit and meditate on it, soaking it all in. This love brings them to advocate and participate in conservation institutions, such as the ones Pickle writes about in his paper. I am thankful for their efforts and appreciate their tenderness towards God’s creation. I can only hope and pray that they hear Him declaring His glory through it like I can.

I think the hardest part of the entire journey was from this field area up a ridiculously steep hill to one of the Wittenham Clumps. After an agonizing half an hour (okay, it was a lot shorter than that), we were at the top, and were rewarded with a delicious view of the Oxfordshire area. I say “delicious” because I felt like I was eating a Thanksgiving meal with my eyes: the differing shades of green and yellow fields, the varying textures of the land and vegetation, the hydrating splotches of water, the power plant (which was like an unexpected and more than unwelcome splinter of bone in the turkey). Reluctantly, we descended this miniature mountain and slid down its side, on to the last leg of our journey.

In this last segment of the ramble, we specifically employed the footpaths that were created as a response to the Battle of Kinder Scout (Pickle). Our jaunt along the Thames wasn’t hindered a bit by the fact that it sprinkled; in fact, it is partly because of this afternoon ramble that I no longer view rain as interference. I have been learning in our less than two weeks in the country that rain and gloom is an intrinsic attribute of English weather, and I am starting to embrace that difference between here and home. We passed fields of wheat and fields of cow patties, as well as people boating along the river. We came across a WWII pillbox, from which I ran because a big, furry, yellow and grey spider had found its way onto my leg as I was about to go inside. This made me question whether or not spiders are included in the British’s love of nature.

After feeling overwhelmingly lost simply because we missed the sign that led us in the direction of the correct footpath, we eventually found our way to Shillingford, where we caught the bus back to Oxford. After a day of natural cleansing, I can see why Rhondra Brandrick would create a counseling program based in the outdoors (Pickle). The movement works the body, the senses work the body and mind, and all together, they work the soul.

Finally Here

Oxford is amazing. I still can't believe I'm here.

I can't even begin to describe the beauty of this city. The cobbled streets. The old, tall, brick houses. Port Meadow, which is land that has never been ploughed on. The cars that are smaller than the beasts we use in the US. The huge, ornately-designed churches that loom at every other corner. The bell that sounds every hour from the church down the street from us. The clouds that came in heavily today and are now releasing water upon us. The beautiful University Parks, with their many grasses strewn with napping bodies. The paths that go around Christ Church Meadow and run alongside the Rivers Cherwell and Thames. The little boy in the window in the house across the street, who was waving to us yesterday. St. Aldates church, where I attended service this morning, and all their children who understand that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who takes very good care of us. My fellow classmates.

I am eager to discover more to be thankful for.

Start the Countdown: 10...

Ten more days until I leave the country for the first time and possibly have everything I've ever known blown out of the water. I am so ready. Except I should probably finish packing and get to Abilene. :)

This past week has been a struggle: my last week of work, getting my portfolio done, getting everything together, making sure I haven't forgotten to buy anything I need... not to mention I have barely even taken time to get in the Word. I'm drained. But this last week at home will go quickly... and I need to try to pack in as much family time as I can get.

I'm still sad that I'll only get to see my friends from school for a few days until I have to leave again... but at least I'll get to see them at all!

30 Days

I'm really excited now! I think finishing the majority of my portfolio has helped a bit, but also it's sinking in a bit more that I'm actually leaving. It's like an "I can see the light at the end of the tunnel" sort of thing. I still have quite a bit more things to do before I'm completely ready, but that's alright... I am greatly encouraged by the fact that I only have to work for a few more weeks (a couple days ago I was working in the fitting room the whole day and we were having this huge sale and if you have ever been in that position before, you know how I felt). I finally feel at peace with going to Oxford. Before a couple weeks ago, I still didn't know if God wanted me to go or not, which is my fault because I never asked Him in the first place. But over the last couple weeks, He has directed me to certain pieces of His word and to certain people that have led me to believe that He really does want me to go.

Procrastination or Something Else?

I still haven't really started preparing to leave yet and I've only got 50 days left here in the States. I think I'm hesitant to start because it will make it seem more real that I'm leaving. As you might be able to tell, there has been a slight change of emotions on my part. I am beginning to miss my friends from school so much that I would almost rather be going back to ACU for the semester than to Oxford.

Summer Preparation Begins...

Okay, well, I haven't really been preparing to leave yet, as I've still got... what is it? ... 81 days left? I believe it's somewhere around that amount. I did get a job, though (finally, thank goodness). I've been getting incredibly excited at the idea that I'll ACTUALLY BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY in less than three months. I've never been outside the States, so this is big. I am so looking forward to sharing a smaller community with others I kind of know (and getting to know them) while exploring a whole new culture. I think the way ACU does study abroad is pretty cool compared to how a lot of other universities do, you know, where you just go to another country and go to the university there (although that'd be pretty sweet too). I am praying that God will show me things this summer that will prepare me for next semester, because I honestly don't truly know what to expect, even with all the informational pamphlets and conversations with students who have previously gone. Ahh... I find it hard to keep my mind in the present, because I always find myself wishing I was already in Oxford... But I don't want it to be like that. I am eager to be there, but I also know that I am here now for a reason...