A Smorgasbord of Thoughts

Okay, so perhaps I won’t really be a hermit. I just think all the traveling and hoards of people were getting to me. But it’s been great to be back here in the north country, seeing my two families…and seeing the growth in three little munchkins.

And I must say that after almost 28 days of travel, it’s nice to be able to not live out of a suitcase…for a few days at least.

All of this is to not to say that I did have a good time in Connecticut and New York. A mite jet-lagged or not, I’m glad to have spent those few days with my sis, mom and grandparents. For, as we were on the train back to Connecticut from the city, I had the revelation that I wouldn’t be seeing my sister for quite some time. Unless she somehow has time off to come to Tennessee, the earliest I’ll be seeing her is October.

It’s interesting. My sister and I did not get along very well for many, many years. She’s seven years and two months my senior, which makes being very good friends a little difficult growing up. But as I’ve graduated high school, and we’ve both matured, we’ve become friends and have a rather good time with one another now. Amazing what a little time and distance do.

Speaking of time and distance, it’s been 11 weeks today since I left my southern home. Eleven weeks have passed since I exchanged goodbyes with a few of the people I love, got in my packed little car and backed out of my long driveway, viewing my little house and two of my dearest friends and roomies for the last time.

Much has happened since that day. To the untrained eye, it may seem as if nothing of significance has come from this time, but the truth is quite contrary. During my time both here in the New York and in Spain, I have learned a lot and have grown in multiple areas. And the thing is, I don’t really fully know the extent of it all. They’re more subtle changes and attitudes that will reveal themselves over time and in different places.

But I digress (as if I really have something to digress from)…I have been gone from Tennessee (and all interested parties there) for eleven weeks. But, ONE WEEK from today, I will be seeing the faces of one good friend (and co.) and one special someone who strikes my fancy.

Actually it’s less than a week by this time.

I hope I stay busy.

*EDIT*

Some photos from Connecticut and NYC here...if you dare.

"All By Myself"

When I get back to my NY home, I'm thinking about locking myself in my room and being a hermit for a couple of days.

Opps...I did it again...

The sun must be stronger here because I find myself with a scorched back and a pink scalp, etc... aaahhhh!! Blast my vanity.
.....

I was going to upload some pics...however, there doesn't appear to be a place to plug in the ol' camera on this computer. Guess we'll just have to wait, eh?
.....

Okay, I think I'll be off...because this interchange happened a few minutes ago:

Hotel desk guy: "You know there's a charge for using the computer."

I don't realize he's talking to me, so he repeats...

Hotel desk guy: "You know there's a charge for using the computer."

Me (turning around in my chair): "There is?"

HDG: "Yes. But you just paid it with that smile."

Etc...


Yeah. I'm leaving now. I guess this sunburnt skin is just too much for some guys.

Back but not quite home...

That's right. This world traveler's feet touched American soil for the first time in three weeks yesterday. It was a blessed occurrence.

I'm not quite done traveling yet, though.

I'm now found in Connecticut with my mom, grandparents and sis (who's living here for the summer).

I'm sure I've have lots to write about Spain. And I will. But not now. The hotel lobby is a little too loud for such deep contemplations that are usually found here:)

So, I'll just leave it at that. That and...water is so much better tasting here in the U.S.

Suffering for the Lord

No quotation marks here folks. No irony implied.

There was this nasty sunburn. (This is only one strip of it...there was more)...



And then this mysterious bruise showed up on my foot (origin unknown)...



Then there was this rather rough "exchange" I had with a member on the team, leaving me with...



And and a knee looking like this...



And an extra bruise added to an already bruised knee (from our dance and drama)...



Then today I was on the receiving end of a "pillow jab"...which left me with a little blood on the lip and and a bit o´ fatness...



And then I do some laundry, hang it out to dry, and come back to find this...



As well as random articles falling to their demise (okay, maybe not to their demise, but still)



And don´t even get me started on the bad hair days...and the weirdos who sometimes follow us guapas mujeres around...



But, besides being used as the team pinata (there were a few unphotographed being kicked multiple times in the middle of the night incidents, too...I´ve mentioned no names in any of the instances to protect the not-so-inocent), the time in Spain is going famously. The Lord is definately doing a work through us and in us. And we´re only half-way through...

The past few days have been pretty amazing. We´ve been in Malaga with a small Spanish church for the past few days. We were with them this morning for service, as well as on Friday and Saturday nights doing street ministry on the boardwalk by the beach. It´s a small church, but I have no doubt that God will use this little congregation in this city in a mighty way.

Right now the rest of the team is watching the futbol game of all futbol games. Though I like futbol, I can´t say that I care too much about the outcome of this game since I don´t follow soccer the rest of the time...

Okay, mis amigos, I´m off. Thank you for all who have been praying for us; please keep doing so! God is awesome and is working here in the church. It´s all for His glory.

Take care of the U.S. for me...

Hasta luego.

"Peaches-n-Cream" was popular at one point

(said in one of those brilliant English accents)

Peter: "Kellay, you've got t' get some sun on thos'legs."

Me: "I knoooow."

Peter: "They're so white. Like milk."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, my legs didn't really get sun, but my shoulder certainly did.

Estoy en Espana.

In case anyone was wondering, we're here.

Spain is beautiful. The Mediterranean Sea is amazing to swim in. The outreachs are amazing. The Lord is movin'.

You can go here for an update and here for some pics.

Adios. Hasta luego.

No time to contemplate.

So much to do, so little time.

I hate packing. Especially for long trips.

Departure from Madrid in 20 hours.

It's going to be awesome...God is going to be awesome!

I'm sure Anne Shirley would have agreed...

I’ve grown to love screened porches. They’re not too common where I come from. Decks, verandas and patios are more the fare in the great Midwest, but I think there’s just something so peaceful and somewhat whimsical about these special little rooms.

I sat in a new one tonight…perhaps one of my favorites. The setting sun painted the sky in colors of purple, aquamarine and that brilliant pinkish orange color as I rocked in the rocking chair and dreamed of having a screened porch of my own some day. Of course my daydreaming lasted for but a minute as my friend and I were soon joined by a few others. It was a welcome interruption, though, as lively and humorous talk is sure to inhabit the company of this group of people I’ve come to call my friends.

Besides, this was my only adventure for the night. They’re off right now, traipsing through mud and brush, up the slope of the mountain to build another bonfire. I hate to miss out on the fun, but something tells me it’s wiser for me to get some rest, considering I haven’t felt so wonderful for the past two days. *sigh*

No pude dormir si yo lei.

Having been once again jilted by sleep in the 5:00 am hour, I was compelled to give up trying to sleep and do something productive...like read the Bible.

Our departure for Spain is approaching quickly, and I find myself wishing I knew how to communicate more in the native tongue of the people we are going to reach. So, this morning I read a bit of the Spanish Bible online, and I've determined to find a print version today.

My memorization verse for Spain:

"El ladrón no viene más que a robar, matar y destruir; yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia." Juan 10:10

May we bring the truth and joy of the freedom of salvation to the Spaniards.

Photographs.

A day for pictures...

I hadn't seen these faces in quite some time, so I was delighted to see pictures of my girls in my mailbox today:



She looks so little here! But cute in her little pigtails, nonetheless.














Here's my beautiful little girl. Her blue eyes are turning green...









And we can't forget about smilie Rylie.


And now for some interestingness (I don't care if it's not really a word):

So, there's this gem of a website. Careful, it can suck a lot of time away from you if you're not careful. But this is what I've discovered.

Apparently here, here, here, here, and here, I bear about a 75% resemblance to quite a few celebs. Some of the repeat offenders:


(I'm not joshin')

Perhaps the most striking resemblance is how I look like him here.

Not once did it say I look like her, though it's not uncommon for me to hear that I do.

So, I'm practically a celebrity. Practically...

However, how many of them could perfect such a look as this??

(thanks for capturing it, Benny:)

Okay, I'm so done. I spent way too much time on this.

Time is slippin'...

Operation Spain: One week 'til departure.

In one week, my summer will be practically spent, and I'll be back in Tennessee before you can say....the Declaration of Independence...yeah. But seriously. Plans have been coming into place for the rest of the summer. I'll be in Spain for three weeks, then it's off to Connecticut/NYC for a few days with the sis' and mi madre...then the north country, New Hampshire, Illinois...bada boom, bada bang, I'm back in class wishing I didn't have a bunch of papers to write. Ah, life.

And now, for your listening...um...pleasure?...here's some...uh...great...yeah...great...tunes from back in the day. Prepare to be nostalgic. Talk about time passing.

:)

Honest contemplations...

I went for a walk today. I was only going to go around the “block,” but ended up walking much farther than that. I walked for over an hour and a half. Why? It was one of those Forrest Gump moments: “I just felt like runnin’.” I often venture out on such trips of solitude, with only my thoughts to keep me company.
And lots of thoughts I have to occupy myself. See, I’m a thinker. And somehow I’m such a big thinker that it ended up in the top five of my “strengths” (“intellect” they call it)...though I often wonder how good this quality of mine is. There is such a thing as thinking too much…

My thoughts….oh varied in nature…but with one central theme. And, oh, here’s my warning: get ready for some honesty straight from the heart and mind of Kelly Berg. I am so weak. Now, I realize that this is nothing new and nothing uncommon, but it’s just resting a bit heavily right now. I like to be strong. I’ve had to be strong. Having been already broken from relying on my own strength already this year, I don’t come close to wanting to have to go through such a lesson again, however good it was to learn.

It’s different now, anyway. Weakness, as with many things, can take different forms.

I need to fight but have no strength. Drained. Slightly empty from a lack of being filled (partially from my own laziness, partially from circumstances). Before I needed to learn to not fight my own battles. Now I’m being called to do a little warring in prayer and be a bit more vigilant in the mind. Did you know that “Kelly” means “warrior"? Not mistakenly do I bear such a name. I’m to put on the full armor of God…Gird up the loins of my mind. The enemy is real. I don’t fight alone, but I do need to fight. It takes effort. Will I be so lazy and accept defeat? Or, really…will I accept my weakness as my defeat?

I know His strength is perfected in my weakness. I know my times of weakness are His times of glory. I know He is at my right hand (my fighting hand). I know He has given my the instruments to victory.

But they’re heavy. And I am weak. So weak.

He is my hope. I have none other.

They're just "Hull"arious.

Quotes from the canoe:


Nancy: "Bubsie stop!"

Benny: "It's not me. The water's really jumpy tonight."

~~~~~~~~~
Benny: "Is fat a meat? Would a vegetarian consider it a meat?"

Nancy: "Well, if it were from meat a vegetarian wouldn't eat it, but it'd be okay if it were from vegetables."

Kelly: "No, fat isn't a meat. It's an animal bi-product, and vegetarians don't eat animal bi-products."

Benny: "So, they don't get leather seats in their cars?"

Kelly: "Well, not if they were going to knaw on it."

~~~~~~~~~
Benny: "Hey, why don't you put a bird costume on, get some worms, and..."

Kelly: "Benny, I'm a Berg not a bird."

~~~~~~~~~
Nancy: "That's just ignorant."

~~~~~~~~~
Benny: "Well, we're not going to see any deer now."

Nancy: "No, but we'll probably see some laughing hyenas looking for their mate."

Kelly: "Hey!"

~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy: "It's a wonder you still come around for all you endure."

Kelly: "Eh, it's like family."

Nancy: "Yeah. Family, where the abuse happens."

Potsdam Nights

The typical Potsdam (and beyond) night:

1. Plan to go somewhere.
2. Go to that somewhere (while listening to Keith Urban) to find it closed...or just not what someone really wants.
3. Act like we're a slammin' gang/posse/north country folk in the parking lot.
4. Hit the club. ("The Bagelry, "The Bowling Alley" or "Remote Woods in the Middle of Nowhere" are popular choices).
5. Walk the strip (aka. walk to P&C....or to someone's house to return socks).
6. Optional: Hit one last club ("Sergi's") for refreshment and some fly tunes.
7. Call it a night and head back to Madrid (listening to Keith Urban).

We also like to add the following: laughter at our own stupidity; phone calls from/to people far away who should really be there anyway; jokes about a Jewish guy; random breaking out in dance...complete with faces; misunderstanding what someone says...which of course leads to a good 3 minutes of joking; and a man carry a purse....among other things.

Conversations

Speaking of conversations...

A long-overdue phone chat with my sister-in-law makes me thankful that there are those who have "been there"...and who are there...Whenever. She loves me enough to listen...and to speak...not always what I want to hear...but that's the great thing about her. She's willing to ask the hard questions as well as give encourage. So good it was to hear her voice after five weeks. I love my siblings.

An hour and a half late-night IM chat with Alison drew out some tears. My first friend at Lee proves to be one of the most faithful of all. It's hard to keep in touch over the distance and time...but she does...more than anyone else, she does. I love her! And I'm so proud to be able to stand up (in this) at her wedding in January. Good friends aren't easy to come by. She is unique in that sense and such a blessing.

Two special people. Two special conversations. I am blessed to have these women in my life. Sisters and friends. God is good.

PS. I had white tea at 11:00. White tea has some caffeine in it. Maybe this is why I'm still awake.

And then I said..

He commented that I need to post more.

I said that I use to, but I just don't have much to write about.

He said any conversation can turn into a post.

...

So, there you go.

More musings...

Mmm yes…it’s been another week…a “short” week thanks to the change of scenery. I spent about four days in New Hampshire visiting a couple of special people. It was a really great time. Indeed.

I surely wish that I had something profound or witty to write. It seems like I had more to write than I do now. My xanga posts always seemed to be somewhat interesting, whether funny, random or serious…

All I have right now are the thoughts of a heart that longs so greatly to be more. More what? More pure. To have a pure love for my Lord. To be pure in thought, action, speech and motive. To be blameless and without offense. Purity is so much more than physical and relational. Purity…is holiness, righteousness. It is untainted. It is free from pollutants. It’s like distilled water. Pure h2o. Oh, to have everything distilled down into a pure love from my Father….and then to have everything built on that. To live with a simplicity and sincerity as Paul teaches in II Corinthians 1:12. To simply and sincerely love and act upon what our heavenly Father has called us to do…and be.

And I don’t want this just to be a “good girl.” I don’t want it for my reputation. I don’t even want it to preserve (or develop) a “good name.” For, while a good name is to be valued (I believe Proverbs says so), it is not just my name that I uphold. I have taken on another name, been marked by one of whose name I am not worthy to bear…yet He writes it on my heart regardless. What an honor. What a privilege. What a responsibility. “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (II Cor. 4:5). What is my life preaching? For it’s not just about me…it’s about them…and it’s about HIM.

Like I said...nothing profound...just simple thoughts I have tonight.

Random Thoughts...contemplations, if you will...

I've been slightly lax in posting this week, but I only have as long as the Doodle Bops are on...so I'm pulling out: "Kelly's Famous List of Random Thoughts."

• Fewer things can initiate more reflection on the past year than spending an hour scrubbing off 12 months of a dry erase calendar. And fewer things can cause more thoughts of the upcoming 12 months as writing in the new dates...
• Sometimes kids are stinking funny. And sometimes they're just stinking...
• I finally went back to a chiropractor after months of "good intentions." I've been twice this week...shouldn't it feel slightly better??
• My new favorite indulgences: Pomegranate Peach White Tea (iced) and organic Turkish figs. (they don't have my favorite organic granny smith apples up here)
• So, right before our first meeting for Spain, I read this email from school. I had written to the assistant director of the global perspectives program and asked about my trip counting as my cross-cultural experience. What I got back was a verging-upon-rude response that, well, duh, NO, it can't because I'm a loser. I am not a loser!
• Spain is going to be awesome. Stretching. But awesome.
• I think the Lord is wanting my faith to grow. You're right Friend #...um...pi...squared...thanks for the walkingtalk on Wednesday. I needed to hear it.
• It hit me yesterday that I'm going to Africa. I mean...I knew Morocco was in Africa...and I knew we were going there....but I suppose it just didn't sink in. Sweet.
• I'm going off gallivanting in New Hampshire next week for a few days. Gallivanting is sheer pleasure...especially when one gallivants to see wonderful people.
• A new favorite game: Mille Borne. Brietta and I totally whopped our opposition... *Ehem* mentioning no names....
• It's been exactly one month...even to the hour...since I left Cleveland. I still love my southern home..and all that entails...

Okay, I'm off…because the Doodle Bops are, too…

My "Friends"

My new friends here have another group of friends. And they're pretty big fans of their friends. We can't even go for a walk without hearing about how something reminds them of one of them. It's Ross this, Joey that, Monica blah blah blah blah... Yep. I hate to be the one to break it to them that their favorite friends aren't really reality. One already confuses conversations he watched with conversations in real life. It's sad. And slightly obsessive.

But, despite the constant blending of the non-reality with reality (and indeed I would say sometimes because of it), it was a great day. To quote her, "Two good Sundays in a row!" Yes. I would say that Sunday has become my favorite day of the week. Part of it probably has to do with actually having one day of the week when something is actually scheduled...but more than that, I do love gathering together for worship and a message. And I do love the fun times that follow for the rest of the day. Good times indeed.

And for my friends here (the real ones)...just thought I should clear a few things up, so as not to lead you astray:

1. I really am not a country music fanatic. Watching Shania Twain with the family, knowing what Randy Travis looks like, and being able to recognize Leanne Rimes' voice does NOT constitute me being a huge country music fan. I have an appreciation for it, as I do for (most) all music, but I can't say it's my favorite. Though...I do go to school in Tennessee...

2. I don't really eat grass, dirt, rocks...that big pile of dirt in front of the house isn't really for my lunch. And just because I chose carrots when you have milkshakes does not make me....uh...a rabbit...

3. My mom isn't really an albino midget (though she is kinda short). My dad isn't really Japanese-Indian (though he is an engineer). And while my grandma isn't really Jewish (though I wouldn't put it past her to claim that she has a bit in her), my boyfriend indeed is (oh wait...you already knew that...you jokesters, you).

4. No. Nothing I've said here is from any movie. But maybe someday if I write a bad one, it will be.


Yeeeaaahhhh. I'm random. I know.

But...ah. Thank the Lord for friends :)