Blogs of interest:
10 Links a Day
Cake Wrecks

You Covered Me -Donald Lawrence

I could have lost my mind
Wanted to give up so many times
But God was my anchor
A consistent way maker
Yes I'm grateful, God covered me

You covered me
Hands of protection around me
Your grace and mercy
Covered me

You can listen to it here- (it's the first song)

I got the lyrics here.

Here are others that are encouraging:

"I Understand" by Smokie Norful

"Never Could Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp

The pics are from this site.

So, this is a fun paper happy video...

Finally, in my randomness post I just watched Evan Almighty... cool movie... but I'm not 100% in agreement with how we change the world --- random acts of kindness. Thankfully, God is very intentional in what He does and He wants us to be, too... but it is a good movie for discussion (like this, for example) and the animals are cute!

Oh and I'm super excited about the weekend. Sarah and Kirk and family plus Chioma and me are going to Chattanooga, TN for a Urban Worship Symposium/PCA Urban Ministry Seminar at New City Fellowship Chattanooga. I'm pumped to fellowship with other musicians and learn more about leading worship. Plus, I've never been to NCF Chattanooga and finally am getting a chance to go!

One more thing. I love free stuff, as many of you know. I found RFT has a free stuff section on their website.

I had a lovely time at the Fesival of Nations this weekend. I helped out at the IRWP booth, ate some yummy food: Indian, Iisraeli, Argentinian and had some wonderful Thai Coffee. I meet a lot of people, many potential English tutors. I also got to hang out with some friends from church and enjoy some Polynesian, Filipino, and Korean music and dance.
I also visited a few different booths: COCA, Field of Plenty, Christian Friends of New Americans, Mitrata-Nepal Foundation , City of St. Louis Refuse Division, and Lead Safe St. Louis. I bought a few Wheat Bio Coffee packets as well. I also found a DVD about Jesus in about 16 different Middle Eastern languages from All Nation's DVD Series!

Oh and I got the website for another festival! There is going to be a South Asian Heritage Fair on September 7th.

Pouring In

Scuba Cat

So this week I drove four elementary kiddos to their first day of school. We talked a bit about the excitement of the first day and of being a little afraid too, though they didn't really want to admit to it. It was one boys first day of school ever- he is 4. It made me think about when I started school and how scared I was - getting on the bus, having my sister and brother walk me to my class.

As we were driving, we saw multiple police cars, a young-ish guy in handcuffs, and a police officer searching this guy's trunk. The older boy commented that they were looking for a weapon in this guy's trunk and explained this to the younger boy.

So this is what these kids see as they go to school. It makes me think of what I saw... a field, maybe some of our neighbors and a tractor or two.... never a guy getting arrested and having his trunk searched. Plus, these were not the things my other brother and sister were explaining to me as I went to school for the first time.

• She came home from work to three yoga instructors hanging out on their patio eating humus, peaches and brie, and organic whole grain crackers, and wine.


• Heidi had a craving for fresh figs in the last few days.


• She threw away a milk carton and felt guilty.


• She now recycles.


• She does her dishes now instead of letting them pile up- though right now her sink is broken.


• Heidi learned that baking soda, vinegar, bleach, ammonia, and borax are all you need to clean - I guess she may soon throw away all her other cleaners after she figures out how all those things clean everything.


• She uses Method soap instead of soft soap.


• She has a box of wheat germ in the fridge- yum.


• She has started walking to the park for her run- because she used to drive to Forest Park and run...hmm...


• She now shops at Aldi instead of Schnucks - soon she will be spending money only at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods- hopefully she'll get a raise for that.


• Heidi jokingly confided she likes to know the farmer who grew her produce.


• There is a little community garden in her backyard and a compost pile. They will have to get compost worms soon.


• She is going to try to grow flowers again- though none of her previous attempts at having a green thumb have succeeded. She swears it will be different this time.


• She has decided that abandoned cats are one of the main societal ills of St. Louis. She will now be taking in stray cats on an as needed basis. Have fun Larry! j/k


• Heidi just told me that one of the guys on her street is strapping a kayak to the top of his car.

Love Letter From God (another version)

My Child... (A letter)

I got a free one of these from somewhere cause I know I didn't pay for it. (Maybe I got it from when Julie and Randy moved downstairs...)
I don't really know how to use it but I think it looks really cool. I went to my trusty google search engine to help me out. One of my common phrases lately has been, "just google ___________ ".

So I found out what is: a stove top expresso machine
and how to use it.

untitledsb2.bmp
(from here)

I also saw a link as to how to get cheaper coffee at Starbucks.

untitledbc3.bmp
(from here)

there is so much good stuff here! I see I directions for making my favorite Bosnian coffee!

Hispanic Festival
Friday, September 5, Saturday, September, 6 and Sunday, September 7, 2008
Soldiers Memorial Park in Downtown St Louis near Market St & 14th St

How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration - September 13 at the Scottrade Center at 7:30

Festival of Nations- August 23 & 24

Greek Festival - Labor Day weekend

Fish Fry-- August 22, September5 & 19, October 3 &17

Dancing in The Street- September 27

As friends and I were entering The Chapel to see Wolf Cub and Cassie Morgan, who are both gifted artists, I realized my drivers licence was missing. Overall, not a big deal but it was frustrating becuase I had just lost my keys a week or so before! I lost my second really expensive car key and only have the valet key, which I use about 3x a week, jk, which is also expensive to copy.

So for those of you who may ever need it, here is how to replace a lost licence in Missouri.

Googlemaps are really cool! They have pictures of the streets so you can look at the buildings around your ending location!

Until I find my keys I guess I'll have to read and follow this by Professor Solomon and wikiHow

A few other links to share:

One of my favorite drinks.

The difficuluty of aid: about insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Bundibugyo

Me: What is the name of your yellow dophin?
Joanna: Sally
Me: What is the name of your purple froggy?
Joanna: Sally
Me: Really... What is the name of your little monkey?
Joanna: Sally
Me: So, if you got a kitty would you name it Sally?
Joanna: No... Tomato.

Oh, and she calls me "Aunt Tanya."....... Oh for cute!!!!!