Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

whoa. i can't believe this yea has come and is now gone! crazy times. but i feel like i've been saying that throughout this whole year. hmm... well, here's the last update for the year 2008... are you ready for it?

this is it.

to all of you who are far away from me, i miss you and i pray the best for you in this upcoming year.

p.s. the title is how you say, "happy new year" in Hawaiian. pretty cool, right?   (;

happy new year!

whoa, 2008 is coming to a close. it's insane how fast this year has passed by. cwazy cwazy.

i hope everyone's Christmas was a glorious day! i had a really great time with my family here at home. my mom made an uh-maaazing dinner for all of us, oh my, it was so good! haha, i still haven't unpacked yet... gosh, i stink at this. 

well, thing's are going really great over here. the sun is shining, the air is clean, the birds are chirping. i went to the beach last sunday... trying to get some color other than white on my skin. i think i prefer sand over snow. well, depends on the clothing i have. 

so, i suppose i should let some people know that Caleb and I were in an accident. but don't worry, we're a-okay! just sore from the whiplash and all that great stuff that comes along with being in a car accident. for me it's my chest where the seatbelt was (i'm bruised) and my ribs on the left side. Caleb's back is really tight and his neck is still sore. :( the even happened on Tuesday, we were heading out to Hana (back  side of the island) for the day. the weather forecast was partly cloudy with scattered showers... as we were driving out it started POURING like crazy. the roads were obviously wet... cause that's what happens when it rains. Anyways, we were turning a sharp corner and started sliding down the turn and hit an oncoming car going about 15 mph. doesn't sound too bad but the car was totaled. the guy in the other car was fine, as was his car. but it really stinks... obviously. we got back into town from the tow truck guy... it was sad to say goodbye to the car. it's been so good to us. :( so please pray, we know that God is our Provider and He has a plan in all of this. it's just hard sometimes to understand His timing. but He is good, just like always. Praise Him that everything worked out good, and He put really kind people in our path that day. 

but now we're moving on to bigger and better adventures! 

i made it.

 it was a long day and a half of traveling... but i made it! oh my, did i make it. 

being home feels so surreal. i can't believe it! my whole family was at the airport to pick me up along with Caleb who brought me an arizona green tea and flowers. (awww) i love them all so much, it's so good to be with them again. but oh dang, do i miss Germany! traveling was fun... mmmkay, not really. it was sad and lonely and cold. but i'm home now... the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the air is humid, i'm wearing a skirt and t-shirt. no hoodie and no socks! it's been 15 hours since i saw my best friend again after 110 long long very long days. i'm about to eat macaroni and cheese... oh man, life is good. 

haha, God is good. praise Him that i made it home safe.

i miss all my friends from Germany. ): awwee... so sad not to be with them no more. i pray you all had safe travels and get home safe. 

for real this time.

alright, so my official last update from Germany. it's about 3 o'clock in the morning right now. one hour before we leave for the airport.

graduation was really good, really encouraging. and i cried. haha, but that's ok. the hardest goodbye's are just starting to come...

i'm so hungry right now, but Tamiko gave me a orange to hold me over. she's such a wonderful friend. i'm going to miss her so much! spring 2009 Okinawa? i wish.

well, i'm almost home. just a whole day of traveling and then i get off the plane in Maui. cwaaazy.

i don't even know what to say right now. God is good, and He has such amazing purposes and promises that He fulfills and keeps. it's so comforting to know that He is in control. even when i can't think straight at 3am... He's still there, sane. it's real nice.

anyways, for those who i'm departing from... i'll miss you and i'll see you sometime again. Christians never say goodbye! (:

and to those at home, i'll see you soon! so soon! and i'm so excited to be back.

Praise Him!

the end is near.

alright, it's here. i'm leaving Germany and it's the end of my third semester. crazy, huh? sometimes life seems like it'll never get moving along, and then before you know it POOF it's gone. this semester went by fast but it was well spent. i can say that with confidence. 

well, the photo is of my dorm at our final "dorm meeting". such an amazing room, hands down. haha. as we can see none of us are tan... anyways, it'll be weird. i've learned to live with these girls for the past 3 1/2 months. i remember when i first moved in... that feels like sooo long ago. it's really strange... but we had a good time that night at The Black Sheep... really good food and amazing ice cream. it was fun. 

so tonight is graduation! pretty exciting, there's a good size group of graduates. then i leave at 4am tomorrow morning... and then it's another 28 or 29 hours of traveling... something insane like that. so just pray that i would get home safely, it'll be sad traveling by myself... but another good experience to add to the list i suppose. anyways, i'm today we have dorm cleaning... did i mention that already? hmm... we have a bigger room, but i'm thinking it'll probably be easier. i was able to stuff everything in my suitcase! Praise Him, my family will have presents for Christmas. (: 

i suppose it's time to say goodbye, i'll still blog when i'm home of course... do not fret my dears. life in Maui will be different, but so good. i'll keep you all updated. i love you all and safe travels to everyone. 

everyday.

well, tomorrow's my last full day in Germany. let's make the most of it. 

i'll miss it lots. this was such an amazing semester. today one of the students gave the most exhorting devotion i've heard all semester. it was pretty cool.

these are just a few of the things i'll miss... Annie, of course. she's been such a blessing this semester. i love singing songs with her and those amazing piano skillz she's got. Melissa's Christmas lights and Tamiko coming into the room every night. i love them both dearly. Alisha! awee, i miss her already. such an amazing friend. i know we'll cross paths again someday. Zach and his bleesting. haha. Dön-shanks and that sound that Doug makes when he eats them... and of course everyone else that i've come across. cold-cut tuesday (ok not really), musical mondays, fake fact friday. "what's the deal?" my roomies and sunny days. Sabine's weather forecasting (she's always right!). aaand Laura keeping the rules, such a good dorm steward. haha, but it's been such a great 4 months. i loved it here and i'm sad to leave. so bittersweet. but it's all good.

anywaysss... here's a few photo's for you to enjoy. blogger was being weird with the uploading once again... but i must go finish packing now.

"i hate the theme 'finish well'! cause this isn't the end... it's only the start!"

oh dang oh dang.

only two whole days left in germany. time just seems to be slowly ticking by.

i took down my suitcase from the attic and began going through my stuff... i have a million hats... not sure how they'll all fit in my bag. i remember it being a lot bigger than it looks. let's hope and pray i can fit everything back in. i went through my clothes to see what i wanted to put in the "give away" box. i pulled out like 3 shirts but still haven't put them in there yet. i'm forcing myself to give away another sweater and pair of pants. but it's always good to let go, you know. the mood is a little strange around here. some people are crabby, other's are in a daze, and a few are a bit stressed. i'm just trying to have a good time... haha.

sorry this post is without photo's again. i'm working on it. next post, i promise.

love you guys, and for those in Hawai'i.... see you three daysss!!!!!!!!

a lovely day.

i ended up having a beautiful day today in Cologne. the weather was super cold but there were times when i was warm enough to stay alive... barely. probably the coldest i'll be for awhile. i'll be home soon enough. back to the sunshine (hopefully) i hear it's raining a ton over there, will someone let me know what's going on? i just need to know if Hawaii will sink. anyways, i had a lovely time, ate really good food, hung out with some of my best friends here, and didn't take any pictures (horrible, i know.), and i got presents for my whole family! with 3 euros to spare... what an accomplishment!

so yes, a really great day in all, praise the Lord. He is good even when i try and ruin everything.

my last week in Germany...

and who knows the next time i'll be here... or traveling again... or seeing these amazing people.

life is such a grand adventure. it's so cool how God gives us these pleasant opportunities to enjoy life in such a way.

this week seems to just be dragging along... which is good thing in a sense cause i really want to enjoy every moment of it but at the same time i want to close my eye's and when i open them be at home again. that would be so lovely. 

i think everyone's a little antsy to go back home, wherever that may be... for most it's the states, for one Japan, another New Zealand, one more to Belgium,  a couple in Holland, and a lot going back home to various villages here in Germany. For me,  lucky i live Hawaii. i miss the sunshine, but i hear its been raining non-stop over there. but still... to smell the warm air and that island breeze. i never thought i would miss it this much. so i think it's safe to say that my island fever has reduced to a cool temperature.

  i'm ready for home again.

tomorrow a couple of my friends and I are going Köln for the Christmas market! i'm pretty excited about it. i was there for an hour or so a couple weeks ago but it was kind of just a passing through type of thing. so it'll be sweet to actually spend some time there and pick out presents for my family. maybe get some coffee at Starbucks. (: that's always nice, even though it's super expensive here. it'll probably be fuh-reeezing... that's the downside. i'll have to bundle up... 

utter amazement...

alright, i won't talk about  about how it's nearing the end. how i'm excited to go home. how i'm sad to leave this place that i so desperately want to call home. how cold the weather is outside. or even how amazing gummie bears are! but what i will talk about is something i never tire of speaking of and i hope you never tire of hearing of.. .and that is how faithful, kind, and gracious our God is! 

I think it'd be safe to call this semester a "roller-coaster" experience. not so emotionally, but more so spiritually. it's been kind of crazy how many highs and lows there have been, yet through it all God has held my hand tightly and never let go. His faithfulness is immeasurable. There has been many a time when i have consciously made a decision to meditate on something less than who He is. I've had so many wrong thoughts and realize that it's not what He desires for me, He desires the best and it hurts Him when I choose the 2nd best... or nothing even close to it. But His loving kindness seeks me out and draws me closer to Him than ever before. It's incredible! and on top of all that, I'm a sinner... so unworthy of any attention from One so Holy. Yet His grace covers me in robes of righteousness and before Him I stand pure, spotless, and undefiled. how amazing is that? He can take a weak, cracked, and ugly pot and make it into a vessel of honor. He is so good! so gracious! so amazing and incredible! so deserving of praise and everything that is worthy to give!

i love Him.

I've got my life in a suitcase.

life is going by faster than ever... i feel like i say that every entry. but it's true. unlike the title implies, i haven't packed to go home yet. but it's only another ten days or so until that happens. but what that statement does imply is that the Copeland cd is still more amazing than everrr.

i'm not really sure what to "update" on. i'm still alive. still healthy. God is good. always. school is going well, pray for my New Testament final cause that's what i'm worried about... it just seems like there's not enough time for class... but if i could go back to the beginning of the semester i pretty much would have started studying the first week of school for the final i'm supposed to take next Thursday morning... intense, to say the least.

I had another döner last night... one of my last for who knows how long. but sooo good. i took photo's of it too for any of you questioning peoples... it's pretty much the most amazing thing you could ever eat. and so filling. it's ridiculous. but i love the way it brings joy to people... haha. seriously. 

i miss Ho'okipa... ah, it's so beautiful over there... i can close my eyes and see the ocean and the little windsurfers out there. lovely. 

Fifteen mo' days!

wow, another week has pasted by and in two weeks i'm going to have tears rolling down my cheeks. it'll be so sad to say goodbye to the dear dear dear friends i've made here. Melissa always yells at me whenever i mention the countdown to going home... i'm just really excited to be home for Christmas and to be with my family and Caleb. but i know i'm going to miss it here so much, maybe just as much as i miss home? eh, i don't know. i guess we shall find out soon enough. 

Anyways, enough of that. Today I sang with some of the other students (Jason and Sammy) for devo's, it was lots of fun. Jason even made me bust out the tambourine, that was cool. a bit intimidating... but i tried to be inspired by the way i saw Anathallo own every single instrument they played. (amazing!) ahem. so yeah, we did some Christmacy songs such as, "Angels We Have Heard On High" and "O Holy Night". Then for the last song we sang, "Great is Your Faithfulness" it reminded me of Val, singing the echo and harmony... and of course it reminded me of that annoying little guitar ditty that plays on the cd at CCSM. but good times. Oh! and i'm so excited cause Annie and I are doing worship twice this week! once for Friday morning devo's (i lead every other Friday) and then on Saturday for the Bible College Ladies Brunchen (is that a word?). So it'll be fun, just like the good 'ol days of Wien. ♥

I only have like 9 more classes. cwazy cwazy. and 6 more M1 shifts *sniff* that means only 6 more mocha's in Germany from this lovely coffee bar... i think this has been the fastest semester by far. First semester went by at such a good pace, beginning, middle, end... second semester went by a little faster, yet at the same time it didn't seem like it was going to end... and now third, here and gone with a snap of my finger. hopefully next semester will slow down a bit. i know there will be a lot more to keep myself busy with... but i'm sure i'll be able to enjoy the time and use it well. Bible College has been such a blessing... God is good. (: 

and of course it's a bit chilly here in Siegen... it started snowing again today! well... kind of. i believe it is called sleet. but i don't really know... pretty much the sky opened up and sludge started falling from it. right now i'm looking out the window and i see snow, it looks lovely. hooray! i can't wait to sit in my room by the heater and read my book. that's always so nice. i'm almost done with Apologetics... only a couple more chapters to read! then that's 2 classes down and only three to go....

I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me...

what a week.

my table for Thanksgiving; Leah, Will, and me.

hello all, i hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great. I know that for me it was very nice (and very tasty!)... i made another thankful tree for Thanksgiving day in the church coffee bar, Hannah asked me too. it was a lovely tree and it was lots of fun to make. actually i think they kept it and it's now in the student cafe... interesting. haha. i guess most people liked the whole idea of a thankful tree... perhaps the tradition has gone international? that's cool. (:

So after we ate dinner a handful of us took of for the next great adventure... an Anathallo concert in Offenbach! it was uh-mazing... to say the least. i felt so inspired walking away... but still knowing that i'm not that good. haha, it was a really great show. i'm so thankful i had the opportunity to go. My Saturday was filled with train rides. Another group of us went to Belgium! that was a blast as well. (: we spent about 5 hours on a train which was interesting to say the least... there's a ton of people traveling on the weekends cause of the Christmas markets and such. but the train into Belgium was fairly smaller and less people were on it. We went to a place called Liege (i think...). I learned how to count to ten in French, that was cool. I had a waffle... that was pretty amazing. seriously though... it was the best waffle i've ever eaten. pretty much. I was going to go on a Ferris Wheel, but my "friends" wouldn't let me or Melissa go on it cause it was too expensive. and yes, i suppose €3 is a lot for a ferris wheel ride... i dunno, it would of been cool. anyways, after that we went to Köln  and spent about an hour and half there. just kind of walking around the Christmas market and such. I got Starbucks, a dark cherry chocolate latte'. mmm, it was delicious. we got home around 11:30 and when we walked into the Villa it was all decorated for Christmas. and on the girls floor we had an advent calendar that Melli made us counting down to the last day of the semester... it was pretty cool. 

the main attraction... Anathallo.

Belgium!

(from L-R: Izzy, Will, Tamiko, me, and Melissa.)

Melissa was so excited to get some "Barbe papa" (cotton candy in French), she learned how to say it over a month ago 

and has been dreaming about eating it in Belgium.

it was pretty much the best weekend ever.