Snowflakes

Dictionary.com defines a snowflake as follows: 

1. One of the small, feathery masses or flakes in which snow falls. The pictures below, while not my own, are the type of snowflakes that adorned my gloves and scarf as I walked into the city center today. 

Each individual snowflake is unique and a work of art. Have you ever taken the time to look at an individual snowflake? They really are amazing and something that I would highly recommend taking the time to stand outside with a black piece of paper when it snows outside. The little flakes you catch will be pretty amazing and perhaps something you will remember in the future.

 

 

Weather - I love layers

Today I am thankful for layers. Layers are my friends. Here is the forecast for tomorrow. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr is not even a word I could use to describe what the day may bring. Thank you long johns. Thank you tall boots. Thank you scarfs and gloves. Thank you chap stick. Without you, life would be dry, cold, and cracked. 

"Perhaps I am a bear, or some hibernating animal underneath, for the instinct to be half asleep all winter is so strong in me."

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Small Acts of Kindness

December 4, 2011

Small acts of kindness are things that most people should strive to do. For example, my roommate today saw a small puppy outside of church. It was probably -10°F outside and this little 3 or 4 week puppy was shivering outside the door. What does she do? She holds him/her for almost 30 minutes – getting it warm enough so it could have a nice nap. When she went to put it in a cardboard box (the mom must have been somewhere close and we didn’t want to take it away from its mom) it was discovered that the little puppy had tinkled on her sleeve.  She merely said ‘oh well, I am washable’ and we went on our way. Standing outside in -10°F weather holding a puppy so it could warm up, sleep, and eat a snack that was in the box.  A small act of kindness but a puppy was made very happy today. Thank you, roommate.

Day 3 - take time for the little things

December 3, 2011

Taking time to be thankful for the small things in life, that is what I am most appreciative for today. Enjoy the pictures below, I know I do.

Clean Laundry

Sour Cream Dutch Apple Pie 

Hands 

Wild Iris

Sunset on a Mountain

Rare

Movies with Friends

Toes

Holding a Golden Eagle

A Cold Drink on a Hot Day

Something New

Rainbow

Sunset

Teamwork

Coca-Cola

Birthday Hugs

 Trips

Snowy Mountains

Birds

Homemade Tomato Soup

Friends on Thanksgiving

Leftovers!

And most important: Family.

Day 2


What am I thankful for today? Today I am thankful for the friends that have become my family here in Mongolia. My roommate Susan and my teammates Kevin and Pam - today we had our team meeting and shared a delicious meal of cheddar broccoli soup in a bread bowl and planned our next EXCEL lesson. Later in the day I went to my friend Joshua and Jennifer's house to make tortillas (we made around 120 today or so, see a previous post for some pictures). And after that I was invited to my friends Matt and Jess' house for dinner and games with my teammate Matthew, who came in the same time I did this past March.


While I did not see my good friends the Duffer's today, they have helped make my time in Mongolia memorable and fun! Going to their home and helping Ruth in the kitchen, spending time with their children Sarah, Adam, Christine, and David - those have been some of my highlights. Also, time with Brad (my director) at their house has let me get to know him in a deep way.

I cannot believe I have been here for 9 months, it seems like such a short time. But at other times, it is long. 


"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though you are slightly cracked." ~Bernard Meltzer

Happy December!

Greetings Friends

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying the current holiday season. Christmas is just around the corner and I thought I would take the opportunity to count my blessings in the days leading up to Christmas day.

Thanksgiving this year was spent with my team here in Mongolia. We had the traditional meal – turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and apple pie, and a Mongolian beef salad. We ate together at my director Brad Duffer’s house and sat at a big table. The meal was sprinkled with people’s chances to say what they were thankful for. Friends, family, good food, the opportunity to be in Mongolia, and several other ideas were shared by all. 

Below are some of the pictures that were taken at our event. Enjoy and 

thank you all for your thoughts and support as I serve here in Mongolia!!

Friends (Family)

 Carving the bird

Name tags! 

Outside the front porch

Hurray foods! 

Some nice looking Icicles and myself 

Happy guard dog - his name is Bear in Mongolian 

Tortillas in Mongolia

Here are some pictures of my friend Jennifer and I making tortillas! We made around 140 that day. It was a lot of fun! Enjoy!!

Mix the dough together - let it sit.

Form into balls - roll thusly 

Place into hot fry pan - toast until bubbly 

Heart! I love tortillas! 

Me and Jennifer

Roll roll roll 

Ta da! 3 different kinds: plain, herbed, and herb and onion.