Hudba in the C̶z̶e̶c̶h̶ ̶R̶e̶p̶u̶b̶l̶i̶c̶ ... Kitchen

#23 Debbie's Dump Cake

2012-01-27T18:16:00.000+01:00

1 Pkg yellow or white cake mix
1/4 cup oil
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup water
1 can ready to use pie filling

1. Pour oil into 9x13 pan, tilt to cover bottom and 1/2 inch of sides.
2. Dump cake mix, eggs, and water into pan; mix with fork to blend. Spread evenly in pan and spoon pie filling onto batter using fork to fold mix in only enough to create a marble effect.
3. Bake at 350F for 35-45mins. Cooled cake maybe sprinkled with 10-x sugar. Serve from pan.

I didn't remember what type of cake mix I had at home, so there I stood in the grocery store aisle starring at pie fillings. Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Peach???? After like five minutes, I figured blueberry would go with whatever cake mix I had.

I decided to make my own Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.
8oz cold cream cheese
1 stick unsalted butter, firm but not cold
1/8 ts salt
3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 ts vanilla
zest of one lemon
juice of one lemon

1. Fit an electric mixer with flat beater. Beat cream cheese, butter, salt, and zest on med-low speed until smooth & creamy, 2 to 3 mins.
2. Reduce speed to low, gradually add the confectioner's sugar & beat until incorporated.
3. Add vanilla & lemon juice just until incorporated. Do not over mix or there will be to much air. Should be creamy & dense, like ice cream.
4. If not spreadable, add milk 1 ts at a time.

Enjoy!

Grandpa Suhre and the New Year

2012-01-27T16:41:00.000+01:00

I been thinking about all the silly new year deals people make with themselves that they never really follow through on. Since, I'm silly enough to do it myself I've decided to make one. I love cooking although I don't think I'm the best, but I'm learning. I thought I'd cook through an entire cookbook this year as a way to learn new skills. As I was going through my books, I came to my grandfather's book that he had hand written. Since I never got to met him, I thought I'd get to know him through his cookbook. So this year, hopefully I will cook everything in his "breads and pastries" book. That is 71 recipes.... 52 weeks in a year, yeah you do the math. So hopefully by the end of this year there will be 71 blogs posted and if I'm crazy enough (which I am) I might post the other recipes I've tried too! So with out further ado... introducing Grandpa Suhre's Cookbook: Bread's and Pasties!

Coming Home!

2009-08-27T12:46:00.002+02:00

I will leave from Vienna at 6:32am and I will touch down in Fort Walton Beach at 7:15pm! Pray for me!

The Timeline

2009-07-16T15:12:00.005+02:00

Things to Pray for!!!!!

July 18th-25th: X-Camp
July 28th - 31st: Soccer Camp
August 1st - 8th: English Camp & Moving into my Apartment (1st) & My Birthday (7th)
August 9th -15th: Oldrichovice Youth Camp
August 15th-16th: Saying Goodbye 'possibly' to Terri
August 17th-20th: Possibly going to visit another missionary
August 23rd: Saying Goodbye at Church
August 26th-27th: Summer Missionary School
August 28th: Leaving the Czech Republic
August 29th: Flying Home

Bible Awe

2009-07-10T08:51:00.004+02:00

Well if you don't know chapters 38-42 of Job are some of my fav parts of the bible. I love reading them over and over. I just get well awestruck. I can't even grasp the greatness of God... in fact I'm having problems even writing about what I can't grasp because there are no words that I can think of for it. My child like faith comes out in me and I just want to sit on the lap of God and ask him tons of questions. 'Do you ever make shapes out of clouds?' 'Do count off the seconds between lighting and thunder?' 'Why are the colors of hair: black, brown, blonde, red and the color of eyes: brown, green, and blue?' " The grass is green. The sky is blue. The sunset is pink. The leaves change from yellow to red. Do you not like the color purple? Good, neither do I." 'How long did it take Adam to name all the animals?" "What makes you laugh?" "Do you ever sneeze?" Then, I'd probably get tired and ask God if we wanted to go fishing with me.

Anyway, one of the things I love about these chapters are the creatures described in them. Job 39:9 "Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?"

If you look up the word use in the original text it's 're'êm'. Many scholars believe this animal is the extincted auroch. The auroch was 2 metres (6.6 ft) at the shoulder and weighed 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb). The last recorded live aurochs, a female, died in 1627 in the Jaktorów Forest, Poland. The skull was later taken by the Swedish Army during the Swedish invasion of Poland (1655–1660) and is now the property of Livrustkammaren in Stockholm. This kinda puts a whole new meaning on the words "wild ox" in the verse. Gosh, this animal would have been over a foot taller than me. God is so cool.

Schools Out for Summer....50 days left!

2009-07-10T08:37:00.003+02:00

Well school ended here the last day of June. I taught my last class this week. It was sad. I'm going to miss all those people very much, even the crazy boys. In all my classes we had parties at the end and I brought some American food (either choc. chip cookies or browines). They played games to win butterfingers. We also had Dr. Pepper and Root Beer. They all like the Dr. P, but not the root beer so much. In fact someone told me it tasted like the smell of the toilet cleaner. LOL! All my classes gave me wonderful flowers! In one of my classes we even had a cook-out and played soccer! They will always be dear to my heart. Helpful they will all do their homework and write me postcards! : )

Well, this week had kinda been a down week for me. I spend a lot of time alone working on my computer doing research. Sadly, our English camp for this coming week was canceled. Hopeful my spirits will put up the week after as I go into full camp mode. I have X-camp, which is a huge youth gathering here. I will be leading an english group and sleeping in a tent all we! Pray for cooler weather!! Then I have soccer camp! Then I have a English camp with 7 Americans from VA!! I'll be sleeping in the basement with all the Czech Youth from my church. It should be hilarious! Then I have our church youth group retreat! Then I start packing to come home!

More exciting news I finally have an apartment that I can move into as of Aug. 1st!! :)

Wedding Website

2009-06-20T21:21:00.002+02:00

Check out our wedding website at: http://drewandashwedding.com/ !!!

Engaged!!!

2009-06-12T07:27:00.003+02:00

I'm engaged! Check out our wedding website: http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/DrewManey&AshleyAngerman

Arthur Guiterman Poem

2009-05-15T12:47:00.001+02:00

"First dentistry was painless;
Then bicycles were chainless
And carriages were horseless
And many laws, enforceless.
Next, cookery was fireless,
Telegraphy was wireless,
Cigars were nicotineless
And coffee, caffeineless.
Soon oranges were seedless,
The putting green was weedless,
The college boy hatless,
The proper diet, fatless,
Now motor roads are dustless,
The latest steel is rustless,
Our tennis courts are sodless,
Our new religions, godless. "
- Arthur Guiterman

Goodbye

2009-05-13T09:37:00.002+02:00

Well, it happen today at 9:20am. It's been 5 years, since spring '04, and today my sailor rope fell off. I know your all heart broken. But it will be kinda sad not to have it on anymore. Gretchen and I got them our Soph. year of college on spring break in Clearwater, FL. It kinda reminded me not only to pray for her, but not to take life so seriously. It reminded me of all the fun we had at the beach and the great friendship we share. And that every now in then to do silly fun things like wear sailor ropes until they fall off even if it means 5 years. Don't worry I'm not getting another one... anytime soon that is. :)

The Hound of Heaven

2009-05-11T08:19:00.002+02:00

This is a great poem if you can wrap your mind around it. It's about a man running from God. How God is like a hound from heaven following him every where he goes, loveing him.

The Hound of Heaven By Francis Thompson
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat -- and a voice beat
More instant than the Feet --
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."
I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,
Yet was I sore adread
Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside.)
But, if one little casement parted wide,
The gust of his approach would clash it to :
Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars ;
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon.
I said to Dawn : Be sudden -- to Eve : Be soon ;
With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over
From this tremendous Lover--
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see !
I tempted all His servitors, but to find
My own betrayal in their constancy,
In faith to Him their fickleness to me,
Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue ;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,
The long savannahs of the blue ;
Or whether, Thunder-driven,
They clanged his chariot 'thwart a heaven,
Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet :--
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Still with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
Came on the following Feet,
And a Voice above their beat--
"Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me."
I sought no more that after which I strayed,
In face of man or maid ;
But still within the little children's eyes
Seems something, something that replies,
They at least are for me, surely for me !
I turned me to them very wistfully ;
But just as their young eyes grew sudden fair
With dawning answers there,
Their angel plucked them from me by the hair.
"Come then, ye other children, Nature's -- share
With me" (said I) "your delicate fellowship ;
Let me greet you lip to lip,
Let me twine with you caresses,
Wantoning
With our Lady-Mother's vagrant tresses,
Banqueting
With her in her wind-walled palace,
Underneath her azured daïs,
Quaffing, as your taintless way is,
From a chalice
Lucent-weeping out of the dayspring."
So it was done :
I in their delicate fellowship was one --
Drew the bolt of Nature's secrecies.
I knew all the swift importings
On the wilful face of skies ;
I knew how the clouds arise
Spumèd of the wild sea-snortings ;
All that's born or dies
Rose and drooped with ; made them shapers
Of mine own moods, or wailful or divine ;
With them joyed and was bereaven.
I was heavy with the even,
When she lit her glimmering tapers
Round the day's dead sanctities.
I laughed in the morning's eyes.
I triumphed and I saddened with all weather,
Heaven and I wept together,
And its sweet tears were salt with mortal mine ;
Against the red throb of its sunset-heart
I laid my own to beat,
And share commingling heat ;
But not by that, by that, was eased my human smart.
In vain my tears were wet on Heaven's grey cheek.
For ah ! we know not what each other says,
These things and I ; in sound I speak--
Their sound is but their stir, they speak by silences.
Nature, poor stepdame, cannot slake my drouth ;
Let her, if she would owe me,
Drop yon blue bosom-veil of sky, and show me
The breasts o' her tenderness ;
Never did any milk of hers once bless
My thirsting mouth.
Nigh and nigh draws the chase,
With unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy ;
And past those noisèd Feet
A Voice comes yet more fleet --
"Lo ! naught contents thee, who content'st not Me."
Naked I wait thy Love's uplifted stroke !
My harness piece by piece Thou hast hewn from me,
And smitten me to my knee ;
I am defenceless utterly.
I slept, methinks, and woke,
And, slowly gazing, find me stripped in sleep.
In the rash lustihead of my young powers,
I shook the pillaring hours
And pulled my life upon me ; grimed with smears,
I stand amid the dust o' the mounded years --
My mangled youth lies dead beneath the heap.
My days have crackled and gone up in smoke,
Have puffed and burst as sun-starts on a stream.
Yea, faileth now even dream
The dreamer, and the lute the lutanist ;
Even the linked fantasies, in whose blossomy twist
I swung the earth a trinket at my wrist,
Are yielding ; cords of all too weak account
For earth with heavy griefs so overplussed.
Ah ! is Thy love indeed
A weed, albeit an amaranthine weed,
Suffering no flowers except its own to mount ?
Ah ! must --
Designer infinite !--
Ah ! must Thou char the wood ere Thou canst limn with it ?
My freshness spent its wavering shower i' the dust ;
And now my heart is as a broken fount,
Wherein tear-drippings stagnate, spilt down ever
From the dank thoughts that shiver
Upon the sighful branches of my mind.
Such is ; what is to be ?
The pulp so bitter, how shall taste the rind ?
I dimly guess what Time in mists confounds ;
Yet ever and anon a trumpet sounds
From the hid battlements of Eternity ;
Those shaken mists a space unsettle, then
Round the half-glimpsed turrets slowly wash again.
But not ere him who summoneth
I first have seen, enwound
With glooming robes purpureal, cypress-crowned ;
His name I know, and what his trumpet saith.
Whether man's heart or life it be which yields
Thee harvest, must Thy harvest-fields
Be dunged with rotten death ?
Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at hand the bruit ;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea :
"And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard ?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest me !
"Strange, piteous, futile thing !
Wherefore should any set thee love apart ?
Seeing none but I makes much of naught" (He said),
"And human love needs human meriting :
How hast thou merited --
Of all man's clotted clay the dingiest clot ?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art !
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me ?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home :
Rise, clasp My hand, and come !"
Halts by me that footfall :
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly ?
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest !
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest me."

Spiders!!!!

2009-05-05T15:17:00.004+02:00

So last night I killed this huge brown spider in the kitchen. I was totally grossed out. Needless to say, and a little freaked out but how it could have gotten in there. Well I decide to see if the Czech Republic has any poisonous spider; curiosity can be a dangerous thing. Well there are there are 852 different spider species here. In fact they just discovered a new poisonous one, of course, at the beginning of this year in south Moravia. They have called it Eresus Moravicus, that is the Moravian ladybird spider, whose bite provokes a several-hour fever accompanied by headache. I wonder how they found that out. Then I stumbled upon mortality stats from spider bites...I told you curiosity can be dangerous. Well, guess where CZ ranks in the world?!?! 12th, right in front of Poland. Great. If your curiosity gets the better of you, here's the site: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_con_wit_ven_spi_percap-contact-venomous-spiders-per-capita.

Colors of the rainbow???

2009-05-05T13:41:00.003+02:00

So I am again teaching colors. But this time I went through all the colors, so I didn't have a timberwolf problem again. Who has heard of these colors are even uses them. I mean really... could you here someone saying "Oh, i really love those macaroni and cheese shoes!" Or Razzmatazz, i mean really what color comes to mind when you think of that? What's with all the sea creatures: cultured pearl, lobster red, jellyfish purple, and sunfish yellow. I don't even have a "pink" crayon. My student have to choose between carnation and tickle me. Yes, only a teacher could write a whole blog about crayons.

Hiking can be dangerous!

2009-05-05T10:08:00.000+02:00

Well, I have figured out why all the people here are so skinny. They love to be outside walking around. Its been refreshing not to hear anything about TV shows, Xboxes, or computer games. When ever I ask "what did you do this weekend?" The answer is always went biking riding, hiking, worked in the garden, or made some kind of food. Well this past weekend I had the joy of going on a hike with about 30 youth! It was so much fun! The woods are very beautiful here! Of course, most of the girls were in the back chatting it up. I was talking with Jola when all of a sudden I look down. Curled up about 1 inch from my foot was a VIPER!!! I screamed and jumped. Then, of course, I took a picture. I thank the Lord so much for that 1 inch. I was 2 hours into a 4 hour hike; it would have been a long way back. About 10 minutes later a frog jump out at me and I screamed and jumped again. Everyone had a good laugh.

The fields here are a blanket of green and gold. On the way back, Jola made me a crown of dandelion flowers. It was cool to watch her make it. It definitely brought a smile to my face. :)

May 1st

2009-04-30T08:16:00.000+02:00

Well May 1st is known here as Labour Day, Day of Love, and in Prague, Chicken Day. Well everyone knows what Labour day is or International Worker’s Day. But what is Chicken Day? Well, it's been going on for 10 years now under the apple blossoms on Petrin hill. It's a feast in which tens of varieties of chicken dishes are entered into a competition, and bloody mary is the drink of choice.

The most common though is the National Day of Love. It is like their version of our V-day. Except that you kiss under the blooming cherry trees. Unless you are in Prague, then you go to statue of poet Karel Hynek Macha.

Put a Smile on Your Face

2009-04-23T15:10:00.000+02:00

Well I went running the other day and came to a dead stop. What stood in front of me was the most hilarious looking little thing. It was a Czech red squirrel in it's summer coat. This def made it to the "things that make me smile" list on my wall! I think the ears are the best part!

Mini Storytime with Ashley

2009-04-04T08:08:00.000+02:00

Mini Story #1: Army Run
So in keeping with my April diet plan I go running everyday. Well I don't like running on hard surfaces, so go to Poland where there are great trails. Well, on this morning I ran a little later b/c it was Friday and I could sleep in. Well, I came running down this trail the same time a ranger/army "class" was coming down. All decked out in green uniforms and patches. Well, some of the guys in the class thought it was funny and decided to mock me running. I need to think of a good response for next time. Any ideas?

Mini Story #2: Ditch Lovin'
There is a American team here called "Watermark." Terri and I decide to visit them, which is a good 20 min walk. The roads here are really small, I mean really small. It was late at night and we brought a long a little flashlight. Well, this car was coming super fast with its brights on and it was hard to see. Being a good friend I got over so Terri could get over, well next thing I knew I was falling and my legs hit something hard. Terri was like what are you doing; she thought I was playing. I mean doesn't everyone like to play in water ditches at 9pm at night in Poland. The phrase "deer in the headlights" takes on a whole new meaning.

Mini Story #3: Walk to No Where
So, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to walk to Terri's house. They said if you take the bike trail its only 40mins. It was beautiful spring day so why not. Well, the map I had wasn't the best (ie really small and no street names), but I figured I could do it. So I packed all my things and headed out at 12:45ish. Well, I thought I was doing pretty good until I had to leave the road and take a trail. Well, the trail on the map was pink. The trails on the sign were Green and Red. I thought ok maybe this is it. So I asked two polish ppl and they said yep! (in polish though). Well I walked up this huge hill and asked 3 more ppl and all said, Yep or tak! So then I get to a fork in the road and was like oh no! So I asked this little old man and he said go left and a lot of other polish. Well, I didn't trust him and I asked this lady and she said the same thing. So I walk down looking for this big red light. Finally I came to it! Well, then I noticed a little pizza place on a street that look all to familiar, it was steph's house! I had walked in one big HUGE HOT circle. Czech Maps and I are NOT friends.

Mini Story #4: Name Change
In CZ are "wal-mart" is called Tesco. Well steph and I went to Tesco shopping. I go there every week almost for the past 5 months. Well, I was going to check out and handed the lady my CC. I signed the lil slip and thought all is good. Well, then she got all mad at me pointed to the card and the slip. So, I have problems with my card b/c it says "See Photo ID". Well, normally I just show my drivers licence and that is that. But this lady would not have it. So she printed another slip, I signed my name as "See Photo ID" b/c they have to match!! Goodness.

Czech Easter Traditions

2009-03-27T12:47:00.000+01:00

This is going to be highlights because there are many:

1. Kraslice- hand painted Easter eggs

2. Pomlázka- Willow branches branded together. The boys chase the girls and hit them on the back of the legs on Red Monday (the Monday after Easter). This is suppose to bring health and youth. In return, the girls give them sweets and painted eggs (sometimes shots of alcohol). Also, boys can throw cold water on girls or even throw them in the river. I am wearing pants this day!

3. Names of the days: Ugly Wednesday, Green Thursday: the long green robes worn in church and the spinach and cabbage traditionally eaten on the day; Great Friday: No church bells ring, which are said to have “flown away to Rome" (no music is played either); White Saturday: day when new members are baptized in the catholic church; and Red Monday.

4. Food: Bread in the shape of a Lamb, Mazanec, and Babovka.

Happy Easter! - Veselé Velikonoce!

Orthodoxy

2009-03-24T08:45:00.000+01:00

This is from the last page of G.K. Chesterton's book "Orthodoxy", a man who's writings help C.S. Lewis find God. I heard this in one of Ravi Z's speeches; it was so wonderful. I really want to read the book in it's entirety now.

"Why do we never read in the Scriptures Jesus laughed? We hear of Him weeping. We hear of Him upset. We hear of Him rebuking people. I wish somewhere it were written Jesus laughed. Certainly there must be some sense of joy and mirth in God Himself. [...]
Joy which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian. As I close this chaotic volume, I open again the strange small book from which all Christianity came. And I am again haunted by a kind of confirmation, this tremendous figure which fills the Gospels, towers in this respect as in any other above all the thinkers who ever thought themselves tall. His pathos was natural, almost causal. The Stoics, ancient and modern, were proud of concealing their tears. He never concealed his tears; He showed them plainly on his open face at any daily sight, such as the far sight of His native city. Yet He concealed something. Solemn supermen and imperial diplomatists are proud of restraining their anger. He never restrained his anger. He flung furniture down the front steps of the Temple, and asked men how they expected to escape the damnation of Hell. Yet He restrained something. I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that he hid from all men when he went up a mountain to pray. There was something that he covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was one thing that was to0 great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes faniced that is was God's mirth."

Adidas = all day i dream about stupid

2009-03-11T08:23:00.000+01:00

Adidas has gone stupid. They have just released a new line of hats called ' MARX A-FLEX' (above is the Russia verison) with a caption that reads:

"Show your love for the former USSR during training time in this adidas Marx A-Flex Russia cap, featuring a six-panel low-crown fit, deep pre-curved brim, an Always Cool™ sweatband to wick away the moisture, and a hammer-and-sickle graphic."

(left is the cuba verison; right the China version) That's not all it wicks away. Show your love? Your love of what oppression? Since when have symbols of oppression and socialism been 'cool'? Maybe it's because I currently live in CZ, where stories are pasted over Sunday lunches about the fears and pain of the USSR. You can still see the look in there eyes about the flash backs they are having in there minds. About spies in church about language changes in schools, about being watched. Is this part of a desensitizing of our nation, in order to move forward with a hidden agenda?

Really Updated Wish List

2009-03-05T08:21:00.001+01:00

BROWN SUGAR
Oreos
JIF Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Flavor things: Nutterbutter Cookies, PB cookies mix, PB candy
Bag of Chocolate Chips
Real Liquid Vanilla
Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
American Cheese Flavor: Cheese-its, Chips, Crackers
Salsa (medium)Anything Spicy or Mexican Flavored
Root Beer
Cream Soda
Big Red (the drink)
Dr. Pepper
Rice Krispy Treats and/or just a bag of Rice Krispies
Big Marshmallows
Hot Chocolate Mix
Muffin Mix: Blueberry, Lemon Poppyseed, Banana Nut, Mix Berry
Starbucks Coffee Or GIFT CARDS!
Prince of Wales Twinnings Tea
TAZO Awake Tea
Brownie Mix
Itunes Gift Cards (to rent english movies)
Harry & David Pineapple Salsa
Red Pepper Flakes- like on pizza
Lemon Pepper

Home Sweet Church

2009-03-03T19:04:00.000+01:00

I was thinking today how we also ask if 'they have a church home?'. What an interesting choice of words. I wonder how often do people step through those church front doors and get that same feeling. As when one works a long hard day and they finally walking in the front door. I wonder if there is that sigh of relief, that release of stress, that thought of I made it through the day. The feeling of comfort and welcome-ness. I wonder if we long for the people inside. If walking out the door is something we do because we must, because we have responsibilities, but we would rather just stay home. I wonder if we even get those I just wanna stay home feelings. I wonder if its a place we look forward to going for the holidays. I wonder if its a place we know we can always turn to, a place that will help you in your time of need. If we feel free to release it all. All the tears and hurt, all the fears and pain. I wonder if that pew feels like a couch; a seat you think about through the day. Can you take your shoes off at the door? Do people know you by name? Do they share their life, their love, their coffee? I wonder...

I guess I have been blessed in a rather unusual way. I have gone to the same church my whole life. And for a time, I spent more time there then at my actual house. I did take my shoes off at the door. In fact I still do, after service don't be surprised to see me running around in my bare feet. I had a place for my lunch box and a coloring book in the desk. I know that whole place like the back of my hand. I was babysat by the whole youth group for a while almost every Sunday night. I remember what color the walls or even doors used to be. I remember the "old" building. I was baptized there. I was confirmed there. I took my first communion there. My parents were married there. I became a DCE there. My sister funeral was there. I became a missionary there. My church is my home. I find myself missing those seafoam green pews I used as a jungle gym. I miss sharing the peace with Mrs. Bailey. I miss getting smacked in the leg for shaking the whole pew. I miss all the old ladies say "I remember when you were this big." I miss dad smiling at me as he walks out after service. I miss skipping Sunday school with Nicki and going to our spot in the woods. I miss all those folders full of notes we hung from the ceiling. I miss Sunday night youth group with '60s furniture. I miss funny ceiling tiles and hilarious volleyball. I miss lent and advent potlucks. I would walk through every part of my life within it's walls. But most of all I miss walking through those doors feeling like I am home. I made it through the week. Here, I can be real, I can be me. Here I am home.

Delights!

2009-02-24T16:21:00.000+01:00

As I sit here eating what is probably my eighth piece of chocolate today, in honor of fat Tuesday, with my feet tapping to the rhythm of Celtic violins, download inspired by my latest book, I can’t help but thank God for the delights of the day. There was nothing extraordinary about today’s happenings, no defining moment, not even a word to be remembered for years to come, or weeks for that matter. No it was simply, the ease and comfort to sit back and look at those things which where always there. Those things that most people, including me, just don’t have time to ponder or to enjoy. My day started out as it always does, with the disbelief that it was time to actually get out of bed. I did my morning workout, read the bible over a bowl of PB oatmeal, went through my prayer basket, and then decided it was time to exchange the sweatpants in for a jeans and a yellow polo. I don’t know if its b/c I love yellow or that my prayers were exceptionally good today, but I found with feelings complete satisfaction and delight as I found myself watching these little birds out my window. Opening my widow to these little birds, with bright yellow chests, and to a rush of cool air, one could not help but sense that spring was trying awaken. The bleakness of the gray sky was almost lost behind evergreens which dripped with melting snow and to church bells that rang in the afternoon. The annoyance of winter and spring battling over the day was soon lost in the wonder of the beautiful icicles it left behind. Its days like this I just wish I could curl up in a cabin somewhere far away from city streets and bustling people. With hot chocolate in hand and a blanket in reach, I would be delighted to be in the audience as God once again cues spring on to what Shakespeare referred to as ‘the stage’. The only thing would add to it would be a person to share the ‘awe’ with (cuz I like to snuggleJ).

Sliding into happy moments

2009-02-18T20:25:00.000+01:00

Well coming back from teaching today the snow was coming down pretty thick, as it has been for the past two weeks. Well, it was definitely getting the best of the bus I was riding. We got almost to the top of the hill and could go no further. So, the bus driver had no choice but to let us slide all the way back down. Well, you know me, I wasn't sitting calmly in my seat thinking what fun. No, I was praying Lord please don't let us crash and catch and fire. This thought definitely made me start looking for safety features and emergency exits. It's kinda like when you fly you really don't care about the safety instructions at the beginning of the flight until you hit some really bad turbulence. Well, just when I decided that I was going to have to throw the fire extinguisher throw the back window in case of a fire, due to the lack of any opening windows, we made it to the bottom safely. Well, we made it up the second time with a gunned engine and lots of prayer. Due to our little adventure, we missed my connecting bus by 3 minutes. I looked at the bus routes for a good 5 minutes, determining that the next bus did come for another 40 minutes. Well, I set out for the restaurant across the street hoping to find someone to prove me stupid at reading signs and that the bus was coming sooner, but to no avail. So, I sat down and waited. There were only three of us in this restaurant: me, the women on the bus with me, and a man with his dog. Trying to be true to my budget for the first time in a week, I said no to tea. Well, I must have looked pretty disheartened. The waitress came over with not only tea but chocolate cookies too! They were from the old man with the dog, who was already on his second beer. Afterwards, I said thanks and told him my name. I wanted to say God Bless, but I don't know the word for 'bless' and just saying 'God' I figured wasn't the best. God definitely gave me unexpected delights!

Attack of the KILLER MOLD!!!

2009-02-12T13:42:00.000+01:00

On Friday, Feb 6, 2009 the war began. I pulled out a shirt only to find little black dots on the top. As I proceeded to pull out the rest of my clothes, I was noticing more black dots. After all my clothes had been pulled out, what was revealed to be was a black wall of mold. I continued to pull out clothes with black mold behind them until got to the bottom rack. The mold wasn't behind them anymore! It killed two pairs of my shoes! Well, Terri was coming over for a B-day sleepover and mold was not invited to the party. So we moved it next store thankfully. After some heavy duty spray, the hero of this story, showed up on scene, the mold was killed. So we thought... We'll as luck would have it I came down with a head cold and there were guest arriving to stay in the room I was in. So, I move to Daniel's house for a couple of nights where I got to enjoy his mother-in-law WONDERFUL cooking! I was moved back here yesterday, and when I entered my room I could still smell mold. So I climbed the shelves only to find the 4 inch gap between the wall unit and ceiling covered in mold. Back into the guest bedroom I moved. So with some help from Jola, a ladder, and our trusty spray, we went to work. You can't breathe in the spray, get it on your skin or on your clothes. Once it's sprayed you have to wait a good 24 hours before you can go back in the room. And because of the nature of black mold I have to wash ALL my clothes and sheets. So, two pairs of shoes, one pair of pants, a pink spot on Jola's pants, dried out hands, and 5 days later, the mold is dead. I think....

Daily #9

2009-02-06T10:33:00.000+01:00

So for the longest time I thought every one's 'flush' buttons were broken (like the cracked in half). Come to find out, they are actually two different buttons all together. Who would have guessed? Obviously not this person. Well, the big button is for a big flush and the small one is for a small flush. I know, great logic. Or to be more scientific about it one is about 2.2 gal and the other just 1 gal. This system is know as the 'dual flush system'. I think this lands some where between America's system and Mexico's "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" system.

Top Things I want to do in CZ

2009-02-05T08:19:00.000+01:00

Hike Halicky Sneznik
Canoe the Berounka River
Go to Podyji National Park
Go to Lednice Chateau
Go to the Highlander's Festival - in Jablunkov, 7th - 9th Aug.
See Pracvcicka Brana (Land Bridge)
Go in a Cave!
Learn to make Czech soup!
Go to a futbol game!
See the bears at Cesky Krumlov Castle
Have a beer at the Plzen Brewery
Go to Terezin Concentration Camp
See the rocks at Cesky Raj
Go to Triple-boundary

Daily Discovery #6-8

2009-02-03T13:13:00.000+01:00

Discovery #6

The first five books of the Czech Bible (the Torah) are called 1 Moses, 2 Moses, etc.

Discovery #7

To signal you are done eating here you have to put your fork and your knife parallel to each other. If your knife blade points away from the fork it means you didn't like the food; If points inward to the fork it means you like it.

Discovery #8

The age of consent here is not 18, but 15!!!

Folk Tale: Silly Jura

2009-01-15T09:33:00.000+01:00

SILLY JURA
ONCE there were two brothers. They were lazy fellows, and thieves into the bargain. They were expected to give a feast. They said to one another: "We haven't got anything. Wherever shall we find food for the feast?"
So the first said: "I'll go to our neighbour's. He has some fine apples, and I'll pluck some of them." The second said: "I'll go to the shepherd's. He has some fine rams. I'll steal a ram from him."
These two brothers hated the third, and so they abused him: "Silly Jura! You won't get anything yourself, but you'll be ready enough to eat what we get."
So Jura said: "I'll go to the burgomaster's and get some nuts."
In the evening they went their ways. When he had finished plucking the nuts, Jura went into the charnel-house at the back of the church and began to crack the nuts there. The watchmen heard the cracking in the charnel-house, and they thought the place was haunted. As there was no priest in the village (he lived in the next village), they went to the burgomaster and asked him to go with them to the charnel-house, saying that the place was haunted.
The burgomaster said: "I am so ill that I can't stand on my feet; no doctor can help me."
But the watchmen insisted, and so the burgomaster told his servant to take him on his back and carry him to the place. The servant carried him along, and the watchmen called at the churchwarden's to ask for some holy water.
When they came near to the charnel-house, Jura thought it was his brother bringing the ram, so he called out: "Are you bringing him?"
The servant was frightened, and let the burgomaster fall and ran away. The burgomaster was terrified too. He jumped up and ran after the servant. He cleared a wooden fence with one leap in his flight, and it wasn't long till he reached home. His family wondered to see him cured so quickly without the help of a doctor.
Next day the burgomaster proclaimed that he would give a pound to the man who had stolen his nuts the day before, if he would only come to see him. So Jura went to him, and the burgomaster said: "I ought to punish you for stealing, but since you have cured my illness which nobody was able to cure, I'll give you the pound I promised, but you mustn't steal any more." So Jura promised not to steal any more, and went home.
The brothers grew very fond of him now that he had money. They borrowed the money from him and bought themselves new clothes, and said: "We'll go to see the world and to get wives for ourselves. As for you, Silly Jura, you must stay at home; you'd never get a good wife for yourself."
So off they went. But Jura went too. He went to the forest and he was utterly dazzled. He had often heard that there was an enchanted castle in that forest. When he came to the place where the ruins of the castle were, night overtook him, and so he could see nothing except what looked like a light in a cellar. So he went into the cellar to make his night's lodging there. There was nobody in the cellar but a cat. The cat greeted him: "Welcome, dear Jura! How did you come here?"
Jura was frightened when he heard the cat speak, and was going to run away. But the cat told him not to go; there was no need to be frightened. He must come back, and no harm would be done to him. If he wanted to eat, he could go into the storeroom and take what he wanted. She would take him for her servant.
So he stayed there a year and had a good time. He never saw a cook, but he always found meals ready prepared in the storeroom. He had nothing to do but get firewood, and at the end of the year he was told to make a great pile of it. Then the cat said: "You must light the pile to-day, and throw me into the fire. You must not help me out, however I entreat you, but you must let me be consumed."
Jura answered: "I can't do that. I have had a good time with you. Why should I repay you in such an evil way?" The cat said: "If you don't do as I have said, you will be very unhappy. If you do it, you will be happy."
So Jura kindled the pile, and, when it was well alight, he picked up the cat and threw her into the fire. She wanted to escape from the fire, but he wouldn't let her go. At last he was so weary that he was forced to lie down, and soon he fell asleep. When he awoke, he opened his eyes, and behold! there was no ruin; he heard delightful music and saw a beautiful palace with crowds of servants. He was wondering at all this, when a splendidly dressed lady came up to him and asked him if he did not know her.
Jura said: "How should I know your ladyship? I never saw you before in my life."
The lady said: "I am that cat. Witches had put me under enchantment in the shape of a cat. Now we will go after your brothers who hated you so much and see how they are getting on."
She ordered her people to dress him in fine clothes, a fine carriage was prepared, and they drove off. As they were approaching the village, the lady said to her bridegroom: "Put your old clothes on." Then she called an old, ragged beggarwoman and sent him with her. She herself remained outside of the village.
When the brothers saw Jura coming with the ragged beggarwoman, they shouted: "He is bringing home an old ragged bride, and he's in rags too." The other brothers were married too, and they were pretty badly off, so they turned him out and wouldn't have him at home.
So Jura went out of the village; he changed his clothes and drove back with the lady to his brothers' cottage. When the carriage stopped before the cottage, the brothers said: "What a fine carriage! Who is that noble lord and the beautiful lady who have come to our cottage?" They did not recognize their brother.
So she said: "Look here. You were always hard on your brother, always sneering at him, and now you are badly off enough, while he is getting on splendidly. If you mend your ways, you will get on too."
Afterwards she gave them some money and went away with Jura.

Dreaming of Heavenly Things...

2009-01-09T13:25:00.000+01:00

I was writing birthdays on my calender. Allison's is next month and I paused, should I write it? I wanted to so bad. Should I ever stop writing it. When can I come to that date and be ok, when does this wound become a scar...

Dreaming of heavenly things, just wrapped in angels wings
To catch every tear, whisper ‘Jesus is here’
She with him every night, she’s engulfed in his light
There is no more pain, no more fright
She’s with Jesus tonight

Dreaming of heavenly things, of Jesus and mansion scenes
He holds me so tight, whispers ‘Everything is alright’
She’s with me tonight; she’s dancing, dancing in my light
There was no hurt, no more fear
For I was always near

Know I love you
I love you so much, I hold you so near
Know that she’ll always be forever, forever with me
One day, when the time is right, you’ll be here too
You can dance with her in my light and hear the angels all night
And see those heavenly things, that are found in your dreams

Dreaming of heavenly things, Jesus tell the angels ‘sing’
Such a beautiful sound, all I feel is love all round
You’re with me tonight; cast your pain in the light
Let me take your hurt and your fear
I’ll always be here, with my angels, here with my angels

Just listen to them sing… I love you, I’m always here.

Prince of Wales

2009-01-04T11:57:00.000+01:00

So, if you don't know I went to London for a week. (I will write more on that later). I know it's pathetic, but one of the things I was looking forward to was some Twinings' Prince of Wales Tea. Wouldn't you know it, I couldn't find it anywhere. I buy it all the time at Wal-mart back in the US. I couldn't find it anywhere in the UK. In fact, I had a hard time just finding Twinings. You think something that's been around since 1706 would be easy to find. So if buy this point of reading this you find me pitiable or just that you want to save me for the pathetic state I am in (blogging about tea), then I would love a box. If you can find it that is!

Updated Wish List

2008-12-26T18:37:00.000+01:00

Crunchy Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Flavor things: Nutterbutter Cookies, PB cookies mix, PB candy
Bag of Chocolate Chips
Anything with Chocolate Chips in it: Cookies, cookie mix
Real Liquid Vanilla
Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
American Cheese Flavor: Cheese-its, Chips
Chips and Salsa (medium)
Anything Spicy or Mexican Flavored
Root Beer
Cream Soda
Big Red
Dr. Pepper
Beef Jerky
Rice Krispy Treats and/or just a bag of Rice Krispies
Big Marshmallows
Hot Chocolate Mix
Muffin Mix: Blueberry, Lemon Poppyseed, Banana Nut, Mix Berry
Starbucks Coffee
Prince of Wales Twinnings Tea
Brownie Mix
Itunes Gift Cards (to rent english movies)
Harry & David Pineapple Salsa
Pancake Mix

"Only Living People Bleed"

2008-12-19T16:54:00.000+01:00

Story told in Ravi Zacharias' speech 'Why I'm not an Atheist'

A fellow woke up one morning and said to his wife, “I believe I’m dead.” And his wife said you know that’s a strange sense of humor. It’s alright, just go on to work and bring home the paycheck type of thing and sent him on his merry way. But this impression in his mind linger for far to many hours. Every evening he’d come back and munching on his goodies in his lazy boy, would say “You know I really think I’m dead.” Finally his wife and his children decided he needed some help. If he didn’t get help, they would need some help. So they send him along to a team of doctors and psychologist all of whom were trying to help him without success. Till one doctor latched on to this idea, to try to establish for him imperially that only living people bleed. He was trying to deny that. They brought all things of evidence overhead projects, charts, and all the data on hand. Only living people bleed, only living people bleed. Finally this man after all the evidence was weighted in said “Alright I guess I’m going to have to admit to you that only living people bleed.” As soon as he said that one of the doctors took a pin and plunged it in to his veins and the blood came spurting out. He looked at it and said “Great scott, I guess dead people bleed too!”

Listen to the whole speech free on itunes podcast: Let My People Think (RZIM)

Christmas Prayers

2008-12-17T09:18:00.001+01:00

It’s so wonderful how God answers unspoken prayers. The day after I wrote my ‘sad Christmas’ note, the prayers of my heart were answered. I guess I never prayed them b/c I should have been just content with Christ birth to make me happy and not need anything else. I guess I just felt guilty for not being content in Christ. Well, Jola, the wonderful girl I work with, invited me over for lunch on Sunday. She was showing me her house where her family (great grandma, grandparents, parents, and her) live. She lives on a farm with bunnies! One just had babies, so I think when I get back from holiday they will be big enough to hold!!! I wonder what the pet policy is here. Anyways, She was like I have a surprise for you and came out with a basket full of Christmas tree branches that had been arranged (Jola does a wonderful job of flower arrangements). We then her dad came in and was like I found it. They unwrapped this plastic bag to reveal a small Christmas tree. Jola was like since you didn’t have one you can use ours. Then she brought in three boxes of ornaments with hooks (complete with tree topper), garland, and tinsel. She also had a traditional Czech Christmas, I guess, it’s a wreath. We also went out and cut cherry twigs. At the end of the day, her and her mom wrapped up a big box of Christmas cookies for me. God is so good to me. So I just decorated my tree while listening to Christmas music and eating cookies.
Tomorrow, pastor is taking me and the other Ashley out to lunch. Then on Thursday, Jola’s family has invited me over to help them braid the bread. It’s traditional Czech sweet bread that you braid the dough before you bake it. We will also be making traditional Czech cookies. I have a Christmas party with my English class on Monday. We are having a ‘White Elephant Gift Exchange’!! I’m going to bring a bible. I’m having a surprise Christmas party for my class tomorrow. Daniel’s family has invited me over for Christmas Eve, which is like our Christmas day. You have a huge meal and open gifts. Yes, I’m going to eat Christmas carp.

Czech Folk Tales: The Twelve Months

2008-12-13T12:25:00.001+01:00

I've decided that I will blog one folk tale a month. This month is the The Twelve Months.

THE TWELVE MONTHS
ONCE upon a time there lived a mother who had two daughters. One was her own child, the other her stepdaughter. She was very fond of her own daughter, but she would not so much as look at her step-daughter. The only reason was that Maruša, the stepdaughter, was prettier than her own daughter, Holena. The gentle-hearted Maruša did not know how beautiful she was, and so she could never make out why her mother was so cross with her whenever she looked at her. She had to do all the housework, tidying up the cottage, cooking, washing, and sewing, and then she had to take the hay to the cow and look after her. She did all this work alone, while Holena spent the time adorning herself and lazing about. But Maruša liked work, for she was a patient girl, and when her mother scolded and rated her, she bore it like a lamb. It was no
p. 2
good, however, for they grew crueller and crueller every day, only because Maruša was growing prettier and Holena uglier every day.
At last the mother thought: "Why should I keep a pretty stepdaughter in my house? When the lads come courting here, they will fall in love with Maruša and they won't look at Holena."
From that moment the stepmother and her daughter were constantly scheming how to get rid of poor Maruša. They starved her and they beat her. But she bore it all, and in spite of all she kept on growing prettier every day. They invented torments that the cruellest of men would never have thought of. One day--it was in the middle of January--Holena felt a longing for the scent of violets. "Go, Maruša, and get me some violets from the forest; I want to wear them at my waist and to smell them," she said to her sister.
"Great heavens! sister. What a strange notion! Who ever heard of violets growing under the snow?" said poor Maruša.
"You wretched tatterdemalion! how dare you argue when I tell you to do something? Off you go at once, and if you don't bring
p. 3
me violets from the forest I'll kill you!" said Holena threateningly.
The stepmother caught hold of Maruša, turned her out of the door, and slammed it to after her. She went into the forest weeping bitterly. The snow lay deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen. Maruša wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. She begged God to take her from the world.
At last she saw a light in the distance. She went towards the glow, and came at last to the top of a mountain. A big fire was burning there, and round the fire were twelve stones with twelve men sitting on them. Three of them had snow-white beards, three were not so old, and three were still younger. The three youngest were the handsomest of them all. They were not speaking, but all sitting silent. These twelve men were the twelve months. Great January sat highest of all; his hair and beard were as white as snow, and in his hand he held a club.
Maruša was frightened. She stood still for a time in terror, but, growing bolder, she went up to them and said: "Please, kind
p. 4
sirs, let me warm my hands at your fire. I am trembling with the cold."
Great January nodded, and asked her: "Why have you come here, my dear little girl? What are you looking for?"
"I am looking for violets," answered Maruša.
"This is no time to be looking for violets, for everything is covered with snow," answered Great January.
"Yes, I know; but my sister Holena and my stepmother said that I must bring them some violets from the forest. If I don't bring them, they'll kill me. Tell me, fathers, please tell me where I can find them."
Great January stood up and went to one of the younger months--it was March--and, giving him the club, he said: "Brother, take the high seat."
March took the high seat upon the stone and waved the club over the fire. The fire blazed up, the snow began to melt, the trees began to bud, and the ground under the young beech-trees was at once covered with grass and the crimson daisy buds began to peep through the grass. It was springtime. Under the bushes the violets were blooming
p. 5
among their little leaves, and before Maruša had time to think, so many of them had sprung up that they looked like a blue cloth spread out on the ground.
"Pick them quickly, Maruša!" commanded March.
Maruša picked them joyfully till she had a big bunch. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered merrily home.
Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maruša bringing the violets. They opened the door to her, and the scent of violets filled all the cottage.
"Where did you get them?" asked Holena sulkily.
"They are growing under the bushes in a forest on the high mountains."
Holena put them in her waistband. She let her mother smell them, but she did not say to her sister: "Smell them."
Another day she was lolling near the stove, and now she longed for some strawberries. So she called to her sister and said: "Go, Maruša, and get me some strawberries from the forest."
"Alas! dear sister, where could I find any
p. 6
strawberries? Who ever heard of strawberries growing under the snow?" said Maruša.
"You wretched little tatterdemalion, how dare you argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go at once and get me the strawberries, or I'll kill you!"
The stepmother caught hold of Maruša and pushed her out of the door and shut it after her. Maruša went to the forest weeping bitterly. The snow was lying deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. She wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. At last she saw the light she had seen the other day. Overjoyed, she went towards it. She came to the great fire with the twelve months sitting round it.
"Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire. I am trembling with cold."
Great January nodded, and asked her: "Why have you come again, and what are you looking for here?"
"I am looking for strawberries."
"But it is winter now, and strawberries don't grow on the snow," said January.
"Yes, I know," said Maruša sadly; "but my sister Holena and my stepmother bade
p. 7
me bring them some strawberries, and if I don't bring them, they will kill me. Tell me, fathers, tell me, please, where I can find them."
Great January arose. He went over to the month sitting opposite to him--it was June--and handed the club to him, saying: "Brother, take the high seat."
June took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over the fire. The fire shot up, and its heat melted the snow in a moment. The ground was all green, the trees were covered with leaves, the birds began to sing, and the forest was filled with all kinds of flowers. It was summer. The ground under the bushes was covered with white starlets, the starry blossoms were turning into strawberries every minute. They ripened at once, and before Maruša had time to think, there were so many of them that it looked as though blood had been sprinkled on the ground.
"Pick them at once, Maruša!" commanded
June. Maruša picked them joyfully till she had filled her apron full. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered
p. 8
merrily home. Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maruša bringing the strawberries. Her apron was full of them. They ran to open the door for her, and the scent of the strawberries filled the whole cottage.
"Where did you pick them?" asked Holena sulkily.
"There are plenty of them growing under the young beech-trees in the forest on the high mountains."
Holena took the strawberries, and went on eating them till she could eat no more. So did the stepmother too, but they didn't say to Maruša: "Here is one for you."
When Holena had enjoyed the strawberries, she grew greedy for other dainties, and so on the third day she longed for some red apples.
"Maruša, go into the forest and get me some red apples," she said to her sister.
"Alas! sister dear, how am I to get apples for you in winter?" protested Maruša.
"You wretched little tatterdemalion, how dare you argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go to the forest at once, and if you don't bring me the apples I will kill you!" threatened Holena.
p. 9
The stepmother caught hold of Maruša and pushed her out of the door and shut it after her. Maruša went to the forest weeping bitterly. The snow was lying deep; there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. But she didn't wander about this time. She ran straight to the top of the mountain where the big fire was burning. The twelve months were sitting round the fire; yes, there they certainly were, and Great January was sitting on the high seat.
"Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire. I am trembling with cold."
Great January nodded, and asked her: "Why have you come here, and what are you looking for?"
"I am looking for red apples."
"It is winter now, and red apples don't grow in winter," answered January.
"Yes, I know," said Maruša sadly; "but my sister and my stepmother, too, bade me bring them some red apples from the forest. If I don't bring them, they will kill me. Tell me, father, tell me, please, where I could find them."
Great January rose up. He went over to
p. 10
one of the older months--it was September. He handed the club to him and said: "Brother, take the high seat."
Month September took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over the fire. The fire began to burn with a red flame, the snow began to melt. But the trees were not covered with leaves; the leaves were wavering down one after the other, and the cold wind was driving them to and fro over the yellowing ground. This time Maruša did not see so many flowers. Only red pinks were blooming on the hillside, and meadow saffrons were flowering in the valley. High fern and thick ivy were growing under the young beech-trees. But Maruša was only looking for red apples, and at last she saw an apple-tree with red apples hanging high among its branches.
"Shake the tree at once, Maruša!" commanded the month.
Right gladly Maruša shook the tree, and one apple fell down. She shook it a second time, and another apple fell down.
"Now, Maruša, run home quickly!" shouted the month.
Maruša obeyed at once. She picked up
p. 11
the apples, thanked the months with all her heart, and ran merrily home.
Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maruša bringing the apples. They ran to open the door for her, and she gave them two apples.
"Where did you get them?" asked Holena. "There are plenty of them in the forest on the high mountain."
"And why didn't you bring more? Or did you eat them on the way home?" said Holena harshly.
"Alas! sister dear, I didn't eat a single one. But when I had shaken the tree once, one apple fell down, and when I shook it a second time, another apple fell down, and they wouldn't let me shake it again. They shouted to me to go straight home," protested Maruša.
Holena began to curse her: "May you be struck to death by lightning!" and she was going to beat her.
Maruša began to cry bitterly, and she prayed to God to take her to Himself, or she would be killed by her wicked sister and her stepmother. She ran away into the kitchen.
Greedy Holena stopped cursing and began
p. 12
to eat the apple. It tasted so delicious that she told her mother she had never tasted anything so nice in all her life. The step-mother liked it too. When they had finished, they wanted some more.
"Mother, give me my fur coat. I'll go to the forest myself. That ragged little wretch would eat them all up again on her way home. I'll find the place all right, and I'll shake them all down, however they shout at me."
Her mother tried to dissuade her, but it was no good. She took her fur coat, wrapped a cloth round her head, and off she went to the forest. Her mother stood on the threshold, watching to see how Holena would manage to walk in the wintry weather.
The snow lay deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. Holena wandered about for a long time, but the desire of the sweet apple kept driving her on. At last she saw a light in the distance. She went towards it, and climbed to the top of the mountain where the big fire was burning, and round the fire on twelve stones the twelve months were sitting. She was terrified at first, but she soon recovered. She
p. 13
stepped up to the fire and stretched out her hands to warm them, but she didn't say as much as "By your leave" to the twelve months; no, she didn't say a single word to them.
"Why have you come here, and what are you looking for?" asked Great January crossly.
"Why do you want to know, you old fool? It's no business of yours," replied Holena angrily, and she turned away from the fire and went into the forest.
Great January frowned and swung the club over his head. The sky grew dark in a moment, the fire burned low, the snow began to fall as thick as if the feathers had been shaken out of a down quilt, and an icy wind began to blow through the forest. Holena couldn't see one step in front of her; she lost her way altogether, and several times she fell into snowdrifts. Then her limbs grew weak and began slowly to stiffen. The snow kept on falling and the icy wind blew more icily than ever. Holena began to curse Maruša and the Lord God. Her limbs began to freeze, despite her fur coat.
p. 14
Her mother was waiting for Holena; she kept on looking out for her, first at the window, then outside the door, but all in vain.
"Does she like the apples so much that she can't leave them, or what is the matter? I must see for myself where she is," decided the stepmother at last. So she put on her fur coat, she wrapped a shawl round her head, and went out to look for Holena. The snow was lying deep; there wasn't a human footprint to be seen; the snow fell fast, and the icy wind was blowing through the forest.
Maruša had cooked the dinner, she had seen to the cow, and yet Holena and her mother did not come back. "Where are they staying so long?" thought Maruša, as she sat down to work at the distaff. The spindle was full already and it was quite dark in the room, and yet Holena and the stepmother had not come back.
"Alas, Lord! what has come to them?" cried Maruša, peering anxiously through the window. The sky was bright and the earth was all glittering, but there wasn't a human soul to be seen. . . . Sadly she shut the
window; she crossed herself, and prayed for her sister and her mother. . . . In the morning she waited with breakfast, she waited with dinner; but however much she waited, it was no good. Neither her mother nor her sister ever came back. Both of them were frozen to death in the forest.
So good Maruša inherited the cottage, a piece of ploughland and the cow. She married a kind husband, and they both lived happily ever after.

Sad Christmas

2008-12-13T11:13:00.000+01:00

I’m sitting here listening to ‘I’ll Home for Christmas’. “I’m dreaming tonight of a place I know, even more than I usually do.” I never realized how sad this song is…” I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” Who only wants to be home in their dreams?? I mean, really, what that saying is I want to be home but I can’t be. Sigh. I guess it doesn’t matter how many paper snowflakes I cut out or how many ‘Top 10 sites of London’ lists I look at, I really just want to go home. I thought it would be exciting to be out on my own in Europe, truth is I’m heartbroken. I never thought I’d say this but I rather be in Santa Rosa Mall with a cup of hot cocoa, then touring the castles of Europe. Heck, even without the cocoa. I don’t know if it’s b/c it’s my first Christmas away from home, my second Christmas without Allison, or if it’s the need to experience the ‘Christmas feeling’. I just want to work in the puzzle, to go to Grams and Gramps Christmas Eve party, or just one advent service. Maybe it’s because my homesickness is finally kicking in and it just happens to double because it’s Christmas. This might be the first Christmas I actually cry on. Who would have guess that my favorite time of year would turn into the saddest part. Drink some eggnog for me.

Barborky

2008-12-11T12:50:00.000+01:00

Well I missed Barborky or St. Barbara’s Day on Dec. 4th. According to tradition, on this day a young unmarried woman cuts off a twig from a cherry tree and puts it in water. These will be put in a vase in a dark corner, each one with a name tag, and on Christmas Day they will be eagerly examined. If it blooms by Christmas Eve, the girl will marry within a year.

Daily Discovery 5!

2008-12-07T12:06:00.000+01:00

Well if your looking at the picture wondering what in the world that thing is, then obviously you are not an old lady in the Czech Republic. It is an ice attachment for a walking cane. It's wicked looking. You don't want to get beat with this cane! Watch out for feisty old ladies in the snow. So, I hear they have these in the state *cough Steph* But to a FL girl, these are a new discovery. :)

Locked In??

2008-12-07T11:41:00.000+01:00

Every week the time of church changes. I have no idea why. Well, last week it was at 8am. I knew today was later but I couldn't remember if it 9am or 10am (I was pretty sure it was 10). So at almost 9 I get in the shower. Well, I had music playing, but then I heard bells. I was like oh, no church is starting! So I raced to get dressed and ran down stairs. Well, to save time I decided to see if the front door was open. One thing you must know is that there is a door you go in to get to the call box then a door someone must buzz you through. Well from the inside all you do is hit this little button and the door buzzes open. Well, NORMALLY if the outside door is locked the inside door will not open. However, this was not the case this morning. By the time I figured this out and turned around to catch the other door, it had closed. So I was stuck in this glass box for about a half hour. Oh, and by the way church didn't start till 10. Finally a man came by and I hit the windows. Seeing my problem, the man ran to the back door (lucky he had keys) and buzzed me out of the box. Goodness. What a way to start your day.

Daily Discovery 4!

2008-12-06T10:47:00.000+01:00

So, if you ever come to the Czech Republic and after days of chicken and pork you want something to sink your teeth into. You just want some good ole American beef. Do NOT order a hamburger. For what you will get is a big, fried piece of ham. Hence the name, HAMburger. Well, now I know.

St. Nick Day

2008-12-06T10:40:00.000+01:00

St. Nick Day is Dec. 5 in the Czech Republic. On St. Nick Day everyone wears red and Santa hats. Then St. Nick and the Devil come to your house. They ask for a song, poem, dance, or skit. If you do one then St. Nick gives you a gift. But... if you don't then the devil scares you. Ashley and I ran into St. Nick on the sidewalk. We sang 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in English. We got to choose something from his basket. Ashley got a banana and I thought I grab a piece of candy. Turns out to be a vitamin. Goodness.

Daily Discovery 3!

2008-12-03T12:00:00.000+01:00

I went to the store today in search of cleaning supplies. Yes, after 3 weeks I finally broke down; I couldn't take it any more. I just wanted some clorox wipes and dish soap. I must have walked up and down the same aisle for 20 mins not wanting to believe they don't exist here. I guess the Czechs are not lazy cleaners. So next time you go clean your bathroom, just think of all the Cheez-It calories you could burn by sending me the box and scrubbing it by hand!

Info to help you pray & understand...

2008-12-02T11:20:00.000+01:00

Here is some information about the Czech Republic that will help you pray for their needs and understand their culture a little more...

Mini-History Lesson

After World War II Czechoslovakia was ruled by a Communist regime, under Soviet influence. The “velvet revolution” of 1989 saw the collapse of Communism and a return to democracy without bloodshed. In 1993 the “velvet divorce” split the country in two, forming the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic wants to be a part of the European Union, but public opinion is divided about whether or not this is best way forward. In recent polls 50% of the population described themselves as atheists.

Alcohol

The Czechs are the #1 beer drinking nation in the world, consuming the most beer per capita in the world (160 liters or 43 gallons). They have been drinking beer since at least 900 A.D. The brewery U Fleků was established in 1499. They also brewed the first Pilsner (Pilsner Urquell made in Plzeň) and Budweiser beers. ‘Budweiser’ was originally a Czech beer, until an American brewer borrowed the name in 1876. Both companies are currently entangled in a trademark dispute involving the right to use the name ‘Budweiser’. It is part of their culture and heritage, but it also can cause may problems.

Old Church

The transition from Communism has not been easy for the Czech Republic. When the movement from Catholic to Protestant started many people join the protestant churches. So much so that they had to build bigger churches. But people joined not because they loved Jesus, but because they hated Catholics and wanted to support anything against them. Well a couple years after the movement all the people started leaving. Now we have big empty churches with very old generations. Many of the pastors here are getting old. There is a big generation gap. The avg. for Catholic priests is 69! Pray that God can equip a new generation of spiritual leaders for this nation. Many young people are really searching for answers – pray that Christians would be motivated and excited about sharing their faith.

The Czech Republic needs your prayers!

Colors

2008-12-01T22:39:00.000+01:00

So today in class we learned colors. You know just the 8 basic colors plus pink and grey. So we are doing color by numbers. First of all doing this with adults is hilarious. They kinda looked at me like are you serious, this is our work. But they had lots of fun with it! Well, I have 4 girls and one guy. You know how they have all those really crazy names for colors. It's hard to find the 8 basic crayons with the plain names. Well, I thought I had taken all the crazy names out. But I must have missed one because when the guy should have been writing 'grey' he was writing 'timberwolf' and howling. Goodness. It was so funny.

Family Tree

2008-11-28T13:28:00.001+01:00

Well, my boss, Daniel, surprised me with a trip to Hodslavice, Czech Republic. My Aunt Karen sent our family tree. Most of my father's mother's family is from this town in the Czech Republic. Not only did I get to walk around town and the church (built in the 1500s), I also went to all five houses my family was from. The house never change from the time they were built. They keep records of every person who lived in the house from the time it was built! I found all my family.

Check out the pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015038&l=50ded&id=145900207. I wish I could tell my grandma all about it. It will be a memory that I will always cherish.

Vienna!

2008-11-24T12:04:00.000+01:00

Well I just spent a fly by night weekend in Vienna! It was crazy. My first time on a train! We caught the noonish train and arrived at the hostel around 8ish, I think. It was so so cold. We couldn't find the hostel called the Do Step Inn. But we finally did, then hit the town. We walked all over, even into a starbucks! Yes, I can feed my addiction even over here! Even the manikins looked european. I think on some of the window fronts would not be good for little American eyes. But over here it was a common, way to common. The buildings on the other hand were so beautiful you wanted to look at it all, but your body reminded you how cold it was and your feet how long it had been. So we woke up the next morning, went to some Christmas markets. You could have just ate the food the whole time and done nothing else and you still wouldn't have tried everything. The bake goods were soooooooo good! I feel like I ate like 10 a day. lol. I did try the mulled wine, not a fan. I finally found what I was looking for, a Christmas Pyrimad about Christ's birth. They had lots with deer. I mean deer, really? Not, even reindeer. Weird. And for a good price. It was 20 euro. I was really happy. I also got a hedgehog made of wood and pinecones it looks like. Hedgehogs are wild here. So I thought it was fitting. We saw so many building, fountains, stautes, arches, and churches I can even start to name them all. In fact I don't know the names of many of them. Sad, I know. Oh, and I did try Chestnuts roasting on a open fire! They were really good. More Pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015073&l=af9f5&id=145900207

We went to Stephansdom. It was awesome. The church was so beautiful and huge! We went on the Catacombs tour. It was really really cool. They said no pictures, but I had to take atleast one, so I took two. We came out from the tombs in the square to lots of snow. It snowed the rest of the day. We hit up one more christmas market and a cafe, went to bed. The next day was much bettter, well the weather was. Church on the other hand. The sermon was like he read right out of Chicken Soup for the Chirstian Soul. He said the word "Jesus" 3 times! It touched a tear duct or two but to touch the heart it takes the word of God, which was missing. Thank goodness for the readings. We finished the day with some more churches and a christmas market. Then we raced to the train around 3pm. Making back to Cesky Tesin about 9pm. It was lots of fun! There was so much to do. I def want to go back. I have a list now of things I want to do (eg Stephansdom tower, the ferris wheel, both Palaces, the gardens, maybe a play or concert). Still more pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015084&l=b0d4f&id=145900207

Stay tuned for tomorrow! First train ride by myself to Praha for the day!

Daily Discovery 2!

2008-11-18T15:46:00.000+01:00

Today Jola made us lunch! We had pudding; no instant here. We had to boil milk and pudding powder. This is how they sell milk in the store. It comes in a 1 liter box on a shelf (yes, not cold). Check out when it expires!

p.s. Today I found doughnuts! Life is good.

Daily Discovery!

2008-11-17T19:32:00.000+01:00

I discovered Czech flower shaped Christmas cookies that are awesome!!

The ones I had were red in the center. They were so so so good. Must find more :)

Package Ideas

2008-11-17T11:48:00.001+01:00

Everything listed below either can not be found here or I just simply miss the American type
Ideas for what to send in Packages:

Crunchy Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Flavor things: Nutterbutter Cookies, PB cookies mix, PB candy
Bag of Chocolate Chips
Anything with Chocolate Chips in it: Cookies, cookie mix
Real Liquid Vanilla
Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
American Cheese Flavor: Cheese-its, Chips
Chips and Salsa (medium)
Anything Spicy or Mexican Flavored
Root Beer
Beef Jerky
Rice Krispy Treats and/or just a bag of Rice Krispies
Honey
Big Marshmallows
Hot Chocolate Mix
Muffin Mix: Blueberry, Lemon Poppyseed, Banana Nut, Mix Berry
American Candy
Starbucks Coffee
Ziplock bags: All different sizes
Brownie Mix
Itunes Gift Cards (to rent english movies)
Harry & David Pineapple Salsa

I will be updating this list periodically.

Mailing Address:
Ashley Angerman
Na Niva'ch 7
Cesky-Tesin
73701
Czech Republic

Czech Futbol

2008-11-17T11:14:00.000+01:00

I had my first opportunity to play futbol (soccer) with some Czechs this weekend at our youth retreat. Women don't normally play futbol here. They were very nice and let me play as well as three other girls. Much to even my own surprise I scored 2 goals and had 3 shots off the post. They play on concrete cover in a green type cloth with sand on it. They use indoor soccer shoes. The sand makes for a some what slippery surface. Running on the hard surface compounded by the fact that I haven't played soccer in six months makes for some very sore muscles. Oh, and I also played four games of volleyball. I leave in a half hour to play some more futbol and volleyball. Thank goodness for Icy-Hot! Who needs a gym when you have youth outreach!

Did you find the right Ashley?

2008-11-17T10:39:00.000+01:00

There are two Ashley's of all things serving in the Czech Republic for the LCMS only a bus ride apart. If you are trying to find Ashley A, then you're in the right place. If you are looking for Ashley E go to 'Ashley's Czech Adventures.'