I love Halloween!

Halloween. My favorite holiday of all time! No, not due to the fact my birthday and Halloween happen to happily share the same date, however, definitely a bonus, but because I love the community feel on Halloween. Everyone spends time walking around the neighborhood, interacting with friends and neighbors. Sadly, it's the one time people actually open the front door when a stranger knocks on the door. People seem more inclined to randomly start talking to someone when the someone is dressed as an Angry Bird or Niki Minaj, compared to when they pass the same stranger on an average day. I wish neighborhoods interacted on a regular basis similar to Halloween night, but definitely without the candy, because then we would create health issues. However, I wouldn't mind if precious children wore Yoda costumes and other costumes more often.

Q. What is a Mummie's favorite type of music? A. Wrap!!!!!

Q. Why do demons and ghouls hang out together? A. Because demons are a ghouls best friend!

Q. What's a monster's favorite bean? A. A human bean.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Spiritual Practice

This week my minister challenged us to listen to this song everyday and contemplate how we are  called to act/respond. I challenge you to do the same. 

Mercy by U2

I was drinking some wine... and it turned to blood
What's the use of religion... if you're any good
I know I'm weedkiller honey... and you're sugar
If you're the prosecution... I get away with murder
If you were ice... I'm water
And with your telescope... I can see further
We're binary code... a one and a zero
You wanted violins... and you got Nero
You're gravity... searching for the ground
You're silence... searching for a sound
Your heart is aching... your heart is my home
It's fascinating... I know I'll never be alone

I'm rippin' the stitches
You got two hands to rub
I'm in the ditches
Of someone else's love

Love is when I lie
Love puts the blue back in my eye
Love will come again
I'll be gone again... again

If you're hunger... baby let me feed it
If your heart is full... baby let me bleed it
And happiness is for... those who don't really need it
You love me... too much
You always loved me... too much

When I was rippin' the stitches
You got two fists to rub
I'm in the ditches
Of someone else's luck

Love is when I lie
Love puts the blue back in my eye
Love has come again
I am gone again

Love's got to be with a wink
Only then love gets a chance to speak
Love will come again
I'll be gone again... again

I... I can't escape myself
I hear you talk
Feeling nothing
I fear nothing
Feel....

I can hear so much
Fear nothing
I feel so much
Fear... nothing

Love has come again
I am gone again
Love is the end of history
The enemy of misery
Love has come again
I am gone again

Love is justice, a charity
Love brings with it a clarity
Love has come again
I'm alive again
Alive...

I am alive, baby I'm born again and again
And again, and again and again and again
Again

Back in the U S of A

Yesterday afternoon, I said goodbye to the Netherlands and I am currently in New York City. I am definitely going to write about remembering beautiful Holland, but for now.... NEW YORK!

Almost immediately after meeting up my friend, Rachel Hagadone, my good friend who lives in NYC and with whom I am staying, we rode one of the classic New York subways. Even though I now consider myself a "professional" public transportation user, the subways here are CRAZY, especially compared to the quite luxurious trains/trams/metros in Europe. In Europe every form of transportation tends to stop and go in a fairly smooth manner, but, oh no, there is nothing smooth about a New York subway. Whenever I stood up yesterday, I would quickly grab the nearest pole for safety measures. The whole subway system is exactly like you see in movies and tv shows. Dark, little creepy, all different kinds of people; I love it.

By the way, I always fall in love all over again with the diversity of our country whenever I return. New York is definitely a diverse place and it fills me with joy walking around seeing people from all different backgrounds all living in the same area. Rachel told me it's one of her favorite things about New York- being around people who are different than her. :)

For my first meal back in America, Rachel and I grabbed Chick-Fil- A. (My friend Woody, who manages a Chick-Fil-A, will be proud) Also, I had a HUGE ice cold Dr. Pepper!! It was delicious, but then I discovered that my body no longer likes fast food. It made me feel gross. Maybe, I can just stop eating fast food altogether. Ya! This  Chik-Fil-A is the only one in the entire state and it is located in an NYU cafeteria. It felt interesting to be back around American students. I can't imagine going to college in New York. Wow!

After eating, we walked through Washington Square Park where people were doing the randomest things. There were about three different young acapella groups just randomly singing together. Then, there were two musicians playing together. One guy played the banjo while hitting a bass drum and tapping a tambourine tied to his foot  and the other guy played stand up bass. All this was happening around a beautiful fountain and the Empire State Building glowing red in the background. haha- I'm in New York.

We ended the night by walking through Times Square. Although, Times Square is simply a bunch of flashy advertisements, it's still overwhelming to experience. Naked cowboy was there along with a large crowd waiting to take their pictures with him. I can only think of how overwhelming this city must be for people who have never even been to a large city. It's a lot to take in.

I guess I'm happy to be back in the States, but I'm already discovering certain things already feel weird. It's weird to be around English all the time again. I can plug my electronics in without a converter. I can pay without converting prices in my head. I'm able to talk to people here on the phone. The food is different. I can watch TCU football again. It's the little things that I didn't even think would feel weird.

HELLO from NEW YORK!

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for the water brooks, 

so pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet God?

 ... These things I remember as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.

 ...Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

 By day the LORD directs his love,
   at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.