Back in the UsA

Will & I flew back to the USA almost 1 week ago. It was an easy flight and it sure is nice to fly with him over the ocean. I slept a lot which helped me fight the jet lag... although I woke up at 5:15 3 days in a row..I'm on schedule now!

We surprised his family and it was so much fun. I had a shower in New Bern which was a lot of fun. It was great to be loved on by all the ladies of his church. We had some cake and a few games. I got most of the questions right that Will answered and we had some good laughs. We got lots of great gifts which are now in storage in his parents attic. It is soo sad that I have to say good-byeto these presents and wait till we move back to the states.. but alas ;)

I'm knee deep in wedding projects. I knew that once I landed, I'd be doing things. Last night, I stamped 50 thank you cards and have 50 more to do. I am tying bows onto bubbles and next week I'm heading up to PA to hang out with Samantha for her wedding and we are going to make our aisle markers. ;) I'm going to the venue tomorrow to check things out and measure, take pictures and really envision the big day!! 39 days!

I'm thankful to be home with my mom, shopping, eating, hanging out and just laughing and spending time with each other. It is really nice.

I miss Budapest a lot already and can't wait to be back there as a married lady!

Lingerie Shower in Vienna

I travelled to Vienna this past weekend to hang out with a few special ladies in my life. It is really fantastic that I've been able to build relationships with friends even three hours away in a different city!!

I was able to also hang out with the Hunters and do some crafting with Abby. I knew that I should stick around for the day when Levi told me to stay at their house and take a nap there because he wanted me to be around ;) I have known them for the past 4 years after meeting them at MTI (missionary culture training).

Whitney threw a party for me and I was so happy ;) I keep saying it, but it is true. The more I have these parties, the more I feel like a bride. I've always been a bridesmaid or a friend at the party (cliche) but when they were giving marital advice and talking about things they've heard I realized that I could take these to heart! One of my favorite pieces of advice was what Whitney said that her Grandma had said.. "that at the end of the day, no matter what happens, I can remember that HE (her husband) is mine, and just mine" Will is going to mine, all mine and just mine & I can't wait!

We played some fun games, ate some delicious food and had a great time. Here are some pictures of the party which are so fun! Thank you ladies who came and shared some love with me!

Thank you to all who helped cook something too! (Whit & Melissa--awesome bruchetta and italian bread thing, Stacey-yum-o pasta salad, Jeriann & Stacey-thanks for the delicious cupcakes.. so cute, Leslie--thanks for making Blueberry Boy Bait and fruit, Lindsay--thanks for making that Salad, Lindsay's mom--thanks for teaching linds to be healthy ;)!

Bridal Shower in Budapest

On Saturday, I had a wonderful Bridal Shower hosted by Kirsten & Sharon. It was such a wonderful time and it made me actually finally feel like a bride to be ;)

Kirsten has kicked me out of the apartment and I stayed with the Newells on Friday Night. I came back to the house on Saturday around 1pm and I was blindly led to my room to finish getting ready. At about 2pm she led me again to the front of the apartment and took me on a tour of the fun things that were in store.

There was lots of yummy food and beautiful decorations! I'm so blessed for all the hard work that took place during this shower.

We played four games-wedding dress toilet paper game, purse scavenger hunt, i had to answer questions about Will & the last was the guests couldn't say Will or Wedding and if they did they lost a clothespin and had to fork it over to someone else. All of the games produced a lot of laughter and lots of fun.

I received many beautiful presents that I'm so thankful for and am excited to use. My mom & sister came to via Skype and they enjoyed watching all of the fun festivities ;)

So, here are some pictures for you to enjoy and again, Thank you so much Kirsten & Sharon!

3 weeks... 3 lessons

3 weeks have passed by since I got my cast off. I'm thankful for this in so many ways!

Lesson #1
If I had thought I had learned patience in staying home two months, I was wrong. I've had to learn patience to recover, to walk, when enduring pain and in so many things. I have to remember to be strong and allow myself to recover, slow and with one step at a time.

Lesson #2
Who knew that this would drive me to an emotional mess. I didn't. I've been up and down emotionally since January 28th but I've learned that journaling, praying and reading has been my solace. Not to mention crying ;) Will has been a great source of comfort and support and I'm thankful. I've really learned to rely upon God, even when it was not easy.

Lesson #3
Even when you don't want to do anything, and would rather sit on the couch, get up and don't quit. Even today, I learned that lesson. Sure, I speak Hungarian .. but it is still very basic. I went to the "health center" and had group physical therapy. I didn't learn any new movements, just new methods. I mostly learned that I am stronger than I thought I was. I DID not want to go, whined to Will and decided not to but then my friend, Laura reminded me that a lot of times things are uncomfortable but we gotta do it.

I'm going back to work on Monday and will finish out the semester with just one class per week. I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait to see my students again!

3 weeks ago ..

I couldn't stand up on my own.. I can now walk up the stairs pretty normally and I can walk without crutches. I can take public transport but I sure am slow ;) I can balance on my sore ankle and even put pants on without holding onto anything. I am now lifting weights and doing more cardio. Kirsten and Will better watch out cuz this Biggest Loser is comin to town ;)

Thank you Almighty God for healing me!

i will be with you

Over the last week, I've overcome a lot of .. hills. The mountain is behind me and I'm in the hills now, just gotta get over each one till I'm at the flat land.

Last Wednesday, I was led to this passage.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43:1b-3

Over the last week, I've meditated over this scripture and kept to the promises that I will be just fine. In life, we often look at the things we are going through as these huge events and we often can't see past the event because it is so large. God wants us to look past the waters, the fire, the hills and to know that he will bring us through right to the end.

I walked without crutches today. I was so excited and when I showed Will I could tell that he was so proud. It took a step of faith, a moment of.. let go of the crutch.. stop relying on it! You can't walk down the aisle with that? (Do you have a crutch that holds you back?)

Before dinner, Will and I walked to the sweet shop up the road. About 8 blocks total in distance but the killer was the hill home. It is cobblestone and hilly so I had to watch EVERY step and make sure I had sure footing the whole way.

I can't tell you how thankful I am that I can walk with out crutches. They are small slow steps but they are with free hands! I can go to the kitchen and get my own glass of water and bring it back to my desk or the living room without asking.

The recovery will still take time, I know that but I'm so thankful for this .. that the Holy One of Israel, heals me, sets me free and gives me grace.

Here's a quick video of me walking:
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typeTAP Water Revolution

Serve the City Launch..

Will & I are part of the Serve the City Admin Team for Budapest. We went to Brussels back in November and we are finally able to get a project off the ground!!

Nothing to fancy yet simple enough for many/all people to join. We are going to have a trash-pick up event in Uj-pest (nothern Budapest)

We have bright yellow vests which I will spray paint and we will have gloves & trash bags. After a getting to know one another game to build community we will set off to this area to pick up some trash and clean up the streets. We are pretty excited even if 6 people show up!

We will then celebrate with a Pizza Party and enjoy more company! Will & I have been excited to be a part of something like this so that we can assist the city we live in. We are going to do another trash pick up and then we will do a ministry with the disabled.

Check out the website that Will has been working on! I'll post pictures of the event on Sunday, I'm sure ;) Pray for our event that perhaps some new people might be coming!!

The cast came off.. and the fears arose

This morning Will & I were picked up by the private ambulance to go back to Szent Janos Korhaz (St. John's Hospital). The first thing was the removal of the cast which was scary because he used a circular saw and I could imagine my toe being chopped off!! Then the second thing was x-rays and then to see the surgeon in the "kontroll" room. He told me to walk, do exercises and to walk! I said thanks and then I came home!

First, I took a nap then woke up and had some lunch. I then got to work on my leg. Since it had been in a cast for many weeks there was a lot of care that needed to be done. I won't go into detail because it was one of the most disgusting things I've ever done. (not looking forward to children/know I should never be a nurse)

After my shower/bath I got to work on using Mederma on my scars and felt these sudden fears arise within me. Feeling overwhelmed and afraid I just begin to whimper, then to cry, cry, cry. Will just held me and told me I'd be okay and I knew I would but I think the thing that hit me the most was that I'd have to walk with this pain and the long road of recovery that lay before me and these literal words came out of my mouth.. "Will, I just want my cast on because its much easier and safer"

After settling down, I went to my Bible and read some passages that my father marked when I went through a hard time. I read and re-read these verses and felt a peace come over my heart. I was thankful that God would see me through these murky waters and the storm ahead. I then had more confidence to work on some physical therapy for my ankle. I did these exercises which helped my ankle become more agile and not so stiff. It was not easy and there was a lot of discomfort but I know that in the end it will be worth it when I take my first step again.

So, now, I am learning to be patient, to trust God even more than before and believe that he will heal this ankle even more.

Thanks for praying for me and I continue to covet your prayers for the road to recovery! The road of walking!

3 more days...

In 3 days.. the surgeon will decide whether or not I will get to take my cast off or whether or not I will keep it on to help it heal some more. It will be weird to have the cast come off. I've had it on for about 6 weeks now and I've learned how to sit with it, to sleep with it on, to cook standing, to bathe with it. It is always with me and I don't think I'll miss it when it is gone ;).

In the last 47 days I've been thinking, contemplating, and praying about what God's been teaching me as I've been home all this time. One of the biggest things that I've seen happen is realize how much closer Will & I have become. We do spend a lot of time together and have also started our pre-marital counseling book so we are getting to know each other deeply. I've learned to "need" Will in a healthy sense as well.

I'm sure that none of you know that I'm not often very "needy" or rather.. I'm too prideful to ask for help from others for most things. Well all of that changed drastically 47 days ago when I couldn't not even go to the bathroom without assistance or get a glass of water. Now, with team work a lot of the times, I'm able to do some things with Will's help and sometimes he does them. It's a lesson that I'm learning that just because it is not done my way doesn't mean its not good ;) I've started meditating on verses which teach me to be humble, to not be prideful because this feeds into a lot of things in my life..

So for now, I leave you with a verse I read.. this is more of a prayer..

Faithful Father, Thank you for giving us more grace, You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. (james 4:6)

I love him

bored...and wedding fast..

It's been 1 month exactly since I came home from the hospital.. amazing that it was one month ago. Part of it has gone by fast and part of it has gone by like molassssssses. Speaking of Molasses.. one way I've been passing my time is by watching.. Little House on the Prairie. This was one of my favorite shows growing up as a little girl. I downloaded a season and watched it and now I'm on a different season. I love the wholesome, good ol'fashioned TV of the late 70's and early 80's. OH MICHAEL LANDON :)

Since I've been on house arrest, after reading, working out, browsing the internet I've gotten bored. Thankfully I've had a lot of wedding stuff to do..but I decided that for this upcoming week I was going to take a break from wedding planning. Things can wait. I don't even read my favorite wedding blogs ;)

Sometimes, things can become "too much" in your life and you need a break from it.

Lent will be here starting next Wednesday. I usually fast from something during this time, I want to prayerfully consider what I might fast from this year.

Blueberry Boy Bait..made healthy

There is a recipe that I love called Blueberry Boy Bait..except when you make it with the regular ingredients it's super unhealthy full of lots of calories.. how many.. 500 per serving to be exact..

Here is how I modified it..
Serves 15

1.5 cups whole-wheat flour
.5 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
7 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
6 tablespoons canola oil
1.25 cups of baking splenda
1 tsp of molasses
3 large eggs
1 cup skim milk (though buttermilk, which was all I had on hand, worked just great)
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, do not defrost first as it tends to muddle in the batter)

Topping
1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (do not defrost)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

When you make it like this.. there i no sugar and less flour so it only contains 200 calories per serving!! DELICIOUS :) And you can work it off in one work out ;)

For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

Whisk two cups flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. With electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, about two minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down bowl. Reduce speed to medium and beat in one-third of flour mixture until incorporated; beat in half of milk. Beat in half of remaining flour mixture, then remaining milk, and finally remaining flour mixture. Toss blueberries with remaining one teaspoon flour. Using rubber spatula, gently fold in blueberries. Spread batter into prepared pan.

For the topping:
Scatter blueberries over top of batter. Stir sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl and sprinkle over batter. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes, then turn out and place on serving platter (topping side up). Serve warm or at room temperature. (Cake can be stored in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)

Budapest Biggest Loser

Currently, if in America, one could tune in on NBC and watch Season 7 of the Biggest Loser...Will, Kirsten and I are addicted and I feel like those guys are my friends. Anyways, since we are 1000's of miles away we decided to have our own competition..

We each paid in $50 and in 16 weeks one of us will win the lucky money ;) We also made a rule that for every pound you gain you will have to pay $1 to the pot.. penalty..

So, calorie counting has consumed us. I'm forever on the internet for low-calorie healthy foods and yummy alternatives. Doing this in a different country where half the items I'd like aren't available makes it tough but we prevail.

Today is the first weigh in and I've lost 3kg..6.6 pounds! That is on crutches ;)

a set of stairs

Yesterday, Will and I decided it was time for me to try going down and up the stairs. I'm learning that I live in a lot of fear.. not of others or things but in myself.

I got down them hesitantly but it was much easier. When it was time to hop up the stairs I got really scared. I looked at Will and said, I can't do this.. that is a long flight of stairs. He was amazing and encouraged me and said, Joanna, You can do it, We can do it!

The first step was the hardest, he spotted me at my waist and helped me with the first step.. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be but it was still hard.. He then spotted me for the second step. Then I did the rest on my own.. one step at a time till I got to the top.

The look of pride on my fiancee's face and my excitement was priceless.

It made me feel more confident in this whole situation. Don't get me wrong. I'm not going anywhere..:) Not teaching yet but, I am going to go out to dinner tonight with friends and I can't wait.

It's always the first step, the first day, the first of anything that is always so scary but once we do it.. then it is much easier..

This is true for me in prayer right now.. I've learned a lot of praying and the first couple of times is so hard but as I've learned to rest and spend time in prayer, its gotten much easier as time has gone by ;)

one legged...

It's been quite the road in healing but I'm learning lots and resting even more!

I still don't move much only hobbling to the bathroom, grabbing breakfast and coffee and that's about it. We have placed huge water bottles precariously around the house so that I'm never without water ;)

I just started watching the BBC Pride and Prejudice and knitting a gift for a friend! I am hoping that through my time sitting I will be able to start the Stich and B*tch group again in Budapest. It seemed that it was on hiatus but some of the girls have responded so I'm hoping they will come to my home this weekend for a few hours! HOORAY!

Caroline came for a visit and I got to see my favorite little Ukrainian man! Yippie! Love them and can't wait to make it to Ukraine for a visit.

Will & I are praying about our future here and how many years we feel led to stay. He's been an amazing help, cooking, cleaning, folding, moving things and doing anything that I'm not capable of doing! I'm a blessed woman.

Wedding plans of course are in full force since I've lots of hours to dedicate to this! It's been good to get things done!

broken ankle

I can't believe I fractured my ankle.. I am sitting here with a large white cast on and I'm quite immobile.. me..who is always mobile and on the go.. I've learned a lot from this process but that will be another blog post.. I want to recap the story.

I was babysitting for my friends and they have three boys. We were having a good Saturday and I decided that since the sun was out, we would go sledding to get out some energy. So we drove to this park about 10 minutes away from their house. We were sledding and the boys fell a few times but nothing big. Well, Nathan and I decided to go together so we started down the hill and about 3/4 of the way down we crashed and rolled. I felt pops in my ankle and I knew immedatley something was not right. So, since Nathan was crying, I calmed him down then took off my boot and knew that it was not normal. So, the other two ran down the hill to make sure we were okay. I told them that I could not walk and that we would need to call for help cuz I definitley could not drive them home. Seth bravely approcahced a family and they came over to help. They spoke nearly fluent English and the dad went to fetch the car, the mom engaged the boys in soccer so that they would be distracted. Meanwhile, I called Will and in a panic he rushed over in a taxi to where I was. When he got there we decided to call an ambulance and he would drive the boys home. I called Kirsten to take public transport to the Newell's house so that she could watch them for the rest of the afternoon till their parents came home (they were in Salzburg, Austria). The ambulance finaly came and they cut my sock off and put a blow up cast on my leg. They drove me the hospital and Will & Kirsten took care of things. The only time I ever cried was when Will came!

Once I got to the hospital, they did all the hospital things and they got an x-ray of my leg. There was once nurse who spoke English because she had lived in America for 8 years but she wasn't my main nurse. Most people spoke a few words but God increased my Hungarian ability, I'm sure of it. We got x-rays and it was determined that I would need surgery. Now, I might have understood some but a lot of my time was a bit unknown, what's happening, I hope everything is okay..but I did have God's peace. They wheeled me down to the cast room (gipsz in Hungarian) and the had to put pressure on it and it hurt.. I had to relax the whole time.. yeah..while in pain.. so as the guy was putting the cast on, I said, do you have pink? purple? how about Louis Vouitton or Gucci?! They laughed and I did too. This was a temporary cast so that I wouldn't hurt it again.. and I'm still in the same cast. Anyways, they took another x-ray to make sure everything was good in the cast then they put me in a room on the 1st floor to wait. I was in a room with 3 other people. The man who wheeled me around spoke French so we spoke French together. It was nice, plus then I saw him again and we talked a bit.

Once in my room, my dear friends and leaders of our Home Church Group came to bring Will some sandwhiches and water, poor guy hadn't eaten and they took him to my house to get things for the hospital. You have to bring your own of everything, fork, knife, spoon, cup, straws, water, snacks, towel, toilet paper, etc. So, Will & Kirsten collected things and then Susan and David drove him back to the hospital. It was great to see them. Will stayed with me till the end of visitors hours about 9 and then I was awoken at about 2 am to have surgery.

The surgery was quick and pretty painless, they put screws in my legs and I was awake for it all, I just got an epiderhal for the pain. The doctors were nice and so were the nurses. I went back to the room and slept it off. Will came in the morning and he sat by my bed everyday. I'm so thankful for an amazing man as him!

My roomates, nurses and the doctors that I met were great. We had one roomate who was a not all the way there mentally and was in a lot of pain and would cry through the night. This was probably my most miserable thing. On Tuesday, I was moved to the room next door because we weren't getting any sleep. I was thankful for a new bed, new company and I stayed with Marika, an elderly lady who has become a wonderful friend.

I went home via private ambulance ($35) and it has been nice to be here! I go back in 10 days to get my stiches out and a full cast on. I'm hobbling around on crutches and it has been nice to be home!

Thanks for praying my friends. It was an experience but much has changed in my heart!

Will's first trip to the land of Mozart

Will & I boarded a train to Vienna on Friday at 1pm. I had lunch waiting (Thank you McDonald's grilled chicken wraps) and we were off. I love the train.. so fast, comfortable and quiet. The countryside was beautiful and I enjoyed a nice afternoon nap.

We arrived and went straight to the Hunters!! It was such a blast seeing my dear friends.. and us remembering its been almost 4 years since we met at MTI in Colorado! We had yummy pizza, spinach dip and brownie trifle! Will got to smash (play video games) and a bunch of girls and I sat around the table for some girl talk!!

Saturday was a lazy start to the morning and while Whitney went to Basketball Practice (She coaches a middle school team) we went to check out the city. First Stop.. noodles.. so yummy. Second stop, St. Stephen's Cathedral where we walked around and prayed for Austria. The candles here are for you to light and pray for someone or something. I love the reverence of old churches. Then we walked around the Hofburg Palace and went into some shops. It was freezing so we then just got on a tram and did some sight seeing on the ring road in the warmth.

Last stop was for Schnitzel and beer. So yummmy. Then we went back to Whitney's for a lazy afternoon. Lindsey came over and we had salad and then we went for ice cream at the best Gelato place ever! MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP! I miss it. They don't have it here.

Sunday, we had brunch with Felix & Leslie and it was great to finally introduce Will to Leslie (my college roommate). Then we got back on the train and poor will has a cold. ;(

So, its back in Budapest and work is to be done and people to meet, etc.

cute things

as many of you know.. I love love cute things..especially when it comes to letter writing and stamping.

I was reading a favorite blog of mine, simplesong, and she did a post for etsy. Have you discovered etsy? I love it. If not check it out.. etsy.com

Anyways, I love writing letters and here is a return address stamp that I'd love to get my hands on.. so cute ;)

The second thing I was drawn too were the letterpress (can't ever get enough letterpress) recipe cards..oh how I love cooking ;)

One Year Ago

This is from 2 days after we first started dating.

One year ago, on January 4th, Will asked me to date him..exclusively.

We had been hanging out..I thought exclusively ;) already but we were official boyfriend and girlfriend.. at the time we were not sure what was going to happen.. He was a month and a half away from leaving Lynchburg and moving to North Carolina to do a prayer internship.. I had accepted a job at Corvinus University in Budapest and was planning on moving in the summer. We weren't sure what would happen with us but we knew that we enjoyed dating each other..

So here we are.. one year later, 6 months, 2 weeks and 5 days away from getting married, living in Budapest.. who knew.. ???

God knew.

I'm so thankful for my husband to be. I waited 28 years for God to show me the man I would marry.. it wasn't easy waiting..watching so many friends get in relationships, marry and even have kids. He is perfect for me and I am learning to love him more every day, but its not hard. I love how hard me makes me laugh and how silly he can be. How he makes me breathe when I'm stressed or calms me down when I'm frustrated. He is my best friend and I can't wait to be his wife.

Love you VILIMOS ;)

New things

Today, I was offered a second teaching position within the International Studies Program at Corvinus. My good friend, Mark Newell works in this program and got me the foot in the door here but I turned it down for the full time position in my current job.

This job is a blessing and I'm really looking forward to stepping into a English for Specific Purposes Realm. I will teach in this program on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it is half hungarian and half Chinese. I will also broaden my number of students and this semester will be a busy one... but those who know me know that I love busy ;)

I am excited about this opportunity and am really looking forward to it!

Now my month will be full of prepping for both sets of groups and making sure I'm ready to step into the classroom doors on February 8th.

I refer to these verses.. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

I am praying over many things since this new year has begun. I hope you continue to have a great start to the new year!

Here is a picture of my university at night. On the left is the "old building" where I might teach some of these new classes. The building on the right which is lit up is where my office and my classrooms are.

New Year's Sermon

I got to hear my dad preach today at the DelPest Golgota Church in Budapest. It was a great sermon and I gleaned much wisdom from it...

Here are four questions which I am contemplating..
-What do our words and thoughts tell us about the condition of our hearts?
-What are the ways I am training my mind for God's use?
-What do my fears tell me about what I really believe?
-What am I doing to care for my temple?

2011: a year of balance so that I can be used by God

and lastly a verse..
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Happy New Year

Its the end of January 1st and I'm about to go to sleep. I'm thankful for the year that has past. So much has changed in my life in a year and so much will change in this coming year.

It has been a whirlwind two weeks with my family being here and getting ready for them to arrive, Christmas parties and spending time with those I love here.

I hope that everyone's holidays were wonderful, Christ-filled, delicious and filled with peace.

As I embark on this next year of my life.. the end of my 20's.. I hope to increase my time with my Lord and Savior to become more firmly rooted in him. I also look forward to the day that I can call Will my husband!!