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!!