Johanna Name Day

In Hungary, they celebrate their names.  Each day of the year is given a name and everyone celebrates their name on their particular day. My name day is March 28th. So on Saturday I celebrated with my friends! Here are a few pictures. It was a wonderful night dancing, hanging out and enjoying needed time with some great friends! 

Water Fountains

As I was doing a Bible Study this morning it asked a great question.. 

What are the water fountains of our life? 

Even if you aren't a God-lover..think about this question.. what are the things which we find sustainability from. What are the things that make us thrive and give us refreshment?  Are they a lasting fulfillment?

As God-lovers, Jesus should be our only water fountain. We should go to him and drink from his word, intimate time and love daily.  I will be the first to admit that often, I do not always go to him to fulfill and satisfy me. I was thinking, "what are the water fountains in my life?"  

The first I would say is relationships. It is much easier to go to my sister, best friend and parents before I approach Jesus. I am an extrovert and when I'm with people, I find great refreshment from relationships. If you get right down to it, they are just human and when I'm alone they aren't what sustains me and they don't give me lasting fulfillment. Don't get me wrong, I think that relationships can draw you closer to Jesus and they are vital to life. It is just when they become a a Coca-cola when you are thirsty and not water and when you are finished drinking that coke you are still thirsty. 

So.. what are you water fountains? 

"If we are full and satisfied in Jesus Christ, we don't need anything else. Our hearts have found complete satisfaction, and are in need of nothing."--unknown

Snow flurry Thursday

Thursday's are my favorite because I don't teach till third period. I leave my house around 9 to get to school by 930. I walked out into the very brisk morning and it was snow flurrying! How crazy is that?!! I didn't mind it but its just crazy! 

Yesterday, my students were tired as it was a late class (5th period). I said "you guys need a bunch of choclate to wake you up!!"  You would have thought I said, "You guys can go home and no more school this week!!" since their eyes lit up so brightly.  I teach them during 6th period as well and so I went downstairs to the "bufe"(snack shop) and bought 3 choclate bars for my cute kids. They couldn't belive that I bought them choclate and gave it to them. 

I've been doing a bible study about Ruth. I have been constantly reminded of doing kind things for those around me. I could see that this simple act of kindess towards my students showed them that I loved them and thought that they were important! The best part was that God was glorified by this action. Even though I couldn't eat that choclate because of Lent.

so what act of kindness will we do today?!! 

urgency

I know that I still have a few months left... but the sense of urgency is starting to build in my heart. 

This past Sunday, I heard a sermon about living as if its the last days. Last night, I heard someone share about the need for God in Europe by just being.. by "showing up" in places and letting the younger generation talk. 

As I teach, as I walk around, I feel this sense of urgency.. I'm feeling out what it means. 

Obviously.. in life we have moments where we need to do things, where time is running out. I know that for this period of time..its running out. I have been reassured that my time in Hungary is not finished. I'll be back in some capacity. It is trusting that those times will happen and leaving that to God. 

I've also been wrestling with singleness...don't get me wrong. I enjoy being single. I'm not dying for a husband.. I mean.. if he knocked on my door after this post.. I'd be a happy gal :) You see, since I went to college later.. I met loads of people who were younger than me.  My friends who were my age and older were getting married and I could live the single life with my younger friends. Now, I've gotten to the point where the people my age are having kids and the younger ones are getting married. I'm moving back to the land of Married with the exception of 2 or 3 friends. I'm excited to get to know spouses and enjoy friends as they have found their love.   It's easy here.. many people are single. Only one married couple..... so daily, I am praying for the endurance I need and the truths that I have to hold so tight to because it will not be easy :) No matter what, I'm excited for the next change.. but so far..nothing's going to be easy.. and why did I think that moving back to America would be a breeze?! 

Don't Worry

I'm not turning my blog into a cooking website..I just do a lot of cooking. 

Last night, as I went to bed my head was pounding from an intense headache which did not go away until I took medicine at 7:00 this morning.  I went to sleep at 10:15 and didn't wake up until 7:30.  I had sms'd my colleague and asked her to take our first class because I was non-functioning.  Thankfuly the meds worked. I noticed a runny nose.. I'm not getting sick.. I'm getting my spring allergies! Thanks dad and mom :) hehe. 

I've been working hard on planning good lessons and bringing things together for the future teacher.  I hope we have found this person but let's keep praying that everything works out! I love being back at school and haven't felt tired. I'm so thankful for all the rest I had. I'm resting now and just doing a few things before I get another good night's sleep!! 

20 of 365

1. Great Lessons with my kids

2. Yummy dinner with my friends then the Cosby Show

3. Leftovers for lunch so I don't have to make anything!

4. A day off from exercising

5. Having everything finished before 9pm ;) 

Another yummy dinner

This has been a yummy week to live at my house :) Last night, we ate Indian food and tonight I made Falafel. 

Here's a picture of our yummy dinner...

Falafel is quite easy to make..here's the recipe:

• 1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns
• 1 egg
• For Frying:
• 1 cup of vegetable oil. 
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Mix all the ingredients together. Make it to 2-inch balls then flatten them down to be about 1/2 inch.  Lightly fry then move to a baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Serve with tzatiki sauce, lettuce, tomato, tahini or just eat as is! 

My new favorite Breakfast!

My dear friend gave me this recipe and I've made it three times. It's very yummy, healthy and very delicious.  I love making it with peaches, apples and cinnamon and many other yummy fruit.

Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup oil
1/2 brown or white sugar
2 eggs

Add:

3 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups of milk

Mix in as much fruit as you would like.  Our favorites include:  Blueberry, Peach with ginger, and Apple, cinnamon, pecan.

Bake in a 9 x 11 lightly greased pan for 25 minutes.  350 degrees.