..today..

1) I woke up in time to go to Chapel..
2) Coffee with Bill Dogterom.
3) A really interesting Lit Theory class that I actually understood.
4) A letter from the UK
5) A finished study guide for my test tomorrow.
6) Dinner at the Robeck's
7) Reading library books to the kids
8) Finding a library book in Caleb's room that has been overdue for 5 months
9) Chocolate toast and coffee
10) Putting the kids to bed after "one more book", and "one more kiss"
11) A hug from Bethany

Sometimes you just need to list the good things that happened. It makes the bad things seem a little
less important.

right now its a love hate relationship

My bike is on probation, lock down, time out- strict disciplinary measures have been taken.

I was riding my then most wonderful bike, back home to get my car and take my RD's son to school (I drive him 5 minutes there every Wednesday afternoon). Well, I sort of half stopped, then tried to fix my bookbag that was falling and the combo was bad news bears. I almost caught myself, but in an awkward tripping motion I couldn't get my other leg over the frame and I fell. I wasn't even really moving. But to my dismay I looked down and saw that the left knee of my favorite jeans had just aquired a nice rip in them. Some guy asked, "are you ok?". "Yup! great!" I replied and quickly got back on and rode off.

I got home and threw my bike against the wall, locked it up and yelled at it a bit so it would realize the seriousness of the situation (well I wanted to at least). I took Ryan to school and then went to Brit. Lit. I showed Catherine my new rip and she made me feel better by saying "hey it looks like you paid an extra 30 bucks for that rip".

Stupid bike.

figaro, figaro!

Last night I went with some beautiful Oxford friends (so many of them go to Biola) to see the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart.

We went first to a lecture on opera, given by I think the director and one of the leads. It took place in the commuter hangout place at Biola. Which is beautiful I must say- art on the walls, beautiful couches, rugs, tables, a fireplace, open windows and everything is a shade of aesthetically pleasing. The lecture was followed by dessert, cheesecake, bon-bons, truffles and chocolates. Then we all walked over to the theatre and at one point there were five people from Oxford standing around me, I wanted to cry.

The opera was beautiful. For those who are not firmiliar with The Marriage of Figaro it is a comedy with lots of situational humor and tricky love plots (it reminds me of Shakespeare). There was a lot of talent in this show, the women roles especially. The Countess and Suzanna led beautifully, even though in the first act Suzanna's voice was a litte hard to hear. I think my favorite character was Cherubino. This was a pants role, meaning it was a girl playing a young teenage lovesick boy. She had facial expressions that had me laughing the whole three hours and her physical humor was perfect. As a whole the music, acting, costumes and story were consuming, and I was on the edge of my seat most of the time.

post from the uk

I think the only good thing that has come out of having to leave Oxford is the sudden influx of mail in my mailbox. I got a postcard from my good friend Danny today. He's still at Oxford, studying his heart out and I had the biggest smile on my face when I realized who this card was from. I was on my way to my Christian Worldview class (Beals) and when I got there I read through the rest of my mail (stuff from people who want my money, who want to give me money, and people I have to give my money to) saving the postcard for last. After I read it I propped it up on my striped bag full of books and looked at the sunset over Oxford in between taking notes for the next hour and 15 minutes.

chapel today

This morning Christina and Drake Levasheff shared the story of their son with us. A few years ago, when he was two years old he was diagnosed with Krabbe disease. This angel of a boy had tears running down my face through most of chapel. I love that God is still using him and his story, even though he's not here to share it himself.

www.StoryofJudson.com

the republic of tea

One thing that I miss about England is that no one here stops their entire day to sit and have tea. In England whole colleges, workplaces and shops stop their day, to sit at some point and have a nice cup of tea or coffee in the middle of the day. Its brilliant.

This evening I went to Billy and Jonie's for college group/bible study. As people were arriving Jonie said "Ash do you want some coffee?" Did she really have to ask? So for the second Sunday night in a row I'm in their kitchen making coffee and tea for people.

I have noticed that my french press never actually gets put away. I use it in the morning and then again at night. Between those times it, at some point, will get washed and sits in the drying rack until I use it again. Then in the morning if its in the sink I wash it or if its in the drying rack I use it. It just never goes away.

Sam and Bethany have been the individuals to most benefit from my new obsession with making coffee and tea at all hours of the day. Every time I bring it in for them they get so excited, like its abnormal still. Yesterday morning Sam even got a cup while she was still in bed, you should have seen the smile on her face.

adjusting

My first week of school has been, different. All week long I felt as though I wasn't doing anything. Not sitting in the Library, not writing papers, not researching, not carrying stacks of books home across the windy park. I went to my classes, although I did completely forget about one, and it was so strange to me, the lack of stress here.

I'm living off-campus, technically. The appt complex Vanguard owns is a few blocks from the main campus so I have been walking over to class everyday. The walk consists of sidewalk that is much to wide, dirty streets, a freeway overpass and more sidewalk that is riddled with signs, random electrical boxes and Newport Blvd on my right hand side. Not quite as aesthetically pleasing as Oxford. I have caught myself, on more than one occasion, picturing in my mind Hollywell street with its quaint old multi coloured buildings. The lane just to the right of the Rad Cam, and the bike path as it passes over the Thames and through the lampost lit field.

If there are two places that are more opposite than Oxford and Newport, I would be surprised.

"Ashley?"

"Ashley?"

said an angel's voice to me last thursday morning around 7:15. I opened my eyes and the cutest rebekah was peeking her head around the door, bed-head, kjamas and all. She came in and plopped down on my bed, rubbing her eyes. We chatted for a bit and then JM came in and pulled her out. That was the start to my wonderfully unproductive day.

I got up and went down to Vanguard, ready to move in and get a tun of stuff done. As I pulled into the parking lot I got a call on my cell, didn't recognize the number and threw it on the seat next to me. I get out and walk over to the Scott Courtyard and there is Shelley Youd, holding the newest edition to her family, saying "oh my gosh I just called you and left a really random message on your phone!" So I hung out with her a bit and eventually wandered over to the mailroom.

Craig said "welcome back! I think you have some packages" Packages?... packages from who? He handed me a huge pile of mail, some bills but mostly letters and packages from friends in Oxford...dearly loved ones who I happened to be missing like crazy at that very moment.

I wandered over to my new room, and was standing at the counter reading my love letters when in walks Jessi and Sam, who found me with tears going down my cheeks. I went with them to their room, and Des called. So we went back over to VU and there I saw lots of wonderful people that I love and had missed. (So far, lets remember, that I haven't done any moving in). Then Des and I went by her room and then back over to mine, then Jess calls and we go get Sam and over to Starbucks we drove.

After the caffine fix, we go back to VU, where we run into none other than Noah Jenks. He extended an invitation to accompany him on arrands...how could we resist? So we end up at The Guys' house just sitting and talking about everything beautiful.

Noah says "I have to go to the post office, wanna come?" So I jump in the car, on a wirlwind adventure. We go back to the house and Des and I walk back to VU. (Its about dinner time and by now I'm hungry and haven't unpacked a thing)

Anyways, after running into a handful of wonderful people I make my way back up to the Robecks. I walk in the door, and say "Cristina! Oh my gosh I didn't do anything today!" To be perfectly honest I still had the same amount of stuff in my car as when I left- minus all my clothes, which I had brought in and then left. We had to remedy that situation later...

Needless to say, my first day back, I was a complete butterfly.

108 to J59 to the 99S to the 5S then the 405S and finally the 22E

Last night as I was driving through our snow covered neighborhood I noticed how the sunset was reflecting off of all the white snow, making it a pinkish-orange colour.

Since I've been here mostly I have layed in bed reading, and sleeping in way too late. I had lots of Christmas break projects planned. Read Shakespeare, finish a quilt, finish Chesterton's Orthodoxy, and so many other things that I dreamed up while drinking tea in a cozy Crick Road, Oxford house. The thought of lots of free time was one of the few things that kept me going in the last week or two. Yet, I sort of feel like that free time didn't turn out how I originally thought.

I have relaxed, spent time with my family, shared my England experience with some family friends, babysat for the Funks-craziest day here :), cuddled with my parents, spent time with friends, drank tea with my Gram, and played with my dog in the snow. I don't think those things are half bad.

I'm driving back down to Southern California in the morning, my car fully loaded with everything I own. I must say that I don't like how much stuff I have, most of it is just that, stuff. At this point I am wondering if it will all fit in my car. I'm nervous about starting back at Vanguard, so sad that I won't be arriving in Oxford to start Hillary Term, and looking forward to seeing a lot of wonderful people in the next few days. But I think I am going to hide out at the Robeck's as long as I can. :)

remembering crick

In the Valley of the Elwy


I remember a house where all were good
To me, God knows, deserving no such thing:
Comforting smell breathed at very entering,
Fetched fresh, as I suppose, off some sweet wood.

That cordial air made those king people a hood
All over, as a bevy of eggs the mothering wing
Will, or mild nights the new morsels of Spring:
Why, it seemed of course; seem of right it should.

Lovely the woods, waters, meadows, combs, vales,
All the air things wear that build this world of Wales;
Only the inmate does not correspond:

God, lover of souls, swaying considerate scales,
Complete thy creature dear O where it fails,
Being mighty a master, being a father and fond.

-Gerard Manley Hopkins