empty

My family left Tulsa this morning. I went up to see them off. They are driving out east and then flying to Russia on September 4th. The next time I will see them is around mid-June. Ten months. I deleted the "home" entry in my cell phone.

Saying goodbye hurts. A lot. Especially to your favorite people in the world. Especially to someone like Isaac who can only communicate face to face. He doesn't talk on the phone. He might forget me by June. That hurts.

There are a very few things that make it hurt less. One is the fact that I will see them. I was thinking about the olden days when people got on a boat, went to another country, and never saw their family again. When letters took months to get there. I live in the twenty-first century. That helps. I have incredible friends and community here that will now be my home. That helps too. God is good, faithful and sovereign. That helps.

But.

Also I forgot to take my camera to Tulsa. That was upsetting.

I'm trying to explain, not complain.

a summary

Well. I'm in Norman. I am living in a house. Without a desk. Without internet access. This is difficult. I will get both things soon. But I'm here. My family had some medical issues which have been resolved quite satisfactorily. Feel free to ask me about it, but I don't feel like posting the details. But a relieving resolution was reached on Wednesday afternoon.

Classes start Monday. I need textbooks. I've been seeing lots of people the last few days. The summer was long. My parents leave Tulsa on Friday, at which point I will feel homeless.

I think I'm happy.

t-shirt

seen on a man on the DC metro (approximate wording):

"You don't fish? I see no reason to talk to you."

hmm....

In other news, this article has been amusing me for the last 24 hours. Every time I think about it, I laugh again. So many questions. So weird.

a good day

On Sunday I went down to Norman. We signed the lease on a house for this year. This year, which is next week. So now I have somewhere to live. Close to campus. With friends (pictured). Life is good. It was great to be back in Norman, and in the Christ the King community. I'm looking forward to this year. I move down to Norman a week from tomorrow, and my family leaves two weeks from today (Tuesday, even though it's past midnight). That's not much time.

the zoo is fun, but it gets kinda hot

stinky bison in the background


she said the sun was in her eyes


"Sally, look, the crocodile is biting my finger! aaaah!"


They all wore pink. I missed the memo, so I got to carry the pink Barbie backpack with the water in it. Lucky me.


it's like we were in Africa or something...right?


at this point Carrie was too tired to walk over to the giant turtle and climb on for a picture. Good thing it was Free Frosty Friday, or we would have had an unhappy ride home.

oh, and I got a new camera today. yay.