Spring musings

I've been back in America for over 9 months--almost 10 now. I realize that I can adapt quickly to different cultures and situations, which can be a blessing, but also not very cool. I feel like I'm becoming almost the same person as before I left for China.

I really am still struck by how busy, busy, busy and hurried, hurried, hurried all Americans seem to be. And I'm becoming one of them. I have to have nearly every second of my 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. day planned--people, school, work... How do I remain focused on God and relationships, when there are so many other things I also have to do? I'm seriously working on school stuff or at work on average 12 hours a day.

So this past weekend was spent focused on people. I really didn't accomplish a whole lot of school stuff and told my work that, no, I couldn't table at the farmer's market for 6 hours on Saturday morning. But I really enjoyed eating/cooking lots of meals with people, hiking for hours on end, and having great conversations.

I even discovered a grave about five steps from my apartment door--with the date of death being 1833. Wow--Kansas wasn't even around then. That wasn't really a highlight of my weekend, but a strange discovery I wanted to share. :) I found it when I was walking to the laundry room and was wearing my new glasses that help me see quite well. It's covered by a lot of overgrown bushes and grass...

So it's a whirlwind life and I'll leave you with some pictures, of course:

Hiking in beautiful Brown County State Park.

With Malsi, Jess, and Jenn.

They're pretty entertaining.