okay..so i need to preface this with..i havent been in the habit of taking pictures, so unfortunately there is no documentation of all the fun i had this week.
Day 1 - Tuesday
arrive at IAH with my awesome new/ghetto fabulous 7.99 suitcase bought at goodwill and sewed up backpack because the jackson intl airport ate it at thanksgiving.
Tracy and Val were my escorts home to college station complete with signs including "italian hot mama", "blue baker express", and "welcome to the promise land prodigal daughter".
On arrival to CS we picked up my sister and headed to the Blue Baker...mmm
i wasnt feeling well after my flight so i stayed up until 10pm waiting on my parents to come home from their bible study christmas party..but i couldnt make it.
Day 2 - Wednesday
woke up and went running
then i showered and valerie came and picked me up to take me to see Mom at work.
After visiting with mom we went to lunch at Potbelly (my first time there and I enjoyed it)
Next was my dentsit date with my sister, then we met up at the movies to see The Holiday with Tracy, Didi and Valerie. Great flick.
I got a haircut after the movie and then rushed home to see my dad before him and mom headed off to the nursing home.
The rest of the night was dinner with some random aquaintances & fun with Val, Didi & her fellow graduate students celebrating the end of the semester.
Day 3 - Thursday
We (Val & I) slept in..bunk beds are really fun when sharing them with your best friend and then headed to Brenham to tour the Blue Bell Factory. After a delicious cup of icecream we visited my former stomping grounds and then headed back home for dinner with the 'rents.
After dinner we went to Tracy's for a bit and then got desert at chilli's (and it was yummy) and then headed back to the casa to hang out.
Day 4 - Friday
I got to hang out with Marla in the morning, had breakfast at blue baker and then chilled at the dorm with Val for a bit before heading to Houston.
after lunch & a shower I drove into Htown to see Micah and a couple of the Helena boys (Andrew & David). We ate at Johnny Carino's and then headed back to Andrews for 42..we had a great time.
Day 5 - Saturday
drove back to College station, grabbed lunch at mr. g's with Mom and Caley and then Val and I headed to Austin for a surprise..those plans fizzled out unfortunately, so we ate dinner on 6th street and browsed the REI, then headed back to CS to chill for the rest of the evening
Day 6 - Sunday
Today was a good rest day. We..or I should say Val didnt wake up in time for Central's service so we went to Living Hope at 11am and then ate lunch at wing's n more before she had to leave for jackson. after our tearful goodbye (not really...totally being silly) I worked on our families christmas puzzle for the afternoon. We to evening church and then got to hang out with one of my favorite gals Ms. Magan Porter..and that brings me to now.
Tomorra I'm headed back to houston to pick up my brother and then we're going to our grandpa's for the day for some fun..be looking for the pictures...
thats all.
peace & goodwill,
alisha
school is now officially over.
the mgmt test wasnt too bad & i got $130 bucks back for the textbks...which makes up for spending 3 hrs a week bored out of my mind in class for the past 12 weeks.
while this (completing this semester) isnt a huge accomplishment or grand feat, having a semester under my belt does make me feel a little more grown up. i think surviving through my next semester though will be the big test-managing 12 grad hrs (6 hrs in spanish!) and 25 GA hrs will be quite the task...
anyways, my plane leaves in 18.5 hrs.
i heart school & my 4 week break!
peace & goodwill,
alisha
so apparently i've become part of the game begun by Living Hope bloggers...The way it works is i'm suppose to share 5 things you dont know about me...which is a bit hard, because all of you know me very well, nor am i very "mysterious"...but i will try to come up with things that arent well known about me and then, I get to tag 5 more people who have to do the same...and thus the sharing never ends...so
1. when I was 2 years old, I was diagnosed with a small, mild form of cerebal palsy. Apparently, there is a spot on my brain the size of a pinhead that is dead, which caused me to not walk right. I had surgery, was in physical therapy and wore a brace until I was about 5. I remember it was not fun...especially having to wrap my huge cast in trashbags for bathtime. Miraculously, I surpassed all the drs. expectations and in the end my parents said enough to the drs, the Lord healed me, so I could be a "normal" kid again. So today, there are no symtoms..except when my body is really tired, and then only I am aware of them.
2. i love learning. being in grad school is a lot of fun for me. (yes, i've done my share of complaining about the work load) BUT i really do like learning new things. while my research papers were tedious, reading through all my articles was really insightful and interesting. i love gathering information...which probably contributes to my love for books. basically, im a closet nerd. i think i would be perfectly happy if I could go to school as a career...discussions, aquiring knowledge and reading, writing, critically thinking & anaylzing...
3. i would love to be in a band for a little while. You know-the staple girl singer?..thats what I want to do. i think it would be so fun...new places every night or so, concerts, bus rides, roadies, groupies.
4. I've never been kissed, yes like the movie, but in fact totally, 100% true. hopefully, by the Lord's gracious will, the one and only lips that will touch mine are going be the man I marry, whoever he is. i'm so thankful for the protection the Lord has placed over my heart throughout my life of singleness. its a wonderful gift I have to give from the Lord.
5. I love playing 42. I learned how to play at A&M, typical of most aggies. We'd play all the time, Micah carried them in his car. Tracy frustrating everyone with her designs & silly team names, table talk-good times. The strategy, competitiveness, risk, chance -a great game..we'd teach someone, just so we could have a 4th if we were short a person. Helena House rules, as they were known: no low except on force..really the only one we religiously followed. oh how i miss those nights.
okay..so now you know a little more about me. I tag valerie and ashley r (maybe they'll get back into blogging), micah james, william and sarah seefeldt
have fun!
grace & peace,
alisha
so last night we had an end of the yr party with all the kids in our program & neighbors & classmates.
from left to right (front to back):
katy & tia...my two closest friends
carrie (who will be helping me with my spanish next semester), sjiyah (our sweet international student) Francesca (the host and "crazy" Italian) me, lu (a really cool international that was in one of our classes..we plan to hang out more next semester), alex (one of two guys in the program..you see he's quite out numbered) and andrea
it was a great night complete with homemade salsa, drinks, some free catering from a yummy local bakery/deli in town, and desserts galor!
last night we all realized just how much we really like each other and now are planning to be real friends next semester and get together more often.
all the people in my program are wonderful, quirky in their own ways, but truly we've got ourselves a stellar group!
grace & peace,
alisha
my papers are done...at total of 33 pages.
one submited by email..the other one is being dropped off tomorra.
saturday & sunday will be spent studying for mgmt.
im on a plane tuesday.
its cold here in greenville, the high is suppose to be 30 tomorra.
good night moon.
grace & peace,
alisha
i do not heart the city of greenville...
i got towed today.
granted i was not parked in a labeld spot, BUT there was no sign or indication that towing was enforced...and when i got to where my truck was suppose to be, there was another car there...ugh.
so for my last week in greenville..im resorting back to the faithful bike..even though the winter weather has arrived.
i'll be looking into a better parking pass too for next semester.
so unfair..
i hear its a blistering 28 degrees and quasi snowing in Dallas..and whats the weather like in Greenville, NC?
windy, raining, and a high of 80 degrees
boo.
(11 more days til i cross the TX border-can you tell i can't wait?)
back to reading research...
lish
15 days til i leave for college station....mark your calenders for December 12th!
I know its a day early, but i leave bright and early tomorra for RDU to head to Mississippi til Monday...out of Greenville, no school, quality time with the best friend for 4 days..whoop!These are in no particular order...
1. grad school
2. mom & dad..that he's alive!
3. a duplex close to campus
4. Becky at the International House
5. Tia & Katie..good Greenville friends
6. wool socks
7. the Lord's sovereign hand at work in my life
8. books
9. Valerie-i heart you
10. McAllister's & Panera bread
11. Greenville Public Library
12. Netflix
13. refinement & sanctification
14. wireless internet
15. Eric Lee & his wonderful listening ear
16. understanding professors
17. a church that speaks truth
18. Claudine Blakey...for flying me to mississippi for Thanksgiving
19. those who flew me home in October
20. Caley & Tony..the coolest sibs ever-i miss yall like crazy
21. cold weather..even though i complain occassionally (in conjunction with #34)
22. Jesus & the cross..for saving me
23. the rec center
24. parking spots on the street
25. Tracy..especially the calls & cards
26. sweaters & scarves
27. cell phones & email
28. Laura Stiller..for always bringing an encouraging word
29. grandma thorne's recliner
30. sunny days
31. Abbie Struc and her emails
32. Libby..i don't know what i'd do without my bff
33. Christmas break is almost here & I only have one more research paper to write
34. hot chocolate & quilts
lso these are just somethings going on inside this brain of mine..most of the time its good for me to get'em out, cause it helps me sort through them...
lately, ive been convicted about my motivations; whether or not the choices i make glorfiy Him, or if im really just trying to serve myself, and then theres those middle ground feelings of knowing that it pleases Him and doing it, but only doing it because i know its right-the "it" being anything-these are the ones that happen more often than not.
its a huge struggle and (preface: these next few statements are in no way to excuse my poor choices or cast blame..because it all ultimately lies with me and my faith)
with a lot of innerward searching and prayer, ive learned that my-we'll call it lack of motivation- affects the Body, but at the same time, when the Body isn't "being the Body" i hurt and that is contributing to this valley i can't seem to get out of. so then this brings the circle around back to me, and i have to ask, what in my life is hurting the Body? its a hard place to be in, is all i can say. humbling and breaking, rough & tough.
moving on..loneliness.
this is something that i don't understand and it plagues me.
i almost feel like i don't even have control over it, the slightest thing, usually not even related to anything will make or break my week. the past 2 weeks have been horrible-i was depressed, homesick, ready to throw in the towel with school, miserable to the point that i didnt want anybody to have to listen to me complain so i kept up "face"...this week started with a long and emotional & frustrating conversation and it ended up being a decent week. its like i need to find the breaker box on my emotions and just turn the loneliness one off-cause it seeps into everything.
my mind loves a good game.
my schedule doesnt help my circumstances.
theres duality and uncertainty in what im passionate about and desire to do.
satan he's a trickster.
this battle im in is constantly one over my emotions and trust.
to end on a good note-the Lord has answered a long time prayer: i think i've found a "close" friend! we're hanging out this weekend and are really excited..cause she's been praying for the same thing :)
thanksgiving will be 100% refreshing and wonderful..4 days of no school and then im flying home 2 weeks later...whoop!
thats all.
grace & peace friends,
alisha
Oh, the depths of the riches of the
wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgement,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen
romans 11:33-36
so im going for a new look..and im still trying to figure it all out...
ive gotten the inspiration from sander & whitney & the stillers blogs...
hopefully it will be done and how i envisioned it soon....
grace & peace,
lish
so i have this site meter on my blog..so i can see how frequently and sometimes who is actually keeping up with my blog and well, i feel bad because lately, or this past week, many have visited alombardi.blogspot.com but theres really nothing blogworthy to post about-unless you guys want me bouncing my research off of you for feedback, and well, i wouldn't wish that upon anyone...granted, my topics are interesting: the development of cross-cultural education for my communications class and how education has been globalized and its implications for the future for my global issues class.
the next three weeks are going to be insane for me...getting these 2 15 page papers written on top of all the readings and notes i still have to do for my classes & i still have a midterm essay & another paper to write!!...my goal is to get everything done right before thanksgiving, turn everything in when i get back and then im home free til the12th when its back to TX for the next 3 weeks...whoop!
in another news,
my "boss" has returned, so its back to the GA room with little to keep me occupied.
ive started making christmas presents....cant tell you what they are or it would ruin the surprise for those of you that read this and get presents from me.
fall weather is quite beautiful here, the trees at snail's pace are changing but the temperature is almost perfect...
anyways, thats all for now...for all you regular blog checkers...you can slow down on mine :)
grace & peace,
alisha
You spread out the skies over empty space
Said, "let there be light" to a dark and formless world Your light was born You spread out your arms over empty hearts
Said, "let there be light" to a dark and hopeless world Your son was born
You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent your only son, for you are good
What a wonderful maker, What a wonderful saviour
How majestic your whispers, And how humble your love
With a strength like no other, And the heart of a father
How majestic your whispers, What a wonderful God
No eye has fully seen how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard the faintest whispers of how great you are
you made the world and saw that it was good
you sent your only son for you are good
what a wonderful maker, what a wonderful Saviour
how majestic your whispers how humble your love
with a strength like no other and the heart of a father
how majestic your whispers, what a wonderful God
you made the world and saw that it was good
you sent your only son for you are good
what a wonderful maker, what a wonderful saviour
how majestic your whispers, how humble your love
with the strength like no other and the heart of a father
how majestic your whispers,what a wonderful God
how majestic your whispers, what a wonderful God
I think of this song as i sit here work looking out the window, watching the colorful fall leaves fluttering and move with the brisk, cold, North Carolina wind. it was a cold 40 degrees this morning as i headed to the office with a scarf and gloves-the outside gloriously chilling my body to the core, yet a wonderful reminder that He is the one that commands and directs the earth and everything in it-He causes all things to work together and declares them good. He feeds the birds and showers the grass with rain..my fears and confusion have no place because He is sovereign.
there is no comfortabilty in Christ. so why, when things spin out of control and then slow down and seem getting back to "normal" am i surprised when im hit by something else?
Friday Alisha's "time-table of life" was ripped apart; my plan shred, my pride crushed by news that was bittersweet, reflecting how i so easily take the reins and not let the Father lead, how i walk in confidence of self, when humility and trust should be put on.
i found out on Friday during my spring advising that i will be able to graduate in December 2007, (that i knew) but the other news was that I can come back to TX and take summer school and won't have to return to North Carolina. What i thought was an indefinite time away is now ending in 7 months. if i take summer school in TX, I will graduate in Dec taking a class online in the fall, able to work full time wherever the Lord takes me-and that is the new prayer. where does the Lord want me to go?
There are a lot of thoughts and things i want to write about this but for now im going to bed, more will come soon faithful readers, i will not leave you hanging...
grace & peace,
lish
i sent & received a total of 57 emails today between the hours of 10am-4pm...the joys of the technology age we live in...
i think im doing a pretty swell job while the director and asst. director are gone for 2 weeks. i seem to be much more productive and have really enjoyed getting to work without feeling babysat....
grace & peace,
lish
only in North Carolina can you go into a gas station and there isnt fountain Dr. Pepper and then you leave and go to Wendy's and you have to order Mr. Pibb....
such a let down.
Friday Mom and I headed to the North Carolina State Fair and filled up on turkey legs, the ferris wheel and their famous fried Coke...yup, deep fried coca-cola, quite the experience. The overall general experience wasn't as "backwoods/redneck" as I thought it would be, but there were a far share of sketchy characters in participation. The weather was gorgeous and our hotel was one of the nicest ive ever stayed in. Before heading back to G-town, we grabbed a slice of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory and came home and vegged on the couch..watching (and I know I shouldnt admit this) 8 hours of Lost, Season 1.
Sunday we went to church and then I was tour guide for the afternoon, walking downtown and through campus. We caught a movie, One Night with the King (a movie on the story of Esther), that afternoon and then came back home.
It was great to have my mom around and im pretty sure she enjoyed getting to see where my "new home" is.
grace & peace,
lish