The Hot Seat

Sleeping in a tent is glorious. I love tents. You can hear the sounds of the out doors and breath the fresh air all night long. I slept so good. Except I had a lot of trouble going to sleep, but that was not the tent's fault. It was the Hannahs' with the help of Taylor Swift. Hannah D from Tennessee bought the new T Swift CD in Taupo yesterday... for $30! Who would spend that much on Taylor Swift? I mean.... I love you Hannah, even though you love Taylor Swift!!! Anyways, The Hannahs thought it was necessary to listen the the CD before bed. At full volume. In the tent. With me. I decided that I would have an early night. It was about 9 ish. So I put in my headphones, but I could hear T Swift through the beautiful songs of Luke Parker and Strahan. She ruined those songs. I asked the Hannahs to turn it down a bit. They did, maybe by like one click. I took a big breath and told myself that they would probably turn it off soon to go to sleep. I'm pretty sure it was an hour later when I asked them to turn it down a bit more. So, one more click down. It was still blasting through my relaxation tunes. Finally, I think it was midnight, I rolled over to see why they were still blasting it. I assumed they were probably still chatting. But I rolled over and they were sleeping! Who sleeps with T Swift blasting at the top of her lungs. I said to them "Are you gonna turn that off anytime soon?" Trying to be polite but actually wanting to steam-roll over them and beat them up a bit. And FINALLY Hannah turned it off. After that it was quite a nice night. But now I hate Taylor Swift. If I ever hear her songs again I will be reminded of the time that T Swift kept me awake for HOURS. (But I love you Hannahs)

This morning I woke up in the warmth of the tent and it was so glorious. Then we spent the day in Taupo. It was pretty good. Except that my bank card and credit card don't work anymore. I am a little worried because I used them yesterday and they worked.... I went and got a calling card and called home. Mom didn't even recognize my voice! I am a little insulted! It was nice to talk to her, but I didn't get the bank issue solved. I tried to call the bank 1-800 number this evening, but for some reason the call wouldn't go through on the base phone. The phones suck so much. I am praying that it will work tomorrow!

We sat on the beach for a bit today. It was really cold out. So I had my wool sweater, and a touque that is lined with fur and has ear flaps and a pair of shorts. I was quite the beach babe, I must say. I took my guitar down to the beach and wrote a song in about 10 minutes. It's called 'Beach Song' and it goes like this:

The sun beats down
The breeze blows all around
The waves make sound
And I sing my...

Beach song
Beach song
Beach song
Beach song
(repeat indefinately)

A nice cold drink would be nice
Maybe some coffee with lots of ice
I'd like to watch some kids fly kites
While I sing my...

Beach song
Beach song
Beach song
Beach song

Naked children swimming in the lake
Lots of girls are layin out to bake
Those guys, their hearts ache
As I sing my...

Beach song
Beach song
Beach song
Beach song....

How creative am I? Sitting on a beach and all I can think of is 'Beach song, beach song' ohhh man. And then I had those two words stuck in my head for the rest of the day...

On the drive back, we stopped in Matamata to fill up our nice mini van with petro (Kiwis call gas petro). We pulled up to the gas pump, Marit was driving, but she was so awkward and didn't know what to do. It was not self-serve, so the pump lady came out and asked if we wanted gas, and Marit didn't say anything, and neither did Rebekah (who was in the passenger seat). So it was left for me to confirm our need for petro. So from the middle row seat, I had a discussion with the lady through the closed window. I said "YES, REGULAR PLEASE" so that she could hear me. Everyone died laughing. I didn't really understand why. But I guess it is kind of weird for the person in the back seat to tell the gas lady what we want, through a window that is incapable of opening. Bahah.

I also did some laundry today because I was down to my last pair of underwear. I had 3 loads to do. I went to the laundry room after the meeting this evening to check the dryer and see if my first load was dry. And I saw Kyle walking away from the laundry room. I am pretty sure that he put his clothes in the dryer... and that means he had to take mine out... and touch my underwear... Awkward! I really hope that that isn't actually what happened and that he just happened to be walking in that general area... Or else that will make lunch dishes with him extra exciting this week!

Tonight I got to be in the Hot Seat at the meeting. Every Sunday, two students get to be on the 'hot seat'. And basically what it is is they sit at the front of the room on a stool, and everyone tells them how encourages them and tells them how awesome they are. I really needed the hot seat a few weeks ago when I was having a rough time, but of course God would make me wait until after I needed it. Geeze. Oh well, it was really nice. Really awkward to sit there and listen to all of these people encourage you. I actually had so much trouble receiving it. I just really wanted to encourage everyone in return. But I couldn't, I had to listen to the next person.

I have actually been feeling pretty self-conscious these past few weeks. Worried that no one liked me and that no one wanted to hang out with me and that no one liked my songs, but it seems like everyone does really like me! Crazy! Who would have thought? I am a really honest person, if you haven't noticed from my blogs about my bowel movements, and sometimes I worry that I am too honest. But everyone really encouraged me to continue to be open and honest because it keeps them open and honest too. And apparently everyone really likes my songs. I am actually shocked. I feel like my songs are pretty lame and elementary, but they like them. Yay!

And everyone commented on how unique I am. Schnegg said that when he gets bored of everyone else, he likes to talk to me because I am so different. Bahahha! So funny. But I am really weird. Especially when other people aren't around. I make sound effects for everything, but sometimes I accidentally let sound effects slip out when people are around. Embarrassing! But man, the encouragements were so nice. I really needed that actually. No one ever leaves me encouragements on the encouragement board. They probably don't think that I need encouragement because I seem secure and stuff, but I'm not. I need it. So it was nice to know that I am loved!

And people see things in me that I don't see at all. Almost everyone commented on how funny I am. I don't really think I'm funny... but I am glad that I can entertain everyone! And Johanna commented on the Joy that I have deep down inside and how it really touches her when I laugh. Cool. I never really thought of myself as a joyful person. But I guess I am happy. I know that I was not happy when I was at University. But I am now. I am happy just being, and doing things that make me happy. Who woulda thought? I actually sat in that stool for 45 minutes, and then Johanna cut everyone off because it was taking so long. So nice. I love everyone so much! I am so sad that we only have 3 more weeks together before we split up on outreach...