hrmph

[source]

But my dad always told me to go like hell on yellow to beat the red.

confession.

{l}

I am addicted to the Real Housewives of NYC and I have my gram to blame. Seriously. We started watching the OC housewives years ago and it's snowballed into this addiction. I thought I was through with the housewives when Bethenny left. They're crazy. They're annoying. There's too many of them this season. I couldn't stand this season until... the marathon this past week. I watched a good chunk of all the episodes and dvr-ed my favorites. All in anticipation for the season finale involving a pregnancy (read: menopause) scare, a 1 year dating anniversary party, and general ridiculousness. I should be ashamed.

{l}

I just can't turn away when I know the the episode featuring Ramona's crazy face while walking the runway is coming up. No. I call Jenna and we laugh about it all over again. Never mind that we watched it countless times when it first aired. Never mind that we swore off the show months ago. We were sucked in again. We waited for Kelly's meltdown. We remembered why we were first sucked into the show.

I LOVE it.

Famine in Somalia

Somalis flood Kenya Refugee Camp

source

As most people know, I spent the past 10 months working with a refugee resettlement agency in MN. I worked mostly with Somali refugees. Somalia, a country that has been involved in a civil war for 20 years, is also experiencing a horrific famine and drought. The UN declared a famine in the Southern Somali regions of Bakool and Lower Shabelle. Ten months ago, I would not have recognized the names of these regions. Ten months ago, I knew little about Somalia. Now, these regions represent the homes of the people with whom I worked.

yea, this is home.

after all my searching

after all my questions

I'm gonna call it home

"This is Home" - Switchfoot

returns and changes.

there is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have changed.

-nelson mandela 

on leaving the land of gk, sensible shoes, hotdishes, and bars

We spent a chunk of our last week in Minnesota on retreat at Clare's Well. Located in Annandale, Clare's Well is working farm and a retreat place run by the Franciscans. The sisters there are absolutely wonderful. I was in love and not ready to leave on Wednesday evening. I could feel the stress of ending, or "leave taking" as someone referred to it, lift off my shoulders not long after we arrived. We were greeted by Lacy (the dog - see below) and the sisters with warm hugs and quick tours to get the lay of the land. They had baskets ready for us to raid the refrigerator and jugs of water (no running water in the hermitages, but they do have electricity and a composting toilet). I wasn't ready to leave the well on Wednesday evening. If I ever make it back up to Minnesota, I'll be scheduling retreat time there.

The Dome (one of the hermitages @ Clare's Well). Where I stayed.

Chapel

View from one of the windows in the Dome

Standing on the dock looking towards the barn and house.

Meet Lacy. She's blind and absolutely amazing...and she blogs!

Sunrise on Wednesday morning.

I left Minnesota last Friday. After a stop in Monroe to see the NL folks, I headed on to Ohio. I've been back since Sunday evening. I'm waiting for it to really sink in that I'm not on vacation, that I'm not working with the refugees anymore, that at this moment my life is here. Transitions aren't my cup of tea.