zilrelgnaps

If you've been following my blog for any length of time and with any regularity you may have noticed a change. Namely that I have not posted anything in five weeks. Given that I usually post 2-3 times week, this is a long time with no Spangles. I have been meaning to write THIS entry for about 3 weeks, as I realized shortly after starting grad school that this would be a different kind of season of life. One where I would have to streamline and focus on a few things (namely school, church... Read Full Story

Havingread and really enjoyed ThingsFall Apart , when I saw that my cousin had this book, I thought I would giveit a read. I am very glad I did so! What a fascinating and challenging book!This is a novel about Obi Okonkwo, a Nigerian who goes to England for collegeand then returns to work in Nigeria. He is enabled to do so with funding froman organization in his tribe. When he returns, he is given a position in the civilservice in Lagos. Though he has a good job, a brand new car, and is... Read Full Story

Thisis a super intense book. As you might expect from a book about abuses againstand desperately sad situations faced by women around the world. A friend of mine who works forInternational Justice Mission in the Philippines told me I HAD to read it,considering what I would like to do with my life, so I gave it a go. Wow. Idon’t even quite know where to begin. Thefirst third of the book is particularly heavy because it looks at themodern-day slavery of sex trafficking from a variety of angles... Read Full Story

I know, I know, you hear "Harlem" and all kinds of words and ideas come to mind, and "really great place to live" probably isn't among them. But. Let me just share a little bit about why I love my apartment and my neighborhood, and perhaps it will change your ideas just a smidge. First of all, my apartment. It's huge. For New York. AND even for any normal sane place where people have space. Not only is it huge, it's not expensive. For New York. Not for normal sane places. You could rent a... Read Full Story

I've been to D.C. loads of times. And I really enjoy it each time, probably because several dear friends live there and I get to hang out with them. I like visiting D.C., but I never ever feel like I would want to live there. I was particularly excited to visit this time simply to see people I hadn't seen in a long time. And what a wonderful combination of people from various chapters of my life I was able to see!  As I didn't have a car, and the cost of a car rental PLUS gas would cost more... Read Full Story

I hadn’t heard of this book (or the movie) and the craze about it before moving back to America. Or even really once I had moved back. Except that my cousin and aunt read it and loved it, so they told me about it and let me borrow the copy my grandma had loaned them. And then my grandma just said I could keep it because she found an extra. Sweet. So. I had the distinct pleasure of reading this well-written and engaging book. In case you haven’t heard about this book, the general idea is that... Read Full Story

Rather than write a review of this book, which is written for missionaries returning to their home country after short or long-term trips, I will just share some of the quotes/lessons that impacted me the most and I have found the most helpful in readjusting. Or rereading and repeating to myself as I struggle with something and I just force myself to say, "This is NORMAL. You are NOT crazy. It will be ok. Just be patient." When I first got back I felt ok (though physically I was really... Read Full Story

My 5 year anniversary of WHAT you may be asking? Of my blog. Five years ago today I wrote my first blog entry about moving to New York City. A very brief one, but my launch into the blogosphere nonetheless. Today I write my 5-year anniversary blog, as I've just moved BACK to New York City. It is my 695th post. I was hoping to get to 700, but with all that has been going on throughout my transition, that hasn't been possible. Alas. It's interesting to reread some of the posts from those first... Read Full Story

"Lizinda" is the name I will be giving to the cooking team of Liz and Linda, my great and fabulous godmother. Who happens to be one of the most crafty and creative people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. And she is just all-around wonderful. I've been very privileged over the years to eat many of her delicious international creations; it's always an adventure to have dinner with her and her husband Jim! Now that I've collected a few international recipes of my own, we've started what I... Read Full Story

This is a great little 25 lesson study/devotional through the Old Testament book of Esther. It’s very manageable to do one a day, and because I had quite a bit of time when I was reading this book, I often did two a day. It goes bit by bit through the 10 chapters of Esther, and George focuses primarily on lessons that can be drawn out of the text relating to the characteristics of a godly woman. A woman of true beauty and strength, in fact. Which is easy enough to do, as Esther was pretty... Read Full Story