The Power of Collegiate Sports.

New Liz gave Bro Keith a surprise gift at their wedding reception on Sunday night… this guy:

I’m pretty sure that was the closest that Keith got to tears the whole weekend. In fact his eyes were a bit red when the fight song came on and we all began to shout “Fight! Fight! Go Team Fight! Victory for MSU!”

Truthfully, I got a little choked up too… It’s just so beautiful when my entire family sings in harmony.

Agh!

Did I ever tell you that my brother is marrying someone with my exact name and nickname? In 48 hours I will be one of two Liz + Ridiculously Rare Last Names in the world.

I am in the throes of an identity crisis!

Community Becomes Family.

I probably don’t have words to describe the WMF Staff Retreat. It was terribly beautiful and lots of fun and cheesecake. I gained 5 pounds and 50 new family members. What more could you want out of life?

Maybe a few pics courtesy of Jess?
(I didn’t really take pictures, because I was too busy being fabulous. )

Kara, Kim, Me, only 3/4 of the N.American WMF Nepal staff. Brook- where are you? —->

<— Jesse’s homemade fisheye camera perfectly captures Smothers’ personality.

And the handyman himself, with Smothers, Me, Robin, and Josh Fowler- Romania.

Goals (I learned in Career and Self Awareness 101 to make these measurable and achievable)

1. Post memories of WMF staff retreat
2. Update blog with links to community around the world
3. Be funnier and more meaningful in my posting.
4. Recover hippie self by dressing more like Cuz Beth.

5. Measure success by increased amount of commenting… oh wait, that’s YOUR goal!!

Flawless.

Last night was the hottest day of the year so far at 90 some degrees. I know that is not much for, say, India, but for Michigan… This is the state where people wear flip flops in rain and slush until December or January. I don’t have A/C, for obvious social and financial reasons, and so my upstairs apartment was 89 degrees. Wahoo!

I was watching TV, camped in front of the fan. Then… we lost power.

I went to my front porch to get some fresh air, and out came my landlords and one of their friends. We sat around, talking about the IPhone, West African music, car accidents, and cats. We ended the night with a game of Euchre and some really good local wheat beer. There are so many cool characters around my house, (and in it for that matter) that I never knew about, going from work to commitment to friends’ homes to bed. It reminded me that this year is about me taking time to be present and be still.

What a flawless night!