Sunday, December 14, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Heavenly Father's Protective Hand
Monday, December 08, 2008
Yesterday was Fast Sunday. Ever since the accident I had Wednesday; I have been a bit of an insomniac. I have not had it easy falling to sleep and I have been reliving the accident over and over. I also have had he constant urging that I needed to bare my testimony to my ward. I did with a friend helping as a translator. I cannot possibly do it without crying. I hate that. I really don’t like crying in front of people.
First, more details on Wednesday…I was riding a horse that I have been in charge of riding for the past two weeks. The first day I rode him, he was a bit fresh. Plus, he is very large. I think he is the tallest horse I have ever ridden. I was never worried though. I thought if this is all he does then I can handle it. I told one of the boys who knows the horse well and he agreed that those were just some of the attitude things Felix (the horse) does. So, I was not worried and I continued to ride him with no problems. In fact, the Monday before this Wednesday, he was so extremely bored and he was such a sluggish horse. But, on Wednesday, he was wild and fresh. He pulled a few stunts but nothing I wasn’t handling fine. As I was already walking 20 minutes and I had another 25 minutes to go, I began to feel it in his body that something else was coming. So, I did what I knew I should do and that was to flex and bend him in his body so that he couldn’t find a way to straighten himself and balance a big temper tantrum. Well, what happened next is the sort of accident that has been known to put most people in the hospital. He launched off all four feet into the air and so I lost the reins. As I tried to gather them back up, he reared up, but not very high. The second he came back down I got the reins but he was back up in the air and this time he was too high that he was out of balance. Though, instead of falling backwards over top of me, he fell to the right sideways on my right leg. It the most obvious point ever in my life in which I was immediately aware of Heavenly Father’s protective hand over me. I, along with the six other witnesses (riders) in the arena could not believe what happened. Both the horse and I stood up immediately. Felix ran away kicking out. I just stood there looking down at myself and analyzing my leg. I immediately said a silent prayer to Heavenly Father for protecting me. As I looked up, everyone was staring at me asking if I was ok. I smiled and said “I am …WOW”. They were all floored. I noticed the door was open so I ran to close it. I then called out for someone not in the arena. I needed their help as I was suddenly a bit disoriented and I knew I needed to catch the horse but I didn’t feel I could. My friend Martina ran in the catch him. As she did he was becoming more dangerous. She let him have it which I was so happy with because I don’t think I could have handled it. I put him away and then I ran to where my own horse was. My personal things are there and it is private. I knelt and prayed again. I began to cry and Thank Heavenly Father again for protecting me. It was really as if a wall had hit the horse on the left side so that he fell to the right and not on top of me.
I had a bit of a headache after that but it went away. The worst pain is in my left neck. It is just the muscles that feel sore. My mom insisted that I go to a doctor quick but I told her that I didn’t think I could even deal with somebody trying to touch my neck. I couldn’t even touch it until yesterday. I cannot turn it to the right very well but it is getting better. The other thing is that my hearing has become super sharp. In a painful sort of way, I can hear the smallest of noises and loud noises are irritating. But I haven’t had any headaches because of it. Anyway, what I have realized is that my Heavenly Father loves me more than I know and he’s always looking out for me. I wonder sometimes why I am still being kept here but there must certainly be a good reason.
Yesterday was Fast Sunday. Ever since the accident I had Wednesday; I have been a bit of an insomniac. I have not had it easy falling to sleep and I have been reliving the accident over and over. I also have had he constant urging that I needed to bare my testimony to my ward. I did with a friend helping as a translator. I cannot possibly do it without crying. I hate that. I really don’t like crying in front of people.
First, more details on Wednesday…I was riding a horse that I have been in charge of riding for the past two weeks. The first day I rode him, he was a bit fresh. Plus, he is very large. I think he is the tallest horse I have ever ridden. I was never worried though. I thought if this is all he does then I can handle it. I told one of the boys who knows the horse well and he agreed that those were just some of the attitude things Felix (the horse) does. So, I was not worried and I continued to ride him with no problems. In fact, the Monday before this Wednesday, he was so extremely bored and he was such a sluggish horse. But, on Wednesday, he was wild and fresh. He pulled a few stunts but nothing I wasn’t handling fine. As I was already walking 20 minutes and I had another 25 minutes to go, I began to feel it in his body that something else was coming. So, I did what I knew I should do and that was to flex and bend him in his body so that he couldn’t find a way to straighten himself and balance a big temper tantrum. Well, what happened next is the sort of accident that has been known to put most people in the hospital. He launched off all four feet into the air and so I lost the reins. As I tried to gather them back up, he reared up, but not very high. The second he came back down I got the reins but he was back up in the air and this time he was too high that he was out of balance. Though, instead of falling backwards over top of me, he fell to the right sideways on my right leg. It the most obvious point ever in my life in which I was immediately aware of Heavenly Father’s protective hand over me. I, along with the six other witnesses (riders) in the arena could not believe what happened. Both the horse and I stood up immediately. Felix ran away kicking out. I just stood there looking down at myself and analyzing my leg. I immediately said a silent prayer to Heavenly Father for protecting me. As I looked up, everyone was staring at me asking if I was ok. I smiled and said “I am …WOW”. They were all floored. I noticed the door was open so I ran to close it. I then called out for someone not in the arena. I needed their help as I was suddenly a bit disoriented and I knew I needed to catch the horse but I didn’t feel I could. My friend Martina ran in the catch him. As she did he was becoming more dangerous. She let him have it which I was so happy with because I don’t think I could have handled it. I put him away and then I ran to where my own horse was. My personal things are there and it is private. I knelt and prayed again. I began to cry and Thank Heavenly Father again for protecting me. It was really as if a wall had hit the horse on the left side so that he fell to the right and not on top of me.
I had a bit of a headache after that but it went away. The worst pain is in my left neck. It is just the muscles that feel sore. My mom insisted that I go to a doctor quick but I told her that I didn’t think I could even deal with somebody trying to touch my neck. I couldn’t even touch it until yesterday. I cannot turn it to the right very well but it is getting better. The other thing is that my hearing has become super sharp. In a painful sort of way, I can hear the smallest of noises and loud noises are irritating. But I haven’t had any headaches because of it. Anyway, what I have realized is that my Heavenly Father loves me more than I know and he’s always looking out for me. I wonder sometimes why I am still being kept here but there must certainly be a good reason.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Still Alive
Today I have realized how fragile life is. I nearly lost mine today. I won't go far into details but Heavenly Father's protective hand was certainly over me in a moment when I was nearly (as my brother would have said it when he was 5y.o.) squashed like a grape. Instead I will only have some sore muscles and a headache. I took my first bath in so long, I forgot how pleasant they are.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Paderborn
Just a little history about the city where I live now...
777: Charlemagne’s first Frankish
Imperial Assembly held on Saxon
ground. In this context, the first
documentary mention of Paderborn.
799: Meeting between Charlemagne
and Pope Leo III. in
Paderborn: foundation of the bishopric
and preliminary talks on
crowning Charlemagne Emperor.
836: Transfer of the relics of
St. Liborius from Le Mans to
Paderborn; foundation of the
oldest town twinning in Europe.
Ca. 1000: Paderborn is awarded
town status.
1295: Paderborn becomes a
member of the Hanseatic League.
14th century: Paderborn is made
a prince-bishopric.
1614: Foundation of the first
Westfalian university by Prince-
Bishop Dietrich von Fürstenberg.
1802: The prince-bishopric
Paderborn becomes part of the
French “Kingdom of Westphalia”.
1813/14: After the fall of Napoleon,
the former prince-bishopric
Paderborn is handed over to
the Kingdom of Prussia as part
of the “Province Westphalia”
(until 1933).
1929: Paderborn is made
an archbishopric.
1945: Large-scale destruction of
the old town due to massbombing.
After the war it was built up
again, industry and trade were
incorporated.
1972: Foundation of the
University of Paderborn.
1975: Paderborn becomes a “city”
(more than 100,000 inhabitants).
1996: Visit by Pope John Paul II.
1999: Festival of the 1200th anniversary
of the meeting between
Charlemagne and Pope Leo III.
and Jubilee of the Bishopric.
2006: Great Exhibition “Canossa
1077 - History, art and culture of
the Romanesque age”.
777: Charlemagne’s first Frankish
Imperial Assembly held on Saxon
ground. In this context, the first
documentary mention of Paderborn.
799: Meeting between Charlemagne
and Pope Leo III. in
Paderborn: foundation of the bishopric
and preliminary talks on
crowning Charlemagne Emperor.
836: Transfer of the relics of
St. Liborius from Le Mans to
Paderborn; foundation of the
oldest town twinning in Europe.
Ca. 1000: Paderborn is awarded
town status.
1295: Paderborn becomes a
member of the Hanseatic League.
14th century: Paderborn is made
a prince-bishopric.
1614: Foundation of the first
Westfalian university by Prince-
Bishop Dietrich von Fürstenberg.
1802: The prince-bishopric
Paderborn becomes part of the
French “Kingdom of Westphalia”.
1813/14: After the fall of Napoleon,
the former prince-bishopric
Paderborn is handed over to
the Kingdom of Prussia as part
of the “Province Westphalia”
(until 1933).
1929: Paderborn is made
an archbishopric.
1945: Large-scale destruction of
the old town due to massbombing.
After the war it was built up
again, industry and trade were
incorporated.
1972: Foundation of the
University of Paderborn.
1975: Paderborn becomes a “city”
(more than 100,000 inhabitants).
1996: Visit by Pope John Paul II.
1999: Festival of the 1200th anniversary
of the meeting between
Charlemagne and Pope Leo III.
and Jubilee of the Bishopric.
2006: Great Exhibition “Canossa
1077 - History, art and culture of
the Romanesque age”.
Friday, November 14, 2008
I cried on the phone to my mom last night because I am homesick. I haven't cried in forever, I think I almost forgot how. And I think it was good for me. I needed it. But, I will be coming home for Christmas and I cannot wait to see my family.
I am trying to hold off until next summer to go down to Italia but have already been planning too much that I just want to go! I have an 11 page list of all the things I want to see in Florence, Venice, and Rome. Any of my friends who want to join me please do.
Also, update on Laura Alms (my brother's wife). According to my knowledge of their pregnancy, she should be due June 7-mid June. So, I will definitely be in Idaho next June for my introduction as the Best Aunt ever! I've already bought these cute little baby booties from a boutique here in Germany. : ) Matthew said she's already getting morning sickness :/ I hope it's not that bad.
Ciao!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Our new president...
So, I do just want to let you all know that I do care very much about this past week's election although the longest post just relays a longer description of my Birthday.
Anyway, all this time I was so anti-Obama and I was really scared of the thought of him coming to presidency. And, I am very much a Republican and I did take out my absentee ballot just so you know.
But, I didn't turn it in because the night before I left, McCain gave the most aweful speech in History and I became very confused and I'm sorry but...now Obama is President. I hate to say this but I feel some relief. I don't know what's come over me, but I have a feeling that everything is going to be ok.
So, now Obama is The President of the United States of America and I sustain him just as now I believe every american should. I may not agree with many of his stands but he is my president and I will sustain him as such. So, best of luck to all of you in the States! I will keep in touch with the news. I will be back in Missouri for Christmas and then I will enjoy a trip to Kuaui with my mom and dad.
Anyway, all this time I was so anti-Obama and I was really scared of the thought of him coming to presidency. And, I am very much a Republican and I did take out my absentee ballot just so you know.
But, I didn't turn it in because the night before I left, McCain gave the most aweful speech in History and I became very confused and I'm sorry but...now Obama is President. I hate to say this but I feel some relief. I don't know what's come over me, but I have a feeling that everything is going to be ok.
So, now Obama is The President of the United States of America and I sustain him just as now I believe every american should. I may not agree with many of his stands but he is my president and I will sustain him as such. So, best of luck to all of you in the States! I will keep in touch with the news. I will be back in Missouri for Christmas and then I will enjoy a trip to Kuaui with my mom and dad.
007
Last night I went to see the new 007 movie that was awesome as far as I can remember until I fell asleep at the end so I have no idea how it ended. But, it did start off great. And I did see it in English as it was offered because of a British military base that is here. So, it was my new friend Paula(Sweden), Catelin(Australia), and myself watching the English version and then Bianca(Frankfurt), and Emma(Finland) watched it in German.
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