7 Questions

1. Hamburger or Hotdog? (veggie versions count)
Hamburgers… I hate hotdogs! I haven't eaten one in YEARS. 

2. If you had to live on any other planet in our solar system, besides Earth, which would you choose?
Well… If the sun wasn't so dangerously hot, I'd pick there. 

3. Share a photo of an outfit that represents your personal style, please. (doesn't have to be of you)

Casual, comfy, and a little tomboyish but feminine at the same time. 

4. Would you rather get ready for the day or get ready for bed?
Get ready for bed… When I get ready in the morning, it's usually quite careless unless I'm going somewhere. 

5. You have to choose between never having eyelashes or never having eyebrows, which would you choose?
That's a weird question! hahahahah… WELLLLLL. Probably eyelashes. There's always an eyeliner option. :) 

6. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A baker!

7. Do you set your clocks right on time, or a few minutes ahead or behind? 

On time… I'm usually a little late getting ready on Sundays before church. But not too bad!

Pinkster

This little lady named Pinky got to spend the day with us and stay overnight too. She is living with another missionary family here, along with her other 3 siblings.

Is she not so adorable? She's 3 although she doesn't talk yet, but she still has the funniest personality. 

Look at that smile? I love this girl. Whatta ham. 

We had a fun day with her. 

We just ran errands in the morning, walked some dogs at the SPCA, 

came home and read some books and watched some TV shows, 

and she had quite a fun time in the bubble bath. Seriously, that girl was 

doing belly flops and all sorts of crazy stunts. She'll be in the Olympics one day. ;) 

After dinner, she got tired. And now. As I write, she's laying on a mattress by my bed. Fast asleep. 

Although I SO wish I could call Pinky my sister, sleepovers will have to do for now. 

Who knows. Maybe one day this little nugget will be apart of the Swanson clan…

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

the simplest things.

I think a lot of the time, we always look for other things to want or "need".
And even after we get that so-said thing, we'll move to the next thing and so-on.
{sorry I said "thing" like 20 times in that sentence.}

Like when I was younger I had an iPod shuffle. I loved that thing.
Then I asked for a apple-green iPod nano. I got that for my birthday.
And then I wanted an iPod touch. And I saved up my money and got one!
And that was about… 2 years ago. Now... I'd just love to have the
new iPod touch with the camera. But really? Do I need it? Nope.

The happiness can only last for so long! 

But no matter what, we will never be content.
Sadly, it's just engrained in our sinful human nature.
We'll just keep going. and going. and going.
And eternal contentment will never come.

There is not one thing of this world that will keep our "spiritual tummies full" forEVAHHHHH.
The ONLY thing that will ever satisfy our hunger is God.
With Him there IS contentment. And it indeed WILL last forever.
He'll bring contentment. And we'll see things through different eyes.
We'll be able to stop. look. listen. and just be thankful for the simplest
little {or big} things in life.

BOOOOOOO-RING!

This week I have done… nothing. 

All the kids here are on a school break, and a lot of them 

go back home to the villages to be with their families. 

SOOO that being said, all of our normal weekly happenings 

aren't… happening. 

Which is kinda nice, because I had a somewhat busy week last week

and kinda needed some down time. 

So this week was spent, chillaxing makeup-less, in yoga pants and 

ancient, ripped up, oversized t-shirts. I like. 

But on Tuesday I woke up feeling super yucky. 

My body ached, my head was POUNDING, and it felt like 

I had tons of needles in my throat. Pleasant, I know. 

I've been feeling a LITTLE bit better, but not good enough 

to do much. I've basically been lounging around, sleeping, 

reading, and watching Food Network. Which is great, but I 

can only take so much Ina Garten. 

Just kidding. She never gets old. 

ANYWAYS. I like to get SOME exercise daily, just so I can get out at 

some point EVEN on the lazy days. But I haven't been able

to run since MONDAY. I'm going crazy and I feel like such a

bum. 

Tomorrow, I'm having some girl friends over for a sleepover. 

I'm making something chocolatey for us and we're gonna watch

a chick-flick… We haven't decided which one. Although I REALLY

want to see the Vow. But I'm not sure if the movie stores here have it

yet. 

Anyways. I hope you all have a lovely rest of the week!

Off to go lay in bed and read, 

-Sophie

you know you're diabetic when...

Some of you may know… or not know that I am Type 1 Diabetic. I talked about it here.
Anyways. I thought it might be funny to throw a post together about it!
Because honestly, there's some things that most people don't have to do/think about/feel/or hear.
Let's talk about it, shall we?

You know you're diabetic when… 

Your mom tells you "Sophie! Go get your needles out of the bathroom!"

You have to guzzle down a juice box {like a 3 year old} in public. It's especially weird when the juice boxes are Sesame Street themed. AWESOMESAUCE right there.

In our house, BS stands for blood sugar!

Sometimes, you have to go for a run… to save your life. Kinda.

{my insulin pump… no more daily injections for moi!}

That cute little pink thing is what keeps you ALIVE every day… that and chocolate of course.

You can't eat something because that so-said pink thing is running out of INSULIN. I wanted those french fries, dang it!

Pricking your finger and squeezing blood out of it is a total normal daily occurrence.

sweet things.

Sweet Things…

:: Pinterest 

:: vintage photography

:: coffee

:: morning runs

:: losing CHUB

:: banana bread

:: sleeping in

:: the sounds of birdies in the morning

:: Food Network

:: friends

:: dark chocolate

:: conversations with my Bestie 

:: sweet lemon body butter

:: puppies

:: cuddling with my Little Man, Carl.

:: prayer time

beliefs.

I believe…

The Bible is the true Word of God. 

There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

We are saved by grace through faith. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

The Bible is the final authority in how I live my life. 

After death, followers of Jesus will be received into eternal fellowship with God and will enjoy a new life in a new heaven and new earth. 

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16

better.

Lately, I've felt so much better.
Better spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

My heart is content with this weird state of my life.
Crazy state of life.
Confusing state of life.

Prayers have been answered… Like I've said before-
My situation hasn't changed.
My attitude has.

I'd like to say it was an overnight sort of change.
HECK. It was not.
It took me 6 {almost 7} months to reach where I am now.

I keep reminding myself that things can only get better.

Such a pleasant, pleasing, and exciting thought, dontcha think?

Things are becoming better.

My friendships… The few that I do have.

My trust… I'm starting to trust this country more- little by little.

Life… No comment.

The butter… It's important.
Sadly, I'm becoming used to the weird butter here.
I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad. ;)

Anyways. All in all, things are going better.

Smoooooooth like butter.

Hakuna Matata...

let's blab.

This is a post… 

in which I blab.

Today, at church, our pastor suggested we start dancing. 

And dancing, we did. 

{TIA- this is africa}

I just ate a Reese's. 

It was amazing. 

Thanks so much for asking. 

Also. I'm really excited for my workouts this week. 

It started while I was watching the Olympics women's 800 meter.

I decided, I shall workout every day. 

Lose the chub. 

Eat healthy. 

And be happy. 

Maybe even get a 6 pack. JUST KIDDING. 

I have lost all hope of that ever happening.

Darn you,  baking addiction. 

Today's National Friendship Day… 

So go run up to your bestie and give 'em a big bear hug. 

I wish I could! But Skype'll have to do for the next 15 months. :) 

Have a great rest of the weekend, my lovelies!

contentment.

 Since we've been here, I haven't made many friends. 

I mean, I know a lot of people, but I really haven't clicked with anyone just yet. 

At the beginning, I didn't know what I was doing here. 

My parents had things to do, but I felt like I was just along for the ride. 

Most of our days were full or nothingness. 

And I was literally going bonkers in the head. 

Not many places to get away, and not many friends would do that to a person. 

I was straying away from my time alone with God each day. 

I could tell and so could everyone around me. 

God's the only person who can bring true contentment. 

How did it take me months to figure that out? 

My circumstances haven't changed much. But my attitude sure has. 

I've been spending more time with God every day, praying and lifting my thoughts to him, and reading his word first thing in the morning with a cup 'a jo. 

The days fly by so much faster without dragging on and on like they used to. 

And I've learned to be content with where I am right now. To be happy, joyful, and grateful. 

Taking in every silent minute of it. 

Loving the peace and quiet and times of reflection. 

I get lots of time to exercise, bake, photograph, read, and watch movies- all the things I love to do. 

I've learned to be content with my situation. 

And I'm trusting God will put people in my life that I will click with. 

In fact, I'm going out to coffee with a friend this afternoon. 

I'm ever so thankful for the people I DO know. 

elephant love.

Some pictures from our day trip to Etosha- one of the biggest game reserves in Africa. While we were there, we saw tons of giraffe, zebra, elephants, and different kinds of African game. Elephants are for sure my favorite thing to see on our Namibia road trips. We got SO close to the elephants and I loved being able to get some shnazzy pics. BUT, the pictures really don't do justice to their beauty. Really. Maybe you should just come and visit me and see for yourself! :) 

"I said what I meant and I meant what I said- an elephant's faithful 100%." -Horton

{more pictures to come}

P.S.

Did you check out the newSponsor/Buttons page yet? I do believe you should. :)

6 months.

Today marks  6 months in a different world, we call Africa.

We were in Kenya for 3 weeks before coming here to Namibia.

I really LOVED Kenya and hope to go back some day.

I can't say these last 6 months have been terrific.

In fact, most of those months have been full of learning curves, tears, and home-sickness.

But little by little, some of the things that were so weird at first are becoming our new normal.

And I'm SO thankful for that!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11