i'm in portland right now for a science teachers' conference. and though it's nice to have a break from teaching, i'm realizing business trips are not as fun as i always thought they would be. in fact, i'd rather be teaching than sitting in workshops all day learning about teaching. at least i picked up some good lesson plans - they'll be fun for the kids, and i ate a BUNCH. my school gives a decent per diem, and portland has some good seafood! ooooh, my poor waistline is gonna have a hard time w/ me starting the holiday feasting this early...

anyways, here's the last few weeks:the good...

-D#2 (d's colleague) got 4 free tickets to Wicked from the radio!! the station was having a Military Appreciation giveaway and we got invited to tag along! 

the boys dressed in their uniforms (don't they look good?), and i begged D to dress up as well, but he used the excuse that he didn't want me to be left out... this is us w/ Glinda after the show! 

- our small grp split-off has gone well so far! we're focusing on team building stuff so that we can really bond and hopefully get more "real" applicational answers during bible study when we start them up again in January. Right now, we're doing a bunch of service opportunities together (like shopping for Tgiving food for needy ppl in LA and writing xmas cards and assembling presents for children around the world). we also did a study on Spiritual Gifts. i can't wait to hear the results of everyone's test!

the interesting...

-well, i guess this is not necessarily from Nov. but i wore them for the first time this month... my new identity: a cowgirl!i bought these boots while i was home in August. D totally laughed at me... well, at my whole family. i guess it did look really strange for all of us Koreans to be wandering around the Western store. the first thing that you see when you walk in are these GIGANTIC belt buckles...

anyways, i bought the boots to go w/ my other new-ish identity: a biker chick! (when riding, you should wear shoes that cover your ankles)

this was my bday present from D many months ago... isn't it nice? so cooool (and as a result, totally unlike me. haha)

and the bad:
-unfortunately, D's motorcycle got stolen at the end of Oct... booooo. it was a BEAUTIFUL bike and a lot of fun to ride, but no more. D's looking into replacing her w/ a more comfortable cruiser...

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anyways, one other interesting thing that happened right after i finished writing last month's entry was that instead of D coming over and celebrating Halloween, he brought over a paper and declared that we were celebrating Reformation Day by reading Luther's introduction to Galations together. =) unexpected (what can i say? he's a bit of a nerd... haha) but really neat.

"When i see a man oppressed with the law, terrified with sin, and thirsting for comfort, it is time that i remove out of his sight the law and active righteousness, and set before him the gospel, the Christian or passive righteousness, which offers the promise made in Christ, who came for afflicted and sinners...

Christian righteousness is heavenly, which we have not of ourselves, but receive from heaven; we work not for it, but by grace it is worked in us, and is realized by faith.

Do we then do nothing? Do we do nothing at all for the obtaining of this righteousness? I answer, Nothing at all!!"

it's nice to remember that all over again! such freedom...