hmm.... so many things going on in my head.... but where to begin? I haven't been able to do my typical 3 posts a day, but that is because I haven't been surrounded by high speed internet at my disposal for the past 38 hours or so. So wow, let's see.... what all has gone on since my last update?

Most of Friday and Saturday I spent packing. What a strange feeling it is to transfer your life into boxes! It really felt like I was washing my life; elimiating old things that I didn't need any more, shedding the things that were holding me back. Very much a healing process, I do believe. On Saturday as I was gathering up all my things to take downstairs to move into my dad's garage, I was so surprised by how few belongings I actually had. Seeing one's whole life packed into 7 small boxes is pretty shocking. But then again I forgot that I had already brought a load the weekend previous, so I actually had quite a substantial section of the garage set off for my shtuff. What can I say, I accumulate. =P

I spent the entire day on Saturday at my dad's house, moving my things into the garage, but also just hanging out with him and his wife and Bruno (of the hopelessly slobbering but so adoring and fun-loving dog variety) and Emmy (whose proper title should be Empress Of All... except for the fact that this title is already taken... ahem). It was actually quite an enjoyable and productive day. Not only because I got storage and laundry done, but also because it was just a good bonding experience for before I leave. I showed them my pictures from Sardegna, and my dad and I were watching the Stanford/SJSU game. Awww yeeeeaaah!! 63 to 26 baby!! Hah! San Jo is not a threat to the awesome unstoppable power of the mighty Cardinal! Shyeah! Okay, we'll just pretend that they didn't get a 97 yard TD after a kick off. sigh. that was pretty pathetic. But other than that, I ean 37 point lead -- hullo! That's what I'm talkin' about. Not to mention that the Giants also whooped on SD. Yeah, it was a good game day. I was supposed to go out dancing with little Tina and Graham and Karl, which unfortuately didn't happen since we were still involved with dinner (I made some reeeeally good guacamole, so ask me for the recipe!) and laundry. But y'know, it was okay. I'm glad that I got to hang out with my family.

Sunday was of course involving church in the morning. It was my last service at the river and I am going to miss it so much! Keith just started a new message series which looks so wonderful. I will be sad to be away from the river, but at least I got to hear the first message. And actually, it was I think a wonderful message to leave on. All throughout his talk I was thinking "that makes so much sense," and "oh my goodness, that explains sooo much." His message did explain so much to me. About what I have bee put through in my journey with God this year, and especially these past five months. The main lesson was that we were made with three distinct parts to us: body so we can relate to the world, soul so we can relate to each other, and spirit so we can relate to God. The difficulty is that so many people relate to God exclusively with body and soul, but not with the spirit which is unique to us and which allows us really to communicate freely with God. So we get trapped in feelings, or in intellect. Of course we are trapped because this world is all about body and mind and there is so little out there that encourages spiritual growth or that really nourishes the spirit. This concept of three distinct parts of my own self made so much sense to me, with what I have felt sometimes with my mind knowing one thing, my body and my heart wanting something else, and still another sense in me -- almost undescribable -- leading me in another way. What a precarious life! And I realized how little time I actually spend in my daily life growing and feeding my spirit relative to all my other intellectual and extracurricular activities. And yet it is my spirit that is the most significant of everything! It must be so difficult to be a pastor. To describe what is a spirit to everybody. I don't think that I could describe it. But maye it naturally defies description. Sometimes when I really release myself into prayer or into worship I feel a tingling sensation like goosebumps run through my body. I wonder if that is my spirit meeting my body. Oh God, I do so want to grow in my spirit and as a result e released to be freely with you and you with me. It is certainly a process. But God is so awesome and so amazing, that there is nothing he can't do for us! How cool! We had a perfect song to close for worship:

Release me Father

to dance like a child again

Lead me Jesus

to grow in passion's flame

I love this song! Especially for the dancing bit. =) Ah, speaking of dancing, I haven't said about this evening's adventures in downtow Palo Alto. But, as I am sleepy and have to get up early tomorrow, I will save that for another time.

--ciao amici!