Running home in the rain

I had been feeling a bit down today, so we went out for a nice summer stroll and as we walked away from our flat we realized that there were black clouds gathering in the sky.

We decided to walk anyways because we just needed to get out. We were really close when it started sprinkling rain and as we crossed the street to get back home it started dumping rain on us. We were laughing so hard as we ran down the steps to get to our flat, the rain pouring down harder and harder. We were soaking wet, but it only made us laugh all the more.

These are moments that make me feel alive and remind me that our G*d gives good gifts exactly when we need them.

Graduation

Our Graduation ceremony  was a satisfactory culmination to an exceptional year!

It is always a risk to allow yourself to love your students, because most of the time, to them, you are just their teacher. But I think that our feelings about one special class were mutual.

Our young class will always hold a special place in our hearts. Throughout our year with them they have won this place with their bright smiles and their eagerness to learn. On Tuesdays, when I would come back from a long weekend, wanting to be anywhere else but there, they would not cease to disappoint me. Their smiling faces and their warmth would always make me feel right at home in that classroom, by the end of the class I would forget those feelings.

I took so much joy in teaching this special class. I teared up when I thought about them leaving us and just how blessed we are to have had them as one of our first classes teaching English. But I was not disappointed by them. I was blown away by the unexpected display of mutual feelings.

They honored us greatly after the graduation ceremony when they clothed us in traditional Cultural attire. One student told Curtis that the reason they did this is that in their culture, a younger person should bestow this honor on someone that they significantly respect. Those kids who brought so much joy to our lives and who we love so dearly, respected us enough to esteem us in this way. I really felt honored. (It did bring me back to an act of kindness by a dearly loved student last year.;) We loved them and worked hard to teach them this year and the rewards for that are not only et*rnal but also rewards that we can enjoy in this life.

I can say that the whole year of teaching was worth it for those little moments, the moment when the students placed the clothes on us and the moments when I embraced some of the young ladies from that class, sharing tears of happiness and sorrow with them. What a joy to know that we loved these students who truly loved and respected us back!

Reflections on a good year

Today we had our class graduation party. It was such a nice time to reflect on what a great year it has been and how special some of our classes have been for us.

It is difficult to express in words how amazing this year has been, but reminiscing with our students today was a reminder of how special all the memories are and how dear these students have become to Curtis and I.

There is a song that we are using for our graduation slide show that says “These are days you remember, never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be one as this, and as you feel it, you’ll know it too, that you are blessed…” I feel that this is so true with the time that we have spent here. These are truly days that we will remember forever! Never before and never since. Even if we continue to teach for years, there will never again be a time like this year. Our first year teaching in Central Asia; it has been an experience unlike any other.

What a blessing this year has been! As we reflected we were able to share about some of the reasons why we came here. 

We were also able to hear some interesting things about their first impressions of us as well! We laughed with some of them about how we were not sure how much they understood at the beginning of the year, we thought their levels were lower because they were so shy at first and how most of them were pretty scared of Curtis and I at first. They were so shy then and now they are so confident in their English abilities. If nothing else, we know that their confidence has been built up and that is a big change for many of them!

Needless to say, it has been an incredible year and we are sad to see many of our students go. Our Father has blessed us so much. There have been many ups and downs, but we can already see fruit in what He is doing here through us, and that is more than we expected from this year. We are truly grateful for all that He has done ☺

Hello Sunshine

Yea, so I tend to focus on the wrong things at times. Don't we all. I am pretty sure that this is a natural thing that many people go through. But I am such a passionate person that I tend to go through extreme highs and lows. I was going through a low.

I'm gonna be honest, although the Holidays brought many blessings and I addressed these things verbally, it does not mean that I really truly understood how much G*d has blessed me. No, the truth is that I would rather sulk in the fact that I was not "home" with my family and friends than realize the blessings of the life that G*d has given me.

WOW! I was in this thick darkness of my own despair, but for what?  I knew I needed to get out, so I began prying about it. Slowly but surely I have been coming out of it. I think I am still going through the process, but as I was listening to the new Barlow Girl CD once again the inspired lyrics spoke to me! YES! I love it when that Happens! Thank you Barlow Girls! Seriously, these girls rock, if you haven't listened to their music yet, check them out.

Of course the song is called "Hello Sunshine." It is a good song and it spoke to me about exactly what I  am going through. I think so much at times about what could be or what will be that I don't actually look up and see the blessings that are staring me right in the face! I think that my favorite line in the song is "Oh who could add a day to their life by dreading every dark sky." It is based on the scr*pture that says "who of you by worrying could add an hour to his life." NO ONE!

G*d is in control and he will bring us in and out of trials. We might be doing his will, but it does not always mean that we have the right mindset. We could be wasting our days, wasting the sunshine that he has given us by focusing on all the negative things instead of the blessings. What are we doing with our lives?!?

Lrd forgive me for all the times I have focused on the ground rather than looking up and seeing the blessings all around me. Help me to remember that there is always something good to see if we just look up to see it.

My favorite memories of 2009

I was going through my photos reminiscing about 2009 and I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite memories of 2009 before coming overseas. Hope you enjoy!

Mom and Dad's 60th Birthday Party

I really enjoyed seeing my family all dressed up as movie characters.

Here are the Characters from "There's Something about Mary"

and

Can you guess who Dom and Brenda are?

Jenni and Forrest Gump

Meeting Lucy for the first time!

Adventures with my husband. Ventura Harbor.

Hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains

and going to Mammoth in the Winter!

Sharing my Birthday with JJ!

My cousin Kimmy got married!

Reunited with Dave!

Dirk's 50th!

Finding my soul sister! I love you Laura!

Spending time with my wonderful sisters!

Banana pancakes for Curt's 25th Birthday

Reuniting with my friend from pre-school Arianna and her mom Lujuana.

Meeting some of the greatest people in the world, Mary-Lou, Dirk & Ryan

(and discovering my Birthday Twin JJ!)

My wonderful Digital Photography Class!

Celebrating Cole's Wedding with Good Friends!

Hiking with our Bble study Buddies

Kevy's Birthday

The wonderful Jenn! Can you believe this girl had a garage sale to earn money to help us with our trip! This was probably the most touching moment of 2009 for me! I love you Jenn!

Fun times with Curt's Fam

Meeting Gabreilla

(and falling in love with her instantly)

T**choverseas Training 2009