Excited about the unknown

This has been an emotional week, but it's ending on a higher note. Even though I don't know exacting what the next year will hold and I am a bit (ok, maybe more than a bit at times) apprehensive about the transitions, I am excited about what God has in store for me. I know that He is faithful and that His plans are so much better than mine - I just need to be faithful to follow and obey.

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Cor. 2:9

Four years ago, even one year ago, I wouldn't have guessed that this is where I would be headed. I am thankful for God's leading and am excited to see what He has in store for me in this next adventure!

Also, God continues to provide financially - my support is currently at 48%!!

"Redeeming the time..." & Provision

One month from today, I will say good-bye to my family and get on an airplane. I will spend a week at orientation, and then fly directly from there to Germany. One month. I must admit the thought brings tears to my eyes. Three weeks of that month will be spent finishing my Master's Degree (there's a mountain of schoolwork I have to finish between now and then.) and wrapping up my Ohio life. Even though I always knew I wouldn't stay in Ohio forever, I'm realizing that my roots here are deeper than I previously realized or admitted. So I'm trying to "redeem the time" - make the most of the time I have left in the States....to finish school well but yet also make sure I spent time with family & friends and say good-bye adequately (but how does one do that?)....



Last weekend I went home to NY for my brother's college graduation. It was a wonderful time with family, but I was also reminded of God's provision. My car hit a blown-out tire that was in the highway (that's the short version of the story), but I am continually thankful for His provision - the situation could have been SO much worse.



Another example of God's provision in my life is how my support is coming in...I'm currently at 31%. I am most thankful for how God uses people to provide for my needs. I need to be at 75% before I can leave, but I am confident that God will provide, and I know that if He doesn't, then He has a better plan in mind. But moreso, I'm just trusting Him to provide.

The "lasts" have begun...

• To you, it's a black binder sitting on beige carpet. To me, it represents A LOT of work, and a milestone (hopefully) completed (unless I get it back for revision). What is it? My graduate portfolio and independent paper. It was due this past Wednesday; a feat that would not have been accomplished without the encouragement and prayers of many of you, and I MUST give a BIG thank you (or, GRACIAS, rather:) to my friend Sofia, who saved my sanity on Tuesday night and helped me realize I could do this! (Don't worry - we celebrated with chocolate ice cream on Wed. evening!)

• It has hit me this weekend that my time in OH will be over before I know it - I'm down to about a month left here. I'm starting that list of "lasts"...seeing & hanging out with people for the last time, etc. My sis and I hung out in OH for the last time on Fri....being in the same state as her this year has been a HUGE blessing, and something I will miss next year. CU graduation was this weekend, and I had some friends in town for that. I've seen them for the last time (for at least a year and a half or so...)
• I want to make the most of these lasts - to see people and hang out, to make the most of every moment, but yet finish school well. I'd much rather spend time with people than with books, but I must be diligent in my responsibilities!

Present vs. Future

I should be focused on the present. Instead, I find my mind wondering to the "what ifs" of the future.

The Present: I am sitting in front of a computer screen (something I've been doing A LOT of lately), attempting to write my independent paper that is due Wed. (a graduation requirement, part of a portfolio.) I'm writing about the supporting role of first language literacy in learning to read in English. So if you need me between now and Wed., I'll be in front of a computer type type typing away. =) And if you're really intrigued and want to read the paper, email me and I'll send it to you (when it's finished). Otherwise, prayers are appreciated for focus and efficiency.

The Future: What does the next year hold? What does God have for me in Germany? Will I be able to learn the language (easily? at all?)? What new friends will I make? How do my gifts and abililites fit into the English camp ministry - to help change the lives of German teens?

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Just as God promised the Israelites that He had plans for them - plans that were in their best interest, that would give them hope - I know He promises to take care of me....

But for now, I am called to be here. at WSU. And part of that is writing this paper and completing this portfolio....

It's Official!: Destination D'land!

It's official! Just this week I received official acceptance from JTM to serve in Deutschland (Germany) for the next year! I'll be helping to coordinate the English Camps from June 2007 through Fall 2008. There are lots of details to be worked out, but I am confident of God's leading and am excited to see what He has planned for me over these next several months! One of the reasons I love this ministry so much is definitely the people - the relationships I've been able to build with staff and campers alike, and how I've seen eternal differences made in people's lives! I'll leave you with some pictures that contain so many stories and memories for me!

The CrAzInEsS of my life....

CrAzInEsS

Now, I realize that I have the special gift of tending to live a crazy non-stop life, but I promise that it is not always on purpose! In my last (long-ago) post, I made a comment referring to "ten more cRaZy weeks" before graduation. Well, folks, we are finishing up week 3 of this quarter. I had NO idea how insanely busy and demanding this quarter would be. While I have considered giving up, I realize that is irrational. When I step back and look at the big picture rationally, I realize that I am too close to graduation and have worked too hard to get here to give up now. I am reminding myself of some things:

#1 - Take it one step at a time.

#2 - It's okay to ask for help and admit my utter incompetence.

#3 - Resting in His grace.

...and I am resolving to get through this and attempt to do my best.

Winter Weather Travel

In the time since I last posted, I seem to have developed an affinity for winter weather travel - not an affinity I care to keep.

At the beginning of March, my dear roomie Linds and I went to MN to visit our beloved friend Kristi. To get there, we travelled through the blizzard that plastered the Midwest that weekend.

Driving through Iowa...

My precious friends...

Later on in March, I headed to NY to spend my spring break with my family. Before I was barely an hour from my apartment, I hit some black ice and lost control. PTL for his provision and protection. (Note: that is NOT an experience I care to repeat - EVER!)

I can't decide if he looks scared...

For Easter, my sister and I travelled to TN to visit a family friend. It was a wonderful and refreshing weekend, but there were snowflakes in the air for most of our trip there - in APRIL folks! Crazy!

My crazy sister...

So, other than winter weather travel and schoolwork, in the past month I also moved and attended the lovely wedding of a precious (now former) roomie!


Back to the mountain of schoolwork...
Now that I have given you all a taste of what I have done over the last month (when I'm not buried in schoolwork, that is:) I should probably get back to that schoolwork...my task at hand is an annotated bibliography and proposal for my major paper for my Pronunciation/Listening/Speaking class...anybody have any topic ideas? I might see if I can find anything about accents....I'll start there and see where I end up!

How I'm Getting Through Grad School...

In honor of the fact that this next week is Finals Week for Winter Quarter (and after that there are only ten more cRaZy weeks until I have my Master's), allow me to share with you the three things that are getting me through grad school:

Plenty of:
- coffee (I may be addicted, but I limit myself to one mug a day, usually)
- chocolate (particularly European, but any form will do)
- grace

...not in that order. Heavy emphasis on the GRACE. I came across a wunderbar-ly fitting quote by Brennan Manning today:

“Grace abounds and walks around the edges of our everyday experiences.”