30 Years of Life!

Great Wall of China--October 2012

Well, look at that.  Nearly a year later, and I'm STILL alive!  My first year of being in my 30's is shaping up to be quite the adventure.  In the past year, I've traveled to China, Guatemala, and Germany with a variety of friends, begun my 4th year teaching in Thailand, met new people, deepened relationships, and most of all, rediscovered my Joy.  God has been so good to me, and He reminds me daily.

China was a trip I took during my semester break in China.  It was a very challenging trip for a variety of reasons, but it was truly amazing seeing the mixture of ancient and modern right next to each other.  We stayed mostly in Beijing, and were able to see a lot of classic Chinese sights.  My favorite, of course, was the Great Wall.  Note to those wanting to see it: the walk to the top is LONG!  Like, prepare as you would for a hiking trip "long."  On the other hand, completely worth it.

Tikal, Guatemala--April 2013

Guatemala was a chance to see my friend, Eunice, with Esther.  We were able to travel around and see some of the amazing sights Guatemala has to offer, but my favorite part without doubt was when we went to Eunice's work and were able to see how God is moving there.  It was my first time traveling to a third world country, and I can't honestly say that it was an "eye-opener" as my eyes were pretty open beforehand, but it was most definitely a life-altering trip.  I saw God at work, and felt the urge to get involved, yet through it all, God was reminding me that my ministry is elsewhere.  I rejoice in seeing God's work being done, and I also rejoice that I am still certain that I am in God's Will in my own life.

Cologne, Germany--July 2013

Germany was on the more spontaneous end of my trips.  My friend, Ellen, was going to be traveling in Germany, and through a sequence of events was going to be traveling alone.  I checked with my administration, and received permission to take a week off of school to go with her.  It was awesome!!  We started in Frankfurt, then went to Bacharach on the Rhine, Cologne, and finally, Heidelberg.  I haven't been to Europe since I was 18 and traveling for the first time, so it was certainly a treat.  It was so much fun seeing the sights and getting to know Ellen better.  It made having to re-train my kids when I got back completely worth it.


Anyway, the school year is off to a great start.  At the end of last year, I was told to prepare for 24 students, possibly more. The prospect of 24-25 three-year-olds who neither speak English nor know how to be students concerned me, particularly as we had both the space and a suitable applicant for a second class.  After many talks, the administration decided to split the class.  And then, it turned out that a family of triplets left, leaving me with a class of 10.  10!!  I hardly know what to do, I've never had such a small class. 

Me and Imm

Tigger playing with blocks

One of the best things about having such a small class (beyond the sanity-saving effect that it produces) is that I am really getting to know my students better.  It doesn't hurt that their English is coming along much more rapidly as well due to having more opportunities to practice with me.

I love my job, and am so blessed to be happy to go to work in the morning, though I do have the occasional days where I want to put academics on hold and just cuddle with them for the day. 

Well, that's a brief update on my life.  Hopefully I'll add more before I'm 31.  We shall see.  In the meantime, remember: you are fully and completely loved by God.  Act like it.