Challenged

This weekend I encountered a dumb thief. I did not have the pleasure of meeting him/her, but he/she did seem to have a nice time looking around in my car. I was headed to my car (which was locked) to see if I had left my wallet in there and I noticed everything in the front was not where I left it. They rummaged all around but seemed to be disappointed in my valuables because my change in the cup holder, my copied CDs, and my socks were all still there. Why would they not want those things???  Had he been a little more thorough and looked under the towel in the backseat, he would have found my wallet and all my money! Thankfully, he was a dumb thief, but he taught me a lesson!

Ali and I decided we should challenge ourselves to a little blogging. We found this blogging challenge and we thought it'd be fun to do it together. Should be fun! Her blog is A's Days (like K's Days, cute huh?)

Looking Up

I felt like the best part of my life was behind me. What kind of twenty year old thinks like that? I have so much to look forward to. But when I think of Ebeye, tears fill my eyes. I am naturally a reserved person. It takes me a while to open up to people and really get to know them. I don’t know how, but my kids in Ebeye were a major exception. In those five short months, I fell in love with each of them. No reservations at all. My heart broke into 21 pieces the day I said goodbye and I’ve spent hours and hours reminiscing and crying over those precious kids God put in my life.

I felt like the best days of my life were behind me and it was all down hill from here. I did what God asked me to do and then I was back at home where life was on pause and all I had to do was look back. I felt like God’s plan for me was over and He had forgotten about me. Though I was now home, I was homesick for Ebeye.

One Friday night, when I was missing and googling Ebeye, I happened upon a blog of a woman who had gone to Ebeye as a student missionary several years ago. I enjoyed reading her post about the island and her students who were now in high school. I identified with her in many ways and continued reading other posts she had written. She posted regularly on her somewhat well known cooking blog and wrote about her current life. Since she had left Ebeye, she had become a teacher, learned to cook, met her husband, married him and loved her life. There was so much she had to look forward to after Ebeye. Her heart was broken when she left, but it was now cheerful. God had not forgotten about her. She spoke of her students with appreciation rather than tearfully missing them every day. Her life was changed after Ebeye, but certainly not over.

This struck me so personally tears welled up in my eyes as I read her simple posts about dinner for her husband. God had not forgotten about me either. I had forgotten about Him. He was the One that was with me every day in Ebeye and opened my heart to fall in love with my kids. He was there when I waved goodbye from the ferry, and as I first stepped onto American soil. He sees each tear fall as I miss my island home and feels my pain every day. He understands and He cares. I was awakened to the fact that God has a plan for my life, too. It isn’t over; it is just ahead. My career, new relationships, and new experiences are all awaiting me. I truly believe God is present in a special way during the Sabbath hours because as strange as it seems, this simple cooking blog filled me with God’s compassionate and constant love.

My life was changed in Ebeye, but it is far from over. It still has a purpose and He is not finished with me yet. I have to remind myself of this every day. I am working on keeping my eyes fixed on Him and trusting Him with my life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11

Loma Linda Lovin'

We made it! I feel like so much has happened in the past week. My dad and I made the 22 hour trek to Loma Linda, CA in our big ol’ Budget truck (well, my Dad did the trekking, I just sat) and my mom flew out to help Ali, Juli (Ali’s roommate from LLU), and me get settled in our little townhouse. :) I really like it! And it’s only about 5 minutes from the school. It’s still a little bare-walled, so pictures will come later.

I started school on Monday and so far I am loving it! I really like my classes. For the first time I am genuinely interested in them. I didn’t feel like general classes were a waste of my time, but I wasn’t exactly eager to learn about psychologists’ theories or the nitty gritty details of the Civil War. So I think I picked the right major! :) The CMSD (Communication Sciences and Disorders) programs are pretty small, so I think I’ll get to know the people in my program pretty well. There are only 18 juniors. I've met most of them and I really like them. And to top it all off: for the next two years, no class on Fridays! I must be livin’ right. ;)

I'm official!

I do miss my family and friendly Okies, but California has its charm, too. Overall, life is pretty good. Thank you for your prayers. I think I will like it here! And happy Sabbath!

Passing Notes

Last night when I was about to go to bed, I found a big shoebox full of notes! And when you find a big shoebox full of notes you have to read every single one...

There were notes written on the back of permission slips about who started the pigtail trend and how great our bombardment team was. Then, there were special Valentine’s cards and more notes about creative invitations to the banquet and how the girls said yes. Notes about weekend plans, confusing boys, and phone calls from crushes. I found the ticket stub from my first concert, funny drawings, apology letters, and gossip. From Ozark there were the notes that came with cookies on cookie day, complaints of dorm rules, postcards from Grandma, and Friday night letters.

How can I throw that stuff away? I can't! I think I might have every note I’ve ever been given. After reading these, I feel so thankful for the people in my life. When I was grumpy, or gossipy I had a friend to help me. And the days when I was happy, or excited, someone was happy with me.

Getting ready to leave for Loma Linda is a little sad for me because I hardly know anyone out there. But I think this box of notes was just what I needed to find. God has given me great friends for every stage of my life and He will take care of me this time, too.

Look what I found at the end of one of the notes. :)

Back to Bloggin'

I guess I forgot to blog there for a few days… ;) I’ve kinda missed writing so I’ll try to keep this little blog updated with my life as I head back to school. It’s 3am and I’m powered by Dr Pepper, so sleep just isn’t happening. I’m leaving for Loma Linda next week and so many things are running through my mind. I’m excited to go, start interesting classes, meet the people in my program, and all that fun stuff that comes with the beginning of a school year, but all that means I have to leave home. :( I am a homebody. I haven’t been home this long in years so I feel even more attached! I love it here. But, this year I will have a part of home with me – my sister! I am going to live with her and her roommate in a little townhouse close-by the school. I am so excited! I’ll post pictures when I get there. :)

I’ve been home for four months now, and I still think about Ebeye every day. I miss my kids so much! Here is the paper I wrote for the Student Missions class about my experience and coming back to the States. I copied some of it from blog posts, so don't be mad if you've read some of it before. ;) Thank you all again for your love and support while I was gone. It meant the world to me!

Pie Love You

I’ve realized that life in Ebeye is a whole lot more interesting than life at home. I love being home, but I don’t have much to report on anymore. I’m taking 8 hours over June and July, so I’m pretty busy with homework and sleeping in. :) The last few days my dad has been working on a concrete floor job about an hour and half away. Let me tell you, that stuff is hard work! I went with him a couple times, the first time was ten hours, the second time we were there for twenty-four hours! This man is nuts. I really do enjoy working with my dad though. He’s the hardest working person I know and he’s a good teacher, so I learn a lot. Yesterday was the last day, but I stayed home to finish my homework. I thought I’d congratulate my dad on a job well done by mowing the lawn. Good idea, I thought. About twenty minutes in, the mower stopped working, so I made him a pie instead. He said he liked plan B better anyway, so the congratulations worked!

Banana Coconut Cream Pie from my new Joy the Baker cookbook! Mmm

Home for the Summer

So, plans have changed. Coming home I was a little nervous about my busy summer of condensed classes and camp all squeezed into a tiny amount of time. Well, my "before camp" class got cancelled and my only option was to take a class here in OK for the next two months. So, sadly, no camp for me. I am pretty bummed because Melissa, my good friend from Ozark, was going to work at Camp Cedar Falls with me this summer and we were going to have so much fun.

Valentine's Masquerade Banquet
February 2009
Cool "masks" we have, huh?

We haven't been together for more than a day since the summer after we graduated. I miss that girl! This could have been God's way of relieving me of the stressful summer I had planned. Now that I won't be working at camp, I will be taking an online religion course and I get to take elective classes that I will actually enjoy: Photoshop and Yoga. Plan B isn't too bad, but I will miss camp a lot. I'm hoping to find some sort of job, at least for the last two months of summer while I won't be taking classes. The little podunk diner down the hill is hiring, maybe I'll check that out. :)

I am still missing Ebeye a lot. I got to Skype Oronia, one of my students, today though. It was good to see her smiling face! I miss those kids. They will never know how they changed my life!