i thought that i would share some thoughts... 52 blessings for the 52 weeks we have been here... and several things i have learned and want to grow in...
52 blessings...
- our church family. the way they love on us and take care of us!! (like the house warming shower!!)
- my family... it's nice to be closer to both sides of the family. i could tell that they are committed to loving us and taking care of us. thanks...
- the M family for letting us stay at their place the first months while our condo was under renovation.
- JM (Red)... she has such a servant heart... i am so thankful for her letting us use her car as she got rides to work... she's watched A for me, helped me study for my math test and my GAD... so much more...
- GM, MR, AL... these guys worked so hard in making my condo look the way it does now!! from knocking down walls, putting my floors in, painting the walls... they are truly a blessing in my life.
- the sun... in indo the sun is up exactly 12 hours (on good days)... so i love days when the sun is out longer and i get to enjoy it...
- traffic. i love how organized and neat our traffic is.
- TB... she texts me a lot from far away to check up on me, just like she used to. making me feel like i'm not missing a thing back in indo.
- JM (the one overseas)... she's been my accountability partner for this year. so nice to have someone who understands the cultural stuff i'm going through.
- hot showers... there are days that i miss me those mandis with a gayung, but i do really appreciate the hot showers in our house.
- our condo... it is a place of light... it is a place of peace... it is a place of joy... it is a place of comfort and security. i praise God for this wonderful house and to CW for helping us find it and going through the paperwork overseas.
- A's school and her teacher. i am glad that A got a believing teacher in a fairly dominant christian community. have met some good families and pray for continued growth in relationships there.
- skype... being able to communicate with those overseas through skype is a blessing on both sides.
- chicago... it is one of my favorite places. i drive down 94 and once you drive around this turn (i think around kimball), you see the city and it makes you smile.
- God's amazing hand in my life, in A's life... the way He is growing us and His hand in every part of our life... i love looking back and seeing what He has done.
- water... i love that i could turn on the sink and drink the water... i know it sounds like such a simple thing to be thankful for, but let me tell you... unless you have tried turning a 5 gallon jug of clean purified water upside down into the water dispenser... you just don't know. :)
- my girls' study group on thursday nights!! (thanks for growing with me!!)
- my wednesday sisters at school!!! (RB, KH & BB... you girls are great!!!)
- RP - she is a friend from school. a blessing is all i can call her. she challenges me, prays with me, speaks truth to me, has been helping me through some tough things in life.
- my drives to school... it's the best time to pray!! God really meets me on my drives to and from school.
- KB... our nanny!!! with the little pay that i give her... she loves on my daughter and invests in her like P invested in KB... just what she wanted to do.
- green grass... to run around on the cold green grass barefoot and to to cartwheels!!
- my formation group at school. although it is mandatory... i love my group.
- my professors, classmates and program!!! it has been such a blessing to be around all of them.
- chapel. i went to public schools all my life... to be at a christian school where we could attend chapel if we want... such a blessing. i loved that i have been able to go and worship1!!
- my classes... some of them have been a great reflection time and challenging introspection of self.
- free fun in chicago... museums, zoos, fun!!!
- aunts and uncles that love on A!!
- friends who help with A so that i could have fun, go to school, get work done!!!
- panera and starbucks chai tea lattes... mmmmm~
- diet coke... bad addiction, but it's my source of caffeine. :)
- my oven. the other day i thought of our little box oven in indo and was so thankful for the oven i have, although i loves the adventures that came with the box.
- winter. i love snow!! it makes me smile and brightens my day.
- police officers and firemen. to know there are people out there protecting us. (my neighbor is a police officer... i like it.)
- late night talks with AH.
- seasons... this year i really enjoyed God's beauty throughout each season... the array of colors and the wonderful work of God's hand that i saw was amazing.
- the me that i'm becoming.
- target... i really do like target.
- our neighborhood. everything is about a mile away... grocery store, park, panera, A's school, good places to eat, the metra,...
- ymca... our newfound fun place!!
- swimming pools. now that summer is returning we are reminded of our summer at the pool!!
- the cultural diversity in chicago. i love that we could drive to different parts and feel like we are in a totally different place.
- library... good books, free games, movies, books on tape, fun!!!
- sidewalks...
- A's growth... emotionally, spiritually (memorizing scripture), physically (she's catching up to her aunt real quick!! :) ), intellectually (she's starting to read... amazing!!)
- A's adjustment... this little girl has gone through a lot in the past four year... tons of moving, adjusting, getting used to different people & places... yet she is resilient and amazing at how well she adjusted through this year of incredible change!!!
- friendships... old and new... they have all walked me through this time of transition!!
- counseling... i have really enjoyed my counseling sessions... helped me transition back to the states and really let me work through a lot of different areas of my life. praising God that i haven't gone to counseling in 2 months and He's walking me through each step as my counselor.
- my balcony... it's a great place to sit and reflect, talk to God and look at the vast sky that reminds me of how small i am... the comfort that comes with that...
- trader joe's... my favorite place to get food.
- dishwasher, washer and dryer... i think of how laundry is done overseas... so thankful i have these machines to help with my chores...
- God's constant leading of the new day.
several things i have learned and grown in...
- my God is bigger than me. i can plan all i want, but the Lord leads each step.
- i do not want to get comfortable here. this is not my final destination. i want to continue living heaven bound...
- i need to be patient... God's plans are not always in the same timing as i have planned it... be patient and let Him hold the reigns...
- my relationship with Christ comes first... no matter how many papers are due during the week, no matter how much sleep i get, no matter how many things there are on the to-do list... nothing goes before Christ.
- self-care. i need to remember to do things that bring life to me... that refills my tank so that i could function. i'm not a machine or a robot. my emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical tanks need to me filled and i need to take time to take care of it, or i'll break down like a machine.
- i don't have to act tough and i don't need to be strong, acting like i have it all together. i don't have to protect everyone... i've learned that i need to cry when i need to or it catches up with me, physically, emotionally and relationally... it's okay to be tired and ask for help.
- i learned that i need to bring to light the things in the dark, and though it hurts, have God work on it.
- live your fullest today... who knows what will happen tomorrow. take it a day at a time.
- love...
- abide!!!
these are just a few... tons more!!! but i just wanted to share a little. praising God for His goodness and faithfulness in our year here... eagerly and hopefully waiting to see what's to come in the next year.
this weekend, A went to be with my sister as i went to my last modular class and as i celebrated a couple friends' birthdays. when i went to pick A up, i picked up a dove's chocolate in my sister's candy stash... this is what dove said to me...
"those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
i enjoy bringing happiness to others... need to continue to remember to take care of me!!! a big thanks to my sister for letting me take care of me!!!
happy one year in the states... going to the free zoo and using our gift card at chuck e cheese!! yay!!
**realized this morning that this is A's first full year in the states since the day she was born. she left here at 6 months and hasn't been in the states for one full year until now. crazy!!!**
**realized this morning that this is A's first full year in the states since the day she was born. she left here at 6 months and hasn't been in the states for one full year until now. crazy!!!**
