Birthday

I celebrated my birthday this month. It's amazing to see how much life has changed, and how much hasn't worked out like I planned for it to. It is comforting to know that "many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (pro 19:21). It is so encouraging to know that my life is in His hands, and that He has given me a great hope.

My birthday was great. I got to skype with my amazing friend Jessica for a while. There are some friends who are only in your life for a season, and others that stay forever. She is one of those life-long friends. After our talk, I joined my GC at the Holly Hop Ice Cream Shop. We had a good time, but ended up sharing the place with about 50 giggling 8-year-old girls. 

That night, my Dad treated my sister and I to Olive Garden. It was great, and nice to just sit for a while and talk. I'm so thankful for my family. Afterwards, we went home to watch a movie and relax. I opened presents, and what did I receive? Two large suitcases!!! 

These are what I will packing away my life into come July of next year. How in the world will I fit everything I need want to take? Maybe I should get some space bags. :)

The Journey Begins

Well, actually the journey started about two months ago. I suppose it even started before that, back when I was in junior high, back when I first knew that I would go to the nations.

But, let's fast forward to 2009. I graduated college in May of this year. I had intended to move overseas sometime right after college graduation, but life doesn't always work out the way that you plan. Mom was very sick, and so I moved back home to be with family. This was absolutely the best decision I could have made. I got to spend a lot of time with my mom, and I got involved at my church. I made wonderful friends and found a good job. That fall, I decided to take the Perspectives course. It was in this course that I first learned about going to Asia to teach. It sounded like a really great opportunity, but I didn't have any interest in applying. I was where I needed to be for the time.

The next two years were the hardest in my life. Mom died of cancer in September 2010. This knocked the breath right out of me. I grieved and mourned in a deep and painful way, as I still grieve and mourn now. I am thankful to have had a kind friend named Dona in my life who constantly told me to "grieve forward". She said that it was good to grieve, but that I shouldn't sink down in my grief, but I should move forward. I will always be thankful for those wise words.

In September of 2011, I knew that it was time to move forward, and I remembered what I had heard about the opportunity to teach in Asia. After doing a lot of research on contacting other organizations, I decided to apply. I went through the application and interview process. I was accepted. Now, I have committed. Next year, I will move to Asia to teach English in a University. I am so excited, tinged with a bit of nervousness. I will update this blog as my journey progresses. At first, I expect the posts to be few, but as the time grows near, they should increase.

The title for this blog comes from a favorite quote of mine by John Keith Falconer:

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light."