Wow! I can't believe it has been over 2 months since I last posted, yet it seems like yesterday when I was sitting in Sonja and Peter's apartment leaving to go out for my birthday! Life is pretty much spinning. After returning from Denmark I left 4 days later for Austrlia. Upon arrival at the airport to leave for Australia my friend that I was going with and I realized we did not have visa's to get in to a country that required visa's. By the amazing grace of God and some changes in Delta flights, a wonderful Delta agent got our visas for us online and we made our flight. Australia was amazing but New Zealand was even better! I hate to say that since I had amazing time visiting my cousin Down Under but New Zealand it truly one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been! I recommend everyone go there! :) Both places were amazing and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go. I wish I had the opportunity to spend time in the classroom while I was there but unfortunately that just did not work in to our schedule.
Upon arriving in the U.S. I had a voicemail from my old principal offering me a job back at the school I was working at! Hooray! Exactly where I wanted to be and prayed all summer God would provide and sure enough He did just that! I'm now teaching 5th grade at Athens-Chilesburg and I love it! I was a little nervous about having the "big kids" but really love them and the changes that I get to be a part of in their lives.
Since then it has been non-stop. Organizing my first official classroom, spending Labor Day weekend in Texas with a friend, completing some work for a grad school class from this summer and helping a friend through a family crisis, let's just say God has provided lots of energy!
I want to share with you a painful yet God-filled story that has occured in my life in the past week. Well, actually the past 18 years. I have had an amazing friend since elementary school who we have stayed in contact on and off for the past eighteen years through lots of life changes. In 4th grade she lost her father and for the past 7 years her Mom has endured a roller-coaster journey with cancer. The past 9 months have been exceptionally rough for her and then this past week she went into hospice. In the hospice care unit at St. Joe I had the amazing priviledge of visiting her numerous times. Her faith was simply amazing, I don't know how to describe it any other way. In the last few days and moments of her life she found the strength to praise God amid the most unbelivable physical pain. She spent priceless moments and memories with her children and expressing her love of the Lord to everyone she came in contact with. I'm amazed by her strength and faith. On September 11th she was called home, to spend her eternity with Jesus, and receive her mansion, which we believe for Momma K was definitely pink and purple! She will be missed, especially by her children but she instilled in both Angel and Seth a passion and faith in the Lord that is undeniable and that is what will see them through. Although, I do ask you to continue to pray for these two young people who are enduring pain that few can imagine.
Ohh and amid all this, I purchased my first house! Well, condo! So I'm also moving! :)
Blessings to you!
