This New Season

I think I've given up on completely back-blogging. However, I have not given up on blogging altogether! In short, I am enjoying the season of life I am in as a Golden Gate Seminary student. I'm gaining a heart for the people of San Fransisco, learning a lot in classes, and laughing a lot with the community of fellow students I live with. I'm still praying about what church I should belong to and serve alongside. I'm working as a babysitter, which pay better hourly than my job as a full time ESL teacher in Oklahoma. I'm grateful for this time in my life to grow, learn, and be shaped by God for his purposes and glory.

I fully intend to write more and better blogs soon.

Road Trip!

I'm going to do a little backtrack blogging and write about my road trip to California. (By the way, I made it!)


I packed up Peppy (my car) the night before and my mom and I headed out bright and early on August 5th. Our first destination was Santa Rosa, NM. Before Santa Rosa however, we had to make a fun stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, TX. We stopped at Wal-Mart on the road and bought a can of bright yellow spray-paint since I had heard about this place before.

Cadillac Ranch is basically a random place off I-40 which displays 10 Cadillacs that are stuck in the ground and stand up vertically. Basically, it's a work in progress since the public is welcome to bring spray paint and add to the array of colors, names, and designs already there. I had a good time making my mark and enjoying the randomness of the moment. It was the perfect fun thing to do in the middle of nowhere.

It was all pretty smooth sailing, and I was thrilled when we made it to our stop of the evening in Santa Rosa, NM

525, 600 minutes...

As the song from Broadway's "Rent" asks, "How DO you measure a year?" I've been asking myself that question as I'm commemorating my 1 year marker since I returned from my overseas life, which seems just as though it was yesterday and a dream all at the same time.

When I returned to the States, I was angry, frustrated, and confused, and full of reverse culture shock. I had little direction and many questions. I was living with a heart on one side of the world with a body on the other. Honestly, it took all year for God to do the things that needed to be done with me. Time to reconnect with family and friends. Time to make important decisions about my future. Time to rest. Time to work hard and learn. Time to refocus. Time to share my experiences with others. I had the opportunity to share approx 18 times and in 3 different states! What an amazing blessing.

I continue to miss Armenia. It really is like I left a piece of my heart and part of my family there. I often dream about friends there, and it's so real that I've woken up in tears. I try to keep in touch with friends so I can keep my language. It's a discipline that I want to continue. I continue to pray that I will have an opportunity to visit soon. I frequently bring up my memories and experiences from Armenia, and I often hope I am not boring people.

I feel like reverse culture shock has lifted, but I remain changed in so many small and big ways. I honestly can't believe this year has come and gone. It felt "just like yesterday" that I was saying goodbyes to friends over there. Now, I'm saying goodbye all over again in preparation for my move to California to study.

All in all, I'm grateful for this year of funky in-between-ness that has taught me so much about who I am and where I'm going. I still don't have all the answers, but I've processed and reflected enough to see God's faithful hand guiding me each step of the way. Just like the headlights on a car, God's light shines on the path just before us. I need to not "overdrive" my headlights and trust him for the next bend in the road. Each stepping stone of faith proves HIS faithfulness, not my own, which gives me strength for the next phase of life.

I've been back a year, and I can't believe it. I'm ready now to move onto what God has prepared for me in advance to do! Moving forward boldly...

Five hundred twenty-five thousand Six hundred minutes, Five hundred twenty-five thousand Moments so dear. Five hundred twenty-five thousand Six hundred minutes How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights In cups of coffee In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In five hundred twenty-five thousand Six hundred minutes How do you measure A year in the life?

God hears...

This week God really overwhelmed me with his goodness and faithfulness as provided for me in some unique ways.

I've been making several purchases lately getting ready for my move (New brakes, alignment, oil change, GPS, etc.) and I was starting to stress about money since I quit my job earlier this month. Money going out without promise of future checks makes me nervous! I quietly prayed that God would somehow give me a way to put back some extra money for my trip and start-up in California.

SO...As I was cleaning out closets and some things in my parents storage building, I was blessed to come across so many notes and cards given to my by friends and family throughout my college years. They made me smile! Some of you reading this wrote me such kind notes of encouragement. In addition, I found almost $400 in cash. WOAH. It was in an envelope with my name on it. After I backtracked, I think I figured out who/where the money came from. Some how it got mixed in with cards given to me before I went overseas. AMAZING. Thank you God for hearing my prayer and letting me find my own money!

In addition, I got my last direct deposit today from my job which was more than I expected. (I guess I had some paid time off that had built up!) Also, I went to a church to train a group going overseas to my place of service. They were also very generous and gave me a check.

Not only has God been providing for me in regard to money, He has heard other "cries" of my heart. Yesterday He caused me to run into an old friend at the grocery store that I had really been wanting to see. God's faithfulness in that situation meant so much. It brought tears to my eyes when I thought of God's goodness and love toward me. He is in the big and small things and everything in between.

Cheap Thrills...

As I was getting a pedicure last week, (Hey, you've gotta splurge every now and then!) a lady asked me where I bought my shirt. I turned my eyes downward, smiled, and said, "Goodwill". Owasso's Goodwill store is my new favorite place! My sister lives in Owasso and goes in about once (or twice!) a week to check for deals.

My recent finds include:
* Ann Taylor black capris (about $4)
*Banana Republic long-sleeve button down dress shirt (about $4)
*Limited Express dressy bermuda shorts (about $4)
*Digital picture fame ($25)
*Dressy black jacket with pencil skirt (about $6)
*H&M plaid short sleeve button up (about $4)
*Old Navy khaki cargo pants (about $4)
*black athletic shorts (about $2)
*Small electric hot water pot (about $2)
*Tall coffee mug from Target
*Red decorative box from Hobby Lobby
AND a couple of other random items which were just as cheap!
All of the items were very GENTLY used and looked great.

I'm so excited I found some quality things to wear for such great prices. If you are looking for great deal, go to Goodwill! They had a variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Also, children's clothes are even cheaper! They have shoes, purses, jewelry, home items, bedding, movies, and more. Don't be ashamed to get good deals. There's no reason to pay full price, when you've got GW. :)

Another chapter closes...

As of today, I'm officially job-less! I resigned so that I could get myself together before making my big move westward. Through a series of unfortunate events at work (maybe I can write about it at a later time), I began to REALLY look forward to this day. It's been a super hard month in the work world.

However, I am very sad to say goodbye to my dear students who make me laugh (and sometimes cry). I am continuing to pray for them as I know their only real hope is found in Him.

Independence Day Reflections

After going through reverse culture shock and the "I am so annoyed with America" phases, I continue to have reflections concerning my thoughts about American culture vs. Armenian culture/other international places.

After spending two July 4ths outside of the USA, this year was quite emotional. In fact, I didn't really see it coming. I went to church on July 3rd in my patriotic looking outfit and was looking forward to a nice service. However, I was slammed with a beautiful tribute to our servicemen and women complete with all the great songs and readings from American documents. We said the pledge and sang the national anthem. I really had a hard time containing myself.

There are still things about America that bother me, but on that particular day I was overcome with the sense of pride in our founding fathers and what they fought to create. I stood outside with my niece and nephew watching fireworks and thought to myself how wonderful freedom really is.

Traveling and living overseas absolutely changes your perspective. You now have a global perspective that is sometimes hard to reconcile with our wealth, waste, and wonderful attributes. I suppose I will love the things about America that are lovable (democracy, freedom, opportunity, innovation, etc etc etc) and hate the things that are detestable (moral decline, waste, ignorance, ethnocentrism etc etc etc).

Although an emotional weekend, I did enjoy the sense of patriotism that I had not felt in quite a while.

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever."
_{--Adams wrote this in a letter to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776.}