Routine

I'm a spontaneous woman at heart, but it has been way to long since I have had a routine of my own. One that I have made for myself, and NOT someone else telling me what to do or just NOT having any responsibilities at all to be able to make a routine.

 My summer was just that. I had no responsibilities, so i was able to pretty much go wherever I wanted, do whatever I wanted, and be with whoever I wanted at any time of day or any day for that matter. I road tripped a few times across Texas, was a lake bum the majority of the time, climbed as much as my heart and body could physically climb, and was able to have lots of great memories with people that I love with no responsibilities to worry about.

While in VA, my life turned into a rigid schedule that someone else had made for me. It was very hard for me to mentally get into that schedule and learn to schedule out time for myself within that set schedule, but it ended up being very good. Father taught me a bit of discipline since the only time for me to spend time with Him was early in the morning.

After VA, I went home to 2 weeks of a mixture of slow pace days and then a million things to do in a day. It was a wonderful 2 weeks preparing to move to Asia and I spent wonderful time with my awesome family. My days were filled with packing, making lists, crossing off the lists, planning, lunches, laughter, and then closer to the end it was good bye after good bye after good bye. It was a draining 2 weeks and somehow getting on the plane was some sort of a relief, not because I left the people I love, but the simple fact that I didn't have to say good bye to anyone else.

Then I landed in SE Asia....
My first week or so here was anything but routine, to say the least. A couple days of orientation/initiation to culture and getting over jet lag days, then a sudden road trip to Thailand for a week, and finally coming back home to start learning language and getting into a daily ROUTINE. Asia didn't really start feeling like home until I got to sit down look at my day and decide when I wanted to do my language lessons, study language, workout, have meals, and practice language. As you can tell learning language is what my schedule is filled with. Learning language is my job right now and it keeps me busy for a very large portion of my day.

Now, I can finally say that Asia is feeling like home. Moving overseas is obviously a new thing for me, so I am learning so much about myself as I go. Especially moving to a non-English speaking country. Your independence is stripped immediately because you are not able to do almost anything on your own. Grocery shopping, cooking in a new and different kitchen with new ingredients, ordering at a restaurant, drive around town, etc. So being able to plan my routine really helped, I didn't realize how much stability a routine brought me.

One other thing that has really helped me to feel at home is having my own motorbike and knowing how to get around to the few spots that I know how to get to. ha. Being able to leave the house on my own is incredibly freeing and is a huge step in gaining independence. Granted I really only know the hot spots around town, like the market, a friends house, the 2 coffee shops, and a few restaurants. haha. I learn about or find a new place everyday, so I'm building my knowledge of the town slowly but surely. Also, I should say that I am NOT a pro at the motorbike, so my skill in that is also being built up everyday. Slowly but surely everything is making me feel at home here in SE Asia.

Oh the Mekong view...

Ginger Bullet #2...

Intimidating helmet... To bad, I'm not an intimidating driver. haha.

Need of Jesus

NEED OF JESUS

I am blind, be thou my light,
ignorant, be thou my wisdom,
self-willed, be thou my mind.

Open my ear to grasp quickly thy Spirit's voice,
and delightfully run after his beckoning hand;
Melt my conscience that no hardness remain,
make it alive to evil's slightest touch;
When Satan approaches may I flee to thy wounds,
and there cease to tremble at all alarms.
Be my good shepherd to lead me into
the green pastures of thy Word,
and cause me to lie down beside the rivers of its comforts.
Fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales
may ruffle the calm surface of my soul.

Thy cross was upraised to be my refuge,
Thy blood streamed forth to wash me clean,
Thy death occurred to give me a surety,
Thy name is my property to save me,
By thee all heaven is poured into my heart,
but it is too narrow to comprehend thy love.

I was a stranger, an outcast, a slave, a revel,
but thy cross has brought me near,
has softened my heart,
has made me thy Father's child,
has made me joint-heir with thyself.

O that I may love thee as thou lovest me,
that I may walk worthy of thee, my Lord,
that I may reflect the image of heaven's first-born.

May I always see thy beauty with the clear eye of faith,
and feel the power of thy Spirit in my heart,
for unless he move mightily in me
no inward fire will be kindled.

Football Time!

Here in our little community we don't have TV so we go on with our lives without really knowing whats happening on the outside. With the exception of news from family and friends and the little bits and pieces we get off the internet.

BUT on the day that college football starts, this little community went crazy! Children came out in cheerleader uniforms and football uniforms. Most adults had on some affiliated shirt, and we found a way to get some football on a big screen, so for the first night of college football we are all enjoying each others company watching TV for the first time in 6 weeks. Oh how I will miss College Game Day and that glorious Jones Stadium!

Hammockin

The past 2 days we have had so much personal time. Time to get things done and time to spend with the Father. I spent the last 2 days out in the woods in my hammock. Reading, sleeping, and writing. It has been so good to get away spend time by myself and not think about life. We have been so busy here that I haven't been able to really spend some time to myself and definitely no time where I haven't been thinking about what I need to do or get done, so these 2 days have been a huge blessing from Father. He is so good to bring rest and refreshment to us.

Lately Father has been continually showing me just how well he keeps his promises. He is our Father of peace. I think I have become numb in some ways to the fact that he is our peace in times when we are stressed, in times of hardship, in times of trial, in times of persecution, and also in times of great joy. The peace we receive from Father is beyond anything this world can give us and I find myself turning to his creation to find the peace I seek in my heart. Romans 1:25 says that we tend to exchange the truth for a lie and serve the creature rather than the creator. This can be viewed as an extreme, but it can also be looked at in every facet of our lives. We all have idols that we hold so tightly in our hearts which is much like exchanging the truth for a lie. We exchange his peace for worldly satisfaction. This is something I have been sifting through and processing over the last few days. Much has happened in my life lately that I have immediately turned to sin, friendships, busy-ness, sleep, or whatever over spending time with Father and seeking his counsel. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." While in my wonderful hammock this verse was running through my brain and I realized later that I was so much more relaxed and my mind was so much clearer because Father had brought me that peace that he promises. Father revealed to me that he is my peace, and what a wonderful feeling to feel his peace around me. For me his peace looked much like the woods in these pictures. His peace can look much like these woods completely enveloping you and can drown out all other noises, busy-ness, and situations in your life.

Starting today we are going through some rather intense training that will be very draining mentally, emotionally, and probably spiritually. haha. This training is going to push us to our extreme limits. It is much needed and much applicable training, so I am so grateful to go through it, but it is going to be exhausting. With this said, I am so thankful that Father gave me these 2 days filled with time away before heading into this training.

Father is good to fulfill his promises. Trust in all that he says. He is completely trustworthy.

"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10

For fun.....
While in our hammocks we kinda had a snake encounter. haha. Some of my friends were so very intrigued by the creature. So much planning went on to try and destroy the poor thing. I remained in my hammock and took pictures while they persisted in there expedition. haha.

Summer Recap/Enjoying America

Wow, it has been about 6 months since I blogged last. So much has happened since then, but this blog is going to be a reflection of the wonderful blessing of a summer I just had.

I spent a good chunk of my time at PK Lake, with family and friends. My family reunion was once again EPIC and so encouraging to me to have a family that covered me in pr-er and I know is continually pring for me. Love them so much and I can't wait to hopefully skype in next year at our nightly hangouts :-)

So many good times were had and memories that I'll never forget. If I typed everything out it would take forever, so I put some pics together for a shorter blog post. haha.

WATERSPORTS!! I had so so so much time on the lake this summer. So much skiing, so much wakeboarding, and so much boat driving. I loved every minute of it!

These are a few pics of the many people who came to play this summer. All of these people are loved, so special to me, and will be missed so dearly!

I also spent a little time in Dallas to visit my sweet Gammy and Gayle. They made sure and feed me (and Neil) well. I also was so blessed to have a couple days with the Droogsma's which was such an encouraging couple of days. We managed to go to a Rangers game and only spend all of $2 including ticket and hot dog. Then rendezvous at Cheesecake Factory for a slice of Key Lime Cheesecake! So much laughter and much needed catch up with these 2 beauties!

While I was in the DF-dub I got to hang out with Neil for a little while. We also went to a Ranger game (yeah thats right I went to 2 games in one week, did I complain.....absolutely NOT), Six Flags, REI, and, you know, I got to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. It was pretty wonderful. I have no words to describe exactly how wonderful it was.

My summer ended with a few days at home with my sweet parents eating Chicken Fried Steak and whatever piece of meat dad was smoking on his new smoker. haha. I also had one surprise night with the Azams at their new home in Olton. Being around them is always special no matter how long or short. And to top the summer off, I was so blessed to be able to be a part of my sweet friends Jenny and Ben's wedding. Being there on their special day was so wonderful and Im so glad it worked out for me to be there and support them in their new marriage.

All in all I had a pretty wonderful summer, even though it ended with me saying good bye to my loved ones. I cannot express the joy these pictures bring to me. This is what I will come back to these next 2 years. I truely love you all so very much! Thanks for making my American summer so special. haha. Asia is only a skype date away :-) Just let me know and I'll be there!