One amazing trip and it all started at the beach

Hello, hello!  I am back...well, actually I've been back for several months but you know I'm always a little late to post stuff.  So sorry!  But, I know that you missed me.  Well, I just wanted to share some of the highlights from my trip to Ulsan, South Korea.  I was actually there for about nine days and it went by so fast.  I'll fill you in later as to why I was in Ulsan; so as usual stay tuned.  I'll be back to share more stuff in a little bit.   But for now, please enjoy a few photos from my trip.  Take a look....

Beautiful views

A peaceful look out at the water....

Walked up and down some crazy steps and my body still hurts.  Can you see

the guy way in the back on the rocks?  

Very tasty eats

Some traditional Korean clothing...beautiful

Yes, I promise I will return...sit tight!

Finally it has come...


Happy Easter everyone!  It is an extraordinary day.  The sun is shining and it's not raining outside.  I love that we can celebrate today and cherish the fact that Our Savior has risen!  I don't really think that we will ever fully understand the power of those words.  But I am so grateful and thankful for Jesus.  

Well, I know (as usual) you are asking yourself...hey, where have you been?  What have you been up to for these past four months.  And as usual, It's been a whole lot of crazy!  But, I do have a tiny bit of news to share with you....you ready for it? 
Are you sure that you are ready for this announcement?  Ok, here it is.


I AM GOING ON A TRIP TO KOREA IN ONE WEEK!  Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(This definitely required a lot of exclamation points)

Yes, that is correct ladies and gentlemen.  I am going to South Korea!  I am beyond ecstatic, nervous and all of that gushy stuff.  This whole experience has been like a six year journey for me and I still cannot believe that it's really happening soon.  Wow....just wow!  I know that you are probably very curious as to how all of this came about but I'll share those details later.  I can say that this trip is truly a blessing and someone blessed me with it.  And I hope to take everything in and to remember all of it.  So, hang in there with me because I'll be back with plenty of stories and hopefully plenty of pictures!  

But for now enjoy your beautiful day, your family and your friends.   Again, Happy Easter everybody!

Stay tuned for more....as usual, ha!

We celebrate...

I'm back!  I told you that I would be.  However, I thought that it would be a lot sooner.  But, it's the last day of the year so I will definitely get these last group of thoughts in.  I know you missed me!  Anyway, I know in my last post I mentioned how crazy the month of October was!  I'm still trying to catch my breath.  But I'm even more grateful to be apart of two wonderful weddings.  Those are precious memories that I will treasure forever.

But in November, I watched a good friend say goodbye to his mother.  I had just stood right beside him weeks before this, singing at our friend's wedding.  We were celebrating!  That day we all laughed, ate some amazing food and danced like we were still in our 20's.  Well, ok I know I did.

On the day of his mother's memorial service, I saw my brave friend greeting people and shaking their hands.  Beautiful pictures of her had been placed towards the front of the room.  People sweetly celebrating all that she accomplished in her life and celebrating the person that she was.  I thought about her life and her family.  It made me wish that I had known her more. Yet, I could see little pieces of her in each one of her children faces.  She left her fragrance with her family.  She left this with her son; my friend.  Her beautiful life was celebrated.

You know, so many things have happened this year.  Some have been challenging and some have just been plain hard.  But, I don't know how I would have made it through all of it without knowing God.  He's been there when the days were tough and hard.  He has fought a lot of battles for me and still continues to do it.  He also was right there in the bright moments of my life too.  This is how 2018 has been for me.  No matter what comes our way in 2019, let's remember to celebrate.  Celebrate God by honoring him everyday.  Celebrate your crazy life, your family and your crazy friends.  I am so thankful for all of mine.  Have a wonderful New Year!

And of course, I'll be back
 

Two weddings and a trip to Nashville.

Hello, again.  More months have passed!  Wow, next week in Thanksgiving.  Where has the time gone?  I think I ask myself that question every year but I can never come up with a clear answer.  Well, let me catch you up to speed because obviously a lot has happened, as usual.  In September, I went to a conference in Nashville.  Yes, it was work related.  We actually left on the day of my birthday but, that trip was so worth it!  We stayed at the amazing Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
(Please see the lovely picture below.  Why, yes those are very big boots.  Hello, it's Nashville!)

Being goofy in front of The Grand Ole Opry:

As far as the music goes it wasn't just a little bit of country; it was A WHOLE LOT OF COUNTRY!  Now, please don't take what I'm saying personally because I put those words in all caps.  I have always enjoyed listening to country music.  Because of that visit it just made me appreciate it even more.  When I was walking downtown in Nashville, the sounds just hit me.  Not only that but there was so much great history there.  I wish I could've stayed longer.  I definitely hope to go back someday soon. Sigh..

So, let's move on to October.  October was packed with stuff.  A baby shower and two weddings.  Let me mention to you that the weddings were beautiful and literally one week apart from each other.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I was a bridesmaid in one of the weddings.  Plus, also singing with another mutual friend in the same wedding!  Whew, so much to say in one sentence.

It was such a blessing and an honor to be apart of it.  I watched two of my close friends say 'I do'.  It made me think about my own wedding day.  And I'm just going to leave that thought right there.  So, while you ponder over that...I'll be right back

Just wait

Saying goodbye again.

Hello my people!  This is my first official post for the year of 2018.  I'm sorry, so sorry! (In my mind I am singing this to all of you) But, I don't want you to think that I haven't been writing.  I wanted to post a little something a few months ago but as that time my head was in a whole other space.  There have been a whirlwind of events happening lately.  Still, no matter what's going on I still want to connect with you.  I haven't forgotten about you!

I do want to explain the title of this post to you.  The past ten months have been really challenging.  In my last post, I know that I mentioned to you that I had lost two of my aunts to cancer. Well, at the end of January, my grandmother passed away.  And just this past week, we lost another loved one to cancer.   My mother has endured a lot and so has my father.  I don't think that I have ever experienced something like this in my life.  To have both parents grieving at the same time is a hard thing to watch.  It's hard to say to yourself that this is a part of life.  Dying is a part of life.  But, that doesn't make this easier to handle.  It's very strange to see those people that you have grown up with begin to leave you.  The reality is...we are not meant to stay here.  This is just our temporary home.

But the beauty of all of this is knowing that I will see them again.  Because they are up there in heaven with the Lord.  What a beautiful reminder!

That is all for today.
I'll be back soon.

On this final day....

As I begin this last post for this year, I have to apologize to you all.  It's been way too long since I have updated you anything.  Good grief!  But, as always I will update you.  In my last post, I mentioned to you that my laptop died.  That was so hard for me to type again....so many memories. Tear! Sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes.  I am so happy to report that my nice, sweet boyfriend gave me one for my birthday, in September!!!!  And let me tell you that it was such a blessing to receive that gift from him.  He is pretty cool.  Not because of the laptop though!

Anyway, so I need to share something with you all that's very serious....

I want to explain what's been happening for the last four months of this year.  In August, my mother lost her sister to cancer.  Three months later, on the exact same day, my father also lost his sister to cancer.  It's hard to lose anyone.  But to lose them both on the exact same day, three months apart from each other is unreal.  Both are my parents are mourning now.  I know that there are leaning not only on each other but also on the Lord.  It is a reminder to us that God gives us people for a moment.  Moments to him are very different than what we think they are.

I am thankful for each and every moment that I had with both of my aunts.  That is something that I will always carry with me.  My Aunt Helen's quietness and Aunt Eddie Mae's boldness is what I remember the most.  And it's what I will treasure.  Sure, this year has been a challenging one.  I think that some of you would agree with me on this.  Yet, as challenging as it was, something always remained the same.  God was there.  Even in my celebrations and in my pain, his love remained. 

As we all go into next year, let's keep this in the forefront of our minds.  Remember that He is always there.  Love you guys and I'll see you in 2018!

(More posts are coming.  Yes, I know I've said it before but just trust me!)

One chapter ends and so did my laptop! Long sigh...


Hello, my people!  So I decided to start this post off with a title.  I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to do that but it just felt right today.  As you can read by the title, yes my laptop is having a difficult time right now.  Probably due to all the stress and strain of school.  I just don't think that it could take it anymore.  Actually, I had it checked out and I think that it will cost more than what I want to pay to fix it.  So, I'll probably have to look for a new one!  Ugh, so sad!

But, enough about my poor laptop.  Now you know that I have to give you guys an update and a lesson too!  I received my TESOL certificate in the mail.  FINALLY!  There was a bit of a hiccup to receive it but it is finally in my hands.  Haha...sorry I will try and compose myself.  But, all joking aside this truly has been a crazy experience.  From start to finish it all really challenged me on so many different levels.  I started this journey doing several different things all at one time.  I was still learning the Korean language with my tutor, singing in the choir and the vocal team at church, helping a friend with his English on Wednesday nights and on Thursdays nights; being with my crazy drama team!  Whew, I'm worn out just writing all of that.

There were a few of those that I had to give up.  I was trying to do all of them at one hundred percent.  Well, it was such a good thought!  You know what happened after that, right?  When you are trying to do too many things all at once you slowly wear yourself out.  I began to resent being involved with a few of them.  I started to treat them like a job and not as a ministry.  It is hard for me to say this but it was exactly how I felt.  God was also painting a very large picture for me to look at.  He was allowing me to see myself.  He also showed me that it was time for me to let go and focus on what was in front of me.

You know, God has an amazing way of preparing us for the next project.  He gives us time to let go of the things that we think we may need in order to give us something else.  It's like God giving us a new tool for a new task.  If we hold onto the old tool how are we supposed to start the new task in front of us?  I'll tell you that it is hard for me to give up things.  I think because I don't want things to change or I really don't want to disappoint anyone.  Is that way of thinking helpful though?  Probably not. The new chapter that God prepares us for is about us being willing to be used by him.  Change is a continuous thing.  It will always happen no matter where you are at in your life.  And where I am right now is in the chapter of WAITING!  Oooo, it's a hard one.

I'm not sure where you are at in your life but maybe it's time to ask yourself this question.  What is the next task that God is preparing you for?  You might be surprised by his answer.

Until next time.....