Goodbyes

Let me just say, in my short 23 years of life, I have learned to dislike goodbyes. Many short term mission trips and living in different places around the world have cultivated many friendships. And the problem is, these friendships are all over the world. As this school year winds to a close, I have to say goodbye to some very dear friends whom I have spent two years laughing with, crying with, going on adventures with, and more. I don't think I can say another goodbye. At least, I don't want to. Sometimes it makes me not want to reach out again, but then I think of all the relationships I would have missed out on if I didn't reach out for fear of saying goodbye. So though it is sad, I can take joy in one day seeing my sweet friends in heaven. And I can look forward to remembering all the great memories with my friends here.

Speaking of the year being almost over, I can't believe I am almost done with my second year of teaching! Some days go so fast, others seem to last forever. I am not ready to say goodbye to these kids. I love them a lot. I have so many fun and funny memories from them. A recent favorite is from our spring concert last Thursday. The girls were supposed to dress up like princesses. I too wore a dress, and I asked some of my boys if I looked like a princess. One responded with, "You look like you are from New York!" Haha. to them, the US is basically New York and Miami. It was cute :).

For those of you in Washington and Iowa, I will be around this summer. I am looking for all different sorts of adventures. Shoot me an email or leave me a comment if you want to hang out. I love getting comments and emails :). May you truly feel God's love and grace today. He is amazing!

Springtime Adventures

So, I have tried several times to write a blog post and post pictures, but the pictures don't work, and then I get discouraged and don't even try. So, this is an attempt to update even if the pictures don't work. Let's see, life here...

Today we didn't have school because elections were yesterday and the president decided on Friday to shut the city down this weekend. Haha. So yay for a day off! Unfortunately, we have to make it up, but it was great to have a break.

Only 3 more weeks of school! The kids are so done, and I am in many ways as well. I will miss these kids a lot. I am looking forward to next year, but I wish I could keep the same kids again. They are such big sweethearts.

I LOVE third grade birthday parties! I went to one last weekend that seems like something from a dream. One of my little girls had 3 third grade friends and a sixth grade friend, along with her fifth grade brother and his friend, and me. The girls first went to get our nails done, then we picked up the boys, went to a movie, then went to TGI Fridays, THEN to Haagen Daaz. Wow. I have never been to a birthday party quite that elaborate before. It was really great though. I let the girls pick out my nail colors and designs. They were so happy I went!

A couple weeks ago, I went with some friends here to a coffee processing plant and a coffee farm. For those of you who are familiar with Julia Alverez, who is a Dominican writer, it was her coffee farm! I learned SO much about coffee. It brought back memories of writing a paper on coffee in ninth grade! I was amazed at how hard it is to pick and process coffee. And the best coffee is grown under trees and amongst brush and other plants, so it is not easy to pick. It was a great experience.

God has been doing a lot in my heart lately, which has been really hard but really good. Living in another country really brings out things about yourself you didn't even know. God has shown me a lot about what it means to surrender to Him and allow Him to take over my life. He also has shown me a lot about His unconditional love. I think in so many ways, though we know He loves us no matter what, we try to earn His love. Maybe that's not the case for everyone, but I sure have. I am learning what it means to be secure in who I am in Him and to serve Him not to make Him love me more, but because of how much I love Him and WANT to serve Him. Verses from Romans 8 have been really encouraging to me lately:
Rom 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have read those verses many times in the past, but never really camped out on the fact that His love never changes. I can't do ANYTHING. And my motive for serving Him should not be to be loved more by Him or by others.

Hmmm... I don't know if there is much else in my life of interest. A couple weeks ago, I went and stayed with some Dominican friends near the beach. My mom met the husband at ISI a couple years ago. It was a great time of just rest and relaxation. And I also was able to practice my Spanish! That is always a great thing for me!

Well, the pictures didn't work. Oh well. I hope you all have a great day!